Internal political disagreements should not be imposed as an incomprehensible impediment to building a more stable and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina, as that is not only an obligation toward strengthening the overall stability of Southeast Europe but also the entire European continent, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister and Chair of the Commission for NATO Integrations, Josip Brkic, told the Fena news agency on Sunday.
Brkic, a member of the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH), said that joining international organizations is crucial for the country and that this path is a catalyst for positive and necessary reforms within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Apart from building strong integrity of the Armed Forces, the path toward NATO membership is an opportunity to participate globally in decision-making, contributes to the country’s international visibility and stability, and strengthens relations with European and world powers which share the same values.
“European and Euro-Atlantic integration is the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the priority of my foreign policy activities. NATO and the EU have always been and remain a synonym for security, development and the stability of all of its members and partners,” he said.
As a European country, Bosnia must not give up on membership opportunities in organizations that will protect its citizens and create a framework for a better life, he said.
The Deputy Minister noted that despite setbacks in Bosnia’s integration process, NATO and the EU continue to provide support for accelerating the country’s path toward membership and for removing obstacles on it.
Bosnia’s path toward NATO membership is at the core of the political bickering that has been ongoing since the elections in October.
Although they initially supported Bosnia’s path toward the alliance, Bosnian Serbs have changed their minds a few years ago and now refuse to let the country make any further steps toward membership, while Bosniaks insist on it.
“The EU Delegation in Bosnia, which just recognised the risks of Bosnia’s lagging behind on the European path, has significantly contributed and facilitated the process in which Bosnia’s political leaders create a framework for forming the government as well as further development of democracy and stability, so that we can take the next step toward the EU, which is also underlined in the European Commission Opinion on Bosnia,” Brkic said.
