Speaking on the second day of the “NATO Partners 360 Symposium 2024”, held from October 22 to 24 in Sarajevo, Konakovic underscored the significance of the event for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s foreign policy, security, and its collaboration with NATO. He stressed that hosting the symposium demonstrates several key aspects of the country's relationship with the alliance.

“NATO's trust in us to organize such an important event, with a record number of participants, is highly meaningful. Over the next few days, we will hear from and interact with 289 participants from 54 countries. NATO is, according to both my personal stance and our laws, one of our primary foreign policy objectives. In fact, our laws make this mandatory. In my opinion, it should be our top priority, even above the European Union. While I recognize the complexities of decision-making and that not everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina shares the same view, I want to highlight the importance of BiH becoming a full member of such a strong alliance,” Konakovic said.

He further explained that the current government is committed to drafting and adopting the necessary documents to meet NATO obligations. “The Council of Ministers and all ministries are actively working to meet these expectations on time,” he added.

Konakovic pointed out that many countries, before joining the European Union, first became NATO members and experienced significant economic growth as a result.

“For instance, Romania’s GDP grew by over 8.5 percent in the first year after joining NATO. Many other countries also saw what the security of being under NATO’s umbrella means for investors, as it guarantees the safety of their capital. This is vital for us, especially as we seek new investments and aim to further integrate BiH into the European market,” he noted.

NATO’s Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Javier Colomina, praised Bosnia as an outstanding partner for NATO, highlighting the strategic importance of the Western Balkans region to the alliance.

“This symposium is another testament to our strong commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have many of our allies here, and a record number of participants at this NATO symposium, which underlines its importance. NATO stands firmly in support of a stable and peaceful Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the entire region. We remain dedicated to protecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of BiH and will continue to do so,” Colomina stated, also reaffirming NATO's ongoing support for the EUFOR Althea Mission.

The symposium is organized by NATO’s Political Affairs and Security Policy Division (IS PASP) and the Allied Command Transformation (ACT).