Discussion on NATO membership that is led in Bosnia and Herzegovina is an unnecessary burden for the political space, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Josip Brkic, because according to him, the path to membership is complex, and - regardless of political views - part of Bosnia and Herzegovina's foreign policy goals.

Brkic, who also serves as chairman of the Commission for Cooperation with NATO, said in an interview with N1 that the alternative of Bosnia's accession to NATO would lead the country into isolation. However, he noted it was important to meet all the criteria on that path.

“Membership is a two-way process and NATO itself needs to decide whether it wants to accept a new country as a member,” Brkic told N1.

“It is important that Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to cooperate with NATO, that we develop reform programmes and carry out evaluations, but also that we have a political dialogue with the NATO alliance,” he added.

Asked to comment on the position of political representatives from Republika Srpska, Bosnia's Serb-majority entity regarding the NATO membership i.e. its objection towards that goal, Brkic said it would be easier if the political stance of Republika Srpska was different but that this is the foreign policy goal of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and this matter falls under the competency of the state.

He stressed that Bosnia and Herzegovina is already recognised as a “part of the solution” when it comes to the relations with NATO, recalling of the missions worldwide that Bosnian armed forces were a part of.

“BiH participated in the NATO military mission in Afghanistan, we contributed to global security, and we were recognised as a part of the solution, not part of the problem. I expect the Presidency of BiH to consider the new demands that will be laid before BiH, to be part of military missions that ensure and consolidate peace in crisis areas in the world,” he stressed.

According to him, a referendum is not the only option to ultimately join the alliance.

“This is not the only way for a country to make a sovereign decision to transfer part of its sovereignty to NATO or the EU. Let me remind you of the case of friendly Montenegro, which made that decision in the parliament,” he noted.

Reforms must remain in focus, Brkic stressed.

“We need to focus on reforms in order for NATO to invite us, so that the Accession Protocol is signed and then ratified by all member states, and that the Secretary General of NATO invites us again,” he said.