NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană highlighted NATO's continued, strong support to its partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina, during a visit of the North Atlantic Council to Sarajevo (from 1-2 February 2024).
"Bosnia and Herzegovina is a long-standing and close NATO partner," Deputy Secretary General Geoană said. "What happens in Bosnia and Herzegovina matters for the security in the Western Balkans and what happens in the Western Balkans matters for all of us in Europe. NATO strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina," he added.
The Deputy Secretary General underscored NATO's steadfast commitment to support the country's ongoing "reform efforts, including through our defence capacity-building package to help strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina's capabilities, in areas like crisis management, cyber defence, and countering terrorism. These reforms make Bosnia and Herzegovina more resilient and secure, and offer a brighter future for all of the country's citizens, as you continue on your Euro-Atlantic path." He also praised Bosnia and Herzegovina for its contributions to Euro-Atlantic security and emphasised the deepening political dialogue between NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as demonstrated by the visit of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg last November.
Deputy Secretary General Geoană pointed out: "It's your decision, how fast and where you want to go, but there is absolutely no other truth that all our nations that joined the Euro-Atlantic family in the last 25 years since NATO and EU have enlarged, are better off, are more prosperous, are more secure, are more self-confident, and give to our citizens better lives… We hope to continue our partnership with your very important nation all the way."
During the two-day visit, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, NATO Ambassadors, and invitee Sweden are meeting members of the Presidency, the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers, the Foreign and Defence Ministers, and representatives of the Collegium of the Parliamentary Assembly.
They will also met representatives of a think tank and students from universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and they will visit the Rajlovac military base.
They will conclude their visit with meetings with the Commander of the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo, the Commander of the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the High Representative, and the heads of the EU and OSCE missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO's Headquarters in Sarajevo helps to coordinate support to the EU-led Operation Althea, under the Berlin Plus arrangements, to help maintain a safe and secure environment for all communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
