Joint press point

President Čović,

It is a great honor and pleasure to welcome you to NATO Headquarters and to see you again. We met last time in Sarajevo in February and I think that the fact that we now meet again is an example of the close partnership between Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a highly valued partner of the Alliance.

Just last month, disaster response teams from 34 NATO and partner countries trained together in Tuzla.This is an exercise that will help save lives and it’s a practical way to strengthen our partnership.

Our partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina also helps spread security beyond Europe’s borders. I met Bosnian soldiers serving in NATO’s Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. So I know the important contributions you are making in the fight against international terrorism.  Your forces have also played a role in various UN peacekeeping missions. And I welcome your clear commitment to international security.

Today we also discussed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s domestic reforms, and its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. I welcome the progress that has been made in registering defence properties to the state.  I encourage you to accelerate your efforts, and to register more properties.

You have also made progress in reshaping your armed forces and structures. The Defence Review agreed last year was an important step forward. The focus should be on implementation, to make this review a reality. I count on Bosnia and Herzegovina to redouble its efforts in this area.

Compromise can be difficult. So it is important that all political leaders work together, for the benefit of all people. And NATO is here to support you.

NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina have a deep partnership and we have already achieved a lot together. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen our co-operation.

And once again, welcome to NATO HQ. It’s great to have you here.