Joint press conference

Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, dear Denis,
It’s great to have you here. 
Welcome to NATO.
It’s great to see you again.
And actually, welcome back to the NATO Headquarters.

We last met during my visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina in November. 
And the Deputy Secretary General led a visit of the North Atlantic Council to Sarajevo earlier this year.

Your visit today is a chance to take stock of our partnership.
And discuss what more we can do together.
Bosnia-Herzegovina is a long-standing NATO partner.
We strongly support your sovereignty and territorial integrity.
We continue to support the EU-led Operation Althea, under the Berlin plus arrangements, to maintain a safe and secure environment.
And we commend Bosnia-Herzegovina for your recent progress on the path towards membership in the European Union.

But we remain deeply concerned by continued secessionist policies and divisive rhetoric. 
This is reckless and dangerous.  
It undermines hard-won progress, and hampers reforms, which would benefit your people.
All political leaders must work together to preserve unity and safeguard national institutions. 
This is key for peace and security in the country. 
And for stability in the Western Balkans. 

NATO has been committed to our partnership for many years. 
We support your security reform efforts through our Headquarters in Sarajevo.
And through our Defence Capacity Building package, we are now helping you to strengthen your capabilities further.
In areas including crisis management, cyber defence, and countering terrorism. 

We also appreciate Bosnia-Herzegovina’s contributions to our common security. 
And I welcome your efforts to upgrade your armed forces to work even more closely with NATO. 
Including through the certification of a light infantry battalion to NATO standards of combat readiness.

NATO’s commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina is firm. 
And we stand ready to continue our political dialogue and strengthen our practical cooperation. 
For the benefit of our shared security.

So Chairman, thank you again for being here today.
Please, you have the floor.

Farah Dakhlallah, NATO Spokesperson - Thank you very much. We have a question from Nerma Ajnadzic from Dnevni Avaz.

Nerma Ajnadzic, Dnevni Avaz – Hi, Nerma – Avaz - Bosnia and Herzegovina. Can we expect Bosnia sincerely to join NATO and what our authorities can also do more on that path?

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General – Well Bosnia and Herzegovina has the status as a country which has the Membership Action Plan. It is activated for Bosnia and Herzegovina and of course the purpose of the Membership Action Plan is to make Bosnia and Herzegovina a member of NATO. But to do so, to finalise that process, there are two conditions. One is of course, that the reforms that are necessary to implement are really implemented. So Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to continue its reform efforts. And I think it's important to understand that to strengthen the government institutions, to strengthen the multi-ethnic nature of for instance the armed forces, these are good things to do, regardless of membership in NATO but also helps to move towards the membership of NATO. So the reforms has value, have their value in themselves, but also helps towards membership of NATO. And these reforms are also helping Bosnia and Herzegovina to move towards EU membership. So reforms strengthening governance and public institutions, democratic institutions, is the first condition. The second is of course, that it has to be wanted by the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the political authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. And that’s not for me to decide, that’s for Bosnia and Herzegovina to decide. But I think we need to realise that even though, perhaps membership is not something that will happen tomorrow. The efforts to move towards membership will strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina, will stabilise the country and also help to realise EU membership.

Farah Dakhlallah, NATO Spokesperson - Okay, thank you very much. The press conference is concluded. Thank you.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General – Thank you.