Full NATO Membership of Western Balkans Countries Discussed in Sarajevo at the 94th Rose - Roth NATO PA Seminar and the NATO PA Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group Session

94^th NATO PA Rose - Roth seminar and the NATO PA Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group session, organized by the NATO PA and the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PABiH), began today in Sarajevo. 150 participants from 42 countries discussed the political views in relation to the full NATO alliance membership of the Western Balkans countries, as well as the promotion of understanding of the Alliance, and the elimination of prejudices concerning the NATO activities.

During the above-mentioned discussions, the Chairman of the Joint Commission for Defence and Security BiH Sifet Podžić said that there are different views on the issue of its integration into NATO in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also stressed that all political actors are actively working on finding common solutions. In this connection, Podžić added that the Joint Commission for Defence and Security of BiH has done much to solve problems and create conditions that lead our country to the framework of the NATO member states. Noting that the process of registering military property has already started, Podžić expressed his belief that the activation of the Membership Action Plan (MAP) will give strong support to current efforts of Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to NATO membership. Recalling that the BiH Parliamentary Assembly  adopted a resolution on the preparedness of Bosnia and Herzegovina for NATO integration in 2008, Podžić pointed out that he expects support from representatives of NATO PA in fulfilling the obligations that our country lead to European and Euro-Atlantic integrations. Podžić also briefed about activities of the Joint Commission for Defence and Security in the process of destruction of surplus ammunition and mine - explosive devices (MiMES), in solving problems in public procurement, helping the civilian population during natural disasters and emergencies, and military demining.

BiH Presidency Chairman Mladen Ivanić informed the participants of the seminar about the current political environment in our country in terms of its progress in cooperation with NATO, and the political views in relation to the activation of MAP. Speaking about the integration of BiH into NATO, Ivanić said that there is no dilemma on the issue of the entry of Bosnia and Herzegovina in MAP, and expressed expectation that the activation of the MAP will lead to stabilization of security situation in BiH and the entire Western Balkans region. He concluded that our country is committed to the continuation of cooperation with NATO, especially in the field of participation of the BiH Armed Forces units in peace missions in Afghanistan and other countries, as well as in the fight against ISIL.

Minister of Defence Marina Pendeš said that the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to EU and NATO are two strategic objectives of foreign policy of our country. She recalled that Bosnia and Herzegovina is working intensively in the process of registering perspective military property, and pointed out positive trends in connection with the adoption of the document "Defence Review" in the BiH Presidency. Minister Pendeš expressed the hope that this seminar and interactive dialogue will help the NATO PA delegates with creation of a complete picture of the efforts of the Western Balkan countries on their path to Euro-Atlantic integration, and in particular of the value of the activation of the MAP for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, as she said, was of great importance even for the Alliance.

The commander of NATO HQ in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Brigadier General Giselle Wilz also addressed the participants of the 94^th Rose - Roth NATO PA seminar and the NATO PA Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group session, as well as the representatives of the Centre for International Relations in Banja Luka, the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy and the Atlantic Council of Montenegro. (End)