NATO will not permit a security vacuum to form in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the ongoing crisis, and political leaders must collaborate to find a solution, stated NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte yesterday.

Heightened tensions have emerged since a BiH court sentenced Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik to a year in prison last month, prohibiting him from political activities for six years for disregarding the directives of the High Representative in BiH.

Dodik has dismissed the ruling, and the RS parliament has prohibited the functioning of BiH’s judicial and police institutions within its territory. In response, the BiH Constitutional Court has temporarily halted the separatist laws.

During his visit to Sarajevo yesterday, Rutte asserted that any actions undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement, the constitutional order of BiH, or its state institutions are intolerable, highlighting that NATO will safeguard peace in the region.

“Let’s be clear, this is not 1992, and we will not tolerate a security vacuum. Irresponsible rhetoric and actions are perilous, posing significant risks to the stability and security of BiH,” Rutte remarked following a meeting with members of the BiH Presidency, urging them to assume responsibility for the situation in the country.

“This country looks to you three. Let this nation take pride in its presidency that will resolve this issue,” Rutte added.

He reiterated NATO’s unwavering commitment to the region’s stability and the security of BiH.

“Our commitment to BiH is resolute. NATO fully endorses the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH,” stated Rutte.

He emphasized that the Dayton Agreement remains “the cornerstone of peace in BiH and must be upheld,” affirming NATO’s support for the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and its authority, as reported by Beta agency.

Rutte pointed out that the international community stands ready to counter any threats to peace in BiH through EUFOR forces, which he believes have the capability to maintain a secure and stable environment within the country.

“We will not permit the hard-won peace to be endangered. NATO will continue to support you on your Euro-Atlantic journey, on which you are making strides,” Rutte emphasized.

He indicated that NATO aims to achieve this in partnership with its international allies, including the EU and the High Representative.

Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Denis Bećirović remarked that Rutte’s key message was that NATO does not approve of nor will it allow a security vacuum in BiH.

At a press conference subsequent to the meeting with Rutte, Bećirović highlighted that a stable BiH is crucial for NATO, all of Europe, and the region, asserting that the situation in the country needs to stabilize and that everyone should honor the constitutional framework, along with the competencies of BiH’s state and lower levels of government, as well as the unfettered operation of judicial institutions.

“I conveyed to the NATO Secretary General that we are facing the toughest moments since 1995. We are witnessing a brutal assault on BiH’s constitutional order,” Bećirović stated.

He noted that “for the first time since 1995, there is unity between the state bodies of BiH and the international community,” emphasizing that “the attempt to undermine the constitutional order in BiH has been condemned by the US and key European Union nations.”

“This crisis did not emerge suddenly; it is the result of ongoing efforts to dismantle the Dayton Peace Agreement. This trend must be halted,” Bećirović stressed, adding that the only beneficiary of the crisis in BiH is Moscow.

BiH Presidency Member Željko Komšić remarked that the ultimate accountability for the situation in BiH will rest with the members of the state Presidency and domestic institutions.

“Regardless of our perspective, the responsibility for the circumstances in this country will ultimately lie with us—us three—because the citizens of BiH look to us, expecting either good or bad news, and it is our obligation to primarily deliver positive news to them,” Komšić stated.

He expressed his readiness to endorse all statements made by the NATO Secretary General during their meeting.

Komšić also indicated that BiH should allocate more funding for the defense sector in order to meet NATO standards, noting that current defense spending falls far short of the expected two percent of annual gross domestic product.

This country looks to you three. Let this country take pride in its presidency that will resolve this issue, said Rutte.

The Chairperson of the Presidency of BiH, Željka Cvijanović, contended that the current crisis in BiH was not instigated by Dodik, but rather by the High Representative in BiH, Kristijan Šmit.

She assessed that the situation in BiH represents a political crisis rather than a security crisis, which she claims arose from Schmidt imposing laws, leading to the judicial proceedings against Dodik.

“My colleagues (Denis Bećirović and Željko Komšić) seem to accept that a foreigner can impose laws; I do not. They believe court decisions should be obeyed, but I find it unacceptable for such decisions to stem from an assault on the judiciary,” Cvijanović asserted.

Regarding the security landscape in BiH, she stated that peace is not threatened as long as the Armed Forces of BiH and all police agencies operate within their legal jurisdiction.

“We do not face real conflicts between the two entities, unless there are some reckless individuals who might incite issues,” Cvijanović cautioned.

She added that the situation in BiH should return to a normal political discourse, emphasizing the need for dialogue and asserting that “one people must not monopolize BiH at the expense of others.”

“In RS, there is a prevailing sentiment that this country has been heavily monopolized by one people, with others denied equal rights through various manipulations and speculations,” Cvijanović concluded. A.Š.

Helez: BiH should immediately become a conditional member of NATO

BiH Defense Minister Zukan Helez (SDP) announced that he has proposed to Rutte that BiH should promptly be granted conditional NATO membership.

“If this would lead to complications in the region, I suggested that Serbia be offered conditional NATO membership as well. I believe this would foster long-term peace and stability in BiH and throughout the region,” Helez told reporters following his meeting with members of the BiH Council of Ministers and Rutte in Sarajevo.

He mentioned that Rutte responded positively to his proposal and promised to consider it further at NATO headquarters in Brussels, as reported by Beta.

Politicians from RS oppose BiH’s accession to NATO, advocating for military neutrality instead.

The Cabinet of the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Borjana Krišto (HDZ BiH), indicated that the meeting with the NATO head focused on the political and security circumstances in the region and Europe.

Krišto underscored that there are no security threats in BiH, with all institutions performing their duties smoothly and professionally.

“Despite the challenges, ensuring the stability of BiH and its institutions stands as a collective interest for all political entities. A joint dialogue and the formulation of key decisions by the political representatives of all three constituent peoples is essential for our common interest,” the office of Borjana Krišto stated.

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