NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized on March 10 in Sarajevo that NATO is committed to safeguarding the hard-earned peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, refusing to allow any security vacuum to form in the region.

Rutte’s official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina involves meetings with top political leaders, taking place during a period when authorities in Republika Srpska have threatened secession and attempted to restrict the operations of state judicial and police institutions within their entity.

During discussions with members of the BiH Presidency, Rutte reiterated NATO’s unwavering support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, asserting that the Dayton Peace Agreement, which concluded the war in 1995, is a fundamental agreement that must be upheld. He also expressed support for the activities of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), which oversees its implementation.

“I am indeed concerned about the security situation, but this is not 1992. We will not allow a security vacuum to develop. I am confident that EUFOR is fully prepared to ensure a stable security environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We will not permit the peace achieved in Bosnia to be compromised,” stated Rutte.

Three members of the BiH Presidency, two differing viewpoints

Chairwoman Željka Cvijanović from Republika Srpska remarked that, for her and the political representatives of this entity, the territorial integrity, multi-ethnicity, and cooperation with NATO are fundamental; however, they question the legitimacy of joining this military-political alliance.

“My colleagues believe it is acceptable for a foreigner to impose laws, but I think it is unreasonable to create a spectacle based on the Bonn Conference. There is a prevailing belief in RS that this country has been privatized through various speculations for the benefit of one ethnic group at the expense of the other two,” Cvijanović noted.

Cvijanović acknowledged the heightened presence of EUFOR and NATO in Bosnia and Herzegovina, asserting that it is advantageous for the entire country “due to the various verbal threats we’ve encountered.”

“The High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt cannot single-handedly save the country; instead, the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina must collaborate, reaching agreements to foster a normal and democratic life,” she added.

Presidency Member Denis Bećirović highlighted the significance of Rutte’s assurance that NATO would not permit a security vacuum and his complete backing of the High Representative’s mandate in Bosnia.

“These are the most challenging times since 1995. We have experienced a brutal constitutional coup against Bosnia. This dangerous destabilization must be halted. The only party that benefits from such destabilization would be Moscow,” Bećirović asserted.

The third Presidency member, Željko Komšić, expressed his immediate agreement with everything stated during the meeting with the NATO Secretary General.

Komšić mentioned that the responsibility for Bosnia resides with its leaders and that they owe it to the citizens to provide a majority of positive news.

“What is often overlooked is the need for Bosnia to allocate greater funding to the defense sector, particularly as it seeks NATO membership. The amount proposed in the budget we are currently discussing falls short of even two percent of the gross domestic product (GDP),” Komšić pointed out.

Following this meeting, Rutte is scheduled to speak with the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto.

Later in the day, he is expected to address students at the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Sarajevo.

What prompted Rutte’s visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The NATO Secretary General’s arrival in Bosnia and Herzegovina comes in the wake of unconstitutional laws being enacted in the entity of Republika Srpska.

The RS Assembly had previously passed legislation that prohibited the operations of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), the Court and Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, which is responsible for appointing all judges and prosecutors in the country.

The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a temporary measure halting the enforcement of the law adopted by the RS National Assembly on February 27, the day after RS President Milorad Dodik received a first-instance verdict sentencing him to a year in prison and a six-year prohibition from holding office.

He was found guilty of defying the decisions made by High Representative Christian Schmidt and of signing a decree that attempted to reinstate laws previously annulled by Schmidt, which obstructed the enforcement of Constitutional Court and High Representative decisions in the RS territory.

NATO has reiterated its commitment to supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, asserting that it will not allow a security vacuum to arise or the peace to be threatened.

The European Union Force (EUFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina announced on March 7 that it would temporarily augment its troop levels as a precautionary measure in light of rising tensions within the country.

News