Opening remarks by NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană with the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto at the North Atlantic[...]

Mircea Geoană, NATO Deputy Secretary General

Dear Borjana. Thank you so much for inviting the North Atlantic Council to your country and for your warm welcome. Also our words of appreciation to your ministers and to your team. Our visit follows on the heels of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's trip here last November - he sends his best regards to you. It demonstrates once again NATO's strong and enduring commitment to Bosnia Herzegovina. It demonstrates that NATO and Bosnia Herzegovina have a long-standing and mutually-beneficial partnership.

The security and stability of this country matters for the security of the wider Western Balkans region. It matters for the security of Europe, and of all of NATO. This is why NATO is concerned about secessionist and divisive rhetoric inside Bosnia Herzegovina and about malign interference from Russia.

These challenge[s] of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia Herzegovina, they threaten to undermine stability. In this meeting, we'll take stock of the current situation in the country and discuss how to further deepen our long-standing partnership. The information shared by your mission in Brussels last week, which lays out reform programme related activities implemented by Bosnia Herzegovina's institution in 2023 is highly appreciated. You can count on NATO to continue supporting Bosnia Herzegovina on its Euro Atlantic path. Once again, thank you so much for hosting us today and it is my pleasure to invite Madame Chair to take the floor.