Today's meeting, at the highest level, once again demonstrates that Bosnia and Herzegovina is important to the Alliance and that it is very important to accelerate the Euro-Atlantic path of our country.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO are inextricably linked.

NATO has established and maintained peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The citizens and peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina are eternally grateful to NATO.

The Dayton Peace Agreement, Annex 1-A, clearly stipulates the role of NATO. According to this international agreement, NATO has a mandate and a duty, when necessary, to establish its forces with the aim of protecting peace and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. No country outside the Alliance has such strong ties with NATO as Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The positions of the last NATO summits in Madrid (2022), Vilnius (2023), Washington (2024) are particularly important for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Of particular importance is the Alliance's approach, which implies that the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina is incorporated into the security of NATO, as well as the importance of joint action to strengthen the defence capabilities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We particularly welcome NATO's decision to develop a new Defence Capacity Building (DCB) package for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The package includes projects that are very important for strengthening defence capabilities, resilience and interoperability with NATO.

The state authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina unanimously defined the legal framework and opted for the membership of our country in NATO.

Our country has adopted all key legal, strategic and other documents in the field of defence and security. This is evidenced, among other things, by the following acts:

- Law on Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

- Review of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

- Defence Policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

- Security Policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

- Statements of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina to join NATO;

- Resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which clearly states that the goal is to become a member of NATO.

The Law on Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Article 84, clearly stipulates: “The Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and all defence entities, within their own constitutional and legal jurisdiction, shall carry out the necessary activities for the admission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to NATO membership.”

If someone within Bosnia and Herzegovina wants to change the adopted laws and strategic documents, they can only try to do so in accordance with the legal procedure and in the manner in which these acts were adopted.

Until the aforementioned laws and documents are changed, they must be implemented and are binding on everyone. I remind you, they were unanimously adopted by state bodies, with the votes of Bosniaks, Serbs, Croats, and Others.

On the path towards full NATO membership, Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved concrete results.

Among other things, the state authorities have:

- adopted five annual reform programs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which were submitted to Brussels, and the sixth is in preparation;

- agreed with NATO on the Individual Tailored Partnership Program for the period 2025-2028;

- adopted more than 70 decisions in the field of defence at the sessions of the Presidency of BiH in the last two years;

- declared and evaluated the Light Infantry Battalion Battle Group of the Armed Forces of BiH, which was successfully assessed by NATO;

- realized an important visit of the NAC to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024;

- successfully organized the NATO Partnership 360 Symposium 2024 as hosts;

- allocated more funds for defence in this mandate;

- adopted a new structure of the General Staff, after two years of blockade;

- appointed new generals in the Armed Forces of BiH;

- approved at the sessions of the Presidency of BiH the participation of the Armed Forces of BiH (AFBiH) in peace support missions and operations (Ethiopia and Eritrea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Congo, Mali, Central African Republic), thereby contributing to collective security;

- enabled the participation of members of the AFBiH in NATO structures;

- and ensured that Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the first time, was invited to contribute to the NATO Response Force, i.e. high-readiness forces, which are capable of rapid deployment at short notice.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the results achieved would have been better if it were not for the destructive actions of pro-Russian politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Unfortunately, the leadership of BiH entity of Republika Srpska (RS) brutally attacked the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the beginning of March this year. Let us not forget that the leadership of this entity has been undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement for years and is openly working against the Euro-Atlantic integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The competent judicial institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina) have, in accordance with the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adopted appropriate measures and decisions that have rendered the illegal acts of BiH entity of RS legally invalid.

I would like to remind you that Milorad Dodik was sentenced in the first instance to one year in prison and a six-year ban on political activity for attacking the constitutional order of the state.

Due to the denial of court decisions and the continuation of anti-constitutional actions, the Court of BiH, in accordance with the law, issued a central arrest warrant for Milorad Dodik, Nenad Stevandić and Radovan Višković.

Given these facts, the aforementioned leaders of BiH entity of RS are no longer relevant interlocutors, they are the subject of justice.

Due to the violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the threat to peace by the President of BiH entity of RS and his closest associates, justified sanctions were imposed by the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Austria, and the anti-Dayton policy was condemned by almost all NATO members and the entire democratic world.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO have many common interests in our country becoming a member of the Alliance as soon as possible.

Among other things, I will list the following reasons:

Bosnia and Herzegovina's NATO and EU paths are complementary. It is evident that progress on the NATO path simultaneously brings Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to the EU membership.

Security and military reasons are reflected in the fact that it would be much more efficient to integrate Bosnia and Herzegovina into NATO than to deploy NATO forces to establish peace and security in the country and the region.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's membership in NATO is the best solution in terms of ensuring a quality security environment.

NATO membership is also important for political reasons. As a NATO member, Bosnia and Herzegovina would strengthen its democratic path and development.

NATO membership would strengthen regional cooperation, as good neighbourly relations contribute to reducing security threats.

NATO membership creates the conditions for economic stability and growth of foreign investment.

As one of the members of the Presidency of BiH, I express my full commitment to dynamizing reform processes and assuming responsibility, in accordance with my competences.

This includes, among other things: consistent respect for the Constitution and laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, strengthening the efficiency of state institutions, respecting decisions of judicial institutions, more efficient implementation of BiH Reform Program, and increasing defence spending.

Finally, I have a few concrete suggestions.

I believe that it is extremely important for NATO to act proactively in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including through deterrence.

It is very important to ensure the long-term presence of NATO forces in military bases in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This would be the best prevention of the disruption of peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

In the event that the UN Security Council vetoes the extension of the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is essential to have a ready NATO response, in accordance with Annex 1-A of the Dayton Peace Agreement. A security vacuum in Bosnia and Herzegovina could have catastrophic consequences.

Bosnia and Herzegovina should be even more firmly institutionally incorporated into the Alliance's security framework. This includes an increased NATO presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the adoption of a strategic concept that strengthens security guarantees for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the development of concrete plans for political and military action in crisis situations.

I propose the adoption of a joint action plan, with the aim of inviting Bosnia and Herzegovina to NATO membership as soon as possible.

Finally, I propose that such a meeting, in the format of NAC and Bosnia and Herzegovina, be held at least once a year.

Thank you for your attention.