Seventeen years ago, with the adoption of the Law on Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Law on Service in the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the process of establishing a professional Armed Forces of our homeland, trained for various types of operations and activities, began.

Those regulations carried with them a powerful message at the time, namely that anyone can be a part of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regardless of ethnic, religious or any other affiliation. The only essential condition was to be able to handle the challenges that are an integral part of doing this job.

I have already said this once, but I will say it again, the 1st of December - the Day of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina - is the day to remember the contribution of those who, investing a lot of knowledge, effort and sacrifice, created the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina of today.

Although it was a very complex process, which required determination and patience, today we can safely say that the process of establishing the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the best examples of a successful reform in our society and country.

Despite the difficulties, which are mainly reflected in the lack of financial resources, the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina are unconditionally available to all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, assisting civil authorities in responding to natural and other disasters that, unfortunately, have befallen us in recent years. They are a significant guarantor of state stability and protection of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I have had the opportunity to see the courage of our soldiers many times. Those young men and women had an adequate and courageous response to the challenges they faced. One of those occasions was a meeting with members of our Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the NATO mission "Resolute Support" for 2020 in Afghanistan, where they showed readiness and an exceptional level of ability to react in emergency situations, rivalling the largest military forces in the world. Our soldiers, for their participation in peacekeeping missions around the world, continuously receive the praises in which their professionalism and dedication are highlighted, which we should all be proud of because they represent us and our country Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The foreign policy strategy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adopted by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is very clear. In that document, it was pointed out that in the continuation of activities on reform processes in our country, NATO remains the priority of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I am not saying that it will be easy to bring this process to an end, there is a lot of work ahead of us, but all our diplomatic activities will lead to full membership in the NATO alliance, which is of great importance for the security, stability and overall progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For the overall development of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the strengthening of personal capacities through the training of soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers, as well as education of military personnel abroad, is of particular importance. That is why I use this opportunity to welcome the successful cooperation between the Federal Ministry of Defence of Austria and the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is reflected in the project of training our cadets at the Theresian Military Academy here in Austria.

I congratulate the cadets who graduated this year and became lieutenants, and now work as platoon commanders in our units. To the cadets of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina who are currently attending training and are here with us tonight, I wish good health, happiness and success during their education and work.

Without a strong Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country itself cannot count on the protection of territorial integrity and sovereignty. The stable and strong Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina are the main guarantee of the survival and stability of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a lever that must never be called into question. At a time when, unfortunately, wars are again being waged in Europe and the world, and when certain countries, in violation of international law, are once again carrying out aggression, the importance of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina is absolutely crucial for our homeland.

Let's acknowledge everything we have done to date, and what we will do in the future so that the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina remain a strong and unassailable pillar of our society. I am sure that the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on the democratic principles of openness and cooperation, regardless of the challenges they will face, will do everything to make Bosnia and Herzegovina an equal member of the Euro-Atlantic family in the future. I can promise you that I will do whatever I can.

Once again, on behalf of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in my own name, I congratulate all the members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina the Armed Forces Day and the 17th anniversary of its establishment.

Thank you for your attention.