It is on Bosnia and Herzegovina's authorities to decide if they will seize the opportunity that the NATO foreign ministers might offer on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, addressing the media on Monday.

“I expect ministers to agree that we will be ready to accept the first annual national programme of Bosnia, and then it is on Bosnia and Herzegovina to decide whether they’ll use this opportunity,” said Stoltenberg.

“But I expect us to at least express that we are ready to receive the first annual national programme,” he added.

NATO foreign ministers are set to meet on Wednesday to discuss a series of issues including the Western Balkans. The discussion will be joined by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, according to Stoltenberg.

“…because the region is of key strategic interest for both NATO and the European Union,” he said.

“We will discuss taking the next steps in developing NATO’s relationship with Bosnia and Herzegovina. And I expect the ministers to endorse NATO’s readiness to accept Bosnia’s first national programme,” he said pointing out this is an important tool which can help the country to implement reforms.

Asked if this means activation of the Membership Action Plan (MAP) for Bosnia, he replied that “Bosnia and Herzegovina already has a MAP.”

“It is now up to Bosnia and Herzegovina to decide to take up this offer,” added Stoltenberg.

NATO agreed to launch the MAP for Bosnia in April 2010 and the country has been struggling to meet the necessary criteria, primarily to carry out the registration of military property, in order to get the green light for launching its first annual national programme, which is the final step towards the MAP activation.

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