NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed in an interview that Bosnia’s institutions, especially the Armed Forces, are important for the stability of the country and that “any attempt to weaken state-level institutions will only undermine the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Stoltenberg told Montenegrin newspaper ‘Pobjeda’ that the Western Balkans had come a long way since the 1990s conflict, but that tensions had risen recently in both Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with more aggressive rhetoric, halted reforms and “foreign actors working to undermine progress ”.

He stressed that NATO will continue to promote stability, security and co-operation in the region, including the day-to-day work of our UN-led KFOR mission in Kosovo and its offices in Sarajevo and Belgrade.

“Our cooperation with the European Union remains essential and we will continue to work together to preserve stability and support reforms. As for Bosnia and Herzegovina, its unique structures are important for the country’s stability, especially the Armed Forces, one of the strongest multiethnic institutions in the country,” he said, calling the creation of the BiH Armed Forces “one of the most significant achievements” in the post-war period.

“Any attempt to weaken state-level institutions will only undermine the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This will also have negative consequences for its economy and regional stability. Therefore, we are fully committed to continuing to support all efforts to promote reforms and ensure the efficient functioning of state institutions,” he said.

“We call on political leaders to work constructively and to show political will for the benefit of all in Bosnia and Herzegovina in advancing its Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” he added.

Stoltenberg added that security and stability in the Western Balkans are important for NATO and that this was reaffirmed at the summit in Brussels and during the last meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Riga.

“We see the future of the region in Euro-Atlantic cooperation and integration for those who want it. We are determined to help the countries of the region implement reforms for the benefit of their citizens. This is not an easy path. It requires real commitment and real progress in reforms and reconciliation; but it is possible, as Montenegro and Northern Macedonia have shown. That is why I call on all leaders in the region to show their commitment to reform and reconciliation. This is key to consolidating stability across the region,” Stoltenberg said.