prijava
SARAJEVO, February 14 (FENA) - BiH Defense Minister Sifet Podžić participated in a NATO ministerial meeting which was held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on 13 February.
Following the opening and introductory address by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Resolute Support Mission Commander General Austin Scott Miller and NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Nicholas Kay briefed ministers on the current political and military situation in Afghanistan, progress made in the development of Afghanistan security forces and peace process, as well as with challenges and future joint activities in the execution of this mission.
In his address, Podžić emphasized the commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina to achieve international peace and security, peacebuilding and long-term stability in Afghanistan with joint efforts and cooperation with operational partners, and confirmed that members of BiH Armed Forces will continue to participate in the Resolute Support mission. At the end of his presentation, he emphasized that this readiness was also reflected in the recently submitted document "BiH Reform Program" and that he is pleased that he would work together with NATO to implement the Reform Program as well as to strengthen its relations with the Alliance.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Podžić had a brief conversation with NATO Chairman of the Military Committee Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach.
During a visit to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, a delegation of the BiH Ministry of Defense held a meeting with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia and the Western Balkans, Laura K. Cooper, at the invitation of staff from the US Permanent Mission to NATO associates.
The officials at the meeting discussed the participation of members of the BiH Armed Forces in international exercises and operations, the importance of cooperation under the US-Adriatic Charter (A5), US support for BiH's defense capacity building and defense reforms.
Podžić thanked the US support for BiH in defense reform, expressing satisfaction that the first bilateral meeting outside BiH was at NATO Headquarters and with a senior official of the US Department of Defense. He further emphasized the future priorities in the work of the MoD and AF of BiH, with particular reference to the Defense Review and the AFBiH Modernization Plan, as an integral part of the BiH Reform Program, noting the importance of cooperation under the US-Adriatic Charter as a regional partnership initiative chaired by BiH this year, saying that it is a good opportunity for BiH to improve cooperation and overall relations in the region.
As part of the visit to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, delegation of the BiH Ministry of Defense also visited the BiH Mission to NATO. On that occasion, they had a brief reception and a meeting with the BiH Ambassador to NATO, Mitar Kujundžić, and a working meeting with members of the Military Section of the Mission of BiH to NATO, PR Office of the BiH Ministry of Defense announced.
(FENA) A. B.
