2006 Press Releases

US Congratulates BiH On Partnership For Peace Invitation

11/29/06

The United States of America congratulates Bosnia and Herzegovina on its invitation to join NATO’s Partnership for Peace.  This invitation is a reflection of NATO members’ support for democratic transition and stability in the region and is an affirmation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s substantial progress on political and economic reforms.  Bosnia and Herzegovina’s advancement in assuming responsibility for its own national security, through comprehensive defense reform, was a critical factor in this success and an important step in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration.  This achievement illustrates the important strides Bosnia and Herzegovina has made in its ability to be an active and important security partner of NATO and the United States, capable of deploying and serving in international peace and stability operations.  We applaud the leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina for their work in creating a single, unified Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina capable of membership in PfP.

Notwithstanding today’s decision, we note that much important work remains to be done in the process of implementing defense reform.  We call on leaders to offer a vision and show determination in this task.  We also remind Bosnia and Herzegovina that this decision does not remove its responsibility and commitment to fully cooperate with and to proactively address outstanding issues related to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).  More needs to be done to ensure that the remaining ICTY fugitives, notably Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, are apprehended as quickly as possible.  Further Euro-Atlantic integration will be contingent on resolution of these cases and on full ICTY cooperation.

We again congratulate Bosnia and Herzegovina on this important achievement and look forward to our enhanced cooperation, both bilaterally and within NATO, in the future.