“I am going to Vienna for completely different reasons: on August 26th we will sign an agreement on the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. We accepted to do this in Vienna on the invitation of the President of Austria, Heinz Fischer, before the event that is most important to me – the Conference on the Western Balkans. In addition to the official talks with the representatives of Austria, it is our desire to use this visit to continue conversations which I had in Brussels, about a month ago, with Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement, Johannes Hahn. So we will take advantage of these two days for these meetings as well”, Covic said in an interview with Anatolia.
Asked whether by signing the border treaty with Montenegro Bosnia handed over part of the territory to which it was entitled – Sutorina – Covic stressed such claims are absolutely not true.
“We must be wise; the fact that we love what is our and wish to protect it also means we have to know how to do it… I’m sure this Agreement would never have happened, if we didn’t receive enough agruments, regardless of what would happen or those who think differently. These arguments showed us that on the legal, international level, we would not fare well if we continued with the thesis that we presented, and from this point, we have shown political wisdom”, Covic said.
He also stressed that Montenegro’s entry into NATO is an incentive for BiH as well.
“A lot of things ahead of us. Philosophy is essential and the key thing is that we informed Brussels in July that we will be changing our practices; and now, in the first month, we passed the test which is in Vienna. The next test will most probably be in September in BiH, and if it continues in the same spirit, I am truly very optimistic that we will be able to apply for our status in the EU in the first quarter next year”, said Covic.
BiH Presidency Chairman added that it is important that BiH presents itself as the center of the Balkans, or what remains east of the European Union.
“That’s why it is very important to us that our closest neighbor that is Montenegro becomes member of NATO in autumn this year. Whether it will succeed depends primarily of Montenegro and the NATO, but it would be of great help to us… by automatism, we would make a step forward when it comes to the MAP, the Partnership for peace, because we still need to resolve our issues of state and military property, among other things. I do not see any reason why we couldn’t, because at the entire political scene in BiH, including the opposition, everyone is thinking alike when we talk about NATO”, said Covic.
Therefore, he says, with Montenegro becoming a full member of NATO, BiH would actually have a very clear framework with the bulk of its borders leaning on NATO members, which in turn would offer enormous economic breakthrough on one hand, and on the other, political and real security. Covic said he is convinved the entire region would become much more stable.
“With borders open like this, no matter how you look at it, we are very, very exposed: whether its threat of ISIS, or other international terrorist projects, or any new temptation that may come.. To protect ourselves against these attacks, and to be able to manage this process on our own terms, it is good to have neighbors who are members of EU and NATO. That is why we want to catch up with Serbia when it comes to EU candidate status, and I’d be delighted if we could catch up with Montenegro when it comes to NATO. This would relax us primarily at home, so that we can sort some things better and faster within BiH”, Covic underlined.
