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Bosnia and Herzegovina gets green light for NATO membership
The US, the largest military force in NATO, went along with the majority of members and approved an official MAP for the country but insisted on attaching conditions. Diplomatic sources say the strings attached do not mean much, saying they are necessary reforms that are needed for the smooth operation of NATO.
A document detailing a compromise action plan was sign by all NATO members after the concerns of those initially opposed to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s membership were addressed. Intense lobbying efforts by Turkey on behalf of NATO members paid off well in securing support for the country, and 15 foreign ministers announced their support for the MAP for Bosnia. Only three members raised their objections, failing to gain support their positions.
At Turkey’s urging, Bosnia sped up the reform process to get ready for the MAP and had fulfilled two criteria out of three by the time the Tallinn summit convened. The Bosnian presidency approved a decision to destroy surplus ammunition and arms and to contribute troops to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. The last requirement, which is to transfer defense property, such as bases, to the state has not yet been implemented, but Bosnia submitted the plan to NATO on how it will fulfill that requirement as well.
“MAP has been granted to Bosnia today, but with clear conditions attached on implementation,” NATO spokesman James Appathurai told a news briefing after talks among NATO foreign ministers in the Estonian capital of Tallinn.
Appathurai told reporters that NATO would accept Bosnia’s first annual reform plan under the program, only when defense property, such as bases, was registered as belonging to the state and for the use of the defense ministry.
“The MAP would help secure stability in fragile multiethnic Bosnia and will provide hope for the country’s 4 million citizens,” Davutoğlu said, adding that “the guarantee of the member state’s territorial integrity by NATO is very important for Bosnia.”
Davutoğlu gathered with Bosnian Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj in Tallinn on Friday morning for a press briefing following Thursday’s breakthrough at the NATO meeting.
“With this decision NATO has shown solidarity with Bosnia and Herzegovina and created a new horizon for Bosnia and Herzegovina in future membership,” Davutoğlu said, describing April 22 as “a historic day,” for Bosnia, Turkey and NATO. “It was a big test for the international community. From this perspective, NATO has shown ethical responsibility for Bosnia. We hope Bosnia will become a full member of NATO,” he added.
Alkalaj recalled that “just 10 years ago, we had three defense ministries, three armies,” adding, “Today we have 28 friends.” Calling the decision “a great leap” for his country and NATO, Alkalaj said: “It is a matter of working together with all ethnic and religious groups on this strategic path. We are committed to our strategic goal of joining NATO as a full member. We’ll always remember this day.”
A MAP is a multi-stage process of political dialogue and military reform to bring a country in line with NATO standards and to eventual membership. Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for the membership plan for the 28-nation NATO in October, but the alliance declined to approve it in December on the grounds that it needed to carry out more reforms.
Bosnia and Herzegovina agreed this month to send an infantry unit to join the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan -- one of the conditions NATO placed on the country’s application. Croatia joined NATO along with Albania last year, and Montenegro was granted a membership plan in December.
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