BiH is a country where NATO has done many important things, stopped the war and established peace, and worked on the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. NATO is the guarantor of Dayton, BiH Presidency Chairman Sefik Dzaferovic said at today's press conference in Brussels after a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

- The meeting was constructive. BiH is an aspirant for EU membership. We submitted the Action Plan in 2009 - Džaferović reminded.

Russian influence

However, he noted that there are political forces in BiH that challenge the country's path to EU and NATO integration.

- I am convinced that NATO will continue to protect the peace, which is especially important due to the possible spillover of the crisis from Ukraine. There is Russian influence and open threats from the Russian side in BiH, and that is what the Russian ambassador is doing - said Džaferović.

The Chairman of the Presidency asked that at the summit in Madrid, strong support be given to NATO's path to BiH and to strengthen the NATO headquarters in Sarajevo.

Dialogue and cooperation

He also thanked for the support of the BiH Armed Forces and for improving cooperation.

- International institutions are crucial and all parties need to stop sharing policies - said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg also expressed support for the EUFOR/Althea mission in BiH.

- Dialogue and cooperation are very important for BiH and it is very important to establish this type of support for maintaining peace - Stoltenberg said.