Chairman of the Delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H PA) to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA NATO) Asim Sarajlić said that the statement of the Embassy of the Russian Federation was an act of inappropriate and undiplomatic pressure on B&H and its institutions.

-However, that statement comes by approximately 15 years too late, because B&H defined the commitment to join the NATO in 2006 with the Law on Defense- Sarajlić reminded.

After that, the decisions and strategies followed, joining the MAP, Sarajlić notes, which is why it is clear that B&H is moving towards NATO membership.

-It is especially important to emphasize that all previous decisions have been made by consensus. Such an open Russian pressure on B&H is not only a question for us in B&H, but also for our partners in Brussels and Washington, so I expect to hear clear messages from that side- concluded Sarajlić.

The Russian Embassy in B&H stated that in the event of a practical approximation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO, they will have to react to what they said would be a hostile step.

-We call our friends in B&H to think carefully, to weigh all the pros and cons, to take into account the opinion of all residents of the country who are far from having a consensus on this issue- said in a press release the Russian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The announcement of the Embassy of Russia in B&H came a day after the Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Cooperation with NATO was constituted, based on the decision of the Council of Ministers of February 24, 2021.