(10 Mar 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCITED PRESS
Sarajevo, Bosnia – 10 March 2025
1. NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, arriving for briefing
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary-General:
"Any actions that undermine Dayton, the constitutional order or national institutions are unacceptable. Inflammatory rhetoric and actions are dangerous. They pose a direct threat to Bosnia and Herzegovina stability and security. But here comes my real main message. It will be up to the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take their responsibility here. And that is you three, the three of you. There is no other show in town. You’ve got to do this. And I said it also in the meeting, you asked me to repeat what I said the meeting and this was my main message. This country is looking at the three of you. This is about personal leadership. Make this country proud of its presidency."
++BLACK FRAMES++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary-General:
"Of course, I hear concerns about the security situation. But let’s be clear, this is not 1992, and we will not allow a security vacuum to emerge. The international community is here and committed to continuing our strong support, including through EUFOR and NATO. I know that EUFOR is fully prepared to uphold a safe and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I look forward to visiting Camp Budimir later today."
++BLACK FRAMES++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary-General:
"We will not allow hard-won peace to be jeopardised. NATO will continue to support you on your European and on your Euroatlantic path on which you are advancing."
++BLACK FRAMES++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary-General:
"We are committed to our cooperation and want to see it grow. We already have a solid partnership. And we are prepared to build on NATO’s long standing support to your country’s armed forces and to defence and security reforms. And yes, it would be great if you could spend somewhat more on your armed forces."
++BLACK FRAMES++
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary-General:
"So we are ready to move forward in lockstep with you and in line with your sovereign decisions. Your sovereignty and your territorial integrity, as set out in the Dayton Accords, remain fundamental to both the security and the stability of the region."
++BLACK FRAMES++
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary-General:
"So, Bosnia and Herzegovina can count on NATO’s unwavering support. But let me come back to what is really my main message today. You’ve got to solve this, the three of you. I really believe this is your appointment with history."
8. Rutte shaking hands with leaders
STORYLINE:
NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday pledged the Western military Alliance’s “unwavering” support for Bosnia’s territorial integrity after recent Bosnian Serb separatist moves raised tensions in the country nearly 30 years after the end of a bloody war.
Rutte spoke in Bosnia’s capital Sarajevo after meeting the three members of the Balkan country’s multi-ethnic presidency – one of the institutions established in a peace accord that ended the 1992-95 conflict between the rival Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats after more than 100,000 people died.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina can count on NATO’s unwavering support,” said Rutte. “We will not allow hard-won peace to be jeopardized.”
“Any actions that undermine Dayton, the constitutional order or national institutions are unacceptable,” he added.
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