Chief NATO prior to visit to Sarajevo: Stability in BiH, Kosovo, Serbia is in our interest

Secretary - General NATO Mark Rutte is scheduled to visit Sarajevo in the next ten days.

Rutte's visit takes place at a time of radical movements by RS authorities, following the decision against Milorad Dodik.

However, Rutte announced his visit six days before Dodik's decision, speaking at the Comenius University in Bratislava.

There he has been asked about changes in US international policy, about rumors that the US could withdraw its troops and leave its military base in Kosovo, and if there is danger of conflict in the area, Vijesti.ba broadcasts.

Rutte later said he would visit the region in March.

Fortunately, now, for many years, we have solid stability, forged in that part of Europe, in the Western Balkans, we must preserve it. I have no reason to believe that there will be dramatic and general reports in the Western Balkans. We need to make sure that we keep an eye on this, because stability in Kosovo, stability in Bosnia, stability in Serbia, is in our interest”, Rutte said.

He added that, of course, they know there are some issues that “should be very careful about in Bosnia”.

I myself am in constant contact with all the key leaders there. I have had the opportunity to speak to two of the three members of the BiH Presidency at the Munich Security Conference and visit the region in March. So step by step, we're really trying to maintain stability. And this is important because it is a region that has a history of instability, and fortunately, now, for many years, we have a strong, forged stability in that part of Europe, in the Western Balkans, we have to preserve it”, Rutte said.