1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Reasons for adopting a new Strategy for fight against terrorism The threat of potential terrorist attacks has grown in all countries of the Coalition against Terrorism, including BiH. There is an infrastructure (both legal and institutional) in place but it requires vigilant upgrade and expansion. This issue has not been approached in a synergic and coordinated way for various reasons, for example because laws in force do not suffice or are only partially implemented, while, on the other hand, potential threats have grown and, if negative trends continue, we may soon face a serious security crisis with far fetching consequences. The Strategy for prevention and fight against terrorism (hereinafter: the Strategy) establishes a general framework for Bosnia and Herzegovina's actions in its fight against terrorism and offers guidelines for improving the existing and developing new measures and instruments for the prevention and suppression of terrorism. Protection against terrorism is a state competence, a part of its fundamental function to establish conditions allowing for peaceful and safe life of all its citizens, free from violence and fear, democratic, creative and prosperous, respectful of law and order. Any form of terrorism directed against Bosnia and Herzegovina would be a grave and intolerable threat to the country's fundamental values and interests as it would directly affect security and lives of its citizens. Therefore, Bosnia and Herzegovina's priority is to develop comprehensive measures, national and international, for the prevention of and protection from all forms of terrorism, measures which should produce, along with direct benefits, a strong deterrent effect against any terrorist act targeting Bosnia and Herzegovina. A stable security environment in BiH means also that the country must keep the upper hand in dealing with terrorism and other crimes connected with terrorism, as it is one of the key requirements for BiH’s accession to the EU and NATO. Whether problems in this field will be solved quickly does not hinge on the security situation alone but also on the country’s general progress, especially in the context of the EU and NATO enlargement. The present Strategy is therefore very important for BiH as a means for initiating changes which should provide for a long-term framework of the antiterrorist fight; at the same time, the Strategy is a vehicle for the transfer and application of European antiterrorist standards and regulations into the constitutional and legal system of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This document was drafted on the basis of an analysis of the achievements of the previous Strategy, and as an attempt to answer the following question: ‘Which improvements must be done and activities initiated in order to find an effective solution to the issue of preventing and fighting terrorism in BiH?’ For all the above reasons, this document describes the current situation in the field of prevention and fight against terrorism, considers problems, and suggests objectives to be achieved, starting from the highest relevant institutional level. 4