1.2. National policy
BiH’s geostrategic position is that of a country in the Southeast Europe, and, as a
rule, its institutions are well aware of potential terrorist threats and pay increasingly more
attention to the prevention and suppression of all types of terrorism.
In the 2006 Security Strategy, BiH already recognized potential dangers, as
illustrated by this stipulation, “In the conduct of its internal policies, subjects of the BiH
security system will direct their efforts to the fight against terrorism, organized crime and
corruption through the strengthening of control and disciplinary mechanisms. The fight
against terrorism will be one of the drivers of interagency cooperation, which will be
functionally and institutionally shaped to fit legal and constitutional arrangements and
fulfill endorsed international commitments.”1
Through its actions, BiH has reaffirmed its position as an active member of the
Antiterrorist Coalition against international terrorism. By the same token, BiH offered to
contribute to the efforts on establishing a safe and secure environment in Iraq: a Bosnian
contingent, whose soldiers carried out demining and demolition of found or seized UXO,
was deployed to Iraq as part of the UN peace mission. Deployment to the peace mission
within ISAF is currently under consideration.
To the extent of its possibilities, BiH will continue to take part in the efforts of the
International Antiterrorist Coalition; BiH has also declared its willingness to join EU
activities on the suppression of terrorism, including the harmonization of its legislation and
signing and ratification of relevant resolutions and protocols, and the adoption of concrete
action plans.
In addition, within the framework of the legitimate fight against terrorism, BiH will
strive towards respecting individual and collective human rights, which is also an
obligation under the BiH Constitution. Consequently, Bosnia and Herzegovina advocates
for a quick completion of negotiations on the Comprehensive UN Convention on
International Terrorism.
In the larger context of fight against terrorism, BiH invests considerable efforts in
the prevention of and fight against organized crime and illegal migrations, as confirmed by
a number of statements and declarations to which BiH subscribed under regional and
international initiatives and, more importantly, by activities of BiH law enforcement
agencies.
Unfortunately, the media have often linked BiH to terrorism; through its
institutional and legislative development and reforms and the active fight against terrorism,
locally and globally, BiH has proved its commitment to fighting all types of terrorist
activities. The country’s cooperative relations with the US and EU member countries
deserve to be quoted as a prominent example of this commitment.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will persist in the fight against terrorism, and will focus in
particular on the coordination of its national institutions responsible for the fight against
terrorism and development of international cooperative instruments, especially with
1
Security Policy, BiH Presidency, February 2006.
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