GOGANOVIĆ: ITPP DOESN'T MEAN NATO MEMBERSHIP; INDIVIDUALS DELIBERATELY SPREADING MISINFORMATION

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 24 /SRNA/ - Deputy Defense Minister in the Council of Ministers Aleksandar Goganović stated that interpreting the Individually Tailored Partnership Program /ITPP/ as a step toward NATO membership results either from a misunderstanding of the document or from deliberate disinformation.

Regarding claims that by adopting the ITPP, BiH "took a step toward NATO membership," Goganović told SRNA that such claims are false and clarified that none of the three strategic goals within the ITPP involves joining NATO.

"This is a technical and partnership framework for cooperation, similar to the Reform Program, which does not define membership as a goal," Goganović explained.

He added that both the ITPP and the Reform Program clearly state that activities are conducted without presuming membership, and that, in terms of the intensity of cooperation, the ITPP is even less demanding than the previous PARP.

"Republika Srpska supports cooperation with the NATO alliance within the existing framework, but without presuming membership," Goganović said.

He also recalled that during a meeting with NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska, he clearly reiterated Republika Srpska’s position that it does not support BiH's membership in NATO, as there is no political consensus on the issue in BiH, but that Republika Srpska remains committed to partnership cooperation within the current level of relations.