National Defence Committee on May 29th, 2012

[Denis Becirovic]

Allow me an additional view regarding this issue.

The only country where NATO had to intervene after the Second World War was in Bosnia and Herzegovina, not including Kosovo. Bosnia and Herzegovina not entering the NATO alliance is a message of unfinished NATO business.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

I was particularly interested when you mentioned some of the capabilities of Bosnia and Herzegovina has with regard to its contributions to demining. I note that Canada actually has helped, by contributing some $11 million to the United Nations Development Programme's mine action centres. And there's training as well; I see there are some 40 mine detection dogs for deployment and demining internationally.

I thank you for that intervention, as far as what can be provided is concerned, because, as we've noted in this committee, specifically, European nations have cut back significantly in their contributions to NATO. Therefore, the tremendous financial burden is placed on some countries like Canada. It's very difficult to convince the people who pay taxes that you need to increase an organization, and at the same time you need to be able to convince Canadians that this additional contribution is going to be a plus or a benefit rather than a negative. That's why I asked specifically what you can bring to the table.

Mr. McKay began to head towards the relationship between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia. I noted that in your introduction you mentioned that you wanted to explore more fully your relationship with Russia. Am I correct in assuming that the game of chess you're playing is making sure that NATO is here, as well as keeping Russia on the friendly side? Would that be a correct observation?

[Denis Becirovic]

No. Our commitment to the NATO alliance is unquestionable. So it's not “NATO and Russia”; it is “NATO”. We referred to the fact that the influence of Russia is increasing in the Balkans. You are aware of the fact that in southeast Europe you have pro-European and pro-Soviet forces. When we talked about other countries of southeast Europe, Serbia has a new president. His first visit was to Moscow.

[Milorad Zivkovic]

Just as Macedonia has more soldiers in Afghanistan than any other country there, so Bosnia-Herzegovina can contribute to what is most dear to everybody, and that's human life. On the other hand, do not ask us to politically determine or clarify ourselves as having one position only, because we want our diversity, the differences that exist there. We want to turn those to our benefit, to our wealth. The Serbian Orthodox would want to cooperate with Moscow. Bosnia says that Muslims want to cooperate with Turkey. Croatian Catholics want to cooperate with the Vatican. So that's our diversity, our differences, and we want to turn them to our best advantage. Just as you don't force Turkey to be against Iran in NATO, do not make Bosnia, as a government, be against Russia.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

We have some options right now to consider. I understand that our witnesses have a luncheon arranged in the parliamentary restaurant right now. We could adjourn, and those of us who are available are invited to join them for lunch. They were supposed to meet with the NATO parliamentary association, but they've cancelled. For those of you who are available, you could look at having lunch with our guests.

We could do that or we could have another round of questions and till a quarter to the hour and let them go, but....

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Let's finish this round.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Okay, I'm getting an indication that Mr. Kellway has a question.

Okay, Mr. Raguz.

[Martin Raguz]

I would just like to mention a fact that will happen next year in terms of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croatia will become a full member of the European Union next year and the Croatian border is over a thousand kilometres long with Bosnia-Herzegovina. So next year you won't have Croatia; you will have the European Union bordering big Bosnia-Herzegovina. That was a really important strategic moment that I reflected on in my opening words.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Thank you.

Mr. Kellway, I understand you have a burning question. I'll let you ask a couple of quick questions, and then we will adjourn.

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and through you, thank you to our guests for coming today. It's been very interesting.

I understand there are two: there's the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Republika Srpska. I've heard you say you're fully committed to NATO. But I also understand that in the republic the decision about NATO membership is subject to a referendum. Did I understand that correctly?

[Denis Becirovic]

This is where we have differences of opinion. My colleague, Mr. Zivkovic, has said that a referendum on that issue will be conducted in Republika Srpska. My opinion is that a referendum on such an important issue should be in the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina. All countries that have entered the NATO alliance had a referendum on that issue on a state level and that is in accordance with our constitution. So if there is a referendum, it should be in the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of course, once we come to that point we would want to provide full consensus of all actors.

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

NATO rejected your application to join the Partnership for Peace the first time, I understand. Is that true?

[Denis Becirovic]

That was in 2009.

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

But now you have membership in that partnership?

[Denis Becirovic]

That was when we had the previous government, the old government. Now we have a new government that has implemented important reforms and now the situation is completely different in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Just a few days ago leaders of the main political parties made an agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding military property. So we can optimistically say that 2012 is the year of NATO for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the year of the EU, because we have implemented and are implementing important reforms that were previously pending. We want our friends to recognize that.

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

I wonder if that entry into NATO is a bit too much too soon in light of the constitutional disagreement, which seems very fundamental, about who has the authority to hold a referendum on the issue and agree to entry.

[Milorad Zivkovic]

I'd like to say that in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are issues on which we haven't reached final agreement. Although it has been regulated within legal documents of our country and the ministry of defence that the goal of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to enter NATO, it isn't stated when that will happen.

As you've seen, we have differences of opinion regarding the referendum. I think that time is required, as certain regional things need to take place. Then it will be decided when it is time for us to join.

I'll go back to the MAP where we have received conditional agreement to enter the NATO alliance once we settle and agree on military property. If everyone keeps their word, that should be done after we finalize the distribution of military property.

For the rest, we should give it time to be settled.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

I have one quick follow-up by Mr. Raguz.

[Martin Raguz]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The question of the dynamics towards NATO is an important one. We in Bosnia and Herzegovina are not in a situation where we can calculate much on security alone, considering that there are other aspects. We need investments. We must mobilize more resources. We must stop negative tendencies. Right now that is really noticeable; we shouldn't deceive ourselves.

The general interest of both entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina is in peace and security, and development. Objectively, that is unreachable without an umbrella such as NATO. That doesn't exclude our cooperating with Russia or everybody. I fully agree with what Mr. Zivkovic has said.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Thank you.

We are going to adjourn. I really appreciate our witnesses coming today from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This has assisted us in our study of NATO's strategic concept and Canada's role in international defence cooperation. We definitely appreciate your input into this process and, of course, the aspirations that you've expressed here today to be part of NATO.

Again, I will extend an invitation to those of you who are able to come, for lunch with our guests in the parliamentary restaurant. I know there are a couple of members from the government side who will be going. I'm hoping that one or two members from the opposition parties will come. That would be great as well.

With that, I will again say thank you very much. Enjoy your stay in Canada. Safe travels.

I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

[An hon. member]

I so move.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

The meeting is adjourned.