Expert: NATO is part of a package for those who want to join EU

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NATO integration is a part of the package for the countries striving to become a part of European Union (EU), according to the Western Balkan expert Eric Gordy, who said in an interview with N1's that he believes both Bosnia and Serbia will eventually give in.

“There is no EU member state which is not a NATO member at the same time. There's a reason for that. That's a part of the package if the countries strive to become a part of Europe,” said the UK expert, teaching political and cultural sociology at the University College London, with focus on Southeast Europe and ex-Yugoslav countries.

The Western Balkan countries have not solved the problem of mutual relations and in some cases, their internal relations have not been solved. “They also haven't solved the matter of democracy and the rule of law,” he added.

According to him, constitutional changes in Bosnia are a necessity and the current Constitution, which is contained in the Dayton Peace Agreement, is used against citizens.

“That temporary solution is lasting for nearly 25 years. The Dayton Agreement (which ended the 1992-95 Bosnian war) has metastasised and is being used as an instrument against citizens. It is necessary to take the problem from the hands of political parties and let the citizens take the initiative,” he stressed.

Gordy pointed out that Bosnia has to be related to Serbia's relations with Kosovo, the region which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, which Serbia still disputes.

“The main politicians from Republika Srpska (Bosnia's Serb-dominated region) will follow the line of Serbia, the main politicians in the Federation (the region dominated by the Bosniaks and the Croats) mostly take the opposite line. The only way out of this is Serbia and Kosovo reaching an agreement. This will happen but not so soon,” he said.

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