The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) continues to play a vital role in strengthening the country’s ability to establish a sustainable, stable security and defence environment. Specifically, the Mission works to assist BiH in overcoming the military division of the country, developing State-level defence structures, and fully implementing OSCE and other international politico-military commitments.

The OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security sets the foundation for BiH’s defence and security commitments. Under the Code of Conduct, the country is obliged to provide for and maintain democratic control of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH), the intelligence services, and police. These forces should be commensurate with the legitimate security interests of the State, and must remain politically neutral, providing for individual service member’s exercise of his or her civil rights.

BiH is also obliged to establish legislative oversight of military budgets, exercise restraint in military expenditures, and provide transparency and public access to information related to the AFBiH.

The Mission, in co-operation with other international institutions, supports BiH’s efforts to develop and maintain the military capability and preparedness of the AFBiH to ensure its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international personality, rather than relying on the international community to do so. This transformation will allow BiH to contribute to regional stability and to integrate itself into Euro-Atlantic security structures – initially through accession to NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme – and to meet its goal of joining both NATO and the European Union as a full member.

The Department of Security Co-operation contributes to the achievement of a stable and secure environment by providing support and expertise to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s defence institutions, both directly and in co-operation with other international institutions. The Department is comprised of the: Arms Control Section, Institutions Building Section, and Parliamentary Section.