Speaking at a panel discussion organised by the Brussels-based think tank the Centre for European Politics, Lagumdzija said that his country's three foreign-policy priorities were integration into the European Union and NATO and regional cooperation with the neighbours.
"Euro-Atlantic integration is important to us as an instrument for the transformation of society and government, so that Bosnia and Herzegovina would become a functioning state," Lagumdzija said, adding that membership of the EU and NATO would follow as a result of such transformation.
"There are political shortcuts to NATO membership, but that's not the case with EU membership," the minister said. He said it would be convenient to raise the NATO flag in 2014 on the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War in Sarajevo.
Speaking of the impact of Croatia's forthcoming accession to the EU on his country, Lagumdzija said that Bosnia and Herzegovina should ensure at least three international border crossings for all types of goods.
He dismissed "conspiracy theories" according to which Turkey's increased involvement in Bosnia and Herzegovina meant restoration of old empires and assistance to only one ethnic group, namely the Bosniaks (Muslims).
"So far we have had two High Representatives of the international community from Austria, most of our banks are in Austrian hands, but nobody speaks of restoration of Austria-Hungary," he added.