NATO chief says Bosnia set for new move on membership path

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says Bosnia-Herzegovina is likely to get a green light this week to take a major step on the path toward future membership in the world's biggest military alliance.

NATO foreign ministers are expected Wednesday to invite Bosnia to submit its first reform action plan, part of the alliance's Membership Action Plan, or MAP process, which helps prepare countries for accession.

But the Balkan country is unlikely to join soon.

Stoltenberg said Monday that he expects the ministers to signal on Wednesday that "we are ready to receive the first annual national program."

He added: "Then it's up to Bosnia-Herzegovina to decide whether they use this opportunity."

NATO offered a MAP to Bosnia in 2010 but declined to "activate" it until all conditions had been met.