NEWS
Prime Minister Pahor on official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today paid an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the main purpose of the visit being the enhancement of economic relations between the two countries. Alongside Ministers Samuel Žbogar, Dr Matej Lahovnik, Dr Patrick Vlačič and Dr Boštjan Žekš, Mr Pahor was accompanied by a 100-member economic delegation.
(Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA)
The Slovenian Prime Minister and the official delegation were received with military honours at the headquarters of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the host, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Nikola Špirić. During their talks, the two Prime Ministers reviewed and assessed the level of bilateral relations and exchanged views on the initiatives regarding further promotion of cooperation. They established that the two countries maintain friendly relations and that there is mutual interest to resolve open issues and strengthen the highly diversified economic cooperation, which, however, can be further improved. Slovenia actively supports Bosnia and Herzegovina in its efforts to join the Euro-Atlantic structures and provides bilateral assistance in several areas. Mr Pahor particularly commended the progress in the process of visa liberalisation and expressed his expectation that already in spring, Bosnia and Herzegovina would be given a positive assessment by the European Commission.
(Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA)
During the talks, Prime Minister Pahor highlighted Slovenia's great interest in further enhancement of bilateral relations, particularly in economic cooperation, which has in recent years been steadily increasing, except for the setback during the last year caused by the global economic crisis. The Slovenian Prime Minister emphasised that Bosnia and Herzegovina is also an important export partner. According to Mr Pahor, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a promising and interesting market, particularly in terms of start-up activities of small enterprises in this market, increased export intensity and promotion of outward investment. New opportunities can particularly be observed in the area of energy, construction industry and banking. During the talks, Mr Pahor also stressed that people of Bosnia and Herzegovina should be given an opportunity to decide what kind of a country they wish themselves. Should they need any assistance they can also count on Slovenia as a friend and ally.
(Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA)
In his statement to the press following the meeting, Prime Minister Pahor said that he had come to Sarajevo with a sizeable Government and economic delegation for obvious political and economic reasons. "Slovenia believes in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its future; therefore we wish to strengthen political and other ties. The sizeable delegation that accompanies me is a sign of Bosnia and Herzegovina's stability and all the opportunities available for enhanced relations," said Prime Minister Pahor. He congratulated the country's authorities on the progress achieved in recent years and emphasised that hopefully, the last condition for visa liberalisation would still be met before summer, as "this would be a strong inspiration and motivation for the people of this country". Mr Pahor went on to say that following the conclusion of an agreement with Croatia, the EU has now realized that there is a particular need for assistance in creating dialogue in order to enable political authorities or the elite to come to relevant conclusions faster and better. At the close of the meeting, Prime Minister Pahor thanked his host for agreeing to participate in the upcoming conference on the Western Balkans to take place on 20 March in Slovenia, and said: "We especially wish to show what this part of Europe is capable of giving to the EU in terms of safety and prosperity." Addressing the outstanding issue of the Ljubljanska Banka foreign currency savers, Mr Pahor said that we have "an instrument to overcome this dispute, an instrument offered by the Bank for International Settlements in Basel. The only question is whether the contracting parties will meet their obligations," he emphasised.
(Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA)
In his statement to the press following the meeting, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nikola Špirić, said that he was honoured to be able to host the Slovenian Primer Minister and his delegation, adding that "Slovenia is among our most important partners and a friend assisting our country in joining the Euro-Atlantic structures." The host thanked his counterpart for this assistance and welcomed the convening of the conference on the Western Balkans. Mr Špirić congratulated the Slovenian Prime Minister on the signing of the agreement with Croatia and said that this agreement was a positive signal for the entire region.
As part of the official visit of the Slovenian Prime Minister to Sarajevo, Mr Špirić and Mr Pahor opened the Slovenian-Bosnian-Herzegovinian business forum organised for this occasion. In his address to the business forum, Prime Minister Pahor emphasised that we are united and bound together by the same visions and the awareness that the future of the entire region lies in European economic, political and security structures: "Bosnia and Herzegovina does indeed have something to give to Europe: centuries-long national libertarian traditions enriched with knowledge and a variety of potentials of new generations." Addressing the forum, Mr Pahor further stressed that he strongly advocates direct investments by Bosnia and Herzegovina in Slovenia. Slovenia is part of the EU internal market and the establishment of a company in Slovenia opens the door to the largest world market.
As part of his official visit, Prime Minister Pahor also met two members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nebojša Radmanović and Dr Haris Silajdžić, as well as members of the Collegium of the House of Representatives and the Collegium of the House of Peoples of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Before his departure to Slovenia, Mr Pahor attended the opening of the production line in Uniklima, a company owned by the Slovenian enterprise Hidria, and made a tour of the plant.