NEWS

Slovenian Prime Minister meets Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today had a working meeting with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željko Komšić. The two reviewed and assessed the level of bilateral relations and exchanged views on the initiatives regarding further promotion of cooperation.

   

(Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA)

     

Mr. Pahor and Mr. Komšić shared the opinion that bilateral relations between Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are very good. While maintaining well-established high-level political contacts, cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, defence, cultural and several other areas can also be considered positive. The two dignitaries opened the talks by exchanging their respective views on the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Moreover, they compared the political situation in this country in the period following their November meeting with the current state of affairs.

   

(Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA)

   

During the talks, Prime Minister Pahor particularly emphasised Slovenia's support to the reforms to be undertaken by Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to forge closer ties with Euro-Atlantic structures. Mr Pahor expressed his strong belief that Bosnia and Herzegovina should still before summer join those countries which do not require visas in order to be allowed entry into the Schengen area.

  

Chairman Komšić thanked Mr Pahor once again for Slovenia's support regarding visa liberalisation, while the latter re-affirmed Slovenia's commitment to support Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts to be granted the NATO Membership Action Plan, as this could positively contribute to the adoption of the urgently required decisions relating to constitutional amendments and to the stability in the region. The Slovenian Prime Minister emphasised that now is the time for Bosnia and Herzegovina to make every effort in order to overcome internal political disagreements and find appropriate mechanisms providing an efficient functioning of the state; to this end, Slovenia is quite willing to maintain its active role.

  

In his statement to the press, Mr Pahor once again welcomed the visit of Chairman Komšić and went on to highlight the initiative regarding the agreement on employment of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Slovenia that has today been given support by the Slovenian Government. The initiative will regulate the terms of employment, thus resolving the issue, which is of great importance both for Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Slovenian Prime Minister also emphasised that "Slovenia, to the best of its ability, keeps reminding our allies in the EU and NATO that peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not something that could be taken for granted". He went on to say that it is important to encourage reforms resulting in the appropriate functioning of the institutions and providing prosperity.

  

At the close of the press conference, the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željko Komšić, thanked Prime Minister Pahor for the meeting and Slovenia's support to priority objectives pursued by Bosnia and Herzegovina.