NEWS
The Prime Minister on a working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Today, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Alenka Bratušek, began a three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, which will take place mainly in the light of recent flooding in both countries. The first day of the visit, the PM met the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vjekoslav Bevanda, mainly to discuss further possibilities for Slovenia and the EU to help repair the damage caused by the flooding and to talk about Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European integration process. The main focus was on international donor conference, which will be organised by Slovenia in collaboration with France and with the support of the European Union following the initiative of PM Alenka Bratušek.
Both agreed that the two countries had traditionally maintained good and friendly relations. The Chairman of the Council thanked the PM for the quick response and aid with regard to recent floods. At the press conference, the PM stressed that this was the first delivery of aid and that the next step was “an international donor conference, which will take place in the first ten days in July”. Therefore, the purpose of today’s visit was also to “jointly establish what Bosnia and Herzegovina needs, so that we can prepare for the donor conference well”.
Mr Bevanda and Mrs Bratušek also agreed that strengthening economic cooperation between the countries would benefit both countries. According to the PM, Slovenia will continue to have an active role within the EU regarding European integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “In addition, political will and appropriate decision-making of leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina are crucial,” said the PM.
In continuation of the visit, the PM will meet the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegović, mainly to discuss the repair of damage caused by the floods and Slovenia's assistance within European integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The second day of the visit the PM will look at the flooded areas in Maglaj and Doboj, while she will meet the Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, in the evening in Belgrade.