prijava
VIENNA/SARAJEVO, November 19 (FENA) - Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Zvizdić and prime ministers of other Western Balkan countries discussed today in Vienna regional cooperation, regional perspectives, and bilateral issues and overcoming potential problems.
The working meeting in Vienna was organized by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz with the aim of improving regional cooperation and was attended by prime ministers of Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo, Minister of Economy of Macedonia, and European commissioners Johannes Hahn and Mariya Gabriel.
At the press conference, Zvizdić pointed out that the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the European Union is the goal and key cohesive factor of the region that can ensure stabilization, economic prosperity and the rule of law while respecting fundamental rights and freedoms and democratic principles.
He underlined that BiH remains strongly committed to EU integration, stressing that the preparation of the responses to additional questions of the European Commission is in the final phase, expressing hope that one of the first tasks at the beginning of the mandate of the new convocation of the Presidency of BiH would be to go to Brussels with finalized responses, meaning that BiH would have fulfilled all the preconditions for obtaining a candidate status.
Speaking about bilateral cooperation, Zvizdić pointed to the need to overcome the challenges to successful bilateral and regional cooperation primarily through respecting the already concluded agreements and accepted commitments.
He also pointed to the need to maintain and improve regular dialogue at all levels in order to ensure constructive communication and cooperation in mutual relations.
He drew attention to the growing trend of hate-mongering and radical and aggressive rhetoric of high-ranking political officials from certain countries in the region that does not contribute to overcoming the past and present challenges, expressing hope that such messages would be replaced by those creating a space for a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.
Chancellor Kurz informed the participants of the meeting about Austria's plans during the remaining period of the EU presidency and expressed support for resolving bilateral issues, and encouraged decisive progress in order to advance the process of European integration.
He invited participants to focus on existing commitments and to present new joint projects by WB6 that will encourage regional cooperation, especially in those segments for which funding has already been agreed.
(FENA) S. R.
