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SARAJEVO, December 20 (FENA) - President of the European Movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina Predrag Praštalo presented the Order of the People and Citizens of BiH to Ambassador of the United States of America Eric Nelson in Sarajevo today.
As it was said during the ceremony, the Order is awarded for special merits in strengthening friendship and cooperation between our peoples, preserving peace in BiH, successful implementation of the election process in the City of Mostar in 2020, and development and respect for tolerance and human rights.
The President of the European Movement in BiH, Predrag Praštalo, expressed his satisfaction that they have the opportunity, for the first time, to present the Order of the European Movement in BiH to a US ambassador.
The US Ambassador to BiH Eric Nelson thanked the European Movement in BiH for this honor.
"The United States, as well as the European Movement in BiH, aim to strengthen ties between BiH and Europe and adopt reforms that will open the way for it to join the EU. Everything we do here, we do for the sake of that goal, because we know that this is what the citizens of BiH want for themselves," said Ambassador Nelson.
He added that European values are something that BiH possesses. However, what is still missing are European standards. Ambassador Nelson stated that the reforms along the way will enable greater transparency in all the processes they seek to support here.
"The international community cannot do the job of domestic authorities and politicians, and that is gradual and limited reforms, both in the field of the Constitution and in the field of electoral legislation. Reforms along the way will enable, not only greater transparency and participation in local political processes, for those for whom this was not possible so far, and in that way, BiH will harmonize its regulations with the European ones, thus approaching one step closer to EU accession," said Ambassador Nelson.
According to him, what happened last year in Mostar should become a reality and an opportunity for the whole of BiH as soon as possible.
"Togetherness and a greater degree of inclusion in civic, political, economic and educational life were the core of my work during the time spent here. I am honored to have been recognized in this way. As my term in BiH draws to a close, and when I look back on the past three years, I am especially proud of the steps taken towards European integration in terms of submitting a Reform Program that strengthens the partnership with NATO and holding the elections in Mostar," said Ambassador Nelson.
He also added that they have made great efforts when it comes to cooperation and strengthening the security sector in BiH. He says that they have invested and done a lot for the Armed Forces in BiH, which they consider to be the leading institution when it comes to a good example in the integration process.
"We have set aside 50 million dollars for the Armed Forces, both for the equipment and various types of training, in order to bring them as close as possible to the expected standards," stated the US ambassador.
He also paid tribute to the many citizens of BiH who are doing hard and important work in the field of reconciliation, as well as the economic, social and political development of the country.
He reminded that the first pride march was organized in Sarajevo, which enabled better rand greater recognition of the rights of the LGBTQI population in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"This year, we marked 25 years of USAID cooperation with BiH. On that occasion, every week we named several heroes of BiH, people who have made even greater strides forward. We also collaborated with more than 1,000 representatives of the youth population, organized a movement of young leaders through which we sought to promote prosperity and true values and deter young people and all those others who are considering leaving this country.
That is what I have been working on for the previous three years, and that is what the activities of my government were primarily focused on," emphasized Ambassador Nelson.
(FENA) S. R.
