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SARAJEVO, October 20 (FENA) - Deputy Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Josip Brkić today hosted the 6th Meeting of Political Directors of the Western Balkans and the European Union Delegation, chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Enrique Mora.
Topics of the meeting included the current situation in the Western Balkans, cooperation in the Common Security and Defense Policy, coordination with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, relations with Turkey, the Eastern Mediterranean, China, the Middle East and Russia and the Eastern Partnership, with a focus on Belarus.
In his address, Deputy Minister Brkić pointed out that regular meetings between EU representatives and the countries of the Western Balkans, held at different levels, despite the challenging and difficult times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, confirm strong support for the region's European perspective.
"Regional cooperation is a cornerstone of Bosnia and Herzegovina's foreign policy. Our country remains committed to promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity in the region, as well as strengthening regional cooperation and building trust in the region, all of it as part of its strategic foreign policy goal - full EU membership," said Brkić.
He added that regional economic integration is key to transforming the Western Balkans and bringing it closer to its ultimate goal - EU accession. In this regard, he stressed that efforts for regional cooperation should continue and that even without analyzing and considering the concept of "mini Schengen", Bosnia and Herzegovina will certainly continue to cooperate with partners from the Western Balkans - especially when it comes to liberalizing the movement of goods, capital, services and people.
He said that Bosnia and Herzegovina remains committed to intensive cooperation among the countries of the Western Balkans in resolving the migrant crisis, especially with regard to preventing illegal migration channels and jointly fighting organized criminal groups.
After the EU helped solve the humanitarian aspect of illegal migration, Deputy Brkić expressed hope that the EU would help BiH when it comes to solving the security aspect of illegal migration, in terms of strengthening human, technical, material and financial capacities of the BiH Border Police, Foreigners Affairs Service and all other security agencies.
Brkić concluded that a credible EU enlargement policy represents a geostrategic investment in peace, security and economic growth throughout Europe, at a time of growing global challenges and divisions, said the BiH Foreign Ministry
(FENA) S. R.
