News in English     | 22.11.2020. 16:22 |

Borrell:BiH's future is European, fulfill recommendations of European Commission

FENA Vanja Tolj

SARAJEVO, November 22 (FENA) - High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell visited Bosnia and Herzegovina yesterday and met with members of the Presidency of BiH.

Borrell talked with members of the Presidency of BiH Milorad Dodik, Šefik Džaferović and Željko Komšić about current and key issues for BiH, and our country's candidacy for membership in the European Union.

As this Spanish politician said, he is honored to have discussed the European future of BiH, on its path to membership in the European Union, with the members of the Presidency of BiH on the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

“This is a big date for BiH. I remember well the war and the siege of Sarajevo. This is a good date to remember what happened in that horrible past and to thank everyone who is working hard to normalize relations. Today, we understand the importance of peace, trust and mutual respect among all BiH citizens, between the need to respect all civilian victims of war. I would like to participate in a joint commemoration of all the victims of the war, which in my opinion is necessary for the country to move forward,” said Borrell.

He stressed that BiH citizens must pay tribute to the past, but look to the future to help BiH with European aspirations.

“The future of this country is European. I come from a country that has gone through a terrible civil war, so I have experience I can offer you. We looked at Europeans as the light ahead of us. We worked hard to join them and that common goal brought reconciliation to our country. The European Union is already the first political and economic partner of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said.

He mentioned that BiH will get the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union when it makes progress in fourteen key recommendations and opinions set by the European Commission.

“More than 80 percent of BiH citizens support membership in the European Union. I am sure that most, if not all, political leaders have the same desires. The Spaniards wanted to join European political freedoms, a strong economy and social cohesion, and I am sure that all the inhabitants of BiH want the same,” Borrell concluded.

BiH Presidency Member Šefik Džaferović thanked Borrell for responding to the invitation of the BiH Presidency and with his arrival gave importance to this date. 

“We see this date primarily as a perspective for BiH in the future, and it is unquestionable that its perspective is membership in the European Union. We have all the support of Mr. Borrell, and now it is up to us here in BiH to implement the priorities set before us. I hope that after his visit to BiH, we will overcome a bad political atmosphere, get out of the cliché of constant and unproductive quarrels and that we will turn more to concrete work and implementation of 14 recommendations of the European Commission,” Džaferović emphasized.

BiH Presidency member Željko Komšić emphasizes that Borrell's visit was not only protocol, but earlier talks continued during the visit of BiH Presidency members to Brussels.

“I think it is important to point out that the European Commission and the European Union as a community stands behind the progress of BiH, provides assistance in the current situation and in general when it comes to BiH's path to the EU. If it were not for the pandemic, this visit would have been even more pronounced, but in any case, we thank Mr. Borrell for his support,” said Komšić.

BiH Presidency Chairman Milorad Dodik reminded that the Dayton Peace Agreement brought lasting peace to the peoples of BiH, but that BiH treats this agreement differently, and asked Borrell to "do everything so BiH can get a candidate status next year."

“For many years, there has been no conflict in BiH on the basis of ethnic relations with others, and that is the greatest value of the Dayton Agreement. In BiH, they treat this agreement differently, but we are united by the possibility of establishing peace. Consensus on the commitment to European issues in BiH is also a valuable achievement. We want to continue on that path and I hope that Mr. Borrell will do everything so BiH can get candidate status next year,” said Dodik.

He thanked the EU for its help during the coronavirus pandemic and pointed out that everyone eagerly awaits a solution to this problem by procuring vaccines against the virus.

(FENA) A. B.

Vezane vijesti


Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/vhosts/fena.ba/httpdocs/post-new.php on line 379

Promo

M:tel: Savršena kombinacija – Huawei telefon i pametni sat s popustom

M:tel: Stiglo nam je Proljeće!

Predstava 'Kako sam se nadala dobro se nisam udala' u BKC Sarajevo