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SARAJEVO, October 1 (FENA) - Charles Fries, Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) for the Common Security and Defense Policy and Crisis Response, conveyed three messages of a senior European official, Joseph Borell at a press conference in Sarajevo, the first one being the praise for EUFOR Operation Althea as a success story of cooperation between the European Union and NATO.
The European Union countries have agreed that Bosnia and Herzegovina still needs the presence of EUFOR, Fries said.
EUFOR's Quick Response Exercise is held in 2021, in the context of potential natural disasters and providing assistance to local people throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fries said, recalling that EUFOR Althea, during the catastrophic floods in BiH, also offered assistance to civilians.
On behalf of Borell, he expressed gratitude to all soldiers participating in the exercise, as well as partners in BiH.
He said that the BiH Armed Forces are a true partner and added that the EU regularly calls on Bosnia and Herzegovina to contribute to peacekeeping missions abroad.
Borell's second message, conveyed by Fries at the press conference, refers to the engagement of the European Union and solidarity with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In that context, he noted the great progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina in building a stable and secure environment in the past 25 years but added that there is still a lot of hard work to be done so that everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina has a clear and prosperous future within the European Union.
"Our engagement and solidarity are visible to everyone who wants to see it. The European Union is the largest donor and investor in the Balkans, Fries said, adding that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had announced 600 million euros in aid yesterday, in addition to the funds donated to the Western Balkans.
At the height of the pandemic, the European Union helped Bosnia and Herzegovina with more than 80 million euros and more than 1.6 million vaccines have been provided through the Covax mechanism, and there will be more, Fries said.
The third message he conveyed during his stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina from Borell is that the key to a solution for BiH is integration into the European Union, for which political leaders will have to take their share of responsibility.
He reminded of the words of Ursula von der Leyen that the European perspective is real, which will be confirmed at the summit on October 6.
As a matter of priority, the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina must be fully functional because reforms are needed, and inflammatory rhetoric must stop, Fries said, concluding: "Only a united Bosnia and Herzegovina has a place within the European Union."
It is crucial to reach an agreement between all political parties on constitutional and electoral reforms before the end of 2021, he added, and European partners expect reforms in the areas of rule of law, judicial integrity and public procurement.
All these goals are possible with political will. The European Union will continue to provide support, at every step, he concluded.
Head of the EU Delegation to BiH, Johann Sattler, also addressed the press conference, recalling yesterday's clear message from Ursula von der Leyen that Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the entire Western Balkans, have a future in the European Union.
Sattler reiterated that the EU is the largest investor and trading partner in the Western Balkans, and as an important message from the European officials, he conveyed that local politicians "must help us to help you", and must return to dialogue for necessary reforms, health problems and many other issues.
Sattler emphasized the usefulness of the EUFOR mission as a European investment in security in BiH, adding that the EU will do its utmost to keep this very successful mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
EUFOR's operational commander, Colonel-General Brice Houdet, called the mission an invaluable resource with its crucial role in creating a secure and stable environment.
EUFOR's Quick Response 2021 means a rapid deployment of reserve forces from EU countries and partners, Houdet also said, expressing satisfaction with the high morale and professionalism of the units he visited on the ground, in the areas of Čapljina and Bileća.
(FENA) S. R.
