News in English     | 15.10.2021. 14:40 |

Linhart: Unity and sovereignty of BiH preconditions for stability of the region

FENA Aida Kovač

SARAJEVO, October 15 (FENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Bisera Turković and the Federal Minister of European and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria Michael Linhart met in Sarajevo today and talked about the ongoing political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Western Balkans and the process of European integration.

At the press conference after the meeting, Minister Turković said that the Republic of Austria and Minister Linhart understand very well the current challenges facing BiH and the entire region.

"I expect that Austria will support the reform processes even more strongly. We have no time to lose. We have a lot of work ahead of us and I do not see that citizens, regardless of where they live in BiH, have any benefit from the ongoing blockade," said Minister Turković.

She said that, in terms of defense, the role of Austria is very important. It is important that the mandate of EUFOR in BiH be extended. This is vital for the security and stability of BiH and the entire region.

The Federal Minister for European and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Michael Linhart, said that he had intentionally decided that his first trip abroad would take place in this region, in BiH.

"After my appointment, the question of the first trip abroad arose. Certainly, this region is important and the region was immediately thought of, but within the region, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country that is close to my heart, and so the decision was made for it to be Bosnia and Herzegovina.

To me, this visit is both a sign and our belief that without the membership of the Western Balkans and BiH in the European Union, the European Union is not complete, i.e. the EU project has not been completed, and also that security and stability in this region for us and for Europe are very important," stated Minister Linhart.

He said that Austria and BiH are connected by many things, much more than the European perspective itself. Relationships are multiple, through history, through different spheres of life, through personal contacts.

Minister Linhart pointed out that Austria is also the largest investor in BiH, and that today they also talked about achieving more in that area, deepening and strengthening Austrian investments in BiH.

"At the time of the pandemic, it was also shown that we are closely connected. There are no borders for us and it was something that goes without saying to provide help and support. We have helped BiH to get more than 500 thousand doses of vaccines against Covid-19 through EU, but also bilaterally," stated Minister Linhart.

He emphasized that Austria will continue to show solidarity in this matter, adding that the pandemic, unfortunately, is not a matter of history, but something that is omnipresent every day in our lives.

"Austria sees the unity and sovereignty of BiH as an indispensable precondition for the security and stability of the entire region. For us, this issue is not open for discussion. It is completely clear to us that the future of BiH is in Europe, and we as Europe must extend our hand towards BiH and this region even stronger and clearer. We, as Austria, should be partners of those forces that are connecting and be a reliable supporter of that which leads the whole country forward," said Minister Linhart.

He pointed out that Austria supports the integration of BiH without reservations and "we are convinced that this joint project of EU membership is precisely the connecting element for the entire country and its internal matters."

"A functioning state, the rule of law, is something on which we rest upon and which we strive for. It is very important for us that everyone in BiH cooperates constructively in order to achieve the end goal of EU integration," stated Linhart.

(FENA) S. R.

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