Chairman Zvizdić Takes Part at Western Balkans Leaders’ Ohrid Meeting

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Dr Denis Zvizdić took part at a Western Balkans leaders meeting in Ohrid, where discussed were the improvement of regional cooperation and newest initiative on lifting obstacles to free flow of goods, services, capital and people. 

Chairman Zvizdić confirmed undoubted commitment of our state to the EU membership and continuation of NATO integrations process, as abiding under the existing strategic and legal documents of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He emphasised the importance of these processes for the achievement of permanent stability and prosperity of BIH and the region, and clearly stressed that BIH is not ready to take part in any other initiative or agreement to bring about negative consequences to the further BIH road towards its EU membership.

Chairman Zvizdić said that Bosnia and Herzegovina supports regional initiatives contributing to peace, stability, promotion of political dialogue and strengthening of regional cooperation leading to region’s economic prosperity. In that regard, he pointed at BIH dedication to a full implementation of the existing agreements, like CEFTA, MAP REA, and Berlin Process, as well as to regional cooperation within the Western Balkans Six (WB6). He underlined the importance of the Western Balkans annual summits, as key mobilisers of advancement along the European integration processes, taking the opportunity to congratulate to Bulgaria and North Macedonia on taking over the chair of the Berlin Process. He pointed at a fact that the regional cooperation has significantly strengthened within the Berlin process, in terms of realisation of concrete infrastructure regional projects of great benefit for citizens and economy, especially through both the Connectivity Agenda and Digital Agenda.

Chairman Zvizdić stressed the expectations that positive examples of solving outstanding bilateral issues would continue, and he mentioned the example of signing of the BIH-Montenegro Border Agreement, hopeful that it would be followed by a conclusion border agreements between BIH and other two of its neighbouring countries.

“Solving the issue of border of Bosnia and Herzegovina with its neighbouring countries will create needed basics for improvement of all forms of cross-border cooperation, and will promote our shared efforts, imposed in the context of nowadays challenges we face with”, Chairman Zvizdić said.

He said that the creation of open borders for legal flow of people, goods, services and capital would boost economic integration, and accelerate economic growth, and he draw attention to a necessity of previous securing the border to be strong and protected, to the end of prevention of all forms of cross-border crime. He added that the security aspect is relevant as much as the economic one is, so he considers the term “Mini Schengen” too ambitious, not corresponding to such an initiative.

He stressed the necessity of intensification of bilateral and regional cooperation in the area of security, especially improved cooperation in view of border crossing, which is an obligation of all countries, also within the EU integrations process.

“Over previous years our country demonstrated that it is really a reliable partner providing constructive contribution to all forms of mutual cooperation, so we will remain equally committed to the strengthening of political dialogue, good neighbourly relations, and peace and stability in the region. Bosnia and Herzegovina will take part in regional cooperation processes exclusively at the principles of preserving sovereignty and independence and equal benefits for all, with safeguarding the EU integrations process, as the primary aim which each regional initiative must be compatible with”. Chairman Zvizdić said.