Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their bilateral ties this year. On that occasion, a formal reception will be held today at the residence of the Austrian Embassy.
On April 7, 1992, Austria recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sovereign state; On April 8, 1992, diplomatic relations between these countries were established by signing a protocol in Vienna by the then Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Alois Mock, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH, Haris Silajdzic.
A statement from the Austrian Cultural Forum Sarajevo said Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina had built close political, economic and cultural ties over the past 30 years. Austria has received 90,000 war refugees from BiH, and in the meantime approximately 180,000 people of Bosnian descent have become part of Austrian society and have already spawned important decision-makers such as incumbent Austrian Justice Minister Alma Zadic, who hails from Tuzla.
Austria has been the largest foreign investor in BiH for years.
By providing the largest number of troops for EUFOR Althea, Austria has been making a significant contribution to the security of BiH and its citizens, as well as the entire region, for many years.
The EUFOR engagement also underscores Austria’s position that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must not be called into question, according to the Austrian Cultural Forum at the Austrian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Austria wants Bosnia and Herzegovina as a strong partner in a united, common Europe. The shocking questioning of the European peace order by the Russian aggression on Ukraine makes it even clearer how important the peace project of European integration is for all of us.
In the years to come, Austria will do everything in its power to support BiH on its path to a European future, the Austrian Cultural Forum said in a statement.
