The Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Zukan Helez, in the capacity of Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, yesterday, September 12th, 2023, met in London with the Special Envoy of the United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister for the Western Balkans, Stuart Peach.
At the meeting in the House of Lords in London, current topics from the defense department of BiH were discussed, with special reference to Russian aggression against Ukraine and possible implications for BiH and the region. Minister Helez presented to envoy Peach the main achievements of the current convocation of the BiH Council of Ministers on fulfilling 14 prerequisites for the start of negotiations on BiH’s full membership in the European Union (EU).
The interlocutors concluded that Russian influence in the Western Balkans region should be taken seriously, as it disturbs the further development of democratic conditions in the region, negatively affects foreign investments, and hinders the further economic and democratic development of the countries of the region. Helez noted that membership in NATO and the EU remain the main foreign policy goals of BiH, the fulfillment of which only guarantees further development, progress, and betterment for all citizens and peoples of BiH.
In this regard, the interlocutors agreed that the further continuation of the mission of the EUFOR in BiH, whose mandate includes the protection of freedom of movement and a peaceful and safe environment throughout BiH, is of key importance.
At the end of Tuesday, the BiH delegation also met with the UK’s Deputy Minister of Defense for Security, Paul Wyatt.
