The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković is today on an official visit to the Republic of Finland, during which he held separate meetings in Helsinki with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland Elina Valtonen and the President of the Parliament of the Republic of Finland Jussi Halla-aho.
During the conversation with Minister Valtonen, the good and friendly relations between BiH and Finland were confirmed, as well as the readiness for their further improvement.
Konaković expressed his gratitude for Finland’s continued support in the European integration process of BiH, as well as the EU enlargement process.
He informed Valtonen about the current situation in BiH, with an emphasis on the European path and reform processes. On that occasion, he emphasized that the full integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as other EU candidate countries of the Western Balkans, is key to ensuring long-term security and stability, both in the region and in Europe.
He also pointed to the challenges that BiH is facing, as well as the complex constitutional arrangement, as well as the political blockades that, according to him, are produced by the SNSD and the former president of the Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, which slow down reform processes and European integration.
He particularly emphasized the determination of BiH institutions to continue the European path, and expressed the hope that two key laws, on the Court and the HJPC, will be adopted by March of this year, ahead of the publication of the European Commission’s report. He added that the adoption of the framework for negotiations, together with the determination of the date for the First Intergovernmental Conference, is crucial for BiH’s further progress towards the EU.
They agree that there is significant room for strengthening economic cooperation between BiH and Finland, with a special focus on the industrial sectors, energy and tourism. The need to strengthen cooperation between institutions, business associations and chambers of commerce, as well as to intensify the exchange of visits by business delegations and the organization of joint business and investment events, was highlighted.
They also discussed the European Union’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which BiH sees as an important instrument for connecting reforms with concrete economic development, as well as the possibilities of deepening cooperation with Finland.
At the meeting with Jussi Hallah, Finland’s strong support for the European perspective of BiH was confirmed, with the assessment that stability, reform processes and the strengthening of democratic institutions are of key importance for the country’s progress. Opinions were also exchanged on the possibilities of further improvement of bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the field of economy.
At the end of the visit, Konaković will meet with representatives of the Bosnian diaspora in Finland, with the aim of strengthening ties between BiH institutions and citizens who live and work in this country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH announced.
