Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Josip Brkic and Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece Themistoklis Demiris led the delegations of the two ministries at the bilateral consultations held on Friday in Athens.
During the consultations, it was stated that the bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Greece are very good, without open issues.
Both sides expressed a desire for continuous improvement of relations, especially economic ones, and for intensification of visits at a higher and high level.
It was assessed that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Greece have the same position on many issues of common interest, especially when it comes to preserving stability and security in the region.
Deputy Minister Josip Brkic informed his interlocutors about the most important issues related to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path and thanked for the support of Greece on that path, emphasizing that Thessaloniki will always be synonymous with the European future of the Western Balkans, through the 2003 Thessaloniki Agenda.
He pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina is fully committed to EU membership, although aware of the serious tasks ahead of us that require all relevant institutions in BiH to redouble their efforts to implement key priorities.
He underlined the importance of the recently held Zagreb Summit, at which, with the adoption of the Declaration, the European perspective of the Western Balkans was unequivocally confirmed.
He said that the continuous support of Greece within the European Union in all future steps and phases of BiH’s accession to the EU is important for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and pointed out the importance of regional cooperation for stability and development of the region as a key and indispensable part of EU integration process.
Brkic, who is also chairman of the BiH NATO Integration Process Commission, also reported on the Euro-Atlantic integration process, stressing BiH’s commitment to further building and improving relations with NATO in order to ensure a stable environment and implement necessary reforms.
Demiris expressed Greece’s full support for Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to the European Union. He said that Greece’s position is that the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans should be a priority of the European Union, and that Greece will continue to point out the importance and values of EU enlargement.