The President of Slovakia Ivan Gasparović, in an exclusive interview for Fena, spoke of the relations between Slovakia and BiH, the Slovakian experience for EU accession and trade.
At the beginning of the interview, he said that the bilateral relations between Slovakia and BiH were very good and intensive.
”Slovakia is very interested in furthering relations with BiH for two reasons. First, due to the geographical proximity, mentality, culture and history. Secondly, BiH is a part of the Western Balkans, and our foreign policy affords much attention to this region, given that Slovakia is a member of the EU and NATO. I witnessed the vitality and honesty of our relations during my recent visit to your country”, said Gasparović. Even if relations are at a high level, the President of Slovenia said that there is room for additional improvements.
”For example, we could use the intensification of relations in order to better utilize the framework that is already reached. Cooperation at the level of parliamentary committee gives tangible and significant results so we could raise it to a higher level and reach more engagement of parliamentary leaders”, he added.
He announced the forthcoming first meeting of Intergovernmental Committee on Economic Cooperation.
”Slovakia has a framework agreeement with BiH on cultural cooperation. Slovakian culture is relatively well represented in BiH, but we would appreciate if BiH culture was more represented in Slovakia”, he said.
In contrast to the excellent bilateral relations, economic and trade relations could be intensified.
He said that Slovakia has a lot to offer BiH, particularly in the energy sector, one of the priority areas of the Slovakian economic development.
Gasparović agrees that BiH does not have an alternative to joining the EU.
”During my recent meeting with your high representatives, I realized that EU membership is your priority. I support these views because Slovakia is a good example of a c ountry that had many benefits from the process of integration. Not only as a country, but also citizens benefited from integration to the EU. We spoke of these issues very openly. I understand that BiH has a complex system of government, but I firmly believe that the focus on integration would mean a gradual overcoming of all mechanisms that could disrupt the functioning of your country”, said Gasparović.
Since Slovakia went through the same path to accession as BiH is going through now, he said that Slovakia gives full support to BiH’s Euroatlantic integration.
