The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, spoke today, on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Luxembourg, with the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence in the Prime Minister’s Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Defence of Ireland, Thomas Byrne.
Konaković stressed that he greatly appreciates and welcomes the decision of the Irish Government to open an embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He added that the opening of the embassy will undoubtedly strengthen bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ireland. He also expressed his gratitude to Ireland for its continued support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union. He stressed that BiH firmly believes that the full integration of candidate countries into the EU is key to ensuring long-term prosperity, both in the region and in Europe.
He reiterated that BiH is harmonizing its foreign policy with the EU’s common foreign and security policy. He assessed that the approval of the framework for negotiations and the setting of the date of the first Intergovernmental Conference are of key importance for Bosnia and Herzegovina and its further path towards full EU membership.
He briefed his interlocutor on the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the brutal attack by the President of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, and the leadership of that Bosnian entity on the country’s constitutional order, which threatens peace and stability, not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but also in the region, it was announced.
Minister of State Byrne stressed that Ireland would continue to support the integration process of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the implementation of reforms.
In this context, he reiterated Ireland’s commitment to supporting further enlargement of the European Union to the countries of the Western Balkans and said that Ireland is ready to use its knowledge and experience to assist BiH on its path to the EU.
The interlocutors expressed their readiness to improve political dialogue by more intensive exchange of visits between officials of the two countries. They also stressed the need to strengthen economic cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ireland.
The meeting discussed, among other things, the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, Irish participation in the EUFOR ALTHEA mission, contractual relations and visa liberalization, and support for candidacies in international bodies and organizations, the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
