Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Benedetto Della Vedova is on an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and yesterday he held a press conference at the Italian Embassy in our country.
As he said, the goal of his visit and meeting with BiH officials was to express Italy’s strong support for BiH on its path to the European Union (EU).
Worsening demographic picture
”The task of our visit was to express support for reaching an agreement so that the elections could be held this year. The goal was also to express concern over the events in the country that could slow down BiH’s European path and harm it,” stated Della Vedova.
He said he conveyed a joint message to BiH officials.
”I used my visit to BiH to meet with Milorad Dodik, Bakir Izetbegovic, Josip Brkic, Edin Forto, and High Representative Christian Schmidt, while the meeting with Johann Sattler was postponed due to health reasons,” Della Vedova added.
He stated that he talked to Dodik about the situation in the country.
”We expressed concern over the decisions made in the Republika Srpska (RS) entity on the transfer of competencies. We absolutely think that the judiciary and the prosecutor’s office must remain at the state level. We underlined to Dodik our support for the High Representative, whom we believe was legitimately elected. We also told him that the steps that are being taken could lead to further complicating relations, which results in jeopardizing the peace agreement, deteriorating demographics, but also security threats arising from endangering the constitutional order,” said Della Vedova.
Investors worried are about what is happening in BiH
As he stated, he talked with the officials in our country about economic cooperation and the dangers that could threaten it.
”Relations between BiH and Italy are very positive. Our country ranks second as a partner of BiH in exports. Our entrepreneurs and investors are also expressing concern about certain events here. They all want to do business in a safe country where there is no non-transparency and insecurity,” Della Vedova concluded.
E.Dz.
Source: Avaz
