Members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) met yesterday with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio.
According to the BiH Presidency, they welcomed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy and thanked him for coming to BiH and this bilateral visit, regardless of the difficult conditions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
They are grateful for Italy’s continuous interest in developing good and friendly relations, to which the dedicated engagement of Ambassador Nicola Minasi and the Italian Embassy in BiH, who was in yesterday’s delegation, makes additional contributions, as they assessed.
The participants of the meeting exchanged information on the political processes caused by the pandemic and on the ways to combat the spread of coronavirus, as well as on the problems in the process of vaccine procurement.
The need for European Union (EU) support to BiH and the Western Balkans in the fight against the pandemic was also discussed, not only in response to the humanitarian and health crisis but also in mitigating the socio-economic consequences.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Italy said that this country advocates the enlargement of the EU to the Western Balkans and the continuation of the process of reforms and European integration of BiH.
The importance of Italy’s continued support within the EU in the next steps of BiH’s accession to the Union, and in continuing to meet 14 main priorities from the European Commission’s Opinion, was pointed out.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and contractual regulation of relations, which were said to be good and friendly and that continuity of cooperation in order to improve it should be continued.
It was said that BiH, as a maritime nation, wants to make a constructive contribution to all processes concerning the protection of the Adriatic sea as a common good.
During this conversation, it was said that there is room for intensifying cooperation in the economy, culture, education, and other areas of interest for both countries.
It was emphasized that Italy is one of the most important partners of BiH when it comes to economic cooperation and foreign trade.
Special emphasis was given to the participation of young people from BiH and the Western Balkans in the processes within the EU, which concern the future of the EU and the Western Balkans as an integrated part of the EU.
Also, it was talked about the migrant crisis and the area of security, as well as the provision of conditions for the coordination of migration processes, as the Presidency of BiH announced, Klix
E.DZ.