Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia-Herzegovina Bisera Turkovic pays a working visit to Berlin.
Minister Turkovic attended a working lunch at the invitation of the German Foreign Minister and exchanged views on the situation in the region.
The Foreign Ministers of the Federal Republic of Germany, Heiko Maas, and the French Republic, Jean-Yves Le Drian, stressed the importance of the joint action of the countries of the region and the EU in removing obstacles to the membership of the countries of the region in the European Union.
Turkovic also participated in a high-level meeting of the Franco-German initiative on comprehensive control of small arms and light weapons in the Western Balkans, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH stated in the press release.
The meeting focused on progress evaluation and provided an occasion for Western Balkans representatives and their international partners to present the results reached thus far, as well as their proposals for further activities under the 2024 Roadmap.
Co-chaired by the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas and the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian gathered ministers of foreign affairs and interior of the Western Balkans, high-level decision makers of the EU Commission, as well as numerous international organizations and bilateral donors.
To date, the OSCE has received assistance requests from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Montenegro and developed a dedicated portfolio of extra-budgetary practical assistance projects in the field of SALW and SCA.
OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger addressed the meeting reiterating the steady and regular support provided by the OSCE, which is complementary to the Franco-German co-ordination initiative. Greminger encouraged all the OSCE participating States to consider further funding to the OSCE led projects in support of Western Balkans SALW and SCA control activities.
“The OSCE remains open and ready to continue supporting the institutions of the region in the area of SALW and SCA, through dedicated projects and in close co-ordination with other international partners,” said Greminger.
The Organization has been actively engaged in support of the establishment of real-time police and customs data exchange in Southeast Europe. The aim is to tackle firearms and ammunition trafficking, raise awareness and foster community outreach initiatives on the dangers of firearms and ammunition misuse.
