The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss, arrived in Sarajevo last night, and today she will have several meetings with BH officials.
Truss will deliver a speech to the BiH Armed Forces, encouraging partners to continue supporting Ukraine, saying “we can’t take our feet off the gas now”.
The British Embassy in Sarajevo said that Liz Truss intends to mobilize $ 100 million in investments with the support of the United Kingdom in the Western Balkans by 2025, through an investment partnership plan.
“Truss will underline the United Kingdom’s commitment to peace and stability in the Western Balkans, despite Russia’s malignant influence,” it said.
Addressing the BiH Armed Forces, Truss will call on allies to increase support for Ukraine, including through the supply of more weapons and targeted sanctions.
“BiH has been a vocal partner in the region, pointing to Russia’s illegal behavior in Ukraine,” it said.
Truss will also emphasize the UK’s commitment to peace and stability in the Western Balkans, announcing the UK’s plans to deepen its security and economic partnership with BiH, despite secessionist and Russian attempts to influence and destabilize the country, a quarter of a century after one of Europe’s worst conflicts.
Referring directly to the issue of secessionism in Bosnia and Herzegovina itself, Truss will point out:
“Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future lies in sovereignty and self-determination, in a stronger partnership with NATO and countries like the United Kingdom.”
Truss will meet with members of the BiH Presidency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the Joint Staff of the BiH Armed Forces, and together with the Mayor of Sarajevo will pay tribute to children killed during the siege of Sarajevo.
He will also meet with international partners to discuss the role of the international community in preserving and promoting a stable and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina, the British Embassy said in a statement.
