The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, spoke at the 13th Conference of Ambassadors in Ankara, and on that occasion he emphasized the importance of the rapid accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to the European Union (EU) and NATO.
Speaking about the relations between Slovenia and Russia, Pahor emphasized that his country never felt worried about Russian actions until that country’s aggression against Ukraine, while other Eastern European countries always described Russia as a direct or indirect threat to their security.
“In the new geopolitical division, the Western Balkans will be part of the Western world, but this depends as much on Brussels as on the countries of the Western Balkans. The longer the EU expansion process lasts, the more these countries will be exposed to Russian appetites, or at least the Russian influence will increase,” said Pahor, pointing out that BiH is of key importance.
He stressed that the risk still exists in the Western Balkans and in BiH.
“I am trying to do everything in my power to convince the EU and the West to accept BiH as a member of the EU through a quick procedure and, if possible, also into NATO,” the President of Slovenia emphasized.
He also pointed out that the lack of trust between the peoples in BiH is deepening, which can also mean a security risk for the country, the region and the EU as a whole, Klix.ba reports.
E.Dz.
