The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, on Saturday in Sarajevo invited politicians from Bosnia and Herzegovina to an agreement that would ensure that the country would be functional and thus pave the way for membership in the Euro-Atlantic integration, telling them that they must show responsibility towards the citizens.
Sánchez, who is reputed to be a good connoisseur of the situation in BiH because he previously served in the diplomatic service at the Office of the High Representative (OHR), was on his first official visit to that country in the capacity of Spanish Prime Minister.
This is a stop on his regional tour, the goal of which is to encourage reforms and progress of the Western Balkan countries on the way to EU membership, and Sánchez arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina at a time when that country is rocked by a deep crisis caused by controversies over changes to the electoral law.
“First of all, it is necessary to reduce tensions and divisive rhetoric, return to decision-making in institutions, find good solutions for open issues, which will always have the support of the international community, and, finally, the interest of citizens for a better life must be taken into account,” is the message that sent by Sanchez to politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
After the meeting with the members of the BiH Presidency, the Spanish Prime Minister told the journalists that he came to support that country and the strengthening of democracy, and that Spain strongly supports the territorial integrity of BiH and its entry into the European Union.
He called on the politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina to take advantage of the opportunity offered to them this fall, because all political forces in the Union want the unblocking of political processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its stabilization.
He explained that before that, however, it is necessary to adopt the reform laws that the EU insists on, as well as to ensure the democratic implementation of the elections in October.
He said that he understands the existence of different interests, but politicians must show responsibility towards citizens.
After his visit to Sarajevo, Sánchez traveled to Mostar to meet with Mayor Mario Kordic, and the program of the visit stipulates that the two will pay tribute and lay a wreath at the memorial to the Spanish soldiers who died in BiH from 1992 to 1995 as members of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR).
