Official visit of the Members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Republic of Slovenia

At the invitation of Borut Pahor, President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Mladen Ivaniæ, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Dr Dragan Èoviæ and Bakir Izetbegoviæ, Members of the Presidency, are today on their return official visit to the Republic of Slovenia. This is the first official visit of the new Presidency abroad and reflects the sincere and friendly relations between the countries.

After the official reception with military honours at Congress Square in Ljubljana, President Pahor held discussions with Chairman Ivaniæ and Members of the Presidency, Èoviæ and Izetbegoviæ, at the Presidential Palace. The Slovenian President reassured further support to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its way to joining the Euro-Atlantic integration and added that Slovenia commends the written commitment or declaration on the European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to President Pahor, today’s visit revealed an excellent quality of political and economic relations between the countries and a very high level of mutual respect and understanding. The discussion partners agreed that there were no open political issues between the countries and good economic cooperation was maintained.

Slovenia helped Bosnia and Herzegovina during the war by accepting a large number of refugees, by investments at the time when the country was being reconstructed after the war, and also with the visa liberalisation and the conclusion of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement when Slovenia presided over the EU Council. The Members of the Presidency particularly thanked Slovenia and the Slovenian people for their assistance during the floods of spring, 2014.

The discussion partners agreed that economic relations between the countries were good, but they could be enhanced further. The growth of all main components of the economic cooperation was interrupted in 2009 as a result of the global economic and financial crisis. However, this has been nearing its previous volume in recent years, assessed President Pahor, adding that Slovenia places a special emphasis on the possibility of cooperating with Bosnia and Herzegovina in third markets and is interested in concluding a joint statement on economic cooperation in third markets as soon as possible.

At the press conference, the Slovenian President congratulated the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina on its engagements regarding the declaration on the European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina and expressed hope that the Presidency would also continue with such a positive attitude when drafting and implementing necessary legislative reforms and generating a competitive business environment. Legislative reforms are needed to improve the functioning of the state and ensure better social security for its citizens as this is the only way for the country to be successful in its progress towards the European future, stated President Pahor, further noting that Slovenia is a proponent of the all-round progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In his statement, President Pahor also highlighted the regional initiative, the Brdo Process, which serves as an excellent forum for enhancing political dialogue between the countries of the European Union and the countries of the Western Balkans. He said that, in addition to the Leaders’ Meeting of the Brdo Process hosted by Montenegro in June, Slovenia would also organise a meeting of foreign ministers in April and thus further strengthen the regional initiative at the level of ministers who hold executive powers.

In conclusion, President Pahor expressed hope that the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina would respond to the invitation to Summit 100, a meeting of eminent business leaders from the region, which will take place on 1 and 2 June in Portoro¾. The Slovenian President also communicated that he would attend the ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre on 11 July 2015 and pay tribute to the memory of Bosniak, Croat and Serb victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He added that this is a year of many commemorations as we remember past atrocities and express a profound wish that they will never be repeated.