Dr. Lagumdzija: Bosnia and Herzegovina supports the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR)



On 6 February, 2014, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr. Zlatko Lagumdzija participated in the XVI (Special) Meeting of the Adriatic-Ionian Council and Conference on the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) that took place in Athens.

 

The meetings held during the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Albanian Presidency over the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative were attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the participating countries of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Greece, the Republic of Italy, Montenegro, the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Slovenia), European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn and European Commissioner for Maritime issues and Fisheries Maria Damanaki.

 

The “Athens Declaration” was adopted at the Special meeting of the Adriatic-Ionian Council that is held annually at the level of Foreign Ministers which, among other things, confirms full commitment of interested parties to establish and implement the EU Strategy for this region as an instrument for growth promotion and sustainable development.

 

Prior to the adoption of the Declaration and during the discussion, Dr. Lagumdzija expressed full support to the proposed text of the Declaration, emphasizing that Bosnia and Herzegovina is committed to achieving objectives of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative and he also expressed its readiness to overtake the presidency of this important regional initiative from 1 July, 2014.   

 

Speaking about regional initiatives, in general, Dr. Lagumdzija agreed with European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn on the need to have close cooperation and respect for interested parties’ positions regarding specific initiatives. Otherwise, such initiatives can only be ineffective and inconclusive and the existence of these initiatives may become more uncertain.

 

“Here we have an example of the TAP/IAP projects where we have worked together within this regional initiative, both at political, economic and technical level. We provided political support for the project, took first steps in technical realization of the project, but in prefeasibility study for the construction of the TAP/IAP Corridor it became evident that position suitable for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the pipeline’s route is doubtful. And another example is the bridge that should be constructed to connect the EU territory. Of course, we are not against the construction of the bridge, but B&H’s position and interests in this phase of preparing prefeasibility study should be considered as well. In every respect of political and technical reasons, it is necessary to pay attention to all participating countries’ interests, notwithstanding their differences in size and power”, emphasized Dr. Lagumdzija.

 

He stressed that now Bosnia and Herzegovina is not large and powerful country, but it must be sovereign and equal partner in every field of cooperation. It won’t be possible in different way.

 

Dr. Lagumdzija said that B&H foreign policy priorities have been accomplishing through regional cooperation as well and our country has an active approach towards regional initiatives. He emphasized that B&H through partnership with other countries in the region strives to contribute fully to creating the Western Balkans and the entire South East Europe as a region where geographic, economic and socio-cultural diversities would be turned into useful development resources.

 

The results of detailed consultations on the Strategy that the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission held with interested parties and public debate in the period from October to December 2013, as a part of the preparations for final proposal of the Strategy which should be presented to the European Commission upon its request by the end of 2014, were presented at the Conference of interested parties on the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region.

 

During his address Dr. Lagumdzija stressed that EUSAIR gives a new momentum to the three main pillars of foreign policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina: the EU and NATO integration, regional cooperation and economic diplomacy, but specifically to regional cooperation with an active involvement of the European Union. He said that B&H has been actively involved in the negotiation process, especially in the field of environment and tourism and he expressed his belief that the proposed text of the Strategy reflects goals of all interested parties and defines the path towards future. He also expressed readiness of B&H, as the next presiding country of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, to ensure that this initiative will provide its full contribution towards achieving the Strategy goals.

 

Dr. Lagumdzija particularly pointed to certain positive examples of cooperation between regional countries, such as Trans-Adriatic and Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline Projects and cooperation between B&H and Serbia on the project of the construction of energy facilities at Drina river basin.