Austria and Hungary to help BiH on its European path

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Austria and Hungary Sebastian Kurz and Janos Martonyi met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Zlatko Lagumdžija. Lagumdžija thanked the ministers and, as he said, great friends of our country for supporting BiH on its European integration path, writes the BiH news agency Patria.

- We discussed a new EU approach towards BiH so that BiH can move towards the EU faster. Therefore, the issue of constitutional reforms is just the tip of the iceberg. Both domestic politicians and the international community must participate in resolving the "Sejdić-Finci" ruling. The second direction is confronting real problems: economic and social problems, chapters 23 and 24, and the fight against organized crime - said Lagumdžija.

Lagumdžija said that a meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of EU countries will be held in April, and he hopes that they will address the approach towards BiH. He added that BiH will not refuse its obligations.

Minister Martonyi said that BiH is a very important country for both Hungary and Austria.

- The reason we came together is that we want to help BiH's European path, which seems to have stalled a bit. We are aware that the majority of citizens want to integrate into the EU. Today we had the opportunity to witness the signing of a citizens' petition for EU accession initiated by civil society. The common vision of bringing ethnic groups closer to each other remains. We hope that all political groups will listen to the voice of the people and their demands. We are aware that many reforms must be implemented in BiH, but we will provide support - emphasized the Hungarian Foreign Minister, reports NAP.

Martonyi stated that recent events have shown that a broader EU approach for BiH is needed. Hungary will also cooperate in developing this broader approach.

Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz said that Austria has close ties with BiH. Historical, cultural, and human ties, given that more than 150,000 people from the BiH region live in Austria.

- I want to say that the development of BiH is important to us, as Austria is the largest investor in BiH. We also have members of the EUFOR forces, and that number will increase. We are concerned about what we have seen in recent weeks; we understand it as a wake-up call, and we should not forget about EU accession. And now it is stalled. The country's progress must move towards the European path. This country needs a vital and functioning government. Austria wants to remain and be a partner to civil society as well - stated the youngest EU Foreign Minister.

Lagumdžija added that economic and social reforms need to be carried out in BiH, and that the rule of law and the fight against organized crime need to be established.

- It is important that before the elections, we engage in a competition of who will solve more problems, not what the problems in the country are - said Lagumdžija.