Austrian Chancellor: We can be a role model for BiH in terms of rule of law and economy

Reforms are a prerequisite for integration into the European Union, and Austria can be a role model in this regard, stated Austrian Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann ahead of today's visit to BiH, according to the Austrian Embassy, reports the BiH news agency Patria (NAP).

This is the Austrian Chancellor's first visit to BiH, and as part of his tour of the Western Balkans, he will also visit Serbia and Kosovo.

The immediate reason for the visit concerns issues related to overcoming the consequences of the catastrophic floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, as well as upcoming events marking the 100th anniversary of the Sarajevo assassination.

However, during the talks between the Federal Chancellor and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vjekoslav Bevanda, and the state Presidency, the difficult internal political and structural situation in the country, as well as economic stagnation with high unemployment, will be particularly discussed.

As announced, Chancellor Faymann also wishes to clearly express his continued support for the urgently needed internal reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in other countries of the region, through his trip.

- They are an important prerequisite for further approximation to the European Union. Austria represents a model of a social welfare state with a rule of law administration and judiciary, and therefore a successful economy, and as such, it serves as a role model. The lesson from the past hundred years should be only committed advocacy for the rule of law, democracy, and a functional market economy, for overcoming outdated national sentiments and for a credibly managed European integration process - stated Fayman.

Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann and Minister of Defence Gerald Klug will also visit units of the Austrian Federal Army in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which were, and still are, assisting the affected people during the recent catastrophic floods. Members of the Austrian Federal Army, as an integral part of the EUFOR mission, generally contribute significantly to the stabilization of the region and the maintenance of peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reports NAP.