Members of the BiH Presidency with Pope Francis: Holy See Supports BiH

VATICAN, (Patria) - Chairman of the BiH Presidency Dragan Čović and members of the BiH Presidency Bakir Izetbegović and Mladen Ivanić thanked Pope Francis for the audience and conveyed greetings from all peoples and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The members of the BiH Presidency discussed the current situation with the Holy Father Pope Francis. The importance of improving political relations and intensifying reform processes and fulfilling conditions aimed at strengthening the European perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina was highlighted. In this context, the submission of responses to the Questionnaire to high officials of the European Commission, scheduled for February 28 this year, was announced. The significance of the recently published Strategy on Enlargement for the Western Balkans, which emphasizes an open membership perspective in the EU for all Western Balkan countries, was underscored.

The members of the BiH Presidency expressed gratitude to the Holy Father Pope Francis and the Holy See for the support they have provided to Bosnia and Herzegovina so far, and expressed hope that this support will continue in the future within the framework of progress towards full membership in the European Union.

Following the meeting of the BiH Presidency members with the Holy Father Pope Francis, an audience was held for the delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Josip Brkić, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Holy See Slavica Karačić, Tonka Krešić-Gagro, Chief of Staff of the Chairman of the BiH Presidency Dragan Čović, Elvir Čamdžić, Chief of Staff of the member of the BiH Presidency Bakir Izetbegović, and Slavko Vučurević, advisor in the Cabinet of the member of the BiH Presidency from Republika Srpska, Mladen Ivanić.

After the audience with the Holy Father, the members of the BiH Presidency met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See. They emphasized that bilateral relations between BiH and the Holy See are friendly, with a high level of understanding and agreement on the most important political issues in the domain of bilateral relations and overall international relations.

They stressed that BiH greatly appreciates the assistance of the Holy See to BiH and its advocacy for tolerance and equality in its activities. The Basic Agreement between the Holy See and BiH, despite temporary delays in certain provisions, remains a permanent obligation of BiH, which it continues to implement. Likewise, the obligations under the Basic Agreement and the Additional Protocol assumed by the institutions of BiH and the entities remain permanent, and their implementation remains a permanent obligation of all competent institutions.

Cardinal Parolin emphasized that the Holy See supports BiH because a stable BiH with a European perspective is also in its interest.