Crnadak spoke with Kurz: BiH and Austria have good political and cultural cooperation

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Igor Crnadak met on January 27, 2016 in Vienna with the Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria Sebastian Kurz, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

During the meeting, they welcomed the good political relations and cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria, both bilaterally and multilaterally. The constant development of cooperation in the field of economy and extensive cultural cooperation between the two countries was highlighted, as well as the progress BiH is achieving within the European integration process, with Minister Crnadak thanking for the support Austria provides to our country.

Minister Crnadak particularly welcomed the decision of the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria to select Bosnia and Herzegovina as a partner country within international cultural cooperation in 2016.

After the meeting, Minister Crnadak attended a reception in Vienna marking the start of the cultural exchange project "Year of Culture Bosnia and Herzegovina - Austria 2016", within which a large number of various cultural events will be held in both countries.

Minister Crnadak addressed the guests, pointing out the historical, cultural and other ties between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria and their peoples, as well as the importance of holding the Year of Culture. Among other things, he reminded that a large number of BiH citizens are permanently or temporarily residing in Austria, and that a considerable number of Austrian citizens live and work in BiH.

- All of the above, as well as a number of other examples of political, infrastructural, humanitarian and cultural cooperation between the two countries, which would require a lot of time and much more space to list, prove that the project "Year of Culture Bosnia and Herzegovina - Austria 2016" is not only an opportunity for presenting and mutual familiarization with our cultural values, but also a need to show and prove the diversity and richness of our cultural cooperation so far, and to build opportunities in which we will get to know each other even better and be a new source of inspiration for each other - said Minister Crnadak.

The reception at the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna, hosted by Minister Kurz, was attended by about 300 guests, representatives of the political, public and cultural life of Austria, the Bosnian diaspora and representatives of the diplomatic corps in Austria. The official brochure of the Year of Culture was presented at the reception.

The "Year of Culture Bosnia and Herzegovina - Austria 2016" will be officially opened on February 8, 2016 at a ceremony at the National Theatre Sarajevo, with the presence of the foreign ministers of BiH and Austria.