Crnadak participates in conference with foreign ministers in Vienna

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Igor Crnadak participated in the Western Balkans Summit Vienna 2015, which, as a continuation of last year's initiative called the Berlin Process, was held on August 27, 2015 in Vienna, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

Minister Crnadak took part in the part of the conference thematically designated for foreign ministers, which was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria Sebastian Kurz and the foreign ministers of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Slovenia, Montenegro, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Albania and others, as well as the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.

In his address, Minister Crnadak emphasized that the process of reconciliation among the peoples of the Western Balkans must continue, alongside the development of political, economic and diplomatic relations. The minister stressed that the development of good neighbourly relations in the triangle of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Serbia - Croatia is of particular importance for the stability of the region.

During his address, Minister Crnadak stated that the initiative of Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, regarding the marking of a common date by all countries of the region, which would be dedicated to remembering all victims of previous wars, is well-intentioned and sincere. Regardless of the fact that opinions on the said initiative are divided, Minister Crnadak expressed the expectation that the countries of the region will find a way to jointly pay tribute to all those who lost their lives, because as long as every victim is not viewed in the same way, there will be no genuine reconciliation.

Minister Crnadak also informed the conference participants about recent positive examples of Bosnia and Herzegovina's cooperation with countries in the region, such as the signing of the Border Agreement with Montenegro, agreed joint infrastructure and diplomatic activities with Serbia, and the signing of the Agreement on Mutual Travel of Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Albania.

Minister Crnadak informed those present about the priorities in the work of the new Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly emphasizing the segment of economy, the fight against corruption and the process of European integration. He stressed that the new government in Bosnia and Herzegovina functions on the basis of strict respect for the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and on the principles of compromise, rather than on the principles of conflicts, as was often the case in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, he expressed optimism regarding the European future, expecting that, after the activation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the adoption of the Initial Reform Programme, positive trends will continue.

Minister Crnadak thanked Commissioner Hahn, German Minister Steinmeier and other EU representatives for the political and financial support that Bosnia and Herzegovina receives through the New European Approach and through the so-called Berlin Process. He also emphasized that it is of particular importance that the EU accepted Bosnia and Herzegovina as it is, with all its differences and specificities, respecting the role played by the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as lower levels of government.

At the very end, Minister Crnadak underlined the enormous importance of infrastructure and energy projects for which Bosnia and Herzegovina has received EU support, such as the bridge in Gradiška, which directly contributes to faster connection of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska with the EU. He also called on the European Union to support as many similar projects as possible, given that these are concrete and visible effects, from which a large number of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina have direct benefits.