Komšić: Maintaining regional stability is necessary

(Patria) - Željko Komšić addressing the participants on the second day of the Summit of the Process for Cooperation of Southeast European Countries (SEECP) held in Jahorina. He said it was an honor that BiH is the country presiding over the Process for Cooperation of Southeast European Countries, because, as is known, this Process was initiated at the Summit in Sofia in 1996, with the intention of creating an environment of trust, good neighborly relations, and stability in the region.

"Today, we can proudly state that Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the founders of this international regional forum, which has produced several good results and positive effects for the entire region in the past period.

Allow me to express my satisfaction that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the opportunity to preside over the SEECP for the second time. The first presidency was in the period 2003-2004, which I hope has left a series of positive effects, especially in the area of regional cooperation, which is one of the more important principles of the European Union.

By developing regional cooperation and good neighborly relations, we are sending a clear message that this region, namely Southeast Europe, which some also call the Western Balkans, can be part of integration processes. Especially those processes that lead Bosnia and Herzegovina towards NATO and the European Union, into which every SEECP member country can be incorporated," said Komšić.

He recalled several SEECP goals, such as developing stability, security, and good neighborly relations, intensifying multilateral, economic, and trade cooperation in the region, especially cross-border cooperation, improving transport, communication, and energy infrastructure, investment and trade promotion, promotion of cooperation in humanitarian, social, and cultural fields, cooperation in justice and internal affairs, for the fight against organized crime, illicit drug and arms trafficking, and terrorism.

"When we consider these goals, we can conclude that the cooperation of SEECP member countries is very good in the mentioned areas.

Certainly, there is room for us to work together even more on resolving many of the open issues we have, thereby further improving our neighborly relations. In that regard, I invite all of us to make additional efforts and find ways to resolve these open issues, for the benefit of all our citizens.

It is necessary to maintain the stability of the region, and through our mutual cooperation and joint mechanisms, to maintain and better control the illegal migration flows that have affected our countries. Only together will we more easily and effectively face the challenges ahead," added Komšić.

In this way, Komšić points out, we will show that the Southeast European space certainly belongs to the European Union, and that each country that has not yet received EU member status can certainly go through all the challenges imposed by the membership procedure.

"Therefore, we should all work even harder, especially on harmonizing our local legal systems with the European acquis, so that we can show that we are ready to accept and apply European standards in all requested areas.

I also call on all SEECP member countries to respect the judgments of the International Tribunal for Genocide, War Crimes, and Crimes Against Humanity, and in this way, pay tribute to all victims of genocide, as one of the prerequisites for building lasting reconciliation and trust among the Western Balkan countries," said Komšić.