Komšić in Canada: Support for BiH on its path to NATO and EU

(Patria) - The Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić met today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Francois-Philippe Champagne in Ottawa. The interlocutors welcomed today's meeting and its significance, given that this is the first time a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina has met with high-ranking Canadian officials.

Discussions were held on the relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Canada, as well as on the challenges faced by the Western Balkan countries, and the world at large. The Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed Canada's support for Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to NATO and the EU. Opinions were exchanged on the current migrant crisis affecting the European Union and Turkey, and how it could affect Bosnia and Herzegovina and the countries of the region that lack the capacity to respond to these challenges.

Canada's interest in providing support to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the form of reforms, new investments, and projects was expressed. The need to sign an Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Foreign Investments was also discussed as a first step towards more significant investments by the Government of Canada in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It was concluded that the rule of law and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina are of great importance for this cooperation, but primarily that the judicial reform be implemented, which will enable Bosnia and Herzegovina to be a stable country for new investments and cooperation.