Konaković at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of EU Member States and Western Balkan countries

(Patria) - BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konaković today, at the invitation of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, participated in a meeting in Luxembourg of the foreign ministers of EU member states and Western Balkan countries within the framework of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) session.

The meeting discussed cooperation and challenges in foreign and security policy, as well as the gradual integration of the countries of the region regarding alignment with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.

In his address during the meeting, Konaković referred to challenges that require a unified response in the context of geopolitical and economic relations due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

He emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina deeply sympathizes with the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

Regarding assistance to Ukraine, he pointed out that Ukraine's resilience is not only its own but is integrally linked to the security and stability of the entire European continent.

He assessed that our region is not unfamiliar with malicious external influences, especially from Russia, which aim to destabilize the EU's neighborhood and question the enlargement process through disinformation, political interference, and other subversive activities.

He called for a unified stance against such influences. He emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina has recently fully aligned its foreign policy with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.

He assessed that this alignment poses a significant challenge, as it has caused many internal problems in BiH and that the destructive policy from Republika Srpska does not support our positions against Russia and does not condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine.

He then stated that the President of RS, Milorad Dodik, has already visited the President of Russia, Putin, twice and the President of Belarus, Lukashenko, once this year alone.

He expressed firm conviction that Dodik's positions, adopted after these visits, are the main reason for our difficulties on the European path.

Although these are the personal interests of the President of RS, he warned of the seriousness of the situation, as Russia is establishing a foothold in RS, in the heart of Europe, in this manner.

He then went on to discuss the EU enlargement process, citing gradual integration as one of the instruments for accelerating the integration process, i.e., stronger economic connectivity in the region.

During his visit to Luxembourg, on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Konaković is scheduled to attend a reception tonight organized by the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri, for the meeting participants.

And then an informal dinner hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel.