Top British diplomat visits Bosnia and Herzegovina

Following the visit of British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to Bosnia and Herzegovina in April this year, the Permanent Under-Secretary of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Simon McDonald will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina on September 10 and 11.

The top British diplomat will emphasize the United Kingdom's continued commitment to the stability, security, and prosperity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the wider region. He will officially mark the beginning of the British presidency of the "Berlin Process" and discuss plans for the next Western Balkans Summit, which will be held in 2018 in the United Kingdom.

The Permanent Under-Secretary of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Simon McDonald, will meet with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Zvizdić, Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak, and the Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH, Fadil Novalić, and discuss with them the continuation of British support for reforms in the field of economic modernization, as well as how Bosnia and Herzegovina can accelerate progress on its path towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

Sir McDonald will visit the Butmir Military Base to learn about the latest details of EUFOR's operations in maintaining a secure environment, and visit the memorial to pay tribute to the 59 British soldiers who gave their lives for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He will also meet with members of the British Embassy's Fellowship program, who are leaders in various fields of work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many of them are involved in a wide range of projects funded by the British government, such as strengthening professionalism, independence, and efficiency of the judiciary and security sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and fighting corruption. Large projects are also underway aimed at improving the business environment and strengthening the private sector, in order to create new jobs and opportunities for young people from all over the country.

The Permanent Under-Secretary of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Simon McDonald, will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, and Macedonia.