Nikšić with FBiH Government Delegation at Szijjarto: Hungary Ready to Help Rebuild Railway Infrastructure After Floods

(Patria) - Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nermin Nikšić, who is leading a delegation of the FBiH Government on a visit to Hungary, met this morning in Budapest with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó. Alongside Prime Minister Nikšić, the Government delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister of FBiH and Federal Minister of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Vojin Mijatović, as well as Federal Ministers of Energy, Mining and Industry Vedran Lakić, Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry Kemal Hrnjić, and Displaced Persons and Refugees Nerin Dizdar.

The meeting discussed the process of our country's accession to the European Union and the Reform Agenda. Minister Szijjártó expressed Hungary's support and added that the country stands ready to assist in the recovery of areas affected by the recent floods in the Federation of BiH. Prime Minister Nikšić expressed gratitude for the support and emphasised readiness for cooperation and joint activities.

"We feel your support and commitment to seeing us as an EU member. We must do everything in our power and use Hungary's presidency of the European Union to make progress. If we miss this train, I fear that the EU's interest in BiH could fade into the background. We are aware that your willingness to help us implies that we, for our part, adopt legal solutions. You are one of the few countries that maintains contacts with all levels of government and helps us through cooperation. We can complete the remaining obligations very quickly without politicking. We want to agree together, and I hope we will all soon sit down and reach an agreement. Whether there will be solutions, I don't know, but if we don't sit down and negotiate, we achieve nothing. I think all member states understand the opportunity your presidency offers us, and I will convey your message that Hungary will further support us if we make a step forward towards legal solutions," said Prime Minister Nikšić.

Stressing that it is very important to use the period of the Hungarian EU presidency, he added that progress has been made regarding the appointment of the chief negotiator and announced the possibility of forming a negotiating team. Regarding the Reform Agenda, the federal prime minister recalled that out of 113 measures, 111 have been agreed upon, despite the conditional opinion given by four cantons. He said that about 95 percent of solutions have been reached regarding the Appellate Council, and that if the political part concerning two laws is resolved, the conditional opinion of the cantons will not be a problem.

Minister Szijjártó expressed regret over the severe consequences left by the recent floods in the Federation and particularly emphasised Hungary's readiness to help with the reconstruction of railway traffic. He added that Hungary supports BiH on its path to the EU.

"Once everything is finalised from your political-level agreement, we need to speed up the European Commission to publish its assessment as soon as possible and convene the European intergovernmental conference on BiH. We are truly ready to help you," Szijjártó stated.

Also, an introductory meeting was held this morning for today's business forum, which will be attended by more than 100 businesspeople from Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Alongside the FBiH Government delegation on the two-day visit to Hungary are representatives of companies and entrepreneurs from the Federation of BiH. Among them are representatives of public enterprises Elektroprivreda BiH, Elektroprivreda HZHB, as well as BH Telecom, Roads of the Federation of BiH, the Development Bank of FBiH, and companies from the defence industry, as well as domestic companies from the Federation of BiH.