Novalić Receives French Ambassador Rousson in Farewell Visit

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Fadil Novalić received the Ambassador of the Republic of France to BiH Guillaume Rousson at the FBiH Government headquarters in Sarajevo today for a farewell visit. Rousson is concluding his mandate after three years and four months and is leaving our country.

The Federal Prime Minister expressed his conviction that the French diplomat had a fruitful and pleasant mandate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and thanked him for the successful cooperation, wishing for the continuation of good diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries.

Ambassador Rousson stated that his perception of our country changed during his mandate, because, as he said, things are seen much better from the inside than from the outside.

"I traveled a lot and got to know your wonderful country, its people, cities, villages, and the beauties you have. Seen from the outside, the perception of wartime events remains in memory for a long time, but now I have formed a new image of a beautiful and prosperous country that has recovered. The best proof of this is the strong return of tourism, which, unfortunately, like in most countries, has suffered great damage in light of the pandemic," said Rousson.

The interlocutors dedicated a significant part of the conversation to the European perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which the ambassador expressed the full support of France and EU partners for its approximation, noting that, however, it depends most on the BiH authorities.

They assessed that the shortest path to approximating the European Union is through the economy. Prime Minister Novalić emphasized that the European Union is also a functional community of capital with which we should have close economic relations and prosper through that cooperation.

"The European Union is realistically an economic giant, and its growth is reflected in all European countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. In a political sense, NATO integration is also important to us because through it we gain security, in which we need the support of both the United States of America and the European Union," said Novalić.

The Ambassador of the Republic of France also highlighted the new methodology for the enlargement of the European Union, which will somewhat ease the conditions that candidates need to meet.

"I think it is very significant news for Bosnia and Herzegovina that in the next few weeks, at the latest by the end of the year, the office of the French Development Agency will be opened in BiH, which will contribute to the further strengthening of cooperation between the two countries, especially on the economic level, and will be a clear signal to French and other European companies to invest in your country. The Franco-Bosnian Business Circle, though smaller, is no less important, and its revitalization will be an additional signal for the development of economic relations," said Rousson.

Wishing him a successful continuation of his diplomatic career, Prime Minister Novalić presented the French diplomat with a commemorative gift, a replica of money minted in the medieval Bosnian state, for which Rousson expressed his warmest thanks.