Palmer meets with BiH Presidency members, Cvijanović in the afternoon

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer met today with members of the BiH Presidency, with the adoption of the Annual National Program being the key topic, it was announced on the U.S. Embassy's Twitter profile.

Palmer arrived in BiH at a crucial moment when negotiations on forming a government are underway. Palmer will hold a meeting with the President of Republika Srpska, Željka Cvijanović, in the afternoon.

Palmer is discussing BiH's current position and the process of adopting the Annual National Program (ANP) with BiH Presidency members Milorad Dodik, Šefik Džaferović, and Željko Komšić. U.S. Ambassador to BiH Eric G. Nelson also attended the meeting.

Following the meeting, the BiH Presidency announced that bilateral cooperation between the countries, the current political and economic situation in BiH, and BiH's activities on its European path were discussed. Speaking about European integration, the members of the BiH Presidency stated that the European Commission should issue an Opinion on the submitted answers from the European Commission's Questionnaire by the end of May this year.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Palmer reiterated that the U.S. remains a firm and committed partner to Bosnia and Herzegovina in implementing reforms and meeting the conditions for progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration. He emphasized that the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a leadership position in the future steps to be taken on the path to the EU, as well as in the faster implementation of the socio-economic reform package that should enable a better life for the citizens of BiH.

Members of the BiH Presidency reiterated that BiH's European future is unquestionable and that economic reforms, economic growth, and the fight against corruption in all spheres of society should be the focus of the authorities' actions in BiH in the coming period. In addition to the Ambassador of the United States of America to BiH, Eric Nelson, Brock Bierman, Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia at USAID, also participated in the meeting, to whom the members of the BiH Presidency expressed gratitude for USAID's engagement and assistance on various projects of importance for BiH society and economy.