PRIORITY ISSUE Bećirović: Regulate the state border between BiH and Serbia

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - In accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Presidency of BiH, member of the Presidency of BiH Denis Bećirović proposed on 20.1.2023. that at the upcoming regular session of the Presidency of BiH, the report of the State Commission for the Border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regarding the state demarcation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia, be included and considered, along with a proposal for specific conclusions.

One of the open bilateral issues in the relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia concerns the regulation of the interstate border, i.e., the signing of the Agreement on the State Border.

In this context, the issue of concluding a border agreement between two sovereign states, in accordance with the principles of peaceful settlement of disputes under the Charter of the United Nations, represents a priority issue and is in the interest of both states.

Bećirović assesses that strengthening good neighborly relations and developing regional cooperation is an important aspect of building stability and successful positioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the international stage.

The contractual regulation of the state border issue between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia was a topic of discussion at the highest political level, but there have been no meetings of the authorized border commissions of the two states in their last two terms.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH submitted the Draft Agreement on the State Border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH for an opinion, in early March 2019.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH gave a positive foreign policy opinion in accordance with the Law on the Procedure for Concluding and Implementing International Agreements, but the further procedure in this regard has not been continued to date.

The signing of the Agreement on the State Border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia would enable the demarcation of the state border between the two countries and confirm that good neighborly relations and regional cooperation are key elements of the stabilization and association process.

Also, improving bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and neighboring countries is of fundamental importance for stability and achieving the foreign policy goals of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in relation to achieving full membership in the European Union, it was announced from Bećirović's Cabinet.