Tegeltija in London: Meeting with Peach without Details

(Patria) - Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zoran Tegeltija spoke today in London with the UK Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly.

During the meeting, Chairman Tegeltija emphasized the commitment of BiH institutions to European integration, with full respect for the Dayton Peace Agreement and consistent regard for the constitutional competencies of all levels of government. Chairman Tegeltija pointed out the need for economic connectivity, improvement of relations, and launching an investment cycle in the region, highlighting the importance of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans.

Chairman Tegeltija also informed Minister Cleverly about the current political and economic situation in BiH, stating that it is necessary to encourage internal agreement among political representatives in order to overcome the current situation caused by the imposition of laws by the former High Representative in BiH. He added that only such an approach brings long-term peace and stability, as prerequisites for further growth and progress of BiH and the region. Expressing gratitude to the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for its continuous assistance and support to BiH, Chairman Tegeltija assessed that the political relations between BiH and the United Kingdom are good and friendly, but that they are not accompanied by equally good economic cooperation, expressing Bosnia and Herzegovina's interest in further strengthening economic ties.

Chairman Tegeltija, during his stay in London, also spoke late last night with the British Prime Minister's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Stuart Peach.

No details of that conversation were released by Tegeltija's cabinet.

Incidentally, Tegeltija is in London as part of the EBRD Summit, where he openly requested investments for BiH. However, in a conversation with European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, he was clearly told that there will be no money for projects, especially those concerning the Republika Srpska, until state institutions function at full capacity.

Tegeltija also met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson together with the prime ministers of the Western Balkan countries, and they discussed the condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine. It is not known whether Tegeltija expressed his stance on this, following his party leader Milorad Dodik, who believes that BiH should remain neutral. However, BiH has already condemned Russian aggression, as demonstrated by its vote for the expulsion of Russia from the Council of Europe and its condemnation of Russian aggression in the UN Security Council.