Meeting on Southern Interconnection Underway at US Embassy in Sarajevo

(Patria) - A meeting of representatives of leading political parties in FBiH is underway at the US Embassy in BiH, dedicated to the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline project, a key energy project for the future of the region.

Among others, the meeting was attended by the President of SDP and Prime Minister of FBiH Nermin Nikšić, President of Our Party Sabina Ćudić, President of NiP Elmedin Konaković, President of HDZ 1990 Ilija Cvitanović, as well as President of HDZ BiH Dragan Čović.

The invitation to this meeting was extended by the Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in BiH John Ginkel, who in recent weeks has held several meetings with key officials in FBiH, focusing precisely on the development of the Southern Interconnection.

According to American diplomats, the goal of today's meeting was to ensure a constructive dialogue among BiH politicians and to define concrete steps for the realization of the project, which has strategic importance for the security of gas supply and the energy stability of the country.

The Southern Interconnection project has already received a legal framework at the level of the FBiH Parliament. The House of Representatives adopted the law on the implementation of this project on December 12 last year, while the House of Peoples confirmed the same law in January this year.

However, no significant progress has been recorded in its implementation since then, which, as emphasized, further highlighted the need for today's meeting.

Topics of discussion also included experiences and recommendations from international frameworks, including the recent Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC) conference held in Athens, and visits by BiH parliamentarians to the US, including Washington and New York, where the Southern Interconnection was one of the central topics.

As diplomats emphasized, the successful realization of this gas pipeline represents a significant step for BiH's energy independence and the increase of regional energy security, while political leaders are expected to accelerate implementation and coordinate activities among relevant institutions.