Zvizdić and Al Thani: Improve Cooperation in Energy, Tourism, Healthcare, and Culture

QATAR, (Patria) - Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Zvizdić is leading a delegation of the BiH Council of Ministers on an official visit to the State of Qatar. Chairman Zvizdić met today in Doha with the Prime Minister/Minister of Interior of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, with whom he discussed the improvement of bilateral relations. It was noted that relations between the two countries are friendly and without open issues, and mutual interest in enhancing political and economic cooperation was expressed.

Discussions also covered the liberalization of the visa regime for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Prime Minister Al Thani stated that the Qatari side has no objection to abolishing visas for diplomatic and official passports, and that security ministers should meet in the coming period to establish a modality for easing the visa regime for citizens.

Chairman Zvizdić informed Prime Minister Al Thani about the current reform processes in our country, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. He said these are compatible processes leading to the fulfillment of two priority goals of BiH: economic improvement and membership in the European Union. He added that the BiH Council of Ministers is committed to activating all existing resources for accelerated economic development and job creation, especially to employ young people.

He stated that our country is interested and open to cooperation in the fields of energy, tourism, agriculture, wood and metal processing industries, infrastructure construction, as well as strengthening cultural ties through cooperation in sports and education. He welcomed the introduction of a regular airline route between Sarajevo and Doha, which will facilitate the arrival of businesspeople and tourists to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Chairman Zvizdić invited the Prime Minister of Qatar to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Chairman and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH Mirko Šarović, Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Igor Crnadak, Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH Adil Osmanović, Minister of Communications and Transport of BiH Ismir Jusko, Mayor of Sarajevo Abdulah Skaka, and Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the State of Qatar Tarik Sadović.

Following the meeting, in the presence of the Prime Minister, a Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Youth between the Council of Ministers of BiH and the Government of the State of Qatar, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the State of Qatar on Cooperation in Healthcare, Pharmaceutical Production, and Employment of Health Workers, and a Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Education, Higher Education, and Scientific Research between the Council of Ministers of BiH and the Government of the State of Qatar were signed.

The memoranda were signed on behalf of the Council of Ministers of BiH by Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH Adil Osmanović, and on behalf of the Government of the State of Qatar by Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem Al-Ali, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, and Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Wahid Al Hammadi. Simultaneously, delegations from the cities of Sarajevo and Doha signed a Sister City Agreement.