NEWS

Prime Minister Pahor hosts Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor,  had a meeting today at the Government Palace with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr Nikola Špirić, who is currently on a working visit to Slovenia at the Prime Minister's invitation.  In their talks, Mr Pahor and Dr Špirić confirmed that mutual relations between the two countries were excellent and that resolving certain outstanding issues was in the mutual interests of both countries.
 

(Foto: Daniel Novakovič/STA)

 
Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have developed highly diversified cooperation, which can be further enhanced since Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of Slovenia’s major trading partners and vice versa. In 2008, the volume of trade stood at EUR 937 million. In the talks, Mr Pahor and Dr Špirić advocated further building on economic relations, especially in the areas of export activities and promotion of outward investment. Mr Pahor proposed to Dr Špirić that a business conference in Sarajevo be organised at the beginning of next year, to which Dr Špirić agreed with pleasure.
 
They also discussed the outstanding issue of Ljubljanska Banka savers, both advocating that a just solution be found to this issue. Mr Pahor stressed: "Slovenia hopes to resolve outstanding issues regarding relations with the Western Balkan countries, which would enable it to return to these markets through its financial institutions, banks and insurance companies."
 

(Foto: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)

 
In their talks, the two dignitaries also touched on the situation in the Western Balkans and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this regard, Dr Špirić stressed that Bosnia and Herzegovina hoped to enhance its visibility as a trustworthy country and continue its efforts to forge closer ties with Euro-Atlantic structures.
 
At a press conference following the meeting, Mr Pahor stressed that today’s meeting was the last in a series of meetings held with the leaders of the countries in the Western Balkan region, remarking that he was pleased that the last meeting was held with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, since the issue of future prospects for Bosnia and Herzegovina is a very topical issue in both the country itself and in the international community. He went on to add that Slovenia would considerably increase its economic, political and cultural presence in this part of South Eastern Europe.
 
At the end of the press conference, Dr Špirić thanked Mr Pahor for the invitation and reception, expressing satisfaction with the successful outcome of the talks. He commended, in particular, the Slovenian MEP and the European Parliament’s Rapporteur for visa liberalisation for the Western Balkan countries, Tanja Fajon, on her efforts to achieve the conditional inclusion of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Schengen White List.