Chairman Tegeltija at Open Balkans Summit in Ohrid

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Zoran Tegeltija stated that there is no consensus in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Open Balkans Project, hopeful that BIH would become its member sooner rather than later. 

In his address to the Open Balkans Summit in Ohrid, Chairman Tegeltija said there is no answer to the missing consensus in BIH on the project.

“There is silence, to put it simply”, Tegletija said, assessing that reasons for this are prejudgments from the past as to the initiative holder, also, it is about who would be a benefitting party, including a presumption that it is a replacement for the EU membership. Chairman said that the position on the Open Balkans is shaped by certain groups, holding the whole idea as a failure, adding that BIH is always susceptible to outside influences.

“There are influences by individuals, Embassies, who believe that BIH should not be there”, Tegeltija said.

Chairman Tegetija stressed that he answered to the invitation to take part at the Ohrid Summit, based on his confidence that the Open Ballkans idea is supported by whole business community in BIH.

“I am here because I know that the majority of BIH citizens support the project, and also for the fact that BIH representatives may take part at all technical level negotiations within the Open Balkans Initiative, therefore we are ready to sign all agreements the moment an affirmative political decision is taken”, Chairman Tegletija stressed.

He assessed that the Open Balkans may move-up the whole economic potentials of the region, so Bosnia and Herzegovina will, sooner or later, become a part of the initiative.

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH said that chambers of commerce in BIH are in constant cooperation with their partner institutions from the region, and that BIH business community cooperates with businesses from the countries of the region, while touristic workers tailor touristic offers jointly.

“They would never be stopped by political disagreements and lack of readiness to finalise the process”, Tegeltija said, thanking for the opportunity to address to the Summit in Ohrid and convey positions on the Open Balkans, although BIH  not its member-country formally.

Chairman Tegeltija invited for creation of a “compete” Open Balkans, for open borders to enable smooth passage of people goods and capital.

Within the Ohrid Summit, Chairman Tegeltija took part at the Western Balkans leaders meeting with representatives of the international community, and attended a plenary session on tourism. (end)