Krišto – Guenov: To Strengthen USA-BIH Partnership

Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Borjana Krišto talked in Sarajevo with a delegation of the United States of America Ministry of Defence of, led by First Deputy Assistant Defence Minister for International Security Tressa Guenov. 

Chairwoman Krišto thanked to the US administration for its commitment to preserving stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. She also emphasised her thankfulness for a continuous friendly US support  to BIH Institutions in reform implementation and integration processes, noting the importance of strengthening of a longer-term and mutually beneficial partnership between the USA and BIH. She added that extraordinary developments in the region and Europe both require and justify a stronger engagement of the USA in overcoming the existing obstacles and acceleration of needed reforms in the integrations process of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Krišto said she expects continuation of a proactive role of the USA in BIH in supporting implementation of election law, assessing it as key for functionality and stability of our country.

Krošto underlined commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European integrations, adding that despite a complex political system of ours, we have to do everything to step-up the European integrations process in order to secure a permanent political stability and prosperous future to our country. She noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country taking part in the Membership Action Plan (MAP), adding that the integration aims may be fulfilled only through a continuous political dialogue, consensus, mutual respect and compliance to constitutional competences by all-level authorities, in addition to the established coordination mechanism. A strong support was reinvigorated by joint strategic energy projects.

Chairwoman Krišto briefed Buenov of actions and achievements by the Council of Ministers of BIH, which held 21 sessions and considered over 800 items of agenda. She stressed that, following years of stalemate in reform implementation, she is now encouraged by agreements as to decision-making on economic projects and relevant issues to benefit constitutive people and all citizens of BIH.

The interlocutors exchanged opinions on further strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the area of defence and security, as well as on important global security challenges, like Russian aggression against Ukraine. Chairwoman Krišto said that BIH, as country-signatory of a Stabilisation and Accession Agreement, fulfils its obligations as to following-up positions of the joint security and foreign policy of the European Union.

The meeting was attended by US Ambassador in BIH Michael Murphy. (end)