| The Political Directors of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Visegrád Four countries held a series of meetings in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 27 th and 28 th January. State Secretary Gábor Iklódy, the Hungarian Political Director and his Czech, Polish and Slovakian counterparts met the members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Zeljko Komsic, Haris Silajdzic and Nikola Radmanovic), the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Nikola Spiric, the representatives of parties in the House of Representatives and high-level officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Political Directors also met with High Representative Valentin Inzko, who is also the Special Representative of the European Union. The countries of the Western Balkans region have made progress in several important issues related to European and Euro-Atlantic integration. This makes all the more evident that Bosnia and Herzegovina is lagging behind in the same fields. The visit of the Political Directors of the Visegrád countries, the traditionally active supporters of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s integration efforts, was aiming primarily to identify areas where results could be achieved in the coming months. They also inquired about possible changes following the general elections to be held in October this year. Apart from the political and practical support to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s integration efforts, the Visegrád countries will be of significant importance in the coming period, as Hungary and Poland prepare to take over the Presidency of the European Union in the first and the second half of 2011 respectively. 
Apart from the possible reform of the Constitution the talks highlighted some concrete themes aiming at furthering the country’s integration, such as taking the necessary steps for visa-free travel of Bosnian citizens and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s prospects for joining NATO’s Membership Action Plan (MAP). The joint visit reaffirmed the Visegrád Four’s commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina and their readiness to provide support to the country’s reform and integration efforts. The importance of regional cooperation both in preparation for accession and after was also emphasized during the talks. (January 28, 2010) |