Sarajevo, 19 November 2009

“REINVIGORATE THE EU PERSPECTIVE OF ALL COUNTRIES IN THE REGION”

“Greece remains firm in its dedication to support the EU perspective of BiH,” Alternate Foreign Minister of Greece Dimitris Droutsas – who is currently visiting BiH stated in an interview with FENA. 

”Greece remains firm in its support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's European perspective, acknowledging that the overwhelming majority of the people in the country share the European vision. And we remain committed to your European course as it was defined during our Presidency of the EU, back in 2003, in the Thessaloniki Agenda”, said Droutsas.

“It is our feeling, however, that the European perspective of all the countries in the region needs to be reinvigorated,” Mr. Droutsas pointed out, adding that “it is in this context that the Greek Prime Minister has proposed the drawing up of a new, concrete road map - a political pledge to realize a vision of peace and prosperity for Southeast Europe.”

Droutsas explained that this roadmap - "Agenda 2014" – “would have the countries of the Western Balkans join the European family in this very symbolic year, 100 years after the outbreak of World War I.”

“Many of the problems that have plagued the Balkans can arguably be traced back to 1914, and it is Greece's position that the time has come for the European Union - the greatest peace project ever known - to undertake its responsibilities in this corner of Europe and help the countries of the region - including Bosnia and Herzegovina, of course - towards European integration”, said Droutsas.

”This doesn't mean that the EU will be any less exacting about the criteria that must be met by all aspiring members of the European family. So there is a great deal of work that will have to be done, and Greece wants to be the motor force helping the countries in this neighborhood to achieve the necessary results,” he added.

Speaking about the current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its stand on European and Euro-Atlantic path, Droutsas commented that “as noted in the latest European Commission Progress Report a month ago, consensus on the main reform priorities has been less than adequate in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The continuing delays in passing key reforms shouldn't be allowed to undermine the efforts to achieve the much-needed consensus and cooperation between the two entities.” 

When asked to comment on closing of the OHR and its transition into an EUSR office, Droutsas said that “regarding the Office of High Representative and its transition to a new EUSR, we believe that the international presence is still needed in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” stressing that in view of the domestic situation, a more robust engagement of the European Union seems to be indispensable, in particular since the country has achieved a clear European perspective with the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU.

“The ultimate aim of course should be to guarantee political stability and reinforce efforts towards reform, which is the only guarantee of achieving local ownership: a stable and effective Bosnia and Herzegovina responsible for its own affairs,” Mr. Droutsas noted, adding from the very outset, Greece has “welcomed and supported the EU-U.S. initiative as an attempt to push for tangible progress towards consensus on the remaining pending issues.”

“I am rather optimistic that despite the outcome of the two meetings in Camp Butmir, we have managed to pass on to all parties involved the message that they should seize the opportunity and allow your country and its peoples to move further toward the EU”, he added. 

“I believe it was encouraging that all of them agreed that the European perspective and its success are crucial to Bosnia and Herzegovina's future. Greece urges the country's political leaders to engage wholeheartedly and constructively in the initiative to reinvigorate the reform process.”

Asked about constitutional issues, Mr. Droutsas said he recognized the delicacy of the situations, but that there is not doubt as to the necessity of a privileged relationship with the EU and NATO.

“We have urged the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to redouble their efforts and accelerate the reforms which are necessary for the implementation of the roadmap regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said, making the reminder that this will be the one and only conditionality in next year's EU decision to abolish visas for BiH citizens as well.

“Greece has long been among the EU members most vocally in favor of the liberalization of the visa regime for all citizens of the Western Balkans. We first set this out in the 2003 Thessaloniki Agenda and later stressed this view again in Greece's 5-point initiative in November 2007,” he underscored.

Mr. Droutsas was also optimistic given that “cooperation between Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina has been increasingly constructive over the past few years,” and that Greek-BiH bilateral relations “have been making substantial progress in nearly all key sectors.”

“We have concluded a number of important bilateral agreements and I am pleased to say that we are taking significant steps towards a new more qualitative perspective in our relations, highlighting our will to strengthen our friendship,” he stated. 

”At the same time, we share similar views on many regional issues; above all on the need to consolidate a regime of regional symbiosis in Southeast Europe. In this framework, we have managed to develop multifaceted cooperation in all relevant regional forums and initiatives,” he added.

Although economic and trade relations between Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina have slowly but steadily increased over the past 10 years, Droutsas believes that there is ample room for improving our bilateral commercial exchanges and overall economic cooperation.

”As you may know, Greece has been active in promoting development cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina in recent years through the Hellenic Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans,” Droutsas said, noting that “following our successful cooperation in the implementation of the project "Rehabilitation of the Building of Friendship between Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina" in Sarajevo, Greece is co-financing an important project, "the Rehabilitation of the Kasindo Hospital" in Eastern Sarajevo.”

“On the other hand,” he concluded, “our bilateral trade volume does not reflect the existing potential and we still have some unfinished work to do on our bilateral economic legal framework.”