Hungary and Austria are ready to support Bosnia-Herzegovina’s EU integration because it seems to have come to a standstill, Foreign Minister János Martonyi declared following the talks that he and his Austrian counterpart held with Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdžija on March 27, 2014.
Mr Martonyi and Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz paid a visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina in order to explore the situation there before the upcoming EU foreign ministers’ meeting in April. The Hungarian Foreign Minister pointed out that the majority of the citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina were in favour of EU integration. However, Bosnia-Herzegovina would need to carry out significant reforms in order to advance the country’s integration process. Hungary and Austria are ready to support the process with all means available.
The two foreign ministers also held a meeting with the joint Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina and visited EU petition campaign posts that collect signatures in favour of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s European integration.
Before meeting Zlatko Lagumdžija, the Foreign Minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina, János Martonyi paid a visit to the EU's EUFOR Bosnian peacekeeping mission in Camp Butmir, near Sarajevo, together with his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz.
The role of Hungarian soldiers in Bosnia-Herzegovina is vitally important, since what takes place in the country and the region is not indifferent from the point of view of Hungary's security, Foreign Minister Martonyi declared. Hungary's peacekeepers, their commitment, knowledge and training are needed not only for the sake of Hungary but for the whole of Europe and the world, he said. Hungary's armed forces currently contribute 160 servicemen to the EUFOR mission, the second largest force at the moment.
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
