Foreign Minister Urmas Paet: Bosnia and Herzegovina Must Continue on the Path Towards European Union and NATO

08.06.2012

Nr 163-E

At his meeting in Tallinn today with High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Valentin Inzko, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that Bosnia and Herzegovina must continue taking the necessary steps that will help the country integrate with the European Union. “Opportunities to move forward with European Union integration depend on the political ability to make the necessary reforms,” Paet noted. “We hope that Bosnia and Herzegovina will pick up the pace with making reforms, as a result of which it will be possible to become a European Union member state in the future,” he added.

Paet and Inzko discussed the need for the presence of the international community in the region and the high representative gave an overview of his work thus far in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “The role of the international community in the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina must be more clearly defined, taking into account the work of both the high representative’s office as well as the EU special representative,” stated Paet. “The European Union’s presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina must also be strengthened.”

In talking about Bosnia and Herzegovina’s relationship with NATO, Paet stated that Estonia supports moving forward with fulfilling the “Tallinn criteria” that will help Bosnia and Herzegovina integrate with NATO. “To do this, Bosnia and Herzegovina must find a solution to the weapons possession issue,” said Paet.

During their meeting, Paet and Inzko also spoke about developments in the Western Balkan region in general.

Photo: http://tinyurl.com/6nyqwpt