The Hungarian Prime Minister joined the preparatory meeting of the EU's Strategic Agenda in Bucharest.Continue reading
Bosnian Prime Minister Borjana Kristo discussed bilateral cooperation and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU integration with Viktor Orbán in Sarajevo on Thursday, as published on the Bosnian government’s website.
Borjana Kristo emphasized the good cooperation between the two countries and welcomed the work of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that there is significant room and need to increase bilateral trade flows.
The Bosnian Prime Minister thanked Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian diplomacy for their strong and unreserved support for Sarajevo’s European path. She added that the European Council’s decision is also a confirmation of the mutual friendship between Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the efforts that have led to the necessary level of conditions for EU membership.
She said that Bosnia and Herzegovina had opened a new chapter in Europe’s future by opening accession negotiations, but still had a lot of work to do and would have to work intensively. As she said, the forced intervention of Christian Schmidt, the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, is making it much more difficult to adapt to European standards and practices.
It is very important that any solution, not only the electoral law, which is a particularly important issue for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but everything else, should be the result of internal dialogue and agreement, within an institutional framework, respecting democratic principles and the rule of law,”
Borjana Kristo pointed out.
Photo: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán
She stressed the need to continue to focus on reforms and the path towards European integration, while strengthening institutions and democratic processes, in order to ensure Bosnia and Herzegovina’s continued stability and prosperity.
The Hungarian Prime Minister later continued his trip to Banja Luka, where he was received at the international airport by Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, Magyar Nemzet reported. Milorad Dodik wrote on X: “Viktor Orbán is a proven and sincere friend of Republika Srpska.”
На аеродрому у Маховљанима дочекао сам @PM_ViktorOrban и пожелио му добродошлицу у Републику Српску. Орбан је доказани и искрен пријатељ Српске. pic.twitter.com/xmt6jOylII
— Милорад Додик (@MiloradDodik) April 4, 2024
In an earlier post, the Bosnian Serb leader said that “the arrival of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Banja Luka is extremely important for Republika Srpska, as he is one of the most important European leaders. Negotiations will continue to strengthen political and economic cooperation.”
Долазак мађарског премијера Виктора Орбана у Бањалуку, једног од најважнијих европских лидера, од великог је значаја за Српску јер се настављају разговори с циљем јачања политичке и привредне сарадње. https://t.co/wmmrmjEZfr
— Милорад Додик (@MiloradDodik) April 4, 2024
As Kurir.rs reported, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, arrived in Banja Luka earlier and was received by the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Radovan Viskovic. According to the Serbian press, the visit will include a reception in front of the Palace of the Republic, followed by talks between Milorad Dodik and Viktor Orbán, but also talks with several ministers and an economic forum in Republika Srpska.
“As part of our responsible neighborhood policy, we will continue to provide all support for the development of Republika Srpska,” the Hungarian Foreign Minister wrote in a Facebook post.
He added that “our agricultural support programs have been a great success, and we can build on them. We were accompanied by 23 leaders of Hungarian companies, who will hopefully hold many fruitful negotiations with their partners tomorrow.”
Via MTI, Magyar Nemzet, Kurir.rs; Featured image: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán