Predsednica si želi, da BiH čim prej stopi na evropsko pot.Photo: Matjaž Klemenc/Office of the President of Republic of Slovenia
The President spends the second day of her trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina talking to political representatives and visiting Slovenian soldiers
The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, started the second day of her official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Mount Bjelašnica, where she addressed the crowd gathered at a ceremony naming an Olympic giant slalom course after Slovenian skier Jure Franko. She also met with the chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the chairman of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the House of Peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finally, the President will meet the members of the 48th Contingent of the Slovenian Armed Forces serving on the military mission EUROFOR ALTHEA and under NATO’s command in Sarajevo.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 9 Feb 2024
Bjelašnica hosted unforgettable ski races in 1984. Jure Franko, who also carried the Yugoslavian flag at the opening of the Olympic Games, won a silver medal in giant slalom, becoming a legend, a symbol of unity and pride. Through this, we aim to preserve the spirit of that time, when we believed in unity and diversity at the same time. Slovenia hopes that Bosnia and Herzegovina will progress on its path to the EU as swiftly as Jure Franko flashed to victory on 14 February 1984. So that one day we can stand together again in the international arena – as Team Europe," said President Pirc Musar at the naming ceremony.
At the meeting with Borjana Krišto, chairwoman of the Council of Ministers, Kemal Ademović, chairman of the House of Peoples, and Marinko Čavara, chairman of the House of Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Slovenian President reiterated with satisfaction that, traditionally, relations between the two countries have been excellent and amicable. Bosnia and Herzegovina is an important economic partner for Slovenia and the second-largest recipient of its development assistance.
In light of the country’s European perspective, the President stressed that Bosnia and Herzegovina had a few more weeks to jump on the train leading to the European Commission’s positive decision in March on initiating accession negotiations. "Bosnia and Herzegovina faces numerous challenges on its path to EU membership. But that is nothing unusual, nothing unique. Difficult challenges have been faced by more or less all candidates, including Slovenia. The history of the European Union is a history of compromises. I strongly hope that Bosnia and Herzegovina joins this path and thus the path to faster progress and development," she added.
At the end of her visit, the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief visited a military base in Butmir, where she was received by the Commander of EUFOR ALTHEA, Major General Làszló Sticz. She also met with members of the 48th Contingent of the Slovenian Armed Forces participating in both missions. She thanked them for their dedication to the mission, providing support during the security sector reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and their contribution to stability in the country.
