18 September 2010

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms. Ana Trišić-Babić paid a working visit to the USA

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms. Ana Trišić-Babić, paid a working visit to the USA on September 16-17, 2010, and on this occasion gave a lecture at the American University and Georgetown University in Washington.

At the American University, Deputy Minister, Ms. Trišić-Babić gave a lecture on the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its Euro-Atlantic perspective. She spoke about the role and importance of the U.S. foreign policy in the region, particularly in stopping the war in BiH, rebuilding the country and providing the assistance in approaching the European Union and NATO. She emphasized that, regardless of the current situation, the European Union has no alternative for BiH and that BiH and the entire region will be stable and prosperous when all countries become a part of the Union. Also, she talked about successful reforms with the aim to get closer to NATO. She particularly emphasized the participation of BiH Armed Forces members in ISAF mission (Afghanistan) and said that it is a great success for such a small country, in which the war ended 15 years ago, to be able today to contribute itself to peace and establishment of a secure environment in crises areas around the world.

Students from American University, during their visit to the region in October this year, will visit Sarajevo and Banja Luka as well and exchange views on current situation with their colleagues. Deputy Minister, Ms. Trišić-Babić expressed her satisfaction that universities of these two countries cooperate and already are traditionally organizing such visits, which will surely help American students to understand the history and relations of the Western Balkan countries and the United States.

Deputy Minister, Ms. Trišić-Babić talked to the professors and students of the Georgetown University about relations between BiH, USA and the EU vis-à-vis Euro-Atlantic integrations. She emphasized that the USA supported BiH, since Dayton to the present day, and that this support should be continued. Reasons for change of the USA foreign policy are clear, since BiH is no longer in the focus. BiH should continue the path towards Brussels, but at this point it is important that USA and the EU have a joint initiative for BiH in order to have all previous work valorised. Membership in the EU has no alternative for BiH or for other countries in the region as well. Due to their internal issues, including the economic crisis, the EU is more oriented to itself. Therefore, the engagement of USA is very important and investment of joint effort in order to keep BiH on the right course and to accelerate the implementation of necessary reforms. Although some will say that in BiH there are many problems, BiH, from Dayton up to date achieved a significant progress. That successful road should have its completion in the form of membership in the EU and NATO. She expressed her expectations that the environment to resolve the issue of military property will be created, after the October elections, which will open the door for BiH to make progress within the MAP (Membership Action Plan). Considering that BiH has fulfilled all the conditions, the long-awaited liberalization of the visa regime should take place at the end of the year, so that BiH citizens could finally travel to the Schengen countries without a visa. At the end, Deputy Minister, Ms. Trišić-Babić was invited to keep the continuous cooperation with the Georgetown University (Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service).