High Representative Valentin Inzko met with Czech Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek in Prague today for an exchange of views on the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina following the formation of new governments.
The High Representative said that he expects the new authorities in BiH to overcome the stalled reform process and pay more attention to the real-life concerns of citizens, which were voiced during the protests last year.
“BiH citizens want to see a more positive approach from their newly elected politicians and expect them to address those issues that will result in a better standard of living, entrench the rule of law, tackle unemployment, corruption and crime and ensure the country’s swift progress on its path to the EU. Political leaders also need to understand that citizens long for financial and economic security, which can only be achieved through long-term investment and the creation of new jobs”, the High Representative said.
The International Community will continue to support initiatives and agreements aimed at fulfilling BiH’s international commitments and opening the way to a stable and more prosperous future for all citizens. “Those politicians and people who want to work together in good faith to take the country forward will have our full and active support”, Inzko said.
As part of his trip to Prague, the High Representative also met with Jan Hamáček, President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and Karel Schwarzenberg, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies.