«Dear Minister, Dobro jutro. Hvala na gostoprimstvu [Good morning. Thank you for your hospitality] It is a great pleasure for me to be here in the historic city of Sarajevo today, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I have to say thank you so much also for your kind gesture with the scarf, which bears the colors of my country. It is greatly appreciated, thank you. Greece over the years tried and contributed to Bosnia and Herzegovina's reconstruction efforts, as the Minister was very kind to acknowledge, following the catastrophic conflict back in the 90s. As a matter of fact, among others, we have participated in the construction of the building of friendship between Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and now we have the honour and the pleasure to visit it, shortly after this. Happily, today, our discussions were not focused on just reconstruction efforts of the past. We had the opportunity to address ways of further enhancing our important bilateral cooperation in all fields, starting with political dialogue. This is my first visit to Sarajevo in my current capacity. And the first visit of a Greek Foreign Minister in five years. I have to say we are late, I’m sure of that Madame Minister. But I will have and I am having a series of important meetings. I will meet the President of the Council of Ministers. And then I will meet the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In my all my talks today, particular emphasis is being put and will be put on economic cooperation, but also on taking forward our relations in the field of culture. In this regard, it is a particular pleasure for me to underline that courses of Modern Greek are being taught in Sarajevo and Banja Luka. I hope that when conditions allow, the teaching will resume of course with the physical presence of all students. As the Minister observed before me, the pandemic is a factor we have to deal with and has hit hard the whole world. This is the definition of a global challenge. And this is also the test of solidarity. As we have repeatedly stressed, we need to support the countries of the Western Balkans in order to address the effects of the pandemic as European Union. In this vein we have decided to provide concrete and tangible support to the hospitals of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It has been decided, as I had the pleasure to announce to my colleague just before, to provide financial aid to three hospitals. First of all, we will support the "Abdullah Nakas" hospital in Sarajevo through a donation of 50,000 Euros. We will also support the "University Clinical Centre of the Republika Srpska" in Banja Luka with the same amount. Last, but not least of course, we will provide 30,000 Euros to the "University Clinical Centre of Mostar". Today is also an occasion to reaffirm my country's firm commitment to the integration of the Western Balkan countries in the European Union. Greece joined the European Economic Community four decades ago, being the first country of the Balkan Peninsula to do so. In a few years, we could envisage a Union, in which at least one quarter of its Members will be Balkan countries. Something that would have been unimaginable just thirty years ago. Our commitment is long-term. It was reflected in the Thessaloniki agenda which was adopted back in 2003. We remain fully engaged in this process. Because we believe that it constitutes the sole path to peace, stability and prosperity both in the region but also in the European Union as a whole. We should not allow ghosts of the past to haunt and threaten our common future. The countries of the region should eventually join the EU, of course on the basis of conditionality and on the own merit principles. We therefore hope that Bosnia and Herzegovina will take the necessary steps that will help in bringing the country closer to the EU. I am here today in order to submit proposals regarding technical assistance regarding the implementation of the EU policies. In this respect, allow me to commend all sides on the political agreement which allowed the holding of municipal elections in Mostar. Allow me also to underline the importance we attach to the need for Bosnia and Herzegovina to align itself with EU Positions and Decisions. And notably those regarding the Eastern Mediterranean. Last, but definitely not least, I had and will have today the opportunity to discuss with all my interlocutors regional developments. We value our cooperation in the context of the Regional Cooperation Council, which has its Headquarters right here in Sarajevo. We also look forward to further enhance this cooperation during the upcoming Greek chairmanship of the South-East European Cooperation Process starting this July. In conclusion, let me highlight the importance of promoting good neighbourly relations on the solid foundation of International Law. This has been Greece's position for decades and I have to say that we are happy to see that most- unfortunately not all, but most- of the countries of the broader region espouse the same fundamental principles. Likely, Greece and Bosnia-Herzegovina are on the same page on this. And in this context, I will be very happy to welcome Madame Minister in Athens in the very near future. It will be a great pleasure to host her and she will allow me also the opportunity from our next meeting to stop calling her Madame Minister and call her Bisera, on a first name basis. Thank you so much for your kind hospitality.»
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