site.btaForeign Minister Zaharieva in Sarajevo: "We Back You in Your Bid for EU Candidate Status"

Sarajevo, August 4 (BTA) - "Bulgaria supports the enlargement [of the EU] into the Western Balkans, and I hope that you will get a candidate country status during our Presidency of the Council of the European Union. To this end, however, you will have to fulfil your tasks," Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said here on Friday, quoted by her Ministry in a press release, addressing the Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Igor Crnadak.

Zaharieva is paying a two-day visit to Sarajevo on Thursday and Friday as part of her Balkan tour.

The Bulgarian Deputy PM offered Bosnia and Herzegovina technical assistance in administrative capacity building, environmental protection and the fight against crime. As an example, she noted that in 2015 and 2016 alone, measures against contraband have added 2,000 million euro to Bulgaria's budget revenues.

"I hope that you will quickly answer the European Commission questionnaire. I realize that the answers will take nearly 30,000 pages, but the Commission must see a political will to carry out the reforms. I hope that you will get a positive sign during our Presidency," Zaharieva said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is drawing up answers to a 3,242-item questionnaire sent by Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn within the framework of the coordination mechanism. This procedure precedes the granting of a candidate country status.

"We note your activity in the region, and we thank you for the attention you are paying to the Western Balkans. We have excellent and friendly relations, without any outstanding issues. There is a school in my native city of Banja Luka which is called the Bulgarian school," Crnadak pointed out, acknowledging Bulgaria's assistance for his country's European integration. He was referring to the Georgi Rakovski School in Banja Luka, built in 1972 entirely by Bulgarian workers and with Bulgarian construction materials as a gesture to the city that was devastated by an earthquake in 1969.

The two chief diplomats said they will work together for an improved connectivity among the countries in the Balkans. "By improving infrastructure, we will facilitate contacts between people and businesses," Zaharieva said. She noted that Bulgarian tourists to Bosnia and Herzegovina have increased nearly 45-fold, but there is room for improvement. Two-way trade can grow further, too.

Connectivity between the two countries was also on the agenda of Zaharieva's talks with Bakir Izetbegovic, the Bosniak member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Our capitals are just 580 km apart, but air travel takes at least 4 hours with changing planes in Vienna or Munich, and you need at least 8 hours to cover the distance by car," Zaharieva emphasized.

"I am grateful to Bulgaria for being the first country that recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. We have cultural and religious ties, especially with the Bogomil movement which thrived here," Izetbegovic said.

"Investors want above all security and functioning institutions. You should prioritize getting a candidate country status: I am certain that this will boost foreign investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Connectivity is also important," the Bulgarian Foreign Minister said during her session with Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister Mirko Sarovic.

Zaharieva discussed the problems of regional security with the Defence Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Marina Pendes.