By Anadolu staff
BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday reaffirmed his country’s strong support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s membership bid to the European Union.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Denis Becirovic, chairman of Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Scholz said the accession of Western Balkan countries to the EU was long overdue, and this process must be accelerated.
“Germany is intensively working to ensure that the countries of the Western Balkans have a future in the European Union,” Scholz said, adding that Bosnia and Herzegovina has recently achieved an important step towards this goal.
“The European Council decided in March to open EU accession negotiations with Bosnia Herzegovina. That was an important step that we worked on for a long time, and I am sure that this also gives Bosnia and Herzegovina new hope for Europe,” the chancellor said.
“This decision was a recognition of the progress that Bosnia Herzegovina has made in recent years, and a clear signal to all reform-oriented forces in the country, as well as to citizens throughout the region. We are serious about the EU perspective,” he added.
Scholz also underlined that Bosnia Herzegovina has to take necessary steps for the EU membership, make progress in political and economic reforms.
With respect to the controversial statements from Bosnia’s Serb entity, the Republika Srpska, Scholz said for Germany any attempt to question the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia Herzegovina is “unacceptable.”
“We support the important role that the high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina plays in promoting democracy, the rule of law and human rights. His efforts are helping to monitor the implementation of the 1995 Dayton Agreement, and thereby ensure peace,” he said.
Scholz said Germany will continue providing a military contingent to EUFOR-ALTHEA, the multinational force to support compliance with the Dayton Agreement.
“In order to promote security and stability, Germany has been participating once again in the EUFOR-ALTHEA since 2022.
We would like to continue this participation and thereby make our contribution to security and stability,” he said.