Visit by the Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visit by the Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr Sven Alkalaj

 The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D., and the Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Sven Alkalaj, met today in Dublin for talks on a range of bilateral and international issues.  Ministers also discussed the EU perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Minister Martin reaffirmed Ireland’s support for EU membership of the countries of the Western Balkans including Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ireland offered to help Bosnia and Herzegovina in preparing itself to achieve this objective and meet the established criteria for membership.

Minister Alkalaj briefed Minister Martin on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s current membership of the UN Security Council.  Minister Martin outlined Ireland’s preparations for our Chairmanship in 2012 of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).  The Minister also congratulated Bosnia and Herzegovina on the recent appointment of Ms. Dunja Mijatocic as the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

Ministers also discussed the scope to promote bilateral trade and investment in both goods and services. 

Minister Alkalaj was accompanied by the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Ireland, Mrs. Jadranka Negodic, and senior officials.

 Press Office

Department of Foreign Affairs

31 March 2010