Nezavisne novine: SARAJEVO – In less than two weeks, BiH will sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement, which opens the hope that by 2010 we will receive a status of a serious candidate for association with the EU.
Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, Haris Silajdžić, said this yesterday on the occasion of opening of new building of the European Commission Delegation in BiH.
“BiH can hope to be a member of the EU in 2014. The next period will be filled with big reforms. By application of the agreement, the citizens will fill the improvement in economic, political and the condition of social standards”, stressed Silajdžić.
The ceremony was attended by the representatives of the international community, diplomatic core and domestic authorities, and the band was cut by Silajdžić and Mike Lee, director of the Directorate General for Enlargement in the European Commission.
Dimitris Kourkoulas, head of the EC Delegation in BiH, reminded that the EC opened its first office in BiH in 1996.
“First several years we managed humanitarian aid and helped in building the country. Today, our primary task is to help BiH in integrating in the EU. The EC helps in managing of the projects worth 60 million Euros per year. It contributes to establishment of institutions and reform processes”, said Kourkoulas. He clarified that in the new building there will be the Office of the Special Representative of the EU in BiH and the German Embassy.
“The construction of the building started in December 2006, and ended in January this year. Our part of the building has 2.800 metres sq of office space and 1.200 meters sq of space for conference and training halls and archives”, said Kourkoulas.
Lee reminded that the Stabilization and Association Agreement is the only agreement one country has to sign for the membership in the EU.
“The agreement will in practical ways provide to us to achieve the ultimate objective. In the process of development of the countries in the region, BiH plays a key role based on richness of diversity”, he said.
Silajdžić added that BiH has no alternative to full membership in the European family, with which more than 70 per cent of citizens agree.
Road map for abolishment of visas
Mike Lee met yesterday afternoon with the chairman and the members of the Presidency of BiH, Haris Silajdžić, Nebojša Radmanović and Željko Komšić, as well as with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Nikola Špirić and minister of foreign affairs, Sven Alkalaj.
“This week, BiH will make another important step. On the basis of confirmation by the members of the EU, I will give the officials of this country the road map, with whom the talks for abolishment of visa regime will be conducted. Fulfillment of conditions from that map will help us in overcoming all the obstacles and it will help to promote contacts between people”, said Lee.