TODAY.AZ / Politics

Baku Global Forum’s topics relevant for modern world: Bosnia & Herzegovina [INTERVIEW]

13 March 2017 [10:19] - TODAY.AZ

By  Trend


Bosnia and Herzegovina considers Azerbaijan as a friendly country and has excellent political relations with it, Mladen Ivanic, chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said in an exclusive interview with Trend on eve of his visit to Baku to participate in the Fifth Global Baku Forum.

Azerbaijan has always helped Bosnia and Herzegovina, he said, and expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for financing the construction of a park in Sarajevo and a nursing house in Banja Luka.

“Currently there is a new construction project for the Health Center in Kotor Varos,” he said. “This is one of the few projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina exclusively for the benefit of our citizens.”

He noted that Azerbaijan made two important investments to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The first investment was made to the city of Srebrenica with about hundred people employed, and the second investment was made in the construction of a fruit and vegetable processing factory in Doboj, thus creating conditions for additional employment of several hundred people, Ivanic said.

Moreover, negotiations are being held with Azerbaijan’s representatives regarding the construction of a highway on the European ‘Corridor Vc’ through Bosnia and Herzegovina, he added.

On importance of Southern Gas Corridor in ensuring Europe’s energy security

“Energy supply is one of the key objectives for all the European countries and in that context the Southern Gas Corridor is of a great importance,” Ivanic said.

“My opinion is that all the western Balkan countries should take a stand about it,” he added.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina had clearly stated that the country is interested in the alternative system of gas supply.

On Bosnia and Herzegovina’s participation in Great Silk Road transportation project

“When this project is concerned, Bosnia and Herzegovina is interested in the modernization of Sarajevo-Belgrade railway,” Ivanic said.

“In that way, it will be connected with Belgrade-Budapest railway which has already started the process of modernization,” he noted.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina has a significant role in the Port of Ploce which could be a good place for the export of goods from the Far East towards Europe,” he said. “We are interested that Bosnia and Herzegovina has good transport links with the rest of Europe and any project initiative of that kind is acceptable.”

On prospects of development of economic cooperation with Azerbaijan

There is a potential for trade cooperation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with Azerbaijan especially in the fields of mechanical engineering, electrical industry, energy, construction and pharmaceutical industries, Ivanic said.

“Excellent bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan opened the space for better economic and business cooperation,” Ivanic said.

Trade between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan is limited and sporadic because of the distance between the two countries, their geostrategic position and the absence of the agreement on trade and economic cooperation, he noted.

“Azerbaijan showed interest for investment projects in the field of tourism, infrastructure, energy (hydropower), food, wood and pharmaceutical industries,” he said. “Azerbaijan is also interested in investing in refineries, oil terminals and pipelines in South East Europe.”

He noted that a memorandum of understanding between the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan Export and Investments Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) has already been signed and a successful direct cooperation has been achieved on their basis in organizing business forums.

Direct contacts between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijani officials have been held regarding the activities for the forthcoming period which would lead to an increase in economic cooperation between the two countries, he added.

The ambassador of Azerbaijan needs to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to examine the possibility of organizing the business forum between the two countries in 2017, Ivanic said.

“There is also an announcement for finding possibilities to establish air traffic and possibility of cooperation and continuation of operations on the construction of Corridor Vc [the main north-south road through Bosnia and Herzegovina], therefore we do expect response from Azerbaijan as the country to be in the focus of this year’s Sarajevo Business Forum,” he noted.

On position of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Bosnia and Herzegovina has generally supported the standpoints of Azerbaijan on the issue of sovereignty and territorial integrity, Ivanic said.

He noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina supports the existing activities at multilateral level aimed at resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Ivanic added that House of Representatives and House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the resolution on respect and support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan in January and February 2013, respectively.

He noted that this had great approval and positive reaction in Azerbaijan.

About Global Baku Forum

The Global Baku Forum is one of the most important global forums of this kind, Ivanic said.

“The forum brings together prominent politicians, both actual ones and the former presidents, prime ministers, ministers and esteemed intellectuals from around the world,” he noted. “Topics dominating at the forum are really global and relevant for the entire modern world.”

Suggestions and solutions rising from debate will give answers to the challenges the modern world will be facing in the future, he added.

“Whenever I am available, I really tried to take part in the work of the Global Baku Forum,” Ivanic said.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/159378.html

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