BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: Hungary's PM says he supports Bosnia Herzegovina's entry into the EU

Record ID: 561778

  • Title: BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: Hungary's PM says he supports Bosnia Herzegovina's entry into the EU
  • Date: 16th June 2011
  • Summary: SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (JUNE 15, 2011) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** GUARD OF HONOUR IN FRONT OF BUILDING OF BOSNIA'S COMMON INSTITUTIONS HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN ARRIVING AND BEING WELCOMED BY BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER NIKOLA SPIRIC ORBAN AND SPIRIC SPIRIC AND ORBAN LISTENING TO BOSNIAN ANTHEM SPIRIC AND ORBAN LISTENING TO HUNGARIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM GUARD OF HONOUR ORBAN AND SPIRIC WALKING PAST HONOUR GUARD ORBAN AND SPIRIC MEETING MEMBERS OF BOSNIAN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS HUNGARIAN AND BOSNIAN DELEGATIONS ARRIVING FOR MEETING ORBAN AND SPIRIC WALKING MEETING OF ORBAN AND SPIRIC ORBAN SITTING AT TABLE SPIRIC AT MEETING ORBAN AND SPIRIC ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian with Serbian translation) HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER, VIKTOR ORBAN SAYING: "If we look at your country from the European Union's perspective, we could say that the European Union has unfinished business here. Here we have an enclave in the region, which has borders with Greece, Romania and Hungary but is not part of the EU. Our intention is not to move the borders of the European Union to the east because we have done that already in the past. Our goal is to integrate that region (into the European Union) which is surrounded by European Union countries and by NATO and to contribute to the stability and prosperity of this region." HUNGARIAN AND BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTERS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian with Serbian translation) HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN SAYING: "As a Prime Minister of the Hungarian government and as a chairman of the European Union I can say that we will support Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts for European integration." (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) CHAIRMAN OF BOSNIAN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, NIKOLA SPIRIC, SAYING: "I am glad and it is very important for Bosnia and Herzegovina to have a trusted partner and trusted friend in Hungary and in Mister Orban on its European path, and I am sure that Hungary and Mr Orban will represent Bosnia and Herzegovina's interests in Brussels." END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 1st July 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Topics: International Relations,European Union
  • Reuters ID: LVA4N42SNB1OGQGB8IX7XEPRR7WY
  • Story Text: Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Wednesday (June 15) called on the European Union to help integrate Bosnia&Herzegovina into the 27-member bloc thereby contributing to peace and prosperity in the region.
    Bosnia's European future has so far remained out of reach as the country remains locked in a political crisis between its former adversaries living in two autonomous regions -- a Serb Republic sceptical of national institutions, and a federation shared by Muslims and Croats.
    Bosnia, which has faced recent criticism from the U.S. over its ethnic politics and squabbling politicians, was treated more kindly by the Hungarian PM, who called on Europe to support Bosnia out of the gridlock.
    "We could say that the European Union has unfinished business here. Here we have an enclave in the region, which has borders with Greece, Romania and Hungary but is not part of the EU. Our intention is not to move the borders of the European Union to the east because we have done that already in the past. Our goal is to integrate that region (into the European Union) which is surrounded by European Union countries and by NATO and to contribute to the stability and prosperity of this region," Orban said after a meeting with the Chairman Of the Bosnian Council Of Ministers, Nikola Spiric iN Sarajevo.
    Orban, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said Bosnia could rely on support form Budapest.
    "As a Prime Minister of the Hungarian government and as a chairman of the European Union I can say that we will support Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts for European integration," he said.
    All of the former Yugoslav states are hoping for EU membership.
    Slovenia is the only current member with Croatia next in line to join in 2013.
    Bosnia is so far lagging at the back of the queue.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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