Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 22 June (BelTA) – In the modern context, it is crucially important to join our efforts in addressing challenges and threats, Igor Crnadak, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said during the meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on 22 June, BelTA has learned.

The minister emphasized: “We are glad to see how much attention your country pays to this interregional organization, this initiative that has gathered us here. We live in a more complex and interconnected world, and all the countries of one region face the same challenges and complex problems. The world changes on a daily basis, and the problems that we are faced with also mutate. There is a number of areas that are of crucial importance in terms of cooperation, regardless of how developed our institutes are. We still need to cooperate with all the countries of our region. Such cooperation will enable us to effectively address different problems together.” The areas include combating terrorism and organized crime and addressing migration challenges.

Igor Crnadak is convinced that it is of crucial importance to develop and implement regional programs and projects, strengthen the infrastructure ties within the countries and beyond their borders.

He called for making a better use of expert workshops and conferences to share the best practices and exchange opinions on relevant issues. “The problems and issues chosen by the Belarusian CEI presidency for discussion during today’s conference are very important. By considering them, we will step up our cooperation and create opportunities for adequate response to all the challenges that we are faced with,” the minister emphasized.

Igor Crnadak stressed that the CEI region includes EU member states, countries moving towards EU membership, and also countries that are members of other integration associations. “As an international organization, we are doing our best to ensure effective cooperation, intensification of infrastructure ties, harmonization of procedures, effective trade in services and implementation of know-how in the region,” the minister said.

The CEI is open to cooperation with the countries of other regions, parts of the world, and international organizations.

Igor Crnadak congratulated Belarus on its great performance in terms of the CEI presidency that it took over from Bosnia and Herzegovina.