BRITISH MINISTER FOR EUROPE JIM MURPHY MET WITH BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBERS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (March,20,2008) - The President of the Bosnian State Presidency Haris Silajdžić and the Presidency Members Nebojša Radmanović and Željko Komšić met with Jim Murphy, the British Minister for Europe.

“This is my first visit as a Minister for Europe to a country that is not a European Union member. I assure you that the government of Great Britain supports EU enlargement, because large EU with various cultures strengthens EU and it strengthens Great Britain. That is our national interest, but that is also a European interest”, said Minister Jim Murphy.

He emphasized that Great Britain, as he said, would herald EU enlargement and would support Bosnia’s entry in EU. On behalf of the government of Great Britain, Minister Murphy also offered a practical support to Bosnia in its everyday activities on its way to EU and signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement. He stressed out that Great Britain is a true friend of Bosnia.

“I am glad that the government of Great Britain attentively monitors developments in Bosnia and your first visit to our country is a sign that we are an important issue in the region. I am happy that Great Britain supports EU enlargement”, the Bosnian President Haris Silajdžić emphasized.

“Bosnia needs stability and prosperity and I believe that European Union needs Bosnia. Your good will is very important to us in that path”, said President Silajdžić.

According to a member of the Bosnian Presidency Željko Komšić, it is an indisputable fact that all Bosnian citizens support Bosnia’s entry in EU. As he said, Bosnia’s membership in NATO and EU is a permanent stability for the country and the rest of the southeastern Europe and it would contribute to the region’s and Bosnia’s development.

A member of the Bosnian Presidency Nebojša Radmanović expressed his pleasure with Great Britain’s determination to enlarge EU and said Bosnia’s goal is entering European Union.

The British Minister for Europe Jim Murphy stated that the EU should be enlarged and Bosnia should be in the EU; he said that Great Britain wants the continuation of NATO enlargement as well, because NATO is important for world security.

“Great Britain appreciates every effort of Bosnia leading to reform on its way to fulfill conditions for Bosnia’s entry in the European Union, from public sector reform, administrative reforms, police reform to cooperation with the ICTY”, said Minister Murphy.
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