FM of Bosnia and Herzegovina: We Seek Security Cooperation with NATO

Bosnian Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Bosnian Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

FM of Bosnia and Herzegovina: We Seek Security Cooperation with NATO

Bosnian Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Bosnian Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Foreign Minister, Elmedin Konakovic, said that his country is working to strengthen cooperation with NATO and enhance its internal security measures, including cybersecurity initiatives and the modernization of the defense sector. He also stressed the urgent need to stop the bloodshed in Gaza immediately.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Konakovic expressed hope that Bosnia and Herzegovina would achieve full membership in the European Union by 2030. He noted that the country’s goals align with the timeline of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programs and cooperation projects.
The minister explained that the Russia-Ukraine war is reshaping global alliances, adding that his country is cautiously navigating the complex geopolitical challenges. He also admitted that Bosnia shares common risks with Europe, such as security concerns, supply chain and trade disruptions, political divisions, and inflation. Bosnia relies heavily on Russian energy, particularly natural gas.
Asked about Bosnia’s steadfast pursuit of EU membership, Konakovic said: “Stability and peace are key to our path toward full membership in the European Union. This is the focus of our foreign policy, as our Western and European heritage is linked to opportunities and partnerships with the East.”
He emphasized that the priority is to maintain unity through economic development and improving the business environment.
Regarding Bosnia’s efforts to manage the flow of refugees to Europe through its borders, the minister stated: “We are working to align with EU regulations and recognize that migration is a highly sensitive political issue globally. Therefore, we are doing our utmost to implement measures that preserve the dignity and human rights of the most vulnerable.”
On the Saudi-Bosnian relations, Konakovic expressed deep gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s support over the past three decades, which helped in the reconstruction following the aggression and war in the early 1990s. He also acknowledged Riyadh’s recent support for the resolution related to the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, in which more than 8,000 victims, mostly women and children, lost their lives.
He added: “I firmly believe there is ample room to continue strengthening diplomatic and economic cooperation. We will forever be grateful for the support and assistance Saudi Arabia has provided over the past three decades, which has played a crucial role in rebuilding our country after the war.”
Konakovic highlighted the Kingdom’s significant support for the resolution on the Srebrenica genocide and the establishment of a global day of reflection and remembrance at the United Nations General Assembly. This, he said, honors the memory of the 1995 genocide victims, most of whom were women and children.
According to Konakovic, Saudi investments in Bosnia reached €200 million by the end of 2023. Key investments include the establishment of the first Islamic bank in Southeast Europe, Bosnia Bank International (BBI), with the Islamic Development Bank Group being the largest shareholder.
Other Saudi investments include numerous projects developed by the Al-Shiddi Group, primarily in real estate and hospitality, while the South Europe Investment Company has invested in several real estate and tourism projects. Additionally, the Malak Group has contributed, with over 500 companies in Bosnia registered with Saudi capital.
Konakovic also noted that the Saudi Fund for Development has several ongoing projects in Bosnia, along with new proposals soon to be approved by the Bosnian government. These projects include research and educational institutions in Sarajevo and Banja Luka, as well as infrastructure and healthcare initiatives across various parts of the country, with a total value exceeding €115 million.
“We discussed this partnership with the Fund CEO Sultan Al-Marshad, and we expect it to grow further in the near future,” Konakovic concluded.

 

 

 

 



Foreign Ministers Meet in Italy for G7 Talks on Ukraine, Middle East

Security stand guard ahead of the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Anagni, Lazio Region, Italy, 24 November 2024. (EPA)
Security stand guard ahead of the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Anagni, Lazio Region, Italy, 24 November 2024. (EPA)
TT

Foreign Ministers Meet in Italy for G7 Talks on Ukraine, Middle East

Security stand guard ahead of the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Anagni, Lazio Region, Italy, 24 November 2024. (EPA)
Security stand guard ahead of the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Anagni, Lazio Region, Italy, 24 November 2024. (EPA)

Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations are meeting Monday, with the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East entering decisive phases and a certain pressure to advance diplomatic efforts ahead of the new US administration taking over.

Hopes for brokering a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon are foremost on the agenda of the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome that is gathering ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

On the first day of the two-day gathering Monday, the G7 will be joined by ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League.

“With partners will be discussed ways to support efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, initiatives to support the population and the promotion of a credible political horizon for stability in the region,” the Italian foreign ministry said.

The so-called “Quint” grouping of the US, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and the UAE has been working to finalize a “day after” plan for Gaza, and there is some urgency to make progress before the Trump administration takes over in January. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to pursue a policy that strongly favors Israel over the aspirations of the Palestinians.

Host Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani added another item to the G7 agenda last week after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief.

Italy is a founding member of the court and hosted the 1998 Rome conference that gave birth to it. But Italy’s right-wing government has been a strong supporter of Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, while also providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.

The Italian government has taken a cautious line, reaffirming its support and respect for the court but expressing concern that the warrants were politically motivated.

“There can be no equivalence between the responsibilities of the state of Israel and the terrorist organization of Hamas,” Premier Giorgia Meloni said, echoing the statement from US President Joe Biden.

Nathalie Tocci, director of the Rome-based Institute for International Affairs think tank, said Italy would be seeking to forge a united front on the ICC warrants, at least among the six G7 countries that are signatories of the court: everyone but the US.

But in an essay this weekend in La Stampa newspaper, Tocci warned it was a risky move, since the US tends to dictate the G7 line and has blasted the ICC warrants against Netanyahu as “outrageous.”

“If Italy and the other (five G7) signatories of the ICC are unable to maintain the line on international law, they will not only erode it anyway but will be acting against our interests,” Tocci wrote, recalling Italy’s recourse to international law in demanding protection for Italian UN peacekeepers who have come under fire in southern Lebanon.

The other major talking point of the G7 meeting is Ukraine, and tensions have only heightened since Russia attacked Ukraine last week with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is expected at the G7 in Fiuggi on Tuesday, and NATO and Ukraine are to hold emergency talks the same day in Brussels.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strike was retaliation for Kyiv’s use of US and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory.

The G7 has been at the forefront of providing military and economic support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022 and G7 members are particularly concerned about how a Trump administration will change the US approach.

Trump has criticized the billions of dollars that the Biden administration has poured into Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies.

Italy is a strong supporter of Ukraine and has backed the US decision to allow Ukraine to strike Russia with US-made, longer-range missiles. But Italy has invoked the country’s constitutional repudiation of war in declining to provide Ukraine with offensive weaponry to strike inside Russia and limiting its aid to anti-air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians.

The G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, the second of the Italian presidency after ministers gathered in Capri in April, is being held in the medieval town of Fiuggi southeast of Rome, best known for its thermal spas.

On Monday, which coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ministers will attend the inauguration of a red bench meant to symbolize Italy’s focus on fighting gender-based violence.

Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people marched in Rome to protest gender-based violence, which in Italy so far this year has claimed the lives of 99 women, according to a report last week by the Eures think tank.