Spaanse minister van Buitenlandse Zaken benadrukt dat toekomst van Bosnië in de EU ligt (en)

PICTURE CAPTION: Spain's Foreign Minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, holding a press conference with American Under Secretary of State, Jim Steinberg, (not shown in the picture), at the end of a meeting with Bosnian politicians in Sarajevo, (Bosnia). EFE

Moratinos, representing the Spanish Presidency of the EU, and the American Under Secretary of State Jim Steinberg, today ended a two-day visit to Sarajevo designed to push forward constitutional reforms and strengthen Bosnian leaders' commitment in their journey towards joining Euro-Atlantic structures.

"They all said that, after the October elections, they will work together, regardless of their political differences, towards one goal: Bosnia and Herzegovina joining the European Union and NATO", said Moratinos during a press conference in the Bosnian capital.

He said these were the "positions and messages” he had taken away from the meetings he and Steinberg had held with the main Muslim, Serb and Croat parties.

Their visit took place as part of the joint European and American strategy to help bring about stability in Bosnia and the whole Balkan region.

The Spanish minister announced a conference to be held on the western Balkans in June, which must also set out the path that Bosnian leaders will set for the country following the general elections in October.

Moratinos mentioned a document, which the Bosnian media have dubbed the "Madrid Declaration", which should define the commitments Bosnia must make in order to speed up its entry into the EU and NATO, and which had been discussed during the visit.

"The goal of the EU is to create a basis upon which we can operate following the elections. Bosnia and Herzegovina must prepare itself for the process of becoming a member of the EU, and I think the declaration is a good foundation from which to start", said Moratinos.

Meanwhile, Moratinos said that Spain will do everything it can during its presidency of the EU to ensure the removal of visa requirements for Bosnian citizens.

The minister said only a few technical issues were still outstanding: "I am convinced that Bosnia is on the right track, and that when the European Commission meets to discuss this issue on 2 June we will be able to send good news to the people of Bosnia", he added.

Steinberg, meanwhile, said that the EU and the United States were not expecting changes "from one day to the next" in Bosnia, but underscored the importance of the willingness to make progress on the integration process.

According to the Dayton Peace Accords, which also included the country's constitution, Bosnia is made up of two autonomous entities: the Muslim-Croat Federation and the Serb Republic.