This afternoon (11 December), Federal Foreign Minister Dr Guido Westerwelle met Sven Alkalaj, his counterpart from Bosnia and Herzegovina, for bilateral talks at the Federal Foreign Office.

Both ministers stressed the special nature of their countries’ bilateral relations.

Minister Alkalaj thanked Germany for its long years of support and friendship, underlining the particular role played by Germany in the political stabilization of the Western Balkans. With a view to bringing his country closer to the EU, Alkalaj emphasized the significance of the existing Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). The two ministers agreed that implementation of the SAA and a decisive course towards reforms had to have high priority.

Federal Foreign Minister Westerwelle encouraged his opposite number to take vigorous steps to fulfil the technical preconditions for the visa liberalization offered by the EU.

In terms of security policy, according to Foreign Minister Alkalaj, the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina would undertake intensive efforts to create the environment for even closer links with NATO.

Read more on Germany's bilateral relations to Bosnia and Herzegovina: