SARAJEVO, Sept 10 (Hina) - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has said that his country remains to be very interested in developments in the Balkans, and would like to strengthen bilateral ties with countries in the region.
SARAJEVO, Sept 10 (Hina) - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has
said that his country remains to be very interested in developments
in the Balkans, and would like to strengthen bilateral ties with
countries in the region. #L#
During his one-day official visit to Sarajevo, where he arrived on
Wednesday within his tour of the region, the Russian minister said
that the recent withdrawal of Russian contingents from
international peace missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo did
not mean that Russia was less interested in the situation in this
part of Europe.
He explained that his country's aim was to promote political and
economic cooperation with all countries in the region, including
Bosnia-Herzegovina, and to see the strengthening of peace and
security in south-eastern Europe.
Ivanov said the situation in Bosnia was improving and was
increasingly safe, which created conditions for the international
community to transfer responsibility for making important
decisions to local authorities.
Bosnian Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic agreed with his guest that
international peace-keeping forces in the country could be
reduced, and that their main task should now be assistance to the
country in its efforts to join NATO's Partnership for Peace
programme.
(hina) ms