Members of Collegium of both Houses of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina spoke with the Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Speaker of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PABiH), Ognjen Tadić, Speaker of the PABiH House of Representatives, Mladen Bosić, as well as their Deputies, Safet Softić, Bariša Čolak and Šefik Džaferović, spoke today in Sarajevo with the Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Valentina Matviyenko , who is in a two-day official visit in our country.

During the meeting, the members of the PABiH Collegiums and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation strongly supported all activities related to improving relations between these state legislative institutions, as well as the activities that lead to the improvement of the overall relations of the two countries, especially in terms of signing interstate agreements in different areas, strengthening economic cooperation and increasing the volume of foreign trade exchange.

Members of the PABiH Collegiums emphasised that Russia consistently adhered to the Dayton Peace Agreement and assessed that that country represents a fair and active participant in the United Nations Security Council (UN) and the Peace Implementation Council in BiH. Pointing out that BiH has not joined the countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia, and that sanctions do not solve problems on international level, Members of the Collegium of both Houses of the PABiH advocated for all international disputes to be resolved peacefully and through a dialogue within the existing international legal system within the UN.

Pointing out that this visit is of great importance for Russia, the Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Valentina Matviyenko, emphasised that her country values highly the independent and balanced policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards Russia. Thanking for the conduct of such a policy, Ms. Matviyenko said that Russia is interested in strengthening of political and economic ties with representatives of three constituent peoples, two entities and with Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole.

Ms. Matviyenko advocated speeding up the process of concluding interstate agreements and stated that parliaments could play a key role in encouraging the executive authorities to finalise agreements that would contribute to the increase of investments and strengthening of economic, educational and cultural ties between the two countries.

The cooperation of the two countries within the framework of multilateral parliamentary organizations was also a part of discussions at the meeting, as well as the possibilities provided by the existing cooperation of certain cities and regions in Russia with cities and regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ms. Matviyenko invited the Members of PABiH Collegiums to pay a reciprocal visit to the Russian Federation. (End)