The Federation Council Speaker held a meeting with the Chairman of the House of Peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko held a meeting with Chairman of the House of Peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Covic.
The speaker expressed her hope that Dragan Covic’s visit to Russia will give a new boost to the development and expansion of inter-parliamentary cooperation as well as the entire complex of bilateral relations.
“Russia is interested in expanding comprehensive cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina, with both Entities and the three basic ethnic groups: Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian,” Valentina Matvienko said.
According to the Speaker, Moscow and Sarajevo have a regular confident political dialogue and trade and economic cooperation is developing. “Russia is among the largest investors into the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina; our businesses are interested in expanding cooperation with this country. As of the middle of last year, the volume of direct Russian investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina totalled $878 million.”
The speaker stressed the importance of direct contacts between the Russian regions and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Federation Council and the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s House of Peoples support the expansion of cooperation, she believes.
“We are also interested in expanding the legal and contract base of our relations.” Valentina Matvienko asked Dragan Covic to fast-track the approval of the draft intergovernmental agreements submitted to Bosnia and Herzegovina for consideration.
The Speaker also thanked the leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina for refraining from the illegal Western sanctions against Russia. “This has given your country an advantage in the development and expansion of trade and economic ties between Moscow and Sarajevo.”
The Federation Council Speaker thanked her colleague for inviting her to take part in the meeting of the Association of European Senates scheduled to take place in Bosnia and Herzegovina in May. “We will definitely attend,” Valentina Matvienko said.
In his turn, Dragan Covic noted that cooperation between the two parliaments can serve as an example for everyone. “There is significant potential to expand and strengthen bilateral relations.”
Dragan Covic expressed his hope that mutual ties would be expanded in the field of the economy as well as in education, science and culture. In particular, he spoke about Russian courses at Bosnian and Herzegovinian universities.