The Open Balkan initiative opens up great opportunities for all citizens of the region, stated the chairperson of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović and pointed out that the economy and economic cooperation can be a recipe for calming political relations between the countries of the region.
In her interview with Srna, Cvijanović emphasized that economic cooperation is a good basis for better relations in the region, although it will not and cannot eliminate political misunderstandings on certain key, important and painful issues.
She assessed that the economy is a good formula for the relaxation of regional relations, adding that all regional initiatives, such as the Open Balkans, are based on the fact that the countries of the region have good infrastructure, that the economy is enabled for unhindered communication and that economic cooperation is then built and developed so that people would finally see the benefits of it and make a better political understanding.
“I want to see our businessmen and transporters go in one lane at the border crossing, on which we have the sign OB – Open Balkans, to pass without any procedures, unhindered, without waiting. Now when we come across anywhere, we see kilometer long columns trucks that are trapped for three, four, five or seven days at a time. That wouldn’t have happened if we were part of that initiative,” said Cvijanović and added:
“Also, I want to see our students who, when they finish two years of study in Sarajevo, Mostar or Banja Luka, can continue their studies without problems, for example, in Skopje. Or that our workers’ qualifications are recognized without any procedural administration that makes life difficult” .
She pointed out that she would like BiH to be in the Open Balkans, as well as that she believes that Montenegro will reach an agreement on joining that regional initiative before BiH.