Bulgarian President Rumen Radev (R) and Mladen Ivanic, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, attend a joint press conference after their meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria, on June 12, 2017. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said here on Monday his country would advocate for the integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the European Union (EU). (Xinhua/Zhan Xiaoyi)
SOFIA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian President Rumen Radev here on Monday said his country would advocate for the integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the European Union (EU).
During its presidency of the EU Council in 2018, Bulgaria would support Sarajevo in the process of obtaining a candidate status for the EU membership, Radev said at a joint press conference after bilateral talks with Mladen Ivanic, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Integration at all levels -- global, regional and within bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina -- is the most effective approach to tackle common challenges, Radev said.
The EU enlargement to the Western Balkans would be a priority for Bulgaria during its presidency of the EU Council, Radev added.
Thus, Bulgaria would contribute to peace and stability throughout the Balkans, he said.
In turn, Ivanic said he hoped that Bulgaria, with its experience, would help Bosnia and Herzegovina to take the decisive step towards moving closer to the EU.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country in this part of Europe, which is not yet an EU candidate, although it wants to be, Ivanic said.
