Slovenia denies Bosnian claims of favoritism

Ljubljana denies claims from Bosnia’s SDA party that it has “cooled” relations with Sarajevo because of Serbia. The Slovenian Foreign Ministry has reacted to recent statements from the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), to the effect that Slovenia has cooled relations with Sarajevo because of Serbia, and that it is “participating in attempts to dismember Bosnia-Herzegovina.” Slovenia denies Bosnian claims of favoritism Bosnian and Slovenian media report that the SDA based their claims on recent meetings between Slovenian and Republic of Srpska (RS) officials—namely, RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik’s visit to Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa a month ago, and Slovenian Interior Minister Dragutin Mate’s meeting with RS counterpart Stanislav Cadj. These meetings, according to the SDA, are clear proof that “Slovenia is pro-Serbian.” In a statement, the Slovenian ministry has said that it vehemently denies the SDA’s claims, adding that during its EU Presidency Slovenia went to great lengths to allow Bosnia-Herzegovina to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, which has not only opened the EU door to Sarajevo, but has also strengthened the country’s sovereignty. The ministry states that Slovenia, during its EU presidency, supported the European integration of all the Western Balkan countries, and that “statements that benefit one country cannot be interpreted as detrimental to other countries.” The Slovenian Foreign Ministry reiterated the long-standing good relations between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia, the numerous official visits of Slovenian government representatives to Bosnia-Hercegovina, the many investments by Slovenian companies, and the assistance to Bosnia’s development that Slovenia has given in recent years. At the same time, the statement emphasizes the “friendly relations” between the two countries, and that it is “in no way raising the issue of Bosnia’s territorial integrity.” "Relations between the peoples living in Bosnia-Herzegovina is an issue they need to resolve,” the statement reads, adding that Slovenia wants to have good relations with all three communities living in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Slovenia denies Bosnian claims of favoritism

Bosnian and Slovenian media report that the SDA based their claims on recent meetings between Slovenian and Republic of Srpska (RS) officials—namely, RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik’s visit to Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša a month ago, and Slovenian Interior Minister Dragutin Mate’s meeting with RS counterpart Stanislav Čađ. These meetings, according to the SDA, are clear proof that “Slovenia is pro-Serbian.”

In a statement, the Slovenian ministry has said that it vehemently denies the SDA’s claims, adding that during its EU Presidency Slovenia went to great lengths to allow Bosnia-Herzegovina to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, which has not only opened the EU door to Sarajevo, but has also strengthened the country’s sovereignty.

The ministry states that Slovenia, during its EU presidency, supported the European integration of all the Western Balkan countries, and that “statements that benefit one country cannot be interpreted as detrimental to other countries.”

The Slovenian Foreign Ministry reiterated the long-standing good relations between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia, the numerous official visits of Slovenian government representatives to Bosnia-Hercegovina, the many investments by Slovenian companies, and the assistance to Bosnia’s development that Slovenia has given in recent years. At the same time, the statement emphasizes the “friendly relations” between the two countries, and that it is “in no way raising the issue of Bosnia’s territorial integrity.”

"Relations between the peoples living in Bosnia-Herzegovina is an issue they need to resolve,” the statement reads, adding that Slovenia wants to have good relations with all three communities living in Bosnia-Herzegovina.