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On 7 June Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas during his first official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina  discussed with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nebojša Radmanović, Chairman of the Council of Ministers Nikola Špirić and Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj bilateral relations, EU and NATO issues, the course of reforms in the country.

Minister P. Vaitiekūnas voiced support to Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Bosnia and Herzegovina and encouraged the country to continue necessary reforms.

“The reforms are necessary though this process can sometimes be painful,” P. Vaitiekūnas said.

According to Lithuanian Foreign Minister, special attention should be paid to police reform. This reform is the only condition for signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union.

The Head of Lithuanian Diplomacy was pleased to note that several Lithuanian experts work in Bosnia and Herzegovina consulting the country’s officials on the EU integration issues.

During the meetings the necessity to develop more actively political and interparliamental cooperation was agreed.

Talking about Lithuanian investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina P. Vaitiekūnas voiced hope that Lithuanian investors would be provided the conditions to continue participation in privatisation of aluminium factory in Mostar.

According to P. Vaitiekūnas, transparent investment environment is beneficial for development of bilateral relations between the states and is an important condition for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s integration into the EU.

Minister P. Vaitiekūnas informed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s officials that to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Baltic Charter and the 5th anniversary of the Adriatic Charter a summit of the Baltic and Adriatic Charters will be held in Vilnius in January 2008. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s representatives will also be invited to the summit.

In Sarajevo Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vaitiekūnas and Foreign Trade Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Slobodan Puhavać signed the agreement on promotion and protection of investment.

“As Lithuanian investment and interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina increases this agreement is necessary. I believe that this step will contribute to development of bilateral economic relations,” Minister P. Vaitiekūnas said.

At the moment an agreement on double taxation avoidance is also under preparation.