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Sarajevo (Fena) – Japan and Bosnia and Herzegovina have friendly relations, and Japan supports the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans through reconstruction and reconciliation after the war – said Mariko Kaneko, Deputy Press Secretary of the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with Fena.
She emphasized that Japanese Foreign Minister Yōko Kamikawa visited Bosnia and Herzegovina and other Western Balkan countries in recent days to demonstrate Japan’s commitment to supporting these countries in their reform efforts towards the European Union and to promote reconciliation among ethnic communities in this region. She also recalled that former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, during his visit to the Western Balkans in 2018, announced an initiative for cooperation between the Western Balkans and Japan. Kaneko believes that this is a very important pillar of Japan’s relations with the Western Balkan countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina.
– Japan has significantly expanded its support to Bosnia and Herzegovina, aiming to promote sustainable development such as infrastructure in the energy sector. We also provide equipment for border areas to strengthen border control. This is also important to speed up negotiations for EU membership. Furthermore, we have supported the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina by providing medical equipment – Kaneko explained.
She emphasizes that Japan will continue to support the efforts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries in the region towards sustainable development and economic growth, which she believes is key to the stability of this region.
Kaneko reminded that Japan is one of the members of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), where they have promoted the reconciliation process for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa met yesterday with the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reaffirming support for the High Representative’s efforts in promoting the reconciliation and reform processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She believes that the Western Balkans region is strategically very important in Europe and that the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the rest of the region, have the opportunity to develop their countries.
– The citizens are well-educated and have the ability to contribute to various sectors, including the sector of new science and technology. I hope that Japan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the countries of the region, through further enhanced cooperation, will promote the deepening of our trade and economic relations, which would significantly contribute to the stability of this region – said Kaneko.
Speaking about the global security situation, considering the instabilities in the Middle East and Ukraine, Kaneko said that the international community is currently facing multiple complex challenges.
– Russia’s aggression in Ukraine is a violation of international law, and Japan has strongly condemned Russia from the very beginning of the aggression. In this context, we support Ukraine in order to achieve a fair and lasting peace and to protect territorial integrity – Kaneko emphasized.
She also touched on the conflicts in Gaza and other areas, adding that the international order based on the rule of law is very important for all small and large countries for maintaining peace and stability.
– Japan hopes that the countries of the Western Balkans, based on their war experience, could play a role in this international community in maintaining peace and stability in the region and the rest of the world. We would like to cooperate with Bosnia and Herzegovina in this regard – concluded Deputy Press Secretary of the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariko Kaneko.
In other news, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa arrived in Sarajevo yesterday after visiting Serbia, and this afternoon will visit Kosovo. During her stay in Sarajevo, she held a meeting with the High Representative Christian Schmidt, the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Krišto, as well as a meeting and working dinner with Bosnian colleague Elmedin Konaković. She also paid tribute to the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica. (19.7.)