Diplomatic delegation of three countries in Bijeljina
Mayor of Bijeljina, Ljubiša Petrović, met with the Ambassadors of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Slovak Republic, Jan Waltmans and Roman Hloben, as well as the Head of the Diplomatic Office of the Kingdom of Belgium, Benjamin Sturtewagen, who were visiting Bijeljina.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that there is longstanding cooperation between the embassies of the three countries and this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This cooperation includes support to the Slovak national community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, assistance to the agricultural sector, and the Netherlands has provided crucial support in the construction of the water supply and sewage system in Bijeljina.
The Ambassador of the Netherlands emphasized that economic and social development can be strengthened.
“Increasing responsibility and transparency in work, as well as your struggle against corruption, must be high on the priority list. We want your country, including Republika Srpska, to become a member of the European Union in the future, and for that to happen, important reforms for the quality of life of citizens must be implemented. We are concerned about some steps taken by representatives of the authorities in Banja Luka. We hope that you will leave the past behind and continue the good cooperation, both within your country and with our three countries and the EU as a whole,” - emphasized Ambassador Waltmans.
Mayor Petrović expressed gratitude on behalf of the citizens of Semberija for all the donations that the Kingdom of the Netherlands has provided to Bijeljina in recent years, particularly for the donations for the construction of the water supply and sewage network. The Mayor informed the Ambassadors about the progress of this project, the work that has been completed so far, and what lies ahead for Bijeljina.
“We informed their excellencies about our determination to fight crime and corruption. We presented to them the numerous cases we have uncovered, including significant financial losses in various public enterprises, among which was the JSC "Vodovod i kanalizacija" (Water supply and sewerage). We also shared the actions we have taken to ensure that all those who have stolen and misappropriated public funds face justice and find themselves behind bars,” – stated Mayor Petrović.
The Mayor added that there are still many projects for which the City needs support in order to implement them. These projects have been submitted to the relevant ministries and the government of Republika Srpska in the previous period, and this meeting was a suitable opportunity to discuss them with the Ambassadors. The representatives of the City of Bijeljina and the diplomatic delegation of the three countries agreed that internal peace, stability, cooperation, and coexistence are of great importance on the path to European integration.
“Indeed, that is precisely what the current city administration is dedicatedly working on, without engaging in criminal and corrupt activities masked as false nationalism and pseudo-patriotism,” – Petrović emphasized.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that there is longstanding cooperation between the embassies of the three countries and this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This cooperation includes support to the Slovak national community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, assistance to the agricultural sector, and the Netherlands has provided crucial support in the construction of the water supply and sewage system in Bijeljina.
The Ambassador of the Netherlands emphasized that economic and social development can be strengthened.
“Increasing responsibility and transparency in work, as well as your struggle against corruption, must be high on the priority list. We want your country, including Republika Srpska, to become a member of the European Union in the future, and for that to happen, important reforms for the quality of life of citizens must be implemented. We are concerned about some steps taken by representatives of the authorities in Banja Luka. We hope that you will leave the past behind and continue the good cooperation, both within your country and with our three countries and the EU as a whole,” - emphasized Ambassador Waltmans.
Mayor Petrović expressed gratitude on behalf of the citizens of Semberija for all the donations that the Kingdom of the Netherlands has provided to Bijeljina in recent years, particularly for the donations for the construction of the water supply and sewage network. The Mayor informed the Ambassadors about the progress of this project, the work that has been completed so far, and what lies ahead for Bijeljina.
“We informed their excellencies about our determination to fight crime and corruption. We presented to them the numerous cases we have uncovered, including significant financial losses in various public enterprises, among which was the JSC "Vodovod i kanalizacija" (Water supply and sewerage). We also shared the actions we have taken to ensure that all those who have stolen and misappropriated public funds face justice and find themselves behind bars,” – stated Mayor Petrović.
The Mayor added that there are still many projects for which the City needs support in order to implement them. These projects have been submitted to the relevant ministries and the government of Republika Srpska in the previous period, and this meeting was a suitable opportunity to discuss them with the Ambassadors. The representatives of the City of Bijeljina and the diplomatic delegation of the three countries agreed that internal peace, stability, cooperation, and coexistence are of great importance on the path to European integration.
“Indeed, that is precisely what the current city administration is dedicatedly working on, without engaging in criminal and corrupt activities masked as false nationalism and pseudo-patriotism,” – Petrović emphasized.
