Le Drian: France Condemns Any Challenge to Bosnia's Statehood

Jean-Yves Le Drian (Wikimedia.org)

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian condemns any bid to reconsider the territorial integrity and existence of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a state, promising that France, as a witness to the Dayton accords, remains committed to its territorial integrity and sovereignty

"The minister has urged Bosnia and Herzegovina's leaders to overcome divisions, so that they can concentrate on real challenges the country is facing - to ensure efficient operation of democratic institutions, at the central level of government in particular, to consolidate the rule of law, especially the independence of judiciary, economic and social development," says a press release published on May 5 after a conversation between the French foreign minister and his Bosnian counterpart, Bisera Turkovic.

Le Drian reconfirmed France's full support to Bosnia's EU accession, implying implementation of the structural reforms established by the European Commission and supported by the Council of the EU, the French ministry went on to say in the release.

During the telephone conversation on May 3 the two ministers also discussed a healthcare crisis in Bosnia caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and multilateral assistance to the country through the Covax initiative and EU aid programmes, as well as access to vaccines.