Bosnia’s Prime Minister Denis Zvizdic met on Monday with Director General for Political Affairs at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Richard Moore, to talk about the summit of prime ministers of the Western Balkans that is to take place in London in July. According to political analyst Adnan Huskic, this should produce political stabilisation.

At the meeting in Sarajevo, Zvizdic told Moore that Bosnia is determined to take part in all regional initiatives focusing on peace, stability and economic prosperity. He welcomed the UK’s efforts to tackle issues important for the region, such as missing persons and war crimes, which apart from economy and security are essential for the improvement of bilateral relations and the creation of a stable, common future of the region. The issue of migrations has also recently become an important, Zvizdic said.

Apart from the six countries of the Western Balkans, eight EU countries will take part in the summit, including Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Poland.

Moore’s visit has drawn attention in Bosnia because of UK’s future role in the Western Balkans. Despite the specific situation the EU and the UK have found themselves in because of the UK’s upcoming exit from the Union, London and Brussels could still provide a forum in which countries of the Western Balkans could achieve a social and economic stabilisation of the region, political analyst Adnan Huskic told N1. 

“Consequently, this should produce a political stabilisation,” Huskic said.

The recent announcement made by the British Defense Minister about additional 40 soldiers joining the European Union Force, EUFOR, has drawn the public’s attention in Bosnia after Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik speculated that the UK was sending spies who would act against the interest of the Bosnian Serbs.

Regardless of all the problems Britain’s exit from the EU is causing and the energy spent in the process, the UK remains devoted to the Western Balkans, Huskic said.

“In a weird way, the UK’s breakup with the EU will allow the country to focus on this region even more,” he said.

“It has already been emphasized several times that Great Britain will play a significant role regarding security and issues concerning the Western Balkans,” Huskic said.

“This is why the UK will support the European Union,” he added.

After visiting Bosnia, Moore will travel to Serbia to speak to leaders in Belgrade about the upcoming London summit.