The visit of the secretary of state started on 28 July 2021 with a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Josip Brkić. The ministers discussed bilateral, political and economic relations, regional cooperation, EU enlargement policy, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s relations with NATO. Secretary of State Szymon Szynowski vel Sęk assured his interlocutor of Poland’s active support for the European integration of the Western Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, and of our readiness to further share our experiences of the transformation, the pre-accession period, as well as the 17 years of our EU membership. The deputy minister also pointed out the strategic importance of relations with the Western Balkans, reflected in Poland’s presidency of the Berlin Process.  

On the second day of his visit, the secretary of state went to Banja Luka to meet with representatives of Polish community organisations. The minister handed a Pole’s Card to one of the members of the local Polish community and presented awards to the winners of a competition for the best essay on the subject of “Poles in Bosnia in the times of Austria-Hungary”, organised by the Polish embassy in Sarajevo.  

During his visit to Banja Luka, the official also met with President of the Republic of Srpska Željka Cvijanović. The talks covered Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European perspective, as well as economic and regional cooperation.  

On the last day, the deputy minister visited the Polish Military Contingent in the Butmir base in Sarajevo. During the visit, the minister learned about the conditions of the contingent’s functioning.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Office

Photo: Polish Embassy in Sarajevo, MFA of Bosnia and Herzegovina