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SARAJEVO, February 3 (FENA) - The BiH Presidency members received today in Sarajevo USAID Deputy Director Bonnie Glick.
Deputy Director of USAID, in her first official visit to BiH, conveyed the greetings of the US President Donald Trump, and the interest of the US President and the US Government for BiH's progress and further good cooperation between USAID and BiH, as well as the US Government with the BiH Government.
The two sides discussed the current support provided by USAID to Bosnia and Herzegovina for economic, political and social self-sustainability, the strengthening of civil society, and the need for BiH to tackle the problem of human trafficking more significantly.
Areas in which USAID plans to continue working with BiH are the rule of law and judicial reform.
The interlocutors discussed the importance of enhancing cooperation between USAID and BiH and said that USAID is participating in the implementation of a number of projects aimed at assisting all levels of government in BiH in achieving the goals of harmonizing the economic space, an efficient and transparent state institutions with a strong civil society and working towards a multi-ethnic and tolerant society.
The interlocutors also discussed the need to implement the Anti-Trafficking Strategy at the state level, as it is an area of great importance in which BiH needs to improve cooperation with USAID.
The USAID expects the BiH authorities to invest additional efforts to remain in the TIER2 category, i.e., as moving to the TIER3 category would mean potential termination of USAID international assistance.
In this regard, it was emphasized that all state institutions, police agencies and judicial authorities should be further involved in the fight against trafficking in human beings in order for Bosnia and Herzegovina to retain the status of TIER2 and eventually to enter the TIER1 category.
The participants of the meeting discussed the energy sector and the accompanying legislation. Additional work needs to be done to increase the potential of the energy market and to improve the system, which would put BiH in a better position on the international market.
“The BiH Presidency members expressed appreciation for the continued support and interest of the US Government and USAID in the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina and expressed their full commitment to continuing this successful cooperation,” stated the BiH Presidency.
(FENA) S. R.
