WORK ON ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER LINE BANJA LUKA-OHRID

SKOPJE, MARCH 30 /SRNA/ - The Ambassador of BiH in North Macedonia Dragan Jaćimović stated that in the coming period the Embassy would intensify activities on the establishment of a charter line on the Banja Luka-Ohrid route, and the opening of the Honorary Consulate of BiH in Ohrid is also planned.

In an interview with SRNA, Jaćimović said that he initiated the connection of Banja Luka with Ohrid with a direct charter flight.

"In numerous conversations with the mayor of Ohrid, we are trying to find the right solution and I hope that we will launch a charter flight as soon as possible. The citizens of both countries are very interested in tourist trips, but due to poor connectivity and distance, the number of tourists is not large. I hope that this will change with the introduction of direct flights," Jaćimović added.

He stated that during the past year, the Embassy organized several meetings with representatives of various companies and business associations, both from North Macedonia and BiH. The aim of those meetings was to promote the potential and potential sectors for investment, as well as to network and connect the economic entities of the two countries.

According to him, another activity that is planned in the coming period is the purchase of a building to house the Embassy of BiH in Skopje.

He said that there were no open issues between BiH and North Macedonia, that cooperation was at a satisfactory level, and that there was plenty of room for improving cooperation, mostly in the economic and tourism spheres.

ABOUT A HUNDRED CITIZENS OF BiH STUDY IN NORTH MACEDONIA

He added that about 100 citizens of BiH reside in North Macedonia on the basis of studies, work permits and the like.

The most common requests that citizens of BiH address to the Embassy of BiH in Skopje relate to obtaining extracts from registers, issuing travel documents, determining and recording JMBG, certification of documents and statements, issuing certificates of life.

When asked what kind of cooperation he has with the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Council of Ministers, Elmedin Konaković, Ambassador Jaćimović states that he has not heard from him since his last visit to North Macedonia in June last year.

SCHMIDT IS NOT LEGAL

Jaćimović, speaking about Christian Schmidt, points out that he is not legal or legitimate and that every decision he makes represents direct interference in the internal affairs of BiH, and is a reflection of Western influence.

"Schmidt is not and cannot be above the law and the Constitution of BiH. His decisions cannot have any influence on the people of BiH, especially not on Republika Srpska, its institutions and the Serb people," Jaćimović said.

Commenting on the decision of US President Donald Trump to suspend USAID for a certain period, Jaćimović said that he is not a supporter of the interference of foreign factors in the internal politics of a country, and reminded that the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, stated on several occasions that a police investigation of USAID's work in BiH would be launched.

"If the investigation determines that USAID directly or indirectly interfered in internal affairs or in any way influenced the elections in BiH, then appropriate measures should definitely be taken so that USAID and similar organizations that operate in BiH and implement various projects are adequately punished and placed in strict legal frameworks," Jaćimović concluded.