EU Visa Liberalization for Bosnia. Inaugural voyage to Italy.
17/12/2010
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The first voyage of Bosnian citizens to Italy, under the new EU visa liberalization regime, was held on 17 December. The Bosnian delegation, headed by the Minister for Security, Sadik Ahmetovic, was composed of university students, representatives of civil society organizations, as well as members of the press, for a total of 70 persons. The visit to Rome was preceded by a visit to Strasburg (EU Institutions) and Paris, finishing in Ljubljana.
The voyage was made possible thanks to a generous sponsorship by UniCredit, present in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a vast network of bank branches.Visa liberalization in favor of Bosnia and Herzegovina, strongly supported by Italy and in particular by Foreign Minister Frattini, represents an import success for the country on the path towards the European Union. Visa liberalization opens opportunities for the intensification of exchanges, in all sectors, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union, promoting the spread of European ideals.
To mark the historic event, the Bosnian delegation was received in Rome by the Vice President of the House of Deputies of the Italian Parliament, Hon. Rocco Buttiglione, the Secretary of State for the Interior, Sen. Nitto Francesco Palma, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Giampiero Massolo, and the Rector of the University of Rome La Sapienza, Prof. Prof. Luigi Frati. At La Sapienza the Bosnian students had the opportunity to share views with Italian students on many topics of shared interest.