ANSA news

(ANSA) - ANCONA - Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has been holding the presidency of the Adriatic Ionian Initiative since mid-June, has a special bond with the Adriatic Mediterranean Festival of Ancona, which devotes the programme of September 1 to celebrating the Balkan country by hosting Ivan Orlic, President of the IAI. The Iai's presidential handover to Bosnia from Albania was symbolized by the concert of Moni Ovadia & Orchestrina Adriatica in Sarajevo, that will be repeated on September 4 during next AdMed event in Senigallia. According to ambassador Orlic, ''It is a lucky coincidence that in the same semester Italy gets the Presidency of the Council of the European Union while Bosnia and Herzegovina gets the Presidency of the Adriatic Ionian Initiative. This is, in fact, a really crucial stage for cooperation within the Adriatic Ionian, since the efforts of all eight countries are producing their results''. At this time, Orlic underlined ''our strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region is entering its development phase'' which is ''crucial for Bosnia and Herzegovina and for all the other Western Balkan countries, in order to put integration, which is among AIMR objectives, back at the centre of the EU's agenda, especially given that Italy's government is among its main supporters''.(ANSA).