BELGRADE, Serbia

While North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina share a turbulent past, their common peaceful and prosperous future lies in EU and NATO membership, top officials from the two countries said on Friday. 

During an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital Sarajevo, North Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani and his counterpart Bisera Turkovic agreed that the two nations have open, smooth, and friendly relations.

"I support Osmani's call to bring foreign ministers from the region together and accelerate European integration under new conditions," said Turkovic in a joint press statement.

She added that transportation links between Sarajevo and the North Macedonian capital Skopje were also discussed during the meeting.

"Transportation connections significantly affect the level of economic relations. We want the Skopje-Sarajevo flight to take place," said Turkovic.

Osmani, for his part, said the entire continent is facing a security crisis.

"As a friendly country, I would like to express our determination to openly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement," said Osmani.

He also urged the EU to act with "strategic leadership" in the region for international cohesion and the restoration of the European perspective.

"Russian aggression has best demonstrated the importance of European integration for unity and security," said Osmani.

He added that though establishing direct flights between Sarajevo and Skopje was economically unprofitable, the two countries are looking for ways to subsidize it.

During his visit, Osmani also met with the Bosniak member of the Presidential Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sefik Dzaferovic.