"Hello from Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today, the relations between our two countries are very close and very friendly at all levels. Such friendships should not only be nurtured but also deepened. And as president, I am trying to contribute to that, among other things, through this visit here in Sarajevo," said Van der Bellen at the beginning of the video.
He then answered the question: "Where do we have these close ties?"
"Well, first economically. Over 200 Austrian companies are already active in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Second, more than 170,000 people with so-called roots in Bosnia and Herzegovina live in Austria today. They are neighbors from the neighborhood, colleagues from work, or school friends. Maybe you know someone," he conveyed.
At the end, he also highlighted Austria's military presence in BiH.
"And third, the Austrian military has been active here for decades, currently with 110 soldiers as part of the Althea mission and, together with other multinational partners, ensures stability in the region," he said.
He emphasizes the European future of BiH and the support it has from Austria on that path.
"So, you already notice that much positive connects us. And with this visit, we are working to look toward a common European future. By the way, for many people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union is a kind of place of longing. It is the task of politicians to move their country forward in that direction. Unfortunately, the process has been stagnating for years. The EU can be a strong partner for people here in many things. And Austria explicitly supports this path and will continue to do so," said the Austrian president.
At the end of the video, he conveyed: "Bye, Sarajevo."