Ms. Midori Matsushima, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Visit Bosnia and Herzegovina

November 1, 2006

Ms. Midori Matsushima, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina from November 2 (Thu) to 6 (Mon) to attend the handover ceremony of Doboj Bridge upon the occasion of completion of the Project for Construction of Doboj Bridge and Modrica Bridge by Japan's grant aid. Ms. Matsushima will also meet with Mr. Adnan Terzic, Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister), and other key officials of the country.
As a result of conflict which continued from 1992 to 1995, many bridges in Bosnia and Herzegovina were either destroyed or badly deteriorated from lack of proper maintenance and management. Due to its heavy dependence on road transport, the economic development of the country is seriously hampered by poor condition of the bridges.
Since the Doboj and Modrica Bridges are located on key roads, the project is important due to its urgency, benefits to the local population, as well as the traffic density of the roads. The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina requested the Government of Japan to restore these bridges as the restoration would contribute to ethnic reconciliation through facilitation of the movement of different ethnic groups, and the provision of the grant aid was approved in May 2004 by the Cabinet.
Ms. Matsushima's attendance at the handover ceremony and exchange of opinions with key figures in the relevant authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina will not only promote the bilateral relationship but will also be important for planning Japan's future policy toward Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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