Bakhatyar Aljaf and Ian Hill (right)
PRESS RELEASE
Director General of Europe Division of New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ian Hill, visits IFIMES
LJUBLJANA, 28 April 2015 – Director of the International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) Bakhatyar Aljaf received Director General of Europe Division of New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ian Hill, earlier today.
IFIMES director Aljaf presented the activities of the Institute in the Balkan and Middle-East regions, with a special emphasis on the activities related to the Western Balkans region. DG Hill expressed interest in the view IFIMES has regarding the situation in the region. Both parties agreed that peace and stability of the region is of paramount importance. During the conversation the representatives exchanged views on current events in the region, on the history of the region, and it’s future prospects. In it’s role as a member of the UN Security council, New Zealand finds this area, it’s history and contemporary challenges, particularly important.
DG Hill also presented the New Zealand initiative for a free trade agreement between New Zealand and the EU, which both parties agreed, could have a significant positive influence on both New Zealand and the EU.
At the end of the discussion both parties agreed that there is a lot of opportunities for enhancing economic cooperation between New Zealand and countries of the Western Balkan region, and decided to keep in touch regarding future developments and possibilities for cooperation.
Ljubljana, 28 April 2015
