European Union and Bosnian officials have opened two days of talks in Sarajevo on building relations between the eastern European nation and the 25-member bloc.
The first round of talks on the Stabilization and Association Agreement began Wednesday in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo. The FENA News Agency of Bosnia's Muslim-Croat Federation says EU Director for the West Balkans, Reinchard Priebe, and Bosnia-Herzegovina's chief negotiator, Igor Davidovic, are heading the two delegations. Discussions are focusing on general issues such as regional cooperation.
Although Wednesday's meeting marks the first detailed talks on the issue, officials launched the formal negotiations in November. An Association agreement is a preliminary step toward Bosnia's possible candidacy for EU membership.
After Thursday's talks, negotiators will meet again in six weeks for further discussion.