Berlin - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier demanded greater advances to the reforms in Bosnia-Herzegovina during talks Tuesday with his Slovakian counterpart Miroslav Lajcak.

The discussion focused on developments in the western Balkans, a region including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.

The willingness in recent months to drive forward the reform process in the region had been "downright insufficient," Steinmeier said.

Lajcak, who is also the European Union's Special Envoy for Bosnia-Herzegovina, said political independence and economic stability were paramount there.

With regards to Kosovo, Steinmeier said he was "positively surprised," although he warned that the state still had difficult tasks ahead.

Slovakia has not recognized Kosovo's independence. Nevertheless, Lajcak said, it was in his country's interest for Kosovo to find stability, and expressed cautious optimism.

The effects of the global financial crisis also crept onto the agenda. "We are both badly hit," the German foreign minister said, adding that "we are important for one another."

Lajcak called Germany a "key partner," sharing close economic ties and facing similar problems.

The German foreign minister emphasized the advantage both countries had in belonging to the eurozone, which had brought them "added stability." (dpa)