ZAGREB, April 6, 2018 – Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Marija Pejčinović Burić said in Sarajevo on Thursday that the Croatian government wants to see Bosnia and Herzegovina as a stable, prosperous and sovereign country in which all three constituent peoples and citizens are equal.
On the second day of her official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Pejčinović Burić met separately with Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak, the head of the European Union Delegation Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, and the international community’s High Representative Valentin Inzko. Before that, she attended the opening of the office of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) at the Croatian Embassy.
Pejčinović Burić concluded her visit by meeting with the Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Puljić, after which she told the press that Croatia was determined to meet its obligations towards the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including expectations from the process of amending electoral legislation ahead of parliamentary elections due in October.
“It is very important that the Croats have the same rights as others and the right to legitimate representation within all structures, from the Presidency and the House of Peoples (the upper chamber of parliament) to lower levels,” the Croatian foreign minister said.
She added that Croatia would continue to consistently advocate for the amendments to the electoral law that would guarantee the status of the constituent peoples and the legitimate representation of all in bodies of authority.
“This, of course, is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s internal issue, but in all forums in which Croatia is represented we are calling for an agreement on how important it is that all should be equal and legitimately represented. We hope such an agreement will be reached, and it is hard to say what will happen if that does not materialise. We believe that it is extremely important for the prosperity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and all its citizens that elections should be held in a way that will be legitimate in every respect,” Pejčinović Burić said.
Cardinal Puljić said that it was important for the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina that meetings like this were held continually. “This sends an important message that we are not left to ourselves in the situation we are going through and that the Croatian state wants to express its closeness, understanding and support, which at this point is very important to us,” he said.
