Andrej Plenković talks about Bosnia and Herzegovina and reacts to recent statements by SDP president Zoran Milanović.
HDZ president Andrej Plenković said that the status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and stable Bosnia and Herzegovina that is progressing towards the European Union were a strategic interest of Croatia. He added that recent statements made by SDP president Zoran Milanović about the country were harmful and he urged the international community to prevent the referendum planned by the government of the Republika Srpska, reports 24sata.hr on August 27, 2016.
“Milanović’s statements are harmful for relations between the two countries, and particularly for the interests of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, said Plenković in an interview. He described the statements as Zoran Milanović’s “dilettantish foreign policy”.
Plenković stressed Croatia’s support for the reform of constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and added that strategic foreign policy priority for Croatia were the rights of Croats in BiH and the country’s territorial integrity. “Bosnia and Herzegovina must become a functional state, while ensuring the full equality of all three constituent peoples. This requires a constitutional reform which will be based on the principles of federalism, decentralization and legitimate representation”, said Plenković.
HDZ president Plenković also condemned the announcement of the referendum in the Republika Srpska, saying that it posed a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also to peace and stability in the region. “There is no doubt that the peace and stability in the whole neighbourhood could come into question, since it is not impossible that the referendum in September could serve as a prelude to a referendum on the secession of the Republika Srpska”, said Plenković, stressing that Croatia will closely monitor developments regarding the referendum and do everything to “protect the rights of the Croatian people”.
Plenković also condemned politically motivated indictments against Croatian veterans coming from Sarajevo, with include claims about Croatian aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina which, he noted, was a falsification of history. “Systematic indictments against Croatian veterans with such claims are completely unacceptable”, said Plenković.
Plenković is spending the day in Mostar presenting HDZ’s candidates for the eleventh special constituency, which includes Croatian citizens living abroad. He expressed his belief that HDZ would again win all three parliamentary seats from diaspora.
