Andrej Plenković met with his Bosnian counterpart and other high-ranking officials.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced in Sarajevo on Friday that in the coming period the government would try to resolve the remaining outstanding issues in relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and at the same he confirmed that the country can count on Croatian support in its European integration process, reports Večernji List on October 28, 2016.
After official talks between delegations of the Croatian government and the BiH Council of Ministers, Plenković told reporters that his arrival in Sarajevo was a clear confirmation that BiH will be the key foreign policy priority of his government. “We will continue to support BiH, especially when it comes to its European path”, said Plenković. “We have almost concluded the draft of the agreement on cooperation on European issues so that Bosnia and Herzegovina can use Croatian experience”, said Plenković. He confirmed that his government would focus on the status of Croats in BiH. “This will be done in an open and transparent manner”, said Plenković. He added that all decisions regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina’s election law should be made within the country.
Asked whether Croatia was interfering in the internal affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Plenković said that such assessments were based on obsolete concepts from the 19th and 20th century, adding that things have changed significantly since then. “We approach BiH as a partner”, said Plenković, explaining that Croatia wanted Croats to be equal with other peoples in BiH because “in the past, there were situations when this was not the case”.
“Croatia has for many years been one of the five most important trading partners and investors in BiH, which clearly defines the relations in the field of economic cooperation”, said Bosnian Prime Minister Denis Zvizdić. “Our most important goal remains the European Union and we expect full and unequivocal support of Croatia on the way”, said Zvizdić. He announced that by the end of the year a joint session of the two governments would be held.
Plenković also met with Chairman of the BiH Presidency Bakir Izetbegović and Croatian Member of the Presidency Dragan Čović. The statement issued after the meeting states that they expressed satisfaction with the fact that the newly-appointed Croatian Prime Minister came to Bosnia and Herzegovina just a day after the first meeting of the new Croatian government. Izetbegović and Čović expressed their gratitude for the support that Croatia had provided to BiH in its path towards the EU.
Plenković also met with top officials of House of Representatives and House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament, as well as with religious leaders. Plenković will continue his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Kiseljak and Mostar.
