Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, is on an official visit to the Republic of Croatia, and today he met with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Gordan Grlić Radman.
Grlić Radman thanked for the visit and commended Minister Konaković’s affirmative performance so far, which promises fruitful and good cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia and other European countries, for the benefit of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Grlić Radman said that he sees the new convocation of the BiH Council of Ministers as a pro-European partner with whom he will have the opportunity to cooperate in all fields. He welcomed the candidate status stating that the Republic of Croatia has stood for the European path of BiH since the first days and will continue to stand for it.
He emphasized that Croatia is not and will not build a fortress towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, even though it is a member of Schengen and the EU.
He added that only equal and constructive dialogue can contribute to good relations between the two countries.
Cross-border cooperation between Croatia and BiH is very important. Transport infrastructure, the strengthening of energy resources and the transfer of knowledge when joining the European Union are areas in which Croatia makes itself fully available.
Minister Konaković said that the policies of populism, conflict, and outspokenness have so far brought nothing to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he added that he does not belong to the generation that makes political points by problematizing difficult topics.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH made it clear once again that BiH’s priorities are NATO and EU integration, but he also added that he intends to work on strengthening ties with the East in such a way as to turn our current crises into opportunities, concluding that BiH has long fought foreign battles and believes that now is the time to fight its own battles.