The Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, stated that the Republic of Croatia will do everything in its power to help Bosnia and Herzegovina on its European path.
“I am extremely satisfied that the political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina showed a high level of maturity after the last elections, that the formation of institutions at the central level took place really quickly compared to earlier cases,” Plenković told reporters in Mostar before the start of the session of the Croatian National Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He congratulated the chairperson of the BiH Council of Ministers Borjana Krišto on her appointment, adding that he was looking forward to her visit to Zagreb in mid-February when, as Plenković said, a whole series of joint activities to improve relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia will be agreed upon.
“I say this as the prime minister of the Republic of Croatia, whose government respects BiH, wants to improve relations with BiH, respects the three constituent nations and all other citizens living in BiH, and we are interested in its stability, its economic growth and its social security Plenković added.
The Croatian Prime Minister said that in the past period, the Republic of Croatia did everything to ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina received the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union.
“I congratulate you on that status and we will do everything to help you, in all possible ways, so that Bosnia and Herzegovina can catch up as soon as possible with other countries in the southeast of Europe, which are in a somewhat advanced stage of accession negotiations,” said Plenković.
He added that the Government of the Republic of Croatia will also continue to provide support to the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I am glad that in this declaration, which will be adopted by the HNS BiH, it is said that Bosnia and Herzegovina is the homeland of the Croatian people in BiH, which is completely in line with what all political parties and the Croatian government are constantly saying. Therefore, we want to use that premise to build support for the Croatian people when it comes to identity, rights, representation. I welcome these steps, what the high representative did, where a more comfortable position was secured when it comes to the House of Peoples of the FBiH,” said the Croatian Prime Minister.
He invited the representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s political parties to form the FBiH Government as soon as possible.
“This is what is expected and this is a great message from the international community, Europe and the USA, that we need to see a functional, harmonious BiH where everyone will feel good, move forward, and Croatia will in that process, as it has all these years , to be the strongest advocate,” Plenković concluded.
