The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Stasa Kosarac, stated today that Croatia’s decision to close the border crossings with Bosnia and Herzegovina is unacceptable and could have negative effects on the economy.
Due to a large number of media inquiries, Kosarac addressed journalists in Sarajevo regarding the information that the Croatian authorities plan to close five border crossings with BiH.
“This is unacceptable for us given the fact that it can cause a delay in the placement of goods produced in both the Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH and can seriously jeopardize the economic and financial viability of the business community of the Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH, “said Kosarac.
Stressing that this is a unilateral decision of Croatia, Kosarac expressed his belief that this decision can be corrected.
“It is very important hat we have good neighborly relations with Croatia, that we have good relations with all European Union countries because we believe that the European Union is our key foreign policy goal and in that
Kosarac emphasized that the problems of businessmen in BiH are also the problems of the government, which is obliged to ensure the best possible conditions for the unhindered flow of people and goods.
“In that context, we have initiated activities with neighboring Montenegro in order to open the issue of integration of border crossings, which would improve the flow of people and goods and to resolve border congestion. In that context, I believe that based on the good bilateral contacts and relations we have with Croatia, we should treat this issue through the engagement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “said Kosarac.
Kosarac also stated that he had talks with representatives of the business community in BiH, including the Foreign Trade Chamber, and added that he would use the instruments of contacts with representatives of the European Union in BiH and inform them about the need to change the disputed unilateral decision of Croatia.
The BiH Foreign Trade Chamber previously sent a letter to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina stating that Croatia could close five border crossings on the border with BiH.
Croatia plans to re-categorize five border crossings for freight traffic, namely the crossings Ivanica – Gornji Brgat, Velika Kladuša – Maljevac, Brčko – Gunja, Strmica – Strmica and the border crossing Osoje – Vinjani Gornji.
The Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of Croatia has established the Ordinance on the regulation of public roads on which the transit traffic of goods vehicles through that country must take place.
In that way, the use of five border crossings for the transit of goods from Bosnia and Herzegovina through Croatia will be prevented, with a possible series of negative consequences for the Bosnian economy, BHRT writes.
