Croatia can start construction of the Peljesac Bridge only after the border agreement with Bosnia is ratified, said the Deputy Speaker of Bosnia's House of Representatives (HoR), Sefik Dzaferovic, on Monday.

Dzaferovic’s statement came as a reaction to the contract to build the Peljesac bridge, which was signed on Monday in Dubrovnik by Croatia’s state-owned road management company and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) consortium.

He stressed that Bosnia must have undisturbed access to the international waters.

“Things are clear here, and the European Union, which provides credit and other funds for the construction, should take care of that too,” Dzaferovic added.

Damir Becirovic, a representative in the HoR also reacted, saying that this situation requires sending a note of protest to Croatia.

“The only relevant standpoint regarding Bosnia and the Peljesac Bridge construction is the one passed by the Bosnia’s Presidency”, Becirovic said.

In a decision from 2007, the Presidency asked Croatia to halt the bridge construction until the issue of identification of the maritime boundary line and Bosnia’s access to the international waters is solved.