Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic opened on Tuesday a consulate of Croatia in the central Bosnian town of Vitez, intended to provide consular services to nearly 100,000 people living in this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“I hope this will be Croatian anchor in central Bosnia,” the president said, adding that this meant concrete assistance to many ethnic Croats living in this part of the country.

Grabar-Kitarovic reiterated her support to Bosnia’s integration into the European Union (EU).

“That (EU membership) is a prerequisite, not only for permanent peace, but also for a better future for everyone in Bosnia. I am looking forward to the moment when you will be sitting with us together in Brussels, and take part in deciding on the future of the EU and our continent,” she said at the ceremony.

President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), one of two Bosnia’s semi-autonomous entities, Marinko Cavara, said that the opening of the consulate was not only a form of administrative support to ethnic Croats in central Bosnia, but to everyone living in that region.

“We believe that the Croatian President will help Bosnia in taking the path of European integration, and building a country adhering to the rule of law, where we would all be able to vote for our legitimate representatives, so that all constituent peoples and citizens are equally represented,” said Cavara.

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