Croatian and Bosnian police cooperate well in controlling migration, and the two countries should also address their outstanding issues through dialogue, Croatia's Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivan Sabolic, said in an interview with the Sarajevo newspaper Dnevni Avaz.
Sabolic said in the Monday’s issue of Dnevni Avaz that a recent meeting between Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic and his Bosnian counterpart Fahrudin Radoncic was an example of good cooperation that had already produced results and improved communication, especially in dealing with migration. He noted that the recent Croatian government decision to donate police equipment to Bosnia to help it improve border control and curb cross-border crime had also contributed to that.
Asked if Bosnia could benefit from the Croatian presidency of the EU, Sabolic said that Croatia strongly supported Bosnia’s EU path based on meeting the set criteria.
He said that the EU-Western Balkans summit in Zagreb in May would be a chance to reinvigorate the accession processes of neighbouring countries and give fresh impetus to the dynamic of their getting closer to the EU in the years ahead.
Sabolic said that outstanding issues such as one concerning the possible construction of a radioactive waste storage facility on Mount Trgovska Gora near the Croatian-Bosnian border should be addressed through dialogue but that there had been no such initiative from Bosnia so far.
“If and when the institutions of Bosnia formally express the wish or need to discuss this matter, the Croatian minister in charge is ready to address all aspects of the interest or doubts on Bosnia’s part,” the Croatian ambassador said.
Sabolic said that the unresolved issues between the two countries were not insurmountable and could be resolved through dialogue.
He expressed serious concern about the equality of Bosnia’s three constituent ethnic groups, saying that it was undermined in practice to the detriment of the Croats and warned that it was necessary to prevent the possibility of one ethnic group electing representatives of another.
“Croatia supports a democratic agreement on a fair electoral law that will guarantee the adoption of European standards, prevent abuse and ensure equal status for the three constituent peoples and all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Sabolic said, adding that amending the electoral law would be a key step towards stability and progress, strengthening mutual trust and respect for the rights and freedoms of all Bosnian citizens.
