Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Tuesday received Dragan Covic, deputy chairman of the Bosnian Parliament's House of Peoples, for talks on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with special emphasis on achieving equality for its three constituent peoples, Croatian state agency Hina reported.

According to a press release from Plenkovic’s office, they also talked about the protection of the rights of ethnic Croats in Bosnia, the fight against Covid-19, and the “continuation of economic cooperation between the two countries.”

Plenkovic said the issue of the status of Croats in Bosnia was a “vital Croatian interest” and that the “Croatian government’s consistent policy” is “to extend strong support for achieving their equality and for their legitimate representation” in the Bosnian Presidency and other top institutions.

He said Croatia wanted to constructively help so that all political actors in Bosnia could reach a consensus on reforming the election law, adding that he recently discussed that with the new High Representative to Bosnia, Christian Schmidt, and the US envoy for Bosnia and Southeast Europe, Matthew Palmer.

Covic underlined the importance of the current reforms for Bosnia’s European path as well as its stability and development. He said he was confident a final agreement could be reached this year on changes to the election law and limited changes to the constitution.

He said Bosnia’s foundations must not be endangered and that the three constituent peoples must be legitimately and appropriately represented in government.

Plenkovic said that in the EU, Croatia was the strongest advocate of Bosnia’s European journey as well as a supporter of its Nato membership. “It’s necessary to strengthen the reform process which guarantees economic stability and the good of the whole country.”

Covic thanked Plenkovic for Croatia’s donation of 240,000 Covid vaccines.

Plenkovic recalled that, under a government decision, all Bosnia citizens would be able to get vaccinated in Croatia for free.