Minister Grlić Radman pledges Croatia’s support to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said in Sarajevo on Wednesday that Zagreb was a sincere advocate of Bosnia and Herzegovina's aspirations to join the Euro-Atlantic institutions and Croatia was willing to help its neighbour on this European journey.

At the beginning of his three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Grlić Radman today held talks in Sarajevo with the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Majlinda Bregu, and with the religious dignitaries: the Islamic Community's Grand Mufti Husein Kavazović and the Catholic Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Puljić.

Addressing the press after these three meetings, the Croatian minister said that his country strongly supported the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the equality of the three constituent peoples and wished that 'all citizens can feel well in that country.'

Grlić Radman recalled that the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna had 100-odd parishes, of which 30 or so had less than 300 faithful, which is an indicator of an unfavourable demographic situation in the country. He added that it was important that Croatia through its own means and was as the EU funds assisted in creating the conditions for the stay of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The minister described Cardinal Puljić as an important interlocutor who always promoted reconciliation and built bridges towards all the peoples.

Grlić Radman said that Kavazović had informed him of his good cooperation with Cardinal Puljić.

'Their mutual respect is a very good sign and signal,' Grlić Radman said, underscoring that cooperation between the leaders of the local religious communities was the best way to eliminate a lack of trust and to reinforce the bonds between the peoples.

'The more there's meetings, the less there's misunderstandings. The more there's the talks, the more there's agreements,' the minister said.

Cardinal Puljić said he considered the minister's visit important as it paved the way for dialogue so that outstanding issues and 'unpleasant situations' could be resolved.

'I firmly believe that personal meetings will contribute to a healthier climate of cooperation,' the cardinal said.

He added that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia are bound to each other, whether one liked it or not. 'The Croats and Catholics in Bosnia and Herzegovina depend a lot on Croatia's material and political support, since Croatia is a co-signatory of the Dayton Agreement,' Puljić said.

'And that agreement seemingly cannot be implemented. It is being pulled every which way like a bubble gum, and that is why I hope that a structure of a normal country will be created, in which all peoples will enjoy equal rights,' the cardinal said, thanking Croatia for supporting projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, without which Croats in the county could hardly persist.

On Wednesday, the Croatian minister is due to hold talks with his Bosnian counterpart, Bisera Turković, and the international community's High Representative, Valentin Inzko, and on Thursday he will meet the top officials of the Bosnian government and parliament.

Text: Hina/MFEA

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