Plenković assessed that BiH is a Croatian state priority

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković assessed on Monday in Mostar that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a state priority for Croatia and added that he expects an agreement on amendments to the electoral law so that Croats can achieve equality in that country.

When asked about the proposals of Bosniak parties aimed at weakening the role of the upper, nationally conceived House of Peoples of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH, Plenković told reporters that Croatia expects the implementation of the constitutional court’s ruling.

>>> Croatian Chamber of Economy opens an office in Mostar

“In a political sense, we advocate for quality relations between the two countries, for the equality of Croats as one of the three constituent nations. We hope that a solution to the electoral law issue will be reached ahead of the elections in BiH this autumn. We, as Croatia, would like to reach an agreement and respect the decisions of the constitutional court,” said Plenković.

The Constitutional Court of BiH has removed provisions from the electoral law that allowed for the over-voting of Croats in the election of delegates for the House of Peoples.

Plenković, who was in Mostar for the opening of the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK) office, stated that the HGK offices in BiH will be points of communication and services for all who wish to intensify economic cooperation.

He added that by opening this office, the airline routes of Croatia Airlines between Zagreb and Mostar, the HRT office in Sarajevo and Mostar, and new consulates in Livno and Vitez, Croatia has shown that “BiH is important, that it is our priority.”

>>> Plenković: The government has no skepticism about the entry of Russian investors into the ownership stake of Agrokor

According to him, the trade exchange between the two countries amounts to two billion euros and could further strengthen.

He also assessed the meeting in Mostar with other regional leaders as extremely important. “It is good that our friend Bojko Borisov from the same political family as HDZ and HDZ BiH is here. Bulgaria is chairing the summit in Sofia scheduled for mid-May. I believe that this is the main topic on how to jointly assist all countries in Southeast Europe to continue with European reforms,” said Plenković.

At the working dinner in Mostar, alongside the host, Croatian member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Čović, were Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Montenegro’s Filip Vujanović, as well as Bulgarian Prime Minister Bojko Borisov.

They will together attend the opening of the 21st International Economic Fair Mostar 2018 tomorrow.