BiH sends diplomatic note to Croatia over idea of ​​third entity at Zagreb meeting

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (MFA BiH) has sent a note of protest to Croatia over messages about the reorganization of BiH, or the establishment of a third (Croatian) entity, which were presented last weekend during the "TradFest" conference held in Zagreb.

As stated in the note, this conference was organized by the civil sector, but with representatives of the Croatian authorities, announced the Sarajevo portal Kliks (Klix.ba).

"The Ministry points out that during the aforementioned event, positions were expressed that imply aspirations towards changes to the constitutional order of BiH, which it considers unacceptable and contrary to its constitutional order," the note from the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs states.

It is emphasized that BiH "remains firmly committed to protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity and believes that such messages do not contribute to good neighborly relations or mutual trust."

It is estimated that the citizens of BiH are upset and concerned by the statements made during the conference.

"We expect an official reaction from the competent institutions of Croatia, including a clear distancing from the positions expressed. The Ministry emphasizes that the above statements are unacceptable and condemnable," the diplomatic note reads. They also stated that the statements, which assume the territorial reorganization of BiH, could negatively affect the circumstances in the country, assessing them as harmful to regional stability, as well as to bilateral relations between BiH and Croatia.

"BiH remains committed to European and Euro-Atlantic integration, emphasizing that any constitutional reforms can be led exclusively by its institutions, in accordance with the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, the recommendations of the Venice Commission and the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights," the diplomatic note, signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković, states.

The "TradFest" conference in Zagreb was attended, among others, by Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia, Gordana Grlić Radmana.