Krišto – Plenković Meeting in Zagreb: BIH-Croatia Cooperation in Focus

Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Borjana Krišto is in her official visit to the Republic of Croatia, where she held talks in Zagreb with President of the Government of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković on promotion of bilateral cooperation. 

 

Chairwoman Krišto stressed that her first official visit is just to Zagreb and the Republic of Croatia, and that it should be viewed in the context of friendly reply of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the policy of cooperation, well intentions and assistance continuously being implemented by the Government and institutions of the Republic of Croatia. She thanked to the European Council and Prime Minister Plenković for his personal engagement and support to Bosnia and Herzegovina with European institutions on the occasion of gaining the EU-member candidate status by BIH last December.

The meeting stressed that two friendly and neighbouring countries sharing almost one thousand km long border necessitate fostering of institutional cooperation and friendly relations to mutual benefit.

Chairwoman Krišto and Prime Minister Plenković agreed that bilateral relations of Croatia and BIH should be taken up to a higher level in future time by intensification of cooperation on joint infrastructure projects to strengthen trade and economic ties, as well as concerning a transfer of Croatia’s experience in the EU and NATO accession processes.

In the same spirit was a discussion on a coming joint session of the Council of Ministers of BIH and Government of the Republic of Croatia, which was mutually assessed as an important breakthrough in fostering confidence, stability and acknowledgement of European values in regional relations.

Prime Minister Plenković said the Government of the Republic of Croatia sends a message  of respect to BIH, its sovereignty and territorial wholeness, noting unquestionable and visible  Croatian support to the European road of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasising that Croatia will always be close to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croats in it.

Chairwoman Krišto noted commitment of the Council of Ministers of BIH to reforms in the EU accession process and in strengthening of regional cooperation. She said that success of Bosnia and Herzegovina should be sought from inside, by agreement of legitimate representatives of constitutive people as to core political issues, so that the country could move forwards and citizens might fil improvement in their everyday life. She noted her personal confidence that positive political processes of setting-up authorities at all levels should be finalised successfully, which would create a positive political ambience for continuation of reforms and allow directing all-level authorities’ focus to the European road of Bosnia and Herzegovina. She emphasised the importance of dedication of partners in authority to finalisation of limited reform of legislation in BIH, noting strong determination to complete the process within the agree-to six-month tome framework.

The meeting exchanged views on further cooperation and continuation of support and assistance to Croats in BIH. The President of the Government Plenković said Croatia will strongly support Croats in BIH and their projects, whether in health or education sectos or in support to  veterans’ rights.

Chairwoman Krišto congratulated once again to President of the Government of the Republic of Croatia Plenković for entering by the Republic of Croatia to the Schengen and Eurozone, assessing it historic events for citizens of Croatia. She noted the importance of issue-solving of border crossing towards Croatia for EU citizens in BIH border areas, who are economically and family leaned to the Republic of Croatia.

Chairwoman Krišto and Prime Minister Plenković agreed as to strategic relevance of the South Interconnection Project, and based on the existing good practice within BIH, all conditions should be met to provide energy security as soon as possible within this important project.

Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers Borjana Krišto stays in the official visit to the Republic of Croatia upon an invitation by Prime Minister Plenković, and she is scheduled to meet during the visit with President of the Republic of Croatia Assemlby Gordan Jandroković and President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović. (end)