President Milanović after meeting with Željka Cvijanović: Dayton is the foundation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Komšić does not represent Croats

“Now is time to begin a new chapter, and that chapter bears the same title as it always should, that is Bosnia and Herzegovina – how we and I see it – as an integral state, a subject of international law, founded on Dayton”, the President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović stated on Thursday after his meeting with the Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović who is on a working visit to Croatia.

“Dayton is the foundation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. And it is in Croatia’s interest, and I believe in the interest of law and justice not to change it, because only evil can come out of it”, President Milanović noted, adding that the meeting with the Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina was arranged a few weeks ago after an agreement and talks. “I think that the time is right and a good way to do it. Relations with the collective presidency in the former mandate were not ideal”, the President noted.

He stated that they discussed peace and stability in the region, predictability and the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They further discussed, and he underscored, “the status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina as one of the three constituent, equal peoples, not a minority”.

“For the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina we seek, expect and will fight for their status to be dignified, equal to that of the Bosniaks and Serbs. I am prepared to discuss this with everyone”, President Milanović stated, and added that he sees “a greater quantum of sound reason and goodwill” in the person of Željka Cvijanović and her political circle to discuss this matter.

After her meeting with Croatian President Zoran Milanović, the Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović said that today’s meeting and talks with Croatia’s President were constructive and aimed at achieving commmon goals.

“They are stability and peace in the region. That they are predictable issues and that we are oriented to one another to resolve certain issues in a constructive way”, Chairwoman Cvijanović noted. She added that, in addition to better political understanding, it is necessary to talk “of ways to increase foreign trade and projects that will be aimed at improving the lives of all our citizens”.

Chairwoman Cvijanović stated that she is also “in favour of the Dayton Agreement as a permanent principle, to which all of us in the framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina gave our consent and which ensures sufficient protection for the rights of Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks and all other citizens who live there”.

“Talks and dialogue will always provide an opportunity to resolve issues. There is no silence. My policy is that we must build relations and bridges of cooperation”, the Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina noted.

“I am in contact with Mr. Bećirović whom I informed of Mrs. Cvijanović’s visit. I announced this intention, possibility. We discussed that, after this visit to Zagreb, Mr. Bećirović would also pay a visit. Unfortunately, other formats are out of the question”, President Milanović replied to a journalist about whether there are plans to meet with the Bosniak member of the Presidency and whether he expects that it will be possible to reach an agreement on amendments to the Election Law with the new authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina without Bakir Izetbegović of the SDA.

“Unfortunately, the interventions of the High Representative at election night did not resolve the key issue of Croats, namely the illegitimate representation of Croats in the Presidency. The Presidency is symbolic, it has generally symbolic powers, but the symbolism led to major complications in personal relations”, President Milanović noted.

“Mr. Komšić does not represent the Croats. The Croats should have their representative. Everyone elects their own, as it is in Croatia. That is how it should be in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the Croats are not a minority. Thanks to the burning ambition of certain people and the support of the so-called international community that does not exist, it is not so in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unfortunately, I have nothing more to say”, President Milanović concluded.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek, Marko Beljan