Milanović says Croatia must make use of its position to help Croats in BiH

On Wednesday the Central Election Commission in Sarajevo decided that the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be held on October 2nd according to the old election law, which means that Bosnian Muslims will elect representatives for the Croat population.

After Bosnian Muslim leader Bakir Izetbegović said that he expects the European Union to make another attempt at negotiating a change to Bosnia's election law, but that it will not produce results, President Zoran Milanović once again expressed his concern for the lack of equal rights for Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The president says that Croatia must make use of its international position to protect Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina: "Izetbegović says Andrej Plenković has connections in Brussels, but that they are all for naught. First of all Plenković does not have 'connections' in Brussels, nor do I. Plenković is the Prime Minister of full member of the European Union, and that is a huge difference. 'Connections' are for the black market. We have a status and we need to make use of it. I will strenuously, through every available institution, fight to make sure that this problem is in everyone's face throughout Europe and the entire world. To resolve it in any way possible, including through the blockade of these countries into the EU if they ever decide on that. And in this I expect to have Plenković's full support, although he is yet to state his position."

Milanović said that the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina could easily get out of control, and that the issue was a higher priority than Finland and Sweden's entry into NATO. The president has already said that he will veto their entry into the alliance if the electoral system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not reformed before that.

"Croatia, as a member of NATO and the EU, is bothered and worried about the situation in BiH. It can certainly get out of control, not total war, but definitely out of control. Isn't that a justified security interest? I think this represents more of a threat than Russia towards Finland," Milanović told reporters on Friday.

Source: HRT