Grlić Radman: Bosnia and Herzegovina must act on reforms to move toward EU

Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman called on political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to seize the opportunity and move forward with EU accession talks by implementing the remaining reforms, including amendment of the country's election law to end the outvoting of BiH Croats.

"It is essential that political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who are responsible for the functioning of the country, become more actively engaged and recognise the opportunity, as well as Croatia's efforts to ensure Bosnia and Herzegovina's European path," the minister said in an interview with Radio-Television Herceg-Bosna.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU path has been effectively stalled amid a deepening political crisis following the conviction of Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik. Preconditions for opening accession negotiations include the adoption of laws on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, the Court of BiH, and the appointment of a chief negotiator.

Grlić Radman stressed that in addition to these reforms, it is also necessary to amend the country's election law to prevent further outvoting of Croats, a reference to the fact that Željko Komšić has been elected four times as the Croat member of the BiH Presidency with Bosniak votes.

The Dayton Agreement was meant to ensure the equality of the three constituent peoples in BiH. Within the Bosniak-Croat Federation entity, this means that both groups should enjoy equal political rights, including the right to choose their own representatives, said Grlić Radman.

He emphasised that all reforms should be agreed upon by domestic political leaders, opposing intervention by the international administration.

Grlić Radman visited Mostar to participate in a two-day event marking the anniversary of the inscription of the Old Bridge and the historic old city of Mostar on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Text: Hina

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