FM Pejčinović Burić visits Sarajevo

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Marija Pejčinović Burić 4 and 5 April 2018 paid a two-day official visit to Sarajevo

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Marija Pejčinović Burić 4 and 5 April 2018 paid a two-day official visit to Sarajevo.

On the first day of her visit, Pejčinović Burić met with her counterpart Igor Crnadak, with whom she discussed further development of Croatia-Bosnia relations, the country’s European perspective and the status of Croats as one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constituent nations. She expressed support for the country’s EU integration and called for the reforms to continue. She also stressed now is the time for all the actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to show their political responsibility and agree on amendments to electoral law that would guarantee equality of all three constituent nations as well as all the country’s citizens.

Pejčinović Burić attended the opening of the office of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) at the Croatian Embassy is Sarajevo, which should contribute to further strengthening of economic relations. Croatia is among Bosnia and Herzegovina’s top foreign trade partners.

On the second day of her visit, Pejčinović Burić met with the Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Puljić, with whom she talked about the status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She thanked Puljić for the Church’s care for the Croat people in the country, informing him about the Croatian government’s programmes and activities to assist Bosnian Croats in dealing with everyday problems, strengthening vital institutions and creating conditions to slow down and stop youth drain.

At a working meeting with Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Krišto, the two officials discussed the position of Croats ahead of the parliamentary elections and the activities of Croat MPs directed at righting the unequal status of the Croat people.

Pejčinović Burić also held talks with the head of the European Union Delegation, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, and the international community's High Representative, Valentin Inzko, who informed her of the international community’s mediating activities in regard to election preparations. Pejčinović Burić underlined Croatia’s firm position that the equal status of constituent nations was a precondition for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress towards the EU, as well as its existence.

The Croatian foreign minister announced the soon opening of consulates in Livno and Vitez. 

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