- Published: 17.11.2023.
Minister Grlić Radman: Attacks discourage Croat refugees from returning to BiH
Croatia "strongly condemns" the violence which ended in the death of Marko Mišić, a returnee to the Bosnian Serb entity, he told the press, calling on the competent institutions in BiH, notably in the Serb entity, to investigate the case and punish the perpetrators "most harshly."
Asked if he could confirm that Mišić was beaten due to ethnic intolerance, Grlić Radman said "there were such cases before also."
"The fact that there were about 200,000 Croats in the Republika Srpska entity before the war and less than 10% now says a lot, and that there were 22,000 Croats in the Derventa area, of whom only 2% have come back."
Mišić was severely beaten by two persons in the village of Brezici in Republika Srpska on 12 October as he tried to prevent them from stealing wood. He succumbed to the injuries a few days ago.
"The good news is that the police reacted and arrested the two perpetrators," the minister said.
The entity and the state authorities have the responsibility to protect Croatian returnees, he said, adding that he will discuss this on his visit to Sarajevo on the 24th.
The Dayton and Paris agreements guarantee the safe return of all refugees, he said.
In Sarajevo, Croatia will support the opening of BiH-EU accession negotiations and Croatia will offer its strong expertise, the minister said.
He reiterated that Croatia will host European Parliament President Charles Michel and prime ministers Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Robert Abela of Malta and Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland for a meeting on a new EU strategic programme, enlargement and migration.
Grlić Radman recalled the prime minister’s announcement that Croatia would donate an additional €1 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians, on top of the previously disbursed €250,000.
He announced that he plans to visit Egypt soon, having visited Israel and Jordan.
Text: Hina/MVEP