Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman participated on Saturday in the commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the expulsion of Croats from Bugojno.
The minister paid tribute and respect to the victims of the expulsion, emphasizing the importance of preserving the dignity of the missing persons. He stressed the need for additional efforts by the Bosnian authorities to prosecute those responsible for war crimes.
"The opening of accession negotiations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU offers hope and opportunities, especially in terms of respecting the rule of law and European values," said Grlić Radman.
The minister recalled a time when Bugojno was an example of multiethnic coexistence: "I want Bugojno to follow the example of today's Mostar as a model of coexistence and political participation. We will invest great efforts to this end."
During the war in Bugojno, 311 soldiers and civilians were killed, over 2,000 detainees passed through the camps of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and over 15,000 people were expelled. Croatian buildings and cultural and religious heritage were destroyed and damaged.
"The Croatian Government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, will continue to support Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina through cross-border cooperation projects and EU funds," concluded Grlić Radman. "Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina must be able to choose legitimate political representatives in the highest bodies, as provided by the Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement. We support agreements that guarantee the elimination of discrimination and enable the equality of the three constituent peoples and other citizens."
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