The signing ceremony was also attended by Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, who said that the Croatian government had the obligation to help and care for the Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Deputy PM Kosor said the agreement would be implemented in three stages over the next three years. Next year, 40 million kuna will be allocated to some 800 families of HVO soldiers who were killed, went missing or were imprisoned during the war, Kosor said, adding that the rights of disabled HVO members would be regulated in 2007 and 2008.
The two countries' parliaments are expected to ratify the agreement, Kosor said, adding that she expected the Croatian parliament to discuss and endorse the agreement at its first session after the winter recess.
The agreement regulates status issues and disability and family pension allowances for disabled war veterans, members of the HVO, and the families of HVO members who were killed, went missing or were imprisoned during the war. As of next year the Bosnian government will drastically restrict those rights and the Croatian government has decided to pay the difference in their pensions so that they could be in line with Croatia's law regulating the rights of Homeland War veterans and their families.
Bosnia's Deputy PM Colak thanked the Croatian government for their help and cooperation, and invited Kosor to visit Bosnia-Herzegovina, which she accepted.