"Thanks to his work so far Josipovic has gained great confidence among citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims). That is why his statement is surprising and frustrates us," the head of the general assembly of the Islamic Community, Safet Softic, was quoted by the Sarajevo-based Dnevni Avaz daily as saying on Thursday.
The local media have carried parts of Josipovic's interview with Reuters in which he also spoke of the unrest in Libya, saying he was concerned that developments there could impact on radical Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"Definitely it is a security problem not only for them (North Africa) but for southern Europe on the whole," said Josipovic.
"Especially we have a sensitive situation because we are neighbouring Bosnia with many Muslims, and we hope that this conflict, especially Libya, will not influence relations between different nationalities in Bosnia and neighbouring countries," the Croatian president said in his interview with Reuters earlier this week.
The Islamic dignitary said that Bosnia had expected Josipovic to be a regional leader in reconciliation and building better relations.
Social Democratic Party Vice President Damir Hadzic said that Josipovic's statement was "one in a series of unnecessary comments on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina."
"Croatia should be a factor of stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, rather than somebody who destabilises the circumstances in the region," the SDP official told Dnevni Avaz.
The Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by Haris Silajdzic, issued a press release describing Josipovic's statement as an example of "prejudices about Islam and Muslims".
Josipovic also said he was concerned that there were radicals in Bosnia, especially during the 1990s war, imported from other countries. "Some of them are still there, some of them went from Bosnia," Josipovic added.
"I think the local Muslim population is self-conscious, understands and shares all European values and appreciates good cooperation with all their neighbours," he was quoted as saying.
In response to this claim, Silajdzic's party said that radical Muslims could have arrived in Bosnia only via Croatia with the support of "the regime of Franjo Tudjman".