ZAGREB, July 30 (Hina) - The high representative of the international community to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lord Paddy Ashdown, said in Zagreb on Wednesday that the international community would not interfere in bilateral issues between
Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, including the construction of Corridor 5C.
ZAGREB, July 30 (Hina) - The high representative of the
international community to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lord Paddy
Ashdown, said in Zagreb on Wednesday that the international
community would not interfere in bilateral issues between Croatia
and Bosnia-Herzegovina, including the construction of Corridor 5C.
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Those are bilateral and financial issues that will be tackled by the
governments of the two countries, and we intend to stand aside,
Ashdown told Hina after talks with Foreign Minister Tonino Picula.
Ashdown said he and Croatian officials discussed a series of
practical issues such as an Adriatic-Ionian motorway, Corridor 5C,
the agreement on the port of Ploce, the return of refugees and the
restoration of trade links between the southern Bosnian town of
Trebinje and the Dubrovnik area.
The high representative described Croatia's policy towards Bosnia-
Herzegovina and other neighbours as constructive, saying that one
of the fruits of that policy was that both Croatia and Bosnia-
Herzegovina were getting closer to the European Union.
The policy of Prime Minister Racan and the moral leadership of
President Mesic have made Croatia a bright light in the Balkans over
the last few years, Ashdown said.
He expressed confidence that such a policy would continue
regardless of the results of forthcoming parliamentary elections
in Croatia.
Noting that voices against the return of refugees could be heard
from time to time, Ashdown concluded that this was no longer a
predominant political and security issue but an economic one.
People won't return where they don't have secure jobs, salaries and
pensions, he added.
Speaking of the return of Croats to Republika Srpska, Ashdown said
that they were encountering difficulties along the way. He,
however, added that the position of Croats in Republika Srpska was
equally difficult as that of Serbs in the Federation of Bosnia-
Herzegovina.
Ashdown criticised the government of the Serb entity in Bosnia-
Herzegovina for insufficient cooperation and failure to meet its
commitments to the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
Asked when Bosnia-Herzegovina might become a sustainable state
ready to enter Euro-Atlantic institutions, Ashdown said that
depended on its inhabitants and how fast Bosnia-Herzegovina met
criteria for membership of NATO and the EU.
Bosnia-Herzegovina cannot get into Europe through the Office of the
High Representative. Those who think that Europe will adjust its
criteria to Bosnia-Herzegovina live on a cloud, the high
representative said.
(hina) vm sb