GRADACAC, Sept 1 (Hina) - The highest state officials of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina said on Saturday the current quality of relations between the two countries was below the actual potential of the two countries and announced
additional measures with the aim of improving the cooperation in coming months.
GRADACAC, Sept 1 (Hina) - The highest state officials of Croatia and
Bosnia-Herzegovina said on Saturday the current quality of
relations between the two countries was below the actual potential
of the two countries and announced additional measures with the aim
of improving the cooperation in coming months. #L#
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency
members Beriz Belkic and Zivko Radisic and the President of the
Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Karlo Filipovic, agreed at a
working meeting in Gradacac, northern Bosnia, that the next meeting
of the two countries' council for cooperation should be held in
Zagreb in November.
"We expect the governments of both states and all executive
structures, which were entrusted with carrying out the conclusions
of the last session of the council, to carry out their duty," Belkic
told reporters after an hour-long meeting with the Croatian
president.
President Mesic said the bilateral cooperation was satisfactory to
some extent but by no means sufficient.
"Our economies are complementary and we have to improve our
cooperation, the more so as both sides are interested in it," Mesic
said. The Croatian president did not hide his dissatisfaction with
the fact that competent bodies of authority in the two countries
have not done what was expected of them, but refused to point the
finger at anyone.
Mesic is satisfied with the fact that Bosnia-Herzegovina recently
adopted an election law, thus demonstrating "the maturity of its
democracy."
"Bosnia-Herzegovina has demonstrated the efficiency of its
mechanisms, which can function also without the assistance of the
international community," he said, adding this gave the country the
opportunity to join European integration processes.
Commenting on the latest statements by a former member of the BH
Presidency, Ante Jelavic, who proposed the dismantling of the
Bosnian Serb entity, Mesic said that he personally believed it was
most important at the moment to fully implement the Dayton
agreement, after which the peoples in Bosnia should be let reach an
agreement on what to do next.
The situation in the region, particularly in Macedonia, was also
discussed at the meeting. BH Presidency member Beriz Belkic said
the Macedonian situation was affecting the situation in
neighbouring countries and the only solution to it was dialogue.
After the meeting with the Bosnian state officials, President Mesic
visited an international food and farming fair in Gradacac, where a
number of Croatian companies are exhibiting their products. The
Croatian president was warmly welcomed by local residents during a
walk through the town.
Mesic continues today's unofficial visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina
with a private visit to Srebrenik municipality. He returns to
Zagreb this evening.
(hina) rml