In response to questions from the press after Croatia and the European Union signed the joint memorandum on social inclusion, PM Sanader commented on the position of Bosnia-Herzegovina's politicians that their country had built the southern Croatian seaport of Ploce.
This is correct as much as it is correct to say that all who used Ploce Port built it, as the seaport was built with money it earned, Sanader countered.
"Speaking more seriously, it should be said that the cancellation of the agreement on special relations between Croatia and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2001 meant that the agreements on Ploce Port and on unimpeded passage through Neum, which had not been signed, were no longer in place," Sanader said.
But, Croatia would like to offer Bosnia-Herzegovina whose companies are major clients of Ploce Port the status of the most privileged country, the Croatian premier said mentioning the example of the German Port of Hamburg that gave several countries such status.
According to him, the Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Tourism and Transport has already drawn up a blueprint of this proposal.
In relation to Croatia's plans to build a bridge connecting the peninsula of Peljesac connecting the southernmost Croatian areas with the rest of the mainland, Sanader said Croatia would certainly build it, taking care about the two things: Croatia's right to link parts of its territory and Bosnia's right to have an unimpeded exit to the sea off Neum.
The bridge would connect the southernmost part of Croatia, which is cut off from the rest of the country at Neum, where neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina has a narrow outlet to the Adriatic Sea.
As regards the issue of the islets Veliki Skoj and Mali Skoj near Neum, Sanader portrayed it as the third outstanding issue.
It is indisputable that there was agreement which former Presidents, Franjo Tudjman (of Croatia) and Alija Izetbegovic (of Bosnia-Herzegovina) had reached, but this agreement has never been ratified, Sanader said in the context of the outlets' issue.
In the meantime, some new pieces of evidence appeared confirming that those islets belong to Croatia which is why it is necessary to continue talks on the matter, the Croatian official added.
"Anyway, these outstanding issues cannot overshadow good relations between Croatia and Bosnia, and I am sure that we shall succeed in reaching solutions by joint efforts, said the Croatian Prime Minister, who is expected to pay an official visit to Sarajevo soon, but the exact date of his trip has not yet been fixed .