"The Court has found that the statement by Bosniak members of the House of the Peoples of the Parliament of Bosnia-Herzegovina does not meet the provisions of Article IV/3f of the Constitution because these are not issues of vital importance to the interests of the Bosniak people in Bosnia-Herzegovina," the Constitutional Court said in its decision.
The agreement on assistance to former members of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) and their families was prevented from going into force by Muslim deputies two weeks ago.
The agreement, signed by Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and her Bosnian counterpart Barisa Colak in December 2005, provides for direct financial support from Croatia's state budget.
Explaining their opposition to the agreement, Bosniak deputies said it was discriminatory because it applied only to former HVO members with dual Bosnian and Croatian citizenship.
The Constitutional Court concluded that it was Croatia's indisputable right to decide to whom it wished to offer assistance and that there were no discriminating intentions or effects in that. It said that the Bosnian Parliament should continue and complete the ratification process.