In his response to an open letter which the bishops sent him yesterday, Tihic said he had never accused the church of ethnic cleansing or the emigration of Bosnian Croats.
He said he especially appreciated the position of Cardinal Vinko Puljic and bishop Franjo Komarica towards Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as what they had done not only for Croats but all other citizens.
"My statement refers to the responsibility of those who at that (war) time pursued the policy on behalf of Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Croatia. They did advocate the creation of ethnically cleansed territories through the so-called humane resettlement," Tihic said in the letter.
Commenting on claims that Catholic churches and other facilities were destroyed also in the Muslim-controlled parts of Bosnia-Herzegovina during the war, Tihic said this happened only in those parts of the country where war developments prevented efficient control.
Expressing regret over the misinterpretations of his previous statements, Tihic said he believed that
ensuring full equality for Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks was important for the future of Bosnia-Herzegovina and that attempts to claim the country exclusively for oneself would lead to its partition.