Bosnian Parliamentarians Continue Discussion on Pelješac Bridge

The House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, in the continuation of its session today, is reviewing the Report on activities related to the construction of the Pelješac Bridge, reports the Patria News Agency.

Nikola Lovrinović's presentation from HDZ BiH sounded as if he were speaking from the Croatian Parliament. He proposed a conclusion to provide information on the progress made in resolving the disputes regarding the construction of the Pelješac Bridge. He also stated that everything happening in Croatia is met with hostility in BiH, even what Croatia intends to do on its own territory.

Hanka Vajzović from DF emphasized that she expects some action to be taken and is not satisfied with the response from the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Salko Sokolović (NB) noted that the construction of the bridge at Svilaj, which is also on the agenda, is not being discussed.

- Regarding Pelješac, it is not a problem if the preceding issues are resolved. The problem, and what needs to be resolved, is to demand changes to the law from Croatia. The changes would allow ships to pass through their territorial waters - said Sokolović.

Sokolović also commented on the Svilaj bridge and the damages incurred by BiH.

- I see that the bridge has not been built, and I haven't heard anyone being held accountable for the damage caused by Strabag - said the NB representative.

Fehim Škaljić, an SBB representative, stated that disputes between neighbors can be resolved through dialogue. We all in BiH want to be part of integrations that will ensure perspectives and security. The problem arose because we haven't done enough work. Let's do it now. There will be a need to build elsewhere as well. Not building is a great loss anywhere. We need to ratify the border agreement. We have regulated it with Montenegro, and the ratification process with Serbia is accelerating. Here, I would like to particularly emphasize the importance of border security.

Damir Arnaut (SBB) pointed out that letters about the Pelješac Bridge are being written by HDZ and SDA, and that these letters are detrimental to BiH's international rating.

- Because while you are corresponding, you are not answering questions about why the Questionnaire has not been answered, etc. When it comes to the territory of Mali and Veliki Školj, Croatia has increasingly claimed these territories as its own. It remains for us to resolve these issues. Croatia cannot cut off the open sea from BiH. The Presidency of BiH has not dealt with this issue since 2010... The Bosniak member has done nothing. It is unclear why. The problem is that we have not defined the baseline starting lines. Without these lines, borders cannot be established, and we still haven't defined our normal and straight starting lines. We lack expertise. We in SBB were shocked by Minister Osmanović's threat, in which he stated that BiH would withdraw from the border agreement. We only signed the declaration after that sentence was deleted. We hope that Osmanović has also abandoned his letter. Alija Izetbegović and Franjo Tuđman signed it among 40 world leaders. And that was a factor of stability - said Arnaut.

Šefik Džaferović stated today that he feels the need to reiterate his position.

- Croatia and BiH must resolve this issue together with the help of the EU. Croatia and BiH are important to each other, but relations must be based on the principle of reciprocity and mutual respect. Croatia and BiH will have to resolve this issue by agreement. BiH has the right to access the open sea in accordance with international conventions. Croatia has the right to connect its land and territory. Positions are being sent from BiH stating that nothing is disputed, while we all know there are problems. I will not remain silent, which is why I sent letters, and they are based on official BiH positions - said Džaferović.

Senad Šepić (NB) said that everyone has the right to write letters, but he asked Džaferović why he doesn't hold accountable those who have done nothing.

- Why don't you ask why you don't blame those responsible in the Presidency of BiH. One must be fair and say that those who were incompetent and did nothing have brought us to this situation.

Sadik Ahmetović (NB) said he is afraid whether Croatia and the EU even know that BiH exists.

- The Presidency's decision is from 2007. I don't think letters are the way, neither from SDA nor HDZ. I know there were certain disconnections regarding the pie in Konjic, but try with a new pie - said Ahmetović.

Denis Bećirović (SDP BiH) said that before the construction of the Pelješac Bridge, the issue of borders should be resolved. He also does not see that anyone has questioned the necessity of establishing the legal regime and width of the future corridor that will connect BiH's territorial waters with the open sea.

- We, as the House of Representatives, can state that there is a legal dispute between BiH and Croatia. It would be good if we were all thoroughly informed about the ruling from The Hague regarding the dispute between Slovenia and Croatia. The case is not the same, but we must know everything. Everything should be resolved in the best possible way, and it is not impossible to reach an agreement that will satisfy both BiH and Croatia - said Bećirović.

Damir Bećirović (DF) said he doesn't know what's worse, the start of the session or this continuation. Or, as he says, the relationship between coalition partners, if there are any left at all.

Bećirović stated that Borjana Krišto spoke only about one side in her discussion.

- BiH's position was sent in 2007, signed by Nebojša Radmanović. You also mention the expert group's report, and it states that the BiH group did not have the mandate to discuss other issues because Croatia took the baseline from the former Yugoslavia, which does not provide for BiH's open sea, because Croatia has blocked BiH with its territorial waters. That is why the expert group only talked about harmless passage under the bridge.

Experts previously noted that the construction of the Pelješac Bridge would block Bosnia and Herzegovina's access to the open sea, thereby violating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea by Croatia.

The European Union has already allocated 357 million euros for the Pelješac Bridge project, but from an interview with European Commission spokesperson Johannes Bahrke for Večernji list, it can be inferred that Croatia had to reach an agreement with BiH regarding this project.