Čović: There is a tendency to have a Bosniak entity in the territory of the Federation of BiH

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Dragan Čović, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and leader of the HDZ BiH, answered journalists' questions about his statements regarding an "Islamic state".

Journalists asked Čović who is turning BiH into an Islamic state?

- I don't know in what context you posed that question, but if you have recognized my words somewhere in any appearance, if it's a retelling of what someone said that I said somewhere, then I will ask you not to ask me such questions. In general, 99 percent of what someone says has nothing to do with reality.

In one of the conversations I had together with two other colleagues, and the last conversation was in Brussels with Mr. Daul, the president of the EPP, in a crowd of people we talked about the situation in BiH. And then we somewhat answered questions that needed to be clarified for Mr. Daul.

Before his arrival, we were supposed to offer him an answer to the solution of the problem we have. In that context, to one of the questions, I answered that I understand the concept of a civic arrangement of BiH, as some advocate in BiH.

But, since I know that there are also those who consciously see through that concept the organization of a unitary state, even from positions that it should ultimately be a state of the more numerous people, and here the more numerous people are Muslims, it is clear that some have tendencies to already today have a predominantly Bosniak entity from the territory of the Federation of BiH, whatever they say about it, and tomorrow to have a simple plan that completely deviates from what we publicly talk about and advocate when it comes to the European path, the character of BiH, multiculturalism. When I was saying that, I was very careful not to offend anyone, but I very clearly indicated how I see threats, just as someone else sees threats in BiH. In a completely different way and crudely exploited story about the caliphate, the Islamic state, which someone already wanted to extract from that to make a point - said Čović.

He confirmed that on February 28, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, will arrive in Sarajevo and that he will then hand over the answers to the EC Questionnaire.

"That day will be special and it should further strengthen the strategy on our European path," said Čović, as reported by N1.

Answering journalists' questions, he added that he had read the EC Strategy in detail and that everything is in the hands of the BiH authorities.

"The job is quite simple for us to start opening chapters. It will be a great help if we receive a positive assessment in the coming months," he stated.