Čović in the Vatican discussed with Pope Francis

At an audience in the Vatican on December 15, 2014, the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Croatian people, Dragan Čović, spoke with His Holiness Pope Francis and other officials, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

Čović and Pope Francis discussed the current situation in BiH, the circumstances and relations in BiH, socio-economic and economic problems, as well as the demographic situation, and issues of the position and care for young people and families as the foundation of every healthy and happy society.

In the context of discussing the circumstances and relations in BiH, particular attention was paid to the position of the Croatian people, as well as the implementation of the Fundamental Agreement between BiH and the Holy See.

Čović expressed gratitude to the Holy See for its constant concern for BiH as a state of equal peoples, and for all other support and assistance in the most difficult moments, including the recent natural disasters.

Čović invited His Holiness to visit BiH and conveyed greetings from BiH, especially greetings from the Croatian people. On this occasion, he presented His Holiness with a gift, a statue of Katarina Kosača-Kotromanić, by the author Florijan Mićković, prof. academician.

In the Vatican, Čović spoke with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin about BiH, its EU path, and the reform processes necessary for the establishment and construction of a legally regulated, secure, and stable state of equal peoples and citizens. Gratitude was expressed for the support the Holy See provides to BiH in building coexistence and equality of all peoples, as well as for supporting BiH on its European path.

Speaking about the integration processes of our country into the EU, Čović emphasized that the current constitutional solution is an obstacle to the reforms facing BiH authorities. The obligation and responsibility lie with domestic institutions.

In the discussion on the implementation of the Fundamental Agreement between BiH and the Holy See, the importance of implementing the Agreement for all peoples living in BiH was emphasized. Government institutions should ensure the implementation of the Agreement through legal regulations.

The discussion with Cardinal Parolin was attended by the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament, Borjana Krišto, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, Marinko Čavara. The BiH Ambassador to the Vatican, Slavica Karačić, also attended the meeting.