Dodik: Resolve the issue of BiH's border with Serbia and Croatia

(Patria) - Cooperation in Southeast Europe is not just a diplomatic phrase but a completely concrete and substantive activity, assessed the Chairman of the BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik at the opening of the plenary session of the heads of delegations of the countries of the Summit of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) held today in Jahorina.

He stated that many will assess that the situation in Southeast Europe is not what the participants of this process have wanted and strived to achieve in the last 20 years, adding that he himself would agree with such an assessment.

“We established this process 23 years ago with the aim of being a forum where we would solve problems or at least create conditions on which problems could be solved. If the process serves that purpose, let's use it and make it happen that we initiate and agree on some things today and here,” said Dodik, as reported by Dnevni avaz.

In his address, he further emphasized that the government in Bosnia and Herzegovina has not been formed for nine months, stating that he believes it will be done soon.

“We just need to implement what we agreed upon.”

“What about the external problems in BiH, the issues of borders with Serbia and Croatia are often mentioned. We have a stalemate there and almost nothing is happening,” said Dodik.

RTRS reports that Dodik proposed the formation of joint commissions of Serbia, Croatia, and BiH that would deal with all open issues, such as borders.

“I propose the formation of commissions that will deal with all common issues, such as the issue of the Neum Bay, and the issue of property that has been made unusable for BiH by decisions from Croatia,” said Dodik.

“We could implement the agreement that was already signed between BiH and Croatia in 1999. To form commissions that deal with these issues, especially the issue of the Neum Bay, but also property issues. All of this requires joint work to resolve these issues. States are sovereign in their territory but should not endanger another state,” said Dodik, specifically referring to the landfill in Trgovska gora, as reported by Nezavisne.

Dodik emphasized the need to continue regional cooperation, stating that this meeting is an opportunity to exchange views on the most important issues of the region, especially on the state of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

When it comes to the migrant crisis, Dodik reiterated that he is against sending the army to the border of BiH with Serbia and Montenegro.

The Chairman of the BiH Presidency called for the abolition of the taxes that the temporary institutions of Pristina have imposed on Serbia and BiH.