Genjac: We oppose the construction of the Pelješac Bridge because Croatia violates international conventions

Regarding the announced construction of the Pelješac Bridge, the President of the SDA Main Board, Halid Genjac, held an extraordinary press conference, writes the Patria News Agency. 

Genjac emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina's stance is that the issue should be resolved by mutual agreement between the two countries, and that there has been sufficient time for this since 2007. However, if an agreement is not reached, BiH will be forced to seek its rights before relevant international courts. 

He stated that the official position of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adopted on October 17, 2007, is that BiH opposes any construction until the open issue related to the determination of the maritime border line between BiH and Croatia is resolved. 

Genjac stressed that representatives of ministries and various expert groups can discuss the matter, but no one has the right to sign any agreement related to the construction of the Pelješac Bridge without the consent of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Halid Genjac stated that claims that the bridge is being built on Croatian territory are untrue, because it is not Croatian territory but international waters. 

- The sea waters under the Pelješac Bridge are not Croatian or internal waters, but international waters extending from the territorial waters of BiH to the open sea. The construction of the bridge would block BiH's only maritime connection, turning BiH into a landlocked country, and by cutting off access to international waters, the country would be prevented from exercising its rights as a maritime state - Genjac stated. 

- Croatia is permanently misleading the public and the institutions of the UN and the EU, stating untrue claims that it has the consent of the BiH side and that it is building the bridge on its territory. Croatia treats the waters contrary to the UN conventions on the law of the sea. It is quite clear that BiH has the right to a connecting corridor - says Genjac. 

He also pointed out that the SDA will support all BiH institutions in building good mutual relations, but that relations are possible exclusively through respect for international conventions. 

- I want to point out that the SDA will inform all European parliamentarians about the mentioned facts in a prepared letter. We will ask them to review the European Commission's decision to allocate funds for the construction of the bridge. We understood this in time, when the European Commission's decision to allocate funds for the construction of the bridge was made. It was necessary to gather a lot of documentation. It is always better to react earlier, but it is not too late as long as the tender for construction has not been announced - said Halid Genjac.

Genjac concluded that the position of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the opposition to the construction of the Pelješac Bridge until the demarcation line is established is unanimous.