Izetbegović on Stanković's show: Čović tried to manipulate in Brussels

ZAGREB, (Patria) - Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bakir Izetbegović was a guest on the show "Nedjeljom u dva" hosted by Aleksandar Stanković.

Speaking about the meeting that the members of the BiH Presidency had in Brussels regarding the amendment of the Election Law in BiH, Izetbegović stated that it was "naive to expect that we would solve this problem with one meeting, if we haven't in the past 11 years.".

He pointed out that someone in Brussels spread the story that "we are striving for an Islamic state in BiH.".

- That was intended to undermine our position. Then, unfortunately, Mr. Dragan Čović, a member of the BiH Presidency, repeated it there - that the problem in BiH is the extreme Bosniak right wing that is causing problems and wants an Islamic republic in BiH. This is a serious manipulation intended to undermine the Bosniak position. This is a nation that follows European standards, wants peace in BiH and the Balkans, and has made so many compromises and endured so many blows - stated Izetbegović.

He added that it was an unfair and unwise statement from someone who expects strategic partnership and cooperation between Croats and Bosniaks.

- Because, Croats and Bosniaks in BiH still live mixed. About 60% of Croats in BiH live mixed with Bosniaks. Manipulations and unfair claims cannot lead to the relaxation of relations and to making steps towards each other.

Answering the question about the Election Law and the possibility of representatives of Croats in the Presidency of BiH and the House of Peoples of BiH being elected by Bosniak votes, Izetbegović said that this story is being exaggerated.

- The thesis is that out of 17 Croats in the House of Peoples of the Federation of BiH, Bosniaks intend to elect six Croats. A fuss has been made out of this. Out of 17 Croats, 14 are from HDZ and HDZ 1990. Then it is imputed to us that we intend something. We have never pretended to elect the Croatian member of the Presidency. On the contrary, we have tried to solve this problem together, said Izetbegović.

Izetbegović stated that there is no reason for relations between BiH and the Republic of Croatia not to be good.