Izetbegović discusses Pelješac Bridge with Wigemark

Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bakir Izetbegović received the head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH Lars-Gunnar Wigemark. Izetbegović informed Wigemark about the facts related to the current issues in the relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, as well as the previously adopted positions of BiH institutions regarding the construction of the Pelješac Bridge, Patria agency reports. 

He emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina's goal is not to prevent Croatia from connecting its territories, but to protect its own interests and realize its right to access the open sea, which as a maritime state belongs to it under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

He stressed that the realization of this right, as well as Croatia's right to connect its territories, implies the prior resolution of the maritime border issue between the two countries, reminding that this is also the official position of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2007, of which Croatia was officially informed and which has not been changed.

Izetbegović noted to Wigemark that in the process of approving funds to Croatia for the construction of the Pelješac Bridge, the European Commission's pre-feasibility study provided for an agreement between the two states to be reached through EU mediation, in order to avoid a potential problem and prevent Croatia from violating international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Unfortunately, this position was ignored. Likewise, the official positions of the Presidency of BiH and other BiH institutions were ignored, and the European Commission approved funds to Croatia without any official consultations with BiH. 

Izetbegović expressed the expectation that the EU institutions will initiate mediation between BiH and Croatia as soon as possible, in order to resolve this issue by agreement, in the interest of both countries, but also of the EU itself.