Komšić: I will consider how to again seek determination of the maritime border with Croatia

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - After the rotation of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I will seriously consider issuing a new set of conclusions, which will seek to resolve the open issue of determining the maritime border with the Republic of Croatia, in a way that uses Article III5/a of the Constitution of BiH, which clearly states that Bosnia and Herzegovina will assume all competencies related to the protection of state sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and international legal personality.

This was stated by the member of the Presidency of BiH, Željko Komšić, after the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, an entity in BiH, blocked the conclusion of the Presidency of BiH calling on Croatia to halt the construction of the Pelješac Bridge and to resolve all open issues between BiH and Croatia through dialogue.

Komšić will, according to the principle of rotation, assume the chairmanship of the Presidency of BiH on July 20.

"In that provision of the Constitution of BiH, it is clearly stated that in this regard, the entities have no jurisdiction in matters of sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and international legal personality of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The subject of international law is Bosnia and Herzegovina, because as a state it has its flag in front of the United Nations headquarters and only it can sign international agreements, which creates the legal basis for resolving the open issue of the maritime border with neighboring Croatia, and subsequently, free or unimpeded access to the open sea, on a clearly defined maritime corridor," Komšić stated, as reported by the Patria News Agency.

"Although I believe that yesterday's session of the NSRS was skillfully exploited and burdened with numerous manipulations and inaccuracies, such as the claim that a dispute is being initiated over the Pelješac Bridge, a simple reading of the contested conclusions of the Presidency of BiH shows that this country wants to exercise its rights regarding the protection of its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, in this specific case, concerning the undetermined maritime border. I will insist on resolving this issue in my capacity as Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, by not addressing other matters until this part concerning the resolution of the maritime border with neighboring Croatia is settled. Of course, by resolution I mean initiating talks with the authorities of the Republic of Croatia, and if someone refuses that, then Bosnia and Herzegovina will assert its rights before one of the international institutions," Komšić concluded.

The Presidency of BiH, at its session on Tuesday, adopted a conclusion with two votes in favor and one against, calling on Croatia to halt the construction of the Pelješac Bridge and to resolve all open issues through dialogue, as BiH has the right to access the open sea. If this does not happen, BiH will initiate a conciliation procedure, and if necessary, will initiate proceedings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Members of the Presidency Željko Komšić and Šefik Džaferović voted for such a conclusion, while the Chairman of the Presidency, Milorad Dodik, was against it. Dodik invoked the issue of vital national interest. Dodik was also supported on Thursday by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska with 60 votes.