Zvizdić: If the issue of the Pelješac Bridge cannot be resolved peacefully, Bosnia and Herzegovina will defend its interests

We have postponed the topic of the Pelješkog mosta for the next session because Minister Jusko did not attend today's session, said Prime Minister Denis Zvizdić, adding that he hopes the issue of the Pelješkog mosta will be resolved between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia on the basis of good neighborly relations.

In recent weeks, Bosnia and Croatia have been in dispute over the construction of the Pelješkog mosta in the Mali Ston Bay, whose construction is announced by Croatia, and which would connect the Dubrovnik-Neretva County by land with the rest of Croatia.

The bridge would bring certain benefits to Croatia, but it would definitively block Bosnia and Herzegovina's access to the open sea. This would be a violation of international conventions, to which official Zagreb is also committed. According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, no one has the right to close another country's right of access to the open sea.

„The issue of the Pelješkog mosta should be viewed on the principle of the bigger picture. It is about connecting a corridor with the international sea, and that is the primary interest of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I believe that this issue should be resolved on the basis of good neighborly relations, on the basis of mutual respect and respect for international law. This means that certain steps should be taken by both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Knowing Mr. Plenković, he is a well-intentioned person and I believe a solution will be reached soon," said Zvizdić in a show on N1 and added:

"We will try to resolve the issue of the Pelješkog mosta on the basis of good neighborly relations, and if that is not possible, then it means that the construction of such a bridge would violate international law and Bosnia and Herzegovina will have to defend its interests. I believe that this issue and the issue of the Port of Ploče can be resolved in parallel with the understanding of Croatia," added Zvizdić, as reported by the Patria agency.