What is behind numerous accusations by Croatia: Renewal of Tudjman's crimes against BiH

By: Sead Omeragic

As soon as the world condemned the memorial plaque in Jasenovac, Croatian president, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has immediately shifted focus on BiH and Bosniaks, by stating that thousands of people from BiH who went to Syria battlefield, are now getting ready to return to BiH.

Unfortunately, when Croatian president directs unacceptable and wrong accusations at BiH, and when BiH politics keeps silent, the journalists are forced to react. However, the situation is far more serious when radical statement and unfounded accusations come from the highest state rank. The suspicion that ill intentions and dangerous strategy of the Croatian top levels are behind it, seems justified. That suspicion in their strategy has been confirmed by a series of radical statements and moves against BiH, from Prime Minister Plenkovic to the foreign minister Kovac. There was also an accusatory article by a journalist of Vecernji List, who cited non-existent SIPA report about alleged returnees from Syria. The journalist in question has in the past shown bias against Bosniaks, particularly those in the Islamic community of Croatia, accusing them of alleged terrorism.  

Just a few days ago, Grabar Kitarovic claimed that 'the small Islamic community of Croatia is fiercely and successfully fighting against radicalism and is at the forefront of the region'. And just a few days later, she repeated and exagarated the claims of the journalist who likes to write about BiH and Bosniaks.

Dragan Mektic, BH Security minister, was the only one who reacted with arguments to the accusations of journalists and Croatian president. Neither Izetbegovic nor Zvizdic and Bosniaks ministers at the state level should let Dragan Covic to negotiate tête-à-tête with the Croatian president. Covic had used the phrase 'endangered Croatian people' several times before he mentioned the name of his country which he would lead for 8 months after the rotation in presidency. Many believe that Croatian president says exactly what Covic serves to her as truth. What kind of interest does Covic represent in his discussions with Croatian president? So far he has proven to be more leader of HDZ than of BiH. In his communication with Zagreb, Covic is constantly 'nationally endangered'. He is so endangered that, in that despair, he became the owner of more real estate properties in the two countries than any Balkan tycoon possesses.

Therefore, what journalists fail to achieve in their communication with the public, and what even Dragan Covic is unable to do, the presidency member, Bakir Izetbegovic, should do.

If nothing else, Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic has revealed by way of her statements, that she is heavily influenced by the intelligence agencies. The problem is in that, she was the one to reveal intel.

I can't recall any European president taking for granted intelligence and directing it to another country in form of accusations. We can only speculate what is behind these unprincipled statements. The tragedy of the Bosniaks in the 1990s brought upon them by Tudjman's pro ustasha regime, from horrid closing of the borders which caused massive and fatal hunger, crimes, ethnic extermination from 'Croat ancient territories' – it is all revived today in Bosniaks' souls by way of these radical views and accusations by Croatian president.

What are the actual intentions, we do not know, although her statements join a long series of dangerous standpoints of other Croatian government officials. One of the biggest motives behind president's statements could well be a beginning of a brutal campaign for alteration of non-appealable judgement of the Hague Tribunal, which will be brought against Prlic's group in a year. Having said that, the verdict was accusatory not only for the military and political leadership of Herzeg-Bosnia, but also for Franjo Tudjman, the founder of HDZ and the first president of Croatia. If that is the case, this would be only a beginning of a brutal 12 month campaign and another series of unprincipled attacks on Bosniaks and BiH. As for our traditionally slow leaders, we hope a year should be enough to react.