LAJCAK VISITED CROATIA

ZAGREB, Croatia (October 3,2007) – Croatia will fully support all the politicians in Bosnia in their efforts to come closer to the EU membership. This was stated by the Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, after a meeting with the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia,Miroslav Lajcak.

”We have several reasons to closely monitor the situation in Bosnia. The first reason is that we are neighbors and that Croats are a sovereign, constitutive and equal people in Bosnia. Secondly, Croatia is one of the signatories of the Dayton agreement and we are interested in Bosnia remaining the country of Croats as well”, Sanader said and added that Croatia will oppose every option which would make Croats lose the status of one of the constitutive peoples in Bosnia, for that could lead to emigration of Croats from Bosnia.

Sanader told the press he fully supported the efforts of the High Representative Miroslav Lajcak. “Efforts he makes are very important for the future of Bosnia,” senader said.

Sanader also added that the International Community has made the right move by nominating Miroslav Lajcak to the position of the High Representative to Bosnia.

”Mr. Lajcak is well-acquainted with this part of Europe. He knows the situation, history and all the political contexts”, the Croatian Prime Minister said and added that Croatia has been actively cooperating with the Bosnian state officials , the High Representative and with the Croat political parties in Bosnia.

”Croatian Government supports the Police Reform Protocol proposed by Miroslav Lajcak. We hope that everybody will accept it because it is a precondition for signing the SAA, which is the first step for Bosnia towards the EU membership”, Sanader said.

The International community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak told the press that he had spoken to the Croatian Prime Minister about the ways of making Bosnia a modern European country, which is already on the way to becoming a part of the European Union, as well as about “things Croatia can do as a country with a lot of positive experience and which has significantly progressed in the process”.

The two officials also talked about the need of creating conditions for all the three constitutive peoples in Bosnia to feel comfortable in Bosnia. They placed an emphasis on the position of Croatians living in Bosnia and the ways their position can be improved, for they are the smallest constitutive people in Bosnia, HINA agency reported.

”Croats in Bosnia need to feel good and they need to have a feeling that their voice is being heard. They need to have a feeling that their rights are protected”, the High Representative Lajcak said.

The Croatian Prime Minister Sanader also commented the Kresevo declaration and a possibility of federalization of Bosnia.

”I am of the opinion that the Declaration has some positive elements because it focuses on Bosnia as a multiethnic country. That is exceptionally important because there are many Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks all over Bosnia”, Sanader said and added that the Declaration is important because it focuses on a pro-European Bosnia.

”It is of the outmost importance that we have an authentic platform for negotiations on the future constitution of Bosnia. The platform is necessary because it will enable the country progress towards the EU integration. It is good that the Croat political parties came up with a platform which is legitimate and can be used as a base for further negotiations”, the High Representative Lajcak said.

Commenting the possibility of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "the RS" opening a foreign office in Zagreb, Sanader said: “it is certain that it cannot be and it will not be an embassy. The RS government is not the government of a sovereign country, and it can never become one”.

”It is an initiative we will consider from the international and legal aspect. It is a well-known fact that our municipalities have opened their residencies in Brussels, as well as tourist, trade and other similar residencies. Once we consider all the options, we will state our opinion on the matter”, Sanader said.

The International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak also met with the Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kolinda Grabar – Kitarovic.