ZAGREB, October 11, 2019 - Over 80 percent of Croatia's development aid last year was directed at Southeast Europe, primarily Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Croatian parliament heard on Thursday during the presentation of the report on Croatian development aid to foreign countries in 2017 and 2018.

Croatia's official development aid amounted to 355.26 million kuna in 2017 and 452.63 million kuna in 2018, with multilateral aid accounting for 72 percent, bilateral aid for 23 percent and humanitarian aid for 5 percent, Zdravka Bušić, state secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, reported.

Two-thirds of the funds were contributed to the general EU budget for development, and of the remaining funds, the bulk was directed into Southeast Europe and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bušić said.

Of multilateral contributions, she cited 600,000 euro contributed in the last two years to the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa, and 50,000 dollars contributed in 2018 to the World Food Programme for famine relief in Yemen.

Bušić said that Croatia was currently allocating 0.1 percent of Gross National Income for aid and the target for new EU member states is 0.33 percent.

Davor Ivo Stier of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said that the bulk of development aid was directed at Bosnia and Herzegovina because the situation there had a direct impact on Croatia's national security. "This is a single geostrategic area where energy, transport and economic connections are necessary," he said.

Stier said that more should be done to help Croats living in Venezuela to return to Croatia.

Joško Klisović of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said that development aid was not a waste of money but an instrument to achieve national interests. That's why, he said, it was necessary to define more clearly which interests and goals Croatia wished to accomplish by providing development aid.

Vesna Pusić of the Civic Liberal Alliance (GLAS) said that the report showed that official development aid was slowly diminishing because of the 504 projects only 12-15 concerned development aid, while the rest related to support to Croats abroad, mostly those in Southeast Europe and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"For example, 40 million kuna paid to drug wholesalers for debts, that's not development aid, but aid to the budget. It can be interpreted as aid to the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that's not development aid," Pusić said and added that that's why GLAS would not support the report.

More news about foreign policy can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, September 7, 2019 - A total 89 agreements on financial support, in the amount of 26 million kuna (3.5 million euro), for projected important for the Croat people in Bosnia and Herzegovina were signed in the village of Tolisa near the northern Bosnian town of Orašje on Friday evening.

The contracts confirm the continuity, systematic approach and consistency of Croatia's policy towards the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina and good neighbourly support which Zagreb offers to Bosnia and Herzegovina, said Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who attended the agreement-signing ceremonies in the Franciscan Monastery, the landmark of the village of Tolisa.

We have come here with the wish to arrange our relations in a quality manner and with our wish to settle our outstanding issues, and to show through the support to the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina also our care for the rights of the Croats, he added.

Plenković recalled that earlier in the day his cabinet also approved a grant of 600,000 kuna for the Catholic school centre in Bihac.

Thanking for the support and financial assistance, the Bosnian Croat leader Dragan Ćović of the Croatian Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) said that the support had to date been given by Croatia for thousands of projects essential for the end users and institutions that had implemented them.

During his stay in Orašje, Plenković, accompanied by Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman and other officials, also met with representatives of the local authorities in Posavina Canton.

More news about Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found in the Diaspora section.

ZAGREB, August 30, 2019 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Friday received Dragan Čović, deputy chair of the Bosnian parliament's House of Peoples and president of the Croatian National Assembly (HNS) and the HDZ BiH party, and they agreed that the EU and NATO were Bosnia and Herzegovina's future.

The two officials discussed the political situation in BiH and Croatia as well as future economic cooperation between the two countries, the government said in a press release.

Čović said HNS officials were strong advocates of BiH's EU and NATO accession, and that it was imperative to finish government formation in BiH at all levels as soon as possible.

Plenković said the Croatian government strongly pushed for BiH to join the EU and NATO as soon as possible as necessary for its stability, peace and economic development. He added that Croatia, as an EU and NATO member, would help BiH in the process.

He also said that in drawing up common policies in BiH, it was important to respect all the rights and interests of its three constituent peoples.

More news about relations between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, July 13, 2019 - The Croatian government, a minority stakeholder in the Mostar-based Aluminij smelting plant, has announced consultations with the company's management and the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Federation over the debt-ridden smelter and considers that it is necessary to thoroughly change its current business model to make the company successful.

The Croatian government has a 12% stake in the plant, while Bosnia's Bosniak-Croat Federation entity is the biggest single shareholder with a 44% stake, and small shareholders hold the remaining 44%.

The Andrej Plenković cabinet today issued a press release to express its concern over the latest developments in Aluminij, which was disconnected from the power grid a few days ago over debts incurred because of high electricity and alumina prices, and the consequent discontinuation of production in the night between 9 and 10 July.

The Croatian government "expresses concern and regret at such developments in a company of strategic importance for the Croat people in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for the economic development of the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina".

Being a minority stakeholder, the Croatian government believes that market and economically justified and competitive production in Aluminij can be accomplished only by the thorough change of the current business model of Aluminij in line with the best European business practices. For that change to be made, the support of the Federation's government is needed.

The company's management has announced filing for bankruptcy.

The Croatian government's representatives are going to hold consultations before the next stakeholders' assembly with the Bosnian Federation's authorities and the Aluminij management so as to consider possible solutions for the company's challenges.

On Thursday, hundreds of disgruntled employees of Aluminij took to the streets in Mostar to protest against the closing of the plant.

Also on Thursday, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović expressed concern over the fate of 900 workers at the Aluminij smelting plant in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and due to the escalation of the problems at that strategically important company, she requested an opinion from the Croatian government.

Aluminij is the largest company in Herzegovina with about 900 workers and a turnover of approximately 163 million euro. It was founded in 1981 and stopped operating during the 1992-1995 war. After the war it was reconstructed with the assistance of the Croatian government in 1997. Croatia owns a 12% share in the company, the government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity holds 44% of its shares and workers hold the remaining 44%.

More diaspora news can be found in the dedicated section.

ZAGREB, July 2, 2019 - A member of parliament, former minister of the interior and leader of the recently established New Politics party, Vlaho Orepić, has said that Croatia's attitude to Bosnia and Herzegovina, notably the interests of Croats in that country, had to change as it had become evident that the situation could not be changed for the better only through cooperation with the HDZ BiH party.

Orepić, who used to be minister of the interior nominated by the Bridge party, told the Bosnia and Herzegovina new agency Patria on Tuesday that he was concerned about the conduct of HDZ BiH leader Dragan Ćović and described his policy as detrimental to Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Croatia's interests.

"His policy lacks legality and legitimacy in the Croat electorate in Bosnia and Herzegovina... it is a policy that tries to present, based on the model used by Milorad Dodik, the policy of war booty as a Croatian interest... many in Herzegovina, even successful business people are afraid and depend on his policy. The Croatian government, too, is afraid to rub him the wrong way because he is part of the ruling majority and is using political blackmail in the parliament to secure its support," said Orepić.

He noted that Ćović's drawing closer to Bosnian Serb leader Dodik, who, he said, openly questioned Bosnia and Herzegovina's territorial integrity and NATO membership bid, was entirely opposed to Croatia's strategic interests.

"Ćović and his political exhibitionism are the most important reason why relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia are bad," Orepić said, adding that that policy should be replaced with one based on principles of trust and responsibility and that it could be articulated by other political parties that would represent the interests of all Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including his New Politics party.

More news about relations between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, May 11, 2019 - The authorities of the Republika Srpska (RS), the Serb entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will earmark additional funds to complete the reconstruction of 456 family homes for ethnic Croats, it was said on Friday after a meeting of Croat representatives and the newly appointed director of the secretariat for displaced persons and migration.

A press release issued after the meeting in Banja Luka says that the director of the secretariat for displaced persons and migration, Dragan Štrbac, informed RS Vice President Josip Jerković (HDZ BiH) of several projects earmarked for Croat displaced persons.

Štrbac said that the secretariat was continuing the work of the Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Persons. He explained that permanent housing would be provided for a total of 456 Croat families within the framework of a regional housing programme. He added that Croat families would also be taken care of through other projects that were being financed by international donors as well as from the budget.

According to the press release, Jerković expressed his satisfaction with the projects that the secretariat was implementing as well as with activities conducted in previous years by the ministry for refugees and displaced persons. According to Jerković, the repatriation of Croat families is as important as reconstructing infrastructure in the towns they are returning to, as well as providing support for projects of sustainable repatriation.

More news about the status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, May 9, 2019 - High Representative Valentin Inzko addressed the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday and presented his regular six-month report on the status of peace implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, covering the period from 16 October 2018 through 15 April 2019.

In his address, Inzko warned about separatist statements from some Republika Srpska politicians, and about the fact that the main Croat parties persistently rejected the judgments of international courts concerning their wartime leadership and sought to resuscitate the structures of that period’s para-state (Herceg Bosna).

"Seven months after the General Elections, the process of building coalitions and appointing governments continues to dominate BiH’s political dynamics. While Republika Srpska and most FBiH cantons have moved swiftly to form governments, regrettably, there has been no appointment of a new Council of Ministers or the FBiH Government,” said the High Representative.

At the beginning of his address, the High Representative highlighted a recent issue that has raised tensions – Republika Srpska’s legislative move to create a reserve police force. This has raised concerns in the Federation entity, where a competent parliamentary committee has said it would do the same.

"The current political discourse related to the reserve police forces in the entities, which started with the unilateral step taken by the RS on this issue, does not contribute to peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the contrary, it has generated a negative spiral of mistrust and competition. Instead, the authorities at all levels should work towards better cooperation in order to maximize public security and a safe and secure environment. Immigration, refugee and asylum policy are the constitutional responsibility of state institutions and their capacity should be reinforced. This would be an appropriate example of better cooperation," the High Representative told the UNSC in New York.

Regrettably, divisive and destabilizing rhetoric, sometimes from the very same leaders who profess a commitment to the country’s EU path, remained a prominent feature throughout the reporting period, he said.

"In addition to separatist statements from some RS politicians, the main Croat parties persistently rejected the judgments of international courts concerning their wartime leadership and sought to resuscitate the structures of that period’s para-state. Also, earlier in the year, the largest Bosniak party announced its intention to launch an initiative to challenge the name of Republika Srpska, which predictably led to further threats of secession." In this context, the High Representative stressed that “the Constitution of BiH recognises that Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of two entities, the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska."

Lack of commitment to the rule of law also remains a serious problem in BiH. In addition, the High Representative pointed out that several FBiH cantons still have not met their longstanding obligation to ensure the full equality of Serbs, while the RS authorities are still disrespecting verdicts concerning the registration of defence property and the "9th January" RS Day.

In conclusion, the High Representative implored BiH’s political leaders to abandon irresponsible rhetoric and take strides to keep the country moving forward on the EU path.

More news about status of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found in the Diaspora section.

ZAGREB, April 27, 2019 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in Mostar on Saturday that Croatia would continue strongly supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina on its European journey, which also includes making it possible for the Croats to have the equal status as the other two constitutional peoples.

"We as the party (the Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ) and as the government strongly support Bosnia and Herzegovina's European journey. We know that the HDZ BiH plays a prominent role in that, " Plenković told reporters in the southern city of Mostar ahead of the HDZ BiH's election convention.

According to Plenković's explanation this support can be seen in the HDZ decision to nominate Željana Zovko, native of Mostar, as one of the 12 HDZ candidates for the forthcoming European Parliament elections.

Zovko is one of the 11 Croatian deputies in the incumbent 751-seat European Parliament, and succeeded Plenković to this post after he became the Prime Minister of Croatia.

Plenković praised Zovko, who holds Croatian and Bosnian citizenship and who used to be Bosnian ambassador to a few countries, as an excellent option for promoting the interests of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Plenković commented on the HDZ BiH's role in bringing Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to Europe, recalling that when he was the chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina's tripartite presidency, the party leader Dragan Čović submitted his country's application for EU membership in Brussels on 15 February 2016.

Čović told the press conference that during today's convention his party would "extend the hand of unity" to the Serbs and the Bosniaks so that they could together steer the country towards the European Union.

More news about relations between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, April 15, 2019 - Projects and programmes that are considered important for Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be financially supported by the Croatian government, which has decided to set aside 25.8 million kuna for that purpose in 2019, or 1.8 million more than in 2018.

"Caring for Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a constituent and equal people, and our responsible policy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a neighbouring, friendly and sovereign country, are evident through our support to programmes and projects that are important for the Croat people," Zvonko Milas, head of the State Office for Croats Abroad, said at a government meeting in Zagreb on Monday.

This year, the Croatian government is setting aside 25.8 million kuna to help the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is a 7.5% rise compared to 2018.

The government has set up a task force to coordinate and finance cultural, educational, scientific and healthcare programmes designed to help the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said that the projects of that kind facilitated efforts aimed at protecting the identity of the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina as an equal and constituent people.

The government sent to the parliament a bill redefining the role and importance of the Police Academy.

More news about Croatians in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found in the Diaspora section.

ZAGREB, March 24, 2019 - Croats are the oldest constituent people in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and one of the pillars of the modern Croatian state, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said on Saturday at Open Day for Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina in her office.

"You are not guests, newcomers or an ethnic minority in BiH but its oldest constituent people which wants nothing more than peace and equality as the other two peoples in the common homeland of BiH," she said, adding that BiH is not a state of one but three constituent peoples, which has been "a fact in BiH for decades and centuries."

This fact "guarantees your constitutional rights and we have the duty to defend, interpret and promote that fact," she said. "That is the threshold of your constitutionality and equality, and there is no retreating from that threshold. Together with you on that threshold stands Croatia."

Grabar-Kitarović said Croats in BiH had the right to elect political representatives who would "legitimately represent them at all government levels," as well as the right to ethnic, cultural, educational and media institutions and the right to the equal use of the Croatian language. In demanding those rights, Croats demand "nothing more than others" and that is the best way to preserve BiH as a state and that is how European values are built into BiH, she added.

She went on to say that BiH Croats, along with their "fellowmen and all patriots in Croatia" and expatriates, "are one the pillars of the modern Croatian state and our victory in the Homeland War."

The president said her meeting with Croats from BiH was "an expression of the continuity of the policy of building national unity" as set out by Croatia's first president, Franjo Tuđman. "Not just you Croats who live in BiH as its native people, but also Croats who emigrated from BiH as well as those who emigrated from Croatia are part of the indivisible Croatian being."

She called for the establishment of mechanisms for connecting Croats in Croatia, BiH and abroad so as to make it possible to put all "national resources to use for demographic renewal and survival in our homelands, the boosting of our economy, and political and cultural recognition in the world."

"That's the goal of my policy, Croatian unity and a strong Croatia which will be also your safe support and a good neighbour," Grabar-Kitarovic said.

BiH is the Croatian people's second homeland and Croats have been present in BiH more than a thousand years as well as "having done everything for the survival of BiH as a state," she added.

The president said Croatia had made "the biggest possible political and military contribution" to BiH's defence and survival, and that BiH Croats voted for BiH's independence at a 1992 referendum and agreed to the creation of the Federation entity to contribute to "cooperation, peace and trust."

She said Croatia had provided for hundreds of thousands of displaced persons from BiH during the 1990s war, "without looking at their faith or ethnicity", and that it had facilitated humanitarian aid and "the armament of all defence forces." Some in BiH forget or suppress that, she added.

Grabar-Kitarović pushed for more intensive accession negotiations between the EU and BiH, provided that Croats are an equal people. The EU needs BiH and its accession would be of great political, cultural and security value, she said.

The EU and other influential international stakeholders "will make a big mistake with unforeseen consequences" if they do not back BiH's European journey, she added. "The journey isn't simple, but we want to and are willing to help, and you Croats in BiH are the guarantee that the end goal can be achieved."

Banja Luka bishop Franjo Komarica told Hina that only a few Croats remained in the Bosnian Serb entity and called on Croatia's state leadership to help those wishing to stay and those wishing to return there. Four thousand families wish to return, he said.

More news about Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found in the Diaspora section.