U.S. Ambassador to Croatia James Foley said in the southern Bosnian town of Mostar on Tuesday that Bosnian Croats would benefit the most from Croatia's EU entry, adding there were no reasons for their concern.
There are no reasons for the concern of Bosnian Croats about Croatia's joining the bloc, because Croatia will be able to advocate Bosnia's admission and help the country become a full EU member, Foley told the press in Mostar where he, together with U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia Patrick Moon, held talks with the president of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HDZ BiH), Dragan Covic, and vice president of the HDZ 1990 party Martin Raguz.
Foley said that Croatia's EU admission was excellent news, and also a strategic objective of the United States.
Croatia is pushing for the integration of its neighbours, notably Bosnia and Herzegovina, into the European Union, but only if Bosnia is already on this path. Otherwise, Croatia's support would be significantly reduced, the Foley said.
Moon called on local politicians, who are scheduled to meet in Sarajevo on Thursday, to reach an agreement about forming the state government 13 1/2 months after the election.
The main disputes about forming the state government are related to the representation of Croats in the Council of Ministers. Croat parties, backed by the leading Bosnian Serb parties SNSD and SDS, insist that they should fill all three positions. However, the predominantly Bosniak SDP party insists on appointing one Croat minister, three Bosniak ministers and one representative of minorities to the state government.
