prijava
SARAJEVO, August 2 (FENA) - BiH Presidency Chairman Šefik Džaferović called on Croatian President Zoran Milanović to seriously consider all possible implications and refrain from presenting decorations to Zlatan Mijo Jelić, indicted for war crimes in Mostar and a fugitive from justice.
"Apart from being an uncivilized act contrary to European values, it would certainly have a negative impact on the relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Our countries are directed towards each other and building of good relations is indicated as an urgent need," said Džaferović.
In his statement, he emphasizes that after the presidential elections in Croatia, he expected to finally start resolving the accumulated open issues between the two countries.
"I must state with regret that this did not happen. On the contrary, the latest moves by the Croatian authorities are creating new open questions. The latest examples are the discriminatory and insulting decision to ban BiH citizens to enter Croatia due to the coronavirus pandemic, the illegal deforestation of Mount Plješevica and the announcement of awarding the decorations to a person accused of serious crimes in Mostar," Džaferović said.
The Chairman of the Presidency of BiH pointed out that he is obliged to warn that if this practice continues, relations will inevitably deteriorate, with all possible consequences, and that Croatia will be responsible for that.
"We ask our neighbors to respect us as much as we respect them. We will not allow anyone to insult and humiliate us," Džaferović concluded.
Jelić and the wartime commanders of four Croatian Defence Council (HVO) brigades that fought in operations to liberate Serb-occupied areas of Croatia during the 1991-1995 war are expected to receive medals from President Milanović at a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of Operation Storm.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina indicted Jelić in 2016 for war crimes in the Mostar area, after which he fled to Croatia.
In 2019, the Court of BiH, considering that Jelić was not available to the BiH judiciary, made a decision to transfer the case to Croatia and the procedure is still ongoing.
(FENA) A. B.
