Croatian Foreign Minister criticized last week's conference in Sarajevo and announced the continuation of a diplomatic offensive toward the EU and the US for changes to the election law ahead of October elections.
Croatia has no intention of giving up its demands for the full equality of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said on Monday. On the sidelines of the 'Blatničke note dobrote' event near Mostar, the minister commented on the current political situation ahead of the general elections in BiH, scheduled for early October 2026.
Grlić Radman expressed regret that last week's conference in Sarajevo, organized by Bosnia and Herzegovina's Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković, did not open a discussion on electoral reform. The gathering was convened in response to the Croatian Parliament's Resolution on strengthening the position of Croats, but according to the Croatian minister, it did not have the character of a true international conference.
"It was organized by Konaković and his party, and there were no representatives of other constituent peoples among the participants," said Grlić Radman. Konaković, who is also the leader of the People and Justice party, claimed on that occasion that Bosniaks are underrepresented in state institutions, while Croats hold more positions than they are entitled to.
The minister emphasized that the Sarajevo conference was a missed opportunity to address the key issue. "It is a pity that this opportunity was missed because over all these years, work should have been done on amending the Election Law to remove all discrimination in the electoral process," Grlić Radman stated.
He also commented on the proposal for a Croatian electoral unit, which is often perceived as controversial. "Any mention of a Croatian electoral unit should not be seen as heresy that could eventually lead to the disintegration of Bosnia and Herzegovina," he stressed, recalling that the Dayton Agreement is an instrument for ensuring the equality of the three constituent peoples.
The Croatian Parliament, through its resolution, demanded that the political and electoral system in BiH be changed so that each constituent people can elect their true representatives. Among the supported options is a special electoral district for electing the Croatian member of the BiH Presidency. The Parliament also criticized election manipulation and voting against Croats, and called on the Croatian Government to use political, legal, and diplomatic tools to protect their equality.
Grlić Radman paid special attention to the upcoming elections and the candidacy of Slaven Kovačević for the Croatian member of the BiH Presidency. Kovačević is a member of the Democratic Front, the party led by Željko Komšić, who has been predominantly elected by Bosniak voters on four occasions.
"Mr. Kovačević promotes the unitarist goals of Željko Komšić's political party, the restructuring of BiH's constitutional framework, and the elimination of the principle of constituent peoples, thereby endangering peace in BiH," the minister said.
Grlić Radman announced that Zagreb will continue intensive talks with international partners on the position of Croats and the necessary changes to BiH's constitutional and electoral framework.
"We will continue to talk with actors in the European Union and the United States about the need for limited constitutional changes, and of course, amendments to the Election Law, so that Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina can realize their rights. Rest assured, we will not tire," he said.
In conclusion, he emphasized that official Zagreb expects that a final agreement will ultimately be reached by political leaders in BiH, and that Croatia will support any proposal devised by legitimate Croatian representatives in that country.
