When asked by journalists, Plenković commented on the vote in the House of Peoples of BiH Parliamentary Assembly, where Croat MPs were against or abstained regarding the initiative of the opposition SDP BiH MP Denis Bećirović to condemn Russia's aggression against Ukraine and to bring BiH in line with EU sanctions against Russia.
"One of the MPs from the opposition SDP BiH wanted to position himself as the main initiator of the policy at the BiH level on how to harmonize with the EU sanctions regime against Russia. This is something that is not common under normal circumstances. If it was in the Croatian Parliament, it would be proposed by the government, the HDZ club, the parliamentary majority", said Plenković, emphasizing that "even the most blind can see that they are trying to put them (Croats) in a corner, that they are somewhat pro-Russian".
He added that he would not comply if someone from the opposition dictated the key political pace of the main topics in the Parliament.
The European Council, comprised of leaders of 27 member states, on Friday reaffirmed the Strategic Compass, a document on the EU's defense vision for the next few years, which explicitly mentions Croatia's insistence on the equality of BiH's constituent peoples. At Plenković's initiative, a discussion was held at the European Council and conclusions were adopted calling on BiH leaders to complete electoral and constitutional reform.
"The European Council discussed the long political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The European Union reiterates its commitment to the European perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans. BiH leaders need to show strong determination to urgently complete constitutional and electoral reform, which is key to the country's stability and full functioning, as well as to support all other priorities of the European Commission's Opinion on candidate status. The European Union stands ready to continue its high-level engagement in this regard", the conclusions said.
After adopting these conclusions, Plenković told reporters that this was a constructive contribution from a friendly and well-meaning country that shares a thousand kilometers of common border with BiH.
Asked to comment on the fact that some countries, such as the Netherlands and Germany, said they did not agree with the concept of constituent peoples, Plenković said they might like it or not, but that it was the foundation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"We say things as they are. It is not our task to be impressed by someone who would like to see something that there is not", said Plenković.
He reminded the newer generations of European politicians do not know well what was happening in BiH in the 1990s and that they get second-hand informations about it.
He explained that BiH is based on the concept of one state, two entities and three constituent peoples, and that he seeks to relax relations between Croats and Bosniaks, restore trust, partnership and alliance.
"The (electoral reform, author's note) agreement needs to be reached and it must be fair, it cannot remain on what it is now, so that Croats have the feeling that they are marginalized, that other constituent people in the Federation of BiH elect their representatives", Plenković concluded.
Dnevnik.ba