The European Commission and European Parliament rapporteur on Croatia Hannes Swoboda have applauded the speech given by Croatian President Ivo Josipovic in the Bosnian state parliament where he apologised for attempts by Croatia's policy in the 1990s to divide neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina.
We welcome statements by the Croatian president as a step towards building better relations in the region. The past of the western Balkan countries was difficult and painful. It is important to make it impossible for the past to hamper the progress towards the joint future in the European Union, said Angela Filote, the spokeswoman for the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Stefan Fuele, on Wednesday.
Asked by Hina to comment on Josipovic's speech in Sarajevo, she said that Josipovic's statement was important not only for relations between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia but also for relations in the entire region.
Welcoming Josipovic's address in the Bosnian parliament, Swoboda expressed hope Serbia would join in Croatia's position towards Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Josipovic's speech gives a clear signal that Croatia is interested in seeing a strong and stable Bosnia-Herzegovina with the entities in which all the three peoples -- Croats, Bosniaks and Serbs -- enjoy respect, the Austrian Socialist MEP said calling on Serbian politicians to follow Josipovic's example and to unequivocally state that they are also in favour of a stable Bosnia-Herzegovina.
"I deeply regret that the Republic of Croatia contributed to it (Bosnia's division) with its policy in the 1990s. I am deeply sorry that this policy contributed to the suffering of people and to the divisions which still affect us," the Croatian head of state said in the Bosnian bicameral parliament on Wednesday.
