The small islands of Veliki Skolj and Mali Skolj in the Bay of Neum should belong to Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Croatia should be allowed to connect its territory in an appropriate way, Bosnian Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija said on Monday in a comment on ongoing talks between the two countries on this matter.
Lagumdzija was quoted by the Sarajevo daily Dnevni Avaz as saying that it was confirmed at his meeting with Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusic at the weekend that Croatia must have some sort of communication between the two parts of its territory that are cut off at Neum, but that a solution to the problem should not encroach upon the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"That means that the two islands should belong to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but there is no reason for Croatia not to be appropriately connected," Lagumdzija said.
He added that it was certain that one day Croatia would have an interest in building a bridge to connect its Peljesac peninsula with the rest of the country for tourist and strategic reasons, and that it was important for Bosnia and Herzegovina that the bridge be built in accordance with international law and the law of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Lagumdzija ruled out the possibility of the two countries trading the two islands and the tip of the Klek peninsula for the Peljesac bridge. He said that his country's main interest was to gain access to the Croatian port of Ploce.
Lagumdzija confirmed that a meeting would be held with European Commission officials in Brussels on September 19 to discuss possible ways of dealing with the outstanding issues with Croatia in transport, health and the border regime.
"We should do our best for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, as two good neighbours and friendly countries, to try and find the best common ground that will be in common interest and to ensure that it is in line with EU standards. After that we will ask the EU for support," Lagumdzija said.
