Balkans | Croatia responds to the European Union’s refusal to send troops to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Croatian President Zoran Milanović stated that the EU rejected the demands of Croatian soldiers to take part in the EU peacekeeping force mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was unacceptable.

Milanovic said in his statement that the refusal was conveyed to Foreign Minister Jordan Grellik-Radman by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Relations and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

Milanovic stressed that the refusal of the application to participate in the mission is unacceptable and described the EU’s refusal as “cheeky, shameful, manipulative and mendacious”.

President Milanovic stated that the response to the “justified” request of an EU member state would be analysed.

Meanwhile, the Croatian member of the Presidency Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zeljko Komsić, and Foreign Minister Becira Turković, known for their moderate policies, opposed Croatia’s request to send troops to EUFOR.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a party to the war that took place in the country in 1992-1995, expressed the opinion that Croatia should not have soldiers on a peace mission in the country.

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