“On time, I was the first to warn, clearly, before the vote was taken in the parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina, that it was unacceptable for the gas pipeline not to be under the control of Croats. The gas pipeline that passes by the majority Croatian territory is a very important strategic issue for the Republic of Croatia and the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, said Selak Raspudi; at the press conference in Mostar.
She previously visited Ljubuški and Međugorje as part of her presidential campaign.
Selak Raspudić accused her opponents Zoran Milanovic and Dragan Primorc of keeping silent about the violation of Croat rights.
“Where were Dragan Primorac and Zoran Milanović to speak on time and protect the interests of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina? Where were they when, before the vote in parliament, it was necessary to oppose the fact that this gas pipeline is not under the control of Croats? Everyone was silent,” she said.
This week in the lower house of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, under the strong pressure of the American ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Michael Murphy, the Law on Southern Gas Interconnection was passed. No Croatian party in Bosnia and Herzegovina supported that proposal.
For years, Croatia and the Bosnian side failed to find a solution to the problem that arose after the HDZ BiH demanded that the Southern Interconnection project be implemented not by BH Gas but by a completely new company whose headquarters would be in Mostar.
Selak Raspudić she added that the issue of equal rights for Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina is “a key foreign policy issue of the Republic of Croatia”.
“After all these political calculations with which they have deceived you for years, the time has come for a person who really cares and who will know how to fight for the rights of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the presidential candidate pointed out, stating that Croatia must use mechanisms as a member of the EU and NATO.
“I will use all the mechanisms available to Croatia as a member of the European Union and NATO to warn about the equality of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “On the issue of achieving real political equality, which we currently do not have, and protecting the interests of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” she said.
In the end, she referred to Zoran Milanović’s statement that he would not go to the meeting with the opposing candidates because “the eagle does not go after flies”.
“However, it’s not about the eagle not catching flies, it’s about the mouse being afraid of the cat,” she pointed out.
She also referred to Dragan Primorc’s campaign.
“Today, we see posters all over Bosnia and Herzegovina of Dragan Primorc that have sprung up like primroses in spring. However, what do you see on those posters? Not once does he look you in the eye. Why? Because he can’t even look you in the eye,” she said.