Croatian president pledges support for BiH over EU integration

Visting Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic on Tuesday pledged to help Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) over its path to join the European Union (EU).

She noted Croatia respects BiH's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"I hope the internal organization of BiH will be something that will be negotiated by its political leaders ... by representatives of all three constituent peoples," said Grabar-Kitarovic after her meeting with the three-member Presidency of BiH.

She welcomed the new European initiative adopted by BiH, which focuses on social and economic reforms.

Croatia will help BiH in reforms necessary for building functional institutions, she added.

Chairman of BiH Presidency Mladen Ivanic said that BiH and Croatia are friendly neighbours with a long border and should enhance bilateral co-operations.

It is the first visit overseas by Grabar Kitarovic since she became Croatian President last month. Endit