Bosnian Croat Leader Criticises Zagreb for Election 'Meddling'

The newly-elected Croat member of Bosnia and Herzegovina's tripartite state presidency, Zeljko Komsic, claimed in an open letter to EU officials on Tuesday that Croatia is involved in "diplomatic aggression" against his country.

His letter was a reaction to a letter that Croatian European Parliament members sent to EU officials on October 25, alleging that Komsic won his seat because of votes from Bosniaks rather than Croats.

But Komsic insisted that the MEPs' letter contained "a lot of untruths".

"The letter from the Croatian MEPs is another attack by Croatia on the sovereignty of Bosnia, Bosnia's sovereign right to decide on its electoral system or, more specifically, the direct interference of Croatia in the internal affairs of Bosnia," Komsic's own letter to EU officials said.

Komsic will formally represent Bosnia and Herzegovina's Croats on the Bosnian presidency, which has three seats that are designated for a Bosniak, a Croat and a Serb.

But many Croats claim that he owes his victory to votes from the country's much larger Bosniak community, and therefore will not genuinely represent the Bosnian Croat community on the presidency.

Croatia's prime minister and president have also criticised the election of Komsic as the Croat representative on the three-member state presidency, claiming it will not be good for the Bosnian Croat community and for Bosnia and Herzegovina in general.

Read more:

Croatian MPs Urge EU to Discuss Bosnia Election 'Problem'

Croatian Ruling Party's Dangerous Meddling in Bosnia

Komsic Victory in Bosnia Draws Criticism in Croatia