SDHR Ambassador Sonn disappointed with incorrect news report on meeting with Cardinal Puljic

The Senior Deputy High Representative, Ambassador Matthias Sonn, has stated his surprise and disappointment about a news report on a meeting with Cardinal Vinko Puljic on Wednesday. He had not been informed that the contents of the meeting would be publicised by his interlocutors.

Ambassador Sonn corrected the false reporting according to which he had qualified the Croat people of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a “minority”. In line with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Senior High Representative always refers to the Croat people as “a constituent people of Bosnia and Herzegovina”. He did so repeatedly and unambiguously vis a vis the Cardinal during their meeting.

Furthermore, the Senior Deputy High Representative declared that he has always respected the confidentiality of meetings and would continue to do so in the future.

Ambassador Sonn called upon the Catholic Church and all other religious communities to contribute to the peace process and reconciliation among the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a constructive and positive manner:

“The religious holidays towards the New Year are days of remembrance, sorrow and reconciliation. They offer inspiration to us all to renew our commitment for a peaceful future. They also invite introspection and a firm resolve to leave behind the acrimony of the year past, and to start anew in a spirit of forgiveness”, Ambassador Sonn stated.