The Bosniak member of the country’s Presidency, Bakir Izetbegovic, said on Tuesday that his Croat colleague agreed with Russia’s envoy Valentina Matviyenko, who a day earlier said the office of the international official charged with implementing Bosnia’s peace should be closed.

On Monday, Matviyenko called the 1992-95 war in Bosnia a “civil war,” which is something Bosniaks reject. They believe neighbouring Serbia and Croatia were heavily involved in the conflict.

Matviyenko also advocated for the closing of the Office of the High Representative in Sarajevo, something Bosnian Serbs are asking for for years. The High Representative has frequently stopped Serb and Croat efforts to partition the country.

Izetbegovic said he told the Russian envoy that the remarks she made touched upon issues as “sensitive” as the relations between Russia and Ukraine. He added that Bosnia is very careful about what it says about Russian-Ukrainian issues.

Matviyenko’s remarks were harshly criticized by pro-Bosnian parties and by Western officials.

However, according to Izetbegovic, when the Croat Presidency member, Dragan Covic, spoke to Matviyenko, he had a totally different opinion.

“He apologized to Mrs Matviyenko for what she experienced yesterday and for the public reactions, saying he thinks that it is necessary for the OHR and the international judges in Bosnia’s Constitutional Court to leave Bosnia, and that only then will Bosnia be a sovereign country,” Izetbegovic said.

Izetbegovic also said Matviyenko asked what condition would have to be fulfilled for the OHR to leave the country.

“I said it is not a matter of time, but of maturation,” he said, explaining that the country has still not reached that point.

Covic later commented on Izetbegovic's statement, saying the Bosniak leader was lately telling the media many untrue things.