The Bosnian government officially called the Council of Ministers, rejected the proposal to amend the Visa Decision on Monday, which would facilitate the entry of tourists from the United Kingdom and Ireland, and Saudi Arabia into the country.

According to BiH Justice Minister, Josip Grubesa, who comes from the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH) who voted against the proposal, his party was only protecting the European path of BiH, regardless of how it is presented in public. He also stated that the HDZ BiH is not hindering this processes in BiH and that it will never hinder it.

Grubesa added that they do not think that the problem is related to visas for residents of Saudi Arabia, because he believes if they have a visa for one of the European member states or a US visa, their visa is valid in BiH as well.

He pointed out that a more liberal entry into BiH would follow such a move from other countries in their relations towards foreigners, and that BiH would respond accordingly.

“We are following the EU's position on the issue of visas,” Grubesa stated.

Bosnian Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic criticised this decision of the Council of Ministers, accusing the HDZ of missing a to mitigate the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on the country’s tourist sector.

“The responsibility for the millions of damages lies with the ministers who opposed the proposal to ease the visa regime for the UK, Ireland and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which found support from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Unreasonable, unjustified and obviously malicious obstructions came from HDZ ministers, especially Minister Grubesa, who, for example, a little over two years ago didn't have a problem helping convicted war criminal Marko Radic to go to Croatia to serve his sentence, but he did have a problem helping the citizens of this country,” said Turkovic.

She added the “Ministry will consider all other legal possibilities that would speed up or facilitate the issuance of visas for tourists who want to come to BiH, after such shameful obstructions, in order to save what can be saved.”