In response to criticisms from the U.S. administration, Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic strongly defended HDZ BiH leader Dragan Covic and the interests of BiH Croats regarding their insistence on having a role in the construction and management of a gas pipeline connecting Bosnia and Herzegovina with Croatia.

“We cannot disregard the interests of Croats living in that part of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Jandrokovic said, adding that the demands of BiH Croats are legitimate.

“I believe issues cannot be resolved hastily. It is necessary to consider the interests of all three parties, especially the interests of the Croatian people, as the Southern Interconnection passes through their territory in both Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he stressed.

Jandrokovic expressed confidence that discussions with the U.S. administration could lead to a solution where everyone involved in “this project is satisfied”.

Covic insists on the establishment of a new company, Southern Gas Interconnection, based in Mostar, which would build and manage the pipeline connecting Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia's gas network and LNG terminal.

This has been strongly opposed by U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Michael Murphy, who insists that the job should be handled by BH Gas, the gas operator based in Sarajevo. Murphy has accused Covic of supporting Russian interests by insisting on a new company.

Currently, Bosnia and Herzegovina receives gas supplies exclusively via the Turkish Stream pipeline, which delivers gas from Russia's Gazprom. BH Gas, based in Sarajevo, acts as the intermediary for gas supply to BiH's Federation entity.