The rotation of seats in the state presidency was conducted in accordance with regular procedure under which Serb, Croat and Bosniak members of the state leadership "perform the duty of the first among equals" in regular intervals.
Jovic, who became a member of the state presidency less than two months ago after High Representative Paddy Ashdown replaced his predecessor Dragan Covic on suspicion of while collar crime, said in his speech that he would strongly advocate the continuation and completion of at least some reform processes.
He underlined police and defence reforms, cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and the fulfilment of all international obligations.
Jovic also announced that he would advocate changing the role of the international community in Bosnia.
Local officials must assume greater responsibility in the solving of domestic problems, he said, adding that this was the only way for the international community to change from a protector to an advisor and partner to the Bosnian authorities.
Borislav Paravac, who was Presidency Chairman in the past eight months, described the performance of the state leadership during his term as successful.
His Bosniak colleague Sulejman Tihic disagreed, warning that the country was in a state of permanent crisis caused, among other things, by poor constitutional solutions.
Speaking about problems in the presidency's work, he recalled Covic's replacement and the presidency's failure to react to acts of provocation at recent oath-taking ceremonies of the Bosnian Serb army, adding that the political crisis caused by conflicts in the government was still burning.
He also criticised the presidency for the current stalemate in relations with neighbouring countries.
"All deadlines for organising a session of the Bosnian-Croatian Interstate Council have expired. Agreements on the Ploce port, property rights relations and dual citizenship with Croatia have not been prepared," Tihic said, adding that the situation was similar
with regard to relations with Serbia and Montenegro.
He strongly condemned a statement by Serbia and Montenegro Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic, who questioned Bosnia's territorial integrity by saying that Kosovo's independence would lead to the independence of the Bosnian Serb entity.
"The statement is unacceptable and harmful for our overall relations," Tihic said.
The state presidency should support the process of constitutional reforms, Tihic said, adding that the tenth anniversary of the Dayton peace agreement provided the right opportunity for that.