SARAJEVO, Feb 12 (Hina) - The EU countries' ambassadors accredited in Bosnia-Herzegovina asked the authorities of the Bosnian Federation and Republika Srpska to intensify their efforts to reach as soon as possible an agreement on
expected constitutional changes. Sources from the Spanish Embassy, the country which currently presides the European Union, said on Tuesday a letter was forwarded to the highest officials of both entities' governments and parliaments. In the letter, a copy of which was delivered to Hina in Sarajevo, the EU member countries remind the Bosnian authorities that a year has passed since the High Representative appointed a constitutional commission in each entity, tasked with drafting proposals to implement a Constitutional Court decision on all three nations in the entire country being constituent. The EU countries believe the expected election process, announced for October, will be seriously th
SARAJEVO, Feb 12 (Hina) - The EU countries' ambassadors accredited
in Bosnia-Herzegovina asked the authorities of the Bosnian
Federation and Republika Srpska to intensify their efforts to reach
as soon as possible an agreement on expected constitutional
changes.
Sources from the Spanish Embassy, the country which currently
presides the European Union, said on Tuesday a letter was forwarded
to the highest officials of both entities' governments and
parliaments.
In the letter, a copy of which was delivered to Hina in Sarajevo, the
EU member countries remind the Bosnian authorities that a year has
passed since the High Representative appointed a constitutional
commission in each entity, tasked with drafting proposals to
implement a Constitutional Court decision on all three nations in
the entire country being constituent.
The EU countries believe the expected election process, announced
for October, will be seriously threatened if amendments to the
constitution are not carried out immediately. They also stress this
is one of the requirements which Bosnia has to fulfil in order to
become a full-right member of the European Council.
After a discussion which lasted for almost a year, political
parties from both entities remain on fully opposed sides.
Bosnian Serb representatives continue to strongly refuse the
establishment of a House of Peoples in Republika Srpska, as well as
the division of executive power based on the 1991 census.
The Bosniak and Croat sides insist on introducing the House of
Peoples into the parliament of the Serb entity, and equal
participation in that entity's powers.
An agreement was reached in principle in the Federation whereby the
future House of Peoples in the federal parliament has three
national benches and ten seats for representatives of minority
ethnic groups.
(hina) np sb