McElhaney, who mediated in the negotiations on the constitutional changes in Bosnia that ended early on Tuesday morning, held a news conference in Sarajevo today, together with the ambassadors of Austria, Werner Almhofer, Great Britain Mathew Rycroft and the head of the European Union Mission in Bosnia, Michael Humphreys.
The US ambassador said one could be partially satisfied with the results of the negotiations, but also disappointed with the fact that a comprehensive agreement had not been reached.
McElhaney said he was disappointed with Bosnian political leaders for failing to opt for reforms earlier, stressing that Bosnian politicians assumed certain obligations during talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last November.
Commenting on the negotiations, he said that for now new regulations would be incorporated in the constitution that would guarantee the protection of human rights and the strengthening of the role of the Council of Ministers.
He said that in the coming period, local authorities would have to be prepared for many tough compromises if they wanted Bosnia to progress on the path to the European Union and NATO.
British Ambassador Humpreys said that for the European Commission the round of negotiations on constitutional changes in Bosnia, that ended early on Tuesday morning, were only the first phase of the process which must be continued.