The U.S. diplomat said in his interview with the Banja Luka-based Nezavisne Novine on Monday that the position of Croats was the main topic of his talks with Bosnian Croat politicians in Mostar last week.
I can understand very well the concerns of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the responsibility of not only of the international community but also of everybody in Bosnia and Herzegovina to protect their rights. I, however, said that they should not expect the support from the international support to the establishment of the third entity, the U.S. official said.
He confirmed that Bosnia and Herzegovina was now in the focus of the Barack Obama administration and that the results of the 3 October general elections gave reasons for optimism.
Asked whether the United States will try organise new negotiations on Bosnia's constitutional changes, Countryman said that it was early to speak about that.
He reaffirmed the U.S. support to the Office of the international community's High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding that it is sensible to expect that broad powers of the High Representative will be used less and less.