EU, US say cease efforts to help restructure Bosnias Federation government.

By bne IntelliNews February 14, 2013
The EU and US representatives in Bosnia said on Wednesday, Feb 13, they were left with no other option but to discontinue their efforts to help the Muslim-Croat Federation restructure its government more than six months after a change in the parliament majority. The EU Delegation and the US Embassy in Sarajevo said in a joint email statement that after their unsuccessful attempt to assist towards solving the crisis, the political stalemate in the Federation now lies solely in the hands of its politicians. There initially was some progress but, in the end, we found insufficient willingness to compromise on all sides, the international officials said after trying for several weeks to facilitate a political dialog towards government reshuffling. All parties in the Federation parliament and executive bear a share of the blame in a process that has gone on far too long. The statement was issued after on Feb 12 the lower chamber of Bosnias Federation parliament passed a non-confidence vote in the cabinet, which should now be approved also by the upper chamber at an extraordinary meeting on Feb 15. The no-confidence vote initiative was launched by MPs from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Union for a Better Future (SBB) and the two Croat parties - HDZ BiH and HDZ 1990, who consider that the composition of the Federations cabinet does not reflect the parliamentary majority formed in June 2012. The change in the parliamentary majority occurred after a split between the main Bosniak parties SDP and the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) over a budget row, as a result of which SDP broke its union with SDA and signed a political agreement with SBB. If the no-confidence vote is also approved by the upper chamber, the new cabinet will include SBB, HDZ BiH and HDZ 1990 ministers instead of the SDA ones. The joint EU/US statement also said, It is time for leaders in the Federation government and parliament to focus on the real issues that will lead to completion of economic and social reforms agreed with the IMF, promote economic growth and development, create a positive climate for business, and enhance citizens welfare.

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