LEADERS OF SIX MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES IN BOSNIA HELD A MEETING ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

SIROKI BRIJEG, Bosnia (February 5,2008) - At the meeting between Bosnia's six most influential political parties’ leaders and the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak which took place in the southern Bosnian town of Siroki Brijeg, the issue of new Bosnian constitution was discussed.Bosnia's politicians also talked about the reform processes which are key for signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and the EU.

Miso Relota, HDZ Party Spokesperson said after the meeting that the participants adopted joint statement in which it is emphasized that the participants started the talks in a constructive atmosphere on constitutional reform and that individual attitudes were rpesented, regardless of the current political situation.

According to him, participants at the meeting agreed that the talks will continue after signing of SAA.

”Participants of the meeting remained loyal to the obligations related to signing of SAA. They are determined to fulfil all the necessary obligations in the time frame set.Fully aware of the need of adopting the Bosnian State Budget, it has been agreed that it is necessary to initiate a meeting between Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric, the Bosnian Finance Minister and members of the Bosnian Parliamentary Assembly Collegiums, for the purpose of achieving an agreement which will enable a fast adoption of the Bosnian State Budget”, Relota stated and added that the meeting should take place by Wednesday the latest.

Commenting the talks on the Bosnian constitutional reforms, Relota said that it has been agreed that the next meeting will take place by March 10 and that the meeting will be hosted by the SDA Party President Sulejman Tihic.

Certain arguments arose during the talks on the Bosnian constitutional reform related to police reform agreement laws that need to be adopted by the Bosnian Parliament by February 15.

The SDA Party President Sulejman Tihic stated that the SDA does not agree with the laws that will be submitted by the expert group in charge of implementation of the Mostar Declaration.

Presidents of the following parties attended the Saturday meeting in Siroki Brijeg, together with the International community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak: Sulejman Tihic (SDA), Haris Silajdzic (SBiH),Bozo Ljubic (HDZ 1990), Dragan Covic (HDZ), Milorad Dodik (SNSD) and Mladen Ivanic (PDP).