Izetbegović not optimistic: SDA will respond to talks, but agreement is unlikely

(Patria) - SDA President Bakir Izetbegović is not optimistic that an agreement on amendments to the Election Law of BiH can be reached. He reiterated this stance yesterday during a visit to returnees in Zvornik. 

Izetbegović said that one can always talk, but he doubts that an agreement can be reached in the current political situation. However, he added that he will not refuse Brussels or Washington if they send their representatives to negotiate.

"I fear that things regarding the Election Law are quite set in stone. If we didn't reach an agreement in better conditions, when we had much more time, it's unlikely we will now, but SDA will respond to the talks," said Izetbegović.

In an interview with Večernji list, Izetbegović explained what is acceptable to the SDA regarding the Election Law. 

"As far as SDA is concerned, we are ready to accept one of the models that will base the election of the BiH Presidency members on the majority will of the constituent peoples. So, the majority will, not one hundred percent, because the members of the Presidency represent all citizens and the entire BiH and must, to a certain extent, depend on the votes of voters from other peoples and the category of Others.

The extent of this will be determined through discussions and negotiations. In doing so, of course, the implementation of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights must be ensured, which is BiH's obligation on its European path. We expect HDZ to accept as sufficient what the Constitution of the Federation prescribes, i.e., the right of constituent peoples to protect vital national interest, to have the right of veto only on these issues. We must forever remove the possibilities of blockades that poison relations in the Federation. From the Serb side, we expect a minimum, that they accept what they previously accepted and then abandoned, and that is the indirect election of the BiH Presidency members, which would greatly simplify things," said the SDA president.

The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Gordan Grlić Radman, again made a statement about the Election Law of BiH yesterday, saying that if there is no agreement, "the consequences for BiH will be devastating".

However, the stance of the international community, as well as Jakob Finci, who won a court case in Strasbourg (Sejdić-Finci) stating he can be elected, is clear. Regardless of whether there will be amendments or the law remains as it is, the elections will be held.