Izetbegović ready for concessions, Čović blackmails, Komšić finally takes a firm stance

Bakir Izetbegović, Željko Komšić and Dragan Čović confirmed tonight at a press conference, after the negotiations of DF, SDA and HDZ were interrupted, that there was no talk about the division of ministerial portfolios in the Government of the Federation of BiH, but that they "got stuck" on the number of positions that should belong to these parties, reports a reporter of the Patria news agency. 

Čović reiterated the position that HDZ should receive six ministries, i.e., one third, which is guaranteed to the Croatian people by the FBiH Constitution. 

-That is a rational choice, in accordance with the BiH Constitution and the position of the Croatian people. There is no need to rivet anything, if we can agree we can, and if not, then we should look for other concepts. The three of us have mutual trust, but within our infrastructure it is insufficient. We will see what will happen by Sunday. But I can only say that the appointment of the Council of Ministers, without the FBiH Government, is out of the question, emphasized Čović. 

Komšić said he will not go into details about what is disputed, so as not to spoil the atmosphere around a possible agreement on Sunday.   

-There is plenty of time for all of us to think about where this leads the parties, where this leads the political situation in BiH. I think we are aware of what is expected of us. I would like to be an optimist and tell you that we will reach an agreement on the holiday of this country. I am of the opinion that going into details at this moment should not make the whole situation more difficult, said Komšić.  

-Nothing has changed in the positions. In this specific case, numbers are the issue. DF said it does not aspire to Bosniak or Croatian ministries, and SDA was ready to give them one position. That was our concession, to get seven ministries instead of eight. If the others had been ready for concessions like SDA today, we would have resolved this, explained Izetbegović, adding that nothing should be done that would open a crisis in BiH.