Konaković after leaders' meeting in Brussels: We continue talks, foreign judges should leave one day

(Patria) - Leaders of the ruling parties met today in Brussels with EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi.

The President of the People and Justice Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, said that talks are continuing and that they also touched on topics on which there is still no consensus.

"The greatest value of this story of ours is that, regardless of circumstances, tensions, misunderstandings, and disagreements, we constantly sit down and try to find agreements and compromises that would significantly bring BiH closer to the EU, thereby significantly improving conditions for people living in BiH. We discussed what we agree on and what we disagree on. I think that upon our return we should quickly define a new meeting of the coalition at the BiH level, in order to possibly concretize the topics we opened today," said Konaković.

He emphasized that there is good will for the continuation of EU integration.

"I think we have no other option, even though some have sympathies for other geographies. One and inevitable path is the integration of BiH towards Brussels," said Konaković.

Konaković said that the Constitutional Court of BiH is a topic on which there is still no agreement.

"The issue of the Constitutional Court, on which we all agree that foreign judges should leave one day or should leave now, but the manner of changing or formulating the Constitutional Court - Bosniaks, who make up over 50 percent if we talk about ethnic composition, then we expect Bosniaks to have 'half' of the Constitutional Court. If we are not talking about ethnicity, we are ready to discuss other formulas. We still have an open issue regarding the seat of the Appellate Chamber or the Court that should decide on this," said Konaković.

He said there are no disagreements regarding the Law on Conflict of Interest and the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities.

Konaković said that there are still difficult topics.

"We have the opportunity to become a Mecca for investors. It would be a shame to miss that. We from the trio will do everything to prevent that from happening," he said.

He added that Milorad Dodik again spoke about closing the OHR at the meeting.

"There are clearly prescribed conditions for closing the OHR. When we start fulfilling them, then those who advocate for closing the OHR will not like it. Today I do not see the mood to close the OHR. As for the Constitutional Court, it stipulates absolute respect for judgments and the method of election. In the same chapter of the 14 obligations, it says to establish the Supreme Court. Politicians must show leadership," said Konaković.

When asked whether some conditions could be met by March, he said yes, at least what is needed for opening negotiations.