NO NEUM, CONTINUATION IN SARAJEVO Izetbegović: Good at times, but no agreement

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - I am pleasantly surprised by the attitude of the presidents of NIP, NES, and SBB with whom we had a common approach, and positions were brought closer to HDZ, at times it seemed quite good, but we will continue the talks alone, SDA leader Bakir Izetbegović told reporters today after talks in Neum. 

He added that negotiations will continue next week, probably in Sarajevo. 

Izetbegović noted that positions on the integrity of the election process have been brought closer.

“My message is that these talks will continue in the coming days. The primary purpose was to enable a better understanding of the requirements for the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgments to eliminate discrimination. We also discussed improving the electoral system with the help of the OSCE and ODIHR, and significant work has been done there. We also discussed the election of the BiH Presidency members and improving the functionality of FBiH. I thank all political entities that participated in these talks, progress has been made on certain issues, and the most important thing is that the talks will continue,” said Angelina Eichhorst, Director at the European External Action Service. 

US Special Envoy for Electoral Reform Matthew Palmer said they discussed difficult and challenging topics. 

“One could hear the voices of people telling them not to come, and the fact that they came here and talked constructively and openly says enough about how committed they are to resolving these issues. We have concluded this round of talks in Neum, but we have not reached the end of the process. The issues we discussed will not disappear, ensuring democratic and electoral processes are fair, and that they include integrity and accountability is very important. This also includes acting in accordance with the ECtHR judgments. It is also necessary to find an electoral model that will help Croats in BiH have adequate representation in institutions, to ensure that the government institutions in FBiH are strong enough. These issues will not disappear, they will have to be resolved, and the US and the EU will be there as partners. It is up to the political leaders of this country to bring these issues to an agreement and implementation,” said Palmer. 

He added that the parties have made progress on the integrity of the election process. 

“This is a package of measures that will enable greater transparency and integrity of election implementation. Domestic experts have made great progress with the help of the OSCE,” said Palmer.

“Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. You cannot say, 'we agreed on this, let's put it aside and work on something else.' Everyone's interests must be represented and balanced, so that such a solution gets a majority in parliament, so there was considerable consensus on certain aspects, but I cannot tell you specifically about what, because everything is part of the package and until everything is agreed, nothing is agreed. The elements on which consensus has been reached are a sufficient basis for continuing negotiations,” Palmer said in response to journalists' questions. 

When asked if BiH will get a new election law before the elections and if Croats in BiH will get legitimate representation, Eichhorst said she had no guarantees. 

“There are certainly no guarantees. I am not in a position to give any guarantees that there will be a new election law, but the EU and the US hope that the dialogue will continue,” said Eichhorst. 

The President of HDZ BiH, Dragan Čović, thanked the international mediators for their help. 

“My conviction and optimism that we would conclude the process in Neum did not materialize, and I am no longer so optimistic. I expected us to implement the Mostar agreement. There is some progress, some will say that the positions are still a little apart. This time we also received written proposals from others, this morning we considered a model for the members of the BiH Presidency from the Bosniak side for the first time. I think we have completely clarified whether what we are proposing is in line with European standards,” Čović stated. 

He adds that if things were harmonized regarding the election of the members of the BiH Presidency and the Houses of Peoples, the agreement would be much closer. 

“We are entering an election year unprepared for the election process. I believed that by concluding these negotiations we could create a new environment, but now we will have a difficult political task and will have to account for what and how next,” said Čović. 

The President of HDZ BiH concluded that leaders “must take responsibility and find solutions, otherwise we will have an environment in BiH that no one wants.”

The President of People and Justice, Elmedin Konaković, said it was difficult to say whether they had failed or succeeded, because it is difficult to resolve European judgments and the clash of ethnic and civic in three days. 

“The differences are clearly visible, and success has not been achieved. Leaders are aware that something must be agreed upon, and I think they will be ready to harmonize positions in two or three days. I am not overly optimistic, but I think it is possible. I must emphasize an important fact, people from the international community have concretely led the negotiations,” said Konaković. 

He added that there are firm beliefs in the international community that there will be elections, but there is a danger that some nation will boycott the elections. 

“HDZ BiH is rigidly and firmly holding to its demands, we understand them, but some consensus must be reached,” said Konaković. 

He added that they are on the track of solutions where every citizen can be a candidate for the BiH Presidency member, and Croatian parties demand the right to retain their constitutive status, i.e., that their representative in the BiH Presidency be elected by the majority of votes of Croats.

Elizabet Kavalec said that ODIHR has helped in the talks to improve the integrity of the election process. 

“Some of the areas concerned the training of polling station committees, preventing the trading of positions in polling station committees and manipulation, and the gradual introduction of new technologies. Participants agreed on improving the provisions for conducting campaigns, prohibiting hate speech, then on prohibiting the abuse of public resources for campaign purposes, strengthening the role of the media in campaigns, and transparent and responsible campaign financing,” said Kavalec. 

We remind you that for the past three days, negotiations on amendments to the election legislation of BiH have been held under the patronage of the US and the EU, but an agreement has not been reached. 

Representatives of HDZ BiH, as well as the international community, will address the public soon.