Izetbegović - Čović meeting ends without agreement

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The meeting between the leaders of SDA and HDZ BiH, Bakir Izetbegović and Dragan Čović, ended without concrete agreements. 

Izetbegović and Čović discussed the formation of a new government at the state and federal levels in the BiH Parliament building. 

They concluded that the third partner, SNSD, must be included in the talks.

"I will be happy if we have a Council of Ministers by the beginning of September," Čović told the media after the meeting.

As stated, they also discussed Aluminij, as well as BiH's NATO path. 

Federal Prime Minister Fadil Novalić and Minister of Finance Jelka Milićević also joined the meeting. 

"We discussed the formation of the FBiH Government and for our two parties to create a plan, or rather an agenda. As for Aluminij, it is one of the strategic companies, especially for Herzegovina and Mostar. The number one task is to take care of the workers and their families," Čović said, announcing a meeting on Aluminij for Thursday. 

Speaking about the Council of Ministers, Izetbegović said he asked Čović what he meant by the statement "the page will be turned". 

"All processes should be accelerated. In my opinion, there is one detail, and that detail is the rule of law and the Constitution. If Tegeltija is ready to offer a summary of a program that will rely on the Constitution and the law, we can appoint a prime minister before August. This is SDA's condition, and we will certainly not go below it," Izetbegović stated.

He said he heard for the first time from journalists that his wife, Sebija Izetbegović, is one of the candidates for the FBiH Government.

When asked about the possibility of SDS being part of the majority, Izetbegović said he did not believe it would happen, as there are election winners.