Meeting in the BiH Presidency building concluded

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Chairman of the BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik told reporters today that the Council of Ministers will not be formed by the end of March, although he expected it to be. After meeting with Bakir Izetbegović and Dragan Čović on Monday in the BiH Presidency building, he said that procedures no longer allow for the formation of the Council of Ministers by the end of the month.

The President of SNSD and Chairman of the BiH Presidency said that SDA is firm in negotiations: "MAP is suddenly a matter of life and death," said Dodik, who reiterated that NATO is not in the interest of Republika Srpska. 

"If anyone expects us to change that in order to join the Council of Ministers, thank you, Council of Ministers," said Dodik. 

Speaking about the distribution of ministries in the Council of Ministers, Dodik said that "the chairman belongs to the Serbs." "We agreed that three out of nine ministries belong to Serbs, three to Bosniaks, three to Croats," said Dodik.

SDA President Bakir Izetbegović said after the meeting that the presidents of the three parties agreed on the principles of action for the next four years, which he assessed as a good step. "An agreement on portfolios remains, and it will continue at the level of delegations, not at the level of leaders," said Izetbegović. He did not elaborate on what exactly they agreed upon at the meeting.

Speaking about the fourth partner in power, Izetbegović said that besides SDA, there will be at least two or three more partners. "Everyone is welcome and invited. SDA will withdraw a little and give up some positions," Izetbegović said, after which he asked reporters to "give the leaders of these three parties another seven days for the next step."