Bosnia "steadily regressing" on EU path

SARAJEVO Bosnia-Herzegovina, "unlike its neighbors", has been "steadily regressing" on its path to join the EU, Slovak Deputy PM Miroslav Lajcak has been quoted. Lajcak, who also serves as his country's foreign minister and is a former high representative in Bosnia, told Sarajevo's Dnevni Avaz daily that the reason for this was the failure of the country's political leaders to fulfil the conditions "which they have been aware of for at least three years." Bosnia "steadily regressing" on EU path "The fabled political will is lacking in them for something of the sort to happen, and I am very sorry because of that," said Lajcak. He further pointed out to the warning made by Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland, who stated that the CoE was unlikely to accept the results of the next parliamentary elections in Bosnia unless the European Court for Human Rights ruling in the Sejdic-Finci case had been carried out before the polls take place. "The fact is that (EU Enlargement) Commissioner Stefan Fule left Bosnia-Herzegovina very disappointed on April 11. The fact is also that (EU) High Representative Catherine Ashton was very clear in her stances during the visit to Sarajevo and Srebrenica," Lajcak said, and noted that "during the discussion of the reports on Serbia and Kosovo practically nobody even mentioned Bosnia." "It's as if people have lost the desire to discuss Bosnia-Herzegovina," he was further quoted as saying, and adding that there was "currently a discussion at the EU about what to do with it". "Different voices are heard. There are those who are suggesting join engagement, while others are saying there's no point in making the effort any longer. In the end, we will take a joint position," Lajcak concluded. Tanjug

Bosnia "steadily regressing" on EU path

"The fabled political will is lacking in them for something of the sort to happen, and I am very sorry because of that," said Lajčak.

He further pointed out to the warning made by Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland, who stated that the CoE was unlikely to accept the results of the next parliamentary elections in Bosnia unless the European Court for Human Rights ruling in the Sejdić-Finci case had been carried out before the polls take place.

"The fact is that (EU Enlargement) Commissioner Stefan Fule left Bosnia-Herzegovina very disappointed on April 11. The fact is also that (EU) High Representative Catherine Ashton was very clear in her stances during the visit to Sarajevo and Srebrenica," Lajčak said, and noted that "during the discussion of the reports on Serbia and Kosovo practically nobody even mentioned Bosnia."

"It's as if people have lost the desire to discuss Bosnia-Herzegovina," he was further quoted as saying, and adding that there was "currently a discussion at the EU about what to do with it".

"Different voices are heard. There are those who are suggesting join engagement, while others are saying there's no point in making the effort any longer. In the end, we will take a joint position," Lajčak concluded.