Yesterday at the OHR in Sarajevo, the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, met with leaders of the political parties of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to hear of the progress they have made with regard to the implementation of the Constitutional Court's decision on the constituency of peoples.

The High Representative welcomed the initial progress made so far, especially with regard to the parties finally entering into a dialogue, and heard various approaches and proposals for constitutional reform in BiH. Real, substantial and far-reaching solutions are now needed.

The High Representative urged the party leaders to continue their efforts and present a solution as soon as possible. He reiterated that time is running short, especially with regard to the upcoming elections and the necessity of filling the gaps in the Election Law. He also made clear that he expects the implementation of the Constitutional Court's decision to be fully supported by the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Finding a solution for constitutional reform is not only in its very essence a matter of ownership, it is an obligation towards the citizens of this country - irrespective of their ethnic background or political stance. The result of these talks will have an effect on the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina for generations to come. The High Representative expects the leaders to fulfill their obligation and find a solid agreement in the interest of Bosnia and Herzegovina.