The High Representative, Miroslav Lajčák, welcomed the formation of a government in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton today and urged it to build credibility by making up for lost time.
“Exactly ten months after elections took place, the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton has a government,” the High Representative said. “This is good news, above all for the long-suffering voters and citizens of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton.”
Failure to form a government in a reasonable timeframe has contributed to a situation in which many key services for which the Canton is responsible, such as health care and fire-fighting appear to be in crisis.
“The absence of a government has clearly set the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton back,” the High Representative said. “The new government needs to focus on working for the benefit of the citizens of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and delivering concrete results to build its credibility.”
The High Representative will revoke the freeze on budget disbursements to political parties at federation and state levels in the coming days.
The formation of the government in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton is not only good in and of itself, but it demonstrates that, if there is political will, an honourable compromise can be achieved.
Taking responsibility in this way – compromising for the greater good – is exactly what this country needs today and in the future as it makes its way towards the European Union.