A new negotiating round on government formation in Bosnia and Herzegovina failed in Sarajevo on Wednesday and the four parties led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) announced that the inauguration of the executive authority in the Federation, Bosnia's Croat-Bosniak entity, would begin on Thursday.
Presidents Zlatko Lagumdzija of the SDP, Sulejman Tihic of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Dragan Covic of the HDZ BiH and Bozo Ljubic of the HDZ 1990 tried behind closed doors at the Office of the High Representative (OHR) to agree the allocation of ministerial seats intended for the Croats in the government on the Federation and state levels, but no agreement was reached, the OHR said.
The ambassadors of the countries in the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board who attended part of the talks fully supported the OHR's efforts, the OHR said.
The talks have so far resulted in agreement on joint platforms and that the parties which are part of the coalition should be represented at all government levels, it was said.
Final agreement could not be reached on two ministerial seats, according to the OHR.
The leaders of the coalition, which comprises the SDP, the SDA, the Party of Rights) and the People's Party Work for Betterment agreed at separate consultations earlier today to continue implementing their post-election alliance deal and attempt to form the government in the Federation.
It is being speculated that negotiations with the two HDZ parties will continue tonight and tomorrow, and that European People's Party president Wilfried Martens, who is in Sarajevo, could mediate.
