In Washington yesterday the High Representative and EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčák informed US Under Secretary for Political Affairs of the Department of State William Burns of the difficult political situation in BiH

“After the local elections it was expected that the country would focus fully on its European agenda. This did not happen. While there has been progress on most of the priorities set by the PIC, little progress has been made in resolving the issue of apportionment of state property and legally defining the status of Brcko. All PIC capitals have stressed the need for urgent action to be taken by BiH authorities.” said Lajčák.

The HR/EUSR set out the current political situation in BiH and outline the progress that the country has made to meeting the five conditions and two objectives set by the Peace Implementation Council in February.

Miroslav Lajčák and Under Secretary Burns agreed that Bosnia and Herzegovina must meet in full the conditions and objectives set by the Peace Implementation Council to enable OHR-EUSR transition.

Under Secretary Burns US reaffirmed that the United States will continue to be very focussed on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Both the High Representative/EU Special Representative and Under Secretary Burns reiterated that reform of BiH’s complex constitutional structure is important and an issue that must be addressed by BiH’s political leaders.

The High Representative/EU Special Representative was visiting Washington for a series of high-level meetings ahead of the next meeting of the PIC Steering Board due at the end of November.

The High Representative/EU Special Representative also met Deputy Assistant Secretary for the South East Europe Stuart Jones, experts at the National Security Council and foreign policy advisors to presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.

The High Representative/EU Special Representative arrives this evening in Ankara on the final leg of this round of consultations.