High Representative and European Union’s Special Representative Valentin Inzko, met in Ankara last night with Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, and Deputy Undersecretary, Ambassador Zergun Koruturk.

HR/EUSR Inzko informed the Turkish officials of the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina of efforts to accomplish progress in the reforms needed to advance towards integration in Euro-Atlantic structures.

“The general situation in BiH is such that there is still reason for concern. We have not seen much progress in the last couple of months,” HR/EUSR Inzko said. “The only way for this country to move forward is to continue a political dialogue which should now be broadened”. HR/EUSR Inzko stressed that his priority continues to be the completion of the five objectives and two conditions necessary for the transformation of the OHR into the EUSR.

Changes to the BiH Constitution were also discussed at the meeting. High Representative and EU Special Representative Valentin Inzko said that even though constitutional reform was not one of the requirements for the OHR’s transformation into the EUSR, change is needed to give the country a more functional structure and strengthen BiH’s capacity to take on  all the challenges of European integration.

HR/EUSR Inzko expressed his gratitude to his Turkish interlocutors for Turkey’s constructive engagement in BiH, and Turkey’s active participation in the Peace Implementation Council’s Steering Board, both at the national level and in its capacity as the OIC representative.