Bosnia’s new government needs to be formed as soon as possible and economic reforms should be the country’s top priority, the top international official in Bosnia, Valentin Inzko, told US State Secretary Advisor Matthew Palmer and other US top officials on Friday.

As High Representative, Inzko is charged by the international community to oversee the implementation of the peace agreement which ended the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia.

“Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the international community have big expectations from the new government which needs to be formed as soon as possible,” Inzko said.

“If Bosnia wants to meet its obligations toward its citizens and international partners, urgent and decisive implementation of reforms is necessary in order to realise progress in the process of joining the EU,” he added.

He also touched upon the October General Election, saying that it was unfortunate that the pre-election campaign was focused on issues that deepen divisions and on personal attacks between political actors, while truly important issues the country was facing did not receive enough attention.

“The top priority needs to be the economy and finding a way to revert the trend of young people – the most vital part of the population – leaving the country in large numbers,” Inzko said.

The High Representative is this week visiting Washington, and next Tuesday he is expected to report to the UN Security Council session on the status of the implementation of peace in Bosnia.