Bosnia needs to form the government as soon as possible in order to continue the reform processes, Bosnia's Presidency Chairman Milorad Dodik and Russian Ambassador Peter Ivantsov concluded during Tuesday's meeting.

Dodik informed the Ambassador about the current political situation in the country, saying that Bosnia needs to quickly form the government because the citizens are suffering the most.

After the October general election, Bosnian politicians have been in a deadlock when it comes to talks on the formation of the government.

The prime-minister-designate Zoran Tegeltija, coming from the same party as Milorad Dodik – the ethnic-oriented Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), said he would not prioritise Bosnia's NATO accession process during his mandate, which is something Bosniak and Croat members of the tripartite Presidency disapprove.

The two said they would not support Tegeltija's election until Bosnia adopts its Annual National Programme – a precondition for the activation of the Membership Action Plan for NATO.

Bosnia's NATO path is a hotly disputed topic. Its three largest ethnic groups stand divided on the issue. Bosnian Croats and Bosniaks support the country’s accession, while Bosnian Serbs are strictly against it, saying they will follow Serbia’s lead on this.

Ambassador Ivantsov pointed out that Russia wants Bosnia to be a stable and prosperous country and that cooperation between the two countries is not only political, but also economic, cultural and educational.

Interlocutors concluded that relations between the countries are friendly and without open issues. As such they are the basis for further improvement of bilateral ties.