After Friday’s consultations with BiH opposition parties, which were held in the building of the Office of the High Representative, Edin Forto, the leader of Our Party (NS) and its member and attorney Damir Arnaut spoke, saying that this is the first time that the OHR is going against the will of the Constitutional Court, referring to the imposition of changes to the Election Law that was proposed by Christian Schmidt, the High Representative in BiH, which many said was "benefiting the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH)". Pročitaj više

Arnaut said that this was indeed a consultation and that their opinion was sought.

“We reiterated our views on the need to avoid any further ethnic division of political life in BiH, and we emphasized that it would be necessary for the OHR and the international community to return their attention to corruption, which is the biggest problem in BiH, and to be especially involved during the election campaign in propagating attitudes that are anti-corruption and to tell citizens to fight for attitudes that will lead the country to the EU, and not to campaign on ethnic issues,” Arnaut said.

Forto said there are several dimensions to the conversations taking place.

“There is also something that they called the ‘integrity package’ which means that there is less election fraud, which is incredible that it is being discussed now and that it was not imposed a long time ago after such a law was killed in the House of Peoples which predicted that we have scanners and the like. Another dimension is the functionality of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) entity to have fewer blockages after the establishment of government. And the third is this political part that essentially deepens the ethnic divisions in BiH. We emphasized that everything that leads to better integrity, less fraud in elections and better functionality can be imposed today and tomorrow or at any time. But we are absolutely against further ethnic divisions, especially before the election campaign,” Forto stressed.

Arnaut shares the same opinion.

“Especially if we are talking about the implementation of the failed attempt by Borjana Kristo (HDZ BiH) to abolish the 1:1:1 principle at the Constitutional Court, which means one from each canton if elected. Kristo tried to dispute it and then withdrew the appeal because she was told that she would not get the support. And this is the first time that OHR is going against the will of the Constitutional Court of BiH. The OHR previously implemented the decisions of the Constitutional Court, but if we have something here that was tried before the Constitutional Court, and then withdrawn, I think it is counterproductive and I think it would be much better if the OHR focused on the story of corruption, especially during the election campaign”, Arnaut noted.

Forto went on to say that he finds it unbelievable when someone says that an agreement is not possible in this situation.

“Of course an agreement is possible, but I think it is necessary for some normal people to sit down at the table,” said Forto.

They also stated that they cannot predict whether in the future they will hold meetings in the OHR building or between the parties separately.