November 7 (SeeNews) - The UN Security Council has called on the parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina to speedily form a new government following the recent elections and refrain from polarising policy, action and rhetoric.
The parties should work constructively for the implementation of the results of the general election at all levels, prioritising comprehensive reforms for the benefit of all citizens in line with the European perspective the country is committed to, the UN Security Council said in a resolution unanimously adopted on Tuesday.
While the October 7 elections were held without major security incidents, there was a new level of divisive and provocative rhetoric from some senior political figures and irregularities, including financial threats and incentives to voters were reported, the High Representative of the UN for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko, said in a briefing to the Security Council.
Nevertheless, Bosnia's joint Presidency was elected in a legal manner and must start to tackle challenges, Inzko said.
"After the elections, the Bosnia and Herzegovina political leaders will have an opportunity for a fresh start. They should use it to improve the lives of their citizens," Inzko stressed.
Bosniak and Bosnian Serb nationalist parties won both the vote for state-level parliament and the elections for the tripartite interethnic presidency held in Bosnia's two entities - the Federation and the Serb Republic, according to final official data.
The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a three-member panel which serves as head of state of the country. The Presidency consists of three members: one Bosniak and one Croat elected from the Federation and one Bosnian Serb elected from the Serb Republic. The Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the bicameral legislative body of the country, consisting of a 42-member House of Representatives and a 15-member House of Peoples.
According to the Dayton peace agreement that put an end to the war in Bosnia in the 1990s, the country is divided into two entities -- the Serb Republic (mostly populated by Serbs) and the Federation (majority populated by Bosniaks and Croats), covering 49% and 51% of the country's territory, respectively. The Brcko District, functioning under a decentralised system of local government, was created in 2000, out of land from both entities to reflect its multi-ethnic nature.