Bosnia-Herzegovina's state Parliament adopted Friday in Sarajevo changes to the institutions standing orders, ending the deepest political crisis in the country since the end of the 1992-1995 war, according to dpa. The decision came less than a day before the deadline set on October 19 by the international community's High Representative to Bosnia, Slovak diplomat Miroslav Lajcak. Nearly two months ago Lajcak proposed measures to streamline the decision-making processes in Bosnia's central government and parliament. In order to improve functionality of the two institutions, he imposed a number of measures to change the decision-making process of the central government, the Council of Ministers. He also called on political leaders in the country to adjust the work of the parliament themselves or he would impose changes to the parliament's work on December 1. Lajcak measures provoked sharp reactions among the Bosnian Serb politicians, who accused him of harming their national interests and violating the country's constitution. While the Bosnian Serb National Assembly passed a resolution requesting Lajcak to change his decision or to leave his post, Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric resigned a month ago protesting against Lajcak's measures. Although the worst crisis since the end of the 1992-1995 war in the country developed following Lajcak's measures, the situation was resolved just a couple of hours before the deadline. Miroslav Lajcak commended the progress saying "a strong message was sent to Europe from Sarajevo today." "I am sure the response of the European Union will be very positive," Lajcak told reporters in Sarajevo. The changes aimed at improving functionality of Bosnia- Herzegovina's central government and parliament are now expected to speed up reforms in the country necessary for further progress towards European integration.
