Bosnia can make progress only if the idea of membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO is accepted as a priority, the Croat People's Assembly (HNS), political organisation gathering Croat parties said on Tuesday, urging the State Presidency to endorse the agreement on principles to form the state government.

The statement comes on the day when the Presidency is set to hold two separate sessions, one on the appointment of the prime minister-designate and the other on the adoption of the disputed Annual National Programme (ANP) for the NATO.

Although the leaders of three strongest nationalist parties signed earlier this month an agreement that among other things stipulates the principles to form the government, the statements they gave in the following days showed the deal was not likely to be implemented within 30 days, as agreed.

The leaders of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ BiH) and the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) put the signatures on the document agreed last week.

The country’s road to NATO which was vaguely mentioned in the leaders’ agreement is a stumbling stone and has been preventing the government formation in the past ten months after the general election was held.

While Bosniak and Croat representatives support the membership, the Serb political leadership is against it and is resolute in maintaining the stance on military neutrality.

Using the instruments which lead Bosnia and Herzegovina towards stability and prosperity, mainly the EU and NATO integration, for the purpose of inciting the blockade, internal conflicts and political ransoms is unacceptable, the HNS said.

“Jeopardising the state stability through the obstruction of the Agreement of election winners on the principles to form the authority is a risk that Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot afford, especially not at this moment. We call for refraining from the abuse of the mechanisms for reconciliation and progress, pointing out that compromise and cooperation are some of the fundamental principles of European spirit and values,” said the Croat political organisation.

The Croat parties reiterated that the country can make progress if it “resolutely accept the idea of the membership in the EU and NATO as a priority of the country’s future.”