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<p>The protests and plenums are focussing primarily on socio-economic issues, demonstrating
the frustration of the population with Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) leaders' failure
to implement reforms on issues which matter most to ordinary Bosnians. The UK views
these grievances as being rooted in a wider frustration with the functionality of
the state, and as indicative of a broader malaise within BiH, which includes the Constitution.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the
Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), visited BiH on 27-28 March, and emphasised
to BiH's leadership the importance of their engaging fully with the population's legitimate
calls for change, which will include broader reforms. The UK has made clear, bilaterally
and within the EU, that it stands ready to assist BiH's leaders in implementing a
wide range of changes, should BiH's leaders demonstrate their commitment to engage
fully with protesters, and summon the political will to make reforms.</p>
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