US senators call on Bosnian leaders to show unity

(SARAJEVO) - Visiting US senators on Friday called for Bosnian leaders to show unity and resolve an impasse on how the divided country should be governed to help it gain NATO and European Union membership.

"(The) United States believes that the only real path to secure a prosperous future (for Bosnia) is European and Euro-Atlantic integration and it's important that no more time be lost," Republican senator John McCain told journalists.

McCain and independent senator Joe Lieberman headed a delegation of US senators and and members of congress.

They expressed disappointment at the failure of EU- and US-backed talks, held late last year between Bosnia's Muslim, Croat and Serb leaders, aimed at ending the political deadlock in the Balkan country.

Since the 1992-1995 war Bosnia consists of two semi-independent halves -- the Serbs' Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation. They are linked by weak central institutions while each has its own government.

The unclear division of authority between the two entities often leads to paralysis of institutions.

The international community has been insisting for years on the reform of the Bosnian constitution to make the country more functional.

The Bosnian Serbs, however, have refused any modifications which might reduce their hold on power.