The US and European Union have brought together Bosnian politicians from all sides for a meeting aimed at breaking the political deadlock in the country.
Friday's talks are expected to include the subject of constitutional reform.
The aim of the talks as a whole is to move the country forward towards eventual membership of the EU and Nato.
Bosnia struggles with an unwieldy government and 14 years after the devastating war of independence, there are still deep political divisions.
The 1995 Dayton peace accords created a federal state with two highly autonomous entities: the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Lingering hostility between each ethnic group has led to a steady increase in nationalist rhetoric, with the Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik repeatedly threatening to call a referendum on secession.
That, say some Muslim politicians, could lead to a new outbreak of violence.
Reforms
Now, the US, led by its Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg and the EU, represented by the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, have decided to intervene to break what is being called the worst political crisis since the war.
It is thought that the meeting will address ongoing attempts to reform Bosnia's constitution in order to transfer more powers to central institutions and scale back on the country's vast bureaucracy.
At present, the country groans under the weight of its unwieldy government, comprising three presidents, 13 prime ministers and 180 ministers.
Also on the table are long-standing proposals to close the Office of the High Representative - the international body that oversees all politicians in the country.
But the aim of eventual EU and Nato membership could be a long, uphill struggle.
Friday's talks are expected to include the subject of constitutional reform.
The aim of the talks as a whole is to move the country forward towards eventual membership of the EU and Nato.
Bosnia struggles with an unwieldy government and 14 years after the devastating war of independence, there are still deep political divisions.
The 1995 Dayton peace accords created a federal state with two highly autonomous entities: the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Lingering hostility between each ethnic group has led to a steady increase in nationalist rhetoric, with the Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik repeatedly threatening to call a referendum on secession.
That, say some Muslim politicians, could lead to a new outbreak of violence.
Reforms
Now, the US, led by its Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg and the EU, represented by the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, have decided to intervene to break what is being called the worst political crisis since the war.
It is thought that the meeting will address ongoing attempts to reform Bosnia's constitution in order to transfer more powers to central institutions and scale back on the country's vast bureaucracy.
At present, the country groans under the weight of its unwieldy government, comprising three presidents, 13 prime ministers and 180 ministers.
Also on the table are long-standing proposals to close the Office of the High Representative - the international body that oversees all politicians in the country.
But the aim of eventual EU and Nato membership could be a long, uphill struggle.
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