Josipovic and Kosor said in the joint statement the political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina threatened to further strain relations in the Federation, the Croat-Bosniak entity, and to block government formation at the state level.

Croatia is vitally interested in the stability, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a friendly neighbour, the joint statement said, adding that stability was based on the recognition of the will of the majority of each of the three constituent peoples, including the Croats, as expressed at general elections last October.

"We expect all factors in BiH, including the Office of the High Representative, to ensure and protect the constitutional position and institutional equality of the Croat people in Bosnia and Herzegovina," Josipovic and Kosor said, adding that, rather than any radicalisation, dialogue should be resumed and a solution sought that was in the interest of Bosnia and Herzegovina and all its constituent peoples and citizens.

"As a member of the Euro-Atlantic community, the Republic of Croatia is willing, together with the partners in the international community, to help and support the search for such a solution," said the joint statement.

High Representative Valentin Inzko on Monday temporarily suspended decisions by the Bosnian Central Election Commission (SIP) which declared as illegal the election of the leadership of the Federation and the inauguration of the entity parliament's upper house.

The suspension elicited strong reactions from the leaders of the Bosnian Croat HDZ BiH and HDZ 1990 parties, which believe that SIP's decision was right because they enjoy the majority support of the Croat electorate, which they say makes them eligible to contribute its representatives to bodies of government in the Federation.