Bosnian Serb Entity Gets New Government

Dzombic said the priorities of his government would be to improve the business environment, increase economic activity and ensure social justice.

Other priorities would include measures to push Bosnia closer to the European Union membership, regional cooperation and the fight against crime and corruption.

"We are aware that the time ahead of us is the time for unpopular measures… but our imperative has always been to act in a socially responsible manner,” the new Prime Minister told the Bosnian Serb parliament. 

"We believe 2011 will be the year of reforms and economic stabilization," he added.

The Republika Srpska assembly approved Dzombic’s cabinet by 46 votes to 30 votes.

The Republika Srpska government is the first to be formed nearly three months after Bosnia and Herzegovina held general elections.

Under the 1995 Dayton peace agreement, which ended the 1992-95 war, Bosnia was divided into two highly independent entities, the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska and the Federation, predominantly comprised of Bosniaks and Croats.

The two entities are linked by weak central institutions, while each entity retains its own government, parliament and presidency.