NADJA DIZDAREVIC URGES BOSNIAN AUTHORITIES TO HELP FREE SIX BOSNIAN CITIZENS FROM US GUANTANAMO PRISON

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 14,2008) – Nadja Dizdarevic, wife of Boudella el Hajj, one of six Bosnian citizens of Algerian origin,the members of so-called „Algerian Group“ who have been illegaly detained for the last six years in the U.S. Guantanamo prison, sent yesterday an open letter to the Bosnian Presidency and the Bosnian Council of Ministers, the Office of the International community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) and other authorized institutions in which she calls upon the urgent engagement in the implementation of the Road Map“, and making efforts in releasing six Bosnian citizens and getting them back to Bosnia.

Dizdarevic, at the same time invited the Bosnian Constitutional Court and Human Rights Commission to remember the decision which confirmed that the decision of the Chamber of Human Rights was not honored and that she asks for new visit of the Bosnian officials to the Guantanamo prison according to that decision which refusal of enforcement constitutes a criminal offense.

CROATIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER GORDAN JANDROKOVIC VISITS BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 14,2008) - The Croatian Foreign Affairs and European Integrations Minister Gordan Jandrokovic is in a three day visit to Bosnia.

The Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integrations of Croatia Gordan Jandrokovic had a meeting yesterday in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, focusing on the topics that are of mutual interest for both the countries, touching upon some of the open issues between the two countries. The two officials emphasized that those open issues are to be solved one step at the time.

Jandrokovic’s visit to Bosnia followed after the new Croatian government was formed, which shows, as Alkalaj stated, that Croatia is interested in developing relations with Bosnia.

Alkalaj stated that the meeting was an excellent opportunity to discuss bilateral relations, multilateral issues, cooperation in the regional institutions and other points of interest.

The Bosnian Minister of Foreign Affairs characterized relations between the two countries as very good, but added that they can always be improved. There are certain issues burdening the tow countries’ relations; Alkalaj announced a dialogue to solve them.

The Croatian Foreign Affairs Minister Gordan Jandrokovic said that he and Alkalaj discussed all the topics concerning bilateral relations and added that there are “certain issues which oblige us to solve them”.

Croatia has advanced further in the European integrations processes than Bosnia, but is willing to help BiH with the experience. In that context, Jandrokovic announced that a meeting will be held between the Bosnian and Croatian foreign affairs ministers for the purpose of sharing the experience in the process of negotiations with the EU.

Jandrokovic stated that economic cooperation between the two countries is good and that Croatia is satisfied with the investments in Bosnia. He called the Bosnian entrepreneurs to invest in both the countries and emphasized that the CEFTA agreement offers additional possibilities of investments and trade.

Commenting the open issues between the two countries, Jandrokovic emphasized that it is no shame that there are certain open issues between the two countries, but that it is a shame if those issues are not solved in a civilized spirit.

”I am certain that after today’s meeting both the sides are willing to find a solution that very way”, Jandrokovic said.

The two ministers announced that the issues will be discussed at the session of Cooepration Council which will be held this year in Bosnia.

Answering the question what will the two countries’ officials’ reaction will be after the Kosovo independence proclamation, Alkalaj stated first that Bosnia’s attitude is to accept the solution agreed upon.

Since the day of the Kosovo independence declaration is approaching, Alkalaj said that Bosnia will not state the opinion on the issue and that none of the countries has not, so far, asked Bosnia to recognize Kosovo.

Alkalaj said that Bosnia will probably be the last one to recognize Kosovo.

Jandrokovic stated that Croatia is interested in peace and stability in the region and will follow the EU regarding Kosovo's independence, for it is an EU membership candidate.

LAJCAK MET WITH CROATIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER JANDROKOVIC

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 14,2008) - The International Community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajčák, met yesterday in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with the Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Gordan Jandrokovic.

Lajcak discusssed with Jandrokovic the current situation in Bosnia and latest developments with regard to key reforms needed for Bosnia to sign the Stabilisation and Association agreement with the EU.

The High Representative and EU Special Representative welcomed the constructive role that Croatia plays with regard to resolving of all outstanding bilateral issues between Bosnia and Croatia and emphasized Croatia as a positive regional example in European integration processes.

The Croatian Foreign Minister Jandrokovic expressed continued full support of Croatia for the work of the International Community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia.

He appealed that all solutions in Bosnia must protect the rights and interests of the Croatians living in Bosnia. The Minister briefed the High Representative and EU Special Representative on the Croatian experience in Euro-Atlantic integration processes and offered the benefit of Croatia’s experience with this regard.

Both agreed that the European future is the only true future for the countries of the Southeastern Europe, the Office of the International Community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia said.

PROTECTED WITNESS TESTIFIED BEFORE BOSNIAN STATE COURT AT TRIAL OF FOUR CROATIAN WAR CRIMINALS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 14,2008) – At the request of the Bosnian State Prosecutor, the latest hearing at the trial of four Croatian war criminals charged with war crimes committed during the Croatian aggression against Bosnia in the early 1990's in the Vojno concentration camp near te southern Bosnian city of Mostar took place behind closed doors to allow the examination of a protected witness.

The Bosnian State Prosecutor charges Croatian war criminals Marko Radic, Dragan Sunjic, Damir Brekalo and Mirko Vracevic, former members of the fascist paramilitary formations of the Croatians living in Bosnia (HVO), with the rape, murder and torture of Bosnian civilians held in the Vojno concentration camp in 1993 and 1994,during the Croatian aggression against Bosnia.

The Bosnian State Prosecutor charges Croatian war criminals Marko Radic and Dragan Sunjic on the basis of their individual and command responsibility.

As indicated in the indictment, Croatian war criminal Damir Brekalo participated in the torture and taking away of detained Bosnian civilians, while Croatian war criminal Mirko Vracevic was a guard in Vojno concentration camp.

The trial of the four Croatian war criminals started in April 2007. To date, 13 hearings have been closed to the public.

According to the official timetable of the Bosnian State Court, the trial is due to continue on February 19.

SPIRIC AND SUVALOV DISCUSSED POLITICAL SITUATION IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 14,2008) – Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric met in Sarajevo yesterday with Russian Ambassador to Bosnia Konstantin Suvalov.
During the meeting Spiric emphasized the necessity of fulfilment of obligations that are precondition for Bosnia for signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU in the first four months of 2008.

He stated that signing of the Agreement is a turning point for Bosnia.

The Russian Ambassador Suvalov agreed with Spiric that the internal dialogue between the elected Bosnian officials is the best way to overcome all the problems.

DEMONSTRATORS THREW EGGS AND TORCHES ON SARAJEVO CANTON GOVERNMENT BUILDING

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 14,2008) – At the protest yesterday in front of the Sarajevo Canton Government and Assembly building, the citizens, including many young people, threw stones, eggs, torches, plastic bottles and other objects on the building. Some windows are reported to be broken.

About 2.000 citizens assembled sometimes before noon yesterday in front of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly and Government.A police officer and a worker have sustained minor injuries while protecting the Sarajevo Canton Government during the citizens’ protest.

Over half an hour after the beginning of the protest, none of the city authorities addressed the citizens. Nobody even addressed the people on behalf of the protest organizers. A large number of media representatives as well as the increased number of police forces are in front of the building.

This protest was organized in a reaction to the increase of number of juvenile violence cases, resulting in death, especially in Sarajevo.

The DOSTA movement invited the citizens to join the protest and to ask for irrevocable resignation of Semiha Borovac, Mayor of Sarajevo and Samir Silajdzic, Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister, for, as stated, they acted inertly in the situation.

A larger protest took place in Sarajevo last Saturday, also in a reaction to the increased number of juvenile violence cases.