REHN: BOSNIA MUST REFORM CONSTITUTION TO JOIN EUROPEAN UNION

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 10,2008) - Bosnia must reform its constitution and hold a census before becoming a candidate for European Union membership, the EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo today.

"We are in favour of constitution evolution which can be done and must be done in full respect of Dayton Peace Agreement," Rehn told reporters following a meeting with the Bosnian President Haris Silajdzic.

"It is important that the country will be able to speak with one voice as a future candidate country of the European Union," he stressed referring to a longstanding gridlock among Bosnia's main political parties over adopting constitutional reforms and strengthening central institutions.

"If I were to see nightmares I will see nightmares of Bosnia blocking the decision making in the EU because of its own political stalemates, because of a dysfunctional state structure," Rehn said.

He slammed local politicians over the current stalemate in reform process which is "hurting the country's progress towards EU" and the use of nationalistic rhetoric in the buildup to last Sunday's local elections.

The Bosnian President Haris Silajdzic protested that EU policy apportioned equal blame to all political leaders in Bosnia.

"Such an attitude towards Bosnia is my own nightmare," President Silajdzic told Rehn at a joint news conference. "This must stop because it does not help."

"Tell us who is failing to do things here -- it is the right time to say it," said President Silajdzic, accusing political representatives of the Serbians living in Bosnia of being the main obstructionist force.

"This neutral attitude does not help because it is not neutral -- it helps those who are keeping Bosnia on hold. There can be no neutral attitude - we are dealing with a very serious situation here," President Silajdzic said.

Rehn declined to respond to calls to name obstructionists, saying the European Commission policy was not "to participate in domestic politics by blaming different parties".

"What matters for us is that the legal, democratic and economic criteria of EU membership are met ... As regards the consequences, it is up to the people of the country to make political conclusions," Rehn kept avoiding to answer directly to remarks made by President Silajdzic.

Bosnia signed in June a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union, seen as the first step towards EU membership.

Rehn also said that Bosnia has to conduct a census in 2011 as the EU needs clear data in order to formulate policies for Bosnia.

However,Bosnian politicians warn that it would cement the results of the genocide against the Bosnian people committed by the genocidal Serbian fascist savages during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.
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BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY WILL NOT POSTPONE THE PROCEDURE OF RATIFICATION OF SAA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 10,2008) - According to the information that the Bosnian State Presidency got from the Bosnian Ministry of Foreign Affairs it is expected that the Proposal of decision on ratification of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and the European Union will be delivered to the Presidency no later than Monday; Damir Arnaut, Bosnian President Haris Silajdzic’s advisor said yesterday.

"The Bosnian Presidency will certainly not postpone sending this document to the Bosnian Parliament; Arnaut added.

According to the procedure, the Presidency sends this Document to the Bosnian State Parliament which gives consent for ratification and then sends it to the Presidency which gives the final decision on ratification.

The Bosnian Council of Ministera adopted the Proposal of decision on ratification of the SAA on the last session, and according to this decision the Bosnian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sends the Proposal to the the Bosnian Presidency for further process of ratification.
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SDA CAUCUS HAS PREPARED A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO POLICE REFORM LAWS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (March 3,2008) – The Bosnian Minister of Security Tarik Sadovic stated in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo that the SDA Party Caucus at the Bosnian Parliamentary Assembly prepared a “number of amendments to the two proposals for the police reform laws aimed to improve the laws’ texts”.

”We are not optimistic related to adoption of the amendments”, Sadovic stated and assed that both these laws were supported in the first reading in the parliamentary houses. What follows is the phase of amendments.

Sadovic expressed concerns over the fact that the text of the existing laws does not contain neither of the three EU principles on police reform.

”That worries us greatly. I clearly heard at the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Main Board session that the Office of the International community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) and the EU Police Mission in Bosnia (EUPM) are authorized to state whether or not the EU principles have been implemented or not. If not, the question is why has the EU given up the principles”, Sadovic stated.

He added that he has had an opportunity to see almost all the documents of the PIC Main Board’s communiqué and several letters of the Commissioner for Expansion Olli Rehn.

”In each of the three letters, police reform based on the three principles was emphasized. It is strange for us at the SDA party that we are to be given something that is not the police reform, under the excuse for signing the SAA. My party’s position is that Bosnia should sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and European Union, but we also need a good police reform. That means that wee need to get a multiethnic police, based on the EU standards and in the function of efficient fight against all forms of crime”, Minister Sadovic said.
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BOSNIAN AND EU OFFICIALS HELD TALKS IN BRUSSELS

BRUSSELS, Belgium (March 1,2008) - A two-day exchange of opinions between the EU representatives and Bosnia's political leaders on the current political situation in the country, and steps that need to be taken in oder for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) to be signed by Bosnia and EU ended in Brussels with some long-awaited announcements.

The EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn confirmed that talks about liberalization of the visa system would speed up, “having in mind that this is one the biggest problems for the Bosnian citizens" and the outlook for the SAA signing in April was said to be realistic.
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SPIRIC URGED PIC TO SUPPORT BOSNIA'S EU INTEGRATION

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 28,2008) – Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric stated that the political situation in Bosnia is much better now comparing the situation at the time of the last session of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Managing Board.

Spiric stated that the activities of the Bosnian Council of Ministers are based on two ideas – further integration of Bosnia into the EU and the full membership in the NATO.

”Bosnia on December 4 2007 initialed the Stabilisation a nd Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU and the Bosnian Council of Ministers took obligations derived from it very seriously”, stated Spiric.

Regarding the police reform, he informed PIC that based on the Mostar Declaration and Action Plan for police reform,the Bosnian Council of Ministers on February 14 confirmed and sent into parliamentary procedure draft law on the Direction for police bodies coordination and agencies for the support to the police structure in Bosnia as well as the draft law on independent supervisory bodies of the police structure.

”Both laws were adopted in the first reading in the Bosnian Parliament's House of Representatives and House of Peoples. I expect for these laws to be presented in the House of Representatives for the second reading in the session’s Agenda on March 5”, stated Spiric.

He added that every reform is a matter of process, not moment. “I have appealed to all chosen authorities to choose further integrations over ideal laws”, added Spiric.

He estimated that the issue of further integrations needs a wide consensus but that no one has the right to stop the processes and for Bosnia to waste the chance given by Brussels. He expressed optimism that reason and responsibility will prevail and both laws would be adopted at the second reading.

”I appeal to you to encourage those political forces which expressed doubts since it is clear that these two laws do not complete the police reform but they make those first steps which would not allow us to go back any more”, added Spiric.

He concluded that there is progress in the public management reform which was noted in the report of European Commission last week.

Spiric underlined that the basic program goal of the Bosnian government, except from the EU integrations processes, is the full membership in NATO.

He informed PIC that the Bosnian Council of Ministers concluded a number of other important draft laws such as budget law, law on criminal proceedings, law on medications and other medical supplies, law on salaries and employment fees in the Bosnian state institutions, as well as the law on fiscal council.

Spiric stated that the Bosnian Council of Ministers has the list of priorities such as solving the status the state property, attracting foreign investments, economic development, and census, strategy for the fight against corruption and framework employment strategy.

He added that these days the issue of the future of the Office of the International Community's High Representative in bosnia (OHR) is very much discussed.

Spiric appealed to PIC to support Bosnia on its road towards the EU and again underlined the importance of signing the SAA as soon as possible.

"As I have already mentioned, after the Dayton Agreement, the SAA is the most important agreement for Bosnia which should bring together all creative potentials and ensure that Bosnia rises above futile and somewhat hysteric political games”, concluded Spiric.
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SOLANA: EU MILITARY PRESENCE IN BOSNIA AS LONG AS NECESSARY

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 27,2008) - The EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer met in Brussels yesterday and stated that they do not believe the speculations on the strengthening of tensions in the region.Speaking about Bosnia, Solana confirmed that during EU-NATO meeting most they talked about police reform and future of the Office of the International Community's High Reprsentative in Bosnia (OHR), that is, its transformation into the Office of the EU special Representative in Bosnia. He expressed hope that Bosnia's political leaders shall soon manage to agree on the main principles of the police reform since the signing of the stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and the european Union depends on it.

Commenting the possible influence of the situation in Kosovo on Bosnia, Solana stated that the political and security situation in Bosnia is under control and that Brussels does not expect any negative outcomes.

He repeated the stand of the EU from last Monday under which the conditions for completion of Altea operation in Bosnia still are not met and that EU will keep its military presence in Bosnia as long as it is necessary.
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EU URGES BOSNIA TO COMPLETE POLICE REFORM

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 27,2008) - Bosnia could sign an agreement in April bringing it closer to EU membership, the European Union said yesterday, urging the Southeastern European state to complete police reforms to avoid missing the opportunity.

"I would expect we should be able to sign an SAA with Bosnia shortly, that is in April, on condition that Bosnia can adopt the required laws concerning police reform," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told reporters yesterday.

"It's a great opportunity for the country and I trust the leaders will not miss this opportunity," he said ahead of meeting in Brussels today with Bosnia's leadership.

"If they (Bosnia's leaders) show enough willingness, positive thinking and pro-activeness, there is enough to go forward," Brigadier General Vincenzo Coppola, the official in charge of an EU police mission in Bosnia told a news briefing in Brussels.
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BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS POLICE REFORM LAWS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 27,2008) – The Bosnian Parliament's House of Peoples of has adopted a set of laws regulating the reform of the Bosnian police, in the first reading. The laws legislating seven new police bodies had previously been adopted by the House of Representatives.

The members of the Bosnian Parliament that voted against it argued it the laws are not legal, or in conformity with the three European principles of police reform.

The members of the Bosnian Parliament voting in favour said they are a condition for signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union. Also, the upper house adopted the budget for the Bosnian government institutions in 2008, worth 1,186 billion Bosnian Marks.

Furthermore, the newly adopted passport law enables the introduction of biometric passports in Bosnia. The Kyoto Protocol was also adopted.
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EUROPEAN UNION HOPES TO SIGN SAA WITH BOSNIA IN MARCH OR APRIL

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (February 26,2008) - The European Union hopes to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Bosnia in March or April, as soon as the Southeastern European country completes an overdue police reform, the bloc's president Slovenia said.

The Bosnian Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj said the reform of Bosnia's ethnically separate police forces would be completed in March.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel told a joint news conference with Alkalaj the EU was ready to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Bosnia immediately after that.

Bosnia initialed the SAA, the first rung on the ladder to EU membership, in December.

Alkalaj rejected threat of the Serbians living in Bosnia to hold a referendum on secession from Bosnia if the majority of U.N. member states and the European Union recognize Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia on February 17.

"According to the Dayton agreement, no part of Bosnia has the right to secede," said Alkalaj.

The Dayton agreement ended the 1992-95 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.

Alkalaj said Bosnia was not likely to recognize independent Kosovo at present.
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LAJČÁK: NOBODY HAS RIGHT OF OBSTRUCTING BOSNIA'S EU INTEGRATION PROCESS

TREBINJE, Bosnia (February 25,2008) – The EU integration process is a priority of Bosnia and its leaders should do everything to fulfill conditions for signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA),the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak stated after a meeting with the SNSD Party President and the prime minister of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia (RS) Milorad Dodik, in Crkvina, near the southern Bosnian town of Trebinje.

He stated that nobody has the right of obstructing Bosnia's EU integration process and the Mostar Declaration on the Bosnian police reform.

Lajcak stated that the Kosovo independence declaration has significantly influenced the political atmosphere in the region but that the EU future of Bosnia does not depend in any way on Kosovo.

This was one in the series of consultations the High Representative will have with political parties’ leaders in Bosnia.
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BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBER HARIS SILAJDZIC DISCUSSED POLITICAL SITUATION IN BOSNIA WITH SEVERAL FOREIGN DIPLOMATS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 22,2008) – A member of the Bosnian Presidency Dr Haris Silajdžić met with Said Nasser Mansoor Al-Sinawi Al-Hartly, the Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Bosnia.

Dr Silajdžić also had separate meetings with Zulkifli Adnan, the Ambassador of Malaysia to Bosnia, Bullent Tulun, the Ambassador of Turkey to Bosnia and Raffi Gregorian, the International Community's First Deputy High Representative in Bosnia.

During the meeting, they talked about the current political situation in Bosnia and the region.

Besides that, they also talked about the state of the Bosnian economy , as well as the possibilities and the perspective for the following period.

All conversationalists agreed that besides all pressing issues in Bosnia, the priority is signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union,the Cabinet of Bosnian Presidency Member Dr Haris Silajdžić said in a press release.
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REHN: BALKANS HAVE CHANCE TO ACHIVE STABILITY

LONDON, UK (January 28,2008) - The Balkans have a chance to achieve stability and prosperity and the European Union can use the carrot of membership to drive reforms, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said.

In a comment piece for the British daily the Guardian. , Rehn acknowledged there was a "danger of instability, at the moment when Kosovo's future status is on the point of being resolved," but added that the EU could be a stabilising influence.

Writing ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels later today, Rehn said that the 27-nation bloc could have a positive influence "if the EU gives a decisive and unified steer to ensure a coordinated response, as foreign ministers meeting today should be aware."

"The western Balkans has made steady if uneven progress over recent years, and the goal of EU membership remains an important motivation to keep reforms on track," he said.

Rehn wrote that he hoped to see all of the countries in the region sign stabilisation and association agreements with the EU, which he described as "the gateway towards candidacy for membership".

Albania, Montenegro and Macedonia have all signed such pacts, and Rehn said the EU was "now waiting for Bosnia and for the genocidal Serbia to meet the remaining conditions to sign the agreement.

He added that "EU foreign ministers should today give a strong signal of Serbia's European future by deciding to sign the stabilisation and association agreement shortly."

"Seldom have citizens had as clear a choice as the Serbs do now, between a nationalist past and a European future. The EU is ready to welcome the citizens of Serbia into EU, not just through a contractual relationship with their state, but also individually," he said.

"The future for the Balkans can be far from dark. ... But ultimately people in the region have to exercise their democratic choice to determine their countries' future course," Rehn concluded.

SPIRIC MET WITH BRITISH DIPLOMATS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 28,2008) – Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric had a meeting in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with British Ambassador to Bosnia Matthew Rycroft and British Coordinator for the Southeastern Europe Michael Tetham. He informed them on the activities of the Bosnian government in the process of fulfilling conditions for signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union.

Spiric stated that after the Dayton agreement, the SAA is the most important document and that its signing will bring Bosnia's political leaders into a new position related to fulfilment of the EU association obligations.

British Coordinator for the Southeastern Europe stated that his country has supported the integration of West Balkans into the EU, the Bosnian government announced.