SPIRIC: BIOMETRIC PASSPORTS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN BOSNIA BY THE END OF THE FIRST HALF OF 2009

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 8,2008) - The Bosnian government adopted yesterday information by the Bosnian Ministry of Civil Affairs related to the activities regarding issuing personal documents and locations for issuing as well as the Plan of the activities for introducing biometric passports.

Bosnia's Prime minister Nikola Spiric announced after the session that this is one of the conditions for liberalization of the visa regime with the EU countries, and the end of the first half of 2009 stays as a date when Bosnia should introduce biometric passports.

He pointed out that the Bosnian Council of Ministers suggested that the entity, cantonal and local organs establish digitally authorized electronic record of citizens by January 1st 2010 the latest and that they should perform inspection supervision at every location at least twice a year.

He warned that it is less important if Bosnia would introduce biometric passports on May 31st 2009, since what Brussels will value is whether the data basis according to which the documents are issued are safe.

"That where this need comes from, since the registry offices are neuralgic points for issuing false documents and that is why the central base of data is needed," Spiric said.

A biometric passport is a combined paper and electronic identity document that uses biometrics to authenticate the citizenship of travelers. The passport's critical information is stored on a tiny computer chip, much like information stored on smartcards. Like some smartcards, the passport book design calls for an embedded contactless chip that is able to hold digital signature data to ensure the integrity of the passport and the biometric data.
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BOSNIA TO START ISSUING BIOMETRIC PASSPORTS BY NOVEMBER 1

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (March 8,2008) - The Bosnian Ministry of Civil Affairs is taking all necessary activities in order to start issuing biometric passports by November 1 as it was planned by the process for new passports issuing, stated the Bosnian Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs Senad Sepic.

"We are slowed down in this process by unplanned commitment of adjusting different adopted laws on travel documents in both houses of Parliament but we shall do everything to start issuing passports on time”, stated Sepic.

He added that these changes mean gradual introduction of biometric passports for all Bosnian citizens.Ther Bosnian citizens would have to change current passports with new biometric ones after the old ones expire. This is relieving factor for citizens since they do not have to spend additional money in case they already have a passport.

Existing passports shall be valid until their expiry but for those who wish to travel to countries for which visa is needed, they will have to own biometric passport. This is obligation taken over by the liberalization of visa regime.

The Bosnian Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs mentioned that before issuing of passports a rulebook needs to be adjusted on the design of passport and the company which will print them and prepare CIPS Direction for its issuing.

Price of biometric passport is not confirmed yet since it depends on where it will be printed, stated Sepic.

"There are a lot of important aspects for complete visa regime liberalization and in Ministry of Civil Affairs we are doing everything in our power for our citizens to travel easier as possible," Minister Sepic stated.
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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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