DELEGATIONS OF EIGHT SOUTHEASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND EC GATHERED IN BOSNIA AT THE MULTI-BENEFICIARY PROGRAMME COORDINATION MEETING

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 9,2008) - Hosted by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), a two-day coordination meeting gathering participants in the Multi-Beneficiary Programme under the European Commission’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), has commenced in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo today.

Head of Operations of the European Commission Delegation to Bosnia Boris Iarochevitch and Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Hido Biščević addressed the participants at the opening ceremony. They both emphasized the importance of the meeting and of the Multi-Beneficiary Programme, which might become an important tool for the very essence of the work of the RCC.

Delegations of Bosnia, Albania, Croatia,Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and European Commission have gathered to discuss and evaluate implementation of the ongoing projects, Programme’s strategy and possibilities for future cooperation.

Iarochevitch underlined how important and useful is to held meetings like this one in order to exchange information among the beneficiaries of the countries and delegations of the region and discuss future regional cooperation and steps forward.

“I think that the timing is very important. As you all know, we are currently engaged in the IPA programming cycle. You have been recently asked to commence to draft programmes and plans for the years 2009-2011, and I think our work today will help us to generate ideas with a regional scope for the future indicative programmes.”- stressed Iarochevitch.

Biščević pointed out that the next year, a year of 2009, would be a crucial year for the countries of the southeastern Europe, and particularly for the Western Balkans countries.He said that these countries, which are at the crossroad now, could experience two possible outcomes – a positive one, where the positive trends can be sustained and accelerated, and a negative one, a scenario of standstill.

“I need to tell you that the countries in the region are eagerly waiting for a strategy to be finalised. The governments in the region are very much preparing to see in what way, how, to what dynamics and to what methodology the Multi-Beneficiary Programme strategy will be translated, in the forthcoming period, into concrete work, concrete projects.” – said Biščević.

The multi-beneficiary programme will complement and add value to the support given by different national programmes. Multi-beneficiary actions consequently focuses on support that requires collaboration among the beneficiaries, such as regional structures, networks of experts or civil servants or to tackle needs or problems of a cross-border nature.

Purpose of support under the IPA programme is to help candidate and potential candidate countries (the Beneficiaries) to progress towards fully meeting the Copenhagen political and economic criteria as well as adopting and implementing EU acquis.

Besides the country-specific financial assistance, a multi-beneficiary programme supports joint projects by several partners, in areas such as economic and social development, exchange of students and academic staff, supporting civil society, administrative and judicial reform, fight against organised crime and corruption and disaster risk reduction.

For 2008-2010, the overall indicative amount of EU financial assistance under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) is 4.471 billion Euros.
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SDA EXPECTS LAJCAK TO REVOKE RESOLUTION ON KOSOVO

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (March 1,2008) – The President of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA Sulejman Tihic said he finds it the International community High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak’s obligation to nullify the Kosovo resolution recently adopted by the genocidal Serbian creature in bosnia {"RS").

This is a normal conclusion after the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council denounced the document, Tihic stated, claiming its adoption was illegal and an anti-Dayton Agreement and anti-constitutional act.
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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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GENOCIDAL SERBIAN CREATURE IN BOSNIA (RS) THREATENS SECESSION

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia (February 24,2008) - The genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "the RS" has threatened to hold a referendum on secession from Bosnia if a majority of U.N. member states and the European Union recognise Kosovo's independence.

Such a move would put into question the Dayton Peace Agreement which ended the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.

Washington was the first to condemn such an initiative.

"Bosnia is a sovereign and independent state and its territorial integrity and sovereignty are an undeniable fact," the U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia Charles English told Bosnian daily Oslobodjenje.

"The three-and-a-half-year long war was expected to provide an answer to the question if someone had a right to secede from Bosnia. Dayton (peace agreement) solved the issue.There is no right to secession," the U.S. Ambassador stated.

The British ambassador to Bosnia, Matthew Rycroft, said in Banja Luka that his country had recognized the independence of Kosovo. After talking with the prime minister of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia (RS) Milorad Dodik,Ambassador Rycroft stated that "RS will not secede from Bosnia, nor would the status of this entity change".

A member of the Bosnian Presidency Haris Silajdzic stated in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo that: "Resolution against Kosovo independence proclamation adopted by the RS entity parliament, has no legal effect, for entities are not states and have no such jurisdiction."

The International Community's High Representative in Bosnia,Miroslav Lajcak stressed that Bosnia is an internationally recognized state whose sovereignty and territorial integrity is guaranteed by the Dayton Peace Agreement.

"Entities of Bosnia have no right to secede from Bosnia under the Dayton Peace Agreement. The constitutional structure of Bosnia,including the existence of the entities, can only be changed in accordance with the amendment procedure prescribed in the Bosnian Constitution," Lajcak stated.

The High Representative expects that the Bosnian authorities will fulfill their obligations and maintain public order.

Political analyst Srecko Latal did not hide his concerns.

"If they really proceeded with organising a referendum, that would destabilise Bosnia further because the international community would clearly not allow it," Latal said.

Other analysts share similar views, stressing the international community should, despite opposite calls by some local politicians, maintain its presence in the country.

"The international community will have to stay for a longer period of time in Bosnia," political analyst Ivan Sijakovic said.

For Emil Habul, another Sarajevo-based analyst, the parliament of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia (RS) tried to "take up positions for the future."

"RS secession is an idea that has been smoldering since 1992, but Dodik and his government understand that it is impossible to achieve," Habul said.

Political analyst Tanja Topic warned that Bosnia is "unstable and fragile." But she stressed the Southeastern European country's "borders will be inviolable" due to the "clear position of the international community."

"Bosnia is an international protectorate and as long as there is a strong presence of the international community a referendum in RS is a big political illusion," Topic said.
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BOSNIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION ATTENDS OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY SESSION IN VIENNA

VIENNA, Austria (February 22,2008) – A delegation of the Bosnian Parliament, lead by First Deputy Speaker Semsudin Mehmedovic is attending the annual OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session in Vienna, from February 21 to 23.

At this year’s session, participants are to discuss Kosovo independence proclamation and reaction of other countries, members of OSCE.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will also debate current issues relating to OSCE activities.The Conventional Armed Forces Treaty will also be discussed.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE was established in 1990. The primary task of the 320 member Assembly is to promote parliamentary involvement in the activities of the OSCE and to facilitate inter-parliamentary dialogue and co-operation, important aspects of the overall effort to meet the challenges of democracy throughout the OSCE area.
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OHR: DEMANDS TO ARTIFICIALLY CONNECT BOSNIA AND KOSOVO WILL BE REJECTED

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 21,2008) – "Demands made by some irresponsible individuals who have been trying to artificially connect Bosnia and Kosovo will be refused decisively. BiH is not an open issue and political heads are expected to talk and act the way which supports the Bosnian Constitution and the Dayton peace Agreement," the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) Spokesperson Mario Brkic stated at a press conference in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo.

”Bosnia is an internationally recognized state with territorial integrity guaranteed by the Dayton Agreement. Constitution of this country stated that it is made up of two entities and that Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats are constitutive peoples”, Brkic reminded.
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PRESIDENT KOMSIC: BOSNIA WILL NOT RECOGNIZE KOSOVO ANY TIME SOON

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 20,2008) – The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic met in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with the Ambassador of the genocidal Serbia Grujica Spasovic who presented him with a letter from Serbian President Boris Tadic related to the Kosovo situation.“Bosnia will not recognize Kosovo in the following period and there is a consensus in the Bosnian State Presidency on the issue”, the Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic said.

President Komsic stated that the reason for such an attitude is that almost one third of the Bosnian citizens (Serbians living in Bosnia) in this moment do not support Kosovo's independence.

"It is the obligation of the elected representatives to respect the will of citizens of this country, whichever function may they be performing."President Komsic said.

He added that Bosnia is sorry that no consensus was achieved between Belgrade and Pristina, for that would be an ideal solution for Bosnia.

Ambassador Spasovic stated that the genocidal Serbia will continue fighting against Kosovo by all means at the disposal.
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SILAJDZIC: KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE DOES NOT AFFECT BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 19,2008) – A member of the Bosnian Presidency Haris Silajdzic stated that Kosovo independence is not a matter of Bosnia and that the Bosnian state institutions will not allow any interference into Bosnia's internal matters.

"The Bosnian state institutions are obliged to protect peace and security of all Bosnian citizens in case of an attempt to transfer tensions onto our country. This is especially related to returnee population which is in the center of domestic authorized institutions and international factor," Silajdzic said.

"Bosnia is sovereign, independent and internationally recognized state. This is a fact that Kosovo change of status cannot change in any way, or any other circumstances in the region for that matter," Silajdzic said.

"In the relations with Bosnia we expect from Serbia to act according to principles of mutual recognition and recognition of international law including the commitments Serbia took over with the verdict of International Court of Justice on February 26 2007”, Silajdzic stated.
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EUFOR: SECURITY SITUATION IN BOSNIA REMAINS STABLE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 19,2008) – After the Kosovo independence declaration, the security situation in Bosnia remains stable, the European Union Force in Bosnia (EUFOR) Spokesperson David Fielder stated.

He said that EUFOR will keep monitoring the situation and will react in cases when necessary.

”We always have action plans for every situation. Currently, the security situation in Bosnia is stable”, Fiedler emphasized.
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KOSOVO BECOMES INDEPENDENT STATE

PRISTINA, Kosovo (February 18,2008) – Kosovo's Parliament adopted the Declaration of Independence in Pristina yesterday.Members of Kosovo's Parliament voted for the declaration yesterday around 16.00 with 109 votes for the independence. Political representatives of the serbians livig in Kosovo were not present at the Assembly.

"From this moment on Kosovo is independent and sovereign state”, declared Hashim Thaqi at the Plenary Session of the Kosovo Parliament.

Bosnia would not be among the countries to recognize an independent Kosovo in the near future, the Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic said yesterday in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo.

The situation in Bosnia remained calm following the declaration of independence by Kosovo.More police had been deployed across the country over the weekend.

Meanwhile in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, dozens of cars drove through city centre, with blaring horns and waving Kosovo flags, celebrating Kosovo independence.

While Bosnians and members of the Albanian community in Bosnia, celebrated in Sarajevo, some 100 Serbians living in Bosnia gathered in downtown Banja Luka to protest the declaration of Kosovo's independence.

"We have waited for this for so long, and that finally happened," said Ismet Alia - a member of the Albanian community in Bosnia.

A member of the Bosnian Presidency Haris Silajdzic stated for the press that due to Kosovo's declaration of independence, measures of information exchange between Bosnian and foreign subjects are intensified related to possible repercussions on the security situation in Bosnia.

”Based on information it can be concluded that the Bosnian state institutions are ready to answer the challenges”, stated Silajdzic at the press conference.

"Declaration of independence by Kosovo must have no effect on Bosnia. The change of the status of Kosovo is not related to Bosnia and Bosnia will not allow any interference in its internal affairs," Silajdzic said in a statement in Sarajevo.

U.S. Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton, who is seeking the US presidency, has welcomed Kosovo's independence declaration as "a historic step that will allow the people of Kosovo to finally live in their own democratic state."

"I urge our friends and allies and around the world to join the United States and European Union countries in promptly recognizing an independent Kosovo," she said.


Kosovars wave an Albanian flag (L) and the flag of independent Kosovo (back) which was unveiled yesterday at the Kosovo Parliament after the declaration of independence was made in Pristina. Kosovo on Sunday declared independence from an angry and anxious genocidal Serbia, completing the conflict-strewn breakup of the former Yugoslavia.

U.S. President George W. Bush said yesterday that he supports the independence of Kosovo.

"On Kosovo, our position is that its status must be resolved in order for the Balkans to be stable. Secondly, we have strongly supported the Ahtisaari plan," Bush said, referring to a so-called "supervised independence" plan put forward by the former Finnish president and UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari.

The European Union and NATO appealed for calm in the region after Kosovo's declaration of independence.The move put the EU and other nations under pressure to recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

"This is not a race" to recognition, said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, in Brussels. "We are involved in trying to secure the stability of a very volatile region at a critical period in time. We have to do it with car," he said.

Still, diplomats said, most of the 27 EU nations planned to recognise Kosovo, led by Germany, Britain and France.

Javier Solana, the EU's foreign and security affairs chief, said he was in contact with leaders in the region to stress the importance of stability.

"I urge everybody to act calmly and in a responsible way.I am convinced that the Kosovar leaders will be up to their responsibilities in this crucial moment," Solana said in a statement.
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