PRESIDENT KOMSIC: LAJCAK IS NOT ONLY TOLERATING STATEMENTS BUT SERIOUS PLANS FOR DISSOLUTION OF BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (March 3,2008) - The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic stated in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo that he did not attend the recent meeting with the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn along with the leaders of the most influential political parties in Bosnia because he does not want to be a part of those kind of persuasions into things he does not believe in.

He explained that meeting with Rehn was first drafted as a seminar but that it was not even planned. Still, when its preparation began, he informed the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) that he did not want to attend this meeting.

"Reason is, that they do not have to convince me that this police reform is something good because I believe this plan is bad for Bosnia. That is why I did not want to participate and give legitimacy to something I do not believe in”, stated President Komsic for the press.

He pointed out that various comments contributed to the idea that he rejected to see Olli Rehn.

"I did not refuse to meet him, but I did not plan to attend this meeting in the first place, and neither some individual meeting within some forum was planned”, President Komsic pointed out.

He stated that certain colleagues’ comments on all of this were interesting and that everybody has the right to believe what they want.

In that way, some politicians claimed that the meeting confirmed the unity of Bosnia and its territorial integrity while others claimed that the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia ("RS") is "a permanent category" and that they received confirmations for this from all political directors of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) member states.

"Someone concluded that this is a great victory and that we shall sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU which is all stated in communiqué. We shall have this agreement but not because we have done something concrete but because Europe is primarily driven by security situation in the region and therefore they will allow us to sign the SAA”, believes Komsic.

He pointed out that nothing more was expected from this meeting but that only old positions have been confirmed.

President Komsic commented the work and behavior of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia and called it inadmissible. He believes that Lajcak is not only tolerating statements but serious plans for dissoulution of Bosnia.

"Considering the power he has, he cannot behave in this way. Either it is his personal estimate or an order of his political bosses to act the way he does. I do not expect for High representative to behave in the manner: “Believe me, and not your own eyes”, underlined President Komsic.
.

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.
.

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.
.

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.
.

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.
.

EU WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL POSITION ON BOSNIAN POLICE REFORM YET

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 24,2008) - The European Commission has not made an analysis yet of the police reforms laws just adopted by the Bosnian Parliament's House of Representatives, and therefore cannot state whether they comply with the EU principles, Krisztina Nagy - spokesperson of the EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said.

Nagy also said how the European Commission expects the Mostar Declaration and Police Reform Action Plan to be implemented. OHR’s spokesperson said the Office would state its final position after the police reform laws are adopted by both parliament houses. If the signal from EU is positive, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Bosnia and European Union could be signed in April.
.

BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS STATE BUDGET FOR 2008 AND BILL ON POLICE REFORM

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 22,2008) – The Bosnian Parliament's House of Representatives adopted the Bill on the Bosnian State Budget for 2008 and, according to which this year’s budget is 1.186.357.560 Bosnian Marks. 29 delegates voted in favour of the Bill over 8. Three delegates were in abstention.Also, delegates accepted the conclusion that the Bosnian government should develop a plan of activities in order to decrease the expenses of rents for the Bosnian state institutions.

After a long discussion, delegates supported the principles of law on independent and supervisory bodies of police structures in Bosnia with 22 votes in favour over 17 and one in abstention, as well as the coordination of police bodies principles and agencies for police structures in Bosnia.

The remaining items of the agenda are to be discussed at a session which will be held in early March.
.

LAJCAK WELCOMES ADOPTION OF SEVERAL KEY PIECES OF LEGISLATION

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 16,2008) - The International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajčák welcomed the adoption of several key pieces of legislation by the Bosnian Council of Ministers.

Draft Laws on the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies and Agencies, and the Independent and Supervisory Bodies of the Police Structure of Bosnia will now be debated by the Bosnian Parliament.

The adoption of these laws keeps Bosnia on track with the commitments made to the EU and Commissioner for Enlargement Ollie Rehn in December last year.

“Some Bosnian Ministers voted against these proposals– that is their right,” said Lajčák. "But it is important that Bosnia is fulfilling its commitments on the reforms required for signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the european Union.I hope an understanding can be found in the Bosnian Parliament,” he added.

The Bosnian Council of Ministers also adopted the Draft Law on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, another key EU requirement, and the Draft Transfer Agreement on Moveable Defence Property, a key step for implementing the Bosnian defence reform in line with NATO requirements for dealing with surplus weapons and ammunition.
.

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ADOPTED POLICE BILL WITHOUT APPROVAL OF SDA PARTY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 16,2008) – The Bosnian Council of Ministers in Sarajevo adopted,with majority votes,without the approval of the SDA Party,the draft law on Direction for Coordination of Police Authority and Agencies for Support to the Police Structure in Bosnia, as well as draft law on independent supervisory bodies of police structures in Bosnia.

Legislature office of the with majority votes is obliged to, based on the agreement of the Work Group for Police reform, prepare a draft law and send it to the Bosnian Parliament for discussion.

The Bosnian Council of Ministers Chair Nikola Spiric stated at the press conference that it is good that a level of agreement was preserved according to Mostar Declaration and expressed his expectations that this dedication will be shown by the Bosnian Parliament as well.

He pointed out the importance of these legislative projects on the road to EU with belief that representatives of Peace Implementation Council will be in opportunity to conclude the progress in this segment.

The Bosnian Council of Ministers adopted the presentation document if the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) which was proposed by the Bosnian Ministry of Defence. The Bosnian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obliged to deliver this document to the Bosnian Presidency for further procedure.

The Bosnian Council of Ministers adopted the agreement on disposal of all rights and obligations of movable assets which would be used for defence needs and authorized Spiric to represent the Council in signing of this agreement after which it will be delivered to entity governments for adoption.

The Bosnian Council of Ministers also concluded the draft law on protection and saving of people and material goods in case of natural and other disasters in Bosnia.With this law, an operative communication center in Bosnia is introduced as well as a system of unique European number for emergencies 112.

As it was stated by Spiricr, by adopting these documents, that is draft laws, another step forward has been made in the Bosnian defence reform as well as in Bosnia’s road to full membership in NATO and signal was sent before the summit in Bucharest planned for beginning of April.

The Bosnian Council of Ministers also discussed on the draft law on salaries of the Bosnian government employees.

The Bosnian Council of Ministers also adopted the draft law on changing and amending the law on criminal procedure in Bosnia.Important changes and amendments of this law, which was forced by the International Community's High Representative in 2003 and later confirmed by the Bosnian Parliament came from the practice in which some earlier made legal solutions were hard to implement.

The Bosnian Council of Ministers also adopted the draft law on medications and medical aids.

The Bosnian Council of Ministers obliged the Bosnian Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees to prepare decisions on the naming of Board members of the Genocide Memorial Center Srebrenica-Potocari and cemetery of the genocide victims and deliver it to the Bosnian Council of Ministers by the end of February.
.