SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 31,2007) – The leaders of two main Bosnian political parties have rejected a revised proposal on police reform put forward by the international community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak,saying it failed to reach the European Union's stated aim of unifying Bosnia's police forces.
Lajcak had a meeting yesterday with the President of the Party for Bosnia (SBIH) and a member of the Bosnian Presidency Haris Silajdzic and Sulejman Tihic, the President of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA).After discussing the issue Silajdzic and Tihic rejected Lajcak's proposal on the police reforms in Bosnia.
"This is not a police reform, this is legalisation of the ethnically divided police forces. We cannot accept that," Sulejman Tihic, the president of the Party of Democratic Action, told reporters.
The EU has made police reforms and war crimes cooperation key conditions for Bosnia to seal an association agreement seen as the first step on the long path toward full EU membership.
Bosnia completed a final round of talks on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union in December last year, but was asked by Brussels to finalise the police reforms before being allowed to sign it.
Among the EU principles are state-level legislation, a federal budget and the establishment of new police regions to create a more functional force.
"Those principles were completely denied in Lajcak's proposal",the president of the Party for Bosnia (SBIH) and a member of the Bosnian Presidency Haris Silajdzic said .
The Office of the international community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) dismissed the Bosnian leaders' criticism of Lajcak's proposal, which it said was not intended to be made public.
“I am deeply disappointed with statements made by SBiH and SDA leaders, Haris Silajdzic and Sulejman Tihic. By rejecting the draft proposal on police reform before all the major political leaders have even received it, they have demonstrated a disdain for their colleagues and the political process. They have broken their agreement to provide me with comments on the proposal directly, instead of communicating them through the media.
Furthermore, they have rejected a proposal that is fair and balanced and in line with the three EU principles. There are no losers in this proposal. The only winners would be the citizens of Bosnia, who would benefit from the initialling of Bosnia’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union. As you know, all my efforts are focussed on helping the Bosnian citizens get closer to the EU. This includes my proposal on police reform.
In order for Bosnia to progress, political leaders must think about the country as a whole, which unfortunately is not the case at this time,” the international community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajcak said,reacting to statements made by Haris Silajdzic and Sulejman Tihic yesterday.
Friday, August 31, 2007
BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ZELJKO KOMSIC VISITS ST. LOUIS
ST.LOUIS, USA (August 31,2007) - The Bosnian President Željko Komšić is visiting Saint Louis in the period of 30. August – 2. September 2007, where he is meeting with the representatives of the Bosnia Diaspora.
Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan welcomed yesterday Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic to the U.S. State of Missouri as his plane landed in St. Louis. Traveling with President Komsic was Bosnian Ambassador to the U.S. Bisera Turkovic.
“It is an honor to have President Komsic here in St. Louis to help celebrate the St. Louis Bosnian Heritage Festival.St. Louis’ growing Bosnian community enriches our state by adding a wonderful cultural dimension and economic vibrancy to our community. As a nation of immigrants, it is a worthwhile reminder for Americans to witness the energy and determination a thriving immigrant population brings to our region,” said Carnahan.
President Komšić is in Saint Louis primarily upon invitation of Bosnian-Americans living and working there, which are estimated to be around 50.000. Komšić wants to find out firsthand what they expect of Bosnia and Bosnian authorities.
Earlier this week,Komsic has expressed wishes to inform Bosnian-Americans from St.Louis about the situation and problems in Bosnia,as well as the positive developments. He wants to encourage them and give them full support for actions they, as a Diaspora, conduct in the interest of the entire Bosnian State.
In addition, he wants to make an appeal to their positive position toward the country they currently reside in, to hear their opinions, consider the conditions they live and work in, hear out proposals and answer all possible questions they might have.
During the stay in Saint Louis, Komšić will also meet with about 150 businessmen with whom he will discuss the potential investments in Bosnia; all that taking place at a special conference organized in Saint Louis by the Bosnian Embassy in Washington and the Bosnian State Agency for Foreign Investment Promotion.
He will also open a great event called “Bosnian Festival”, which will gather a great number of Bosnians that live in the US.
He will also attend the 10th anniversary of “Sabah” magazine, the most printed weekly paper of the Bosnian Diaspora in the North America.
During the stay in Saint Louis, President Komšić will meet with the Mayor of Saint Louis, US congressional representatives and many local officials, as well as the media representatives.
Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan welcomed yesterday Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic to the U.S. State of Missouri as his plane landed in St. Louis. Traveling with President Komsic was Bosnian Ambassador to the U.S. Bisera Turkovic.
“It is an honor to have President Komsic here in St. Louis to help celebrate the St. Louis Bosnian Heritage Festival.St. Louis’ growing Bosnian community enriches our state by adding a wonderful cultural dimension and economic vibrancy to our community. As a nation of immigrants, it is a worthwhile reminder for Americans to witness the energy and determination a thriving immigrant population brings to our region,” said Carnahan.
President Komšić is in Saint Louis primarily upon invitation of Bosnian-Americans living and working there, which are estimated to be around 50.000. Komšić wants to find out firsthand what they expect of Bosnia and Bosnian authorities.
Earlier this week,Komsic has expressed wishes to inform Bosnian-Americans from St.Louis about the situation and problems in Bosnia,as well as the positive developments. He wants to encourage them and give them full support for actions they, as a Diaspora, conduct in the interest of the entire Bosnian State.
In addition, he wants to make an appeal to their positive position toward the country they currently reside in, to hear their opinions, consider the conditions they live and work in, hear out proposals and answer all possible questions they might have.
During the stay in Saint Louis, Komšić will also meet with about 150 businessmen with whom he will discuss the potential investments in Bosnia; all that taking place at a special conference organized in Saint Louis by the Bosnian Embassy in Washington and the Bosnian State Agency for Foreign Investment Promotion.
He will also open a great event called “Bosnian Festival”, which will gather a great number of Bosnians that live in the US.
He will also attend the 10th anniversary of “Sabah” magazine, the most printed weekly paper of the Bosnian Diaspora in the North America.
During the stay in Saint Louis, President Komšić will meet with the Mayor of Saint Louis, US congressional representatives and many local officials, as well as the media representatives.
EGYPTIAN EXPERTS VISIT BOSNIAN VALLEY OF PYRAMIDS
VISOKO, Bosnia (August 31,2007) - The group of world renown scientists, who are the leading experts for Egyptian pyramids, are visiting Bosnia and the Bosnian Valley of the Pyramids already for the second year under the egis of the Egyptian Government and the Egyptian Ministry Of Culture.
Egyptian experts are lead by Mrs. Dr. M. Fouad Ali and prof. Dr. Soliman Hamed.The group of experts will investigate for the coming fifteen days all archaeological sites inside the Visoko valley. Dr. Nabil Swelim and Dr. Aly Abdullah Barakat have joined the research team yesterday.
"Upon request by the Archaeological Park: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation we came here to help Mr. Osmanagic and the Foundation in the research and to develop a program for future studies," Mrs. Dr. M. Fouad Ali said,after the preliminary visit of the Ravne tunnel complex.
Also,Italian geologist Giovanni Borri, paid a visit to the Bosnian Valley of the Pyramids on August 6th 2007. The Foundation’s guides gave him a tour to the locations on the Pyramid of the Moon and the complex of the underground tunnels Ravne and the stone structure located in Gornje Vratnice.
"The underground tunnels Ravne represent a great potential, possibly the great archaeological discovery. I am impressed by several archaeological excavations on the Pyramid of the Moon; please keep me posted about your research results," Borri said.
Egyptian experts are lead by Mrs. Dr. M. Fouad Ali and prof. Dr. Soliman Hamed.The group of experts will investigate for the coming fifteen days all archaeological sites inside the Visoko valley. Dr. Nabil Swelim and Dr. Aly Abdullah Barakat have joined the research team yesterday.
"Upon request by the Archaeological Park: Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun Foundation we came here to help Mr. Osmanagic and the Foundation in the research and to develop a program for future studies," Mrs. Dr. M. Fouad Ali said,after the preliminary visit of the Ravne tunnel complex.
Also,Italian geologist Giovanni Borri, paid a visit to the Bosnian Valley of the Pyramids on August 6th 2007. The Foundation’s guides gave him a tour to the locations on the Pyramid of the Moon and the complex of the underground tunnels Ravne and the stone structure located in Gornje Vratnice.
"The underground tunnels Ravne represent a great potential, possibly the great archaeological discovery. I am impressed by several archaeological excavations on the Pyramid of the Moon; please keep me posted about your research results," Borri said.
HEARING SCHEDULED BEFORE BOSNIAN STATE COURT IN CASE OF SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL RADMILO VUKOVIC
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 31,2007) - A hearing before the Appellate Panel of Section I for War Crimes of the Bosnian State Court in the case of Serbian war criminal Radmilo Vuković has been scheduled for today, 31 August 2007 in courtroom 5, starting at 10.00am.
On 16 April 2007, the Trial Panel handed down the first instance verdict in this case, finding Serbian war criminal Radmilo Vuković guilty of War crimes against Bosnian civilians and sentencing him to five years and six months of imprisonment.
The Trial Panel’s verdict states that on 10 June 1992, armed with a riffle, Serbian war criminal Radmilo Vuković took a Bosnian woman from an apartment in Miljevina, Foča and took her to another apartment in the same municipality.
In the second apartment,Serbian war criminal Radmilo Vukovic physically abused the victim by beating her, threatening to kill her, placing a pistol against her temple and holding a knife to her throat. He then tore the victim’s clothes to pieces and punched her in the head, causing her to lose consciousness and then used the victim’s unconsciousness to rape her.
Serbian war criminal Radmilo Vukovic raped the victim in the same apartment at least five or six times until the end of August 1992.These rapes caused the victim to fall pregnant, resulting in the birth of a child.
The above verdict was appealed by the Bosnian State Prosecutor’s Office and Serbian war criminal's defence counsel.
On 16 April 2007, the Trial Panel handed down the first instance verdict in this case, finding Serbian war criminal Radmilo Vuković guilty of War crimes against Bosnian civilians and sentencing him to five years and six months of imprisonment.
The Trial Panel’s verdict states that on 10 June 1992, armed with a riffle, Serbian war criminal Radmilo Vuković took a Bosnian woman from an apartment in Miljevina, Foča and took her to another apartment in the same municipality.
In the second apartment,Serbian war criminal Radmilo Vukovic physically abused the victim by beating her, threatening to kill her, placing a pistol against her temple and holding a knife to her throat. He then tore the victim’s clothes to pieces and punched her in the head, causing her to lose consciousness and then used the victim’s unconsciousness to rape her.
Serbian war criminal Radmilo Vukovic raped the victim in the same apartment at least five or six times until the end of August 1992.These rapes caused the victim to fall pregnant, resulting in the birth of a child.
The above verdict was appealed by the Bosnian State Prosecutor’s Office and Serbian war criminal's defence counsel.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S HIGH REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA MIROSLAV LAJCAK TO UNVEIL POLICE REFORM PLAN
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 30,2007) – The international community's high representative in Bosnia,Miroslav Lajcak, said yesterday he has a blueprint for police reform under wraps which would pave the way for Bosnia for pre-entry talks with the European Union.
Miroslav Lajcak said he would reveal his plan at a series of meetings with the political leaders of Bosnia's parliamentary parties.
The president of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "the RS" Milan Jelic, said Serbians living in Bosnia wouldn’t consent to the abolition of their police force.
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Lajcak hopes to reach a compromise solution on police reforms. However the outcome of the party talks is as yet uncertain.The political leaders of the Serbians living in Bosnia share Jelic's opposition to the police reform in Bosnia.
Police and constitutional reforms remain the last barrier along Bosnia’s road to the European Union membership.
Miroslav Lajcak said he would reveal his plan at a series of meetings with the political leaders of Bosnia's parliamentary parties.
The president of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "the RS" Milan Jelic, said Serbians living in Bosnia wouldn’t consent to the abolition of their police force.
.
Lajcak hopes to reach a compromise solution on police reforms. However the outcome of the party talks is as yet uncertain.The political leaders of the Serbians living in Bosnia share Jelic's opposition to the police reform in Bosnia.
Police and constitutional reforms remain the last barrier along Bosnia’s road to the European Union membership.
BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBER HARIS SILAJDZIC SENT A LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN PERVEZ MUSHARRAF
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 30,2007) - A member of the Bosnian Presidency, Dr Haris Silajdžić, received in his Cabinet the farewell visit of Shireen A. Moiz, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Ambassador Moiz emphasized that she would leave Bosnia happy because cooperation between the two countries rises. As she said, she was especially satisfied about the donation of motor cultivators for genocide victims in Srebrenica, the fraternization of Tuzla and the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, as well as about financing the construction of the new Innovative Business Centre in Tuzla worth 2.5 million EUR.
According to her, the Centre is to be built near the monument for the Pakistani battalion or the old municipal building of Tuzla would be altered for these purposes.
Dr Silajdžić stressed out that Bosnia and Pakistan have very good political relations, and he expressed hope that the economic cooperation would be better in the future, regardless of the great distance between the two countries.
”The recent visit of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to our country was very useful and successful”, said Dr Silajdžić and sent a letter trough the ambassador to President Musharraf thanking for all the help Pakistan has given to Bosnia.
Ambassador Moiz emphasized that she would leave Bosnia happy because cooperation between the two countries rises. As she said, she was especially satisfied about the donation of motor cultivators for genocide victims in Srebrenica, the fraternization of Tuzla and the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, as well as about financing the construction of the new Innovative Business Centre in Tuzla worth 2.5 million EUR.
According to her, the Centre is to be built near the monument for the Pakistani battalion or the old municipal building of Tuzla would be altered for these purposes.
Dr Silajdžić stressed out that Bosnia and Pakistan have very good political relations, and he expressed hope that the economic cooperation would be better in the future, regardless of the great distance between the two countries.
”The recent visit of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to our country was very useful and successful”, said Dr Silajdžić and sent a letter trough the ambassador to President Musharraf thanking for all the help Pakistan has given to Bosnia.
BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBER HARIS SILAJDZIC MET WITH COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA TIM CARTWRIGHT
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 30,2007) - A member of the Bosnian Presidency Dr Haris Silajdžić met with Mr. Tim Cartwright, the Special Representative of the Council of Europe Secretary-General in Bosnia.
Mr. Cartwright expressed pleasure with having an opportunity to visit Bosnia, and said that he would continue to monitor the developments in Bosnia. He also said that the Council of Europe Secretary-General would continue with the practice of appointing his Special Representatives in Bosnia.
During the meeting, Dr Silajdžić emphasized importance of the Council of Europe’s role in Bosnia, stressing out that Bosnia would continue to work on fulfilling its commitments as a member of the Council of Europe.
Dr Silajdžić particularly pointed out that advocating the respect for human rights in Bosnia is everybody’s responsibility – as of domestic players as well as of international ones.
At the end, Dr Silajdžić thanked Mr. Cartwright on his active work during his mandate in Bosnia and he wished him success in his new duty.
Mr. Cartwright expressed pleasure with having an opportunity to visit Bosnia, and said that he would continue to monitor the developments in Bosnia. He also said that the Council of Europe Secretary-General would continue with the practice of appointing his Special Representatives in Bosnia.
During the meeting, Dr Silajdžić emphasized importance of the Council of Europe’s role in Bosnia, stressing out that Bosnia would continue to work on fulfilling its commitments as a member of the Council of Europe.
Dr Silajdžić particularly pointed out that advocating the respect for human rights in Bosnia is everybody’s responsibility – as of domestic players as well as of international ones.
At the end, Dr Silajdžić thanked Mr. Cartwright on his active work during his mandate in Bosnia and he wished him success in his new duty.
POLITICAL LEADERS OF THE SERBIANS LIVING IN BOSNIA URGED TO CONDEMN PUBLIC DISPLAYING OF THE IMAGES OF SERBIAN WAR CRIMINALS KARADZIC AND MLADIC
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 30,2007) - Gradimir Gojer, a playwright, sent an open letter to the Prime Minister of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia ("the RS") Milorad Dodik and a member of the Bosnian Presidency Nebojsa Radmanovic, urging, as a Bosnian citizen, that these two political leaders of the Serbians living in Bosnia publicly state they are against the public displays of Serbian war criminals Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic’s images at the public places.
”On several locations in the RS, even at the very center of Banja Luka, posters, t-shirts, flags and other images of Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic are sold. They are the persons wanted by the International Court of Justice (ICTY)," Gojer said
Gojer expressed a hope that the two politicians will prove through this gesture that their engagement in the fight against fascism bears a full dignity.
”On several locations in the RS, even at the very center of Banja Luka, posters, t-shirts, flags and other images of Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic are sold. They are the persons wanted by the International Court of Justice (ICTY)," Gojer said
Gojer expressed a hope that the two politicians will prove through this gesture that their engagement in the fight against fascism bears a full dignity.
SDA PRESIDENT SULEJMAN TIHIC TO DISCUSS POLICE REFORM WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S HIGH REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA MIROSLAV LAJCAK
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 30,2007) – The President of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) Sulejman Tihic told Bosnian media that he will have a meeting with the internatioal community's High Representative in Bosnia most probably today, to discuss the police reform issue.
Tihic said that the SDA party is not the problem in the issue, but the political parties of the Serbians living in Bosnia which refused both the Marten’s Plan, the Vlasic Statement and the Police Reform direction Report.
”They have been refusing everything achieved so far. As far as the SDA party is concerned, we are siding a full respect of the three EU principles which mean exclusive legislative jurisdiction at the state level, functioning of local police structures in which the local and police lines will not pose a threat for their implementation”, Tihic said.
He added he wants to believe the police reform issue will be solved in September.
Tihic said that the SDA party is not the problem in the issue, but the political parties of the Serbians living in Bosnia which refused both the Marten’s Plan, the Vlasic Statement and the Police Reform direction Report.
”They have been refusing everything achieved so far. As far as the SDA party is concerned, we are siding a full respect of the three EU principles which mean exclusive legislative jurisdiction at the state level, functioning of local police structures in which the local and police lines will not pose a threat for their implementation”, Tihic said.
He added he wants to believe the police reform issue will be solved in September.
LEADERS OF FOUR RULING POLITICAL PARTIES IN FBIH ENTITY AGREED TO ADOPT 19 LAWS
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 30,2007) – Leaders and representatives of the four ruling parties in the FBIH Entity (SDA,SBIH, HDZBiH and HDZ1990),the FBIH Entity Prime minister Nedzad Brankovic and representatives of six parliamentary caucuses agreed at a meeting in Sarajevo at the SDA Party headquarters to ensure a better coordination of the FBIH Entity executive and legislative authorities in order to adopt 19 laws during September. Some of the laws have already been sent to the parliamentary procedure.
Presidents of the SDA,SBIH and HDZ BiH parties, Sulejman Tihic, Haris Silajdzic and Dragan Covic attended, while Damir Ljubic represented that HDZ 1990 party.
The FBIH Entity Prime minister Brankovic told the press after the meeting that September is immensely important for the FBIH Entity Parliament because the fiscal year is coming to an end and preparations should be made for the following budget year.
The laws that are to be adopted are in the field of fiscal policy; including the Law on Income Tax and Law on Benefits; as well as the privatization policy document and budget rebalance prepared by the FBIH Entity Government.
”In this way, we can control all the processes in order to realize the issues defined by the Government’s mandatory program. That means introducing a new stage of development”, Brankovic said.
He emphasized that such meetings do not mean that the FBIH Entity Parliament is ignored, for it is a well-known fact that the parties which participated at the meeting are the parliamentary majority.
He also emphasized that the FBIH Entity Parliament will have many an activity during September, for there are many laws that have been placed to the parliamentary procedure. The main goal is to prepare the FBIH entity budget for 2008 in later October.
Representatives of the parties also talked about the measures the FBIH Entity Government can take because of the bread prices growth.
Brankovic said that the Government only possesses stocks for emergency situations, which means 15.000 tons of crops and purchase of new stocks. the FBIH Entity Government is not the owner of capital in any bakery and cannot control prices.
Dragan Covic, HDZ BiH President said that the topic was ways of coordination of the FBIH entity executive and legislative authority so that certain laws are passed in September.
President of the SBiH Haris Silajdzic emphasized that one must make sure that the coordination between the FBIH Entity Government and Parliament is ensured.
Presidents of the SDA,SBIH and HDZ BiH parties, Sulejman Tihic, Haris Silajdzic and Dragan Covic attended, while Damir Ljubic represented that HDZ 1990 party.
The FBIH Entity Prime minister Brankovic told the press after the meeting that September is immensely important for the FBIH Entity Parliament because the fiscal year is coming to an end and preparations should be made for the following budget year.
The laws that are to be adopted are in the field of fiscal policy; including the Law on Income Tax and Law on Benefits; as well as the privatization policy document and budget rebalance prepared by the FBIH Entity Government.
”In this way, we can control all the processes in order to realize the issues defined by the Government’s mandatory program. That means introducing a new stage of development”, Brankovic said.
He emphasized that such meetings do not mean that the FBIH Entity Parliament is ignored, for it is a well-known fact that the parties which participated at the meeting are the parliamentary majority.
He also emphasized that the FBIH Entity Parliament will have many an activity during September, for there are many laws that have been placed to the parliamentary procedure. The main goal is to prepare the FBIH entity budget for 2008 in later October.
Representatives of the parties also talked about the measures the FBIH Entity Government can take because of the bread prices growth.
Brankovic said that the Government only possesses stocks for emergency situations, which means 15.000 tons of crops and purchase of new stocks. the FBIH Entity Government is not the owner of capital in any bakery and cannot control prices.
Dragan Covic, HDZ BiH President said that the topic was ways of coordination of the FBIH entity executive and legislative authority so that certain laws are passed in September.
President of the SBiH Haris Silajdzic emphasized that one must make sure that the coordination between the FBIH Entity Government and Parliament is ensured.
BOSNIAN POLICE AND INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO EXPORT OF BOSNIAN ARMS TO IRAQ
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 30,2007) - Bosnian police and intelligence agencies have launched a massive investigation into export of Bosnian arms to Iraq.The initial inquiry reveals names of Bosnian citizens and foreign nationals suspected of doing mistakes in the course of export of thousands of rifles and hundreds of thousands rounds of ammunition to Iraq in the period 2004-2005.
US Government Accountability Office (GAO) said earlier that number of small arms shipped from Bosnia and Serbia to Iraq went missing.
GAO said there are no serial numbers on the weaponry which was said to be for arming the fledging Iraqi military in 2004-2005. Therefore, it's impossible to confirm whether the final intended recipient of the weapons was the regular army in Iraq or they may have fallen into the hands of somebody else.
US Government Accountability Office (GAO) said earlier that number of small arms shipped from Bosnia and Serbia to Iraq went missing.
GAO said there are no serial numbers on the weaponry which was said to be for arming the fledging Iraqi military in 2004-2005. Therefore, it's impossible to confirm whether the final intended recipient of the weapons was the regular army in Iraq or they may have fallen into the hands of somebody else.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ZELJKO KOMSIC MET WITH UN SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
UNITED NATIONS, New York (August 29,2007) - The Bosnian President Željko Komšić met with Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General and discussed the current social and political situation in Bosnia and the region.
They also talked about the first letter’s content sent by President Komšić and a member of the Bosnian Presidency Haris Silajdžić to the UN Secretary-General, as well as about the precise views of UN in relation to all open issues, first of all about Srebrenica.
"In Srebrenica, the UN was ineffective in preventing genocide,"Komsic said.
"In the FBIH Entity Serbs do not have the same rights as Bosniaks and Croats. In the RS Entity, Bosniaks and Croats do not have the same rights as Serbs. You cannot have a democratic country with such discrimination,",he said.
President Komsic also noted that "a Jew or person classified as other, who does not list his nationality, cannot be a member of the Bosnian Presidency."
Komsic said that further back, under (former Yugoslavia's communist dictator) Josip Broz Tito, rights of individuals and groups had been protected, and that this was the directly that Bosnian Constitutional reform should now be moving in.
President Komsic is slated to visit a Bosnian diaspora community in St. Louis on August 30. Then it's back to the region. Komsic also said that if Kosova independence were unilaterally declared, Bosnia would follow the position of the European Union and NATO.
In fact, Komsic said, the current tensions in the Southeastern Europe could all be relegated to the past when EU membership extends throughout the region. For Bosnia, reform of the police sector is a prerequisite, with borders and the multi-ethic character of the force still to be negotiated.
They also talked about the first letter’s content sent by President Komšić and a member of the Bosnian Presidency Haris Silajdžić to the UN Secretary-General, as well as about the precise views of UN in relation to all open issues, first of all about Srebrenica.
"In Srebrenica, the UN was ineffective in preventing genocide,"Komsic said.
"In the FBIH Entity Serbs do not have the same rights as Bosniaks and Croats. In the RS Entity, Bosniaks and Croats do not have the same rights as Serbs. You cannot have a democratic country with such discrimination,",he said.
President Komsic also noted that "a Jew or person classified as other, who does not list his nationality, cannot be a member of the Bosnian Presidency."
Komsic said that further back, under (former Yugoslavia's communist dictator) Josip Broz Tito, rights of individuals and groups had been protected, and that this was the directly that Bosnian Constitutional reform should now be moving in.
President Komsic is slated to visit a Bosnian diaspora community in St. Louis on August 30. Then it's back to the region. Komsic also said that if Kosova independence were unilaterally declared, Bosnia would follow the position of the European Union and NATO.
In fact, Komsic said, the current tensions in the Southeastern Europe could all be relegated to the past when EU membership extends throughout the region. For Bosnia, reform of the police sector is a prerequisite, with borders and the multi-ethic character of the force still to be negotiated.
BOSNIAN DNA TEAM IDENTIFIES 10,000TH GENOCIDE VICTIM
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 29,2007) - A team of DNA experts in Bosnia said it had identified its 10,000th victim of the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.
"The 10,000th missing person to be identified using (a) unique DNA-led system was a man missing from the fall of Srebrenica in July 1995," the International Commission on Missing People (ICMP) said in a statement.
DNA analysis remains the only tool to identify thousands of nameless victims exhumed from mass graves across the former Yugoslavia.
The Sarajevo-based ICMP leads the process in an attempt to reveal the fate of 40,000 missing following the 1990s conflicts in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.
The ICMP,which was established in 1996,opened two laboratories in Bosnia and developed sophisticated software that matches DNA taken from a victim's bone with blood from a living relative.
The major challenge in Bosnia is the identification of the victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre where up to 10,000 Bosnian men and boys were slaughtered after the genocidal Serbian aggressor overran the UN-run enclave of the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica.
Their bodies had initially been buried in a dozen mass graves, but the Serbian aggressor later used bulldozers to move them in order to cover up their crime.
Some 3,000 genocide victims from Srebrenica have been identified so far.To date, the ICMP has made more than 12,000 DNA matches of different individuals in the region of the former Yugoslavia.
"While the work that has been carried out until today has been tremendous, we are just over half-way there," said ICMP director Kathryne Bomberger.
The commission hoped to make another "9,000 DNA matches," she said, adding that it hoped to carry on its work until at least 2010.
There are still more than 17,500 people missing in the region, including 13,000 in Bosnia, according to ICMP figures.
"The 10,000th missing person to be identified using (a) unique DNA-led system was a man missing from the fall of Srebrenica in July 1995," the International Commission on Missing People (ICMP) said in a statement.
DNA analysis remains the only tool to identify thousands of nameless victims exhumed from mass graves across the former Yugoslavia.
The Sarajevo-based ICMP leads the process in an attempt to reveal the fate of 40,000 missing following the 1990s conflicts in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.
The ICMP,which was established in 1996,opened two laboratories in Bosnia and developed sophisticated software that matches DNA taken from a victim's bone with blood from a living relative.
The major challenge in Bosnia is the identification of the victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre where up to 10,000 Bosnian men and boys were slaughtered after the genocidal Serbian aggressor overran the UN-run enclave of the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica.
Their bodies had initially been buried in a dozen mass graves, but the Serbian aggressor later used bulldozers to move them in order to cover up their crime.
Some 3,000 genocide victims from Srebrenica have been identified so far.To date, the ICMP has made more than 12,000 DNA matches of different individuals in the region of the former Yugoslavia.
"While the work that has been carried out until today has been tremendous, we are just over half-way there," said ICMP director Kathryne Bomberger.
The commission hoped to make another "9,000 DNA matches," she said, adding that it hoped to carry on its work until at least 2010.
There are still more than 17,500 people missing in the region, including 13,000 in Bosnia, according to ICMP figures.
SEMINAR FOR BOSNIAN HISTORY TEXTBOOK AUTHORS HELD IN GERMANY
BRAUNSCHWEIG, Germany (August 29,2007) – A seminar for history textbook authors from seven countries, including Bosnia, was organized by the Georg Eckert Institute (GEI) for International Textbook Research, in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia. The aim of the seminar, which took place in Braunschweig, Germany, from 20-27 August 2007, was to raise the quality of history teaching in Bosnia.
The participants came from Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Turkey, Greece and Northern Ireland. Sixteen experts from Bosnia participated. The OSCE Mission to Bosnia, Council of Europe (CoE), GEI and the Bosnian education authorities used the seminar to discuss how to improve the quality of modern history teaching, as well as that of textbooks in Bosnia.
“This seminar was an important step forward. It showed that the work of international organizations like the OSCE, CoE, GEI and local partners is a successful results-oriented partnership”, stated Falk Pingel, Deputy Director of GEI. “The participants developed teaching models which would suit innovative history teaching in Bosnia the best”, concluded Pingel.
At the seminar the participants could both present their experience on textbook writing, as well as dispel certain dilemmas on teaching controversial subjects.” The topics discussed led the participants to undertake a detailed analysis of the existing textbooks from Bosnia and other countries.
They also helped to create teaching models on very sensitive topics, which we certainly need”, stated Milija Marjanovic, a history teacher from the Bosnian city of Banja Luka.
The diversity of the topics discussed such as the Ottoman period, Socialist Yugoslavia, War and the Dayton period, was useful: “We learned how modern textbooks could be written, and about working models applicable to the classroom”, concluded Arna Torlakovic, a history teacher from Sarajevo.
The participants came from Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Turkey, Greece and Northern Ireland. Sixteen experts from Bosnia participated. The OSCE Mission to Bosnia, Council of Europe (CoE), GEI and the Bosnian education authorities used the seminar to discuss how to improve the quality of modern history teaching, as well as that of textbooks in Bosnia.
“This seminar was an important step forward. It showed that the work of international organizations like the OSCE, CoE, GEI and local partners is a successful results-oriented partnership”, stated Falk Pingel, Deputy Director of GEI. “The participants developed teaching models which would suit innovative history teaching in Bosnia the best”, concluded Pingel.
At the seminar the participants could both present their experience on textbook writing, as well as dispel certain dilemmas on teaching controversial subjects.” The topics discussed led the participants to undertake a detailed analysis of the existing textbooks from Bosnia and other countries.
They also helped to create teaching models on very sensitive topics, which we certainly need”, stated Milija Marjanovic, a history teacher from the Bosnian city of Banja Luka.
The diversity of the topics discussed such as the Ottoman period, Socialist Yugoslavia, War and the Dayton period, was useful: “We learned how modern textbooks could be written, and about working models applicable to the classroom”, concluded Arna Torlakovic, a history teacher from Sarajevo.
BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT HELD 19TH SESSION
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 29,2007) – The Bosnian government adopted the report tabled by the Bosnian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on the situation at the wheat market, together with a proposal of measures for alleviating the effects of the draught and stabilising the increase of the prices of flour and other wheat products at the Bosnian market.
The Bosnian Council of Ministers has called on the Bosnian Parliament to urgently adopt the Law changing the Customs Tariff Law in order to make possible the import of 100.000 tones of wheat free of customs.
The Council of Ministers tasked the Bosnian Ministry of Finance and Treasury to request the Indirect Taxation Authority to reduce VAT to 5 percent for the import of 100.000 tones of wheat.
The Bosnian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations has been tasked to through Bosnia's representatives maximally intensify activities on urgently convening a meeting of interagency commission for monitoring agreements on free trade with Serbia and Croatia.
This ministry has been also tasked to monitor the situation in this field, to inform the Council of Ministers and to propose possible further measures.
The Bosnian government also held a consultative discussion on the framework budget for 2008-2010.
The relevant ministry has been tasked to forward the framework budget to the Bosnian Presidency.
This document shows an overall increase of spending by the Bosnian state institutions in the amount of 861,8 million Bosnian Marks for 2008, which represents a 14,9 percent increase compared to spending planned for 2007.
The Bosnian Council of Ministers also defined the proposal pf the law on adopting the law changing and amending the Bosnian Criminal Procedure Law. The Bosnian Ministry of Justice will forward this piece of legislation to the Bosnian Parliament for adoption.
This bill adopts the law changing and amending the Bosnian Criminal Procedure Law, which was endorsed by the High Representative on a temporary basis.
The Bosnian Council of Ministers concluded to withdraw from parliamentary procedure the proposal oof the law changing ad amending the Bosnian Criminal Procedure Law, which it adopted on June 20.
The Council defined the proposal of the law on establishing the BiH Bureau for implementing criminal sanctions, detention and other measures.
This law establishes the Bureau and identifies East Sarajevo, East Ilidza Municipality, as the headquarters of the Bureau. It also defines the construction of the building that will house the Bureau.
The Bosnian Council of Ministers also adopted the proposal of the law changing and amending the Law on the Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and tasked the Bosnian Ministry of Security to forward it to the Bosnian Parliament.
This law defines cooperation with the INTERPOL General Secretariat and central state offices of INTERPOL, EUROPOL, SECI and other international police organisations.
The Bosnian Council of Ministers has called on the Bosnian Parliament to urgently adopt the Law changing the Customs Tariff Law in order to make possible the import of 100.000 tones of wheat free of customs.
The Council of Ministers tasked the Bosnian Ministry of Finance and Treasury to request the Indirect Taxation Authority to reduce VAT to 5 percent for the import of 100.000 tones of wheat.
The Bosnian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations has been tasked to through Bosnia's representatives maximally intensify activities on urgently convening a meeting of interagency commission for monitoring agreements on free trade with Serbia and Croatia.
This ministry has been also tasked to monitor the situation in this field, to inform the Council of Ministers and to propose possible further measures.
The Bosnian government also held a consultative discussion on the framework budget for 2008-2010.
The relevant ministry has been tasked to forward the framework budget to the Bosnian Presidency.
This document shows an overall increase of spending by the Bosnian state institutions in the amount of 861,8 million Bosnian Marks for 2008, which represents a 14,9 percent increase compared to spending planned for 2007.
The Bosnian Council of Ministers also defined the proposal pf the law on adopting the law changing and amending the Bosnian Criminal Procedure Law. The Bosnian Ministry of Justice will forward this piece of legislation to the Bosnian Parliament for adoption.
This bill adopts the law changing and amending the Bosnian Criminal Procedure Law, which was endorsed by the High Representative on a temporary basis.
The Bosnian Council of Ministers concluded to withdraw from parliamentary procedure the proposal oof the law changing ad amending the Bosnian Criminal Procedure Law, which it adopted on June 20.
The Council defined the proposal of the law on establishing the BiH Bureau for implementing criminal sanctions, detention and other measures.
This law establishes the Bureau and identifies East Sarajevo, East Ilidza Municipality, as the headquarters of the Bureau. It also defines the construction of the building that will house the Bureau.
The Bosnian Council of Ministers also adopted the proposal of the law changing and amending the Law on the Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and tasked the Bosnian Ministry of Security to forward it to the Bosnian Parliament.
This law defines cooperation with the INTERPOL General Secretariat and central state offices of INTERPOL, EUROPOL, SECI and other international police organisations.
80 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DISCOVERED THROUGHOUT BOSNIA
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 29,2007) – The Bosnian Minister of Safety Tarik Sadovic stated at a press conference in Sarajevo that a wide action has been conducted throughout Bosnia, performed by the Bosnian Ministry of Safety’s Immigration Department.
”I can say that it was a very successful action in which 80 persons illegally living in Bosnia have been discovered. They were also illegal employees. Most of them were employed at the private bakeries. Those persons are all of Albanian nationality”, Sadovic said.
”Those persons will be deported to the countries of their origin. That is the legal procedure and will soon be over”, Minister Sadovic said.
”I can say that it was a very successful action in which 80 persons illegally living in Bosnia have been discovered. They were also illegal employees. Most of them were employed at the private bakeries. Those persons are all of Albanian nationality”, Sadovic said.
”Those persons will be deported to the countries of their origin. That is the legal procedure and will soon be over”, Minister Sadovic said.
BOSNIAN MINISTER OF COMMUNICATION AND TRAFIC BOZO LJUBIC MET WITH SUPERVISOR FOR BRCKO DISTRICT RAFFI GREGORIAN
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 29,2007) – The Bosnian Minister of Communications and Traffic Bozo Ljubic and his associates met with Raffi Gregorian, the international community's Senior Deputy High Representative in Bosnia and Supervisor for the Brcko District.
They talked about the current situation related to the construction of bridges on the Sava River Brcko – Gunja and Raca, as well as about the strategic documents in the traffic sector,the Bosnian Ministry of Communications and Traffic announced.
Gregorian expressed concerns over the situation with the Bosnian state border crossing over Sava. That crossing is a bridge connecting Brcko and Gunja (Croatia).
Gregorian was also interested in the Government’s opinion regarding the Raca River bridge.
Minister Ljubic emphasized that the Bosnian Ministry of Communications and Traffic is currently considering the issue and that it will be fully engaged in solving it, within its jurisdiction.
Gregorian expressed pleasure over the Ministry’s results regarding the strategic documents development from the traffic sector (transport policy, strategy, laws). He emphasized that the OHR is fully supportive of the Ministry’s activities.
They talked about the current situation related to the construction of bridges on the Sava River Brcko – Gunja and Raca, as well as about the strategic documents in the traffic sector,the Bosnian Ministry of Communications and Traffic announced.
Gregorian expressed concerns over the situation with the Bosnian state border crossing over Sava. That crossing is a bridge connecting Brcko and Gunja (Croatia).
Gregorian was also interested in the Government’s opinion regarding the Raca River bridge.
Minister Ljubic emphasized that the Bosnian Ministry of Communications and Traffic is currently considering the issue and that it will be fully engaged in solving it, within its jurisdiction.
Gregorian expressed pleasure over the Ministry’s results regarding the strategic documents development from the traffic sector (transport policy, strategy, laws). He emphasized that the OHR is fully supportive of the Ministry’s activities.
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