BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER MET WITH AMBASSADORS OF PORTUGAL AND ITALY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (September 19,2007) – Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric stressed during separate meeting with the ambassadors of Portugal and Italy that a solution to the issue of Bosnian police reform that will be in accordance with the existing Bosnian constitutional structure.

Portuguese Ambassador to Bosnia Antonio Boteljo de Souza stressed that his country, which is currently chairing the EU Council, is monitoring with concern developments in Bosnia resulting from the impasse in reform processes. He said that the Western Balkans represents one of the top priorities during the Portuguese presidency of the EU.

Italian Ambassador to Bosnia Alesandro Falavolita warned that Bosnia could remain isolated if the process of police reform is no unblocked.

Ambassador Falavolita also discussed with Spiric his upcoming visit to Rome at the invitation by the Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi. This visit is expected to accelerate the pace of creating a legal basis for stronger and more comprehensive bilateral cooperation,Spiric said.