FARMERS HELD PROTESTS IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 26,2007) – The Bosnian Association of Farmers in cooperation with the FBIH Entity Association of Farmers, held protests in front of the FBIH entity government building. The protest was aimed to pressure the FBIH entity government to provide at least six per cent of the FBIH entity budget to initiate agricultural development in 2008. That means providing about 100 million Bosnian Marks.

The Bosnian farmers also expect the increase of prices of milk. They added, however, that the milk industry has already increased the prices of their products per 20 to 40 per cent, although they were not the ones affected by drought, but farmers.

The Deputy President of the Bosnian Association of Farmers Bisco Alibegovic told the press that they sent a note to the FBIH entity government December 13 defining their demands and asking for negotiations.

Alibegovic said that the FBIH Entity Prime Minister Nedzad Brankovic told farmers that he is on the way to Gorazde but that he has obliged the FBIH Entity Minister of Agriculture to meet with the farmers.

Alibegovic confirmed that the Associaiton representatives have met with Minister of Agfriculture and that some talks were held in order to reach a solution.