CHANGES TO BOSNIAN STATE PARLIAMENT'S RULES OF PROCEDURE AGREED

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 2,2007) – The joint collegium of both houses of the Bosnian State Parliament agreed at a meeting with the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo changes and amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Bosnian Parliament’s House of Representatives.The details of the changes were not officially presented after the meeting.

The Bosnian Parliament’s House of Representatives Speaker Milorad Zivkovic said after the meeting that changes to the Rules of Procedure are in accordance with the Bosnian Constitution and that they provide for the more efficient work of the Bosnian State Parliament.

He said that Bosnia's political leaders have shown that they are able to reach an agreement between themselves and with representatives of the international community.

The Bosnian Parliament’s House of Representatives Speaker thinks that this does not represent a mere adoption of the Rules of Procedure, but that it also lays the ground for initialling the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Bosnia and the European Union.

The Bosnian Parliament’s House of Peoples Speaker Sulejman Tihic said that the agreed text of changes is in accordance with the High Representative’s proposal, but also that certain other changes have been made in order to make the work of the Bosnian Parliament more efficient and to prevent any form of blockade.

Tihic also agreed that the adoption of these changes resolves a host of other important issues concerning the present political situation in Bosnia, including the issue of the Council of Ministers and the initialling of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU.

“This is a good day for Bosnia , because we have good news for the Bosnian citizens”, the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak said after the meeting.

He confirmed that the text of the changes is in accordance with the Bosnian Constitution and that it has the support of representatives of all parties from the ruling coalition.

He also said that the changes meet his demands for the new Rules of Procedure to ensure a more efficient work of the Parliament and prevent obstruction.

Lajcak expressed satisfaction with the fact that the text of changes and amendments to the Rules of Procedure has been adopted by legally elected representatives which represents a strong and positive message from Bosnia to the rest of Europe.

“I am sure that the reaction from the European Union will be positive”, Lajcak said.