RADMANOVIC: SAA BETWEEN BOSNIA AND EUROPEAN UNION WILL BE SIGNED IN 2008

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia (December 31,2007) – A member of the Bosnian Presidency Nebojsa Radmanovic expects Bosnia to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union in the first four months of 2008.

”If that does not happen, that allegations that there is a number of powerful people in the EU who do not want to see Bosnia in the Union would prove to be true. It is not possible to have a country with authorities on an emperor in Europe, which is based on agreement, consensus and understanding”, Radmanovic said and added that he expects the police reform will be completed in the first two months of 2008.

Radmanovic, commenting police reform in Bosnia, stated that “it is completely unnecessary and imposed".

“I am of the opinion that political leaders who have significantly influenced creation of a positive atmosphere in late 2007, reached the key agreement aimed to complete the police reform and free us all in Bosnia, as well as the European Commission of the imposed attitude that the reform is of key importance for European integrations”, Radmanovic stated at a press conference in the northern Bosnian city of Banja Luka.

He added that the following year will be marked by local elections which are very important for Bosnia and the region.

He again emphasized the Bosnian Presidency’s attitude that Kosovo is an internal issue of Bosnia's neighbouring country and that it is extremely important for the situation in the region that an agreement is reached between Belgrade and Pristina, with the help of the International Community, without any imposed solutions.

He added that this is the only attitude unanimously agreed upon by all members of the Bosnian Presidency.

However,the Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic stated that if Kosovo is proclaimed independent, Bosnia will act the same as the other EU countries. Radmanovic reacted as saying that it is a personal opinion of President Komsic, which cannot be implemented in Bosnia, for majority of votes will lack.

He added that it is a matter of dispute if the EU countries will react unanimously in the case of proclamation of independence of Kosovo.

Radmanovic is of the opinion that this year was highly successful for Bosnia, especially in the sector of economy.