SARAJEVO, Bosnia (September 7 ,2007) - The Bosnian Parliament ratified the Central European Free Trade Agreement(CEFTA).CEFTA regulates a single free-trade zone for the countries of the Southeastern Europe.
Bosnia signed CEFTA on December 19,2006 in Bucharest, but until now the Bosnian Parliament delayed the ratification in the face of criticism from the local agricultural lobby.
Bosnian farmers are worried that CEFTA’s provisions for removing customs dues may further weaken their position in local and regional markets.
However, international organizations, especially the Office of the international community's high representative in Bosnia, have been insisting that Bosnia must live up to its commitments and ratify the agreement.
“The Council of Ministers and the entity governments will do everything to help those who might need help because of the implementation of CEFTA,” said Bosnia's Prime Minister, Nikola Spiric.
Stressing that failure to ratify CEFTA would have much greater negative consequences than getting on with it, Spiric stressed that the Bosnian state and Bosnia’s two largely-autonomous entity governments will neutralize the possible negative effects of CEFTA through future regulations and legislation related to customs tariffs and imports.
While ratifying the agreement after a long debate, the Bosnian Parliament also passed a resolution, giving the Bosnian state and entity governments 60 days to come up with a package of measures that would help Bosnian farmers in the new conditions created by CEFTA ratification.
Friday, September 7, 2007
MIROSLAV LAJCAK ADDRESSED BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (September 7 ,2007) - The international community's high representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajcak,told members of the Bosnian Parliament and the Bosnian government officials yesterday that resuming police reform was crucial for Bosnia’s integration with the European Union.
“Isolation or integration, today that is your choice and your responsibility,” Lajcak said in a 40-minute speech that was broadcast live on the Bosnian state television (BHT).
Lajcak stressed that failure to restructure the police to give it more central direction would leave the country further behind the rest of the region that has already moved ahead of Bosnia on its way to joining the EU.
“Last year was very bad. Not a single reform was undertaken,” Lajcak added.
Over the past 10 days Lajcak has presented a new proposal for police reform in bilateral meetings with key local leaders.
This plan was supposed to be a basis for further negotiations, aimed at reaching a compromise before the end of the month – in time to reach this year’s last deadline for continuation of the current phase of the EU integration process.
Stressing that the proposal was fair and balanced and in line with key EU policing principles, Lajcak blasted local politicians for acting irresponsibly. He even threatened them with sanctions, which appeared to soften their positions somewhat.
Commenting on the current situation in Bosnia, Lajcak invited the political establishment to end the practice of questioning the existence of the state and its component parts, noting that the constitutional arrangement could only be changed through the procedures prescribed in the Constitution itself.
“No one can secede unilaterally and no one can do away unilaterally with the entities or any other constitutional feature”, Lajčák said.
Speaking of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, Lajcak reiterated that it would not be signed without agreement on the police reform, which should be in accordance with the three known principles.
He emphasized that police reform should not be used to resolve all the problems the country is faced with – from war crimes to the future constitutional setup.
“We should not deny the existence of problems. They are here and are serious and relevant (…) Inclusion of all the country’s problems in the process of police reform creates a knot that will be impossible to untie.Acceptance or rejection of the agreement will be a “clear signal of maturity of leading politicians in this country and their readiness to lead Bosnia in a civilized and European way.Were the plan to be rejected, it would be politically naive to think that there would be no reaction of the international community, which would have to change its policy towards Bosnia as a result.” Miroslav Lajčák warned.
Lajcak pointed out a series of economic and other advantages the SAA would bring to Bosnia.By signing the agreement, Bosnia would take the first step in the European integration process and confirm its prospects for EU membership. Bosnia would, for instance, be able to export its products customs-free to a market of nearly 500 million potential consumers. At the same time, Bosnia would retain customs duties on EU products for a transition period and use this time to strengthen its domestic economy.
On the other hand, the harmonisation of Bosnian laws with EU will mean better consumer protection, equal opportunities for all people, safety of food and other products, more efficient public services, and more transparent spending of taxpayers’ money,he added.
Constitutional reform will follow the resolution of police reform, Lajcak announced. “The objective is simple: to provide this country with a feasible, affordable and effective system of governance. That is a long-term goal, but progress can only ever be achieved through consensus”. He concluded that such a willingness for consensus did not yet exist.
A high price was being paid for the country’s lack of progress, Lajčák said. “Only in 2006, this country lost 100 million dollars worth of World Bank funding, because it failed to satisfy the conditions that were set.”
In the economic field, Lajčák stressed the urgent need to create a Social and Economic Council and establish an efficient dialogue between economic stakeholders and the Bosnian government. The international community's high representative and EU special representative in Bosnia announced that he would convene a conference on the economy next month, bringing together policymakers and representatives of workers, employers, entrepreneurs and consumers.
“The lesson from other transition countries, including my own, is that it is quite unreasonable to expect citizens to undergo pain without the expectation of some kind of recognisable gain… We need economic reforms that work,” he said.
“Victims’ families cannot wait forever to obtain satisfaction before the courts,” Lajčák said, turning to the issue of justice and war crimes, and added: “There is no prosperous society without a feeling of justice.” For the country to address the past, it is necessary to adopt a state strategy for work on war crime cases as soon as possible and sign bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries on the exchange of evidence and information related to war crimes. Lajčák also called for the adoption of a Strategy for the Reform of the Judiciary in Bosnia, for which political support is still lacking.
Lajčák called upon parliamentarians to choose integration instead of isolation: “Let me reassure you that for my part I will do everything I can … to bring the ongoing reform processes to a successful conclusion. I firmly believe it is in the interest of this country, both its Entities and all its citizens,” he concluded.
Lajcak is scheduled to hold talks in Brussels soon,to inform EU leaders about the situation in Bosnia and plan further steps.
“Isolation or integration, today that is your choice and your responsibility,” Lajcak said in a 40-minute speech that was broadcast live on the Bosnian state television (BHT).
Lajcak stressed that failure to restructure the police to give it more central direction would leave the country further behind the rest of the region that has already moved ahead of Bosnia on its way to joining the EU.
“Last year was very bad. Not a single reform was undertaken,” Lajcak added.
Over the past 10 days Lajcak has presented a new proposal for police reform in bilateral meetings with key local leaders.
This plan was supposed to be a basis for further negotiations, aimed at reaching a compromise before the end of the month – in time to reach this year’s last deadline for continuation of the current phase of the EU integration process.
Stressing that the proposal was fair and balanced and in line with key EU policing principles, Lajcak blasted local politicians for acting irresponsibly. He even threatened them with sanctions, which appeared to soften their positions somewhat.
Commenting on the current situation in Bosnia, Lajcak invited the political establishment to end the practice of questioning the existence of the state and its component parts, noting that the constitutional arrangement could only be changed through the procedures prescribed in the Constitution itself.
“No one can secede unilaterally and no one can do away unilaterally with the entities or any other constitutional feature”, Lajčák said.
Speaking of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, Lajcak reiterated that it would not be signed without agreement on the police reform, which should be in accordance with the three known principles.
He emphasized that police reform should not be used to resolve all the problems the country is faced with – from war crimes to the future constitutional setup.
“We should not deny the existence of problems. They are here and are serious and relevant (…) Inclusion of all the country’s problems in the process of police reform creates a knot that will be impossible to untie.Acceptance or rejection of the agreement will be a “clear signal of maturity of leading politicians in this country and their readiness to lead Bosnia in a civilized and European way.Were the plan to be rejected, it would be politically naive to think that there would be no reaction of the international community, which would have to change its policy towards Bosnia as a result.” Miroslav Lajčák warned.
Lajcak pointed out a series of economic and other advantages the SAA would bring to Bosnia.By signing the agreement, Bosnia would take the first step in the European integration process and confirm its prospects for EU membership. Bosnia would, for instance, be able to export its products customs-free to a market of nearly 500 million potential consumers. At the same time, Bosnia would retain customs duties on EU products for a transition period and use this time to strengthen its domestic economy.
On the other hand, the harmonisation of Bosnian laws with EU will mean better consumer protection, equal opportunities for all people, safety of food and other products, more efficient public services, and more transparent spending of taxpayers’ money,he added.
Constitutional reform will follow the resolution of police reform, Lajcak announced. “The objective is simple: to provide this country with a feasible, affordable and effective system of governance. That is a long-term goal, but progress can only ever be achieved through consensus”. He concluded that such a willingness for consensus did not yet exist.
A high price was being paid for the country’s lack of progress, Lajčák said. “Only in 2006, this country lost 100 million dollars worth of World Bank funding, because it failed to satisfy the conditions that were set.”
In the economic field, Lajčák stressed the urgent need to create a Social and Economic Council and establish an efficient dialogue between economic stakeholders and the Bosnian government. The international community's high representative and EU special representative in Bosnia announced that he would convene a conference on the economy next month, bringing together policymakers and representatives of workers, employers, entrepreneurs and consumers.
“The lesson from other transition countries, including my own, is that it is quite unreasonable to expect citizens to undergo pain without the expectation of some kind of recognisable gain… We need economic reforms that work,” he said.
“Victims’ families cannot wait forever to obtain satisfaction before the courts,” Lajčák said, turning to the issue of justice and war crimes, and added: “There is no prosperous society without a feeling of justice.” For the country to address the past, it is necessary to adopt a state strategy for work on war crime cases as soon as possible and sign bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries on the exchange of evidence and information related to war crimes. Lajčák also called for the adoption of a Strategy for the Reform of the Judiciary in Bosnia, for which political support is still lacking.
Lajčák called upon parliamentarians to choose integration instead of isolation: “Let me reassure you that for my part I will do everything I can … to bring the ongoing reform processes to a successful conclusion. I firmly believe it is in the interest of this country, both its Entities and all its citizens,” he concluded.
Lajcak is scheduled to hold talks in Brussels soon,to inform EU leaders about the situation in Bosnia and plan further steps.
TWO SERBIAN WAR CRIMINALS ARRESTED IN BOSNIA
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (September 7 ,2007) - Two Serbian war criminals, believed to have committed war crimes in the southern Bosnian town of Nevesinje in 1992,during the early stages of the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia,have been arrested on a warrant of the Bosnian State Prosecutor’s Office.
Serbian war criminals Krsto Savic,48,and Milko Mucibabic,56, were arrested on 6 September,2007. The two are believed to have committed war crimes against Bosnian civilians on the territory of Nevesinje municipality in 1992.
According to an official announcement of the Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), the two suspects were arrested on the territory of the southern Bosnian towns of Trebinje and Nevesinje.
Serbian war criminals Krsto Savic,48,and Milko Mucibabic,56, were arrested on 6 September,2007. The two are believed to have committed war crimes against Bosnian civilians on the territory of Nevesinje municipality in 1992.
According to an official announcement of the Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), the two suspects were arrested on the territory of the southern Bosnian towns of Trebinje and Nevesinje.
BOSNIAN PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION DID NOT ADOPT THE REPORT ON PUBLIC RADIO AND TV SERVICE WORK AND MANAGEMENT FOR 2006
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (September 7,2007) – The Bosnian Parliament's Commission for Traffic and Communications did not adopt the report on the Bosnian Public Radio and TV Service Work and management in 2006, submitted by the Service’s Steering Board, Semsudin Mehmedovic, President of the Board said.
Mehmedovic said that the Commission denied authenticity of the Report, for it was not discussed at the Public Radio and TV Service Steering Board’s session, but was submitted by an email to other members of the Commission who were to confirm the text he had written.
The Commission also stated that some of the information stated in the Report are contradictory.
Liquidity of the Public Radio and TV Service was the main topic of the meeting, as well as a possible increase of taxes.
However, keeping in mind the low percentage of payment of the taxes, one can see that the interior reserves are vast and that there is no need for increasing the taxes.It would not be fair to the people who pay them regularly,the Commission stated.
Because of that and because of many other reasons, the Commission returned the Report for further analysis.
Mehmedovic said that the Commission denied authenticity of the Report, for it was not discussed at the Public Radio and TV Service Steering Board’s session, but was submitted by an email to other members of the Commission who were to confirm the text he had written.
The Commission also stated that some of the information stated in the Report are contradictory.
Liquidity of the Public Radio and TV Service was the main topic of the meeting, as well as a possible increase of taxes.
However, keeping in mind the low percentage of payment of the taxes, one can see that the interior reserves are vast and that there is no need for increasing the taxes.It would not be fair to the people who pay them regularly,the Commission stated.
Because of that and because of many other reasons, the Commission returned the Report for further analysis.
BOSNIAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL HELD A SESSION
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (September 7,2007) – The Bosnian Economic and Social Council for the territory of the FBIH entity discussed at the emergency session in Sarajevo the preliminary draft of the law changing and amending the Law on Incomes in the FBIH entity.
Council supported the attitude of the FBIH Entity Minister of Finances that the lower rates of incomes cannot be introduced to the Law for now, because of the increased employment rate. As stated, it would be a risk in the process of providing funds for the pension, health and other forms of insurance. The rates could be lowered only one year after the adoption of the law.
It has been decided that the objections made by the Bosnian Association of Employees and the Bosnian Association of Independent Unions, as well as the Preliminary draft of the law changing and amending the Law on Incomes should be submitted to the FBIH entity government.
Employers and the Union also stated that the Law on Incomes should be discussed in a package at the FBIH Entity Parliament’s session, along with the laws on income taxes. The Council is of the opinion that they should and can be simplified.
The Union expressed concerns over the solution to eliminate the gross wage and to introduce the salary system, for, as they stated, it would demand significant changes to the general and department collective agreements.
The Union is also concerned that the Preliminary draft to the law does not plan elimination of benefits for the textile, leather and shoe wear sectors
Council supported the attitude of the FBIH Entity Minister of Finances that the lower rates of incomes cannot be introduced to the Law for now, because of the increased employment rate. As stated, it would be a risk in the process of providing funds for the pension, health and other forms of insurance. The rates could be lowered only one year after the adoption of the law.
It has been decided that the objections made by the Bosnian Association of Employees and the Bosnian Association of Independent Unions, as well as the Preliminary draft of the law changing and amending the Law on Incomes should be submitted to the FBIH entity government.
Employers and the Union also stated that the Law on Incomes should be discussed in a package at the FBIH Entity Parliament’s session, along with the laws on income taxes. The Council is of the opinion that they should and can be simplified.
The Union expressed concerns over the solution to eliminate the gross wage and to introduce the salary system, for, as they stated, it would demand significant changes to the general and department collective agreements.
The Union is also concerned that the Preliminary draft to the law does not plan elimination of benefits for the textile, leather and shoe wear sectors
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