UNITED STATES THREATENES ACTION AGAINST SERBIANS LIVING IN BOSNIA OVER POLITICAL BOYCOTT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 28,2007) - The United States threatened action against the Serbians living in Bosnia who have threatened to quit Bosnia's state government in protest at moves to streamline decision-making.

"Continuing down this path of confrontation will bring a swift and strong reaction from the United States," the U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia Charles English stated.

"It is their obligation to back away from an avoidable confrontation. We will view a decision to walk out of the Bosnian state institutions as unnecessary provocation," the U.S. Ambassador added.

The new dispute in Bosnia has erupted over measures proposed by the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajcak, to stop political representatives of the Serbians living in Bosnia blocking new laws by making it easier to pass decisions.

The political representatives of the Serbians living in Bosnia have threatened to resign en masse from the central assembly, blocking the Bosnian Government, unless the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak backs down from the reforms.

The U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia Charles English supported the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak's measures and said that "a confrontation with the High Representative is a confrontation with the United States."

Under Lajcak's proposals to avoid obstruction through absenteeism, the Bosnian Government would be able to hold sessions in the presence of six ministers and operate with a simple majority.

The changes would allow the Bosnian authorities to submit motions to the Bosnian Parliament without any participation of the politicial representatives of the Serbians living in Bosnia who are constantly blocking Bosnia's progress towards European integration by opposing the strengthening of the functionality of the Bosnian state.

BOSNIA TO SUE CROATIA OVER DISPUTED PELJESAC BRIDGE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 28,2007) - "Unilateral actions of the Republic of Croatia regarding the construction of “Land–Pelješac” bridge are not contributing the good relations between Bosnia and Croatia, and they are additionally complicating the situation involving the sea border between the two countries," the press release from the Cabinet of Bosnian Presidency Member Dr Haris Silajdžić said.

Bosnia is not objecting to the Croatian sovereign right to connect parts of its territory, but it cannot be done in a manner that violates the rights and interests of Bosnia.

The Bosnian Presidency, as the only organ authorized to manage foreign policy, has clearly expressed the view of Bosnia on the issue during the session of the Interstate Council, as well as during the visit of the Croatian Prime Minister Sanader to Bosnia, and it has reiterated it during its previous session, including the fact that it is necessary to establish a sea border between the two countries before the bridge construction begins.

"The Bosnian Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately forwarded the stance to the Ambassador of Croatia to Bosnia, as well as that Bosnia will preserve the right to initiate a dispute before international judicial or arbitrary bodies. The Republic of Croatia, therefore, was aware of Bosnia’s stance and the potential risks that unilateral actions might cause from the very beginning," Silajdzic said.

"The President is carefully monitoring the development of the situation and considers the problem to be of the utmost importance. The Presidency will decide on future concrete steps at its following sessions, regular or special, depending on the need and potential actions of the Republic of Croatia," Silajdzic stated.

UN SECRETARY GENERAL CONCERNED ABOUT POLITICAL SITUATION IN BOSNIA

NEW YORK ,USA (October 28,2007) - The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is concerned about recent political developments that could hinder the functioning of the Bosnian state institutions, thus undermining the implementation of the Dayton Agreement and affecting stability in the region.

The UN Secretary-General has urged Bosnia's political leaders to show restraint and support the International community's High Representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajcak, in carrying out reforms needed for Bosnia to join the European Union.

“The Secretary-General is concerned about recent political developments that could hinder the functioning of central institutions in Bosnia, thus undermining the implementation of the Dayton Agreement and affecting stability in the region,” a spokesman for Ban Ki-moon said.

Lajcak is charged with overseeing implementation of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement ,which ended the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.

“The secretary-general encourages political leaders and officials in Bosnia to exercise maximum restraint, continue to engage in inter-ethnic dialogue and constructively co-operate with the High Representative,” the spokesperson said.

Ban's call came as Lajcak on Thursday told the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) permanent council meeting in Vienna, Austria, that tensions are rising in Bosnia.

“The recent failure to forge a political agreement on police reform was merely the last, albeit crucial, confirmation of the worsening political dynamic that we have witnessed in Bosnia since April 2006, when the first modest but mould-breaking package of reforms to the Dayton constitution narrowly failed to win adoption,” Lajcak said.

“Since then, there has been a poisonous election campaign, characterized by intransigent and destabilizing rhetoric; a prolonged process of government formation, leading to the unavoidable cohabitation in power of the more radical and intransigent parties; and a virtual halt to European Union-compatible reforms and normal government activity.”

The Un Secretary-General reiterated his support for Lajcak, emphasising that the International community's High Representative in Bosnia acts in the interest of all Bosnian citizens.

Talks between Bosnia's political forces on the question of police reforms collapsed earlier this month after after a year of negotiations failed to produce a real breakthrough.

The European Union has set three main principles for police reform, demanding from Bosnia that it should be organised and financed on a country level, without political influence.