LAJCAK: UNDERMINING INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S AUTHORITY IS DANGEROUS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 30,2007) – The international community will not allow its authority to be undermined. Challenging the international community’s authority is counterproductive and dangerous, Miroslav Lajcak stated. Lajcak emphasized that the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) was formed by the Dayton Agreement and that the institution has its place in the Bosnian political system, as well as the responsibility and mandate,and that only the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) can decide and influence the OHR activities.

The political representatives of the Serbians living in Bosnia will certainly not decide on the activities of the OHR, Lajcak said.

He added that the Bon Powers have been in force since 1997 and have been used for 829 times so far. The powers have been used 334 times in the legal sector – 95 laws have been imposed and 229 laws have been amended or changed.

The Bonn Powers have been used 157 times for the purpose of replacing the officials and 76 times because of the lack of cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Lajcak emphasized that his measures were passed for the purpose of better functioning of the Bosnian state. He added that neither of the decisions is aimed to cause damage to Serbians living in Bosnia. That is why the sharp reactions of their political representatives “all fall into the sphere of lies, demagogy and deceiving”, he said.

The International Community's High Representative in Bosnia added that it is time for Bosnia's politicians to go back to their normal activities.

Commenting the PIC Steering Board meeting due next week, Lajcak stated that strategic debate is necessary.

OHR: IF TENSIONS CONTINUE GROWING, LEADERSHIP OF SERBIANS LIVING IN BOSNIA WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 30,2007) – The Office of the International community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) warned yesterday that if the tensions continue growing in Bosnia, the political leaders of the Serbians living in Bosnia leaders will be held responsible and will bear the consequences.

Oleg Milisic, OHR Spokesperson, stated that the OHR representatives met during the weekend with the political representatives of the Serbians living in Bosnia to discuss measures the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak proposed October 19.

The measures were introduced for the purpose of the strengthening of the functionality of the Bosnian state in the framework of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

Lajcak also noted that although he did not insist on the issue of the possible sacking of the Prime Minister of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "the RS" Milorad Dodik, "no option was ruled out."

Legal interpretation is a public document; Milisic said and added that the HR’s decision is completely in accordance with the Dayton Agreement.

GERMANY WILL NOT TOLERATE AN UNDERMINING OF DAYTON AGREEMENT

BERLIN, Germany (October 30,2007) - Germany warned Bosnia yesterday not to undermine the Dayton Peace Accords by resisting an international peace envoy's efforts to streamline government decision-making.

In response to bickering between Bosnia's Muslim, Serb and Croat leaders that has stalled reforms over the past 18 months, peace envoy Miroslav Lajcak unveiled new measures earlier this month aimed at simplifying the functioning of the government.

The German Foreign Affairs Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said yesterday he fully supported the International Community's High Representative Miroslav Lajcak's efforts to improve the Bosnian government's effectiveness and warned political representatives of the Serbians living in Bosnia not to fight them.

"Those who stand in the way of this Dayton-compatible process are working against the interests of the Bosnian citizens and their desire to work more closely with the EU," Steinmeier said.

"Germany will not tolerate an undermining of the Dayton agreement," he added.

Asked what concrete steps Germany could take, foreign ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger told a regular government news conference only that Berlin would use its "options" to influence events in Bosnia.

BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBERS MET WITH COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S SECRETARY GENERAL TERRY DAVIS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 30,2007) – The Bosnian Presidency members Zeljko Komsic,Haris Silajdzic and Nebojsa Radmanovic’s Head of Cabinet Miroslav Vujicic met yesterday in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with the Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis.

The Bosnian Presidency members emphasized the importance of the Council of Europe and stated that they are highly appreciative of the role of the Council of Europe Secretary General. They added that Bosnia has certain obligations to fulfill as a Council of Europe member country.

In that sense, the officials talked about the obligations that arise form the Frame Convention on Protection of National Minorities, ratification of the European Frame Convention on the Cross-Border Cooperation and the European Convention on Regional and Languages of Minorities.

They also talked about the ratification of the European Social Decree and adoption of the Higher Education Law. They also talked about several other obligations of Bosnia, the Bosnian Presidency announced.

The Bosnian Presidency members said that Bosnia holds high at the priority list all the Council of Europe’s values, as well as promotion of democratic standards, human rights and the rule of law. They also expressed gratitude for the Council of Europe’s contribution in the process of building a stabile and democratic legal frame in Europe, which was greatly contributed by the Venetian Commission.

They especially thanked the Council of Europe's Secretary General for support to the process of gaining loans at the Council of Europe’s Development Bank, as well as for the help in the process of providing for the Bosnia’s decertified police officers.

The Council of Europe Secretary General stated that all the problems Bosnia has need to be solved through joint efforts and that Bosnia should be fully dedicated to strengthening of its role at the Council of Europe.

LAJCAK AND WITTHAUER MET WITH NATO'S DEPUTY SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER MCCOLL

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 30,2007) - The Commander of the European Union Force in Bosnia (EUFOR), Rear Admiral Hans Jochen Witthauer and the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajčák, met yesterday with General John McColl who took over the role as NATO's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the EU’s Operation Commander for Operation ALTHEA on 22 October 2007.

This is his first visit to Bosnia since his appointment and it comes at a time critical for the country's reform and integration processes. General McColl received a thorough briefing by both Lajcak and Witthauer on the military and political situation in Bosnia.

During his meeting with Miroslav Lajcak, General McColl expressed EUFOR's continued full support to the International Community's High Representative, his mandate and his important mission in Bosnia.

General McColl emphasized the importance of continuing the close and excellent working relations between EUFOR and the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) and stressed that EUFOR would continue to contribute to the safe and secure environment throughout Bosnia, in accordance with the Dayton-derived mandate.

The joint conclusion of the meeting was that the European path is the only solution for achieving long-term stability in the whole region. It is the best way forward for Bosnia, EUFOR and OHR said.

"This means we must work to produce a step-change in the domestic political dynamic – a step-change that will not only facilitate a Stabilisation and association Agreement between Bosnia and the European Union, but also constitutional reform and the consolidation of Bosnia as a peaceable, law-abiding and functional state" the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajčák,stated.

EUFOR HANDS OVER ORTIJES BASE TO BOSNIAN ARMY

MOSTAR, Bosnia (October 30,2007) – The Ortijes base near the southern Bosnian city of Mostar is now in the hands of the Bosnian Army. This ended the the European Union Force (EUFOR) 12-years-long presence in Mostar.

The French Ambassador to Bosnia attended the ceremony, together with the Bosnian Ministry of Defence representatives and other high officials.

The Bosnian Defence Minister Selmo Cikotic stated that the ceremony symbolizes taking over responsibility for stability, safety and future of Bosnia.

He expressed gratitude to the members of French, Morocco, German, Italian and Spanish troops who contributed stabilization and peace in the region.

The French Ambassador to Bosnia Maryse Berniau thanked the Bosnian Defence Minister and all his associates who helped the process of handing over the base to the Bosnian Army. She greeted the Mayor of Mostar and added she did not want to forget about the close ties made with the administration and citizens of Mostar.

”Twelve years after the formation of the ‘Salamander’ division in Mostar, we are happy to be able to hand over the base to the Bosnian authorities”, Maryse Berniau said.

She added that a lot of money was invested into the reconstruction of the base and that the base and its surroundings are mines-free. She emphasized that all the activities were performed in accordance with the European environmental standards.

Ambassador Berniau emphasized that some of the French troops will return to France and that about 150 French soldiers will stay in Bosnia as members of the EUFOR.

BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT REJECTED THREE BILLS PROPOSED BY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S HIGH REPRESENTATIVE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 30,2007) - The Bosnian Parliament’s House of Peoples did not accept at the session yesterday three proposals to the law passed by the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajčák,on the temporary basis.

The laws are as follows: Bill Changing and Amending the Law on Criminal Procedures, Bill Changing and Amending the Law on Bosnian High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council and Bill Changing and Amending the Law on Passports and Other Travel IDs.

Delegates of the Serbians living in Bosnia opposed the adoption.

Sulejman Tihic, Deputy House of Peoples Speaker, told the press after the session that this is the first time in the history of the Bosnian Parliament that the laws proposed by the High Representative were rejected, for the Parliament is not able to change or reject the laws both formally and legal-wise.

The delegates accepted reports of the Bosnian State Commission of both the houses which aligned the frame proposal to the bill on pre-school education and bill on agency for pre-school, primary and secondary education.

Adoption of these laws was made a priority in the program of realization of the priorities proscribed by the EU partnership with Bosnia.

Delegates also adopted the report of the Bosnian State Commission which aligned the Bill on Radiation and Nuclear Safety, aimed to protect Bosnia from ionized radiation.