BOSNIA AND SYRIA SIGNED AGREEMENT ON DOUBLE TAXATION AVOIDANCE

DAMASCUS, Syria (November 4, 2007) - The Deputy Bosnian Finance and Vault Minister Fuad Kasumovic and the Syrian Finance Minister Muahhamad Al Hussain initialled the Syrian capital Damascus the Agreement on double Taxation Avoidance and Prevention of the Tax Evasion. The Bosnian delegation, lead by the Deputy Finace Minister Kasumovic is in a five day visit to Syria.

Keeping in mind that the two countries have never before signed bilateral agreements aimed to improve the bilateral cooperation, economy and trade sector, the Syrian side highly praised signing of this agreement, the Ministry of Finance and Vault announced.

SDA PRESIDENT SULEJMAN TIHIC DISCUSSED CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION IN BOSNIA WITH US OFFICIALS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 4, 2007) - The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) President Sulejman Tihic met with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Rosemary Di Carlo and US Ambassador to Bosnia Charles English in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo.

They discussed the current political situation in Bosnia in the context of the High Representative’s decisions and the Declaration of the Peace Implementation Council.

Both sides expressed concern with the latest developments and especially the failure on reaching an agreement on police reform in Bosnia.Besides radicalising the situation, this has also stopped reforms and the process of moving Bosnia closer to the EU and Euro-Atlantic structures,they concluded.

Tihic confirmed that he and the SDA Party fully support the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia and his decisions, as well as the Declaration of the Peace Implementation Council.

"Changes to the Bosnian Constitution need to be made as soon as possible. Until this happens, Bosnia will still need the High Representative with his Bonn Powers, because under the existing constitutional structure the system is unable to function," Tihic said.

Di Carlo and English supported the Mostar Declaration and stressed that this document needs to be immediately transferred into laws and other necessary acts so that process can again move forward.

BOSNIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER SVEN ALKALAJ MET WITH US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EUROPE ROSEMARY DI CARLO

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 4, 2007) – The Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj met with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Rosemary Di Carlo in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo.

They discussed the political situation in Bosnia, placing the emphasis on the meeting of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council and the Declaration adopted by the Steering Board.

The Bosnian foreign affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj underlined the commitment of Bosnia to joining Euro-Atlantic structures. In that context they also discussed reform processes in Bosnia.

UNITED STATES SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S HIGH REPRESENTATIVE IN BOSNIA

WASHINGTON, USA (November 4,2007) – The US State Department supported the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak's recently announced measures aimed at the strengthening of the functionality of the Bosnian state institutions.

Spokesperson Sean McCormack said that Washington would certainly support the measures of the High Representative Lajcak. His actions were definitely within his mandate, he added.

“We call on all parties involved in this rhetoric that are trying to undermine his mandate and mission to immediately cease such activities. Lajcak is acting on behalf of the people from that region and every comment aimed at attacking him at a personal level, or his actions, which enflames negative reactions – is certainly not constructive and not helping anyone”, spokesperson for the US State Department said.

The Peace Implementation Council on Wednesday also gave full support for measures of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia.

THE IGMAN INITIATIVE WILL HOLD SESSION WITH OR WITHOUT TADIC

BELGRADE, Serbia (November 4, 2007) – The Igman initiative will hold a session November 11 in Belgrade despite of the opinion of Serbian President Boris Tadic that the session should be postponed, Aleksandar Popov, the Igman Initiative’s Co President stated.

”This session will be held with or without the presence of the Serbian President Tadic. We now expect an official Tadic’s response so that we could complete the preparations for the meeting”, Popov stated and added that the Igman Initiative has not received an official Tadic’s response demanding postponement of the session.

Tadic stated that the Igman Initiative needs to be postponed because the Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic recently "offended" the Serbian Prime Minister with his statement and that Serbia expects an apology for that action.

After the Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica criticized the International Commnunity's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak’s measures ,aimed to ensure a more functional and efficient Bosnian Government, the Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic told the Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica to “keep his hands off Bosnia because he could get burnt”.The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic also said that “we have not forgotten that Kostunica walked all over Bosnia carrying a machine gun in his hand."

”We have not forgotten that Kostunica walked all over Bosnia holding a machine gun. When such a person makes threats of problems in my own house 15 years after, all diplomatic communication will be of no use and unnecessary”,the Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic said.

Aleksandar Popov stated that Croatian and Montenegro presidents Stjepan Mesic and Filip Vujanovic showed willingness to attend the session. The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic officially cancelled the arrival because of some other engagements.

”We were surprised by Tadic’s decision to cancel the session. The session can only be cancelled by the Igman Initiative management and we will hold the session despite of all. The session will treat a very important topic – normalization of relations – challenges and the new initiatives”, Popov said.

The Igman Initiative assembles over 100 NGOs from Bosnia,Croatia and Serbia, , advocating normalization of relations in the region.

OSCE HOPES THAT SPIRIC'S RESIGNATION WILL SERVE A GREATER CAUSE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 4, 2007) – Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia Douglas Davidson said that he regrets that Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric considered it necessary to resign.

However,Davidson hopes that Spiric’s resignation will serve greater cause by influencing political leaders and legislators in Bosnia to start with a rational debate based on arguments on what is in the best interest of all Bosnian citizens, as well as on measures that are necessary to achieve this.

BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY HELD EMERGENCY SESSION DISCUSSING SPIRIC'S RESIGNATION

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 4, 2007) – The Bosnian Presidency held an emergency session for the purpose of discussing the situation which arose after the resignation of Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric.

The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic stated that it would be necessary to consult with Spiric prior to making any decisions.

”It has been agreed that prior to making any further steps, the Bosnian Presidency members will consult with Spiric; all within the legal jurisdiction of the Preisdency”, President Komsic stated at a press conference ,after the Bosnian Presidency session.

The consultations will soon be conducted. Spiric is currently in Banja Luka.

POLICE SEIZED LARGE AMOUNT OF CIGARETTES IN TREBINJE

TREBINJE, Bosnia (November 4, 2007) – Traffic police officers from the southern Bosnian town of Trebinje uncovered a case of illegal excise goods trade during a regular traffic control on the M-6 highway.

They found 547 packs of cigarettes, worth about 6,000 Bosnian Marks.

“This is not the end,” said Rajna Parezanin, Spokesperson of the Public Security Centre of Trebinje.

“We will continue to carry out our prevention activities to fight excise goods smuggling.”

The police had received some information that goods would be transported from Montenegro into Bosnia these days.