BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBERS HELD RECEPTION ON OCCASION OF BOSNIAN NATIONAL DAY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 22,2007) – Members of the Bosnian Presidency Haris Silajdzic and Zeljko Komsic hosted a reception in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo on the occasion of marking the 25th of November,the Bosnian National Day.Many prominent personalities from the Bosnian public, religious, cultural and political life, as well as the diplomatic chorus attended. The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic gave a short overview of November 25th 1943, a historical date for Bosnia.

On that day, in the middle of occupied Europe, in the Bosnian town of Mrkonjic Grad, representatives of all citizens of Bosnia assembled. They passed a political decision which marked a turning point in the Bosnian history and which represents the basis of a modern and democratic Bosnia.

The State Anti-Fascist Council of People's Liberation of Bosnia (ZAVNOBiH) was a session of antifascists from Bosnia from all citizens of Bosnia, Komsic said.

The Bosnian State Anti-Fascist Council of People's Liberation (ZAVNOBIH - (Bosnian: Zemaljsko Antifašističko Vijeće Narodnog Oslobođenja Bosne i Hercegovine) was formed in November 1943.

President Komsic warned that today there are certain political forces in Bosnia which want to eliminate antifascism from the Bosnian history and forget the ZAVNOBIH principles.

The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic is of the opinion that the negation of ZAVNOBiH and its principles; principles which enable the equality of all the citizens of Bosnia in the whole of its territory is the negation of existence of Bosnia as a state. That is also a negation of the universal democratic principles which states that all the people are equal, regardless of religious or political determination,he said.

President Komsic commented the already-common refusal to mark November 25 in certain parts of the country. He emphasized that the day of signing the Dayton Agreement is an important date in the Bosnian history and nobody should and can deny it.

However, the ZAVNOBIH day is untouchable and it is the only Bosnian National Day there is,President Komsic said.

”People who negate this fact should be aware that they negate the constitutiveness principle which is the same for all the peoples of the country, wherever they live. In that way, by calling upon the national interests of their people, they are making a permanent damage to the people, for they are denying them their rights which should be the same for all. That has become a common practice”, President Komsic said.

The Bosnian President said that the principle according to which certain parts of Bosnia are actually a war game of nations, parties and individuals is fascism.

Bosnia is our country, President Komsic said in the end.

“This country’s history reaches back hundreds of years. This country’s history teaches us that we should live, naturally, with one another, not one next another”.

A member of the Bosnian Presidency Haris silajdzic expressed regrets that the political representatives who do not recognize this day as a holiday did not attend the reception.

They think that the Bosnian history begins after Dayton. “Dayton stopped the war and only confirmed the already-existent statehood and sovereignty of Bosnia. The first act of the Dayton Agreement states that Bosnia ‘continues its legal existence in accordance to the international law”, Bosnian Presidency member Silajdzic emphasized.

Silajdzic also talked about the upcoming obligations of Bosnia, which foresee the Dayton Agreement amendments. By that time, the Dayton Agreement will be implemented accordingly. There are also numerous economic programs which should be implemented rather hastily,he said.

Silajdzic is of the opinion that on that road, Bosnia needs the help of the International Community. That is why the the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) should continue to exist Silajdzic said.

He also commented the creation of political crisis coming form the genocidal Serbia.

”I would like to use the opportunity and clearly emphasize that this is not 1992. I would like to emphasize that the radical forces from Belgrade will not this time turn their ideas into actions and that the time has come for Serbia to begin solving its problems and to fulfil several international obligations towards Bosnia”, Bosnian Presidency member Haris silajdzic said.

Silajdzic stated his conviction that the International Community will double its efforts to stop the import of fabricated political crisis to Bosnia, especially for the purpose of protecting the returnees who live in the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia (RS).

Silajdzic also said that he is optimistic related to today's meeting of Bosnia's major political parties’ representatives.

UN SECURITY COUNCIL URGES BOSNIA TO MAKE PROGRESS TOWARDS EU MEMBERSHIP

NEW YORK, USA (November 22,2007) - The UN Security Council reiterated yesterday its support of the Dayton peace agreement ending the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia, but said the Bosnian leadership has failed to make progress in its implementation, including integration with the European Union.

The UN Security Council said the Bosnia has so far made "limited progress" toward joining the EU after completing the Stabilization and Association Agreement, a major step for EU accession. The document has not been signed in the past year.

The UN Security Council reminded the Bosnian Presidency that the 1995 Dayton agreement called for full cooperation with all parties involved in the agreement.

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had informed the UN Security Council of political turmoil in Bosnia.

"There has been almost no progress in addressing the reform agenda, and Bosnia has moved no closer to initialing a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU," the report said.

"This is despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of the Bosnian citizens wish to see progress with regard to the relationship with the EU," it said.

The 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia ended in 1995 with the Dayton peace agreement endorsed by the UN. The UN initially administered the country and the responsibility has since shifted to the European Union.

UN SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDED EUFOR'S MANDATE IN BOSNIA FOR ANOTHER YEAR

NEW YORK, USA (November 22,2007) – The UN Security Council extended yesterday the mandate of the European Union Force in Bosnia for another year, unanimously adopting resolution 1785 (2007)

Noting that Bosnia had thus far made only "very limited" progress towards benchmarks for integration with the European Union, the UN Security Council authorized for a further year the European Union Stabilization Force (EUFOR) mandated to ensure continued compliance with the Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1785 (2007), the Council also authorized the continued presence of a headquarters for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Bosnia, which led the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) that handed over peacekeeping responsibilities to the EUFOR in 2004, and recognized the right of both organizations to take all necessary measures to defend themselves from attacks or threats.

The UN Security Council reiterated that the primary responsibility for the further implementation of the Peace Agreement lay with the Bosnian authorities. Their compliance ,including the surrender for trial of all persons indicted by the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia,will determine the continued willingness of the international community and major donors to provide support, the resolution said.

The UN Security Council also emphasized its full support for the Internatioal Community's High Representative in Bosnia in monitoring implementation of the Peace Agreement and recognized that he is the final authority in theatre regarding the interpretation of civilian implementation of the Agreement.

The meeting convened at 10:10 a.m. and closed at 10:15 a.m.,yesterday.

The full text of resolution 1785 (2007) reads as follows:

"The Security Council,

"Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions concerning the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and relevant statements of its President, including resolutions 1031 (1995) of 15 December 1995, 1088 (1996) of 12 December 1996, 1423 (2002) of 12 July 2002, 1491 (2003) of 11 July 2003, 1551 (2004) of 9 July 2004, 1575 (2004) of 22 November 2004, 1639 (2005) of 21 November 2005, 1722 (2006) of 21 November 2006 and 1764 (2007) of 29 June 2007,

"Reaffirming its commitment to the political settlement of the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States there within their internationally recognized borders,

"Emphasizing its full support for the High Representative's continued role in Bosnia and Herzegovina,

"Underlining its commitment to support the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Annexes thereto (collectively the Peace Agreement, S/1995/999, annex), as well as the relevant decisions of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC),

"Recalling all the agreements concerning the status of forces referred to in Appendix B to Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement, and reminding the parties of their obligation to continue to comply therewith,

"Further recalling the provisions of its resolution 1551 (2004) concerning the provisional application of the status of forces agreements contained in Appendix B to Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement,

"Emphasizing its appreciation to the High Representative, the Commander and personnel of the multinational stabilization force (EUFOR), the Senior Military Representative and personnel of the NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the European Union (EU) and the personnel of other international organizations and agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina for their contributions to the implementation of the Peace Agreement,

"Emphasizing that a comprehensive and coordinated return of refugees and displaced persons throughout the region continues to be crucial to lasting peace,

"Recalling the declarations of the Ministerial meetings of the Peace Implementation Conference,

"Recognizing that full implementation of the Peace Agreement is not yet complete, while paying tribute to the achievements of the authorities at State and entity level in Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the international community in the twelve years since the signing of the Peace Agreement,

"Emphasizing the importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration on the basis of the Peace Agreement, while recognizing the importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina's transition to a functional, reform-oriented, modern and democratic European country,

"Noting the reports of the High Representative, including his latest report of 5 November 2007 (S/2007/561, annex),

"Determined to promote the peaceful resolution of the conflicts in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

"Recalling the relevant principles contained in the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel adopted on 9 December 1994 and the statement of its President on 10 February 2000 (S/PRST/2000/4),

"Welcoming and encouraging efforts by the United Nations to sensitize peacekeeping personnel in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases in all its peacekeeping operations,

"Taking note of the conclusions of EU Foreign Ministers and Ministers of Defence at their joint meeting on 14 May 2007, which reiterate that the EU would retain a military presence in the country as long as necessary, in order to continue contributing to the maintenance of a safe and secure environment,

"Recalling the letters between the European Union and NATO sent to the Security Council on 19 November 2004 on how those organizations will cooperate together in Bosnia and Herzegovina in which both organizations recognize that the EUFOR will have the main peace stabilization role under the military aspects of the Peace Agreement (S/2004/916; S/2004/915),

"Further recalling the confirmation by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including its constituent entities, of the arrangements for EUFOR and the NATO Headquarters presence (S/2004/917),

"Welcoming the European Union's increased engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the continued engagement of NATO,

"Noting that Bosnia and Herzegovina has made very limited progress towards the European Union, and, in particular, towards the conclusion of a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) despite the fact that the text of the SAA has been finalized, and reiterating its call on the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement in full their undertakings as also confirmed by the PIC declaration of 31 October 2007,

"Determining that the situation in the region continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,

"Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

"1. Reaffirms once again its support for the Peace Agreement, as well as for the Dayton Paris Agreement on implementing the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina of 10 November 1995 (S/1995/1021, annex) and calls upon the parties to comply strictly with their obligations under those Agreements;

"2. Reiterates that the primary responsibility for the further successful implementation of the Peace Agreement lies with the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina themselves and that the continued willingness of the international community and major donors to assume the political, military and economic burden of implementation and reconstruction efforts will be determined by the compliance and active participation by all the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in implementing the Peace Agreement and rebuilding a civil society, in particular in full cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, in strengthening joint institutions, which foster the building of a fully functioning self-sustaining State, able to integrate itself into the European structures and in facilitating returns of refugees and displaced persons;

"3. Reminds the parties once again that, in accordance with the Peace Agreement, they have committed themselves to cooperate fully with all entities involved in the implementation of this peace settlement, as described in the Peace Agreement, or which are otherwise authorized by the Security Council, including the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, as it carries out its responsibilities for dispensing justice impartially, and underlines that full cooperation by States and entities with the International Tribunal includes, inter alia, the surrender for trial or apprehension of all persons indicted by the Tribunal and provision of information to assist in Tribunal investigations;

"4. Emphasizes its full support for the continued role of the High Representative in monitoring the implementation of the Peace Agreement and giving guidance to and coordinating the activities of the civilian organizations and agencies involved in assisting the parties to implement the Peace Agreement, and reaffirms that under Annex 10 of the Peace Agreement the High Representative is the final authority in theatre regarding the interpretation of civilian implementation of the Peace Agreement and that in case of dispute he may give his interpretation and make recommendations, and make binding decisions as he judges necessary on issues as elaborated by the Peace Implementation Council in Bonn on 9 and 10 December 1997;

"5. Expresses its support for the declarations of the Ministerial meetings of the Peace Implementation Conference;

"6. Reaffirms its intention to keep implementation of the Peace Agreement and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina under close review, taking into account the reports submitted pursuant to paragraphs 18 and 21 below, and any recommendations those reports might include, and its readiness to consider the imposition of measures if any party fails significantly to meet its obligations under the Peace Agreement;

"7. Recalls the support of the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the EU force and the continued NATO presence and their confirmation that both are the legal successors to SFOR for the fulfilment of their missions for the purposes of the Peace Agreement, its Annexes and Appendices and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and can take such actions as are required, including the use of force, to ensure compliance with Annexes 1-A and 2 of the Peace Agreement and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions;

"8. Pays tribute to those Member States which participated in the multinational stabilization force (EUFOR), and in the continued NATO presence, established in accordance with its resolution 1575 (2004) and extended with its resolutions 1639 (2005) and 1722 (2006), and welcomes their willingness to assist the Parties to the Peace Agreement by continuing to deploy a multinational stabilization force (EUFOR) and by maintaining a continued NATO presence;

"9. Welcomes the EU's intention to maintain an EU military operation to Bosnia and Herzegovina from November 2007;

"10. Authorizes the Member States acting through or in cooperation with the EU to establish for a further period of 12 months, starting from the date of the adoption of this resolution, a multinational stabilization force (EUFOR) as a legal successor to SFOR under unified command and control, which will fulfil its missions in relation to the implementation of Annex 1-A and Annex 2 of the Peace Agreement in cooperation with the NATO Headquarters presence in accordance with the arrangements agreed between NATO and the EU as communicated to the Security Council in their letters of 19 November 2004, which recognize that the EUFOR will have the main peace stabilization role under the military aspects of the Peace Agreement;

"11. Welcomes the decision of NATO to continue to maintain a presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the form of a NATO Headquarters in order to continue to assist in implementing the Peace Agreement in conjunction with EUFOR and authorizes the Member States acting through or in cooperation with NATO to continue to maintain a NATO Headquarters as a legal successor to SFOR under unified command and control, which will fulfil its missions in relation to the implementation of Annex 1-A and Annex 2 of the Peace Agreement in cooperation with EUFOR in accordance with the arrangements agreed between NATO and the EU as communicated to the Security Council in their letters of 19 November 2004, which recognize that EUFOR will have the main peace stabilization role under the military aspects of the Peace Agreement;

"12. Reaffirms that the Peace Agreement and the provisions of its previous relevant resolutions shall apply to and in respect of both EUFOR and the NATO presence as they have applied to and in respect of SFOR and that therefore references in the Peace Agreement, in particular in Annex 1-A and its appendices, and relevant resolutions to IFOR and/or SFOR, NATO and the NAC shall be read as applying, as appropriate, to the NATO presence, EUFOR, the European Union and the Political and Security Committee and Council of the European Union respectively;

"13. Expresses its intention to consider the terms of further authorization as necessary in the light of developments in the implementation of the Peace Agreement and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

"14. Authorizes the Member States acting under paragraphs 10 and 11 above to take all necessary measures to effect the implementation of and to ensure compliance with Annexes 1-A and 2 of the Peace Agreement, stresses that the parties shall continue to be held equally responsible for the compliance with that Annex and shall be equally subject to such enforcement action by EUFOR and the NATO presence as may be necessary to ensure implementation of those Annexes and the protection of EUFOR and the NATO presence;

"15. Authorizes Member States to take all necessary measures, at the request of either EUFOR or the NATO Headquarters, in defence of the EUFOR or NATO presence respectively, and to assist both organizations in carrying out their missions, and recognizes the right of both EUFOR and the NATO presence to take all necessary measures to defend themselves from attack or threat of attack;

"16. Authorizes the Member States acting under paragraphs 10 and 11 above, in accordance with Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement, to take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with the rules and procedures governing command and control of airspace over Bosnia and Herzegovina with respect to all civilian and military air traffic;

"17. Demands that the parties respect the security and freedom of movement of EUFOR, the NATO presence and other international personnel;

"18. Requests the Member States acting through or in cooperation with the EU and the Member States acting through or in cooperation with NATO to report to the Council on the activity of EUFOR and NATO Headquarters presence respectively, through the appropriate channels and at least at three-monthly intervals;

"19. Invites all States, in particular those in the region, to continue to provide appropriate support and facilities, including transit facilities, for the Member States acting under paragraphs 10 and 11 above;

"20. Reiterates its appreciation for the deployment by the EU of its Police Mission (EUPM) to Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1 January 2003;

"21. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to submit to the Council reports from the High Representative, in accordance with Annex 10 of the Peace Agreement and the conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference held in London on 4 and 5 December 1996 (S/1996/1012), and later Peace Implementation Conferences, on the implementation of the Peace Agreement and in particular on compliance by the parties with their commitments under that Agreement;

"22. Decides to remain seized of the matter."

The UN Security Council had before it the thirty-second report of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia,Miroslav Lajcak, (document S/2007/651), transmitted by a letter dated 5 November 2007 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council and covering implementation of Bosnia's Peace Agreement during the period from 1 April to 30 September 2007.

During this time, the High Representative reports, "there has been almost no progress in addressing the reform agenda and Bosnia has moved no closer to initialling a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union", despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of the Bosnian citizens wish to see progress on that front.

The key political requirements of the Union remain police restructuring, cooperation with the International Tribunal on the Former Yugoslavia, public administration reform and public broadcasting reform, he noted.

Lajcak added that tensions over Srebrenica in the wake of the February judgment of the International Court of Justice have lessened, although they continued to define domestic politics in the first half of the reporting period.

Unfortunately, August and September again saw a deterioration of the political atmosphere in Bosnia, the High Representative said. The Declaration of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council of 31 October, appended to the report, said that responsibility for the deterioration lay with political leaders from both sides who have blocked progress and undermined the situation with their "aggressive rhetoric".

The Board stressed that it is time for such politicians to end the practice of questioning the fundamental political structure of the Bosnian State. Given the lack of progress in reforms, a focus on completing the Dayton Peace Agreement is necessary, including efforts to tackle the evident dysfunctionality of State institutions, it said

INITIATIVE FOR CHANGES TO BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT'S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES' RULES OF PROCEDURE PRESENTED IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 22,2007) – The Bosnian Parliament’s House of Representatives Speaker Milorad Zivkovic and his Deputy Niko Lozancic presented in Sarajevo the initiative for changes to the Bosnian Parliament’s House of Representatives’ Rules of Procedure.

The material entitled the draft of a proposal was conciliated at the Collegiums and has been submitted to the Office of the International Community's High RepresentativeO in Bosnia (OHR) which “positively marked it”.
Zivkovic stated at a press conference in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo that 95 per cent of the material for the changes to the Rules of Procedure proposed by the High Representative has been accepted. Additional 20 per cent of material proposed by Zivkovic personally has been accepted. Additional 5 per cent of the material, proposed by Niko Lozancic, has also been accepted.

These changes to the Bosnian Parliament’s Rules of Procedure are made for the purpose of improving the House of Representatives’ work,Zivkovic and Lozancic stated.

”We are of the opinion that the material meets the requirements of the House”, they said.

They added that there had been some proposals to change the Bosnian Parliament’s House of Representatives’ Rules of Procedure prior to October 19, when the High Representative imposed the measures; for some acts of the Rules of Procedure are disrupting the functioning of the Bosnian State Parliament.

Zivkovic announced that in the following few days the session if the Bosnian Parliament’s House of Representatives’ collegiums will take place and that the leaders of all the caucuses have been submitted the material. It is expected that the materials will be discussed at the session set for November 28.

LAJCAK CALLS ON SPIRIC TO CONVENE A SESSION OF BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 22,2007) – The International Community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak said that no meeting of the Bosnian Government has taken place since 16 October.

Lajcak expects all the Bosnian state institutions to continue to function and calls on Bosnia's Prime Minister in resignation, Nikola Spiric, urgently to convene a session of the Bosnian Government.

“Crucial laws are pending before the Bosnian Government and cannot enter the parliamentary procedure without approval. The Law on Police Officials needs to be amended in line with the April 2007 UN Security Council decision on decertified police officers, which would allow them to re-apply to positions in police bodies”, the Office of the International Community's High RepresentativeO in Bosnia (OHR) spokesperson Eldar Subasic told a press conference in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo.

Other pending laws concern vocational education and training, the creation of a Bosnian National Fiscal Council, and establishing single criteria for salaries of employees of the Bosnian state institutions.

Last but now least, the Bosnian Government must approve the Law on the Budget of the Bosnian State for 2008, Subasic said.

He said that a series of Decision are also outstanding. The Bosnian Government has to appoint a new Director of the Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and give its approval for the Agreement on State Property.

Bosnia and its institutions cannot afford the luxury of inactivity. While Bosnia's Prime Minister in resignation Nikola Spiric is clearly in a technical mandate, he still has a responsibility to provide for the functioning of the Bosnian Government,the International Community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak said.

“Mr Spiric should do his job”, said Lajcak. “Even if he disagrees with my Decisions he is still democratically accountable to the people of Bosnia for the running of the country, until a replacement is elected.”

“A Chair of the Council of Ministers who resigns, doesn’t show up for work, and who then complains that the International Community is running the country and ignoring him, is not only failing to do his job, but he is also betraying the Bosnian citizens!” the OHR spokeperson Eldar Subasic said citing Lajcak's conclusions.

ITALY SUPPORTS BOSNIA ON ITS WAY TO EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATIONS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 22,2007) - The Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj thanked the Italian Secretary of State Famiano Crucianelli for for help Italy has provided at the donor conferences for reconstruction of Bosnia, as well as for participation of the Italian troops at the peace operations in Bosnia.

Alkalaj stated at the meeting with Crucianelli held in the bosnian capital Sarajevo that his visit to Bosnia has come at the time when Bosnia has been going through a political crisis.Alkalaj hopes, as stated, that the crisis will be overcome soon in order to create the conditions for Bosnia to initial the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union (SAA) by the end of the year.

Commenting the regional cooperation and initiatives, the Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj emphasized the importance of reactivation of Adriatic – Ionic Initiative, which is of significant importance for Bosnia.

Alkalaj and Crucianelli agreed that the relationship between Bosnia and Italy is good in all sectors. That is also confirmed by the recent meetings at the high and highest state level in Rome and at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Alkalaj stated that Italy is one of the most important Bosnia's partners in trade and tht there is enough of space for advancement of economic cooperation.

In that context he mentioned the need of initiating the procedure for signing of bilateral agreements between Bosnia ans Italy , like the agreement on foreign investments’ protection, on double taxation avoidance, on economic and trade cooperation… He also emphasized the need of cooperation in the sector of fight against the organized crime as well as cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments.

Crucianelli started that Italy fully supports Bosnia on its way to Euro-Atlantic integrations..

In that sense, he emphasized that the Mostar Declaration on continuation of the police reform talks is good, but that additional efforts should be made to create the conditions for signing of the SAA between Bosnia and the European Union.

He emphasized that Italy is interested in the region’s stability. A proof of that are Italian troops stationed in Bosnia and Kosovo.

He said that he supports the regional initiatives as well as the cooperation in fight against the organized crime.

The two officials also talked about the situation in the region and about the Kosovo issue. Alkalaj emphasized that Bosnia is supportive of any kind of solution which is a result of agreement between Serbia and Kosovo.

UNIVERSAL CHILDREN'S DAY MARKED IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 22,2007) – The Bosnian Minister of Human Rights and Refugees Safet Halilovic opened in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo a conference organized by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) dedicated to marking of the Universal Children’s Day.

The Conference was organized so that the UNICEF and partners form the Bosnian governmental and non-governmental sector mark the results achieved in the development of social policies and inclusive social offers. The Conference also aimed to discuss the program that is to be implemented by the end of 2009.

Halilovic stated that, on the past 5 years, economic changes occurred in Bosnia, which directly or indirectly influenced the children’s protection.

One of the most significant changes occurred in the sense of ensuring the “world in accordance with the children’s needs”, which would enable fulfilment the world goals for children and also enable the implementation of the Convention on Rights of Children in Bosnia was adoption of the Action Plan for Children in the period from 2002 to 2010.

”This document, adopted by the Bosnian Government, has a greater significance in the sense of implementing the children policy and is the basic mechanism for strengthening the position of children in Bosnia”, Halilovic said.

He emphasized that the list of duties BiH is to fulfil is long.The Bosnian Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees is directly responsible for the implementation. In that sense, in the following period, it is necessary to ensure a better and more efficient cooperation of all the institutions which deal with children.

Ljerka Maric, Head of the Bosnian Direction for Economic Planning, warned that the need for strengthening the cooperation between Bosnia and UNICEF is still felt.

She announced that the Direction will partake in the development of the new project for social inclusion and protection of children. However, she added that all the documents need to be in accordance with the EU standards.

Emphasizing that there is a significant number of people in Bosnia in need of help, Maric said that it is important that statistic data is made more precise, for action can only be taken if concrete numbers are given.

13-year-old Lajla Musakadic addressed the participants of the Conference. She will also represent Bosnia at a conference focusing on children that will take place in New York.

By resolution 836(IX) of 14 December 1954, the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children. It recommended that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world.

BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT TO HOLD SESSION ON NOVEMBER 28

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 22,2007) – The Bosnian Parliament’s House of Representative Speaker Milorad Zivkovic announced that the session of the House of Representatives will most probably take place on November 28.

The following items will be on the agenda: changes to the House of Representatives’ Rules of Procedure, conciliated at the House of Representatives Collegiums session and marked positively by the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) and conclusions conciliated at the special session of the Bosnian Parliament’s Houses’ Collegiums.

Those are the four conclusions which the Bosnian Parliament acknowledged and are now implemented in the process of Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric’s resignation acceptance. There is also the fact that the Bosnian Presidency accepted the resignation.

The Bosnian Presidency has been called to accelerate the consultations on the new Bosnian government. The results are to be submitted to the Bosnian Parliament as soon as possible.

One of the proposed conclusions is urging both the parliamentary houses to align the proposals of the Rules of Procedure of their houses and submit them for adoption by the end of November.

Another conclusion urges the parliamentary parties to put in additional efforts and make the Mostar Declaration a document which would meet the demands of the European Commission and result in the initialling of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Bosnia and the EU.