BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ZELJKO KOMSIC MET WITH PRESIDENT OF FRENCH SENATE

PARIS, France (November 30,2007) – The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic had separate meetings yesterday with the President of French Senate Christian Poncelat and French House of Representatives Speaker Bernard Accoyer.

The Bosnian and French officials talked about the relations between Bosnia and France, that is, about promotion of bilateral and economic cooperation between the two countries.

They concluded that Bosnia and France have developed outstanding relations.The French Senate President Poncelat emphasized that France is a true ally to Bosnia and that it wants to help the country develop the same way as other European countries.

The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic, on behalf of the people of Bosnia, thanked for all support France has provided for Bosnia and added that Bosnia cannot forget a positive role of France in stopping the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.

He emphasized that Bosnia and the countries of the region are striving towards European Union and that the support of the friendly countries is of extreme importance.

The Bosnian and French officials agreed that the economic sector has been left unused and that economic relations should certainly be improved.

The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic met with the French House of Representatives Speaker Accoyer and talked about the current political situation in Bosnia and region.
It has once again been confirmed that Bosnia has a true friend in France, which supports Bosnia on the way to the EU.

The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic’s arrival to France has risen a great interest of the French media, especially the “France 24” Channel,which expressed a wish for President Komsic to participate in a show. '

During an interview which lasted for 45 minutes, the Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic talked about the situation in the region and Bosnia and on the Kosovo issue, relations between Bosnia and France, as well as about all other issues. The interview will be aired today.

The “France 24” is a 24-hour channel, which is broadcasted in French, Arabic and English. It is available in 75 million households in over 90 countries of the world.

BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBER HARIS SILAJDZIC MET WITH HEAD OF WORLD BANK'S OFFICE IN BOSNIA MARCO MANTOVANELLI

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 30,2007) – A member of the Bosnian Presidency Haris Silajdzic met in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with Marco Mantovanelli, Head of the World Bank’s Office in Bosnia.

Silajdzic was informed about the World Bank’s activities in Bosnia and about the institution’s future plans.As he said, the World Bank has so far participated in various projects, especially in the projects related to the reconstruction of the country. Since the standard in Bosnia has improved, the future cooperation will be more based on partnership.

Silajdzic emphasized that the support to the reform processes in Bosnia, construction of infrastructural system and sharing of experience and skills are the World Bank’s priorities.

Silajdzic stated that apart from certain political problems, the Bosnian economy has improved and that is the growth which can be increased.

Silajdzic stated that it is necessary to remove administrative obstacles which are a problem for Bosnia’s development.He again emphasized the importance of the V-C Corridor and possibilities of investing into other sectors, like tourism, agriculture and energy.

World Bank’s participation in the process of overcoming the problems and supervision of transparency, Silajdzic said, would be of an enormous assistance.

BOSNIAN MINISTER OF FINANCE DRAGAN VRANKIC MET WITH IMF DELEGATION

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 30,2007) – The Bosnian Miniser of Finance Dragan Vrankic had a meeting with a delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), lead by Director Executive Dimitri Demekas and IMF Resident Representative in Bosnia Graham Slack.

Demekas and Vrankic expressed concerns over the non-functioning of fiscal coordination of Bosnia, which can lead to fiscal instability and increase of deficit in the following years, for there are tendencies of the budget liabilities increase and social funds’ provision.

Vrankic thanked the IMF Director Executive for past cooperation and help he has provided for Bosnia.

BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ZELJKO KOMSIC INVITED FRENCH COMPANIES TO INVEST IN BOSNIA

PARIS, France (November 30,2007) – The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic and a delegation of Bosnian BiH businessmen met in Paris with some 30 managers of leading French companies gathered in the French Association of Employers MEDEF International, which gathers some 750 major French companies.

President Komsic discussed with the MEDEF leadership and French businessmen the current situation in Bosnia, ways to improve economic relations between the two countries and to expand cooperation between French and Bosnian businessmen.

He informed his hosts about macroeconomic indicators in Bosnia and invited them to invest in Bosnia, especially in the sectors of infrastructure, electric energy, tourism and banking.

The Bosnian Association of Employers President Tomislav Grizelj and the Bosnian Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) Deputy Director Jasna Krivosic-Prpic held special presentations.

MEDEF officials responsible for international cooperation have announced their visit to Bosnia, which will be used to sign the agreement on cooperation between the Bosnian Association of Employers and MEDEF.

Bosnian bussinesmen also held a series of meetings with representatives of major French companies and agreed forms of cooperation.

Representatives of five major French banks have expressed great interest in cooperation and announced their plans to soon visit Bosnia.

SCHWARZ-SCHILLING: CIVIL UNRESTS IN BOSNIA ARE STILL POSSIBLE

MOSTAR, Bosnia (November 30,2007) - Civil unrests in Bosnia and in Kosovo are likely to occur, warned the former International Community's High Representative in Bosnia, Christian Schwarz-Schilling.

"The international forces in Bosnia and Kosovo are not there for no reason. War conflicts are unlikely to take place, however, clashes between different groups might break out," chwarz-Schilling said.

Schilling's statement comes just a few days after the incumbent International Community's High Representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajcak, warned in Brussels that "the political crisis in Bosnia is very real and deep, and cannot be ignored."

SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL RADE VESELINOVIC ARRESTED IN BOSNIA

PALE, Bosnia (November 30,2007) - Serbian war criminal Rade Veselinovic has been arrested yesterday by agents of the Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA).

The Office of the Bosnian State Prosecutor said Veselinovic, 63, was detained yesterday near the Bosnian town of Pale.

Serbian war criminal Rade Veselinovic was suspected of war crimes against Bosnian civilians in the Sarajevo suburb of Hadzici in 1992 during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

RISE IN FOOD PRICES IN BOSNIA REFLECTS SIMILAR PRICE MOVEMENTS ON WORLD MARKET

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 30,2007) - The steep rise in food prices in Bosnia mainly reflects similar price movements on the world markets, and has not been caused by stockpiling, according to the World Bank and other international institutions.

The Bosnian media and consumers’ associations have recently criticized retailers for exploiting the Bosnian public’s concerns about the current political situation in Bosnia.

However, a joint statement released by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the top Bosnia-based international institution, the Office of the International Community's High Representative, dismisses claims that the price hikes in Bosnia have been caused by retailers profiteering from the current political situation.

“It is important to explain the underlying reasons for these prices rises: they are primarily the result of higher prices on world markets”, said the joint statement.

“Equally, Bosnia has an open economy, which ultimately protects the Bosnian citizens against price increases above those on world markets,” the statement added, noting that “price rises, which have been dramatic for some products, are not above those on the world market.”

Official statistics released earlier this week show that over the past month the prices of some staple foods increased by between 1.6 per cent (for coffee) and 14.7 per cent (for cooking oil).

The international institutions’ statement explained that world market prices, in particular, wheat, maize and edible oils, have risen this year because of surging demand in fast-growing developing countries, the greater use of cereals in bio-fuel production and bad harvests caused by drought in the summer of 2007.

Transport costs have also sharply increased, due higher fuel prices.

“These developments have had a direct impact on Bosnia since it is heavily dependent on imports of basic foodstuffs and fuel”, the statement said.

AUSTRIAN POST EYES BOSNIAN MARKET

NEW YORK, USA (November 30,2007) - Austrian postal operator Oesterreichische Post wants to buy into Bosnia,Romania and Bulgaria in the coming 15 months, the company's Chief Financial Officer Rudolf Jettmar said.

"We want to set up a network in the fragmented Southeastern European market.We want to fill in our blank spots in Bosnia, Bulgaria and Romania," Jettmar told journalists on the margins of an investment conference in New York.

Jettmar said the postal operator was aiming to take over private operators working in parcel delivery or distribution of advertising.

In the first three quarters of the year, Oesterreichische Post has spent 210 million Euros (312 million USD) on takeovers, and the company has another 150 million Euros left in its war chest, said Jettmar.

Oesterreichische Post is already present in Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia.