BOSNIA TO INITIAL PRE-MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH EUROPEAN UNION TODAY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 4,2007) – The European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo that the European Union will initial a pre-membership agreement with Bosnia today,after Bosnia's political leaders agreed to reform the police forces."I have decided to initial the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Bosnia tomorrow," Rehn told a news conference yesterday after meeting with Bosnia's leaders.

Earlier yesterday, the Bosnian Government adopted an action plan on police reforms, aiming at the integration of the country's two ethnically divided police forces - a key condition set by Brussels to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), the first step to the EU membership.

"I am very pleased that I did not come in vain since leaders of the country have convinced me of their commitment to finish the job concerning police reform," Rehn said.

The EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn's decision came after the Bosnian Parliament on Friday adopted new voting rules aimed at streamlining its work, opening the way to defuse the worst political crisis in the country since the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.

"I want to congratulate leaders of the people of Bosnia for this achievement and I trust they will take this as an encouragement to further normalisation of the political situation and reform agenda of the country," Rehn added.

"All those who have speculated on the troubled future of Bosnia have been proven wrong and will be proven wrong. The country has a bright future on its road toward EU," Rehn said.

The International Community's High Representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajcak said Rehn's decision puts Bosnia back on the road to European integration.

“Olli Rehn’s decision puts Bosnia back on the road to European integration after months of political uncertainty”, Lajcak said following the European Enlargement Commissioner’s decision to initial Bosnia’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

“With this decision the European Union has recognized the new political dynamic in Bosnia”, Lajčák said yesterday.

“It shows that Bosnia's politicians have understood that the road to EU integration represents the best possible development strategy for the country,”he said.

“From tomorrow Bosnia will have a formal agreement with the European Union, how fast the country now moves then depends on how quickly the country can meet the institutional and legislative requirements set out in the Mostar Declaration and Action Plan on Police Reform agreements”, Lajčák concluded.

LONG-AWAITED AGREEMENT ON POLICE REFORM IN BOSNIA ADOPTED

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 4,2007) – Bosnia’s leaders have shown a willingness to reach agreements and to make progress towards the EU membership, the Internatioal Community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajčák and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn agreed in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo yesterday.

“I welcome the decision of the Bosnian Council of Ministers to adopt the Mostar Declaration and Action Plan on Police Reform, which includes clear deadlines and commitments,” Lajčák said following the meeting.

“The political debate in Bosnia is entering a new phase. Politicians have shown leadership and a willingness to reach compromise for the benefit of all Bosnian citizens. This is commendable and I am confident that the European Union will value this new political dynamic,” Lajčák said.

Lajčák and Rehn called on the Bosnian Government and the Bosnian Parliament to build on recent achievements to ensure that Bosnia keeps pace with its neighbours and makes quick progress towards the EU membership.

BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY TO ORGANISE CONSULTATIONS CONCERNING APPOINTMENT OF NEW BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 4,2007) – The Bosnian Presidency can be expected to organise next week the second round of consultations with parties represented in the Bosnian Parliament concerning the appointment of the new Bosnian Prime Minister, Bosnian Presidency member Nebojsa Radmanovic’s advisor Dorde Latinovic said.

Now that an agreement has been reached on the rulebooks of both houses of the Bosnian Parliament the conditions are right for continuing the job that has been started, Latinovic said.

According to Latinovic the first round of consultations was primarily used to give the Bosnian Presidency a feel where the political parties stand, while the second round is expected to result in a more specific solution concerning the parliamentary majority and the appointment of the new Bosnian Prime Minister.

Latinovic was unable to say whether Nikola Spiric would again be appointed as Bosnia's Prime Minister.

BOSNIA AND JORDAN TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC AND TRADE RELATIONS

AMMAN, Jordan (December 4,2007) – The Jordanian Minister of Industry and Trade Amer Hadidi met yesterday with the Bosnian Ambassador to Jordan Krunoslav Vasilj and discussed with him ways of enhancing economic and trade relations between the two countries.

The two officials stressed importance of increasing trade exchange and benefiting from investment opportunities in both countries.

Hadidi called on Bosnian private sector and investors to benefit from the investment opportunities in the free zones in Jordan and Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ).

BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT ADOPTED MOSTAR DECLARATION IMPLEMENTATION ACTION PLAN

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 4,2007) – The Bosnian Government held an emergency session yesterday in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo and adopted the Mostar Declaration Implementation Action Plan aimed to help fulfill the obligations needed for the country to initial the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union. The Action Plan has been proposed by Bosnia's Prime Minister in resignation Nikola Spiric.

The Bosnian Government also proposed the Bosnian Presidency to authorize Prime Minister Spiric to initial the SAA. Initialing of the entire text of the SAA is in the jurisdiction of the Bosnian Chief Negotiator with the European Union Igor Davidovic.

The SAA will enable Bosnia to make a contract relationship with the EU, which will confirm the country’s status as a potential candidate for the EU membership.

GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER FRANZ JOSEF JUNG TO VISIT BOSNIA TODAY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 4,2007) – German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung will visit the Bosnian capital Sarajevo today and meet with the German troops stationed in Bosnia. He will also have several political meetings, the German Defense Ministry announced yesterday.

Jung will also attend today the ceremony of handing over command of the European Union Force in Bosnia (EUFOR) between German Rear Admiral Hans-Jochen Vitthauer and Spanish Major General Ignacio Martin Villalain.

According to the German Defense Ministry , there are 340 German troops stationed in Bosnia.