BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ZELJKO KOMSIC MET WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY

PARIS, France (December 20,2007) - The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic met yesterday in Paris with the French President Nicolas Sarkozy.They discussed bilateral ties and developments in the region, including tensions in Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo.

Bosnia will recognize the independence of Kosovo if a majority of the countries of the EU so decides,even if that means instability in the region," said the Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic.

"In the event of unilateral action, Bosnia will take the same position as that of the European Union and NATO," President Komsic said.

"We want to discuss the future, the accession to the European Union and not the ghosts of the past. That is what Bosnia needs," said President Komsic.

The French President Nicolas Sarkozy assured the Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic that France supports "the EU perspective of Bosnia".

Komsic invited Sarkozy to visit Bosnia, which could be done in 2009. "At that time, I hope we will be much further in our journey towards accession to the European Union," said the Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic.

The Bosnian and French leaders also addressed the political situation in Bosnia as well as the country's potential for membership in the European Union.

The visit is part of a broader series of bilateral talks between the French President Nicolas Sarkozy and other Southeastern European leaders. On Monday Monday Sarkozy received the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa and on Tuesday the Croatian President Stjepan Mesic.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S DELEGATION TO BOSNIA WELCOMED FORMATION OF POLICE REFORM IMPLEMENTATION WORKGROUP

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 20,2007) – Head of the European Commission’s Delegation to Bosnia Dimitris Kourkoulas welcomed in the bosnian capital sarajevo constitution of the Police Reform Implementation Workgroup which is the next decisive step in the process of implementation of the Mostar Declaration and the Police Reform Implementatiojn Action Plan.

Emphasizing that it is a positive signal on the way to signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union, Ambassador Kourkoulas expressed expectations that the Workgroup will complete all the tasks necessary in due time.

He added that Bosnia has more police experts than any other country and that it should be a guarantee of completing the task in due time.

EU is willing to sign the SAA with Bosnia as soon as Bosnia fulfils all the conditions necessary, Ambassador Kourkoulas said.

The Police Reform Implementation Workgroup held the first meeting on Tuesday. The workgroup was formed by the Bosnian government on December 13.

The Workgroup is in charge of developing laws on the basis of which certain police institutions will be formed. The workgroup should complete their tasks by mid-February.

AUSTRIAN EMBASSY PRESENTED "REVEALING EU TOGETHER" BROCHURE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 20,2007) – The Austrian Embassy in Bosnia presented in Sarajevo a booklet entitled “Revealing the EU Together”, aimed to serve as a handbook at Bosnian schools and universities.

The handbook is designed to be used at the German language lessons and has been developed at the initiative of the German lThe anguage lecturers. The brochure contains texts which enable a better understanding of the EU. It also answers many questions related to the issue.

The Austrian Ambassador to Bosnia Werner Almhofer stated at the presentation that the brochure is yet another contribution for Bosnia on its road to the EU. He added that the younger generations are the ones who will profit the most from associating to the EU.

Almhofer emphasized that all the countries striving to become the EU member countries need to know all that there is to know about the EU. The association processes bring rise to many other new challenges for educational systems of every country.

”EU is not solely concerned with the high policy. It is a part of our daily lives and should be treated as such at schools”, Ambassador stated.

Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Bosnia Dimitris Kourkoulas, who attended the presentation, expects that the brochure will provide a better understanding of the European Union.

He expressed gratitude to Austria which helped support Bosnia’s European integrations.

Gratitude for realization of this initiative was also expressed by the Bosnian Advisor to Director for European Integrations Amela Alihodzic. She is of the opinion that this handbook will be of use not only for young people, but also for all Bosnian citizens so that they know mutual benefits of Bosnia’s full membership in the EU.

It has also been emphasized that the presentation of the brochure fits into the context of the recent initialling of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and the EU.

The brochure was published with support of Austrian Cultural association from Vienna.

BOSNIA RECEIVED NEW STATE SIGN FOR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 20,2007) – Bosnia has received a unique state sign E-7 adopted at the World Radio-communications Conference WRC-2007 in Geneva in November.The Bosnian Traffic and Telecommunications Minister Bozo Ljubic told a press conference in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo that based on an initiative launched by this ministry in June/July, the former international symbol for Bosnia T-9 has been changed into E-7, which has ensured the identical marking of radio frequencies in the entire Bosnia, river and seafaring vessels and aircraft.

This guarantees Bosnia the right to using a radio spectrum in accordance with its needs and interests without violating the frequency resources of other countries.

Minister Ljubic underlined the importance of the adoption of a single state symbol and the establishment of a common association of radio amateurs, which should ensure a reserve radio connection for the event of natural disasters. This is one of the conditions for joining the European Security Reporting System (System 112).

“The Ministry of Communication and Traffic will ensure donations in order to ensure the establishment of main radio relay routes in the entire country which will be made available to the roof organisation of radio amateurs in Bosnia”, Ljubic said.

He also said that the adoption of the new state sign contributes to integration at the state level and a further step towards joining European structures.

BOSNIA AND SLOVAKIA TO INTENSIFY RELATIONS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 20,2007) – Bosnia's Prime Minister in resignation Nikola Spiric and Slovakian Ambassador to Bosnia Miroslav Mojzita had a meeting yesterday in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo and concluded that cooperation between the two countries is developing and that it should be further intensified.

Spiric stated that there is a positive atmosphere now present in Bosnia, which makes creating of preconditions for signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Bosnia and the EU easier.

Ambassador Mojzita expressed readiness of Slovakia to support Bosna on its way to Euro-Atlantic Integration.

POLICE TRADE UNIONS ABOUT TO REACH COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 20,2007) - The Coordinating Body and the two Working Groups tasked with drafting a framework Collective Agreement for police officers and civil servants working in the various law enforcement agencies in Bosnia had a meeting at the the European Union Police Mission (EUPM) Headquarters in Sarajevo.

The document was discussed in detail and minor amendments were made to some articles. The document is currently in the process of being edited and refined.

A meeting of the Coordinating Body is scheduled for mid-January, when it is expected that the document will be ratified by all police trade unions in Bosnia.