ELVIR LAKOVIC LAKA TO REPRESENT BOSNIA AT 2008 EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 28,2007) – The Bosnian State Television (BHRT) has made its decision yesterday on who will represent Bosnia at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest.

The decision was made earlier than expected. Out of 31 shortlisted songs, the seven-member Commission has opted for Elvir Lakovic Laka, and the song with the working title Pokusaj (Try).

This, however, is just a working title of the song that will first be presented to the Bosnian public in a live special TV show programme on the Bosnian State Television on Sunday, 2 March 2008.

Laka is the author of both the music and the lyrics. The singer is one of the most popular artists in Bosnia and in other southeastern European countries.

Bosnia will try to win a ticket to the grand final of the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest through one of the semi-finals. Since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Bosnia has never failed to qualify for the final.

You can see some Laka's music videos below.

SPIRIC AND VILLALAIN TALKED ABOUT SECURITY SITUATION IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 28,2007) – Bosnia's Prime minister in resignation Nikola Spiric met in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with the Commander of the European Union Force in Bosnia (EUFOR) Ignacio Villalain.

Spiric stated that the current security situation in Bosnia is good and emphasized the role of EUFOR in the process of preserving the security in the country.

”Presence of EUFOR in Bosnia is one of the stabilizing factors”, Spiric stated.

He informed general Villalain on the political situation in Bosnia, making a special emphasis on police reform and fulfilment of conditions for signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and the European union.

He added that positive political climate in Bosnia has been created after initialling of a SAA with the EU.

General Villalain stated that the security situation in Bosnia is at a high level and expressed hope that it will remain so.He emphasized that signing of SAA is an important step for Bosnia on the way to the full EU membership.

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT FOR TEXTILE INDUSTRY SIGNED

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (December 28,2007) – The Textile, Leather, Shoe Ware and Rubber Industry Union Main Board held a session on the occasion of marking the Textile Industry Employees Day. On that occasion, President of the Union Ferdija Kojcic and the FBIH Entity Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Vahid Heco and Mehmed Corhodzic, representing the employers signed Collective Agreement on Rights and Obligations of employees in the sector in the FBIH entity.

President of the Union Ferdija Kojcic emphasized that the main importance of the Agreement is the price of hourly wage of 1,75 Bosnian Marks, which means that a minimal wage will be 308 Bosnian Marks.

Heco emphasized that the FBIH entity government will, apart from the obligations defined by the Collective Agreement, try to help this industrial sector through adoption of certain laws.

Signing ceremony was attended by President of the Bosnian Independent Union of workers Edhem Biber and presidents of department unions.