SLOVENIA EXPECTS BOSNIA TO SIGN SAA WITH EUROPEAN UNION IN MARCH

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 14,2008) – The Slovenian Ambassador to Bosnia Natasa Vodusek stated on Saturday in the northern Bosnian city of Banja Luka that if the Bosnian Police Reform Implementation Action Plan is successfully implemented, Bosnia could sign the Stabilisation and association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union in March.

The Slovenian Ambassador fully supported Bosnia’s efforts towards the EU membership, after the meeting with a member of the Bosnian Presidency Nebojsa Radmanovic.Vodusek emphasized that the West Balkan area is a priority for Slovenia, for her country is interested to see all those countries fully associated to the EU.

Radmanovic emphasized the importance of Slovenian presidency over the EU and added that Bosnia expects to sign the SAA with the European Union during Slovenia’s presidency.

Radmanovic emphasized at the press conference that Slovenia will remain imprinted in the history of Bosnia as the country which held the EU presidency during the time Bosnia became a member of the EU.

”After Slovenian presidency is completed, all the Southeastern European countries will have signed the SAA”, Radmanovic added.

The Slovenian Ambassador stated that the reception was organized at the occasion of 10th anniversary of Association of Slovenians living in Bosnia. Slovenians have been recognized as a national minority in Bosnia.

The two officials also talked about further promotion of economic cooperation between Bosnia and Slovenia.