BOSNIAN STATE PARLIAMENT'S UPPER HOUSE APPROVES EU PRE-MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 28,2008) - The upper house of the Bosnian State Parliament approved yesterday the going into force of a pre-membership agreement with the European Union (EU), paving the way for its EU membership.

The Bosnian State Parliament's House of People gave the consent for ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), signed in June by Bosnia and the European Union.The SAA was approved on Oct. 22 by the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Bosnian Parliament.

Under the Bosnian Constitution, the SAA has to be ratified by the Bosnian State Presidency as well.

The adoption of the SAA in the Bosnian State Parliament is a prerequisite for its ratification in EU countries.The SAA, if properly implemented, is regarded as the first rung on the long path towards the membership of the 27-member bloc.

Bosnia completed the SAA negotiations with the European Union in November2006 and the document was initialed last December.

The European Parliament in October adopted a resolution, calling on EU countries to ratify the SAA with Bosnia as soon as possible.
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