SILAJDZIC MET WITH AMBASSADOR OF EGYPT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 2,2008) – A member of the Bosnian Presidency Dr Haris Silajdzic met with the Ambassador of Egypt to Bosnia El Sayed Khattab.

During the meeting Silajdzic and Khattab especially emphasized the need for better economic cooperation between Bosnia and Egypt.

Dr Silajdzic praised excellent relations in many other areas.The close ties between the two friendly countries were confirmed during the talks.

BOSNIAN - PALESTINIAN GROUP OF FRIENDSHIP FORMED IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 2,2008) – Strengthening of friendly relations between Bosnia and Palestine and exchange of experience in various sectors are main goals of forming the Bosnian – Palestine Friendship Group situated in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo,the President of the Friendship Association Avdo Hebib stated.

He said at a press conference in Sarajevo that the Association counts about 150 members and that it is open to receive new members.

One of the first tasks of the Association will be helping the Palestinian students studying in Bosnia and organizing of lectures, seminars and other sessions that are of interest for both the countries, as well as exchange visits, publishing works and organizing sport manifestations.

The Ambassador of Palestine in Bosnia Zuhair Al-Shun emphasized that the two countries have always shared friendship and that the Association will strive to gain members engaged in various sectors.

EUFOR COMMANDER IGNACIO VILLALAIN VISITED SREBENICA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 2,2008) - The Commander of the European Union Force in Bosnia (EUFOR), Major General Ignacio Villalaín conducted a private visit to the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica in order to pay his respects to the genocide victims.

In a personal gesture, he chose Srebrenica to be his first field visit since taking command of EUFOR on 4 December 2007.

Major General Villalaín visited the Genocide Memorial Centre in Potocari, where he laid flowers and conveyed his personal thoughts in a message in the visitors’ book of impressions, EUFOR said.

Whilst recognising the loss of the families of the genocide victims, COM EUFOR expressed his hopes that the memorial would serve as a spur to all us to prevent such atrocities ever occurring in the future.

In July 1995 the genocidal Serbian aggressor's forces mass murdered up to 10,000 Bosnian civilians from Srebrenica.The Srebrenica massacre has been deemed by the UN war crimes tribunal and the International Court of Justice to have constituted genocide. Thousands of bodies of the genocide victims have been uncovered from about 60 mass graves around Srebenica.

EIGHT PERSONS KILLED IN 2007 IN BOSNIA IN EOD ACTIVITIES

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 2,2008) – Total of 139,4 square kilometres of land or 75,6 per cent of the planned surface was cleared off mines in Bosnia in 2007. These are the data presented by representatives of of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit of the Bosnian Mine Action Centre (BHMAC).

The BHMAC presented in Sarajevo on Friday a report on explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) activities in 2007, as well as plans for the following year.

The current suspicious land is measured in 1.806 square kilometres at 13.077 locations and 220.000 mines and EOs.

Director of BHMAC Dusan Gavran stated that the number of deaths of teams members increased in 2007. Eight persons were killed. Four of them were EOD members.

22 persons were injured, four of them were EOD members. From 1992 to 2007, 4.953 victims of mines were registered.

As a part of the EOD plan for 2008, 183,48 square kilometres of land are to be cleared.

136,8 square kilometres of land will be treated.

Urgent marking of 136 square kilometres of land will be marked. 35 square kilometres of land will be marked permanently.