BOSNIA TO SIGN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH PAKISTAN

LAHORE, Pakistan (January 7,2008) - Bosnia and Pakistan are finalising modalities for the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries to promote two-way trade and investment,the Ambassador of Pakistan to Bosnia, Jauhar Saleem said.

Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI),Ambassador Saleem reminded that Bosnia is located in the heart of Europe and that the country has its 43 percent of total territory most useful for modern industry.Pakistani business community could avail the opportunity in this particular area, he added.

The Ambassador, who spent over an hour at LCCI, invited the Pakistani businessmen to visit Bosnia for having first hand knowledge about the opportunities and initiating joint ventures with their Bosnian counterparts.

He said that Bosnia has large capacities in the wooden industry related to the production of goods for foreign markets. The Ambassador also stated that the country is quite rich in the metal industry and the opportunities are available in steel and aluminums sectors.

Earlier, the LCCI president, Mohammad Ali Mian, said continuous engagements of the diplomatic missions with the business community of Bosnia and Pakistan, exchange of business delegations, orientation to the products of each others countries and holding of single country exhibitions can be highly fruitful in enhancing trade between the two countries.

Exchange of information through websites, printed matter, cultural events and documentaries can also help to promote the bilateral socio-economic relations,he said.

Bosnia has a highly developed dairy and auto industry. Pakistani business community would like to share technology in these sectors through joint ventures. Pakistan is the fifth largest producer of milk in the world and a big market for automobiles.

The LCCI chief said that Pakistan’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy is liberal, and that 100 percent repatriation of capital, dividends, profits and royalties is allowed.

PROSECUTION ASKS BOSNIAN STATE COURT TO ORDER A TWO-MONTH CUSTODY EXTENSION FOR SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL VINKO KONDIC

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 7,2008) – The Bosnian State Prosecutor has asked the Bosnian State Court to order a two-month custody extension for Serbian war criminal Vinko Kondic, who is considered to have committed war crimes against Bosnian civilians,during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The Prosecution has filed the request in order to examine the remaining witnesses and complete its investigation. Serbian war criminalt's defence attorney has filed an objection. The Bosnian State Court will render its decision at a later stage.

Prior to his arrest,Kondic acted as defence attorney of Serbian war criminal Momcilo Gruban, who is indicted, before the Bosnian State Court for crimes committed against Bosnian civilians in Omarska and Keraterm concentration camps.

Serbian war criminal Vinko Kondic is considered to have planned and executed the deportation of the Bosnian population from the Bosnian town of Kljuc in 1992,during the genocidal Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

"We would like to examine all witnesses who were subordinates of the suspect and who were not victims of the crimes. There is a justified fear that Kondic would try to influence the witnesses and accessories should he remain at large," said the Bosnian State Prosecutor Dzemila Begovic, citing the possibility that the indictee might attempt to escape as yet another reason for the custody extension request.

"In 2005, Kondic applied for citizenship of Serbia. In that same year, the Bosnian State Prosecutior took over his case from the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office in Bihac," explained Begovic, adding that this was not done "without a reason" and that there was a possibility that the indictee would try to escape from Bosnia to Serbia.

Dusko Panic, Serbian war criminal Vinko Kondic's defence attorney, denied the prosecution's allegations concerning the possibility that his client might try to escape. He said that Kondic applied for Serbian citizenship "in order to get certain benefits", just like most other "members of the Serbian population" living in Bosnia.

"That is neither a bad thing nor does it indicate that he might try to escape. In any case, he cannot get citizenship in his current situation. Therefore, this cannot be considered as a reason for custody extension," said Panic, suggesting that the court pronounce some less severe measures against Kondic.

Explaining his objection against the Prosecution's motion, Panic mentioned Kondic's "bad health condition", pointing out that he has Parkinson's Disease, which was also confirmed by the suspect.

"The amount of medications I take has been increased for 50 per cent. Sometimes, I take 15 different medications per day and this can in no way do any good to me. I would like to ask you to approve a more detailed medical examination, as I might have to come to one of the future hearings in a wheelchair," said Serbian war criminal Vinko Kondic, adding that he "manages to survive the days" in the Detention Unit in Doboj "only due to unselfish kindness and care provided by the unit staff".

Serbian war criminal Vinko Kondic was arrested in Bosnia on December 6, 2007. He has been held in custody since then.

ALKALAJ AND GREGORIAN DISCUSSED BOSNIAN FOREIGN POLICY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 7,2008) – The Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minsiter Sven Alkalaj and the International Community's Principal Deputy High Representative in Bosnia Raffi Gregorian exchanged opinions about the current political situation in Bosnia and the Bosnian foreign policy in the past year.

They also talked about the activities the Bosnian Foreign Affairs Ministry is planning to conduct this year, especially in the process of Euro-Atlantic integrations.

BOSNIA NAMED MEHO KODRO AS NEW NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM COACH

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 7,2008) - Bosnia has named former national football team captain Meho Kodro as the new coach following the team's failure in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Kodro, who replaces Fuad Muzurovic, was preferred to two other candidates on the Bosnian Football Association's (NFSBIH) shortlist, German Lothar Matthaeus and Croatian Zlatko Kranjcar.

"Meho Kodro won unanimous support by all present members of the NSFSBIH Executive Board," the body's vice-president Sulejman Colakovic told the Bosnian state radio.

"Our national team will get a new quality with Kodro," he said.

Kodro is new to coaching but has a rich club career, which he began in the mid 1980s with his hometown club Velez,Mostar.

He went on to play in Spain with Real Sociedad, Barcelona, Tenerife and Deportivo Alaves. He joined Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2000, where he stayed until his retirement in 2002.

Kodro has since worked as assistant coach at Real Sociedad,Spain.

The 40-year-old former Bosnian national football team captain does not have long to wait for his first match in charge, as a friendly in Japan is scheduled for 30 January.

"It is a great honour to lead my country, especially since I played for the team," said Kodro, who scored three times in 13 outings for Bosnia.

"I'm expecting a difficult assignment, but I hope that together with the players and the supporters we can get off to a successful start in the section," the new Bosnian national football team coach Meho Kodro said.

The Bosnians face Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Armenia and Estonia in their quest to reach the finals in South Africa.

SPIRIC ASKS PARLIAMENTARY PARTIES TO SUBMIT NAMES OF CANDIDATES FOR NEW GOVERNMENT MINISTERS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 7,2008) - Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric asked the parliamentary parties to submit as soon as possible names of their candidates to serve as ministers in the Bosnian government.

As stated previously, Spiric hopes that the new Bosnian government will be formed by early February at the latest.

Having resigned the post last November,the Bosnian Presidency again nominated Spiric to the function of Bosnia's Prime Minister and the Bosnian State Parliament has confirmed his nomination.

BOSNIAN CENTRAL BANK: FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES EXCEEDED FIVE BILLION US DOLLARS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 7,2008) - The foreign exchange reserves of the Bosnian Central Bank exceeded five billion of US Dollars at the end of 2007.

The Bosnian Central Bank concluded 2007 year with 6, 69 billion Bosnian Marks (3, 42 billion Euros or US Dollars 5, 03 billion) of foreign exchange reserves, which was the amount as of 31 December 2007.

Compared to the end of 2006, when they amounted 5,45 billion Bosnian Marks, the foreign exchange reserves increased by 1,24 billion Bosnian Marks last year.

The free foreign exchange reserves amounted 380 million Bosnian Marks at the end of 2007,the Bosnian Central Bank said.