SDA CONDEMNS SLOVENIAN PRIME MINISTER JANEZ JANSA'S STATEMENT ABOUT BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 10,2008) – The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) voiced its strong protest about the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa’s assessment that Bosnia is more of a security risk than Kosovo.

The SDA Party find the statement to be ambiguous, and demand a clarification. It is intolerable to question Bosnia’s future, and talk of her as a security risk, in the light of all the problems the country is dealing with as a result of consequences of foreign aggressions,SDA stated.

Bosnia’s perspective is clear, and it includes membership in the European Union and the NATO, as a functional and efficient country. The threat comes not from Bosnia but from territorial aspirations at her expense, SDA stated.

BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY TO DISCUSS 2008 STATE BUDGET TODAY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 10,2008) – The Bosnian Presidency is scheduled today to discuss just one item on its agenda – the state budget in 2008. Since the budget for the Bosnian state institutions was not adopted by the end of 2007, the Bosnian government decided in its last session about interim funding, for the period from January through March 2008.

According to this decision, the three-month funds will be determined according to the three-month average in the fiscal 2007.

KOZARIC: NO DEVALUATION OF BOSNIAN MARK

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 10,2008) – The Governor of the Bosnian Central Bank Kemal Kozarić has resolutely denied the possibility of devaluation of Bosnian Mark (BAM) as the cause of inflationary blow and a wave of price increases.

"I categorically refuse all speculations on devaluation and that needs to be clearly said", Kozarić told Bosnian daily Dnevni Avaz.

The Governor of the Bosnian Central Bank reminded that the Law on National currency says that Bosnian Mark is pegged to the Euro exchange rate. Therefore the change cannot occur as a cause of political decision. The value of the Bosnian Mark compared to Euro is determined at the exchange rate of BAM 1.955 for EUR 1.

However, Kozarić confirmed that the real value of Bosnian Mark in the previous year declined due to series of price increases.

"The fact is that price increases affect real purchase power of the Bosnian citizens", Kozarić said.

BOSNIA TO SIGN SAA WITH EUROPEAN UNION IN LATE FEBRUARY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 10,2008) – The EU officials are planning a visit to Bosnia in February, but this time the purpose of their arrival will be to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Bosnia , diplomatic sources claim.

The expected time of visit is the last week in February. Although the Head of the Bosnian Direction for European Integrations Osman Topcagic has not received any official conformation of the date yet.However,Topcagic confirmed that he heard about this plan of the EU officials.

The deadline coincides with Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric’s deadline to the Bosnian police reform workgroup.

"It would be good to meet all the terms now, and not let the deadline slip away, because this is our opportunity to show that that we are ready to speed up the association process", Topcagic said.

BOSNIAN DRUG COMPANY BOSNALIJEK RANKED THE BEST IN THE REGION

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 10,2008) – Generics Bulletin, the most renowned magazine of the pharmaceuticals industry, available in 60 countries of the world, has dedicated one article in its latest issue to Sarajevo Bosnalijek.

The authors rate this Bosnian drug maker which “grew out of ashes” the leader in the local drugs market, and one of the strongest companies in the region, ranking it higher than Croatian Pliva (owned by Barr), Serbian Hemofarm (Stada) and Slovene Krka and Lek (Sandoz).

The Sarajevo company is increasingly present in exports, with annual growth of 36 per cent. There is a bright future ahead of Bosnalijek, especially after the entry of Libyan capital, the magazine stated.

LJUBIC: SEVERAL BIG COMPANIES WANT A CONCESSION ON THE VC CORRIDOR

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 10,2008) – The Vc Corridor in the length of 336 kilometres is a key strategic project for Bosnia, but progress is slow for now. According to the Bosnian Communications and Transport Minister Bozo Ljubic, the Corridor is a generator of the overall development of the country, and at the same time it is the only pan-European corridor touching on territory of Bosnia.

The cost of the project is currently 7 billion Bosnian Marks, but a funding model has yet to be defined. The feasibility study proposed a public private partnership model, in which a larger part would be built through concessions.

Negotiations are ongoing with potential lenders, and a certain portion has been built on loans, but Ljubic is convinced that concessions will need to be granted in order to complete the project. Several big names have expressed their interest, and the next step is to adopt a decision on the concession extent and purpose in Parliament, Ljubic said.

HIGHER PRICES OF BREAD AND FLOUR IN BOSNIA FROM FRIDAY,JANUARY 11

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 10,2008) – Klas bread company announced that white flour and wheat bread, 400 grams weight, from Friday January 11 will cost 0.90 Bosnian Marks instead of 0.70, while flour prices, depending on the type shall be higher by 11 to 30%.

”Klas” General manager Ibrahim Smajlagic stated at the press conference in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo that they had to adjust the prices of standard bread because of constant rise in prices of wheat in the world market, as well as rise in energy prices, but also because the FBiH entity government did not fulfil the agreement on selling 2.000 tons of wheat monthly from the goods reserve at intervening price of 330 Bosnian Marks per ton.

He also added that VAT is also added in this new price and that the management of “Klas” took into consideration purchasing power of the Bosnian citizens.

He reminded us that “Klas” did not change prices of standard types of bread for almost two and half years, regardless of the financial effects to the company and its 1.300 employees, but these steps became necessary after all internal reserves were spent.

“Klas” shall put its maximum effort to ensure continued supply of the market with its products, and to keep these new prices from changing in the following period.

Yearly, “Klas” processes around 25.000 tons of wheat which is mostly imported from Croatia,Austria, Hungary, Russia, Argentina, Canada and the United States.

SUCCESSFUL COOPERATION BETWEEN EUFOR AND FBIH ENTITY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 10,2008) – The FBIH Entity Prime Minister Nedzad Brankovic had a meeting in Sarajevo with the commander of the European Union Force in Bosnia (EUFOR) Mayor General Ignacio Villalain, who assumed the post in December 2007.

The meeting was characterized by exchange of opinions on the most important political and economic topics in Bosnia.

Brankovic emphasized EUFOR's contribution to security in Bosnia. He stressed several projects EUFOR has been implementing in cooperation with the local communities.

Cooperation between the EUFOR and the FBIH entity has been marked as successful and the two officials mutually expressed interest for its further promotion.