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.

SILAJDZIC: STATE PROPERTY SOLUTION MUST BE SOLVED BASED ON FORMER YUGOSLAVIA SUCCESSION AGREEMENT PRINCIPLES

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 14,2008) – Any type of solution regarding the Bosnian state property must be based on the Former Yugoslavia Succession Agreement principles which has characteristics of international agreement, a member of the Bosian Presidency Haris Silajdzic’s Cabinet stated yesterday.

The question of state property, such as othes important unsolved questions in Bosnia is the reason why the Office of the International Community's High Representative (OHR) must continue its activities in full capacity including using Bonn Powers,Silajdzic’s Cabinet added.

”Even though it is clear that this agreement defines the state as the property carrier and not the entities, those who advocate withdrawal of the OHR at the same time are trying to extort solutions which are in opposition to this agreement”, stated the Cabinet release.

PLEA HEARING SCHEDULED FOR SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL NOVAK DJUKIC

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 14,2008) - A plea hearing before a Preliminary Hearing Judge of the Section I for War Crimes of the Bosnian State Court in the case of Serbian war criminal Novak Đukić, has been scheduled for today, 14 January 2008, starting at 10:00a.m. in courtroom 4. Serbian war criminal Novak Đukić is charged with war crimes against civilians committed during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The Indictment alleges that on 25 May 1995, as a member of the genocidal paramilitary forces of the Serbians living in Bosnia, Đukić ordered his units, located in the Panjik village at the mountain of Ozren, to fire a missile at a location in the centre of the eastern Bosnian town of Tuzla known as „Kapija.“

As a result of this attack, 71 Bosnian civilians were killed while approximately 240 sustained injuries.

Tuzla was declared a safe zone by a Resolution of the United Nations Security Council issued on 6 May 1993.