NORWAY STRONGLY SUPPORTS BOSNIA'S EURO-ATHLANTIC INTEGRATION EFFORTS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 16,2008) - The Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj met with the Norwegian ambassador to Bosnia Jan Braathu yesterday. Braathu congratulated Alkalaj on the occasion of initialing the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU and as well as for initiation of dialogue with NATO regarding IPAP (Individual Partnership Action Plan).

Braathu said that Norway appreciates the excellent co-operation with Bosnia, and strongly supports Bosnia’s Euro-Atlantic integration efforts.

The two agreed it is necessary to speed up the process of regulating contractual relations between two countries, highlighting the need for having the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Agreement on Social Security between Bosnia and Norway signed as soon as possible.

KOZARIC: THERE IS NO NEED FOR DEVALUATION OF BOSNIAN MARK

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 16,2008) - In fear of speculated devaluation of the Bosnian Mark, the Bosnian citizens have started buying up euros, and shortage is already starting to be felt, according to the Banja Luka daily Nezavisne Novine.

Although the Bosnian national currency is pegged to the Euro, speculations appeared recently that it could depreciate, so instead of the 1,9 Bosnian Marks one Euro was worth in Bosnia yesterday, it could be worth up to 2,4 Bosnian Marks.

However, the Governer of the Bosnian Central Bank Kemal Kozaric assures that there is no need to print banknotes, and the Bosnian citizens do not need be concerned.

Kozaric reminded that Bosnia’s current foreign reserve is the highest since the formation of the Bosnian Central Bank, and amounts to 5.4 billion Bosnian Marks.Other bankers and analysts also said yesterday that the fear is unjustified and that devaluation of the Bosnian national currency is not possible as it is legally bound to Euro.

BOSNIAN CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION STARTED REVIEWING 15 CANDIDATES FOR BOSNIAN STATE GOVERNMENT POSITIONS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 16,2008) - The Bosnian Central Electoral Commission has started reviewing 15 candidates for Bosnian state government positions. However, since there are 19 minister and deputy minister positions, the Bosnian Central Electoral Commission expects to be submitted with other information soon, as well. Not included on the list of candidates are one member of the SNSD party and one meber of the PDP party.

Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric’s spokesman Aleksandar Obradovic confirmed that the remaining personal information were submitted late last week, and that they were referred to the Bosnian Central Electoral Commission and the Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency.

The Bosnian Central Electoral Commission and the Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency are checking the candidates to make sure there is no conflict of interest, or some other legal obstacle preventing them from assuming their positions in the Bosnian State Government.

BOSNIAN ANNUAL INFLATION IN DECEMBER AT 4.9 PERCENT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 16,2008) - Bosnian annual inflation was 4.9 per cent in December, said the ONASA news service, citing data from the Bosnian national statistics agency.

The cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages grew 10 per cent, transport rose 6.8 per cent, restaurants and hotels climbed 5.2 per cent, education 4.9 per cent, with electricity, natural gas and other energy generating products up 2.3 per cent.

BOSNIA MOURNES MACEDONIAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN HELICOPTER CRASH

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 16,2008) - Bosnian state officials declared the national mourning day yesterday, when 11 Macedonian soldiers,killed in a military helicopter crash last Saturday, were buried.

Eleven Macedonian soldiers died on Saturday when their helicopter crashed some 10 kilometres south of Macedonian capital of Skopje on their way back home from the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia, where they served with the European Union Force (EUFOR).

A member of the Bosnian Presidency Dr Haris Silajdzic signed yesterday at the Macedonian Embassy in Bosnia the condolence book opened for the tragic death of 11 Macedonian soldiers.

”It is hard to find words in moments like this. Fine young men who were in their mission in Bosnia were killed", stated Dr Silajdzic after signing the condolence book and short talk with the Macedonian Ambassador to Bosnia Mihailo Trpkovski.

Expressing his condolence for the soldiers’ deaths, Silajdzic stated that out of these 11 young men, nine of them had families and small children.

”Here from Sarajevo, we can offer them our sincere condolences on behalf of all Bosnian citizens”, he added.

The commemoration at the Macedonian army headquarters in Skopje yesterday , which began with a minute's silence, was attended by the soldier's relatives, the Macedonian state and army leaders, representatives from the religious communities and members of the Macedonian Parliament.

"In its recent history, Macedonia has never experienced such a loss of its army members. The accident is all the greater since in one day in a single moment eleven soldiers lost their lives.They were young soldiers and officers who were returning home to their families, after a successful mission in Bosnia," said the Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski at the commemoration.

The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic, as well as the Bosnian army officials could not attend the commemoration in the Macedonian capital Skopje yesterday.Due to weather conditions the Bosnian delegation was not able to fly to Skopje.

Macedonian troops remain present in Bosnia with 13 soldiers serving with the European Union Force (EUFOR).