ALKALAJ AND ADNAN DISCUSSED COOPERATION BETWEEN BOSNIA AND MALAYSIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 31,2008) – The Bosnian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Alkalaj received yesterday to inaugural visit the Ambassador of Malaysia to Bosnia, Zulkifli Adnan.Minister Alkalaj expressed expectation in having the fruitful cooperation between Bosnia and Malaysia continued in the future. On behalf of Bosnia Minister Alkalaj thanked Malaysia for all the help and support to Bosnia during the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia and in the post war period.

The two discussed areas being the economic challenge, such as attracting Malaysian investments to Bosnia for the Corridor 5 c project, power sector and mining. The Malaysian Ambassador to Bosnia Adnan stated that Malaysia is interested in bringing the Bosmal project in Sarajevo to an end as soon as possible, as well as in direct investing in airport construction project, hotel and sport facilities in Ilidza and specified industry.

Minister Alkalaj and Ambassador Adnan agreed with the fact that exchange of high level visits improves cooperation between two countries, by concluding bilateral agreements in air traffic, education, culture and science.

Minister Alkalaj introduced Malaysian Ambassador to steps that Bosnia has been undertaking on its path towards becoming a full fledged member in NATO and the EU.

BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY TO DISCUSS 2008 BUDGET

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 31,2008) – The Bosnian Presidency should discuss only one item on the agenda today at the session that will take place in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo – the Bosnian State Budget for 2008.

Having returned the Draft Budget twice to the Bosnian Council of Ministers for amending, the Council concluded on Monday at a session to propose to the Bosnian Presidency to determine the Bosnian State Budget for 2008 in the amount determined at the January 17 session and urgently send it to parliamentary procedure.

The Bosnian Council of Ministers had proposed budget in the amount of 1.191.357.560 Bosnian Marks, but made corrections to the document twice at the demand of the Bosnian Presidency. The second proposal of the 2008 budget was 1.186.357.560 Bosnian Marks.

However, neither of the proposals were approved by the Bosnian Presidency.

OHR: FAILURE TO ADOPT STATE BUDGET IS DAMAGING FOR BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 31,2008) - The Office of the International Community's High representative in Bosnia (OHR) believes that a third failure to adopt the Bosnian State Budget for 2008 is imminent if the Bosnian Presidency Members are not able to find common language and adopt the budget at the Bosnian Presidency session today.

”Failure to agree the draft 2008 Bosnian State Budget will have a detrimental effect on the Bosnian state institutions and send a negative message to the Bosnian public and Bosnia’s international partners," warned the OHR.

This is not the European way. The Bosnian state institutions must show the necessary level of responsibility for the functionality of the Bosnian state,the OHR said.

“This budget has been passed by the Bosnian Council of Ministers. It needs to move forward into the Bosnian Parliament as soon as possible. Therefore, the budget proposal needs to be determined by the Bosnian Presidency today”, stated the OHR release.

BOSNIA TO COMPLETE REFORM OF ELECTRIC ENERGY SECTOR

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 31,2008) - The Bosnian Deputy Minister of External Trade and Economic Relations Vilim Primorac will take part in the conference “Mutual Achievement of Sustainable Energy” this week in Brussels. Minister Primorac has the role of coordinator for international energy cooperation.

"Taking part in this process Bosnia confirms its dedication in the reform of electric energy and gas sector, liberalization of electric energy market and adjustment of its policies with the EU”, Minister Primorac stated.

Pointing out that Bosnia is on a crossroad of energy choices, Primorac stated that a great attention is given to the implementation of the Road Map for energy community. Its implementation is going through several interconnected coordinated activities by the Bosnian Ministry of External Trade and Economic Relations.

Primorac added that Bosnia must have a coherent, coordinated and transparent development plan for production and transfer of electric energy in order to attract foreign investors and Road Map implementation.

Energy cooperation between Bosnia and other Southeastern European countries is mostly determined by the agreement on the setup of energy community, which Bosnia ratified on July 27 2006.

Bosnia is a signatory of Energy Charter with Perea Protocol on energy efficiency and belonging aspects of environment protection. Asides, Bosnia joined the Kyoto Protocol in 2007.

BOSNIAN STATE DELEGATION VISITS IRAQ

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 31,2008) – The Bosnian state delegation lead by Defence Minister Selmo Cikotic is in a visit to 6th rotation unit of the Bosnian Armed Forces’ EOD unit in Iraq.

Minister Cikotic expressed pleasure over the results achieved results of the Unit and emphasized that they have given contribution to the international stability.

During his visit to Iraq, Minister Cikotic will meet with representatives of Coalition Forces Command, in the context of the Bosnian Presidency’s decision on sending a Bosnian infantry unit to Iraq.

Branko Zrno, the President of the Bosnian Parliamentary Commission for Defence and Security and Mirsad Gutic, Brigadier General are a part of the delegation, together with General Mayors Miladin Milojcic and Slavko Puljic, the Bosnian Defence Ministry announced.

KRESIC AND COPPOLA DISCUSSED WORK OF POLICE AGENCIES IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 31,2008) - The Bosnian Deputy Minister of Security Mijo Kresic met with the EU Police Mission in Bosnia (EUPM) Head, General Vincezo Coppola and discussed the work of police agencies in Bosnia.

Kresic stated the need for continued support from international community in the activities and development of these agencies and thanked general for the good cooperation between the EUPM and the Bosnian Ministry of Security.

General Coppola expressed his support for the police agencies in Bosnia and positive processes which contribute in achieving international standards stated the release of the Bosnian Ministry of Security.

FORMER MAYOR OF BARCELONA NOMINATED FOR HONORARY CITIZEN OF SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 31,2008) – Sarajevo City Council passed decision on nominating Pasqual Margall y Mara from Barcelona, Spain the Honorary Citizen of Sarajevo.He will be presented with the City of Sarajevo Decree at the Sarajevo City Council ceremony.

Pasqual Margall y Mara is former Mayor of Barcelona (1982 – 1997). In the first months of the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggression against Bosnia, he expressed solidarity and understanding for the difficult situation in Bosnia and in the city of Sarajevo. He held a speech at the opening of Olympic Games in Barcelona in August 1992 before 3 billion viewers, urging the world‘s governments to help Bosnia.

During the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggression against Bosnia, Margall put in efforts aimed to distribute humanitarian aid to Bosnia. In that way, over 2.500 tons of help were distributed to the city of Sarajevo.

REGIONAL AGRICULTURE CENTER OPENS IN MOSTAR

MOSTAR, Bosnia (January 31,2008) - Spain’s Deputy Ambassador to Bosnia, Jose Ramon Garcia Hernandez, inaugurated the Rural Development and Agriculture Centre near the city of Mostar yesterday. The Centre will operate within the Regional Development Agency Herzegovina (REDAH).

The facility was co-funded by the Spanish AECID with EUR 505,000. Its main task will be to further agricultural development of the Herzegovina region, by encouraging local and foreign investments, among other things.

VOLKSWAGEN CARS MOST POPULAR IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 31,2008) - The cars made by Volkswagen and the members of its concern – Audi, Skoda and Seat – are the most sold cars in Bosnia, Director of Bosnian dealer ASA Auto said in the annual press conference in Sarajevo. ASA Auto has been the exclusive dealership for VW cars in Bosnia since 1997.

Based on the customs data about the import of cars, Volkswagen cars have a market share of 26 per cent. Among them, Skoda sold the most cars. Also, Bosnia has the highest regional rate of Audi cars sold per head of population.