LAJCAK: STABILITY AND INTEGRITY OF BOSNIA WILL NOT BE UNDERMINED

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 7,2008) – The International Community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajčák met General John McColl, NATO’s Deputy Supreme Commander Europe and Operation Commander of Operation Althea/EUFOR in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo yesterday.

Briefing General McColl on the current political situation in the country the High Representative-EU Special Representative said that Bosnia today faces two challenges, the first to the functionality of the state, the second to its immediate EU perspective.

“We continue to insist on the functionality of the Bosnian state and respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Lajčák.

Underlining that there is no more important step for the future of Bosnia Lajčák said; “It is in no one’s interest to stand in the way of Bosnia’s future in the European Union”.

The High Representative and EU Special Representative welcomed the close co-operation between the European Union Force in Bosnia (EUFOR) and the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR), noting that EUFOR’s presence is welcomed by Bosnia and underlines the EU’s commitment to the country.

General McColl agreed that the close co-operation was beneficial for all parties and stated that “EUFOR will remain until its job is done while contributing to a safe and secure environment”.

“Regarding defence reform implementation the biggest hurdle remains the transfer of defence property from the entities to the state as required by law,” said Lajčák.

“We expect state and entity prime ministers to respect the Bosnian Law on Defence and to honour the agreement they made on the transfer process back in July 2007,” Lajčák added.

OSCAR-WINNING BOSNIAN FILM DIRECTOR DANIS TANOVIC TO ESTABLISH POLITICAL PARTY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 7,2008) – Oscar-winning Bosnian film director Danis Tanovic said yesterday he plans to establish a political party to fight rampant corruption in Bosnia.The aim of the move was “to change public opinion that nothing can be done” to improve life in Bosnia, Tanovic told the Bosnian daily newspaper Oslobodjenje.

Tanovic said he expected support from “all those who are aware that they are trapped in the jaws of unscrupulous criminals in politics.”

The 38-year-old did not reveal the name of his party, but said it would participate in the next local elections in Bosnia in October.

Tanovic’s anti-war film “No Man’s Land” won an Oscar for best foreign language film in 2002, as well as 40 other international awards including the best script at the Cannes film festival.

14TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARKALE MASSACRE MARKED IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 7,2008) – The 14th anniversary of the Markale massacre was marked in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, at the site of the massacre. On that site, 67 Bosnian civilians were killed and 142 wounded by the genocidal Serbian aggressor. A tribute was also paid to all Bosnian citizens killed during the siege of Sarajevo, from 1992 to 1995 during the Serbian,montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.

Numerous citizens and family members of victims placed wreaths and flowers to the memorial, as well as representatives of civil associations of war victims, the President of the Bosnian presidency Zeljko Komsic, a member of the Bosnian Presidency Haris Silajdzic and representatives of cantonal, city and municipal authorities.

A member of the Bosnian Presidency Nebojsa Radmanovic (who is of Serbian origin) did not attend marking of the 14th anniversary of the massacre, in spite of the fact that, as the President Komsic stated, all Bosnian Presidency members had been invited to do so.

Senida Karovic, representative of Association of Citizens, Victims of War, called the Bosnian citizens never to forget this and other crimes and added that justice is personified in punishing all the war crimes’ perpetrators. That would also be the best satisfaction for all the victims’ family members,she said.

11.000 Bosnian citizens were killed during the siege of Sarajevo. Out of that number, 1.601 Bosnian children were killed the genocidal Serbian aggressor . 50.000 Bosnian civilians were wounded. About 329 shells had fallen on the city every day, Karovic stated.

The Bosnian President Zeljko Komsic told the press that Sarajevo will never forget the Markale massacre.

Bosnian Presidency member Haris Silajdzic stated that ethnic divisions in Bosnia are not permissible and that they are a result of use of force, not the flow of history.

BOSNIA AND SPAIN SIGNED DOUBLE TAXATION AVOIDANCE AGREEMENT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 7,2008) – The Bosnian Minister of Finances Dragan Vrankic signed in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo Agreement on double taxation avoidance and tax evasion prevention in the sector of incomes and property taxes with the Spanish Ambassador to Bosnia Jose Maria Castroviejo y Bolibar.

Signatories stated at the signing ceremony that this Agreement is of enormous significance in the sector of investments and technology exchange between Bosnia and Spain.

Minister Vrankic emphasized that the agreement enables the two countries to profit and invest, without having to go through taxation processes twice.

”This is a call to all investors and businesspersons in sectors of production, science and technology to freely start investing, for they will not have to go through taxation process twice”, Vrankic said.

Ambassador Bolibar stated that the Agreement will increase productivity and activities of businesspersons from both the countries. He added that the Agreement will improve economic cooperation between Bosnia and Spain.

Ambassador Bolibar added that Spain has a big market which will be at the disposal to Bosnia.In the past nine years, Spain invested over 2 billion Euros in Bosnia.

CITY OF SARAJEVO AND SARAJEVO WINTER FESTIVAL MARKED 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1984 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 7,2008) – Head of the Sarajevo winter International Festival Ibrahim spahic and the Mayor of Sarajevo Semiha Borovac announced special festival programs that will mark 24th anniversary of the 19884 Olympic Games held in Sarajevo.

The first grand manifestation aimed to mark this anniversary will take place February 8 at 3.45 p.m., at the Olympic stadium “Asim Ferhatovic Hase”. Olympic flame will be lit symbolically and a concert will also take place, in organization of the Sarajevo City Assembly, the “Winter Olympic Games 1984 Olympic Centre”, “Sarajevoart” and the Sarajevo Winter Festival.

Mayor Borovac stated that the Sarajevska Winter Festival is one of the most important cultural events in Sarajevo and in Bosnia.She thanked the Festival for managing to turn the Olympic spirit into a cultural event which has been going on for 24 years.

BOSNIA AND NETHERLANDS SIGNED PROGRAM OF BILATERAL MILITARY COOPERATION

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 7,2008) – Program of Bilateral Military Cooperation for 2008 was signed in Sarajevo between Bosnia and the Netherlands.

The Program encompasses activities that promote military and bilateral cooperation between Bosnia and the Netherlands, especially in the field of education of personnel, construction of an IT system at the Bosnian Defence Ministry and promotion of other activities in defence sector.

On behalf of the Bosnian Defence Ministry, the Program was signed by Zoran Sajinovic, Advisor to the Bosnian Defence Minister for International Cooperation and the Dutch Military Attaché to Bosnia Frederik Besselinik

SPIRIC ADVOCATES AMENDMENTS TO DAYTON AGREEMENT

WASHINGTON, United States (February 7,2008) – Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric had a meeting with US Congressman Chris Smith in Washington and asked for US support to Bosnia in the process of Euro – Atlantic integrations.

Spiric emphasized the necessity of singing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and European Union. He stated that it is, after the Dayton Agreement, the most important document that will give rise to all the creative potentials in Bosnia.

He informed the US Congressman that the issue of the Bosnian constitutional reform is very important and that it is necessary to amend the existing Constitution on the basis of the Dayton Agreement in accordance with the demands set for Bosnia by EU and NATO.

Spiric stated that amendments to the Dayton Agreement would ensure a continuous movement of Bosnia towards Euro – Atlantic integrations.

”We need to avoid the story of a new constitution for that would mean that we are looking for a solution we may not reach”, Spiric said.