WORLD BANK URGES BOSNIA TO GIVE EQUAL IMPORTANCE TO ECONOMIC REFORMS AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 11,2008) - The World Bank has recommended to to the Bosnian government to treat economic reforms as important as infrastructure investments in its public investment strategies.

In the latest issue of the World Bank quarterly Economic Newsletter,the World Bank underlines the need for transparent and carefully planned public investments in Bosnia in support of economic development and growth.

Given the already high share of contributions for healthcare and education, the World Bank analysts do not consider a proposal for using privatization revenues in education, healthcare and utility infrastructure as optimal.

They also emphasize that public investments in infrastructure need to be accompanied by other measures for improving the business environment in Bosnia. Otherwise, effects will be short-term,the World Bank said.

NO AGREEMENT ON RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOSNIAN STATE POLICE BODIES

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 11,2008) - The Bosnian police reform task force has not managed to reach a consensus on laws about establishing seven new police bodies on the national level. Their key disagreement is over the authorities of these future bodies.

Some members of the task force insisted that the seven be given power over all the other police bodies in Bosnia. It seems that the responsibilities of a police coordination office are the most disputed. The group have therefore left a decision on this to the Bosnian central government.

These laws should be adopted by February 15, as they are a condition for signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement betwen Bosnia and the European Union.

BOSNIAN MINISTER OF SECURITY TARIK SADOVIC HAD A MEETING WITH THE PSOTC COMMANDER

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 11,2008) - The Bosnian Minister of Security Tarik Sadovic met in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with Michael Lollesgaard, a brigadier general and commander at the Peace Support Operations Training Centre (PSOTC).
They discussed activities related to continuation of organizations of disaster management seminar, which is held every year, in cooperation with the Bosnian state institutions, Geneva Centre for Safety Policy (GCSP) and Peace Support Operations Training Centre (PSOTS).

The Bosnian Ministry of Security accepted the offer of participating in organization of the seminar as project co-director.

There have also been talks about acceptance of PSOTC’s offer on taking over and developing a part of the Centre focusing on training of the personnel in the sector of system of protection and saving from natural and other disasters.

Brigadier General Michael Lollesgaard offered material and financial aid of the PSOTC and the donor countries. Minister Sadovic accepted the proposal and informed the director on the procedures necessary for realization of the project.

BOSNIAN DEFENCE MINISTER SELMO CIKOTIC ATTENDED SECURITY POLICY CONFERENCE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 11,2008) – The Bosnian Defence Minister Selmo Cikotic attended 44th conference on security policy which was held in Munich,Germany,last week. The conference was entitled “World in Danger – Passing of Power, Lack of Strategies”.

Over 250 distinguished international politicians and security policy experts, as well as high military officials attended the conference. Opinions of the conference participants will serve for development of future strategies related to this sector.

BOSNIAN FOREIGN AFFAIR MINISTER SVEN ALKALAJ MET WITH US NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS

WASHINGTON, United States (February 11,2008) – The Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj met in the United States with the US National Security Council’s Foreign Policy Department Representatives Damian Wilson and Burt Braun.

Alkalaj discussed with the US officials the current political situation in Bosnia and emphasized the necessity of signing of the stabilisation and association agreement between Bosnia and the EUS, so that other key reforms are implemented and Bosnia could continue a dynamic progress on its way to EU and NATO membership.

Alkalaj also exchanged opinions with Wilson and Braun on the political situation in the wider Southeastern European region.

NEW EDUCATIONAL MODELS DEVELOPED FOR JUDICIARY SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 11,2008) – The Bosnian High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council in cooperation with centres for education of judges and prosecutors in the FBIH entity, presented eight educational models aimed to promote the education of the judiciary representatives in Bosnia. The European Commission ensured the money for development of the modules, through realization of the CARDS 2005 project.

Ferdinand Kopp, European Commission Delegation to Bosnia representative, expressed pleasure with past cooperation aimed to improve the quality of judiciary practice in Bosnia. He has announced that the European commission will keep supporting similar initiatives of the Bosnian High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council. He emphasized that the role of this institution is important in the process of ensuring an independent and professional judiciary system in Bosnia.

The education models development project started in April 2005 and 21 modules have been published so far. Bosnian experts participated in development of the modules, which encompassed the key topics from civil, criminal and administrative law.

SKI RESORTS SUFFERING SNOW SHORTAGE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 11,2008) - The winter ski resorts in Bosnia are suffering losses for the second consecutive year, because there is not enough snow. Ski centres have given up on the season since snow was practically gone by the first half of January.

A larger number of guests cancelled their reservations, so hotels are mostly accommodating conference participants. Some even plan to turn to government, and claim damages for the loss they suffered this winter.

BROADCASTING REFORM EXPECTED IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 11,2008) - The International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak will meet this Tuesday, February 12, with the managements of three public broadcasters in Bosnia, in order to hear from them about progress made in the system’s reform.

The management board of the RTVFBiH called on the High Representative and the EC delegation last week not to allow the disintegration of the Public Broadcasting System in the country, and to prevent nullification of everything that had been achieved so far.

This is also one the EU’s 16 conditions for signing the the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Bosnia. A decision is still awaited from the Bosnian state and FBIH entity constitutional courts, about the law on the public broadcasting system.

INVESTMENT FUNDS IN BOSNIA MANAGE 1,99 BILLION BOSNIAN MARKS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 11,2008) - There are currently 27 investment funds in Bosnia, and the latest information show their net assets are 1,99billion Bosnian Marks (BAM).

Only three of these (MG Global, Hypo BH Equity and Tropic) are not successors to one-time privatization investment funds (PIF), which were created by investing certificates/vouchers.

Currently the biggest fund in the country is IF BIG Sarajevo, worth BAM 335 million, net. The assets of the runner-up – Banja Luka Zepter – are half of that: BAM 187 million.