BOSNIA TO PARTICIPATE AT 11TH OIC SUMMIT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (March 10, 2008) – The Bosnian Presidency has adopted a platform for the country’s participation at the 11th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), scheduled to take place in Dakar on March 13 and 14. Bosnia will be an observer country there.

The Bosnian Presidency also confirmed that the President of Romania would come for a one-day visit to Bosnia on March 20.Another decision was to begin negotiations with Lichtenstein, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Ireland, Switzerland and Iceland about visa facilitation agreements.
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BOSNIAN PRESIDENT HARIS SILAJDZIC WANTS AN EXPLANATION FROM HIDROGRADNJA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY ABOUT IRANIAN HYDRO POWER STATION PROJECT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (March 10, 2008) – The President of the Bosnian Presidency Haris Silajdzic has sent a letter to the CEO of the Hidrogradnja Construction Company Silvana Maric, asking for more information about this company potentially building a hydro power station in Iran.

As his letter reminds, it was agreed in February 2002 with the Iranian Ministry of Energy that Bosnia would be involved in a project worth 100 million US Dollars. President Silajdzic now wants an explanation why the project failed, following an initiative from the Iranian Embassy in Bosnia.
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SERBIAN WAR CRIMINALS KRSTO SAVIC AND MILE MUCIBABIC PLEADED NOT GUILTY BEFORE BOSNIAN STATE COURT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (March 10, 2008) – Serbian war criminals Krsto Savic and Mile Mucibabic denied guilt to all counts in the indictment filed by the Bosnian State Prosecutor for war crimes committed against Bosnian civilians in the Bosnian towns of Nevesinje, Kalinovik, Gacko and Bileca during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The two Serbian war criminals are charged with detention, torture and murder of several Bosnian civilians and Croatians living in Bosnia from June to the end of 1992.

"I plead not guilty to all counts in the indictment," both Serbian war criminals Savic and Mucibabic said.

As indicated by preliminary hearing judge, Darko Samardzic, the start date of the trial will be determined within the next two months.

Slavisa Prodanovic, defence attorney of the first indictee, said he might need additional time to prepare the Defence in an adequate manner and added that "the trial is not fair from the very beginning."

"By law, we have the right to review all pieces of Prosecution's evidence after an indictment has been filed. Up to now, we have not been given access to the files. Officially, the Prosecution took six months to prepare for the process. Unofficially, the preparation may have lasted for a year or two. We are given only two months to read the statements of 80 witnesses and review 200 pieces of material evidence," Prodanovic said.

The judge said the 60-day deadline might be extended up to 90 days, adding that he thought the Defence would have sufficient time to prepare itself.
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ICTY CHIEF PROSECUTOR SERGE BRAMMERTZ MET WITH MOTHERS OF SREBRENICA AND ZEPA ENCLAVES ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (March 10, 2008) – The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz met with Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa Enclaves Association representatives, who expressed displeasure with the past activities of ICTY.

”We expressed displeasure with the length of trials and the existence of agreement system with the criminals. That is why we urged the ICTY Chief Prosecutor to change that right that they have been given”, Sabaheta Fejzic, Member of the Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa Enclaves Association Managing Board stated.

Brammertz was informed that there are about 90 per cent of evidence in Serbia that are not available to the ICTY. They asked him to make Serbian authorities present those documents and that other documents should also be made public.

They also expressed displeasure for the failure of arresting Serbian war criminals Ratko Mladic, Radovan Karadzic, Stojan Zupljanin and Goran Hadzic.

The Association is of the opinion that it is impermissible that the ICTY closes 2010 and that these four Serbian war criminals are not brought to justice.

”That is why we ask that at least one department of the Tribunal is left open so that the four war criminals are processed”, Fejzic added.

Brammertz stated that the ICTY trials take a long time to be completed because of the number of documents and witnesses and added that the right to agreement cannot be shortened in accordance to all of the international justice courts’ practices.

”I will urge the International Community to pressure Serbia to extradite Serbian war criminals Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic as soon as possible”, ICTY Chief Prosecutor promised to the “Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa Enclaves” Association representatives.
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SERBIAN WAR CRIMINALS KARADZIC AND MLADIC MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (March 10, 2008) - The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz stated in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo that international community and countries in the region must do everything in order to capture Serbian war criminals and fugitives Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.

"It is difficult to imagine for the Tribunal to be closed and for those persons to be left free and not prosecuted for their crimes”, stated Brammertz after the meeting with the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak.

He added that the purpose of his first visit to Bosnia since he took over the duty is to assess the cooperation of the government with the ICTY. He pointed out that this cooperation must be continued, especially when it comes to search for fugitives and breaking up the network of their helpers.

Within his visit to Bosnia, Brammertz had a number of meetings with Bosnian state officials who expressed their readiness for cooperation and full support to the Tribunal.

He mentioned that he met with police and state prosecution representatives who are important partners in serving justice to these individuals.

"State prosecutor is doing difficult job and he is making progress and we gave him our support”, added Brammertz.

Brammertz also had meetings with associations of victims for which he stated that they represent the main reason why Tribunal still exists. He stated that for the respect for them and the genocide victims everything should be done in order for the Serbian war criminals to be finally brought to justice.

High Representative Miroslav Lajcak at the meeting gave his full support to the work of the Hague Tribunal, adding that this cooperation is a priority in his work and that this is a important precondition for the progress of Bosnia.

He informed Brammertz on current political situation in Bosnia, after the recent session of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) and about challenges that await Bosnia on its road towards the EU membership.
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