BOSNIAN PRESIDENT HARIS SILAJDZIC MET WITH AMBASSADORS OF EU MEMBER COUNTRIES

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (April 24,2008) – Bosnia could, in late April or in late May, sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and the EU, the Bosnian President Haris Silajdzic announced.

President Silajdzic stated after a meeting with the Ambassador of Slovenia to Bosnia Natasa Vodusek that Bosnia's progress to the EU and NATO memberships remains priority.

Dilemma related to the signing of the SAA was caused by technical reasons, that is, the time needed for translation of the agreement to the languages of 27 countries of the EU. It is certain that the SAA between Bosnia and the EU will be signed May 26, in the case the previously-arranged deadline is prolonged.

The Bosnian President Silajdzic stated during the meeting with ambassadors of EU member countries to Bosnia that a special attention was dedicated to economic issues in Bosnia, that is, difficulties related to realization of foreign investments. Situation in the region was one of the topics of conversation.

The issue of making the investments’ “flow” easier was also discussed, both in the sense of political or bureaucratic barriers.

In that context, President Silajdzic said that he is supportive of a program related to the sector of energy. He expressed fears that any delays in the process could bring Bosnia into position that the country imports instead of exports electric energy.

Ambnassador Vodusek stated that the southeastern European region is in the focus of her country’s foreign policy.

The southeastern Europe, she said, is a high priority area, which confirms readiness of Slovenia as the country residing the EU, that the countries of the region are brought as close as possible to the EU membership.

Answering the journalists’ question, Ambassador did not want to speculate about whether or not Bosnia is waiting for signing of SAA because of the elections in the genocidal Serbia, but she did say that Brussels has made clear conditions which need to be fulfilled. She emphasized her country’s readiness to maximally engage into processes which will bring the country closer to the EU.
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BOSNIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER SVEN ALKALAJ MET WITH GERMAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER WALTER STEINMEIER

BERLIN, Germany (April 24,2008) – The Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj met in the German capital Berlin with German Foreign Affairs Minister and deputy German Chancellor Walter Steinmeier. They talked about promotion of cooperation between Bosnia and Germany.

They agreed that there is enough of space for improvement of bilateral relations, especially on the sector of economy and attraction of German investors. They also talked about the need of amendments to the existing and conclusion of the new agreements in the sector of health and social protection, as well as about the need of engaging employees from Bosnia.

Alkalaj thanked for Germany’s support to Bosnia in the period during and after the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia, especially in the segment of security and multilateral cooperation.

Minister Steinmeier welcomed adoption of police reform laws in Bosnia, which made the conditions necessary for signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and the EU fulfilled. The Agreement will most probably be signed May 26. It has been emphasized that Bosnia can count on support of Germany in the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integrations.

The German Foreign Minister Steinmeier emphasized that Germany has been monitoring the events in the southeastern Europe with great interest.

The Bosnian Foreign Minister Alkalaj emphasized the importance of realization of visits between the two countries’ highest officials. He invited Minister Steinmeier to visit Bosnia soon. The proposal has been accepted.

The Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj also held a lecture on Tuesday at Berlin’s Foreign Policy Association (DGAP) on the topic “Bosnia on the Way to the EU”.

Minister Alkalaj hopes that the European Union, as well as its key members individually will accelerate the processes of preparations of official signing of the SAA with Bosnia, which would additionally encourage the reform forces in the country.

The Bosnian tourist offer has also been presented after the lecture, in organization of the Bosnian Embassy in Germany.
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BOSNIA AND CANADA TO INTENSIFY COOPERATION

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (April 24,2008) – The Bosnian President Dr Haris Silajdzic, a member of the Bosnian Presidency Nebojsa Radmanovic and diplomatic advisor to a member of the Bosnian Presidency Zeljko Komsic, Nerkez Arifhodzic, met in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with a delegation of the Canadian Parliament, lead by Speaker Piter Miliken.

President Silajdzic thanked Canada for support at the recent NATO Summit in Bucharest and expressed hope that Bosnia will still have support of Canada on the way to the NATO membership.

He also thanked Canada for support the country has provided to Bosnia in different spheres which mounted to about 130 million dollars.

President Silajdzic emphasized that economic cooperation between the two countries is of extraordinary significance and that the Canadian entrepreneurs are welcome in Bosnia.

He said that singing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and the EU will increase economic cooperation, as well as presence of foreign entrepreneurs in Bosnia, not only from the EU, but wider.

The Canadian Parliamentary Speaker Piter Miliken stated that Canada is interested in having Bosnia a part of the international organizations and that the cooperation between the two countries should intensify.
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INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY DIRECTOR MUHAMED EL-BARADEI MET WITH BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBERS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (April 24,2008) – The President of the Bosnian State Presidency Dr Haris Silajdzic and members of the Bosnian Presidency Zeljko Komsic and Nebojsa Radmanovic had a meeting in Sarajevo yesterday with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Dr. Muhammed el-Baradei on priorities of future cooperation between IAEA and BiH.

”It is about medical prevention, early diagnosis of a disease and prevention at the Bosnian borders, where scanners are set up to control everything that is imported to the country through transport”, President Silajdzic told the press after the meeting.

The scanners are being set up at the borders. There will be 12 scanners, the first one will be set up at the Izacic state border crossing.

As stated, Bosnia as adopted the law on radiation safety, but the state regulatory agency is yet to come to life.

”In any case, there is a law; regulatory agency will certainly be formed and we will have a better cooperation with the IAEA”, President Silajdzic explained.

Diseases of animals were a special focus, especially brucellosis. Nuclear technology could contribute the disease’s diagnostics.

New programs Bosnia is yet to become a part of have not been discussed. The so-called PACT (Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy) – was named as an example. IAEA has been developing the program in cooperation with the World Health Organization. It is expected that Bosnia will become a member of the program.

IAEA General director emphasized the wish of the Agency for cooperation with Bosnia.

”We would like to expand that work”, Baradei told the press in Sthe bosnian capital Sarajevo.

According to him, the cooperation would focus on the human health sector, as well as on diseases of animals and nuclear safety sector.

”We have cooperated with many institutions in the process of revealing and treating cancer. We would like Bosnia to increase the capacities in that sense and we would also like the country to be provided with assistance aimed to prevent the disease”, IAEA Director General said.

He recommended the increase of capacities in Bosnia for the purpose of ensuring food safety programs. In that sense, contaminated food would not be imported. He said that in the sector of nuclear safety it is a “high zone of activities where all things need to be put under control”.

”We want to see here an independent regulatory body which is completely functional. We want to know that the body has its director and other staff”, he said.

He thinks that prevention of illegal activities at the state borders is very important. That includes prevention of trade of nuclear materials across the state border.

In that sense, training of the personnel at the customs was marked as extremely important.

”Those are the issues we have discussed today in the sense of expansion of cooperation. We need to make sure that the lives of the Bosnian citizens are improved”, E-Baradei said.

President Silajdzic expressed pleasure over the IAEA Director General’s visit, for he is a fighter for peaceful use of nuclear energy and is one of the Nobel Peace Prize Winners (2005).

“This has also been an opportunity to thank Dr El-Baradei for the assistance IAEA has provided for Bosnia”, President Silajdzic emphasized.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was formed as an autonomous body on July 29 1957. The main goal was the use of atomic energy into peaceful purposes and prevention of its use into military purposes. That was the answer to a deep fear and expectations, as well as a result of the atomic energy discovery.

In Oslo, December 9 2005, Dr. Muhammed el-Baradei received Nobel Peace Prize for the contribution in spread of nuclear weapons’ expansion and for implementation of policy of having nuclear energy used for peaceful purposes.
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BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBER ZELJKO KOMSIC PLACED WREATHS AND PAID TRIBUTE TO THE JASENOVAC CONCENTRATION CAMP VICTIMS

DONJA GRADINA, Croatia (April 24,2008) – On the occasion of 63rd anniversary of breakthrough of inmates from the Jasenovac concentration camp in Croatia, a member of the Bosnian State Presidency Zeljko Komsic visited the Donja Gradina memorial area.

Komsic placed wreaths to the central monument “the Poplar of Terror” and paid tribute to all the innocent victims of the Croatian fascists in this camp of death.

On April 22 1945,during the WW2, about 600 prisoners of the Jasenovac concentration camp broke through. Only about 100 of them survived.
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BOSNIA TO APPLY FOR OBSERVER STATUS AT BSEC

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (April 24,2008) – The Bosnian State Presidency has decided at the 36th regular session that Bosnia will apply for the status of observer at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC).

The Bosnian Presidency also passed decision on nomination of Dr. Adil Ahmed Bushnak for the Bosnian Consul Honorary in Saudi Arabia.

The Bosnian Presidency accepted the calls for visits to Malaysia and Libya.

The Bosnian Presidency also discussed this year’s Bosnian Central Bank’s Report, as well as Bosnian Central Bank’s Financial Report.

The Bosnian Presidency praised the work of the Bosnian Central Bank and adopted both the reports which contain reviews on the entire economic situation in BiH in comparison to the region.

The Bosnian Presidency did not pass decision on ratification of the Base Agreement between BiH and the Orthodox Christian Church.

Although previously announced, issues related to defence policy and Report on Work and Finances of the Commission to Preserve Bosnian National Monuments were not discussed.

In that sense, the Bosnian Presidency concluded that Presidency members should discuss the issue among themselves with representatives of the Bosnian Defence Ministry and Commission to Preserve National Monuments. The Bosnian Presidency will then pass decisions.
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