BOSNIAN COMPANIES URGED TO PARTICIPATE MORE ACTIVELY AT LIBYAN MARKET

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (May 15,2008) – The Bosnian President Haris Silajdzic stated yesterday that the Libyan officials want Bosnian companies to participate in construction and reconstruction of, primarily, Bosnian infrastructure, and that about 140 billion US Dollars will be invested in the following five years.President Silajdzic stated in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo that he met with the highest Libyan officials and that readiness was expressed for promotion of overall relations, primarily economic cooperation.

According to him, signing of the agreement on promotion and protection of foreign investments needs to be signed by the end of this year, as well as double taxation evasion agreement and agreement on scientific and technical cooperation.

President Silajdzic emphasized that readiness of the Libyan side to employ a number of medical workers and expand cooperation in the sector of pharmaceutical industry exists.

Cooperation between the two countries’ universities has been initiated, as well as the second session of Joint Committee by the end of 2008.

Contacts at the minister level will continue in June, for the purpose of accelerating all those processes.

SThe Bosnian President Haris Silajdzic met in Libya,this week, with President Moammer el-Gaddafi, Libyan Prime Minister El Baghdadi el-Mahmudi, Speaker of Libyan Parliament Miftah Muhamed Keib and other high officials.

A delegation of the several Bosnian companies also visited Libya with the President Silajdzic.
.

BOSNIAN MARK WILL NOT DEPRICIATE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (May 15,2008) – The Governor of the Bosnian Central Bank Kemal Kozaric said yesterday that the global economic crisis would not cause depreciation of the Bosnian national currency.

Before the beginning of a roundtable discussion dedicated to the global economic crisis, Kozaric asserted how the Bosnian Mark is stable, and available reserves are sufficient.

The world banks that suffered the consequences of the American subprime mortgage crisis do not operate in the region, Governor Kozaric explained, so Bosnia managed to avoid the initial impact, but preparations are necessary for future developments, he said.

The Bosnian Central Bank ALSO does not expect major changes in interest rates for borrowing.
.

HUNGARY TO INVEST IN BOSNIAN AGRICULTURE AND TOURISM

BUDAPEST, Hungary (May 15,2008) – An investment conference about investment opportunities in Bosnia and a number of bilateral meetings took place at the Hungarian Ministry of Economy and Transport in Budapest yesterday.

The focus was on agriculture, the food industry, wood processing and tourism. Potential Hungarian investors highlighted their potential in revitalizing Bosnia’s spa tourism. The Bosnian delegation was led by Haris Basic, the head of the Bosnian Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA).
.

RABBI BAKER: SPIRIC'S COMMENTS ABOUT JEWS ARE TERRIBLE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (May 15,2008) – Rabbi Andrew Baker, Head of the US Jewish Committee stated in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo that the statement made by Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric (who is Christian) that the Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj (who is Jewish) is “a minister nobody needs” are terrible.

Rabi Baker stated after a meeting with Minister Alkalaj that Spiric’s statement implies that the Bosnian Jews have no right of political activities in Bosnia.

”We are worried by the fact that such a statement came from a highly positioned politician. A true political leader, even though he may have prejudice, should not allow himself stating such a thing in public”, Baker said.

He stated that the US Jewish Committee has been cooperating with the Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj for a long time.

”We at the US Jewish Committee consider Sven Alkalaj a great friend”, Rabi Baker said.
.

FBIH ENTITY'S INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT UP IN APRIL

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (May 15,2008) – The industrial output in the FBIH entity was up by 2.5 per cent in April on the monthly level, while compared to one year ago it grew by 6.4 per cent. In the first four months, industrial production grew by 4.3 per cent.

The industry of supplying electricity, water and gas industry saw the biggest individual growth of 7.6 per cent. The mining industry followed with 3.4 per cent. Industrial products’ price index also increased in the first four months, by 5.6 per cent. In the energy segment, prices dropped by 14.6 per cent.
.

BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT POSTPONED VOTING FOR JUNE 4

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (May 15,2008) – The Bosnian State Parliament's House of Representatives accepted yesterday in Sarajevo proposal of the collegiums to vote on all items of the agenda which were discussed for June 4, the date of the following session.

Speaker of the House Niko Lozancic stated that the items should be voted prior to that session.

The delegates, among other, discussed Bill on Salaries and Incomes for state institutions, Bill on Medicines and Fiscal Council.