LAJCAK: BOSNIA MUST FOCUS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SAA

NEW YORK, USA (May 21,2008) - The International Community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcák, met with British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband in New York.

Lajcák said that Bosnia is poised to take a significant strategic step forward on the road to EU integration.

“The country must now focus on the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union, which comes with obligations as well as benefits,” said Lajcák.

He briefed the British Foreign Secretary Miliband on Bosnia’s progress towards meeting the five objections and two conditions agreed unanimously by the Peace Implementation Council when it met in February for the OHR’s transition to an EU led mission.

“The faster progress is made on these five objectives and two conditions the sooner the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) can transition into an EU led mission," said Lajcák.
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ALKALAJ: OPENING OF THE DIALOGUE ON VISA REGIME LIBERALIZATION AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS THE EU

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (May 21,2008) – Opening the dialogue on the visa regime liberalization between Bosnia and the EU, planned for May 26 in Brussels on the highest ministry level represents one of the most important steps of Bosnia towards the EU integrations, stated the Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj.

Even though Bosnia will not sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU on this day, as it was speculated earlier, Alkalaj explains that with the beginning of this dialogue Bosnia gains quite a lot.

After the ceremonial dialogue opening, experts shall begin to review all elements of this process. Bosnia will not receive a so-called “Road Map” on that day sine all countries have to agree on the terms.

This process shall last for about 15 days after which all remarks and demands will be put together into the Road Map which will be given to Bosnia right after the signing of the SAA, added Alkalaj.

The Road Map is in fact a guideline of what Bosnia has to do in order to get the visa regime liberalization with the Shengen states.

Minister Alkalaj also pointed out that the duration of this process depends only on Bosnia but expressed his belief that everything could be accomplished in a year.
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GREGORIAN AND POCAR UNSATISFIED WITH BOSNIAN PRISON SYSTEM

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (May 21,2008) - A year after the escape of the convicted Serbian war criminal Radovan Stankovic from a prison in Bosnia the official response has been far from satisfactory, said the International community's Principal Deputy High Representative in Bosnia Raffi Gregorian at the meeting with the ICTY president Fausto Pocar.

“Stankovic remains at large and the authorities have yet to produce a thorough report identifying those who aided Stankovic’s flight, hold accountable those responsible, or take measures to tighten up security in prisons”,Gregorian said.

Serbian war criminal Radovan Stankovic was convicted by the Bosnian State Court of rape and crimes against humanity committed in the eastern Bosnian town of Foca in 1992,during the Serbian aggression against Bosnia.He was the first ICTY indictee whose case was transferred to a national court as part of the Tribunal's completion strategy.

“Stankovic is a convicted rapist and torturer, and is a danger to society wherever he is.He has expressed no remorse for his crimes and there is a real danger that he may strike again”,said Gregorian.

Serbian war criminal Radovan Stankovic's escape has highlighted several shortcomings in the Bosnian penal system. The High Representative toughened up the state level prison regime in the aftermath of the Stankovic prison break last year; prisoners convicted for war crimes under State law may no longer be granted weekend leave nor may they leave prison premises without proper supervision.

Pocar and Gregorian agreed that the International Community must be sure that war criminals, once tried and convicted, are properly imprisoned. Pocar reported that the ICTY is concerned about where and under what conditions the convicted war criminals will serve their sentences in Bosnia.
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BOSNIAN JOURNALIST ASSOCIAITON REACTS TO THE ATTACKS AGAINST JOURNALISTS FROM MOSTAR

MOSTAR, Bosnia (May 21,2008) – The Bosnian Association of Journalists sharply protested because of the attacks against the crew of Mostar Radio and Television, which took place on Monday in the Donja Mahala area of the southern Bosnian city of Mostar.

On that occasion, an unknown individual attacked the cameraman Admir Maslo and driver Hasan Kajic. They sustained neck and shoulders injuries. Journalist Maja Buric hid in the vehicle and sustained no injuries.

“We are terrified with the repeated attack against the crew of journalists and with continuation of violence over media representatives. We demand the Mostar Police to investigate the case and determines identity of the attackers”, the announcement states.

Since the beginning of 2008, SOS line for journalists registered 18 attacks against the press members.
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GENERAL D'ALESSANDRO TOOK OVER THE DUTY OF EUFOR DEPUTY COMMANDER

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (May 21,2008) - As of 20 May 2008 The European Union Force in Bosnia (EUFOR) has a new Deputy Commander (DCOM). Brigadier General Roberto D’Alessandro took over his duties from the outgoing DCOM Brigadier General Carmelo De Cicco.

Brigadier General Carmelo De Cicco on his departure said: “I would like to thank everyone who has assisted me throughout my tour of duty. I am very pleased with the decisive progress that Bosnia has made during my time as DCOM.

I only mention, as examples, the initialling of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union, which is in the final stage for signature, and the remarkable achievements in the sector of police reform.

Additionally, I have been delighted with the close cooperation established between EUFOR and the Bosnian Armed Forces, which are marching together along the road to a complete stabilisation of the country”.

Brigadier General Roberto D’Alessandro has previous experience of service in Bosnia (1995-1996), when he served in the Multi-National Division (South-East) in the southern Bosnian city of Mostar.

He said,he is very much looking forward to serving in Bosnia and is keen to reinforce the message that EUFOR is a force for good that is working together with the Bosnian Army, in bringing the country closer to the European Union and NATO.
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BOSNIAN METAL-PROCESSING INDUSTRY IS GETTING STRONGER

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (May 21,2008) - Quarterly data about the Bosnian metal-processing industry’s performance show that the industry is on a path to recovery. According to the official statistics, the Mostar aluminium plant produced 39,019 tonnes of aluminium in the first three months, while the Zenica steelwork produced 323,595 tonnes of steel. This output was by 29,961 tonnes bigger compared to the same period last year.

Based on the continuing upward trend in Mostar in April, as well, forecasters now expect close to 160,000 tonnes of aluminium by the end of 2008, which would be 40,000 tonnes more than the factory was producing before the 1990s war. At Zenica Arcelor-Mittal, they expect 1.3 million tonnes of steel this year.
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40 NEW FACTORIES TO BE BUILT IN ZENICA

ZENICA, Bosnia (May 21,2008) - The local government in Zenica currently has applications from 40 potential investors who want to build factories on its territory, its head announced yesterday at the ZEPS Intermetal opening.

Zenica administration has done all it can to make the place pleasant to live in, and now, instead of looking for investors, they are coming to us, and we are in the position to choose, he said.

The ZEPS Intemetal metal trade show opened in Zenica yesterday. 207 exhibitors from 22 countries (eight of which have ratified the CEFTA) will be exchanging experiences in the metal processing industry.

Chambers of commerce of Croatia and Montenegro, the SEE Automobile Cluster and the Sisak County Chamber of Commerce (Croatia) will have collective stands.
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