BOSNIA AND MALAYSIA'S EXPERIENCES CAN EASE WORLD PROBLEMS

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (July 1,2008) - Bosnia and Malaysia's experiences with multi-cultural and multi-ethnic societies can contribute to easing some of the problems and ills besetting the world today.

The Bosnian President Dr Haris Silajdzic said yesterday in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur that both countries were examples of successful pluralism, despite different geographical entities and whatever shortcomings which might exist.

He said that the two countries had shown to the world that after all, peaceful interaction and tolerance was still possible in this world.

"Although not big countries...the two countries have experiences which can contribute to (solving or easing) outstanding problems of today...(the experience) can help understand...maybe, cure or ease some problems (of the world today)," he said in his public lecture on "Multicultural Society and Globalisation" at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relation (IDFR) in in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

President Silajdzic, who arrived on Saturday, is in Malaysia on a five-day visit aimed at enhancing bilateral ties between the two countries.
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BOSNIA PREPARES TO SUE CROATIA OVER DISPUTED PELJESAC BRIDGE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (July 1,2008) - When he was inaugurating the second to last section of the Zagreb-Rijeka motorway, Croatia’s Transport Minister Bozidar Kalmeta confirmed several days ago that the building of the Peljesac bridge would begin on July 15.

However, Bosnian officials warn that the sea border with Croatia has not been agreed yet; that has been the main stumbling block so far at every mention of the bridge.

Bosnia is against the construction of the bridge.Bosnian officials said the bridge would prevent large ships from entering Bosnia's only port in Neum, thus blocking Bosnia's access to the open sea.

Meanwhile, Bosnia has several options, and a lawsuit is one of them.
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EU-BOSNIA AGREEMENT CREATES FREE TRADE AREA

BRUSSELS, Belgium (July 1,2008) - The European Commission said an interim agreement with Bosnia has created a free trade area, which will further open the market to bilateral trade.

The agreement allows free access to European Union (EU) markets for almost all goods from Bosnia, which in turn will gradually open its market to EU products and services.

Bosnia will also introduce standards from the EU, aligning its legislation in a number of areas such as competition, intellectual property, investment, public procurement or protection of personal data.

The commission said this process will facilitate economic and social development in Bosnia and will encourage further economic reforms.

Bosnia and the European Union signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the interim agreement on June 16 in Luxembourg.
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