EBRD PROVIDES EUR 180 MILLION LOAN FOR CONSTRUCTION OF CORRIDOR 5C HIGHWAY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (September 16, 2008) - Bosnia will not be able to continue building the corridor 5c highway before new fuel tax is introduced for every litre of fuel sold in the country, the FBIH Entity Transport Minister Nail Seckanovic said today.

He was a member of the Bosnian delegation that just returned from London,UK, where they were negotiating a loan with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Negotiations ended successfully, with an agreement that the EBRD would fund the building of the corridor 5c highway with 180 million Euros.

However, the loan comes with a condition – the fuel tax. The EBRD officials were quite firm on this, Seckanovic said.

The EBRD and the European Investment Bank (EIB) will fund the building of 65km of the highway. Bosnia will be given a loan in the amount of 480 million Euros, and 180 million Euros of that will be provided by the EBRD.

Representatives of the Bosnian Ministry of Communication and Transport led by Minister Bozo Ljubic successfully completed negotiations with European bank for Reconstruction and development in London regarding the loan in the amount of 180 million Euros.

The EBRD and the European Investment Bank will fund the building of 65km of the highway. Bosnia will be given a loan in the amount of 480 million Euros, and 180 million Euros of that will be provided by the EBRD.

Loan will be used to finalize construction the section of corridor 5-C highway, more precisely: Svilaj - Odzak, Drivusa - Kakanj, Vlakovo - Tarcin and Pocitelj - southern border with Croatia.

Loan will become operative in 2009 when the first construction will start. The rest begins in 2010 and completion is planned for 2012.

Official signing of the agreement with EBRD shall be in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo on November 5, stated the Bosnian Ministry of Communication and Transport.
.

BOSNIAN POLICE LAUNCHES CRACKDOWN ON PASSPORT FORGERS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (September 16, 2008) - Commencing at approximately 6 a.m. this morning a number of suspects, approximately eight, most of whom work in managerial postitions, were simultaneously arrested upon orders of the Bosnian state Prosecutor's Office. A number of private and official addresses were searched upon orders issued by the Bosnian State Court.

This latest action is part of an extensive ongoing investigation into the widespread abuse and misuse of the ID card and passport system of the Bosnian State Agency for Identification Documents and Data Exchange - formerly known as 'CIPS' - by corrupt employees and their associates in a number of Bosnian cities.

The action was led and directed by the Bosnian State Prosecutor's Office Special Department for Organised Crime, Economic Crimes and Corruption and carried out by the Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and the Brčko District Police, assisted by other Bosnian Police authorities.

Bosnian Law Enforcement Agencies carrying out the searches and arrests included: SIPA, the Brćko District Police and the Tuzla Canton Ministry of Interior, as well as other police agencies. All three agencies cooperated with the Bosnian State Prosecutor's Office and carried out operations at various locations across Bosnia, including Bijeljina, Brčko, Srebrenica, Šekovići, Zvornik and Srebrenik.

The EU Police Mission in Bosnia (EUPM) has supported the action in an advisory role, at the Headquarters and the planning level, and also by attending and giving advice at 'live' field operations.

"This was a very successful second stage of the operation led by the international prosecutor Heikki Wendorf," said Brian Donley, EUPM's Chief Adviser to SIPA.

"All targeted offenders have been arrested and they will be interviewed at length in the next two days. Once again, this was an excellent joined operation involving various law enforcement agencies." he said.

It is not possible at this stage to go into more details about the case as a number of suspects are still due to be interviewed and evidence is still being collected.

The first part of the CIPS operation took place in May this year, with the arrest of 20 suspects.
.