BOSNIA AND IRAN TO FORM JOINT POLITICAL COMMITTEE

TEHRAN, Iran (November 19,2008) - Bosnia and Iran have agreed to form a political,economic and scientific committee in a bid to improve cooperation between the two nations.

The agreement was reached between the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and the Bosnian Deputy Foreign Minister Ana Trisic Babic in a meeting in Tehran yesterday.

The two sides expressed interest to boost economic and political cooperation.

Mottaki stated that Iran and Bosnia’s friendly relations are not a threat to other nations.

The Bosnian diplomat called for forming a group of economists, politicians, and academics tasked with studying the two countries’ potential for closer relations.

Mottaki welcomed the proposal, saying Tehran is prepared to boost its trade ties with Bosnia and also host negotiations on ways to further develop economic relations.

Babic said she traveled to Tehran to discuss closer comprehensive cooperation with the Islamic Republic especially in economic sector.

She expressed hope that regular meetings between Iran and Bosnia would help bolster bilateral relations in different spheres.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Mottaki criticized the European Union’s “undemocratic approach” towards other nations, saying, “Unity (among) European countries is normal but the fact that the main members of the European Union impose their ideas on others violates democracy and freedom.”
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BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MEMBER HARIS SILAJDZIC WARNS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO RECONSIDER ITS CURRENT POLICY ON BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 19,2008) - A member of the Bosnian State Presidency Haris Silajdzic stated today that "the country would soon enter the most dangerous stage in its post-war history", unless the international community makes a reassessment of its current policy on Bosnia.

"Thirteen years after the Dayton Agreement, we are witnessing a final attempt to transform Bosnia into a loose union of two entities", Silajdzic warns in a letter he had sent to members of the Peace Implementation Council, the EU and the NATO.

It is his impression that the international community is ready to accept such an arrangement, and claims that such tactics surely undermines further the stability of Bosnia.
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NEW JUDGE TO BE APPOINTED IN SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL RADOVAN KARADZIC TRIAL

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands (November 19,2008) - The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) President Patrick Robinson has decided that a new judge should replace him in the case against former leader and creator of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" and one of the masterminds of the genocide against the Bosnian people,Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic.

According to a Tribunal statement, Robinson will be replaced by German Judge Christoph Flieger.

It comes after he was appointed Tribunal president on Monday, a position that, under Tribunal regulations, precludes him from acting as a trial judge.

The other members of the Trial Chamber in the Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadžić case include Britain’s Iain Bonomy and French Judge Michelle Picard.

Judge Bonomy is currently presiding over the pre-trial proceedings against Serbian war criminal, as the Trial Chamber’s deliberates the most important issues in the case.

The Trial Chamber is soon due to decide whether to accept the amended indictment against Serbian fascist, proposed by the prosecution in late September.

Under the existing indictment, Serbian war criminla Radovan Karadzic is charged with genocide, deportation, persecution, inhumane acts, murders and other crimes committed against Bosnian civilians during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.
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PREPARATORY CONFERENCE FOR NATO EXERCISE "JOINT EFFORT 2009" STARTED

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 19,2008) - Around 150 participants from 40 countries have gathered in Sarajevo yesterday at the beginning of the seven-day Concept plan conference for NATO exercise “Joint Effort 2009”.

The exercise "Joint Effort" will take place in September next year in Bosnia.

"This is the first time that this exercise takes place in a country which is not a full member of the NATO and therefore the significance that is being given to Bosnia is even on the higher level; Marina Pendes, the Bosnian Deputy Minister of Defence said at the press-conference. She also held an introductory speech at the Conference.

By holding the preparation conferences and exercises, Bosnia started the full implementation of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which envisages the activities and all details when it comes to the armed forces of the countries participants in this exercise; Pendes pointed out.

Director of the exercise, Colonel Rick Dollesin from US Command for Europe said that in military and tactical terms these are communication exercises and their main goal is first of all to practice the communication systems.

Dollesen said that this is going to be one of the biggest exercises in the world of communications and interoperability.

The Bosnian Army is fully prepared to handle these challenges and the exercise will be prepared well; Deputy Commander of the Bosnian Army Joint Staff,General Slavko Puljic said.
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CNAB DEMANDS FROM BOSNIA TO BLOCK THE INTERSTATE AGREEMENT WITH MONTENEGRO

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 19,2008) - Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB),demands from the Bosnian State Presidency, the Bosnian State Parliament and the Bosnian government to block the conclusion of the interstate agreement between Bosnia and Montenegro until the Officials of Montenegro officially apologize for genocide committed against Bosniaks during the 1992-1995 Montenegrin aggression against Bosnia; it was announced from CNAB.

It is said in the announcement that Bosnia recognized Montenegro in 2006 and that the official apologies to the families of the genocide victims and Bosnia were not even set as the condition.

CNAB considers that the interstate agreement between Bosnia and Montenegro can be concluded only after Montenegro officially apologizes.
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BRIEFING FOR HIGH MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC OFFICIALS HELD IN KONJIC

KONJIC, Bosnia (November 19,2008) - Representatives of the Bosnian Ministry of Defence organized on Monday in the southern Bosnian town of Konjic an informative briefing for high officials of EUFOR, NATO, OSCE and UNPDP.

The briefing was attended by EUFOR Commander General Major Ignacio Martin Villalain, head of the OSCE Mission in Bosnia, Gary Robbins, UNDP resident representative Christine McNab and representatives of NATO HQ in Bosnia, stated the ministry’s release.

Host of the event was the Bosnian Defense Minister Selmo Cikotic who informed international representatives about activities, current challenges and plans of the Bosnian Ministry of Defence and the Bosnian Army.

They especially underlined activities of the Ministry relating to the participation of Bosnia in the “partnership for Peace” program, as well as adjustment of the Bosnian Army to NATO standards.
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