BOSNIA TO BECOME EU CANDIDATE BY 2010

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 13,2008) - The Slovenian President Danilo Turk TODAY pledged his country’s support to Bosnia’s bid to move closer to the European Union, saying it could become an official candidate nation by 2010.

"We are talking about abolition of visas in a year or so and candidate status for Bosnia in 2010," Turk told reporters after meeting with the Bosnian President Haris Silajdzic.

"In Slovenia, we believe that these are realistic objectives," he added.

"There are too many occasions when there are misperceptions (about Bosnia) on European stage and Slovenia could be helpful in removing these misperceptions," Turk said.

In June, Bosnia signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union, seen as the first step towards the full EU membership.

However, disagreements among ruling political parties have stalled the state building process.Stronger central governance is critical to Bosnia’s EU membership prospects.

The Slovenian President Danilo Turk arrived earlier today for a two-day visit to Bosnia, the first visit to Bosnia by a Slovenian president since 2002.
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IMPORTS FROM EU TO BOSNIA INCREASED BY 20%

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 13,2008) - Bosnia imported goods worth 1,173,000,000 Bosnian Marks in July and August of this year from the EU countries, which is 20 percent more than in the same period last year when imported goods were worth 977 million Bosnian Marks.

"During two months of the implementation of the temporary Stabilization and Association Agreement between Bosnia and the EU, revenues from customs on import of products from the EU countries are lower by 15.5 million Bosnian Marks, compared to the same period last year," the spokesperson of the Bosnian Tax Administration Ratko Kovacevic said.

Increase of the value of imported goods from the EU was party caused by abolishment and reduction of customs duties for import of goods from the EU, but also due to increase of prices of goods on the world market.
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EU APPROVES FINACIAL ASSISTANCE FOR BOSNIA AND OTHER CANDIDATE STATES

BRUSSELS, Belgium (September 29,2008) - The European Union's executive arm agreed today how to spend 4.5 billion Euros ($6.5 billion) in aid to the bloc's candidate countries in 2008-10, giving priority to improving governance and the rule of law.

The EU Commission has approved a grant of 269.9 million Euros to be presented to Bosnia between 2008-2010.

The EU would also give a grant of 1.758 billion Euros to Turkey,584.4 million Euros to the genocidal Serbia, 451.4 million Euros to Croatia, 359.1 million Euros to Kosovo, 245.1 million Euros to Albania, 244.3 million Euros to Macedonia and 99.9 million Euros to Montenegro as either candidate or potential candidate countries in the next three years

'The road towards the EU is paved with reforms to improve the everyday lives of citizens and to comply with the strict EU accession criteria,' EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in a statement.
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SLOVAKIAN FASCIST CLOWN MIROSLAV LAJCAK PROVIDES HELP TO SUPPORT NETWORK OF SERBIAN WAR CRIMINALS HIDING FROM JUSTICE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (September 8,2008) - The International Community’s High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and a major political supporter of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" ,Slovakian fascist clown Miroslav Lajcak eased the sanctions against the known supporters of Serbian war criminals living in Bosnia,who are hiding from justice,by allowing them to open one bank account each.

This decision, announced over the weekend, is believed to have been triggered by demands from family members of the recently arrested former leader and creator of the genocidal Serbian fascist creature in Bosnia "RS" and one of the masterminds of the genocide against the Bosnian people,Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic, who said they were "unable to live their lives normally" as their bank accounts remained blocked.

As a part of the general effort to apprehend war criminals who had been evading justice, back in 2003 and 2004, the Office of the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR), blocked bank accounts of all those known to be a part of their support networks. In addition, European Union countries and the United States of America, have also banned those people from travelling to their countries.

In its press statement on Saturday, the OHR said that the sanctions against 35 such individuals remain in place and that their old bank accounts remain frozen. However, at the same time,the OHR provided help to those known helpers of Serbian war criminals who are still on the run from justice, by allowing them to open one new bank account each...so they can "live their lives normally" and continue to support more Serbian war criminals undisturbed.

By doing this, the Office of the International Community’s High Representative in Bosnia has now "officially" become a fascist and genocidal organisation which is publicly helping support networks of Serbian war criminals hiding from justice, who committed genocide against the Bosnian people during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.
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BOSNIAN AND EU OFFICIALS DISCUSSED VISA LIBERALISATION FOR BOSNIAN CITIZENS

BRUSSELS, Belgium (16 July,2008) - The Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj talked with Michael Leigh, EU’s Director General for Enlargement Micheal Leigh in Brussels yesterday. They were discussing visa liberalisation for the Bosnian citizens.

Minister Alkalaj informed Leigh about efforts to meet conditions from the visa facilitation Roadmap, and about his letter to EU’s foreign ministers, urging them to consider cancellation of fees for issuing visas to the Bosnian citizens.
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BOSNIA AND DENMARK SIGN VISA FACILITATION AGREEMENT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (July 2,2008) - A visa facilitation agreement was signed in Copenhagen today by representatives of Bosnia and Denmark. The agreement refers to 20 different categories of Bosnian citizens when they apply for visa to Denmark.

The Bosnian Minister of Security Tarik Sadovic thanked the Danish authorities for accepting a large number of refugees from Bosnia during the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia, and for helping with the post-war reconstruction of Bosnia.

This agreement is just like the one Bosnia already signed with the EU in late 2007.
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SPIRIC URGED PIC TO SUPPORT BOSNIA'S EU INTEGRATION

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 28,2008) – Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric stated that the political situation in Bosnia is much better now comparing the situation at the time of the last session of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Managing Board.

Spiric stated that the activities of the Bosnian Council of Ministers are based on two ideas – further integration of Bosnia into the EU and the full membership in the NATO.

”Bosnia on December 4 2007 initialed the Stabilisation a nd Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU and the Bosnian Council of Ministers took obligations derived from it very seriously”, stated Spiric.

Regarding the police reform, he informed PIC that based on the Mostar Declaration and Action Plan for police reform,the Bosnian Council of Ministers on February 14 confirmed and sent into parliamentary procedure draft law on the Direction for police bodies coordination and agencies for the support to the police structure in Bosnia as well as the draft law on independent supervisory bodies of the police structure.

”Both laws were adopted in the first reading in the Bosnian Parliament's House of Representatives and House of Peoples. I expect for these laws to be presented in the House of Representatives for the second reading in the session’s Agenda on March 5”, stated Spiric.

He added that every reform is a matter of process, not moment. “I have appealed to all chosen authorities to choose further integrations over ideal laws”, added Spiric.

He estimated that the issue of further integrations needs a wide consensus but that no one has the right to stop the processes and for Bosnia to waste the chance given by Brussels. He expressed optimism that reason and responsibility will prevail and both laws would be adopted at the second reading.

”I appeal to you to encourage those political forces which expressed doubts since it is clear that these two laws do not complete the police reform but they make those first steps which would not allow us to go back any more”, added Spiric.

He concluded that there is progress in the public management reform which was noted in the report of European Commission last week.

Spiric underlined that the basic program goal of the Bosnian government, except from the EU integrations processes, is the full membership in NATO.

He informed PIC that the Bosnian Council of Ministers concluded a number of other important draft laws such as budget law, law on criminal proceedings, law on medications and other medical supplies, law on salaries and employment fees in the Bosnian state institutions, as well as the law on fiscal council.

Spiric stated that the Bosnian Council of Ministers has the list of priorities such as solving the status the state property, attracting foreign investments, economic development, and census, strategy for the fight against corruption and framework employment strategy.

He added that these days the issue of the future of the Office of the International Community's High Representative in bosnia (OHR) is very much discussed.

Spiric appealed to PIC to support Bosnia on its road towards the EU and again underlined the importance of signing the SAA as soon as possible.

"As I have already mentioned, after the Dayton Agreement, the SAA is the most important agreement for Bosnia which should bring together all creative potentials and ensure that Bosnia rises above futile and somewhat hysteric political games”, concluded Spiric.
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BOSNIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SVEN ALKALAJ DISCUSSED POLITICAL SITUATION IN BOSNIA WITH EU OFFICIALS

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 28,2008)– The Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Sven Alkalaj had a meeting in Brussels with a member of the European Parliament and President of the European Parliament’s Delegation for the southeastern Europe Doris Pack.

Alkalaj informed her on the political situation in Bosnia and development of the events in the light of police reform. Bills of the police reform passed in the first reading in both the Bosnian state parliamentary houses.

Pack emphasized that she has been monitoring the processes in Bosnia with great attention. She added expectations that Bosnia will successfully continue the European integration processes.

She informed Alkalaj about her recent visit to Bihac which occurred as a part of the activities aimed to promote the educational reform in Bosnia.

They exchanged opinions on the political situation in the region and emphasized the need of preserving the stability which is a precondition for further progress of the southeastern European countries to the EU.

Alkalaj also met in Brussels with Michael Leigh, European Commission’s General Directorate for Expansion Director General.

Alkalaj emphasized the need of continuation of negotiations on visa regime facilitation for the Bosnian citizens.

Leigh expressed pleasure over a positive development regarding the Bosnian police reform and added that the European Commission is willing to provide help and support in the sector.

He emphasized the importance of stability of Bosnia and of the entire region, for that will enable progress of the EU association processes of all the southeastern European countries.
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SOLANA: EU MILITARY PRESENCE IN BOSNIA AS LONG AS NECESSARY

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 27,2008) - The EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer met in Brussels yesterday and stated that they do not believe the speculations on the strengthening of tensions in the region.Speaking about Bosnia, Solana confirmed that during EU-NATO meeting most they talked about police reform and future of the Office of the International Community's High Reprsentative in Bosnia (OHR), that is, its transformation into the Office of the EU special Representative in Bosnia. He expressed hope that Bosnia's political leaders shall soon manage to agree on the main principles of the police reform since the signing of the stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and the european Union depends on it.

Commenting the possible influence of the situation in Kosovo on Bosnia, Solana stated that the political and security situation in Bosnia is under control and that Brussels does not expect any negative outcomes.

He repeated the stand of the EU from last Monday under which the conditions for completion of Altea operation in Bosnia still are not met and that EU will keep its military presence in Bosnia as long as it is necessary.
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EU URGES BOSNIA TO COMPLETE POLICE REFORM

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 27,2008) - Bosnia could sign an agreement in April bringing it closer to EU membership, the European Union said yesterday, urging the Southeastern European state to complete police reforms to avoid missing the opportunity.

"I would expect we should be able to sign an SAA with Bosnia shortly, that is in April, on condition that Bosnia can adopt the required laws concerning police reform," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told reporters yesterday.

"It's a great opportunity for the country and I trust the leaders will not miss this opportunity," he said ahead of meeting in Brussels today with Bosnia's leadership.

"If they (Bosnia's leaders) show enough willingness, positive thinking and pro-activeness, there is enough to go forward," Brigadier General Vincenzo Coppola, the official in charge of an EU police mission in Bosnia told a news briefing in Brussels.
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BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS POLICE REFORM LAWS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 27,2008) – The Bosnian Parliament's House of Peoples of has adopted a set of laws regulating the reform of the Bosnian police, in the first reading. The laws legislating seven new police bodies had previously been adopted by the House of Representatives.

The members of the Bosnian Parliament that voted against it argued it the laws are not legal, or in conformity with the three European principles of police reform.

The members of the Bosnian Parliament voting in favour said they are a condition for signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union. Also, the upper house adopted the budget for the Bosnian government institutions in 2008, worth 1,186 billion Bosnian Marks.

Furthermore, the newly adopted passport law enables the introduction of biometric passports in Bosnia. The Kyoto Protocol was also adopted.
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EU WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL POSITION ON BOSNIAN POLICE REFORM YET

BRUSSELS, Belgium (February 24,2008) - The European Commission has not made an analysis yet of the police reforms laws just adopted by the Bosnian Parliament's House of Representatives, and therefore cannot state whether they comply with the EU principles, Krisztina Nagy - spokesperson of the EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said.

Nagy also said how the European Commission expects the Mostar Declaration and Police Reform Action Plan to be implemented. OHR’s spokesperson said the Office would state its final position after the police reform laws are adopted by both parliament houses. If the signal from EU is positive, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Bosnia and European Union could be signed in April.
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SPIRIC MET WITH BRITISH DIPLOMATS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 28,2008) – Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric had a meeting in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with British Ambassador to Bosnia Matthew Rycroft and British Coordinator for the Southeastern Europe Michael Tetham. He informed them on the activities of the Bosnian government in the process of fulfilling conditions for signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union.

Spiric stated that after the Dayton agreement, the SAA is the most important document and that its signing will bring Bosnia's political leaders into a new position related to fulfilment of the EU association obligations.

British Coordinator for the Southeastern Europe stated that his country has supported the integration of West Balkans into the EU, the Bosnian government announced.