BOSNIA NEWS

SARAJEVO,Bosnia - The Bosnian State Prosecutor's Office instructed police to tighten security at the grave of the late Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic amid fears of a bomb attack on the site, the Bosnian daily Dnevni Avaz reported. An explosion at the late Bosnian leader's grave had badly damaged his burial place last year.

"During the investigation related to the last year explosion, the office obtained information according to which new attack is possible a year after the previous one," the Bosnian daily reported quoting its source from Bosnia's judicial circles as saying.

The Bosnian State Prosecutor Miroslav Markovic, who is leading an investigation into the incident, refused to comment on the alleged security alert, but said that significant results have been achieved in the investigation so far.

"This is a very complicated case and the investigation continues in total secrecy," Markovic said.

Suspects exist, but more evidence is needed to press charges against them.

A strong explosion badly damaged Izetbegovic's grave and a monument to him in Kovaci cemetery, some five kilometres north-east of the city centre on 11 August last year, making a 70-centimetre hole in the grave.

The mortal remains of the late Bosnian President were not desecrated, but the explosion damaged a number of cars near the cemetery and broke windows in houses.

Izetbegovic died in Sarajevo in October 2003 after a prolonged illness. He became Bosnia's first president after the country became independent again in 1992, after the fall of communism.

Izetbegovic led the country from 1990 to 2000, when he withdrew from the presidency due to his illness and age.

He withdrew completely from political life in 2001, when he resigned from the top post of the SDA party.

ST.LOUIS,USA - Željko Komšić, the President of the Bosnian Presidency, will visit Saint Louis, in the period of 30.08 – 02.09. 2007, where he will meet with representatives of the Bosnian citizens who are living and working in the United States,the Bosnian Presidency announced.

The Bosnian community in Saint Louis has about 50.000 members and is the biggest community in the U.S. State of Missouri of all the communities from the territory of former Yugoslavia.

Well-organized within its associations, the Bosnian community is the most significant association that has good relations with its fatherland – Bosnia.

During his stay in Saint Louis, President Komšić will attend numerous activities, the economic promotion of Bosnia among them, whose organizers are the World Trade Center in Saint Louis and the Bosnian Embassy to Washington.

Chairman Komšić will also attend the celebration of the tenth anniversary of “Sabah” magazine’s existence, the most printed weekly magazine of the Bosnian Diaspora, which is printed in the North America.

In Saint Louis, he will also open a great festivity called “Bosnian Festival”, which will gather about 10.000 people from Bosnia, according to expectations. Organization of a soccer tournament is also announced during the Festival, which will gather about 20 teams from the North America for the first time.

The Bosnian President Željko Komšić will also visit the St. Joseph parish, the HKD “Napredak” branch office and the Islamic Center in Saint Louis.

He will also meet the Mayor of Saint Louis, Congressmen and many local officials, as well as media representatives.

SARAJEVO,Bosnia - The FBIH entity government is preparing the privatisation of Bosnia's biggest telecom operator BH Telecom. The privatisation should take place by the end of the year and the starting price for 51 percent of the shares would be EUR 1.01 billion.

The government is inclined to sell 51 percent to a strategic partner and then offer another 15 percent of shares on the Sarajevo Stock Exchange or some foreign markets. The FBIH entity government will retain 26 percent of the ownership of BH Telecom. The companies being mentioned as potential buyers include Deutsche Telekom and Mobilkom Austria.