BOSNIA NEWS

SARAJEVO,Bosnia - The international community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajčák, met yesterday in Sarajevo with EUFOR’s Operational Commander and NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General John Reith.

The international community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia updated General Reith on the political situation in Bosnia and his priorities at the start of his mandate: creating a constructive political atmosphere; police restructuring; and Bosnia's progress towards the signature of a Stabilisation and Association agreement with the European Union.

Lajcak underlined that EU cooperation is of outmost importance for ensuring stability as well as reinforcing Bosnia’s integration aspirations with the European Union.

The European Union Force in Bosnia (EUFOR) should remain there until security in Bosnia becomes fully self-sustaining,Lajcak said yesterday.

“EUFOR must stay in theatre until security in Bosnia becomes fully self-sustaining,This is a matter of reassurance, but also necessary to back up my mandate as High Representative and EU Special Representative,” said the international community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak in a statement issued by EUFOR.

The meeting also addressed the need for Bosnia to assume its responsibilities in areas such as the movement and control of weapons and military equipment.

Both EUFOR and OHR/EUSR expect the Bosnian authorities to prepare and adopt the necessary legislation as soon as possible and to put mechanisms in place that will enable them to take over these tasks from EUFOR.

The powerful position of High Representative in Bosnia was created under the Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995 to oversee implementation of civilian aspects of the peace accord.

The position of the EU representative was added later to strengthen European role in Bosnia's development.The High Representative has the power to sack elected officials for obstructionism and impose vital laws.

Lajcak has already announced that moving Bosnia closer to the EU membership was one of his top priorities. He also said he would not hesitate to use his powers when necessary.

Due to improved security situation the EU reduced this year its EUFOR peacekeeping force in Bosnia from 6,500 to some 2,500.

EUFOR, which took over from a NATO peacekeeping mission in 2004, is charged with military tasks set out in the Dayton peace accords that ended the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.

SARAJEVO,Bosnia – A working meeting of prosecutors of the Bosnian Prosecutor's Office , representatives of the Serbian Prosecutor's Office and War Crime Department of the District court in Belgrade was held in the premises of the Bosnian Prosecutor's Office in relation to investigation in the case of Ilija Jurisic.

Ilija Jurisic is a Bosnian patriot who participated in defending the Bosnian city of Tuzla from the Serbian aggressor.He has been arrested by the Serbian aggressor and has been in a prison in Belgrade since 11 May 2007.

According to the signed Memorandum on Cooperation between the Prosecutor’s Offices of Bosnia and Serbia, the exchange of information and data related to investigations of the mentioned events and further modalities of cooperation has been agreed upon at the meeting.

Serbia has confirmed receiving a request of the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia to extradite Ilija Jurisic and decision upon the request should be issued within the shortest period of time prescribed by the law.

Moreover, participants of the meeting have been informed about the fact that Ministers of Justice of Bosnia and Serbia scheduled a meeting very soon in Belgrade where, inter alia, the submitted request for extradition of Ilija Jurisic will be discussed.

MARSAXLOKK,Malta - Bosnia champion F.C. Sarajevo crushed F.C. Marsaxlokk of Malta 6-0 in the first-leg of the Champions League qualifier, setting up a likely meeting with Belgium's Genk in the second qualifying round.

Sarajevo raced to a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes, with two goals from Admir Rascic and one by Emir Obuca, with Marko Maksimovic, Obuca and a Malcolm Licari own goal making life even tougher for England coach Brian Talbot's side in the second half.

Former Arsenal player Brian Talbot endured the worst night of his footballing life following Marsaxlokk's dismal display in their humiliating defeat against Bosnia champions Sarajevo.

Four unanswered first-half goals by Sarajevo all but ended Marsaxlokk's hopes of reaching the second qualifying round of the Champions league.

The Maltese champions failed to create one meaningful scoring effort and will be on a damage-limitation mission next week at the Olympic Stadium Asim Ferhatovic Hase in Sarajevo. Individual errors and a lack of concentration allowed Sarajevo to run away with things before half-time. The first and second goals scored by Admir Rascic arrived within four minutes just after five minutes. And the third and fourth strikes from Obuca and Maksimovic came on 20 minutes and 45 minutes. In the second half, Marsaxlokk restricted the visitors to two goals from Admir Rascic who completed his hat-trick and an own goal by Malcolm Licari on 65 minutes and 90 minutes.