BOSNIA NEWS

SARAJEVO,Bosnia - The international community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajčák,urged the newly formed Bosnian State Property Commission to reach agreement on the apportionment of state property by the end of September.

“The appointment of new members to the Bosnian State Property Commission is extremely encouraging.The Commission must now focus on meeting the deadline set by the Peace Implementation’s Steering Board at its June meting,” Lajcak said.

Resolution of state property issues continues to be an important goal in the reform process in Bosnia.At its June meeting, the Peace Implementation’s Steering Board expressed dissatisfaction with the three-year failure of the state and entity authorities to agree on apportionment of state property that had obliged the High Representative to extend the ban on its disposal.

It also called on the Chairman of the Bosnian government to reach an inter-agreement and asked the High Representative “to undertake efforts to bring this issue to a conclusion before the end of September”.

Until appropriate legislation is in place, the Office of the High Representative expects the Bosnian State Property Commission to continue monitoring implementation of the law banning disposals of State Property and granting exemptions to the ban when appropriate.

In other news,the international community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia, Miroslav Lajčák, met with the Bosnian Minister of Security, Tarik Sadovic, to discuss the work of his Ministry and the functioning of the Bosnian government.

The High Representative and EU Special Representative made clear that he was concerned by the developments in the Ministry of Security and that he expected Minister Sadovic to uphold both the spirit and the letter of the laws of Bosnia.

“Since the Bosnian Ministry of Security will be expected to have a crucial administrative role in future police reform, it is essential that it enjoys the full confidence of all who live in Bosnia,” Lajcak said.

The international community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia also reminded Minister Sadovic that as Deputy Chairman of the Bosnian Council of Ministers he bears considerable responsibility for the efficient functioning of that institution.

“Further visa facilitation with the European Union and other states will depend in large part on whether the Minister is able to carry out the tough actions needed in this area, which is so important to the Justice and Home Affairs requirements of the European Union,” Lajcak said.

SARAJEVO,Bosnia – The Agreement on Strategic Integration and Settling Bosnia's debt towards Libya has been signed.The agreement, signed by the FBiH Entity Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Vahid Heco and General Director for Credits and Debts of the Libyan National Committee for Finance Abdulhakim Mohamed El-Misurati, stipulates that obligations Bosnia has stemming from a credit provided by Libya are to be taken care of by providing an adequate number of shares which the FBiH Entity Government possesses in the Bosnian pharmaceutical company “Bosnalijek”.

An article under which the Libyan sides agrees not to sell these shares in the next five years has been added at the request by the FBiH Entity Government to the agreement, which also opens the possibility for a strategic partnership and cooperation between Bosnia and Libya in the pharmaceutical industry field. It also defines the commitment of both sides to make maximum efforts on helping the development of this company. Bosnalijek General Manager Edin Arslanagic also attended the signing of the agreement.

El-Misurati said that work has already started on ensuring a market for Bosnalijek’s products in a number of African countries.

The FBIH Entity Prime Minister Nedzad Brankovic described the agreement as the beginning of a new opportunity for expanding economic cooperation between Bosnia and Libya. He also said that Libyan investors are showing strong interest in establishing cooperation in other fields as well.

MOSTAR,Bosnia – The Assembly of the Herzegovina/Neretva Canton has displayed a dissatisfactory efficiency in its work during the last 6 months – it is said in a half-year report of the Centre for Civil Initiatives (CCI), presented at a press conference in Mostar.

The indicators of this inefficiency are, among others, the following: failure to adopt the Assembly’s Work Programme, non-abidance by the Standing Orders of the Assembly, and disrespect for the Budget Law.

In order to improve the work of the Assembly the CCI recommends an urgent preparation and adoption of the 2007 Work Programme, revision of the Cantonal Budget immediately after the formation of the government, and obligatory involvement of NGOs in the preparation of working programmes and budget planning.

At its 5th sessions the Herzegovina/Neretva Canton Assembly has adopted only 10 items on the agenda, none of these dealing with the crucial problems of the citizens, that is the most important problems listed on the Citizen Platform signed by 500,000 citizens of Bosnia.

CCI has sent an official initiative for the amendments to the Bosnian Electoral Law, setting a 90 days’ deadline for the formation of government at all levels; this failing new elections should be called.