FENA 27/09/2004 - Finding a strategic partner is very important for privatization of military industry, whose annual production is potentially worth approx two billion KM, underlined FBiH Prime Minister. Ambassador McElhaney underlined the interest of the U.S. Government for the situation in BiH.

092704 es

FSA0412: 27.09.2004 04:41

BiH - SWEDEN

SWEDISH PARLIAMENTARIANS VISIT ZENICA

ZENICA, September 27 (FENA) – Zenica Municipal official Zakir Pasalic today held talks with a Swedish parliamentary delegation about the social and economic situation in BiH.

The guests underlined that the Swedish Parliament is monitoring the post-war events in BiH with great interest. They are satisfied with BiH’s admission into the Council of Europe, and will continue supporting BiH on the road of becoming a modern, stable and a prosperous country.

(Fena) jc

----------------------------

FSA0413: 27.09.2004 04:48

SARAJEVO - ROME

HAMAMDZIC MEETS PUCCIO

SARAJEVO, September 27 (FENA) – Director of the Italian-Slovenian Cultural Centre in Rome Gianni Puccio today met with the mayor of Sarajevo, Muhidin Hamamdzic.

Puccio is paying a visit to Sarajevo in order to get acquainted with the current economic situation in the city and the requirements for helping various institutions, such as kindergartens, institutions for children without parents, the homes for the aged, the centres for persons with special needs, etc.

           

The mayor of Sarajevo thanked Puccio on the preparedness to help the citizens of Sarajevo.

Puccio announced his new visit to Sarajevo in the next month, when he will officially provide help to some of the said institutions.

(Fena) jc

----------------------------

FSA0414: 27.09.2004 04:56

FBiH - RAILWAYS - CONTRACTS

FBiH: SIGNED CONTRACTS ON RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE AND PASSENGER TRAFFIC

SARAJEVO, September 27 (FENA) – FBiH Minister of Traffic and Communications Nedzad Brankovic and General Director of FBiH Railways Narcis Dzumhur today signed the Contract on financing maintenance of railway infrastructure worth 19 million KM and the Contract on co-financing the services of railway passenger traffic worth 5, 8 million KM. 

The contracts are based on the recently adopted Law on Financing Railway Infrastructure and Co-financing Passenger and Combined Traffic, which was designed in accordance with the best European practice, was stated.

Aim of these contracts, said the signatories, is to insure the necessary level of security and maintenance of railway infrastructure, as well as to encourage cantons and the Federation to revitalize railway passenger traffic.

(Fena) jc

----------------------------

FSA0415: 27.09.2004 05:07

BiH - KUWAIT

TOPIC MEETS PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM KUWAIT

SARAJEVO, September 27 (FENA) – BiH Deputy Foreign Minister Lidija Topic today received a delegation of the Parliament of Kuwait, headed by Awad Bard Al-Finze.

Topic expressed hope that this visit would contribute to development of bilateral relations, as well as to attracting new investments from Kuwait to BiH.  

Considering that the Kuwait parliamentarians expressed particular interests for investing in the sector of tourism in BiH, Topic underlined that tourism is one of the five priority areas in focus of the domestic authorities, whose development would result in making BiH economically self-sustaining.

She added that the main message BiH officials wish to convey to the world is that BiH is a politically stable country, which is turning to intensive economic development.

(Fena) jc

----------------------------

FSA0423: 27.09.2004 05:25

FBiH - USA

HADZIPASIC MEETS McELHANEY

SARAJEVO, September 27 (FENA) – FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic today held talks with the U.S. Ambassador to BiH, Douglas McElhaney, about the future cooperation in privatization and economic restructuring.

“Continuation of successful cooperation with American partners is significant for the recovery and the economic development of BiH”, said Hadzipasic, noting that this support is particularly welcome in the metal industrial and energy sectors.

Finding a strategic partner is very important for privatization of military industry, whose annual production is potentially worth approx two billion KM, underlined FBiH Prime Minister.

Ambassador McElhaney underlined the interest of the U.S. Government for the situation in BiH.

“Within the future cooperation, we need to make joint efforts to provide for the political stability and implementation of economic reforms”, said McElhaney, accenting the need for removing bureaucratic obstacles.

(Fena) jc

----------------------------

FSA0422: 27.09.2004 05:16

BiH - EXHUMATION

ROGATICA: REMAINS OF 13 VICTIMS EXHUMED FROM A MASS GRAVE

SARAJEVO, September 27 (FENA) – The remains of 13 victims have been exhumed from a mass grave located at Dizdareva njiva in the village Seljani, Municipality Rogatica, member of the FBiH Commission on Missing Persons Sadik Selimovic told Fena today.

The grave was opened on Friday, and is presumed to hold another six bodies, according to Selimovic.

The victims were men, local residents, who were taken out of their houses in June of 1992, separated from their wives and children, and murdered at Dizdareva njiva.

Exhumation of the mass grave at Seljani is in progress. Apart from this grave, the expert team of the FBiH Commission on Missing Persons will in the next ten days also be carrying out exhumations on other locations in Municipality Rogatica.

(Fena) jc

----------------------------

FSA0410: 27.09.2004 04:36

BiH - PARLIAMENT

BiH/PARLIAMENT: HOUSE OF PEOPLES SESSION

SARAJEVO, September 27 (FENA) – BiH House of Peoples today adopted the Report by the Joint Commission on harmonizing the text of the Law on Public Procurement.

The Report was adopted in the House of Representatives previously. When the law was adopted in different texts, it was necessary to harmonize them.

Thus, the Law on Procurement in BiH is finally adopted.

Further, the House of Peoples consented with ratification of the Agreement on Financial Cooperation in 2002 between BiH Council of Ministers and the German Government, as well as with ratification of the Convention on establishing the Council for Customs Cooperation, and the Agreement amending the Framework Agreement on the river Sava basin.

The delegates also adopted the conclusion of the House’s Collegial, which requests from the Constitutional-Legal Commission to hold a session on Thursday, September 30, in order to consider the set of judiciary laws necessary for prosecuting war crime cases in BiH.

The next session of the House of Peoples should be held on Thursday.

(Fena) jc

----------------------------

FSA0428: 27.09.2004 05:39

SCG - RS

BELGRADE: TADIC AND CAVIC ON COOPERATION WITH ICTY

BELGRADE, September 27 (FENA) – Cooperation of Serbia and RS with the Hague Tribunal must be full and it is not a matter than can be discussed, instead it is a key condition for integration into the European Union and NATO, was mutually ascertained by Serbian President Boris Tadic and RS President Dragan Cavic, who have met today in Belgrade.

“Cooperation with the Hague can only be full. The war crime suspects must go to the Hague and face the judicial-court system there, there is no dilemma about this”, Tadic told the press after meeting with Cavic, was reported by Hina.

Cavic declared that “time is running out and that the RS is quite aware what are the consequences of failing to fulfill the commitments towards the ICTY”.

Tadic and Cavic concluded that the Serbian and RS institutions must establish better cooperation in fulfilling the commitments toward the Hague Tribunal, and added that both sides must “raise the operational measures to a higher level”.

Talks also focused on working of the Srebrenica Commission, which should complete the final report about the crimes in Srebrenica in 1995 by the end of September, announced Cavic, adding that “political will” now exists in the RS for the Serb people to “face the bad things from the past”.

It is necessary, they stressed, that all persons responsible for this crime are sanctioned, but, it is also necessary to focus on the suffering of the Serb people in the former Yugoslavia during the war conflicts of the 90s.

Tadic and Cavic supported the Dayton Accords, declaring that “bringing this agreement into question might cause instability in BiH and the region”.

(Fena) jc

----------------------------

FSA0435: 27.09.2004 05:50

ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT OF EVENTS FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

STATE INSTITUTIONS:

SARAJEVO: 10:00 – BiH PRESIDENCY CHAIR SULEJMAN TIHIC VISITS CANTON SARAJEVO

12:00 – BiH PRESIDENCY MEMBERS RECEIVE COMSFOR MAJOR GENERAL VIGIL PACKETT

NOVI TRAVNIK: BiH PRESIDENCY MEMBER DRAGAN COVIC VISITS NOVI TRAVNIK

ENTITY INSTITUTIONS:

ZENICA: 11:00 – FBiH GOVERNMENT DELEGATION HEADED BY PRIME MINISTER AHMET HADZIPASIC PARTICIPATES IN THE CEREMONY OF OPENING THE GENERAL BiH FAIR “ZEPS 2004”

SARAJEVO: 11:30 – PRESS CONFERENCE OF FEDERAL DEFENCE MINISTRY ON THE OCCASION OF SIGNING THE DOCUMENT ON TERMINATING THE AGREEMENT ON MEASURES FOR BUILDING TRUST AND SECURITY IN BiH (FBiH ARMY HOUSE)

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

SARAJEVO: 11:30 – INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS’ PRESS CONFERENCE - UNITIC

SIROKI BRIJEG: 12:15 – THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE, PADDY ASHDOWN, VISITS SIROKI BRIJEG

POLITICAL PARTIES:

SARAJEVO: 11:00 - PRESS CONFERENCE OF GDS

11:00 - PRESS CONFERENCE OF LDS

CULTURE:

SARAJEVO: 19:00 – OPENING OF EXHIBIT BY TURKISH ARTIST BALKAN NADZI ISLIMJELI - TURKISH CULTURAL CENTRE

20:00 – PROMOTION OF THE BOOK "MY SON AN ADDICT" – MULTIMEDIA CENTRE MAK

20:30 – PROJECTION OF FILM "BAHTALO DROM" - CAFE KARABIT BiH ART GALLERY

EDITORS ON DUTY:

MORNING AND AFTERNOON: FERID KORIC

AFTERNOON AND EVENING: FAIK IMAMOVIC

tel. 00 387 33 44 53 36

fax: 00 387 33 26 54 60

e-mail: fena@fena.ba

EDITORS ON DUTY IN MOSTAR:

08,00 - 14,30 – DRAGO KEZIC

14,30 - 21,00 – DANIJELA PERIC - SILIC

tel. 00 387 36 31 92 22

fax. 00 387 36 31 94 22

e-mail: desk.mostar@fena.ba

(Fena) jc

----------------------------

_

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MARKETING - tel/fax: 033 445 346; mob: 061 200 527; e-mail: marketing@fena.ba IT FENA - e-mail: otprema@fena.ba; fena-info@fena.ba

FENA 14/09/2004 - BIJELJINA, September 14 (FENA) – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic on Tuesday confirmed that he would issue the decision on appointing the new Entity minister of interior on Wednesday because he has been informed by OHR that there are no remarks or suggestions to the candidate nominated for the said function.

091504 am

FSA7647: 14.09.2004 09:55

MORNING SERVICE

TERZIC AT BiH FOREIGN TRADE CHAMBER ASSEMBLY

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – It the determination of BiH Council of Ministers to contribute to boosting exports and reduction of the foreign trade deficit by supporting domestic production, BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic said on Tuesday at the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber (VKT BiH) Assembly.

Delegates of the Assembly were considering, among other matters, the analysis of BiH’s foreign trade with the world in the first seven months of this year.

VTK Vice-president Petar Milanovic said that certain positive movements have been noted in the exchange and in creating a more advantageous business environment. According to him, it is expected that the foreign trade traffic will exceed 12 billion KM by the end of the year, of which 3 billion KM refers to exports and 9 billion KM refers to imports.

Despite the increase in exports, said Milanovic, the foreign trade deficit should exceed six billion KM by the end of the year.

“The information on the foreign trade deficit is worrying, but we are encouraged by the fact that the exports are growing faster than imports, and that the structure of imported goods is changing, considering that production mechanization is now being primarily imported. There is a realistic perspective that production in BiH will start to replace imports, which is the primary objective”, said Adnan Terzic, adding that activities are in progress on strengthening and creating the institutions that will protect the market from disloyal competition and non-qualitative products, and passing the necessary legislation. 

Terzic emphasized that the goods and the market in BiH should be viewed in the context of European integration and accessing the World Trade Organization (WTO). We are not in the position to impose restrictions and bans of imports because these measures would help us in the short term, but hurt us in the long term. 

“We are dedicated to boosting exports and this is why we have recently organized visits of our businesspersons to Libya and Russia in order attempt to conquer these markets”, said Terzic, calling on the businesspersons to analyze the possibilities for signing a free trade contract with the Russian Federation.

(Fena) fi

----------------------------

FSA7619: 14.09.2004 06:58

MORNING SERVICE

SABETA RECEIVES CoE MONITORING TEAM DELEGATION

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – The Secretary of BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP), Fuad Sabeta, on Tuesday received the delegation of the Council of Europe Monitoring Team, headed by Tim Cartwright, was announced by BiH MVP.

They concluded that BiH has fulfilled its commitments from the first and second year of participation in the Council of Europe.

Sabeta indicated that the matter of implementing the obligations is never questioned by the lack of political will, but most frequently lack of funds.

He added that BiH authorities are aware that meeting of the CoE post-accession criteria leads to opening of EU doors to BiH. 

The Monitoring Team leader commended the fact that BiH continues with signing, ratifying and implementing the key conventions and laws on which the Council of Europe insists.

The CoE Monitoring Team is paying a four-day visit to BiH as of Tuesday. During their visit, members of the Monitoring Team will hold talks with representatives of BiH institutions at State and Entity levels, which are authorized for fulfilling the post-accession criteria.

 (Fena) fi

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FSA7624: 14.09.2004 07:07

MORNING SERVICE

SABETA MEETS VARGA

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – The Secretary of BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP), Fuad Sabeta, on Tuesday met with the Ambassador of Republic Hungary to BiH, Istvan Varga, was announced by BiH MVP.

This meeting was organized as part of the preparations for the consultations between BiH and Hungarian foreign ministries, which will take place September 29 in Sarajevo.

It was arranged that the two ministries would consider activities on preparing bilateral agreements, initiate preparations of new agreements and talk about the possibilities for liberalizing the visa regime.

Sabeta underlined the problem of the lack of transport permits for BiH transporters. 

Ambassador Varga informed Sabeta that this matter is defined by the bilateral contract and that it is now under jurisdiction of the Hungarian Ministry of Economy and Transport.

Sabeta proposed that the delegations of the two countries should also sign the Agreement on establishing a framework programme for financial cooperation. 

(Fena) fi

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FSA7626: 14.09.2004 07:15

MORNING SERVICE

MIKEREVIC: NEW RS MINISTER OF INTERIOR TO BE APPOINTED ON WEDNESDAY

BIJELJINA, September 14 (FENA) – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic on Tuesday confirmed that he would issue the decision on appointing the new Entity minister of interior on Wednesday because he has been informed by OHR that there are no remarks or suggestions to the candidate nominated for the said function.

“It is up to me to issue the decision on appointing the minister tomorrow. I hope that I will now be able to transfer the responsibility to the person who will work 24 hrs per day”, said Mikerevic. 

He refused to state the name of the new minister.

(Fena) fi

----------------------------

FSA7629: 14.09.2004 07:40

MORNING SERVICE

SESSION OF THE STATE COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES AND DPs

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – BiH Commission for Refugees and DPs on Tuesday accepted the Feasibility Study of the Council of Europe Development Bank for the project that refers to accommodating the occupants of collective centres, alternative accommodation and eventually the cases of spontaneous return. 

“The project will be realized in the beginning of the next year, and it is worth 12 million euros”, President of the Commission for Refugees and DPs Ivica Marinovic told a press conference, adding, “our participation in the project is estimated at four million euros”. 

The CoE Development Bank’s Feasibility Study was accepted today with an intervention that the selection of subscribers should be based on specific databases of UNHCR from 19 collective centres.

The Commission has formed a list of municipalities in which joint projects would be implemented during 2004.

Marinovic said that the Project “Tomorrow” and joint projects select 26 areas with 40 municipalities and Brcko District.

Project “Tomorrow” is implemented by the European Commission in cooperation with the State Commission, and it is worth 8 million euros – where each commission will provide 4 million euros. The joint projects are estimated at the 18, 25 million KM.

In addition, the RS has also nominated the locations for recovering its collective centres in municipalities Srebrenica, Prijedor, Bratunac, Doboj and a part of Sarajevo in RS.

(Fena) fi

----------------------------

FSA7627: 14.09.2004 07:26

MORNING SERVICE

JAN PETERSEN VISITS BiH HIGH JUDICIAL AND PROSECUTORIAL COUNCIL

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – The Foreign Minister of Norway, Jan Petersen, on Tuesday visited the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (BiH HJPC).

Petersen held talks with the Council’s President, Judge Branko Peric, Director of the HJPC Secretariat Elmira Pasagic, and member of the Council Sven Marius Urke, about the results and further activities in the judiciary reform, was announced by HJPC.

HJPC President underlined the significance of the court system reforms for the future of BiH and expressed gratitude to the Government of the Kingdom of Norway on its exceptional support in the overall reform achievements and establishing a single HJPC.

Elmira Pasagic and Sven Marius Urke informed Petersen about the main aspects of reform, reorganization of courts, the process of reappointing judges and prosecutors, as well as about further directions of judiciary reform and its priorities.

Judge Peric presented Petersen with a certificate of gratitude on behalf of the BiH HJPC on the contribution of the Kingdom of Norway in judiciary reform, and expressed hope that the successful cooperation between Norway and HJPC would be continued. 

(Fena) fi

----------------------------

FSA7632: 14.09.2004 07:53

MORNING SERVICE

EC: THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF BiH INSTITUTIONS TOWARDS EU MEMBERSHIP

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – The Delegation of the European Commission to BiH on Monday organized a meeting with the senior representatives of executive authority in BiH for the purpose of discussing the institutional preparations of economic and financial institutions in BiH before the continuation of its European road.

Talks were also motivated by the soon completion of functional revision of these two segments of BiH society, was announced on Tuesday by the European Commission Office in BiH.  

“BiH is irreversibly moving towards the European Union and is in a phase when it must strategically plan its development, considering that membership in the EU envisions that a country must take over the obligations that come from the membership by fulfilling the necessary economic and political conditions required by the EU laws, which require adequate administrative structures”, was announced.

In the context of the Stabilization and Association Process, the European Commission regularly assesses a country’s administrative capacities. In the process of making the assessment, the focus is on the main administrative structures necessary for applying the legal decrees of the European Union, the functions each of these structures must perform and the specific capacities necessary for performing these functions. In BiH case, this assessment is made through the Feasibility Study.

Defining the economic policy and its implementation, the sector of fiscal and monetary policy, customs and foreign trade are the crucial factors for the economic development of BiH and its further progress towards future membership in the EU, was announced by the EC.

Participants of the meeting have analyzed the current institutional framework and openly exchanged opinions about the possible further development of BiH institutions for the purpose of insuring an efficient and speedy inclusion of BiH society into European integration.

(Fena) fi

----------------------------

FSA7635: 14.09.2004 08:05

MORNING SERVICE

AMBASSADOR CLIFF ORGANIZED RECEPTION FOR MEMBERS OF ANGLO-BOSNIAN BUSINESS FORUM

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – The Ambassador of Great Britain to BiH, Ian Cliff, on Tuesday organized a reception for members of the Anglo-Bosnian Business Forum (ABBF), an informal association of British companies and their business partners in BiH, was announced by the British Embassy in BiH.

Ambassador Cliff talked with BiH businesspersons about improving the business cooperation between the UK and BiH, and the past experiences in cooperation between the companies from BiH and Great Britain.

ABBF was established in 1997 with an interest in promoting trade and investment between the UK and BiH.

Activities of the Forum are coordinated by the Commercial Department of the British Embassy, and its membership includes UK companies active in BiH; local companies with UK commercial interests (including agents and distributors of UK goods and services); and BiH partner organizations, such as Chambers of Commerce and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA).

(Fena) fi

----------------------------

FSA7643: 14.09.2004 08:41

MORNING SERVICE

BiH PRESIDENCY SESSION ON WEDNESDAY

SARAJEVO, September 14 (FENA) – BiH Presidency will hold a session on Wednesday. 

The daily agenda includes the following: the Statement by the UN Security Council Chair (4999th session, June 25 this year); Proposal decision on concluding the Memorandum of Understanding between BiH and the National Public Agency of the Italian Government – Formez; Proposal decision on consenting with appointing the ambassadors of Great Britain, Israel, and the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Proposal decision on accepting the Agreement on the Development Credit between BiH and the International Development Association (IDA) for the Project of Urban Infrastructure.

(Fena) fi

----------------------------

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MARKETING - tel/fax: 033 445 346; mob: 061 200 527; e-mail: marketing@fena.ba IT FENA - e-mail: otprema@fena.ba; fena-info@fena.ba

FENA 10/09/2004 - Dodik holds press-conference in relation to charges against him filed during the election campaign. A senior BiH Croat delegation met ICTY President Theodor Meron, ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte and ICTY General Secretary Hans Holthuis in the Hague today, the BiH Presidency stated.ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte accepted the invitation of the RS Association of Prisoners to visit Banja Luka or Srpsko Sarajevo and meet 250 former prisoners after the local elections in BiH, Association President Branislav Dukic said today. Commenting on the recent warning by High Representative Paddy Ashdown that authorities in Banja Luka need to fulfil their commitments RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said today that following visits to London and Brussels Ashdown probably received certain information brining into question the accession of BiH to the Partnership for Peace, which could have an extremely negative effect on reforms in BiH.

091004 es

FSA6931: 10.09.2004 04:51

SNSD - CHARGES

DODIK: THEY ARE TRYING TO SILENCE BY FILING CHARGES

BANJA LUKA, September 10 (FENA) – Former RS Prime Minister and Alliance of Independent Social-Democrats (SNSD) President Milorad Dodik said at a press conference today that the criminal charges against him have been intentionally raised during the election campaign and that for four years now the RS Ministry of Interior, instigated by parties in power, has been trying to keep this story alive by raising criminal charges against him before every elections.

Dodik said that charges have been filed against him two days ago over suspicion that he approved the transfer of 700.000 KM to the Nova Banjalucka Banka in 1998 without the consent of the RS Government as a guarantee for a company from Laktasi for the import of cigarettes.

The police stated that there is no record from the Government session when this decision was made, while Dodik claims that the decision was made at a Government session and that the entire story concerning the record was fabricated.

“I shall accept any form of responsibility if its is proved and I have full confidence in the prosecution. I certainly have no trust in the criminal Ministry of Interior which embezzled and stole 16 million KM and is now trying to divert attention from the audit report by different stories and filing charges”, Dodik said.

He reminded that he talked about criminal activities in the RS Ministry of Interior and RS authorities before and that attempts are now being made to silence him by criminal charges.

Dodik said that he sees nothing tragic if the prosecution raises charges and that he is prepared for “all forms of responsibility”, but stressed that it is questionable that nothing is being done concerning the issue of irregularities in audit reports and the implementation of the budget in 2001, or the issue of responsibility of those who sold the Nova Banjalucka Banka for 1 Euro in 2001, investigating what happened in “Telekom RS”, “Srpske Sume” and most recently in the RS Ministry of Interior.

He accused representatives of current authorities of attempting to rob enormous resources in the RS.

He also accused them of not passing necessary decisions for improving the economy.

(Fena) jc

----------------------------

FSA6937: 10.09.2004 05:11

BiH-THE HAGUE

BiH CROAT DELEGATION MEETS ICTY OFFICIALS

SARAJEVO, September 10 (FENA) – A senior BiH Croat delegation met ICTY President Theodor Meron, ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte and ICTY General Secretary Hans Holthuis in the Hague today, the BiH Presidency stated.

The BiH Croat delegation was comprised of BiH Presidency member Dragan Covic, BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak, FBiH President Niko Lozancic and FBiH Justice Minister Borjana Kristo.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the successful cooperation of state and FBiH institutions with the ICTY.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to continue the cooperation in the upcoming period, especially on issues concerning the establishment of a special department for war crimes with the BiH Court.

They agreed that this department needs to be made capable to prosecute war crimes and that it should not be burdened by other forms of crime.

At the end of the meeting they invited ICTY officials to visit BiH.

(Fena) jc

----------------------------

FSA6938: 10.09.2004 05:20

RS - ASSOCIATION OF PRISONERS

DUKIC: CARLA DEL PONTE TO VISIT RS

SARAJEVO, September 10 (FENA) – ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte accepted the invitation of the RS Association of Prisoners to visit Banja Luka or Srpsko Sarajevo and meet 250 former prisoners after the local elections in BiH, Association President Branislav Dukic said today.

Dukic said that the visit of ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte is “very likely”, but that the exact date and the protocol of the visit need to be agreed with the Prosecution.

“We have proposed that ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte visits either Banja Luka or Srpsko Sarajevo where she would first pay her respects to the killed and unidentified Serbs”, Association President Slavko Jovicic said.

He also said that “250 Serb prisoners are prepared to participate in the defence of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in order to prove the truth, which is the most important for the survival of the RS and the Serb people as a whole”.

He added that the RS Association of Prisoners would file a lawsuit against High Representative Paddy Ashdown before the International Court of Justice in Strasbourg because of “frequent pressures and threats against the RS and the Serb people”.

(Fena) jc

----------------------------

FSA6939: 10.09.2004 05:26

BiH-S&M

TIHIC MEETS BOSNIAK NATIONAL COUNCIL DELEGATION FROM SERBIA-MONTENEGRO

SARAJEVO, September 10 (FENA) – BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic met a Bosniak National Council delegation from Serbia-Montenegro led by Sulejman Ugljanin in Sarajevo today.

They discussed institutional cooperation, especially in the fields of education and culture, supporting requests of the Bosniak National Council for resolving the issues of scholarship for students from Serbia-Montenegro at the Sarajevo University, the BiH Presidency stated.

They stressed the need for signing agreements between the two states on cooperation in this field as soon as possible.

Tihic said that the BiH lawsuit against Serbia-Montenegro for genocide is not aimed against any people or citizens either in BiH or Serbia-Montenegro and that trust between peoples and good neighbourly relations can only be built and developed on truth.

 (Fena) jc

----------------------------

FSA6942: 10.09.2004 05:36

BiH-SLOVENIA-CONFERENCE

MINISTER DOKIC AT A CONFERENCE IN SLOVENIA

MARIBOR, September 10 (FENA) – The Slovenian Government organised in Maribor on Friday a meeting of ministers responsible from telecommunications and information society services in Central European Initiative (CEI) member states.

BiH Transport and Communications Branko Dokic led the BiH delegation. In his address he informed the participants about current and ICT activities in BiH so far and legislation in the field of information society, the BiH Ministry of Transport and Communications told FENA.

Slovenian Information Society Minister Pavel Grantar informed heads of delegation that the EU would donate through Slovenian more than a million EU for stimulating the development of the information society.

Participants also adopted a resolution titled “Ministerial Conclusions”, which covers joint activities of CEI member states in the development of the information society in the region.

(Fena) jc

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FSA6935: 10.09.2004 05:04

RS - ASHDOWN

MIKEREVIC ON ASHDOWN'S WARNING

MRKONJIC GRAD, September 10 (FENA) – Commenting on the recent warning by High Representative Paddy Ashdown that authorities in Banja Luka need to fulfil their commitments RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said today that following visits to London and Brussels Ashdown probably received certain information brining into question the accession of BiH to the Partnership for Peace, which could have an extremely negative effect on reforms in BiH.

Mikerevic told journalists that probably for this reason the High Representative again strengthened his request towards the RS to fulfil its commitments.

Mikerevic also announced that the decision on the further participation of SDA ministers in the RS Government would soon be adopted.

He also added that the process of appointing the new RS Interior Minister is underway.

(Fena) jc

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FSA6933: 10.09.2004 04:57

RUSSIA - BiH

RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO TIHIC

SARAJEVO, September 10 (FENA) – Russian Ambassador to BiH Aleksandar Griscenko expressed gratitude to BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic today for the sympathy and support following the recent tragedy in Beslan.

On behalf of the Russian leadership and President Vladimir Putin I wish to express the deepest gratitude to you and the friendly BiH people for the warm and kind words of compassion. Only together, in a joint effort, can we defeat one of the worst evils of the modern age – international terrorism, which does not choose its victims and even takes the lives of children. I wish to use this opportunity to reiterate my deepest respect, Grisenko said.

(Fena) jc

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FSA6932: 10.09.2004 04:50

METEOBIH-WEATHER

WEATHER FORECAST

SARAJEVO, September 10 (FENA) – BiH was sunny today.

It will remain sunny tomorrow as well. Morning temperatures are expected between 4 and 16 and between 21 and 29 during the day.

Sarajevo will be cool tomorrow morning with the expected temperature at 4 and sunny during the day with a maximal temperature of 23.

(Fena) jc

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FSA6943: 10.09.2004 05:45

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF EVENTS FOR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

SARAJEVO, 13:00 – ROUNDTABLE – YOUTH ON THE PROBLEM OF MINES AND DEMINING IN BiH (CANADIAN EMBASSY)

POLITICAL PARTIES

SARAJEVO, 10:30 – SDU PRESS CONFERENCE AND PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE NOVI GRAD MAYOR AND LEADERS OF THE LIST FOR THE NOVI GRAD MUNICIPAL COUNCIL 

ZAVIDOVICI, 18:00 – SDP BiH ELECTION RALLY

ILIDZA – OTES, 18:00 – PARTY FOR BiH ELECTION RALLY

EDITORS ON DUTY IN SARAJEVO

09:00 – 21:00 - Bisera Dzidic

tel. 00 387 33 44 53 36

fax: 00 387 33 26 54 60

e-mail: fena@fena.ba

EDITORS ON DUTY IN MOSTAR

09:00 – 18:00 – Roland Grabovac

tel. 00 387 36 31 92 22

fax. 00 387 36 31 94 22

e-mail: desk.mostar@fena.ba

(Fena) jc

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IT FENA - e-mail: otprema@fena.ba; fena-info@fena.ba