Latest News from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Balkan Governments Urged to Commit to Climate Targets
On World Climate Day on Friday, the SEE SEP network of CSOs from South East Europe, called on the governments of the region to act promptly and put forward ambitious commitments for the upcoming global climate agreement in Paris.
Pope visits Bosnia in 'delicate' security context
Pope Francis's visit on June 6 to Bosnia, where he is expected to be greeted by 100,000 people, is posing a significant security challenge in the Balkan country that has become a fertile ground for homegrown jihadists, experts said.
Bosnia Federation Entity Coalition Falls Apart
The Democratic Front, DF, has quit the ruling coalition in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, after the government - against the votes of DF ministers - changed the rules on the appointments of new managers for public companies.
The break-up of the ruling coalition has been dragging on for months, marked by personal rows, conflicting statements and short-lived compromises.
US General Rallies Kosovo For Fight Against Islamists
General John Allen visited Kosovo on Thursday, meeting top officials on a mission to strengthen cooperation within the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, of which Kosovo is a part.
President Atifete Jahjaga said in a meeting with the US General that mainly Muslim Kosovo was determined "never to become a haven for terrorist groups or a source of extremism".
Hearty Welcome Prepared For Pope in Sarajevo
Two days ahead of Pope Francis's visit to the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo's Zetra football stadium is taking on the contours of an open-air church, as preparations for the high-level visit near completion.
"Everything will be completely ready and set up by Friday," Josip Vajdner, from the media committee for the welcome of the Pope, predicted.
EIB loan to help Turkey's SMEs
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to offer loans worth 200 million euros ($222 million) to Turkey?s state-owned bank, Ziraat Bank, to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as medium-sized corporates, the Turkish Treasury announced in a statement on June 3.
The loan will be guaranteed by the Treasury.
Seselj Plans to Revive Radicals in Montenegro
Serbian war crimes defendant Vojislav Seselj plans to re-activate his nationalist party in neighbouring Montenegro ahead of next year's parliamentary elections, the Serbian Radical Party announced on Monday.
The newly-elected leader of the Montenegrin party, Dusko Sekulic, said that it was ready to commit itself to strengthening of the branch in Montenegro.
BAT Buys Croatian Tobacco Company For 505 million
One of the biggest companies in Croatia, Adris Group, on Monday said that it sold its subsidiary, Tobacco Factory Rovinj, TDR, to British American Tobacco, BAT, for 505 million euro.
Adris has planned to sell TDR, the Croatian and regional leader in tobacco products, for some time. The deal with BAT was signed on Saturday at its headquarters in London.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Now Potential EU Member State
The Memorandum on Stabilization and Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU has come into power.
The portion regarding trade relations and the Western Balkan country, however, started back in 2008.
As Turks begin voting in more countries, general election turnout increases on weekend
Turkish citizens living in Italy, UK, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia have begun casting their votes to participate in Turkey's general election that officially starts on June 7, boosting turnout with more votes from abroad.
Srebrenica Genocide ‘Part of Bosnian Identity’
The Srebrenica genocide, in which more than 7,000 Muslims were killed, is part of the identity of Bosnia, a conference in Sarajevo on the massacre in eastern Bosnia in 1995 heard.
Turkish voters in Balkans prepare to vote in June 7 election
Turkish citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo will be casting their votes on May 30-31 for Turkey's general elections set for June 7.
Polling stations have been set up in Turkish embassies for voting to take place over the weekend.
Zvornik Terror Debate Divides Bosnian MPs
Bosnia's House of Representatives adopted an official statement about the recent attack on a police station in the eastern town of Zvornik after almost a day of ethnically-charged debates.
On Thursday evening, MPs adopted a conclusion condemning the attack on Zvornik police station as a terrorist act.
Terrorism combating firstly needs strategy to create security culture (experts)
Terrorism combating cannot be efficient only by adopting some force measures against terrorist groups, it needs an approach taking into account the profound causes of the phenomenon, but also the education of the population, mostly of the youths, who are most vulnerable to the propaganda of these groups, as revealed by the great number of those choosing to become Jihadist fighters.
Croatian President Meets Pope, Requests Visit
On a two-day visit to the Vatican, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic met Pope Francis on Thursday and asked him to visit her mainly Catholic country.