Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 18th Session

WATER SUPPLY FOR 250,000 INHABITANTS 

The Council of Ministers of BIH accepted an initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and appointed a delegation for negotiations on a Loan Contract (Blue Water Regional Waterfall) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and development, worth EUR 11 million.

The Project will secure a long-term, continuous and high quality water supply for five municipalities, namely, Travnik, Zenica, Novi Travnik, Vitez, and Busovača, thereby benefiting 250,000 inhabitants, including economy of this part of BIH.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will issue a loan worth EUR 11 million to Bosnia and Herzegovina with 15 year term and three year grace period and favourable LIBOR interest rate with allocation to the Federation of BIH.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will, following complete negotiations of the Council of Ministers of BIH, provide a Draft Contract with basics for its conclusion.

 

REPEATED TARIFF QUOTAS FOR SUGAR

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, took a decision on repeat of quantities of tariff quotas in 2015, which concern import of unprocessed sugar of sugar cane for refining.

Under the decision a quantity of tariff quotas repeats now in 2015, as in previous years, namely 50,000 tonne for use in facilities installed in BIH until December 31, 2015.

The imported sugar will be used for refining in facilities installed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION TO PUBLIC BROADCASTERS OF BIH FOR DIGITAL BROADCASTING

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, took a decision on distribution of equipment procured by the Council of Ministers of BIH within Project Phase I of Digitalisation of Transmission and Broadcast Network of Public Radio and TV Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport of BIH will conclude a contract with public broadcasting services in BIH, within 30 day from taking effect of the decision, regulating mutual rights and obligations, while the public broadcasting services will within the same deadline conclude an agreement to regulate equitable use of the equipment.

Under the Decision, the BHRT receives the broadcasting, transmission and processing equipment in a full ownership, intended for installation and work at the following BHRT facilities: RTV Centre Sarajevo, Hum, Vlašić, Mostar, Planinica, Fotica, Lisin, Velika Vidova, Zenuica, Lisac, Tuzla, Ilinčica, as well as the belonging set of measurement equipment and spare parts procured in the Project Phase I.

Simultaneously, the RTRS receives the broadcasting, transmission and processing equipment in a full ownership, intended for installation and work at the following RTRS facilities: RTV Centre Banja Luka, Kozara, Trebević, Bijeljina, Udrigovo, Brčko, Duege Njive, Istočno Sarajevo, and Veliki Žep, as well as the belonging set of measurement equipment and spare parts procured in the Project Phase I.

The equipment concerned is intended for setting-up of transmission and digital terrestrial broadcasting of programmes of public radio and TV services in BIH, making the public RTV system, by way of systematic development and joint use of synchronic networks in all digital areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The equipment will be used for simultaneous transmission and  broadcasting of public RTV services programmes in BIH throughout BIH territory, in accordance with decisions of the Council of Ministers of BIH, conclusions of the Public RTV Services Boards in BIH, approvals by the Communications Regulatory Agency of BIH, and general technical rules applicable to the equipment.

It practically means that the same rights of use belong to all three Public Services in BIH, namely, Radio-TV BIH, Radio TV of the Federation of BIH, and Radio-TV of Republika Srpska, regardless who is the owner and who manages the equipment at a certain location.

Public RTV services in BIH are equal users of the equipment of digital transmission and broadcast network allocated under this decision throughout BIH territory, provided that the Public RTV Services in BIH do not mutually charge the use of the equipment.

 

TO SEEK COOPERATION MODALITIES FOR EXPORT TO RUSSIAN FEDERATION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report, prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, from a meeting of co-chairs of the Inter-Government Bosnia and Herzegovina – Russian Trade and Economic Cooperation Committee.

The ministry of Finance and Treasury is tasked to form a negotiating team for solving the outstanding issues between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Russian Federation (clearing debt of ex-SSSR to ex- SFRY, BIH debt for Russian gas in 1992-1995).

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in tasked to implement activities agreed at the Co-Chairs meeting of the Inter-Government Bosnia and Herzegovina – Russian Trade and Economic Cooperation Committee. Specifically, it should seek modalities for export of food of animal origin from BIH to the Russian Federation, cooperation development in the areas of mutual interest (energy and agriculture), and to define contracted cooperation in certain areas, such as tourism and employment.

 

IMPROVEMENT OF WOMEN EMPLOYMENT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, adopted information of Bosnia and Herzegovina to UN CEDAW Committee concerning the conclusive observations to a combined fourth and fifth periodical CEDAW Report of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which contains measures pertaining to the issues of women in post-conflict situations and in employment.

The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees will provide information to the UN CEDAW Committee Secretariat, and inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs accordingly.

Information includes, among other things, activities taken thus for by the competent BIH Institutions for improvement of institutional and political framework for promotion of gender equality and ensuring application of international standards in this area.

 

MINISTER OSMANOVIĆ COORDINATOR FOR CENSUS ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF BIH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Minister of Civil Affairs Adil Osmanović for Census Coordinator on behalf of the Council of Ministers of BIH.

 

FUND FOR RETURN MANAGER ENDS HIS MANDATE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH released Mlađen Božović from his duty of Manager of the Fund for Return, because his mandate expired on April 29, 2015, and designated Nebojša Švraka sa Acting Manager until the completion of vacancy procedure for new director.  (end)