Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 116th Session
09/26/2017
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
An Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina for removal of deficiencies in fight against money laundering, aiming the harmonisation of the anti-money-laundering and countering financing terrorism (AML/FT) system, was implemented in compliance with recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), this was concluded at the Council of Ministers today’s session held in Sarajevo.
The Council of Ministers of BIH invites all competent institutions to continue actively and continuously their activities on implementation of the FATF Action Plan provisions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will start relevant diplomatic activities and promote the results achieved in the Action Plan implementation for the purpose of removal (delisting) of Bosnia and Herzegovina from FATF’s “grey list”.
According to the Ministry of Security, the Action plan, adopted by the Council of Ministers of BIH, was in implementation over the past two years by 14 institutions and agencies at the state and Entity levels, while the concrete activity implementation had a much higher number of involved, according to the Constitutional provisions.
CoM-NGO COOPERATION AGREEMENT
The Council of Ministers adopted a Cooperation Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and non-governmental organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which factually reaffirmed the dedication to development of a prosperous, just, open, plural and democratic society in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Ministry of Justice will post the Agreement at its web site and take activities for the signing thereof with the NGO sector.
This way, the Council of Ministers continues its activities on the creation of a favourable environment for the civil society development in Bosnia and Herzegovina and up-grading of institutional cooperation mechanisms.
NGOs to accede to the Agreement are associations and foundations, formed in compliance with the regulations existing in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
By the Agreement, the Council of Ministers and NGOs representatives in BIH reaffirm their dedication for cooperation on fulfilling the requirements for a full membership of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Union.
The Agreement, among other things, sets forth strengthening of capacities of the Ministry of Justice Department for Legal Assistance and Civil Society Development and the establishment of an advisory body of the Council of Ministers of BIH for cooperation with the NGOs.
The conclusion of the Agreement was proceeded by public consultations with NGOs and BIH Institutions, conducted in February-May this year.
CoM INFORMED OF DEI REPORT
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information on overall activities of the Direction for European Integrations concerning managing the European integrations process, which states that the finalisation of answers to the European Commission Questionnaire is in its final stage, to be followed by its translation to English language.
Information was considered within the regular European integrations process reporting to the Council of Ministers of BIH.
TO PROTECT PROPERTY AND INTERESTS OF BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information of the Supreme Attorney’s Office of BIH on a submitted request of the “Croatian Power Utility - HEP” for an amicable settling of dispute against Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning the construction of the Mine and Coal Power Plant Gacko, in accordance with an agreement between the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Croatia on reciprocal investments promotion and protection and on the Energy Charter Contract.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will prepare a proposal decision for one of the following sessions on formation of a standing negotiating team, to involve all relevant experts, for the amicable settling of disputes.
This way, a conclusion of the Council of Ministers of BIH from its 102nd session was realised, with an aim, also, of avoiding additional expenses in situations implying a possibility of having amicable dispute settlement procedure.
The deadline for amicable dispute settlement with HEP was extended to December 1, 2017, while the previous negotiations between HEP and the Government of Republika Srpska representatives proved futile.
“Croatian Power Utility” noted in its request its per-war investments to Gacko Coal Power Plant, situated in the territory of Republika Srpska, asking from BIH the recovery of more than EUR 100 million. Although none BIH body took part in taking any decisions preceding the dispute, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as an international personality, has been passively registered in the proceeding.
RELISATION OF OMBUDSMAN’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF JOURNALISTS’ POSITION
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a Special Report on position and cases of treats against journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the Institution of BIH Ombudsman for Human Rights-proposed recommendations for the improvement of situation in the area.
As the Council of Ministers of BIH strongly supports the freedom of media and condemns most sharply attacks against journalists, it assigned the realisation of the Report recommendations to Ministries of Security and Justice, along with the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees.
The Ministry of Security will, together with the line Ministries and bodies of Entity, cantonal and the Brčko District Governments, take part at regular meetings with civil society organisations, where they will exchange relevant information.
Simultaneously, the Ministry of Justice and Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina will, together with the line Ministries of Entitles, cantons and Brčko District Governments and with representatives of civil society organisations and associations, representing and gathering journalists, organise and hold regular meetings on a continuous basis and will launch other forms of regular communications to enable pointing at pressures to journalists.
The Ministry of Justice of BIH will, as per BIH Ombudsman’s recommendation, together will all-level Ministries of Justice in BIH, consider a possibility to define an attack against journalists as a special criminal act or more serious criminal act of attack against official person in exercising his/her duty. Ombudsmen recommended a definition of an attack against journalists to be defined in laws on public order as a special breach.
Earlier this year, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a human rights education action plan for journalists and media professionals, thus continuing the realisation of obligations BIH has in the implementation of the World Programme for Human Rights Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
PLANS FOR ARMED FORCES EXERCISES AND TRAINING
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information on Training and exercises Plan for members and units of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina abroad for 2018, which the Ministry of Defence of BIH will provide to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly.
Within the cooperation with NATO, i.e. under the auspices of the NATO Joint Command, members of the BIH Armed Forces will take an active part in nine exercises. Also, in 2018, within an Initiative “B9”, five members of the Armed Forces of BIH will take part in the “Balkan Shield 2018” exercise.
Also, within other initiatives, members of the Armed Forces of BIH will take part in an exercise with simultaneous participation at four planned conferences and workshops as prearrangement for exercises to be held in 2019 and 2020.
CoM ON DECLARATION OF BIH PARLIAMENTARIAN ASSEMLBY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Council of Ministers of BIH not note of the text declaration, No. 01-50-1-15-51/17, of September 13, 2017, adopted at the 51st session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.
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