B&H Prepared for Negotiations with EU

FENA

24 November 2005

Igor Davidovic, the Chief Negotiator of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, said yesterday that he was convinced B&H is prepared for the start of the negotiations, scheduled to take place on November 25.

Chief Negotiator Igor Davidovic says B&H ready to start negotiations

Davidovic explained that only the ceremonial part will be held in Sarajevo on Friday, i.e. the official announcement of the start of negotiations, without actual talks on the technical details of the SAA.

He emphasized that the first working session will take place sometimes in mid-January 2006, but will be preceded by several informal preparatory meetings to facilitate the start of the actual negotiations.

Davidovic confirmed that the general strategy of negotiations was �more-less� defined and that all the details are in place. At the moment, priorities are compared and analyzed, to determine the starting point of the talks.

"In any case, we are in full motion and we expect to complete the negotiation team over the next week or so, to be able to start the preparations for the first round of technical transfers�, said Davidovic for FENA news agency.