Bosnia finally gets new government after 16 months
In December, the parties that had won the top six places during a national election in October 2010 agreed on how to divide the prime minister’s position and the Cabinet posts. Parliament approved that Cabinet on Friday in a vote of 26-7, with one abstention.
Power in Bosnia is shared by Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats who rotate key government posts, and the delay to form a government and bickering over how to allocate funds have left this poor country without a budget. As a result, state officials have not received their January salaries.
Government officials have said the budget crisis will be the first thing they will deal with on Monday. Prime Minister Vjekoslav Bevanda, a Bosnian Croat and former regional finance minister, said more broadly that he will immediately tackle Bosnia’s economic challenges.
Sixteen years after Bosnia’s 1992-95 war, the unemployment rate is nearly 30 percent, political instability scares away much-needed foreign investment and a massive brain drain has hampered economic recovery.
Hundreds of thousands of Bosnians who live abroad have helped those still in the country by sending money back home. But job-killing financial crises in North America and Western Europe, where most Bosnian expatriates live and work, have forced some to return, jobless, to their homeland.
Bevanda further promised "this year will be the year of the European Union in Bosnia," meaning his government will focus on fulfilling the conditions for the country to get candidate status for the bloc.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton as well as EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fuele congratulated Bosnia on the appointment of its government and encouraged it in a statement "to concentrate on the pressing European integration agenda."
In reference to the lack of a state budget, however, the statement noted, "A sound economic and fiscal policy is an essential prerequisite for the country’s EU integration process."
The embassy of the United States said the U.S. hopes the new government "will provide serious, productive leadership, putting aside personal differences to find common ground."
Europe
Starmer could run for NATO Secretary General
Britain has zero active submarines at sea for now
UK guarantees $1 billion World Bank loan to Ukraine
Scuffle breaks out during Georgian parliament session, proceedings suspended - PHOTO
NEWS FEED
Israel announces destruction of Hezbollah underground facility in southern Lebanon
Canadian national team qualifies for FIFA World Cup 1/8 finals
Axios: U.S., Iran agree to ceasefire, Doha talks on Strait of Hormuz
Putin: Ukrainian strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure undoubtedly create problems
Türkiye says Israel using 1915 events decision to cover up crimes against Palestinians
33 people rescued, thousands still missing after Venezuela quakes
Qatari citizen died from shrapnel wounds on board ship
Russian President held meeting on fuel supplies for domestic market
Starmer could run for NATO Secretary General
Azerbaijani MFA expresses condolences over helicopter crash in Saudi Arabia
Mutual attacks between Iran and the US are increasing – LATEST SITUATION
Israeli government unanimously votes to recognize the so-called "Armenian genocide," bill to be submitted to Knesset
Another wheat shipment transits Azerbaijan from Russia to Armenia-PHOTO
Venezuela quake death toll rises to 1,430
IRGC says it struck U.S. military infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain
Trump threatens more military action against Iran if strikes continue
UN: Venezuela earthquake could affect more than 6.7 million people
US launches more strikes against Iran
Britain has zero active submarines at sea for now
Israel will withdraw troops from two areas in southern Lebanon on June 28
Netanyahu announces plans to form broad national government after elections
Argentina cabinet chief resigns after corruption allegations
Magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Venezuela
Netanyahu: Deal says Israel can keep security zone as long as needed
UFC Baku: Rafael Fiziev defeats Manuel Torres in main event
UFC: Abus Magomedov defeats Mikhal Oleksiychuk
UFC: Farman Hasanov defeats his opponent from the United States
Wheat to be shipped to Armenia via transit through Azerbaijan
Jeyhun Bayramov and Hakan Fidan hold phone conversation
"Caucasus Eagle 2026" exercise concludes-VIDEO
Tremors jolt Delhi-NCR, Kashmir as magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Afghanistan
Tanker hit by unidentified projectile in Hormuz, British maritime agency says
Russian Defense Ministry claims two Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets destroyed at Mykolaiv airfield
Iran accuses U.S. of violating two clauses of memorandum
Service chief: Lowering military conscription age limit has reduced state expenses
Ukrainian MiG-29 crashes during combat mission, Air Force says, pilot ejects safely
Russia and Ukraine exchange civilian detainees
Baku–Nakhchivan flights cancelled due to thunderstorms
One killed, 11 injured in Ukraine's attack on Volgograd
Bahrain says Iranian drones targeted its territory early Saturday
Zelenskyy confirms strike on military plant in Volgograd-VIDEO-UPDATED
Kremlin: Putin and Lukashenko continue talks
Small aircraft crash in Beijing kills one person, injures 13, local govt says
Iran's Foreign Ministry reacts to U.S. airstrikes
Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva visit "CandyFest" summer festival and watch "Magic Pearl" water circus show-PHOTO
Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva participate in seasonal flower planting campaign on Baku Boulevard-PHOTO
Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva attend opening and presentation ceremonies at the Seaside National Park-PHOTO
Baltic states urge EU to speed up ban on Russian oil imports
Seoul says Chinese, Russian military aircraft enter its air defense zone
Gold and silver rise in commodity markets