SARAJEVO, April 1 (Hina) - Farmers from Bosnia-Herzegovina rallied on Thursday at four border crossings between Bosnia and Croatia to protest against the full implementation of free trade agreements with neighbouring
countries.
SARAJEVO, April 1 (Hina) - Farmers from Bosnia-Herzegovina rallied on
Thursday at four border crossings between Bosnia and Croatia to
protest against the full implementation of free trade agreements with
neighbouring countries.#L#
The leader of the national farmers' association, Ranko Bakic, said the
protesters had gathered at the border crossings at Izacic, Kamensko,
Doljani and Gradiska to show their dissatisfaction with insufficient
farming incentives and protection of domestic agricultural and food
industries.
The Bosnian Serb police prevented the blockade of the Banja
Luka-Gradiska road by protesters.
Traffic at the northern border crossing of Orasje went smoothly as no
protesters showed up there.
According to available police reports, trucks carrying goods from
Croatia to Bosnia were prevented from entering Bosnia at the Kamensko
border crossing. The roadblocks are expected to be removed during the
day.
Farmers' associations from the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and
Republika Srpska have distanced themselves from Bakic's protests
claiming that he is actually representing the interests of the
processing industry and lobbying for the import of cheap raw materials
and not for the interests of domestic producers.
(Hina) rml