SARAJEVO, Feb 3 (Hina) - The international community's High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, on Monday said that authorities in the two Bosnian entities -- the Croat-Muslim federation and the Serb republic -- would
have to reach an agreement on the establishment a unified customs administration at the state level and on the introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) by 19 February.
SARAJEVO, Feb 3 (Hina) - The international community's High
Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, on Monday
said that authorities in the two Bosnian entities -- the Croat-
Muslim federation and the Serb republic -- would have to reach an
agreement on the establishment a unified customs administration at
the state level and on the introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) by
19 February. #L#
The British diplomat told reporters in Sarajevo that the stand of
the Serb entity's authorities who opposed the uniting of the
customs and tax system was the main obstacle in this reform.
Ashdown's deputy, Donald Hayes, will hold consultations with Serb
officials in Banja Luka on the matter in the next two days.
Nobody has the right to block Bosnia's path towards international
organisations, Ashdown said adding that the reform in the customs
and tax system was a pre-condition for Bosnia's joining of European
integration processes and the World Trade Organisation as well as
for the European Union's financial assistance to the country's
structural reforms.
Ashdown added that he did not intend to let Bosnian citizens suffer
due to local politicians' moves.
(hina) ms