SARAJEVO, Dec 11 (Hina) - Duty-free import of agricultural produce from the neighbouring countries -- Croatia and Serbia-Montenegro -- into Bosnia-Herzegovina will start as of 1 January 2004 in compliance with bilateral free trade
agreements with Zagreb and Belgrade, Bosnia's foreign trade minister said on Thursday.
SARAJEVO, Dec 11 (Hina) - Duty-free import of agricultural produce
from the neighbouring countries -- Croatia and Serbia-Montenegro -
- into Bosnia-Herzegovina will start as of 1 January 2004 in
compliance with bilateral free trade agreements with Zagreb and
Belgrade, Bosnia's foreign trade minister said on Thursday. #L#
Minister Dragan Doko told a news conference in Sarajevo on Thursday
that the Bosnian authorities would not succumb to pressure and
unilateral moves.
The trade union of farmers and employees in the food-processing and
tobacco industries sent a request to Bosnia's Council of Ministers
insisting on postponement of the implementation of sections of the
bilateral agreements which provide for gradual annulment of
tariffs as of the beginning of 2004.
The trade union threatened to block border crossings with Croatia
and Serbia-Montenegro unless their demands were met.
Farmers and food producers fear that this model of the import of
food and agricultural products would devastate the domestic
production.
(hina) ms sb