In the Central National Kitchen at MDD "Merhamet" in Tuzla for the municipalities of Tuzla, Kalesija, Lukavac and Gračanica, 2,400 meals are prepared daily for citizens in need. That is about 240 meals more since the pandemic was declared, and soon one meal distribution point will be opened in the settlement of Kiseljak near Tuzla.

The coordinator of the Regional "Merhamet", Zijad Dardagan, said that the interest in food increased during the pandemic, because some people lost their jobs, so the national kitchen is their only salvation, and a lot of meals are shared at home. Such is the case in the National Kitchen in Gračanica.

The secretary of "Merhamet" in Gračanica, Refik Šerbečić, goes from Tuzla to Gračanica every day, and then distributes hot meals to checkpoints, villages and refugee settlements.
- We distribute more than 300 meals a day. Meals are prepared in "Imaret" in Tuzla, and we try to reach everyone's house, building, settlement so that our customers can get to their meal easier and faster. I cover about 200 kilometers a day and, believe me, it’s not hard for me when I know I’m bringing lunch and dinner to someone. At the time of the pandemic, we increased the number of meals by 40 - says Šerbečić.

The torment forced Mehmed Keljić into the National Kitchen. His wife Emilija died 14 years ago so Mehmed was left all alone. He comes to the National Kitchen regularly and he is satisfied with the food.
- I have no father or mother, they died. My grandmother Fatija Huskić, who raised me, also died. What would I do without this kitchen, I would be hungry - says Tomislav Olić, a young man from Gračanica, who is not able to work due to a specific illness.

Meals are prepared in "Imaret" in Tuzla, and we try to reach everyone's house, building, settlement so that our customers can get to their meal easier and faster, says Šerbečić

Because of the coronavirus, many seek salvation in the public kitchen

Russia flew a new passenger airliner with domestically-built engines for the first time since the Soviet era on Tuesday, the start of what it hopes will be a revival of a civil aviation industry to challenge Boeing and Airbus.The medium-range MC-21 plane took off from a Siberian airfield powered by Russian-built PD-14 turbo-fan engines. The plane first flew in May, 2017, but with U.S.-made engines.
The MC-21 is built by Irkut Corporation, part of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), and the engines are built by United Engine Corporation, all of which are majority owned by Rostec, Russia’s state aerospace and defence conglomerate.
UAC said the plane carried out a range of flight tests in a maiden voyage that lasted one hour and 25 minutes.
The Soviet Union was a major builder of passenger airliners used widely at home and in allied countries. But after the fall of communism, airlines largely retired their fleets of Tupolevs and Ilyushins for Boeings and Airbuses.
The Kremlin has been pushing to make Russia less reliant on Western imports, particularly since 2014, when the United States and EU imposed some financial sanctions in response to Russian military intervention in Ukraine.
Moscow had planned to begin delivering the MC-21 to buyers in 2019, but that date was pushed back, with Rostec saying U.S. sanctions had forced manufacturers to replace composite materials in the wings with Russian-made equivalents. The first deliveries are now expected at the end of next year.
Two modifications of the plane, which can seat 130 to 211 passengers, will be made available for order - one with U.S. Pratt &amp; Whitney PW1400G-JM engines and the other with the PD-14 engines, UAC said.
Orders have been placed for 175 of the aircraft, with state carrier Aeroflot accounting for 50, UAC said. It did not say how many would include the Russian-built engines.

The plane first flew in May, 2017, but with U.S.-made engines

An MS-21-310 passenger plane with Russian-developed PD-14 engines ascends during a test flight in Irkutsk, Russia, December 15, 2020.

Russia flies first new post-Soviet passenger airliner with domestic engines

Facebook, Twitter and Chinese-owned TikTok face fines of up to 10% of turnover if they fail to remove and limit the spread of illegal content under laws proposed by Britain on Tuesday.Tech platforms will also need to do more to protect children from being exposed to grooming, bullying and pornography, the government said, to ensure the safety of children online.
-We are entering a new age of accountability for tech to protect children and vulnerable users, to restore trust in this industry, and to enshrine in law safeguards for free speech- Britain’s Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said.
Governments are wrestling over measures to better control illegal or dangerous content on social media, with the European Union set to unveil its own package on Tuesday.
Britain’s new rules, which will be introduced in legislation next year, could lead to sites which break the rules being blocked and senior managers held liable for content.
Popular platforms will be required to have clear policies for content that, while not illegal, could cause harm such as disseminating misinformation about COVID vaccines.
Dowden said the framework would give large digital businesses “robust rules” to follow.

Facebook and Google have said they would work with the government on the regulations. Both companies said they took safety extremely seriously and they had already changed their policies and operations to better tackle the issue.
-The safety of our online communities - our users and our creators - is our top priority, and so we haven’t waited for legislation to act- said Ben McOwen Wilson, managing director of Google’s YouTube UK.
-We have worked with industry, community groups and the Government to tackle harmful content.-
Fast growing video-sharing platform TikTok, owned by China’s Bytedance, said it was looking forward to reviewing the proposals and working with the government to continue to strengthen online safety.
-At TikTok, safety isn’t a bolt-on or a nice-to-have, it’s our starting point to building a creative, diverse community- a spokesman said.&nbsp;British media regulator Ofcom will be given the power to fine companies up to 18 million pounds ($24 million) or 10% of global turnover, whichever is higher, for breaking the rules.
It will also be able to block non-compliant services from being accessed in Britain.
Online journalism and reader comments on news publishers’ websites will be exempt to safeguard freedom of expression.

Britain’s new rules will be introduced in legislation next year

A 3D-printed Facebook logo is displayed in front of the Twitter logo

Facebook, Twitter face British fines if fail on harmful content

I join the international community and the people of B&amp;H in marking the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Agreement, which ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the worst conflict on the European continent since World War II. This was announced by the newly elected President of the United States of America, Joe Biden.

- On this day, we celebrate the efforts of peacekeepers, and we mourn the loss of about 100,000 lives and the displacement of millions of others - Biden pointed out yesterday.
He added that the Dayton Agreement brought peace to B&amp;H and reaffirmed its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.
- A quarter of a century later, it is clear that the work on improving justice, reconciliation and a functional, multiethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina is unfinished - Biden said.
On this occasion, he pointed out that we have seen too often lately how nationalism wins the state interest, with the enrichment of the few, and the non-implementation of reforms in favor of the majority.

- This anniversary is an opportunity for all parties to think about a brighter future and to commit themselves again to difficult but necessary steps to build a fully functional B&amp;H for all its citizens - Biden emphasized.
He pointed out that as president, he is looking forward to cooperation with the international community and the citizens of B&amp;H in order to finally fulfill the promise from the Dayton Agreement.
- It is a prosperous, justly and democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina in the heart of Europe - whole, free and peaceful - concluded the newly elected American president.

Joe Biden is expected to take office from current President Donald Trump next month. Meanwhile, all federal states confirmed the voting results, revealing that the democratic candidate Biden won with a record 81.3 million votes, or 51.3 percent, compared to 74.2 million (46.8 percent), which Trump received.

I look forward to working with the international community to finally deliver on the promise of the Dayton Agreement, Biden said

Biden: Commit to difficult but necessary steps

The work in B&H is not finished

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the last 24 hours, 817 people are newly infected while 46 people died.
In the past 24 hours, 2,459 samples were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H, of which 555 were positive for SARS-CoV-2.
New cases have been registered in all cantons in the Federation of B&amp;H, except Canton 10.
A total of 310,065 samples have been tested so far, and SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed in 65,978 individuals.&nbsp;As of today, 46,605 patients have been cured in the Federation of B&amp;H, and in the past 24 hours, 999 patients have recovered. Currently, 17,491 cases are positive for SARS-CoV-2.
In the last 24 hours, 31 new deaths were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H.
As of today, the total number of deaths in the Federation of B&amp;H is 1,882.
Since the last report about the epidemiological situation in Republic of Srpska, 765 laboratory samples have been tested in the last 24 hours, and coronavirus has been confirmed in 262 cases, and 15 deaths have been reported, the RS Institute of Public Health said.
From newly infected, there are 137 males and 125 females, of which 32 are younger, 160 middle-aged and 70 older.
According to the place of residence, 66 people are from Banja Luka, 47 from Bijeljina, 16 from Zvornik, 15 from Doboj, 13 from Prijedor, 11 from Kotor Varoš, ten people from Bosanska Gradiška, nine from Kneževo and Prnjavor, eight from Bosanski Brod and Laktaši, seven each from Mrkonjić-Grad and Teslić, five from Foča, three each from Lopar, Rudo, Ugljevik, Han Pijesak and Čajnič, two each from Bratunac, Derventa, Modriča, Novi Grad and Čelinac and one each is from East Ilidža, East New Sarajevo, Petrovac, Petrovo, Srebrenica and Trebinje.

In the past 24 hours, 2,459 samples were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&H, of which 555 were positive for SARS-CoV-2

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 46 people died while 817 are newly infected

Germany said Tuesday it wanted the European Union to approve the BioNTech/Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine "before Christmas", as calls grow for the EU health regulator to speed up its decision process.
-The goal is to get approval before Christmas- German Health Minister Jens Spahn told a press conference in Berlin. -We want to start vaccinating in Germany before the end of the year.-
The Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency (EMA) had previously said it planned to hold a special meeting by December 29 at the latest to discuss granting conditional approval for the jab.
That puts the EU behind a growing number of nations that have already granted emergency approval. Britain, Canada and the United States have already started vaccinating their citizens.
Germany's Bild newspaper reported that the EMA was now planning to meet on December 23, which Spahn said would be "good news for the whole European Union".
-We can be optimistic about an approval on December 23- he said.
There was no immediate confirmation from the EU health body, however.
-We know about the Bild article. We are still working with a date of 29th, at the latest. At the moment nothing has changed- an EMA spokeswoman told AFP.
Spahn's growing impatience had become clear in a series of tweets on Sunday, in which he said the European vaccine delay could undermine confidence "in the European Union's ability to act".
The German hospital association (DKG) has likewise expressed concern about the time taken by the EMA to validate the vaccine. 
Spahn has nevertheless defended Berlin's decision to stick with an EU-wide approval process for all 27 member states rather than going it alone and granting emergency use authorisation on a national basis.

Opting for a European approach "is also about strengthening trust in the vaccine", the minister told reporters.
-We want a thorough review, we want a proper authorisation and at the same time we want a swift review- he added.
Berlin's irritation is more acute as BioNTech is a German firm and the country is preparing to go into partial lockdown from Wednesday, with non-essential shops and schools to close.
Germany coped relatively well with the first wave of the coronavirus in the spring, but it has struggled to contain a resurgence in Covid-19 cases in recent months.
Last week saw a record high of nearly 30,000 new infections in one day, with the number of deaths also rising steadily.
Spahn told German television on Monday that once the product has been approved, he wants to vaccinate around 60 percent of the population by the end of summer 2021.

Health Minister Jens Spahn: We want to start vaccinating in Germany before the end of the year

A few people walk at the old town Christmas market in front of the town hall in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday afternoon, Dec. 14, 2020.

Germany seeking EU Covid vaccine approval 'before Christmas'

French schoolchildren will be allowed to skip classes and stay at home on Thursday and Friday if their families wish to self-isolate ahead of Christmas, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Tuesday.
The medical council advising the government on COVID-19 said on Monday that families who planned to host people vulnerable to the coronavirus, such as elderly relatives, should quarantine for a week beforehand if possible.
Schools should not punish pupils who missed the last two days of the academic term, the council added.
Asked if he supported the recommendation, Castex told Europe 1 radio: “Of course.”
Governments across Europe are grappling with how to contain a powerful second wave of the virus just as families yearn to gather over the festive period.
France is delaying the reopening of theatres, museums and cinemas and re-imposing a nightly curfew from Tuesday, while the Netherlands is going into a tough second lockdown and Germany is shutting down non-essential shops from Wednesday.

Schools should not punish pupils who missed the last two days of the academic term

French Prime Minister Jean Castex speaks during a news conference on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Paris, France December 10, 2020.

Schoolchildren can miss end of term to isolate before Christmas, says French PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday congratulated Joe Biden on winning the US presidential election in November, saying he hoped the countries could set aside their differences to promote global security.
Putin wished the US president-elect every success and said that, "for my part, I am ready for collaboration and contacts with you," according to a Kremlin statement.
The Russian president was one of the last remaining leaders of major world countries to have held back on congratulating Biden, who was confirmed as the next US president by the Electoral College on Monday.
Officials in Moscow, including the country's elections chief and foreign minister, had earlier criticised the US elections process, describing it as archaic and not representative of the will of the people.
In his congratulatory telegram to Biden, Putin said that their countries "bear special responsibility for global security and stability."
He said he was confident that Russia and the United States could, "despite their differences, really contribute to solving many problems and challenges that the world is currently facing."
Biden is expected to take a tougher stand against Russia than outgoing US President Donald Trump, who he slammed during the campaign for having "embraced so many autocrats around the world, starting with Vladimir Putin".
Russia was accused of interfering in the 2016 US election to help get Trump elected, in the hope he would take a softer line with Moscow.

The Russian president was one of the last remaining leaders of major world countries to have held back on congratulating Biden

Vladimir Putin wished the US president-elect Joe Biden every success

Putin congratulates Biden, says ready for 'collaboration'

London is to move into the highest level of coronavirus restrictions due to concern about spiralling numbers of infections, the health minister announced Monday.
The British capital's move into "Tier 3" from 0001 GMT Wednesday means theatres as well as pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues will have to close, except for takeaway food. 
People are not supposed to socialise with anyone not from their household, but they can meet in groups of up to six in public places outside.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said London had seen a "sharp rise" in daily cases and hospital admissions, and there was public health concern about a new strain of the coronavirus.
-This action is absolutely essential, not just to keep people safe but because we have seen early action can prevent more damage and longer-term problems later- he told parliament.
In some areas, cases are doubling every seven days, he said, warning: "It only takes a few doublings for the NHS (National Health Service) to be overwhelmed."
Scientists have identified a "new variant" of the virus in the south of England that may be causing infections to spread faster, Hancock added.
But he said: -There's currently nothing to suggest it is more likely to cause serious cases and the latest clinical advice is it is highly unlikely to fail to respond to a vaccine.-
Currently London is in "Tier 2", which means non-essential shops and services can open, but it currently has one of the highest infection rates in the country.
Tier 3 or "very high alert" means that while bars, pubs and cafes can only offer takeaway food and drinks, shops and hairdressers can stay open, as can schools. 
However several London districts are sending children home from Tuesday as a precaution, after the government said last week it was concerned at the rising numbers of cases among secondary school-age children.
Testing of 11 to 18-year-old students began in the worst-affected areas on Monday.
The switch to stricter measures is a fresh blow to businesses already hit by repeated restrictions this year and in the run-up to Christmas, normally their busiest time.
Parts of the counties of Essex, Kent and Hertfordshire, which border London, will also be placed in Tier 3.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan called the rise in cases "deeply concerning" but warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson the move would be "catastrophic" for pubs, bars and arts venues.
On Friday, the "R number" in London indicating how many other people someone with the virus will infect was between 0.9 and 1.1, according to the government's website.
More than 201,000 cases have been registered in the capital and more than 7,000 people have died in hospital.

The British capital's move into "Tier 3"

Health Secretary Matt Hancock sets out England's new coronavirus tier system

London set for highest level of virus restrictions

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived on an official two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During his visit, Lavrov will meet with members of the B&amp;H Presidency, Chairman Milorad Dodik and members Šefik Džaferović and Željko Komšić, as well as with B&amp;H Foreign Minister Bisera Turković.
In addition, he will have a separate meeting with Chairman Dodik.
According to the announcement, a press conference of Dodik and Lavrov will be held today at 6:30 PM in the headquarters of the Government of the Republic of Srpska in East Sarajevo.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Srpska will take increased security measures due to this visit to the area of East Sarajevo.
The Ministry of the Interior announced that the relevant minister issued an order banning traffic for all vehicles for today from 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM on the section of the main road Sarajevo-inter-entity line Kula-East Sarajevo.
It was also announced that he would meet with HDZ B&amp;H President Dragan Čović

During the visit, Lavrov will have meetings with members of the B&H Presidency

Sergey Lavrov arrived in Sarajevo

The 3rd selection for the best regional news portal organized and implemented by Media Daily, a specialized portal for the media and telecom industry, has been completed.
The winner is the Slovenian news portal 24ur.co.
This year, the poll received a record 23,302 votes from readers, almost five times more than the last year.
From bh. portals, Avaz's portal www.avaz.ba had the most votes in the Media Daily readers 'poll, which shows that it is the favorite readers' portal in our country.

This year, the poll received a record 23,302 votes, almost five times more than last year

Avaz.ba is the best portal from B&H in the region, according to a survey by Media Daily

The Dayton Peace Agreement brought "much-needed peace" to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina after years of bitter fighting, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a video message on Saturday.
Participating in a virtual event organized by the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords, he said that the agreement ended the war and genocide in the country.
The peace agreement reached at Dayton city of US, on Nov. 21 1995 was formally signed in Paris, on Dec. 14. These accord ended the more than three-year-long Bosnian War.
-The achievements of Dayton have been remarkable. That said many things have changed in the last quarter-century. Therefore, we need to adapt to new realities. We need to have a better functioning system that will increase the welfare of all citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina- said Cavusoglu.
He underlined that Turkey has a "strong commitment" to the territorial integrity and fundamental structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a single, sovereign state, comprising two entities and the Brcko District in the northern part of the country.
-The integrity, unity, and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina are crucial for Turkey. It is also a key element for maintaining peace and stability in the Balkans and beyond- said the Turkish foreign minister, adding that Turkey also supports efforts to improve regional cooperation for prosperity in the region.
Cavusoglu also stressed the support of Turkey in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
Urging the participants to look into the future, while not forgetting the past, the Turkish minister said that the suffering of innocent people during the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica Genocide is still fresh in the minds.
-Justice and peace go hand in hand. Accountability serves as a strong deterrent for future crimes and also consolidates peace. Remembering the past and honoring those who lost their lives will remind us that we should protect peace at all costs- he said.

<h2>Ultra-nationalism brings sufferings</h2>

He emphasized that the language of hatred, intolerance, cultural and ethnic divisions, or ultra-nationalism brings nothing but suffering.
-Lessons learned from the pains of the past should guide us towards stronger cooperation in the region. We should appreciate our cultural differences. This is our richness- he added.
Noting that respecting the "other" is key for peaceful coexistence, Cavusoglu said that this is true not only for the Balkans but also for wider Europe and across the globe.
-The sufferings of 25 years ago must be a bitter reminder that rising xenophobia, racism, and Islamophobia especially in Europe must be prevented. This can only be achieved with strong political leadership that acts with wisdom rather than populism- he said.
He also pointed out that Turkey, as a member of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Committee, will continue to "fully support" the maintenance of peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
-The future can be better when we are together- he concluded.
The role of High Representative was created under the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, usually referred to as the Dayton Peace Agreement. The brutal three-and-a-half-year war of Bosnia had resulted in around 100,000 deaths and one or worst human rights abuses in the recent past.

Addressing event to observe 25th anniversary of Dayton Agreement Cavusoglu calls for adopting to new realities

Mevlut Cavusoglu: The future can be better when we are together

Turkish foreign minister recalls Bosnian War

In the last 24 hours, 340 people have been infected with COVID-19 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while 45 people have died.
&nbsp;In the past 24 hours, 872 samples were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of BiH, of which 238 were positive for SARS-CoV-2.&nbsp;New cases have been registered in all cantons in the Federation of B&amp;H, except in Bosnian-Podrinje Canton and Posavina Canton.
A total of 307,606 samples have been tested so far, and SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed in 65,423 cases.
As of today, 45,606 patients have been cured in the Federation of B&amp;H, and in the last 24 hours, 510 patients recovered. There are currently 17,966 SARS-CoV-2 positive cases active.
In the past 24 hours, 22 new deaths were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H.
As of today, the total number of deaths in the Federation of B&amp;H is 1,851.
Since the last report on the epidemiological situation in Republic of Srpska, 363 laboratory samples have been tested in the last 24 hours, and the coronavirus has been confirmed in 102 cases.
From newly infected, there are 57 males and 45 females, of which nine are younger, 48 middle-aged and 45 older.
According to the place of residence, 42 people are from Banja Luka, 15 from Bijeljina, 10 from Zvornik, seven from Laktaši, six each from Bosanska Dubica and Prnjavor, four each from Bratunac and Bosanska Gradiška, two each from Teslić and Čelinac and one each from Kotor Varoš, Mrkonjić-Grad, Ribnik and Trebinje.
In the last 24 hours, 23 deaths have been reported to the Republic of Srpska Institute of Public Health in which the presence of coronavirus has been confirmed. From these, there are 10 males and 13 females, older and middle aged, of which five are from Bijeljina, four from Banja Luka, two from Prnjavor, Kotor Varoš and Zvornik and one each from Prijedor, Čelinac, Doboj, Modriča, Bosanska Dubica, Trebinje, Bosanska Gradiška and Bratunac.

New cases have been registered in all cantons in the Federation of B&H, except in Bosnian-Podrinje Canton and Posavina Canton

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 340 newly infected with coronavirus, while 45 people died

Miro Džakula, Director General of the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) of B&amp;H, told "Dnevni Avaz" yesterday that the collection of indirect taxes (VAT, excises, customs and tolls) in the past 11 months compared to the same period last year decreased by about 700 million KM!

According to him, revenues from indirect taxes for the period January-November 2020. amounted to six billion and 598 million KM and are lower by 696 million KM or 9.55 percent compared to 2019.
In November alone, 29 million KM less taxes were collected compared to the same month last year. The situation is such due to the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences on the business of companies, import and export of goods and services.
- The biggest drop in income happened in April and May, in the period when many taxpayers were completely closed due to the epidemiological situation caused by the COVID-19 virus. In April 2020., revenues were lower by 23.26 percent compared to the same month in 2019. - said Džakula.

In May this year, revenues were down by 31.93 percent in comparison to the same month last year.
- After that, the situation with revenues from indirect taxes is gradually improving, and in November this year, revenues from indirect taxes were 4.54 percent lower than in the same month in 2019. But, in addition to that, the Administration is doing everything to maintain fiscal stability - said Džakula.

Džakula says that, when you look at the entire region, B&amp;H still stands well and is among the best.
He told us that the IMF, which began negotiations on the loan, did not demand anything regarding the distribution of funds from the single state account.&nbsp;

Miro Džakula, director of Indirect taxation authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for "Avaz"

Tax collection lower by 700 million KM

Today, 25 years after the signing of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we remember more than 100,000 citizens who were killed in the conflict, tens of thousands who went missing, and millions who were uprooted from their homes. The long shadow of that trauma touches lives in this country today, and none of us will ever forget that.
But just as the trauma casts a shadow, so the hopes of BiH citizens illuminate the path ahead. It is a path through which Bosnia and Herzegovina can become a prosperous and sovereign democracy fully integrated in the rest of Europe. It is a path towards a country in which citizens can live a decent and dignified life with efficient public services and with the security that comes from the proper application of the rule of law.
So, as we look back over the last quarter of a century, let us also look forward. In the next phase, the people of this country can be sure of the practical and political support of the European Union and the United States. We are determined to continue assisting the strategic transition from post-conflict recovery to the steady development of a normal democracy.
For this transition to be achieved, there will have to be major changes. These include credible measures to tackle organized crime and political and administrative corruption, and progress on targeted constitutional reforms that will make the country more functional and that will protect citizens’ rights.
We believe that a significant start on this agenda can be made in 2021.
At the beginning of December, the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published a proposal for joint action with the incoming US administration. This envisages a coordinated effort to seize the ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’ for positive change that will be created by the post-pandemic recovery. Among other things, the proposal calls for a renewal of the EU-US commitment – based on joint core values – to supporting democracy around the world. This means standing together to fight corruption, authoritarianism and human rights abuses.
Strong EU-US partnership is also essential in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to support reconciliation, improve governance and push key reforms forward, including BiH’s Reform Program with NATO, which complements EU reform goals. Both EU member states and NATO Allies support local efforts aimed at delivering on the stability and prosperity that the transatlantic community offers to BiH citizens
.There is no disagreement in this country that radical change is needed. Nor is there disagreement that the blueprint for change has already been laid out in the detailed steps of the European integration process – a process that is consistently supported by upwards of 80 percent of the population. We also agree that there is no place in this country for artificial divisions and it is clear that only BiH as a single country can advance on the path to Brussels.
European integration can help this country to resolve the anomalies of the Dayton system. It is based on the rights and responsibilities of individual citizens. The EU champions social, cultural and religious diversity, but it does not allow diversity to compromise or dilute the rights of each citizen.
We believe that integration can help to implement the will for change that is constantly and overwhelmingly expressed by the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This will for change can prevail over the self-interest that is displayed, often quite shamelessly, by some BiH politicians. This new dynamic can be understood as intervention from inside the country, intervention by the people on their own behalf. It is a popular intervention that we fully support.
In 2021, amid the changing configurations of the post-corona world, we will work with our BiH civil society partners and political partners to ensure that a new phase in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress can get underway. We will support a faster transition from Dayton to Brussels, from the post-conflict phase to the EU accession phase, from a period of stagnation to a period of development as a prosperous and sovereign democracy.
We believe this can truly help Bosnia and Herzegovina to move from beneath the long shadow of the conflict that ended a generation ago.

Joint op-ed by HoD/EUSR Johann Sattler and US Ambassador Eric Nelson on the 25th anniversary signing the Dayton’s Accords

“A Popular Intervention that We Fully Support”

The arrival of the new US President Joe Biden in the White House, the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the absolute blockade of political processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina are three key factors that will, of course, launch a new international initiative for our country, which has not been seen in the last ten years!
As "Avaz" finds out, experts and negotiators from several key countries are already working on the preparation of possible proposals for comprehensive reforms, which will, without a doubt, be a combination of the new reform agenda for the EU and the so-called the Butmir package of constitutional reforms.
,

Geopolitical changes, as well as developments at the domestic level, have already created enough political interest and will, to activate serious negotiations on a key issue in the spring - how to change the Dayton system that would allow B&amp;H to meet the conditions for European Union membership without blockades. 
Addresses by senior world officials on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of signing Dayton Peace Agreement, including that of Bill Clinton, confirms that all key world powers understand that the situation in the country has reached a point where without international initiative, mediation, pressure and influence, not only will B&amp;H not progress - but there is a serious danger of an uncontrolled deterioration of the situation.
Especially since the economic crisis due to the pandemic, the migrant wave, the accumulated corruption and political frictions is leading B&amp;H to the most difficult challenge since the signing of Dayton.
As we have learned from diplomatic sources, the talks will first be initiated from the technical level in order to adjust some of the previously proposed solutions to constitutional changes and harmonize them with the obligations of the state based on the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. 
Then the initiative will be raised to the highest political level and, with the mediation of Washington, Brussels, London and Berlin, put on the table for domestic leaders so that the changes will take effect before the general elections in 2022. An important fact, as a precondition for the success of this initiative, is the relatively precise position of Belgrade and Zagreb and their readiness to normalize relations with B&amp;H.

It should be reminded that the "Butmir package" of constitutional reforms was a joint proposal of the USA and the EU and after several unsuccessful negotiations during 2009. and 2010, and was eventually set aside, although it had several very acceptable solutions, including indirect election of the president and two vice presidents of B&amp;H, increasing the capacity of the state parliament, reducing the possibility of blockades in the House of Peoples and the so-called European clause.
Precisely, this could be one of the main solutions for the new package as well. According to it, all political players are committed to the fact that issues related to European integration cannot be blocked indefinitely by "vital national interests". Although unsuccessful, the Butmir process brought a very positive turning point for B&amp;H - during these negotiations, reforms were agreed on the basis of which the visa regime for the European Union for the citizens of B&amp;H was abolished exactly 10 years ago.
In addition to the legacy of the "Butmir package", the new initiative will include successful variables from the so-called Reform agenda that also brought limited progress on the European path, but did not include substantial constitutional reforms. The second set of the Reform Agenda, which concerns several technical and implementation reforms, has already been drafted in principle, but the formation of sufficient parliamentary majorities has been awaited. Now that part of the obligations will be integrated into the new "deal" for B&amp;H.

The anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Agreement and the election of Joe Biden as the president of the USA contributed to the opening of talks on B&amp;H, believes the analyst of the Initiative for European Stability from Berlin, Adnan Ćerimagić. He adds that the return of B&amp;H to the focus of the international community was helped by the events in the country itself, which, from the perspective of Berlin, London and Washington, are seen as progress.

What is being prepared in the great international initiative for B&H

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News

Because of the coronavirus, many seek salvation in the public kitchen

Russia flies first new post-Soviet passenger airliner with domestic engines

Facebook, Twitter face British fines if fail on harmful content

The work in B&H is not finished

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 46 people died while 817 are newly infected

Germany seeking EU Covid vaccine approval 'before Christmas'

Schoolchildren can miss end of term to isolate before Christmas, says French PM

Putin congratulates Biden, says ready for 'collaboration'

London set for highest level of virus restrictions

Sergey Lavrov arrived in Sarajevo

Avaz.ba is the best portal from B&H in the region, according to a survey by Media Daily

Turkish foreign minister recalls Bosnian War

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 340 newly infected with coronavirus, while 45 people died

Tax collection lower by 700 million KM

“A Popular Intervention that We Fully Support”

A combination of the Reform Agenda and the "Butmir package" are on the table?