The house of Alisa Mutap, the ex-girlfriend of Dženan Memić, who was killed in February 2016 in Ilidža, is being searched.
This is an investigation by the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H. So far, three people have been arrested in this case, including Alisa Mutap's father, Zijad. He is in custody as well as Hasan Dupovac and Josip Barić, SC MUP police officers.
The search is being conducted by members of the Sarajevo Canton MUP on the orders of the Court and the Prosecutor's Office.
During the accident, she claimed that she did not remember anything and that she had amnesia.

This is an investigation by the Prosecutor's Office of BiH that was launched last year and so far three people have been arrested, including Alisa's father Zijad

The house of Alisa Mutap, the ex-girlfriend of the murdered Dženan Memić, is being searched

Britain's Karim Khan was sworn in Wednesday as the new prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, facing huge challenges, including investigations into the Palestinian territories, Afghanistan and the Philippines.

-I solemnly undertake that I will perform my duties and exercise my powers as prosecutor of the International Criminal Court honourably, faithfully, impartially and conscientiously- the 51-year-old Khan said as he was sworn in at the Hague-based ICC.

He will face  huge challenges, including investigations into the Palestinian territories, Afghanistan and the Philippines

Britain's Karim Khan sworn in as new ICC prosecutor

A batch of 10,530 BioNTech/Pfizer vaccines from the European Union mechanism were delivered to Bosnia and Herzegovina today.
 
This is the seventh contingent of vaccines from this mechanism.
-We must keep in mind that vaccines are the most important means of public health against the COVID-19 pandemic- it is stated in the announcement on the official Twitter profile of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of B&amp;H.

This is the seventh contingent of vaccines from this mechanism

This batch of vaccines arrived from COVAX mechanism

A batch of 10,530 Pfizer vaccines arrives in B&H from EU

Russia saw further growth in daily coronavirus cases on Tuesday with 14,185 new cases registered over the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 5.23 million.

The number of active cases rose to its maximum since March 22 as 291,169 people are being treated for the infection.
Meanwhile, recoveries grew by 8,597 since Monday to reach 4.81 million while the number of fatalities increased by 379 to 127,180.
The capital Moscow remains the worst-hit region, making up almost 50% of all active cases, as 127,464 people have tested positive for COVID-19.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced a lockdown until June 19 to stem the spread of the virus. During this period, catering and entertainment venues are not allowed to serve visitors from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and parks are open only for walks.
In Moscow Oblast, closely connected with the capital, Governor Andrey Vorobyov obliged employers and organizations to ban employees or customers from entering the premises without a protective mask. The rule does not apply to those who have been vaccinated.
Although Russia was the first country in the world to register a coronavirus vaccine -- Sputnik V -- it lags behind in the rate of vaccinated people, with slightly over 10% of the population having gotten a shot.
Commenting on the pace of the vaccination in Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "it [pace of vaccination] is far from desired."
Since December 2019, the pandemic has claimed over 3.81 million lives in 192 countries and regions, with more than 176.27 million cases reported worldwide, according to the US-based Johns Hopkins University.
The US, India, and Brazil remain the worst-hit countries.

Russia's capital Moscow remains worst-hit region accounting for almost half of active cases

The capital Moscow remains the worst-hit region, making up almost 50% of all active cases

Russia sees further growth in daily coronavirus cases

It is necessary for all countries of the Western Balkans to "have a crystal clear Euro-Atlantic and EU perspective," said the North Macedonian prime minister on Monday.

-Leaving a vacuum in our part of Europe is not an option. We need predictable, credible and re-intensified processes of integration into the EU and NATO- said Zoran Zaev at the plenary session of the NATO summit.
He said this is a historic moment for the country as North Macedonia is participating as a full member for the first time in the NATO summit.
-This is a historic moment for my country. This is the first NATO summit for North Macedonia as a full member. It is also the first NATO summit with 30 members. This is a great success for North Macedonia- said Zaev.
He further said that the country is committed to the vision of the Western Balkans in the 21st century as a region of peace, stability, and regional cooperation for the economic well-being and prosperity of all citizens.
NATO leaders have gathered in Brussels to hold their first in-person summit since 2018, with Russia and China high on the agenda.

North Macedonia participating in NATO summit as full member for first time

North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev

N.Macedonia says clear Euro-Atlantic, EU perspective necessary for Balkans

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy told his trial on charges of illegal financing of his failed 2012 re-election campaign that he had committed no wrongdoing.

A defiant Sarkozy said in court on Monday he had not been involved in the logistics of his campaign for a second term as president nor in how money was spent during the election run-up.
-Did I intend to commit a fraud, to do wrong? Was I careless? Negligent? My answer is the most formal no to all that- Sarkozy told the court. -From the moment I was told things were in order, I had no reason to give it more thought.-Sarkozy, 66, told the judges that he was responsible for the political direction of his campaign but not the organisation of rallies, production of campaign materials and payment of bills.
Prosecutors allege that Sarkozy's conservative party splurged nearly double the 22.5 million euros ($27.28 million) allowed under electoral law on extravagant campaign rallies, and then hired a friendly public relations agency to hide the cost.
In their indictment, the prosecutors acknowledged their investigation had failed to prove Sarkozy either organised or was involved in the scheme, but argued that he benefited from it and must have been aware of it.

Prosecutors allege that Sarkozy's conservative party splurged nearly double the 22.5 million euros ($27.28 million) allowed under electoral law on extravagant campaign rallies, and then hired a friendly public relations agency to hide the cost

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives for a hearing in a trial over alleged illegal financing of his failed re-election campaign in 2012, with 13 other defendants, former officials of Bygmalion and representatives of the UMP, at the courthouse in Paris, France, June 15, 2021.

Ex-French president Sarkozy denies wrongdoing at campaign finance trial

Serbia's president hit out at Kosovo's new premier on Tuesday after talks in Brussels failed to make progress towards a solution to one of Europe's most intractable territorial disputes.

The Balkan neighbours were resuming decade-long negotiations mediated by the EU for the first time in almost a year, hoping to resolve differences still poisoning relations more than 20 years after they separated in war. 
Serbia has refused to recognise Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence after the province broke away in the bloody 1998-99 conflict that was ended only by a NATO bombing campaign against Serb troops.
The meeting was the first since Kosovo's left-wing reformist prime minister Albin Kurti claimed a landmark win in parliamentary elections in February, pledging to take a new tack in the talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
And the encounter appeared to get heated as both men laid out their positions. 
Vučić alleged Kurti had "demanded" Serbian recognition and refused to discuss a 2013 deal to set up ten Serb-majority "municipalities" in Kosovo that has never been implemented
-I've never attended this kind of a meeting in my life. Complete lack of responsibility- Vučić said in televised comments.
-The man (Kurti) came to ask me – when are you going to recognise independent Kosovo. I told him 'never', and he exploded.-For his part, Kurti called the talks "constructive". 
-We will take part in this process which is difficult- he told Kosovan media. 
-The Serbian side talked about old proposals, we brought four new proposals which were refused by the Serbian side.-EU envoy Miroslav Lajčak admitted: -It was not an easy meeting, but it was important that it happened.&nbsp;Both leaders had a very open and frank exchange on what they each want from the dialogue- he said.Despite the tough atmosphere both sides agreed to press on with the talks and Lajcak said a new round would happen "before the end of July".
The EU and United States have been pushing both sides to resume the talks since the change of leadership in Kosovo. 
The restarting of negotiations came as US President Joe Biden was just a stone's throw away, visiting European Union chiefs for a summit, but there was no meetings planned involving US officials.
The US has an outsized role in Kosovo, sometimes called the most pro-American country in the world, after leading the NATO intervention that forced out Serbia.
Kosovo has been recognised by more than 100 countries but Serbia still considers the territory as its southern province, and is supported by Russia and China.&nbsp;

The Balkan neighbours were resuming decade-long negotiations mediated by the EU for the first time in almost a year, hoping to resolve differences still poisoning relations more than 20 years after they separated in war

Serbia, Kosovo talks fail to make progress

A French court on Tuesday found the French subsidiary of Swedish furniture giant Ikea guilty of setting up an elaborate system to illegally spy on hundreds of employees and job applicants from 2009 to 2012.

The company's French unit was fined one million euros ($1.2 million) and former CEO Jean-Louis Baillot was handed a suspended two-year prison sentence, the court said in its verdict.
The ruling was less severe than recommended by prosecutors, who accused the furniture company of illicitly carrying out "mass surveillance."
Baillot, Ikea France's boss between 1996 and 2002, was also fined 50,000 euros after found guilty of "receiving personal data by fraudulent means."
He was cleared of some other charges, including violating professional secrecy.
His lawyer, Francois Saint-Pierre, said Baillot was "shocked" by the sentence and was considering an appeal.
A union representative, Adel Amara, who was among a total of 120 plaintiffs, said he was "pleased" with the outcome of the trial, but called the punishments "a little too lenient."

The company's French unit was fined one million euros ($1.2 million) and former CEO Jean-Louis Baillot was handed a suspended two-year prison sentence

The ruling was less severe than recommended by prosecutors, who accused the furniture company of illicitly carrying out "mass surveillance"

French court convicts Ikea in mass spying scandal

OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&amp;H) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) have announced a new three-year project to empower authorities and citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina to tackle corruption. 

The OSCE Mission to B&amp;H and INL presented the details of the project to an online gathering of representatives from the B&amp;H Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight against Corruption, along with anti-corruption teams across the country.&nbsp;The U.S.-funded project, which will be implemented by the OSCE Mission, features a comprehensive public awareness-raising campaign on the consequences of corruption and what citizens can do to prevent it. It also provides funding for strengthening the capacity of B&amp;H anti-corruption bodies to prevent corruption. 
This project supports broader international community efforts in assisting B&amp;H authorities and citizens to combat corruption in order to improve economic conditions and create a more stable, prosperous country for the benefit of all citizens. The public awareness campaign will be designed to help and encourage B&amp;H citizens to recognize and reject all forms of corrupt practices, and to report any abuses they may encounter to the appropriate authorities. 
The OSCE Head of Mission to B&amp;H Kathleen Kavalec said: -This project takes our corruption prevention work to the next level by giving the citizens and taxpayers of B&amp;H the information and the tools they need to insist on accountability from public institutions and officials.-U.S. Ambassador Eric Nelson added: -We know that corruption saps economic growth, hinders development, destabilizes governments, undermines democracy, and provides openings for dangerous groups such as criminals, traffickers, and terrorists. This is why we support efforts like this one to prevent graft, strengthen investigation and prosecution of corruption, promote accountability and transparency, and empower reformers in B&amp;H.-

OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) have announced a new three-year project

Eric Nelson: We know that corruption saps economic growth

A young Indian billionaire has admitted to cheating in a shock win over five-time chess world champion Viswanathan Anand, saying it was for "fun and charity".

Online brokerage firm founder Nikhil Kamath took on Anand during an online charity event on Sunday and caused quite a stir when he came out on top in a 30-minute rapid game.
The next day he admitted to using "computers" and the help of "people analyzing the game" to gain the upper hand.
-It is ridiculous that so many are thinking that I really beat Vishy sir in a chess game, that is almost like me waking up and winning a 100mt race with Usain Bolt- Kamath tweeted.
-In hindsight, it was quite silly as I didn't realise all the confusion that can get caused due to this. Apologies.-Anand, acclaimed as the greatest player India has produced, played -- and beat -- a number of celebrity guests including cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and Bollywood actor Aamir Khan during the event.
The 51-year-old grandmaster appeared to play down the whole affair.
-Yesterday was a celebrity simul for people to raise money It was a fun experience upholding the ethics of the game- he wrote on Twitter.
-I just played the position (on the) board and expected the same from everyone.-India's chess federation saw the incident as violating the spirit of the game.
-We don't expect anybody to get help from computers, at the national and state level we are following the protocols- the federation's secretary Bharat Chauhan told local media.
-(Kamath) was doing it for charity, he shouldn't have done. This is really bad- he added.
Anand won his first world title aged 30, and enjoyed great rivalries with the likes of Russian champions Gary Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik and Soviet-born Israeli Boris Gelfand.

Online brokerage firm founder Nikhil Kamath took on Anand during an online charity event on Sunday and caused quite a stir when he came out on top in a 30-minute rapid game

Viswanathan Anand, who has won five world titles and is regarded as India's greatest ever player, suffered a shock defeat to a young billionaire but it was later found that behind the scenes help was utilised during the charity match

Billionaire admits cheating to beat Indian chess champ

In the past 24 hours, 1,404 samples were registered with the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H, 12 of which were positive for SARS-CoV-2.

New cases have been registered in Central Bosnia, West Herzegovina, Posavina, Tuzla and Sarajevo Canton.
A total of 699,019 samples have been tested so far, and SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed in 133,724 individuals.
As of today, 124,831 patients have recovered in the Federation of B&amp;H.
In the past 24 hours, two deaths were reported to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of B&amp;H, both in Tuzla Canton.
In Republic of Srpska, 495 laboratory samples were tested in the last 24 hours, and coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed in 13 people.
In the same period, two deaths were reported to the RS Institute of Public Health in which the presence of the coronavirus virus was confirmed.
So far, 64,288 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in that entity, and a total of 3,759 * people have died in whom the virus test has been confirmed.
Today, four new cases of coronavirus infection were registered in the Brčko District of B&amp;H out of 137 processed tests. One person died.

As of today, 124,831 patients have recovered in the Federation of B&H

New cases have been registered in Central Bosnia, West Herzegovina, Posavina, Tuzla and Sarajevo Canton

B&H registers 29 new coronavirus cases and five fatalities

Two people, citizens of Pakistan, are charged with organized smuggling of a large group of illegal migrants of Afro-Asian origin across the river border on the Drina River.
 
The Prosecutor of the Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H has filed an indictment against Adil Bashir (1996) and Adnan Ali (1996), born in Pakistan, citizens of Pakistan, who are in custody.
The accused are charged that, acting as members of an organized group for smuggling people, by prior agreement and joint plan, and according to pre-agreed roles with known members of the group, for a pre-agreed amount of money smuggled illegal migrants into B&amp;H, by boat across the Drina River from the Republic of Serbia to B&amp;H.
The indictment was forwarded to the Court of B&amp;H, which subsequently confirmed it, the Prosecutor's Office of B&amp;H announced.

Adil Bashir (1996) and Adnan Ali (1996), citizens of Pakistan, are charged with organized smuggling of a large group of illegal migrants of Afro-Asian origin

The indictment was forwarded to the Court of B&H, which subsequently confirmed it, the Prosecutor's Office of B&H announced

B&H Prosecution files an indictment for international smuggling of migrants

The Catholic diocese of Paris said Monday it was seeking up to six million euros to restore and modernise the interior of Notre-Dame cathedral, nearly destroyed by a massive fire two years ago.

The diocese launched a fundraising drive looking for five to six million euros ($6.1-$7.3 million) to complete the work.
President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to complete the monument's restoration for 2024, and more than 800 million euros has already been received or pledged from private and corporate donors for the painstaking rebuild of the 13th-century gothic masterpiece.
While the spire collapsed and much of the roof was destroyed on the evening of April 15, 2019, the efforts of firefighters ensured that the medieval edifice survived the night.
But a law passed shortly after the blaze stipulated that funds raised via the public subscription covered only the structural restoration and conservation of the historic landmark, which technically is owned by the French state.
Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit said in a statement that the goal was "to bring the cathedral into the 21st century, while ensuring the preservation of its identity in the spirit of the Christian tradition".
The funds would be used to update the tour layout for the six million visitors each year as well as new furniture and lighting and sound systems.
Several artists have already said they will donate their time and expertise for new artworks, and sponsors are being sought via the Notre-Dame Foundation as well as the American nonprofit Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris.
Following several months of works focussed on consolidating the cathedral's structure, actual restoration work is set to begin in late 2021.
Notre-Dame is to reopen for worship in April 2024, in time for the Paris-hosted Summer Olympics.
But restoration work will continue beyond that date, according to Jean-Louis Georgelin, the former general hand-picked by Macron to lead the project.

President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to complete the monument's restoration for 2024, and more than 800 million euros has already been received or pledged from private and corporate donors

Notre-Dame cathedral seeks more money for interior repairs

Arlene Foster formally stepped down as Northern Ireland’s first minister on Monday.

 Speaking at the local parliament, Stormont, Foster said she was privileged and honored for holding the post as the country’s leader.
-Mr Speaker, colleagues both inside and outside this House know very well that all periods of leadership must come to an end- she said.
-That is why, when we are privileged and honored with holding such a position, we must not waste a moment in frivolous brinkmanship but rather forge ahead on behalf of those we represent.--Whilst I will miss the exchanges from this seat, I am looking forward to fresh challenges- Foster added.
 Foster resigned as the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader in April after her party forced her to leave over fury surrounding the Brexit deal, which aligns Northern Ireland with the EU.
 Around 75% of her party’s Northern Ireland Assembly members as well as several of her party’s MPs in the national Westminster parliament signed a letter calling for a new leadership election.
 Furthermore, eight of the DUP’s 18 constituency associations submitted letter of concerns over how the leadership was handling key issues.
 The key issue was Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol which places a trade border in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
 Foster, 50, became party leader in December 2015 and stepped down as leader of the DUP on May 28. She is the first woman and youngest person to hold both positions.​​​​​​​

Foster was forced to resign as leader of DUP in April over Northern Ireland protocol signed with EU

Foster said she was privileged and honored for holding the post as the country’s leader

Arlene Foster formally steps down as Northern Ireland's first minister

Over 2.38 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines have been given worldwide so far, figures compiled by Our World in Data, a tracking website, showed on Monday.

China leads the global count with over 892.77 million jabs, followed by the US with 309.32 million.
India has administered 254 million shots, Brazil 78.13 million, the UK 71.34 million, Germany 60.11 million, France 44.13 million, Italy 42.25 million, and Mexico 36.98 million.
Turkey ranks 10th on the list with over 34.4 million doses given, followed by Russia, Spain, and Indonesia.
The country with the most doses administered by population is the East African island nation of Seychelles, with 139.61 doses per 100 people.
Most COVID-19 vaccines are administered in two doses, so the number of shots given is not the same as the number of individuals fully vaccinated.
Since December 2019, the pandemic has claimed over 3.8 million lives in 192 countries and regions, with more than 176.01 million cases reported worldwide, according to the US-based Johns Hopkins University.
The US, India, and Brazil remain the worst-hit countries.

China leads the global count with over 892.77 million jabs, followed by the US with 309.32 million

The country with the most doses administered by population is the East African island nation of Seychelles, with 139.61 doses per 100 people

Over 2.38B coronavirus vaccine shots given worldwide

In an interview for "Dnevni avaz", the Head of the EU Delegation to B&amp;H, Johann Sattler, spoke about the changes to the B&amp;H Election Law, and sent a message to B&amp;H politicians, but also warned that the European Union also has a "carrot and stick" policy.

Do you believe that the citizens will go to the polls in 2022 according to the new election law? Is there a model of a new election law that is preferred by the EU and is it true that you have offered politicians in B&amp;H a "draft" of a new European election law in B&amp;H?&nbsp;- When we talk about the reform of the election legislation, I want to emphasize that a lot can be done this year, in terms of real steps on the European path. What is important in the electoral reform is what the citizens want, and that is to eliminate discrimination in the electoral system. This is what the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights speak about. All citizens must have the possibility of active and passive suffrage. So that you are not discriminated against because of your ethnicity or residence.
The other thing is that we have to use this year to make a step forward in terms of election standards. We need to make every vote matter. A lot is at stake, and when we talk about electoral standards, they should be part of any package that will be adopted this year, because that ultimately boils down to trust in democracy. When citizens do not trust you, then you are faced with big problems.
- To summarize, this year is an opportunity because we have an Interdepartmental Working Group for Amendments to the Election Law, it is important that opposition parties are represented, but it is very important to include other partners, such as the Central Election Commission (CEC) and non-governmental sector. The international community has made itself available to support this process. Ultimately, the decision is made by the legislators in this country and I urge them to make the decision in a spirit of compromise. Everyone will have to contribute to this process. There is no draft election law proposed by the EU. There are no pre-written solutions.
Everything is in the hands of the legislature. CEC B&amp;H went public with its proposals for changes to the Election Law and there are many quality solutions in them. Discussions should take place within the Interdepartmental Working Group. I look more at opportunities and possibilities and they are there. We have time to act by the end of this year. For us, the right step in this process would be to resolve some of the constitutional issues, not just some cosmetic changes to the Election Law. B&amp;H has been given the opportunity to show that it meets expectations. B&amp;H politicians have applied for EU membership, and it implies their work. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen enough in the last two years, but the opportunity is there.

We have heard statements by some EU officials that the countries of the Western Balkans must, even perhaps without preconditions, be admitted to membership. In your opinion, would that be a good option for B&amp;H?
- You rightly mentioned that in the past two years we have not seen significant progress on the European path. Unfortunately, there have been more setbacks than progress. We have not seen any results in the past ten months, and this is in contradiction with what the members of the Presidency of B&amp;H promised to European officials. They pledged to work on 14 priorities set by the European Commission.
In that way, the readiness for progress would be shown. I am disappointed with the lack of progress. The question is on the basis of which EU member states would make a decision and give a positive answer for B&amp;H or any other country in the region.

Why is the EU not naming the culprits for the stalemate we are talking about?
- We have clearly said that it is not acceptable that we do not have a new FB&amp;H Government two and a half years after the elections. Elections become absurd if we do not implement the results. We have made it very clear that it is now up to the legislators to harmonize and adopt the three laws. Thus, the Law on Public Procurement, amendments to the Law on the HJPC and the Law on Prevention of Conflicts of Interest. It’s something we’ve been talking about for years. We said it in the clearest possible way.
There are discussions in the EU about which instruments will be used. We have different instruments, there is also the "carrot and stick" policy. There is also that instrument of the stick, the sanctions regime that has been in force for ten years and is extended every year. We also have, since last year, sanctions for human rights violations that target individuals. So far nothing like this has been used, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future. I welcome the move by the United States to modernize the sanctions system and thus step up the fight against organized crime and corruption, which is a step in the right direction.
How do you comment on the election of a new High Representative in B&amp;H? Can B&amp;H become an EU member with the OHR? Are you in favor of abolishing the OHR and under what conditions? Is it still acceptable for you to use the institute of Bonn powers?
- First of all, greater engagement of Germany in B&amp;H is a good sign. Secondly, Christian Schmidt is a very experienced politician, he is well acquainted with the situation in B&amp;H and the region, and that is a good combination. From my side he will have an outstretched hand and there is an offer for cooperation. Last year in Mostar we showed what we can achieve when we work together. B&amp;H, on the other hand, cannot become an EU member as long as the Office of the High Representative (OHR) operates in B&amp;H. EU membership is not compatible with such a strong international presence.
However, B&amp;H is currently far from full membership in the Union, so closing the OHR is not an option at this time. We have also seen an increase in tensions in B&amp;H, nationalist rhetoric has intensified, so it is not the time to experiment. The closure of the OHR is not an issue. I think there is a reason why the Bonn powers have not been used lately. This country has applied for EU membership and it needs to have its sovereignty in full. The new High Representative comes with a whole arsenal of responsibilities, and that, as a last resort, includes the Bonn powers.
If you had the opportunity to use the Bonn powers, which decision would you make first?
- I think you have to be very careful. I would say that the biggest obstacle for B&amp;H is the lack of progress in the area of the rule of law. There are simply no real strides in the fight against corruption and organized crime. So maybe I would focus my efforts here, in that sector. We are cooperating with law enforcement agencies in B&amp;H, we have cooperation with the HJPC, we hope that the new leadership will lead this institution in a better direction compared to what we have witnessed in recent years. It will be very difficult for B&amp;H to make progress towards the EU without real strides in the area of the rule of law.

How do you comment on the answer B&amp;H authorities to the coronavirus pandemic, especially taking into account the "Ventilators" affair, the slow procurement of vaccines in the FB&amp;H, as well as the affair in the RS that marked last year?
- At the beginning of the pandemic, the authorities in B&amp;H reacted well, but more than a year has passed. Some measures were introduced very quickly to slow down the spread of the virus, however, we did not see that in the later stages, even in the phase of vaccine procurement. In that regard, we wished for a faster response and a faster reaction. That is why the EU decided to help, and we continue to help. Not only did we provide medical and protective equipment, a month ago we also started delivering vaccines to B&amp;H. Shipments of "Pfizer" vaccines arrive every week, all to ensure that we reach collective immunity or a figure of 60 percent of the vaccinated population of B&amp;H.
As for allegations of corruption, of course we take them very seriously. Any such allegation should be investigated in its entirety. It is also a good reminder of how important it is to have modern European laws, and I mentioned the law on public procurement. It has been discussed for three years. If you had a more modern system, it would be very difficult to report any corrupt practices in the context of public procurement. I take this opportunity to appeal to legislators to pass this law.
You travel a lot in B&amp;H, you meet with politicians, citizens, you answer many questions. Which question do you hate the most?
- There's no question I hate so much. But I get a little tired when politicians ask me when B&amp;H will get candidate status for EU membership. The second is when citizens ask me that, then it is understandable. But when politicians do that, I find it hard to restrain myself, because they know very well what they need to do in order for B&amp;H to get candidate status. We have been talking about this for years, 14 key priorities must be realized and that is it. I hope that politicians will understand this message, there is nothing in vain, the 27 EU member states will not give anyone a free ticket to enter.

<h2>I do not favor Čović and Dodik</h2>

How do you comment on the accusations of certain politicians in BiH that your actions and statements favor the ruling parties - SNSD, HDZ and SDA - or better said, Milorad Dodik and Dragan Čović?
- My answer is the question - where is the evidence for such accusations? There are no facts to substantiate such claims. My role is that of the EU Special Representative, and that means encouraging dialogue with all political actors. We also have regular meetings with the opposition. It makes no sense to focus on just three parties, because ultimately we are talking about constitutional changes, and that requires opposition.
I assure you that this is something that is far from the truth. For us, B&amp;H and its citizens are partners. We work with the citizens and we want to have a more stable, prosperous and democratic B&amp;H.

<h2>I will do my utmost to extend the EUFOR mission</h2>

There has been a lot of talk lately about the EUFOR mission in B&amp;H. According to your information, will this mission be shut down or transformed?
- EUFOR plays a very important role in B&amp;H. They contribute to a safe and stable environment in B&amp;H, but also provide support to the Armed Forces and demining. They are a really valuable partner in this country. To extend the mandate of this mission, the EU Council should give the green light.
A strategic review is currently underway, after which the Council will decide on an extension. The next step is in the Security Council because the consent of that institution is needed. I am convinced that the EUFOR mission in B&amp;H will be extended. For our part, we will do whatever it takes.

We have made it clear that two and a half years after the elections, it is not acceptable that we still do not have a new FB&H Government

Sattler: All citizens must have the possibility of active and passive suffrage

The house of Alisa Mutap, the ex-girlfriend of the murdered Dženan Memić, is being searched

Britain's Karim Khan sworn in as new ICC prosecutor

A batch of 10,530 Pfizer vaccines arrives in B&H from EU

Russia sees further growth in daily coronavirus cases

N.Macedonia says clear Euro-Atlantic, EU perspective necessary for Balkans

Ex-French president Sarkozy denies wrongdoing at campaign finance trial

Serbia, Kosovo talks fail to make progress

French court convicts Ikea in mass spying scandal

Eric Nelson: We know that corruption saps economic growth

Billionaire admits cheating to beat Indian chess champ

B&H registers 29 new coronavirus cases and five fatalities

B&H Prosecution files an indictment for international smuggling of migrants

Notre-Dame cathedral seeks more money for interior repairs

Arlene Foster formally steps down as Northern Ireland's first minister

Over 2.38B coronavirus vaccine shots given worldwide

Johann Sattler for "Avaz": EU is considering sanctions, closing the OHR is not an option yet

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Johann Sattler for "Avaz": EU is considering sanctions, closing the OHR is not an option yet