“Serbia selling off Bosnian companies”

Economic analyst Duljko Hasic says Serbia plans to sell 150 companies that belonged to Bosnia-Herzegovina before the war. “These include 150 business and warehouse facilities around Serbia in the most attractive locations. The book-keeping value is between EUR 1.8-2bn,” he told Sarajevo daily Dnevni Avaz. “Serbia selling off Bosnian companies” Hasic, who is an adviser at the Bosnia-Herzegovina Foreign Trade Chamber, said that the government in Sarajevo should begin “a very aggressive diplomatic campaign,” adding that the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency should “initiate an avalanche of reactions from the EU, the Council of Europe, and the Court in Strasbourg in order to protect its assets.” The analyst added that the “behavior of the Serbian government is giving rise to frustrations within companies in Bosnia-Herzegovina,” which now “are thinking about getting even through the property of Serbian companies that have invested in or bought Bosnian companies.” “That would be no good to anyone. But, out of despair, Serbian companies could find their assets blocked,” he warned. Bosnia-Herzegovina has already sent a letter of protest to Serbia regarding the problem, which has yet to be addressed by Belgrade, while Serbia has formed a commission to analyze the situation and propose a solution. According to information published on the website of the Serbian Privatization Agency, the business premises of Unis Rent-a-Car, located in Cara Dusana Street in Belgrade, and Fero-Electro, located in Uzun-Mirkova Street, are expected to be auctioned off in August and September, as are Sipad Komerc in Kneza Milosa Street and Unis Tours Trade in King Aleksandar Boulevard. Sipad Komerc has its own office building in New Belgrade, retail stores and warehouses in Nis and Kraljevo, and furniture showrooms and offices in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Uzice, as well as a branch in Zemun.

“Serbia selling off Bosnian companies”

Hasić, who is an adviser at the Bosnia-Herzegovina Foreign Trade Chamber, said that the government in Sarajevo should begin “a very aggressive diplomatic campaign,” adding that the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency should “initiate an avalanche of reactions from the EU, the Council of Europe, and the Court in Strasbourg in order to protect its assets.”

The analyst added that the “behavior of the Serbian government is giving rise to frustrations within companies in Bosnia-Herzegovina,” which now “are thinking about getting even through the property of Serbian companies that have invested in or bought Bosnian companies.”

“That would be no good to anyone. But, out of despair, Serbian companies could find their assets blocked,” he warned.

Bosnia-Herzegovina has already sent a letter of protest to Serbia regarding the problem, which has yet to be addressed by Belgrade, while Serbia has formed a commission to analyze the situation and propose a solution.

According to information published on the website of the Serbian Privatization Agency, the business premises of Unis Rent-a-Car, located in Cara Dušana Street in Belgrade, and Fero-Electro, located in Uzun-Mirkova Street, are expected to be auctioned off in August and September, as are Šipad Komerc in Kneza Miloša Street and Unis Tours Trade in King Aleksandar Boulevard.

Šipad Komerc has its own office building in New Belgrade, retail stores and warehouses in Niš and Kraljevo, and furniture showrooms and offices in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Užice, as well as a branch in Zemun.