Sarajevo – The convertible mark (KM) has been issued and BiH now has a single currency for the whole of its territory. The exchange of BiH Dinars for convertible marks has started as well. BiH citizens showed interest and confidence in the new currency, exchanging more than five million dinars for convertible marks. Peter Nicholl, the Central Bank Governor, also symbolically changed his dinars for the KM. At the press conference held in the Central Bank, Nicholl once more underlined the currency has firm backing.
2:00
Bijeljina – The issuing of the KM, although announced, did not occur at any bank in Bijeljina today. A representative of the Serb State Bank said that the first bundles of KM have been stored in safes, but due to technical reasons, distribution will start in some days.
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Brussels – Alija Izetbegovic, BiH Presidency Chairman is leaving to Brussels tomorrow. He will meet with Javier Solana, King Albert I, Jacques Santer and Hans van den Broek. He will also speak to the European Members of Parliament in the Committee for Foreign Affairs A key topic of Izetbegovi’s talks in Brussels will be refugee return. Europe has to find a way of breaking obstruction to refugee return, especially in RS, Adamir Jerkovic, Izetbegovic’s advisor and spokesman told press conference today.
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Sarajevo – Izetbegovic received diplomatic accreditation letter from Carlos Trejo Sosa, the Cuban Ambassador to BiH as well as an accreditation letter from Dr. Mazen Armouti , Ambassador of the Kingdom of Jordan to BiH.
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Sarajevo – Alija Izetbegovic gave an interview to Vecernje Novine on the occasion of the 10,000th issue of this Sarajevo based daily. Speaking about the possibility of revising the Dayton agreement after September elections, Izetbegovic said that the elections are the chance for things to change for the better. Nobody will easily start unpacking a package which has been arranged with such difficulty. The Bosniak’s side is in the right, demanding either a complete implementation of DPA or its changing in order to ensure a functional state, he said. He talked of the IC’s wish to leave this country but not before they bring order and explained why a difficult solution for BiH such as the DPA has been accepted.
2:30
Ankara – Ejup Ganic, Federation President, led a delegation on a visit to the Republic of Turkey. The delegation met with the highest Turkish officials who supported BiH and promised further assistance in peace and development of the country.
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Kosovo – Although under pressure of nearly the whole world’s politicians, Slobodan Milosevic is working on his plan. Some Western analysts believe that Milosevic is pursuing a strategy to divide Kosovo into Serb and Albanian parts.
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Travnik – Business magnates from Islamic countries, who attended the International Conference on investment in BiH, visited Travnik, today. They discussed the possibility of cooperation with local firms. They will pay a visit to Mostar and discuss the same topics with the businessmen there.
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Tuzla – The Netherlands is one of the greatest donors in BiH. Only for the reconstruction of the refugees houses, Holland prepared the third, very significant project worth 7.5 million dollars. Margret Streit, speaking for the Netherlands Embassy, said that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is going to extend its help for BiH, especially with projects for the Srebrenica women.
1:30
Mostar – Ramiz Leto, Prime Minister of the N-H Canton sent a letter to Edhem Bicakcic, Federation Prime Minister, as well as to the HR Carlos Westendorp in which he informed them that he will start establishing the Privatisation Agency in the Canton only when a minimum of legal and economic conditions are met. These conditions must ensure that the workers of capital firms: Alumina Complex Soko, Neretva Hydro-Electrical Plants, etc, will not be damaged.
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There follow reports from press conferences from two political parties: LBO and the Liberal Party.