- Supreme Command of the FRY ordered withdrawal of a part of units of the army and the police from Kosovo
- China suspended the military cooperation with the USA
- The debate on the Yugoslav request for instituting the court proceedings against the NATO started in The Hague
- Numerous congratulations on the occasion of May 12, the Day of the RS Army
- The Council of Europe representatives completed their visit to the RS – BiH to become a full member by the end of the year
Follows the report of the correspondent from Belgrade: Concerning the fact that the activities in Kosovo and Metohija against the so-called KLA are over, the Supreme Command of the Yugoslav Army ordered that the withdrawal of a part of units of both the police and the army should start. This decision is to be implemented from May 9, at 22:00 hrs, today’s press release of the Supreme Command of the Yugoslav Army says. Belgrade media report today on NATO strikes against the targets throughout Yugoslavia. In the afternoon, the air raid sirens were sounded in Podgorica and other Yugoslav towns. Detonations, which are the consequence of breaking the sound barrier of the NATO planes, upset the citizens of Zrenjanin, Novi Sad, Sombor, Nis and Belgrade.
News bulletin: At 18:30 hrs, NATO aviation started the attack on Kosovo polje. According to the SRNA correspondent, 7 destructive missiles were launched by 19:00 hrs.
China suspended the military cooperation and the discussions on the respect of human rights with the USA due to the bombardment of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, was stated in Peking today. This was also discussed in the phone conversation at the highest China-Russia level.
Follows a more detailed report of the Tanjug correspondent from Peking: Presidents of Russia and China requested today the halt of the U. S. – NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia as a pre-condition for reaching a political solution of the Kosovo crisis. The Russian President called the Chinese President by the red phone in order to express personally bitterness caused by the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Sinhua agency reported. Both presidents condemned the NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia, a sovereign country, which has been performed neglecting the UN role. They called on NATO to stop immediately the bombardment and to go back to the political resolution of the Kosovo issue, Sinhua reported.
Special Envoy of the Russian president for Yugoslavia Victor Chernomyrdin left for Peking this morning with the aim of, as it is expected, discussing the situation in Yugoslavia with the highest Chinese officials, Beta reports.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will depart for Peking tomorrow in order to hold meetings with the highest Chinese officials and try to express the apology for a mistake done by bombing the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. Schroeder is to call on China to cooperate with the West in the search for a political resolution of the crisis in Kosovo and Metohija, as well, Tanjug carries.
The U. S. President Bill Clinton addressed expressions of regret to the Chinese President because of the bombardment of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, agencies carry. The press release of the White House explains that a mistake was in question and that there is regret for the lost lives and sufferings caused by it. Clinton’s letter also clearly underlines the importance of the protection of the U. S. personnel in China.
State Department suspended last night all official trips of the U. S. officials to China and called on U. S. citizens to postpone all the trips to that country, Tanjug carries. Foreign Office addressed a similar recommendation to the British citizens with the warning that they should not travel to China if there is no urgent need.
A more detailed report on writings of press throughout the world on the NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia as well as on bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade.
Follows a more detailed report on reactions of some international officials to the decision of the Yugoslav authorities on withdrawal of a part of the armed forces from Kosmet.
China requested holding of a new session of the UN Security Council with the aim of condemning the NATO bombardment of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, agencies carry.
Regarding the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, the BiH Presidency Chairman Zivko Radisic addressed a wire of condolences to the Chinese Ambassador to BiH.
Follows a more detailed report on the protests against the NATO bombardment of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, which were held throughout Asia, as well as in Toronto and Spain.
The debate on the FRY request for an immediate halt of the NATO bombardment of this sovereign country and for instituting the court proceedings against 10 countries involved in the NATO strikes on Yugoslavia started before the International Court of Justice in The Hague today. Follows a more detailed report on it.
The European Union formally approved today a new package of sanctions against the FRY.
Bad weather above Yugoslavia last night prevented the performing of the planned number of air strikes, NATO stated today.
Regarding the FRY request for instituting the court proceedings against the NATO countries involved in the aggression against Yugoslavia, the NATO spokesperson Jamie Shea stated today that NATO always respects the international law and that he believes that the ten countries are capable of defending themselves before the court. Shea, on behalf of the NATO, hailed the decision of the European Union to intensify the sanctions against Yugoslavia. Shea stated that a NATO delegation visited the President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic and handed over to him the financial aid in dollars. According to Shea, Djukanovic uses the money, inter alia, for paying the Montenegrin police. Shea repeated that the hitting of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade was a tragic mistake for which the whole intelligence service is responsible and not only an individual.
Seven years ago, on May 12, 1992, by the decision of the Assembly of the Serb people in BiH at that time, the armed forces were established which, during the war, became the RS Army. Follows a detailed report on the activities related to the celebration of the Day of the RS Army.
After the separate meetings held with Zivko Radisic, Petar Djokic, Milorad Dodik, Branko Dokic and Momir Tosic, Ostoja Kremenovic and Milan Trbojevic, the representatives of the Council of Europe held a press conference and announced that BiH has great chances for being admitted into the Council of Europe by the end of the year. Follows a report on it.
The RS Vice-president Mirko Sarovic held a meeting with the U. S. Ambassador to BiH Richard Kauzlarich in Serb Sarajevo today. Follows a more detailed report on it.
The PEC announced today that the registration for the forthcoming local elections will take place between May 10 and May 21 of this year.
FBiH related news.
World news.
Follows a report on the SDS regular press conference, which was held in Banja Luka today.