Headlines
- During the last two days, NATO targeted posts of the Yugoslav Army in Kosovo
- First group of 250 Yugoslav troops left Kosovo this morning
- Slobodan Milosevic confirmed military and police troop loses
- French President and the US Deputy State Secretary in Moscow; Duma discusses dismissal of Russian President
- Dragan Covic signed the Forum of Federation Document on behalf of the Croats in BiH
- War invalids and dead soldiers’ families blocked roads Zenica-Sarajevo and Lasva-Busovaca – they were promised to be paid tomorrow
- OHR criticized SDA for refusing to sign an agreement for Zepce; SDA thinks the agreement unacceptable
Yugoslavia
Yugoslav troops and artillery in Kosovo are under constant fire from NATO planes. Agencies reported the withdrawal of some smaller groups of Yugoslav troops in Kosovo. NATO denied that. For the first time, Yugoslav authorities confirmed important loses of military and police forces. A report from Belgrade, OBN’s reporter, Tatjana Stankovic.
Russia
Russian President told the French President today in Moscow that Russia would reconsider its efforts for a peaceful solution of the Kosovo crisis if NATO strikes continue. UN Secretary General thinks that political changes in Russia could complicate the search for a peaceful solution in Kosovo.
Kosovo – refugees
Yugoslav President, Slobodan Milosevic, refused to talk to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson. In the meantime, the exodus of the Kosovo refugees continues. Some 3,900 refugees from Kosovo arrived in Albania yesterday.
Sarajevo
Today the Vice President of the BiH Federation Government, Dragan Covic, signed the Forum of Federation document about economic issues on behalf of the Croats in BiH from May 11th. His remarks were made in respect of the transformation of the pension fund. Dragan Covic said, on OBN’s TVINFO and afterwards as a guest on OBN’s Telering, that the document was signed with the changes he asked for.
Donor Conference for BiH will be held on May 20th and 21st in Brussels. The managing Board of the Council for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement decided to extend the deadline for changing from the old BiH passports to the new ones to September 30th.
Banja Luka
The RS Government made a suggestion for the RS budget for this year. The suggestion is to have a budget of 636 million KM.
This was followed by a piece on the current difficult situation of the RS economy due to their connections with the economy of Yugoslavia. Damage up to now is evaluated to be some 700 million DEM.
Sarajevo
The High Representative in BiH announced that the International Community would help the RS in respect of their economic problems. Deputy High Representative for Media, Simon Haselock, talked on this issue at today’s press conference. He said that several countries have already sent their donations.
A report on a meeting between the representatives of the BiH Croats and Ambassadors of member countries of the managing board of the Dayton Peace Implementation Council.
Brcko
One of the most important economic branches in the RS is agriculture. The EU programme helps the developing countries obtain grants and credits for the purchase of new tractors.
Banja Luka
At today’s press conference, representatives of the RS Government reported on new measures that would enable them to stop black market operations.
Zepce
An agreement that should solve many problems between the Bosniak and Croatian authorities in the Zepce Municipality was not signed yesterday as it was scheduled for the Bosniak delegation who had refused it. The OHR thinks that the obstruction is coming from the highest levels of the SDA.
Zenica
Roads Zenica-Sarajevo and Lasva-Busovaca were un-blocked, OBN reporters from Zenica confirmed.
Sarajevo
A report on plans to increase the number of police officers in BiH within the next few months. IPTF Commissar in BiH, Detlef Buwitt, said that police should do more than just control vehicles on the road.
Mostar
A report on measures for preventing traffic accidents. Representatives of the Canton and town authorities were discussing this issue today in Mostar.
Tuzla
A piece on the opening of an orphanage in Tuzla funded by the USAID and the Turkish Government.
Sport
Results from the matches of European qualifications for volleyball followed by a report on the forthcoming International Chess Tournament in Sarajevo next week.