Headlines
- NATO hit military targets in Pristina, Pec, West and Central Serbia during the day
- Building of government in Novi Sad hit last night
- NATO Secretary-General announce first military actions of “Apache” helicopters next week
- OHR thinks meeting of BiH joint institutions will be held tomorrow as it is announced
- HDZ asks depriving of BiH citizenship to all citizens who gained it illegally
- Robert Gelbard in Zagreb – USA against emigrants’ voting at Croatian elections
- RS government asks withdrawing of BiH authorities’ claim for compensation for damage and genocide against Yugoslavia at the Hague Tribunal
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ready to provide long-term help for BiH
Yugoslavia
Air strikes against Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were continued during the day. NATO reported on a loss of two planes without pilots. Last night, a Danish fighter F-16 had to land at the Sarajevo airport. This was the twenty-seventh day of NATO air campaign.
Kosovo – refugees
The OSCE spokesperson in Skopje says that the OSCE monitors have gathered evidences on killings, rapes and expelling of Kosovo Albanians although they do not have confirmation of mass killings or existence of mass graves. Yesterday, NATO announced to have air photos of 43 mass graves in Kosovo. Exodus of Kosovo Albanians is continued, although the Yugoslav authorities closed main border crossing with Albania.
World – reactions
The Russian President, Boris Yeltsin, says that the Yugoslav president, upon fulfilling of certain conditions, has to agree with the international peace intervention in Kosovo, Deutche Welle reported. The USA State Secretary, Madeleine Albright, did not reject a possibility of the ground intervention in an interview for ABC.
Dubrovnik
Last week in Dubrovnik, a seminar on science philosophy, with scientists from 30 countries, took place. For OBN, the President of the International Humanists’ League, Helmut Moric, comments the Kosovo crisis.
Zagreb
The special USA envoy, Robert Gelbard, held a meeting with top officials and opposition leaders in Croatia. The main issues on the agenda were the situation in Federal Republic Yugoslavia nad relations between the USA and Republic Croatia.
The High Representative in BiH, Carlos Westendorp, also visited Zagreb today. He met with the Foreign Minister, Mato Granic, and discussed crucial issues for the two countries.
London
The main annual meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is taking place in London. The BiH representatives are at the meeting. The most important news is that the implementation of the one hundred million EUR credit, for the reconstruction of BiH roads, was approved.
Banja Luka
Functioning of the BiH joint institutions is one of the preconditions for the BiH donor conference. A meeting of the BiH Presidency and the Council of Ministers, scheduled for tomorrow, will be the first formal meeting after the moratorium announced by the Serb representatives in the BiH joint institutions last month. SFOR’s Commander, General Montgomery Meigs, held separate meetings with the Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Zivko Radisic, and the RS Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik.
Mostar
The HDZ Presidency gas gathered today in order to review the implementation of decisions made after the assassination of the BiH Federation Deputy Interior Minister, Jozo Leutar.
World
A report on opening ceremony of the Reichstag in Berlin was followed by the report on the parliamentary elections in Turkey.
Central-Bosnia Canton
The Deputy Interior Minister of the Central-Bosnia Canton, Jozo Lucic, resigned. He explained his decision with lack of success in the reconstruction of the Interior Ministry, building up of mutual confidence and training of staff.
Doboj
The RS Interior Minister is visiting municipalities in Republika Srpska in order to check security situation in the entity. Today, he visited Doboj.
Zenica
There are some 80 thousand refugees and displaced persons in the Zenica-Doboj Canton. Half of the entire number of collective centers is in this canton. New refugees from Yugoslavia only make the problem worse.
RS – economy
A piece on reflections of the current situation in Yugoslavia on BiH economy. Some RS companies are forced to dismiss employees or even to stop their production.
Mostar
The tobacco industry syndicate asks from the Federal Government to withdraw its suggestion for increase of the special tax for tobacco products. The manager of the Mostar’s tobacco factory says that the increase could lead to closing of the factory
Sarajevo
Political analyst of the International Crisis Group, James Lyon, thinks that the increase of the tax on tobacco would have catastrophic consequences for economy.
Banja Luka
A show of food and drinks “HIP 99” will take place in Banja Luka from April 21 to 25. The organizer of the show expects 60 exhibitors from both BiH entities.
Sport
The BiH women tennis representation has gone to Spain this morning in order to participate at the tournament from April 26 to 30. This was followed by the reports on world and European football and NBA.