03.03.2000

OBN News Review, 3 March 2000

Headlines

  • The Hague – General Tihomir Blaskic sentenced to 45 years in prison – the Court Council announced that the clash in Srednja Bosna was international
  • Washington – distribution of wanted circulars for Milosevic, Karadzic and Mladic begun
  • Yugoslavia responded to a letter send by BiH on the start of for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries – conclusions were not acceptable for Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Zagreb – the RS Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik, talked to the Croatian Prime Minister, Ivica Racan
  • KFOR used tear gas in order to disperse Serbs who gathered in the North part of Kosovska Mitrovica
  • Sarajevo – the Republic of Italy cancelled 67% of the BiH pre-war debt

The Hague

The Hague Tribunal pronounced General Tihomir Blaskic guilty as charged and sentenced him to 45 years in prison because of his individual and collective responsibility for crimes committed by HVO over Bosniaks. Also, the Court Council announced that the clash in Srednja Bosna, because of the participation of the Republic of Croatia, was of an international type. The report from the Hague for TV INFO was produced by Vjera Bogati.

Mostar

The President of the HDZ party in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a member of the BiH Presidency, Ante Jelavic, said he was disappointed with the verdict of the Hague Tribunal and said that it was unjust, OBN reporter from Mostar, Pejo Gasparevic, confirmed.

Kiseljak

This was followed by a poll made on the streets in Kiseljak, the home town of General Tihomir Blaskic. Most of them said that they were sorry for a severe punishment and that he did not deserve that.

Washington

Distribution of wanted circulars for Milosevic, Karadzic and Mladic begun. Five million dollars is the award for information which would help in arresting these three. Wanted circulars have been printed in five languages and will be distributed in both BiH entities and in Serbia. The report was produced by OBN journalist, Sevko Bajic.

Sarajevo

In the beginning of February, the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia insisting on negotiations for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. A response from Yugoslavia came today. Some of the conclusions mentioned in the response are not acceptable for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Anes Alic. The main problem are the charges raised against Yugoslavia by BiH.

Zagreb

The RS Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik, on behalf of the RS, met with the Croatian Prime Minister, Ivica Racan, in Zagreb today. They discussed the return of Serbs to Croatia, as well as the return of Bosnian Croats to BiH, Gordana Simonovic confirmed for TV INFO from Zagreb.

World

KFOR used tear gas in order to disperse Serbs who gathered in the North part of Kosovska Mitrovica. Serbs tried to enter three buildings left by Kosovo Albanians last month. In Lisbon, a tri-lateral meeting between the US, EU and Russia has been currently held. The main topic of the meeting is the crisis in Chechnya. In Moscow, a campaign for the new President of Russia has officially started. The ex Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet, arrived to Chile. The piece on current events in the world was produced by OBN journalist, Adis Saranovic.

Sarajevo

Today in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Italy signed an agreement by which BiH will return 42 million dollars of the pre-war debt in the next 33 years with a minimum of interest, less than 1%. Practically, the Republic of Italy cancelled 67% of the BiH pre-war debt. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Damir Kaletovic.

Mostar

An item on the first auction in Mostar. This marked the beginning of the process of privatisation in the Hercegovina-Neretva company, Senada Malanovic confirmed from Mostar.

Sarajevo

This was followed by a piece on the seminars organised by electricity distribution companies from Spain for local staff and management, and presenting them with first diplomas. The project was implemented under the auspices of the Spanish Government.

This was followed by a report on the House of Human Rights work. Although their work is appreciated, the situation is alarming because most of their decisions have not been implemented. The report for TV INFO was produced by Amarildo Gutic.

Nova Bila

The BiH Federation Minister of Health, Bozo Ljubic, visited the Croatian hospital “Doktor fra Mate Nikolic” in Nova Bila. The linking of this hospital to the hospital in Novi Travnik was discussed, OBN reporter from the area, Branka Vrebac, confirmed.

Zenica

This morning, a Catholic school center was informed by an anonymous phone call that a bomb was placed in the school. However, this was a false alarm. Zeljka Bajramovic produced the report for TV INFO.

Lukavica

A piece on handing over the books confiscated in 1992 by Serb Army to the Franciscan Theology School.

Sport

Reports on international football and NBA were presented.