News Headlines
- BiH Presidency considers Permanent Election Law
- It is clear to Tudjman that there is no possibility for establishment of third BiH entity – Perdew
- Petritsch and Barry comment on draft of BiH Permanent Election Law
- European Council delegation meets with BiH Presidency, Prlic, Petritsch, Ombudsman Gret Haller and Commissions of Both BiH Parliamentary Houses
- BiH Presidency meets with high NATO delegation led by George Robertson
- 11th BiH Parliamentary session to continue on 27 October, session of House of Peoples on 3 November
- BiH Federation Government continues session in Mostar
- Jelavic meets with US Ambassador to BiH Miller
- Frowick interview for TV BiH
- Frowick meets with Silajdzic
- Talic attorney holds press conference in Banja Luka
- Croatian Supreme Court rejects Tuta’s defense appeal for non-extradition
- International news
- Pope meets with Archbishops from BiH and Croatia
- OHR condemns incident in Kopaci
- BiH Refugee Association requests Petritsch dismiss Slavko Topalovic
- Brcko for Brcko Citizens says dropped charges against Jelisic for genocide fits in with IC general approach in BiH
- SDA holds press conference
- BiH Republicans support initiative of Helsinki Committee not to allow candidature of politicians that use refugee apartments
- Mustafic attorney denies information published by TV BiH
- BiH electricity to be exported to Montenegro
- Hydro power plant Una, near Bihac, to be reconstructed
News Summary
BiH Presidency considers Permanent Election Law
Advisor to BiH Presidency Chairman Ante Jelavic, Martin Raguz, stated at a press conference held after the Presidency session that the text of the Permanent Election Law was confirmed at Wednesday’s session of the Peace Implementation Council. Raguz stated that, according to Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Robert Barry and High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch, there are certain changes to the draft that was previously circulated. The High Representative expressed an expectation that this law will be adopted before February 2000.
02:25
It is clear to Tudjman that there is no possibility for establishment of third BiH entity – Perdew
Regarding the statement of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on a third entity in BiH, Assistant to the US Presidential Advisor for Kosovo and BiH James Perdew stated that it is clear to President Tudjman and all others that there is no possibility for the establishment of a third entity. Perdew said that the Dayton Agreement clearly defines BiH as one state with two entities and three peoples. He added that they expect the Croatian President to fulfil his obligations as one of Dayton Agreement signatories.
00:32
Petritsch and Barry comment on draft of BiH Permanent Election Law
Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Robert Barry and High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch presented the official draft of the BiH Permanent Election Law to all BiH joint institutions on Thursday. The BiH Parliament has been asked to immediately put this law in procedure and adopt it within the following weeks. The draft of this law ensures the right of refugees to vote for representatives of their pre-war municipalities, preferential voting for the BiH Presidency, support for both entity Presidency members, financial transparency and a system of open lists. The composition of the BiH Presidency and who can vote for its members has not changed. BiH Presidency candidates will have to get 1,000 signatures from voters permanently settled in the other entity and the support of at least four municipal councils from other entity as well. Voters may not be able to vote for Presidency members of their choice, but can vote for candidates in their entity regardless of nationality. This possibility was taken from the BiH Constitution.
01:34
BiH Presidency meets with high NATO delegation led by George Robertson
A senior NATO delegation led by NATO Secretary General George Robertson met with the BiH Presidency on Thursday. The Presidency expressed a readiness for the reduction of all military expenses by 15% and for full implementation of all Dayton Agreement decisions. Robertson stated after the meeting that there are still big challenges ahead and that there is a need for more joint work. He stated that it is necessary to fight corruption, increase refugee returns and encourage members of this society to work together.
00:41
Frowick interview for TV BiH
The lead person on the US anti-corruption team, Ambassador Robert Frowick, stated in an exclusive interview for TV BiH that he was named Head of the US Interagency Task Force Corruption Team mainly because Congress raised this issue on the influence of the New York Times article, which suggested that large investments in BiH paid for by US taxpayers should be justified. Frowick said he noticed that US State Department spokesperson James Rubin considered the New York Times article to be untrue, saying that most of the claims are based on rumor. Frowick stated that Izetbegovic’s was right in saying that there is corruption everywhere, saying that the US is not immune to this either. He stated that it is a matter of which level of corruption. Commenting on the mention of only one person in the New York Times article, Bakir Izetbegovic, he said that he knows President Izetbegovic is very concerned about this issue. Frowick emphasized his strong respect for Izetbegovic, saying that he knows Izetbegovic is, before everything, a very religious man and that he has had the opportunity to be at many conferences with him. Frowick stressed that he has also had the opportunity to be in Izetbegovic’s small apartment and that he personally believes that Izetbegovic is not corrupt. Regarding Bakir, he said that he met him informally at several receptions, adding that he wants to underline that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
04:32
OHR condemns incident in Kopaci
The OHR condemned the behavior of local authorities in the incident in Kopaci, where 200 Bosniak refugees were stopped on they way to their property. OHR spokesperson Alexandra Stiglmayer emphasized that return to this area is impossible because of political problems, adding that local authorities must realize that the Dayton Agreement guaranties freedom of movement and the right to return.
00:19
Mustafic attorney denies information published by TV BiH
The attorney of Omer Mustafic, Alaga Bajramovic, denied information published by TV BiH in Wednesday’s news regarding the trial process against Mehmed Alagic (former Sanski Most Mayor) and Mustafic for charges of criminal misuse of position and questionable work. According to Bajramovic, there is an investigation against Mustafic only because of one act, and that is questionable performance.
00:32