HR Westendorp announced Arbiter Owen’s decision that Brcko is district under the governing of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Brcko district will be condominium and will have its own multi-ethnic Government, Assembly, Executive Board, Courts and the police forces. The new Government will be under the Governing of BiH, and entities will not have any authorisation in the district. Supervision regime in Brcko will continue until aborted by the members of the Peace Implementation Council. SFOR Commander Meigs said that SFOR will continue its peacekeeping mission in BiH, and that Brcko has to be open for everybody.
2:30
HR deputy Haselock announced the reasons for HR’s decision to remove RS President Poplasen. Haselock said that the High Representative today received a letter from the RS President Poplasen, in which he refused Westendorp’s instructions regarding Poplasen’s illegitimate efforts to remove the RS Premier Dodik, as well as his refusal to appoint the RS designate who has the necessary majority in the RS Assembly. Poplasen misused authority of the RS President, ignored the will of the people of RS as presented by legitimate delegates at the RS Assembly. Poplasen was preventing implementation of election results, and had permanent activities on instability in the RS, thus obstructing the DPA implementation. The HR exercises this decision in accordance with authority given to him by Annex 10 of the DPA and decision from PIC sessions at Bonn and Madrid.
2:00
After the Brcko decision, Brcko Supervisor Farrand made a statement and said that he is going to stay in Brcko in order to assist the only winners – Brcko citizens and their children, to build a peaceful and prosperous multiethnic community for the future.
1:00
The Multinational Division North made an announcement regarding Brcko decision and appealed on everybody to recognise and implement the Arbitration decision.
1:00
Presidency member Izetbegovic said that the Brcko decision is not the best solution, but it is the least bad of all bad solutions, for Brcko has been saved from complete injustice. Federation Arbitration Team for Brcko head Ganic held a press conference and said, “we asked Brcko to be awarded to the Federation. We did not get what we wanted – we got less than that – Brcko District.” Ganic added that this decision softens the injustice so far only because it is turned toward the future, emphasising that it represent winning of all three nations in BiH.
2:30
Agencies BiH Press, SRNA and ONASA published that RS Premier Milorad Dodik resigned. RTV BiH reporter from Banja Luka confirmed this news, saying that the RS NA, which discussed the Brcko Arbitration decision.
1:00
The SDA BiH made an announcement regarding Poplasen’s removal and said that High Representative had no choice, for, Poplasen was opposing to appointment of the Government in accordance with the RS NA majority, and that Westendorp had the authority for this action as reads in DPA Annex 10.
1:00
Reconstruction of 6 Bosniak and 6 Croat houses in West Mostar settlement of Pothum was recently commenced and was initiated by both, Bosniaks and Croats.
2:00
Bihac Municipality Council demanded verification of the initiative for the Open City, due to numerous cases of returnees selling their property.
1:30
Albanian side confirmed signing of the Kosovo Peace Agreement on March 15. However, fighting continued southwest of Pristina, resulting in 15 wounded policemen.
2:00