- BH-Central Institutions
- OSCE: Postponement of the constituting session of the House of
Representatives is unconstitutional;
- BiH Council of Ministers to discuss joint defense policy;
- Federation
- OHR reacts to pensioners protests - Pensioners may get free
medicines and subsidies;
- BiH Gas asks for the intervention of the OHR;
- Republika Srpska
- Main RS parties held consultative meetings on the new government;
- International Community
- NATO Secretary-General George Robertson visits BiH;
- Wolfgang Petritsch's last addresses to BiH public in 2000;
- Wolfgang Petritsch: There is strong willingness among parties to
create the Alliance;
- International Advisory Group welcomes the set of laws imposed by the
High Representative;
- Finn Lynghjem leaves with mixed feelings;
- IPTF controls the work of the Herzeg-Bosnia Canton police;
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Central Institutions related Issues:
OSCE: Postponement of the constituting session of the House of
Representatives is unconstitutional:
OSCE Spokesperson Sanela Tunovic-Becirevic said that the decision to
postpone the constituting session of the BiH Parliament's House of
Representatives, which was scheduled for yesterday, was unconstitutional
and also violated the rules and regulations of the Provisional Elections
Commission. The new session was planned for December 29th.
BiH Council of Ministers to discuss joint defense policy:
The BiH CoM will hold a session today at which they are to discuss the
decision of the BiH Presidency on drafting a BiH defense policy and the
proposal on the decision on the temporary financing of BiH institutions in
the first three month of the next year, Srna reports. They are also to
discuss the proposal on the Law on Competition and the proposal on the Law
on Associations and Funds. The members of the BiH CoM are expected to be
presented a report on the visit of the CoM delegation to Zagreb and
participation of CoM delegations in international assemblies in Palermo
and Budapest. The BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs and Communications should
submit reports on the transport route 5C through BiH and the Agency for
Joint Affairs of BiH Institutions, as well as a report on certain
decisions of the BiH CoM that have not been realized.
Federation
OHR reacts to pensioners protests - Pensioners may get free medicines and
subsidies:
Dnevni Avaz reported that that representatives of the International
Community will suggest to the new Federation Government to start resolving
problems facing pensioners in the entity, i.e., to enable them to enjoy
free medical care or to subsidize a portion of their living costs. OHR
Spokesman Oleg Milisic could not confirm this, but he said that the High
Representative is aware of the difficult situation of pensioners and that
he believes that any measures which could, at least in the short run, help
the pensioners are more then welcome. Commenting on the recent protests of
pensioners associations in front of the OHR building in Sarajevo, Milisic
said that the OHR does not object to pensioners expressing their opinion
in front of its offices, but the correct address for their demonstrations
is the building of the Federation's Government, who bares a great deal of
responsibility for the situation in the Pension Funds.
BiH Gas asks for the intervention of the OHR:
The Director of the BiH Gas, Salih Vatrenjak, said that his company will
ask for an intervention of the OHR, because authorities in Pale are "still
harassing more then 500.000 people living in Sarajevo" by reducing the
pressure of natural gas coming into the city. Because of this action, most
Sarajevo boiler rooms are not operating with full capacity or not
functioning at all.
Republika Srpska
Main RS parties held consultative meetings on the new government:
Both RS dailies report on the consultative meeting of the RS President
Mirko Sarovic and political parties represented in the RS National
Assembly on the new government. In separate meetings, Sarovic met with
representatives of the SDS, the PDP, the SNS and the DNS.
"Aside from the election of the Prime Minister designate, we discussed the
economic, political and the social priorities on which the new government
should be working ", stated Dragan Kalinic the SDS President. SNSD's
Milorad Dodik said that "love between the SDS and PDP was openly
expressed, and that it should end up in either marriage or a divorce. Some
people might not support the authority of the SNSD and Milorad Dodik in
terms of faster transfer of authoritie from the level of entity to the
state level. The SNSD remains decisive to preserve all functions of the
RS and to provide for the functional BiH which could carry out its role
foreseen by the Dayton.", said Dodik.
Mladen Ivanic, PDP:
"PDP thinks that wisdom is needed and that a government which would be
based on professionals should be formed. Such Government shouldn't lose
support of the international institutions but it also has to have a clear
majority at the RS NA and has to be formed in accordance with the will of
the people. The PDP will support the proposal of Mr. Sarovic, regardless
of whom he nominates for the PM position. The RS is slowly but surely
getting its institutions in place and entering a stabile phase".
Dragan Kalinic, SDS:
"I do not see any kind of extraordinary situation or that the election
results were brought into question. Finally, was forming of an expert
government requested after democratic elections in Croatia and will it be
asked in Serbia. Will such criteria be applied for the forming of the
government in the Federation?"
Branislav Lolic, SNS:
"SNS's position that "in a package" talks on the RS government and the RS
representatives in BiH Common institutions should be held. We hope that
President Sarovic would nominate a candidate who would be acceptable for
the SNS. Mr. Ivanic is acceptable for us as his name is being mentioned in
that context very often."
Dragan Kostic, DNS:
"I hope we will hear a name of the new PM Designate very soon because for
the DNS it is very important that it happens as soon as possible. The DNS
is not interested that its representatives take part in the new executive
powers at any cost."
International Community
NATO Secretary-General George Robertson visits BiH:
After his visit to the BiH capital and subsequent talks with Bosnian
authorities, the NATO Secretary-General, George Robertson, said that more
substantial progress in the peace implementation in BiH is needed in the
future. He also said that the International Community is growing
increasingly dissatisfied with the situation in BiH. "The IC can no longer
tolerate the extreme nationalism, for its results are three armies, two
entities, and a state which has no money," said Robertson, and added that
the people in BiH do not deserve to live in such conditions. The NATO SG
also stressed that his priorities in the coming years would be to ensure
the accession of BiH and the FRY to the Partnership for Peace. However,
he emphasized that this will be possible only after BiH creates a unified
command, unified military doctrine and a common defense policy.
Robertson's visit to BiH was one of the top news in Federation and RS
media.
Wolfgang Petritsch's last addresses to BiH public in 2000:
In his last address to BiH public in the year 2000, the High
Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, evaluated the achievements of the
International Community and BiH in the past year and announced his plans
for 2001. Petritsch, said that the economic reform, the return of refugees
and the strengthening of the state institutions in BiH will be his main
priorities in the coming period, but he stressed that he also expects more
responsibility on the part of new authorities. At the press conference
held in Sarajevo on Thursday, Petritsch recalled that the he made numerous
decisions this year, 52 of them, but stressed that he was not proud of
this fact. Finally, he expressed his hope that the BiH Council of
Ministers would in the following period grow into the modern government of
this state, which will be the main initiator of important changes.
Petritsch's address was reported on the front pages of all Federation and
RS dailies, (Croatian newspapers also reported it) and it was, next to
Robert's visit to Sarajevo, the main news in the electronic media.
Wolfgang Petritsch: There is strong willingness among parties to create
the Alliance;
In an interview with Dnevni Avaz, Wolfgang Petritsch said that there is a
strong will among the main actors to create the Alliance for Changes in
BiH. Petritsch also said that he believes that platforms and programs of
the Alliance parties are quite decent and that the OHR will ensure that
the issues, which are also a part of the IC program, are implemented.
Commenting on the recent suggestions of the US Ambassador, Richard
Holbrooke, to ban the SDS from participating in the elections, Petritsch
said that he could not support that idea, since he is a representative of
more then one country in the International Community and his
responsibility is to ensure a strong consensus on such matters. "I asked
Holbrooke why he didn't abolish all three nationalist parties in Dayton,"
said Petritsch, and added that one of the grave mistakes of the IC was to
allow the war parties to grow into major parties in peace. The High
Representative also said that despite the joint statements signed with the
SDS leadership, he will not believe that this party changed its politics
until it shows some concrete results on the ground.
International Advisory Group welcomes the set of laws imposed by the High
Representative:
The International Advisory Group welcomed the decision of the High
Representative to impose the set of laws which is to help the
strengthening of economy in BiH. The IAG believes these laws are of
crucial importance for the establishment of the single payment system in
this country, which is also a great step towards the economic growth and
progress.
Finn Lynghjem leaves with mixed feelings:
Speaking about his departure from the Mostar OHR, Fynn Lynghjem said that
he is leaving with mixed feelings, because of wonderful people he met
during his work. On the other hand, he has the feelings of frustration
since there is still much work to be done in the region. He stressed that
in BiH there are forces, who want to preserve antagonism and who slow down
the process which could bring this country a better future. Lynghjem will
be replaced by the former British ambassador to Croatia, Colin Munro.
IPTF controls the work of the Herzeg-Bosnia Canton police:
Deputies of the IPTF Commissioner for the Civil Affairs Office, Denis
Ladus and Ray Gravell, presented the program of supervision of the work of
all police department chiefs that the Mission introduced in the
Herzeg-Bosnia Canton Ministry of Interior after the High Representative
removed its head Branko Matic in early December.
According to the IPTF Spokesperson for Banjaluka and Bihac region, Alun
Roberts, the "The plan was imposed in the HBC Ministry of Interior as a
measure which was to lead to some progress, and more professional
performance of police activities," said Alun Roberts of the UN.
"Former HBC MoI Branko Matic allowed himself to succumb to the influence
of one political party, the HDZ, due to which the UN Mission holds that
the interests of the political party interfere with the professional
performance of the minister's duties, which was one of the reasons for
Matic's removal," said Roberts at a press conference, explaining the
reasons why Matic was removed.
Matic is still performing the duty of Minister, after the HBC Government
rejected all of Petritsch's arguments for his removal. Roberts said that
Matic has to leave and that the leading officials of the Cantonal MoI
passed in silence over the fact that during the IPTF and SFOR control of
armament at the MoI in Livno, unauthorized means for destruction of tanks
and aircraft.
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