Headlines
- The RS Government dismissed the Director of the Health Insurance Fund, Dragutin Ilic, a member of the Socialist Party
- The Representative House of the BiH Parliament returned the draft law on the BiH Council of Ministers for further discussion
- Spending of the BiH Federation budget was the topic of discussion in the BiH Representative House of the BiH Federation Parliament
- The Una-Sana Canton Assembly elected a new Mayor to replace the dismissed Mirsad Veladzic
- A US plane with 88 passengers and crew members on board crashed near the California coast
- European Union threatens Austria with political sanctions
Banja Luka
Today, the RS Government held its session and dismissed the Director of the RS Health Insurance Fund, Dragutin Ilic, and ordered him to return his apartment. Dragutin Ilic is a member of the RS Socialist Party leadership whose president is Zivko Radisic. The RS Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik, said that the RS Ministry of Health was authorised to performed duties of the dismissed Director in connection to the Fund until a new person is appointed. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Tatjana Lajsic.
The current political crisis in the RS, caused by misunderstanding between political parties, resulted in a stronger presence of top International Community officials in this BiH entity. The head of the OSCE Mission, Robert Barry, visited Banja Luka. Political partners in the “Koalicija sloga” claim that the unity of the Coalition is preserved. The Head of the OSCE Mission said that he explained to the “Koalicija sloga” representatives that leaving out the provision on the election of the BiH Presidency in the permanent Draft Law on Elections did not mean that OSCE have changed their opinion on that issue. Robert Barry said: “We believe that the Constitution spells out clearly how the Presidency is to be elected, and the only ways of changing that are through parliamentary procedure of amendment or through a specific decision of the Constitutional Court which I think is probably unlikely”. The RS Prime Minister Dodik did not agree and said that if there was a change of the BiH Constitution in practice and life, this would force a change of the BiH Election Law, but for the time being, it was not acceptable to change the Constitution because of the new Election Law, OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Predrag Curkovic, confirmed.
This was followed by a report on the continuation of the RS Socialist Party Executive Board session, which began in Banja Luka yesterday. The Executive Board decided to leave the remaining four ministers from this party in the RS Government, despite the fact that Prime Minister Dodik dismissed their party member, Tihomir Gligoric, from the position of the RS Minister of Soldier and Labour Issues, OBN reporter from the area, Nedeljka Breberina, confirmed.
The Main Board of RS Prime Minister Dodik’s Independent Social-Democrat Party announced that the RS Government could dismiss the Board of the RS Oil Industry, chaired by the BiH Presidency member and the President of the RS Socialist Party, Zivko Radisic. The Independent Social-Democrats reminded everyone of the conclusion of the RS National Assembly that political officials should not be members of companies’ boards. Zivko Radisic said he would be glad if such a decision was made because when the board was chosen, no one asked his consent. He added that great efforts have been made in the consolidation in the oil industry of the RS, especially in respect to establishment of the regular production.
Banja Luka
Judges of the BiH Constitutional Court from the RS think that this institution will not be able to bring decisions if all members are not present. The Judge of the Constitutional Court from the RS, Marko Asovic, said at the press conference in Banja Luka today that his resignation could not be revoked. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Biljana Arsic.
Sarajevo
The Representative House of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly did not adopt the Law on the BiH Council of Ministers, suggested by the SDP party. The representatives discussed the suggestion for the law on public holidays. The development of the draft law will follow because the representatives adopted the suggestion made by the SDP representatives and the Council of Ministers. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Sefko Bajic.
This was followed by a report on the session of the Representative House of the BiH Federation Parliament. The Representative House accepted the report on spending of budget funds for last year despite the fact that 30% more funds than planned were spent for salaries of employees in the Federal management, OBN reporter, Amarildo Gutic, confirmed.
World
A US plane “Boeing 737” with 88 passengers and crew members on board crashed near the California coast. Rescue teams did not find any survivors. An item on Chechenia followed. The Chechen Representative for the Press announced that Chechen troops and weapons were withdrawn from the capital. Russia denied that. The US State Secretary, Madeleine Albright, continued her visit to Moscow and attended the multi-lateral conference on the Peace process in the Middle East. In Austria, the Conservative People’s Party and the right-wing Freedom Party agreed a joint programme of Government. The European Union threatens Austria with political sanctions because of the participation of the right-wing party. In Kosovo, the Council of Kosovo, consisting of UN and local representatives started to function officially. This means that all parallel institutions will stop functioning. The report on current events in the world was produced by OBN journalist, Gordana Frimel.
Mostar
Five hundred and thirty one rail road workers from Mostar are participating in a general strike of rail road workers in the BiH Federation. Their colleagues from the “Herceg Bosna Rail Roads” joined them. The report from Mostar for TV INFO was produced by Sinisa Jokic.
Sarajevo
An item on problems which occurred in an agreement made between the BiH Federation “Investicijska banka” bank and the Slovenian Export Association. Only one third of planned business was implemented because of badly worded contracts. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Damir Kaletovic.
Pale
Last night, in front of the International Police Task Forces in Pale, a hand bomb exploded at 21.35 hrs. No one was hurt but three cars of the UN were damaged. The IPTF station continued its work and an investigation is going on.
Sarajevo
This was followed by a report on the international organisations’ press conference held in Sarajevo today. The main topic of the press conference were the presidential elections in Croatia, OBN reporter, Zeljka Lekic, confirmed.
Bihac
The Una-Sana Canton Assembly elected a new Mayor, Muhamed Beganovic, candidate of the “Stranka za BiH” party, instead of Mirsad Veladzic, dismissed by the High Representative, Kenan Alagic confirmed from Bihac for OBN.
Mostar
In order to reconstruct a pedestrian bridge over the river Neretva ruined in recent floods, located in the Old Bridge area, some 100,000 DEM is needed. The town of Mostar asks for the funds from the BiH Federation Government and the “BiH Elektroprivereda” company, Ines Kajic reported from Mostar.
Sport
A report on international football was followed by reports on NBA and local tennis.