Some 200 Russian troops left SFOR base in the North East Bosnia this morning. Armored vehicles changed their signs SFOR to KFOR before entering into Yugoslavia. It is not clear where they have made the change. It is still unknown what has happened with more than a half of the troops from this base where some 1,300 Russian were stationed. In the OBN studio, Head of the SFOR Press Office, Lee Hockman, answered questions on this issue. He said that he was informed by the Commander of the Russian Contingent that he had received instructions from his government to send a contingent of troops to the Federal Republic Yugoslavia in order to serve as a part of the Russian peace troops in Kosovo.
Headlines
- Ivanov and Talbott did not reach an agreement on patterns of the Russian participation in the peace troops in Kosovo
- Start of uncoordinated deployment of Russian and NATO troops in Kosovo
- Zagreb – discussion on special relations between Croatia and BiH Federation ended today; Only two annexes adopted, the rest need further discussions
- Mostar – posters demanding the third entity
- US Special Envoy, Robert Gelbard in Mostar, after his visits to Sarajevo and Banja Luka
- House of Representatives finally adopted BiH Federation budget for this year
- Sarajevo – matches for the BiH champion in football probably would not take place
Kosovo
A few hours ago, NATO has started deployment of its troops in Kosovo. A deployment of NATO troops started a day earlier and at the same time of a transfer of the Russian military contingent from BiH to Serbia. OBN reporter from Skopje, Safet Bisevac, reported on arrival of NATO commandos, stationed on the territory of Macedonia, to Kosovo. The date of the operation’s beginning is still a secret. Tonight exclusively, OBN reporter, Natasa Narancic, reports from Pristina. She reported that some 200 journalists, who arrived from the Yugoslav territory today, were witnesses of the Yugoslav Army withdrawal from Kosovo. The USA State Secretary, Madeleine Albright, visited Macedonia today. She said that they would do everything to get refugees back to Kosovo after her meeting with the Macedonian President.
This was followed by a report on the two days of difficult peace negotiations between the Russia and USA. The Russian Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, and the US Envoy, Strobe Talbott, did not reach an agreement on deployment of Russian troops in Kosovo. The talks were suspended for an indefinite period of time.
Mostar
In some parts of Mostar, posters demanding the third entity in BiH were placed for the second time in the last six months. OBN reporter from Mostar, Denis Vila, sent his report for TV Info. The posters were also stuck on the Ero Hotel building in Mostarl, the OHR Headquarters in the town.
This was followed by a report from another OBN reporter from Mostar, Alija Behram, who reported on the visit of the US Special Envoy for the Balkans, Robert Gelbard. Gelbard said that he was disappointed with the lack of progress regarding operating of the Herzegovina – Neretva Canton authorities for the last three years and seven months, that is since the Dayton Peace Agreement was signed.
Zagreb
An establishing session of the Council for Cooperation between BiH Federation and Republic Croatia was held in Zagreb. The Permanent Board also held a session and discussed annexes of the Agreement on Special Relations between Republic Croatia and the BiH Federation. The BiH Ambassador in the Republic Croatia, Hasan Muratovic, talked on the issue in a telephone call for TV Info. He said that the general conclusion was that regulating of the special relations is slower than the needs and interest of the both countries are.
Sarajevo
A report on adopting the budget of the BiH Federation for this year today in Sarajevo. This was a condition for a continuation of the IMF program in BiH and DEM 200 million credit from the World Bank.
This was followed by a report on the US Government funds of $970 million for three expert studies in the BiH Federation. The most important study is considered to be finding of a solution for the coal mines in the Srednja Bosna and Tuzla cantons. Local experts will be supported bz experts from the USA.
Brcko
A report on the current situation in Brcko, produced by the OBN reporter from Brcko, Slobodanka Radojkovic, included a report from the press conference of the Supervisor for Brcko, Robert Farrand. He said that behavior of the Brcko citizens was responsible during the Kosovo crisis.
Lazine (Novi Travnik)
A piece on the refugee return to the village Lazine in the Novi Travnik Municipality after six years in exile. A reconstruction of houses is currently going on.
Prastani (Lusci Palanka)
This was followed by a report on returnees to the Prastani village in the Lusci Palanka Municipality in the RS. Today, they were handed over 12 keys of their reconstructed houses.
Kresevo
A report on the return to the Kresevo Municipality. Building of the elementary school in the Crnicki Kamenik village and an ambulance in the Dezevice village, has been funded by the German humanitarian organization which previously funded reconstruction of houses and infrastructure in the Kresevo Municipality.
Banja Luka
At the press conference of the RS Helsinki Committee in Banja Luka today, the President of the Committee, Branko Todorovic, said that ministries in the RS do not act according to the law. He said that passports in RS have been sold illegally for DEM 1,000.
This was followed by a report on the Islamic Community in BiH that have sued authorities of the Banja Luka Municipality and RS for violating religious and ownership rights. The House for Human Right in BiH concluded that the RS authorities did breach rights of Muslims in RS.
World
A report on the elections for the EU Parliament held in the UK, Netherlands and Denmark was followed by a trial of the Kurd leader, beginning of the talks between Pakistan and China and the Pope’s addressing to the both Polish Parliamentary houses in Warsaw. This was followed by a story made in Rome and what the town has to offer to tourists.
Sport
Matches for the BiH champion in football probably would not take place. This news was followed by a report from the world championship in volleyball.