Zagreb
The main commemoration for the deceased Croatian President, Franjo Tudjman, was held in Zagreb. Thousands of citizens pay respect to their deceased President. International media still report on Tudjman’s death. Croatian leadership and citizens received a great number of telegrams from all over the world. Although the USA and European Union emphasised Franjo Tudjman’s big contribution in the establishment of the country, they hoped that on the forthcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for January 3rd, different forces would take over leadership in the country and start up the democratization process. The report was produced by OBN journalist, Mladen Maric.
Sarajevo / Busovaca
This was followed by a report on telegrams sent to the Croatian leadership, Tudjmans family and Croatian people by the BiH Foreign Minister, Jadranko Prlic, the Co-president of the BiH Council of Ministers, Neven Tomic, the President of the BiH Federation, Ivo Andric Luzanski and the BiH Federation Prime Minister, Edhem Bicakcic. Today in Sarajevo and Busovaca, commemorations were organised by HDZ Vrhbosna organisations in the Sarajevo and Srednja- Bosna cantons. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Olivera Komsic.
A report on the forthcoming elections in Croatia followed. Fifty four political parties and thirty candidates of ethnic minorities applied for the parliamentary elections in Croatia, scheduled for January 3rd 2000. This was announced at midnight by the Head of the National Election Commission, upon the expiring of the deadline for applications submitting. Because of the death of Franjo Tudjman, the presidential elections will have to be held within a sixty day period. Approximately 60,000 Serbs from Krajina, currently placed in BiH, probably will not vote at the forthcoming elections in Croatia. The Croatian Ambassador in BiH said that 14 voting stations will be opened in BiH for the citizens of Republic of Croatia who live in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At least two of the voting stations will be opened in the RS. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Vedran Persic.
Banja Luka
The session of the RS Government was held today. The main topic of the discussion was the RS budget for next year. The ministers discussed the law on the implementation of the 2000 budget as well. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Tatjana Lajsic.
Sarajevo
A month ago, the law on work has been enacted. The aim of the law was to answer all questions regarding the forthcoming process of privatisation and the implementation of the market economy concept. However, there are still disputes about negative and positive aspects of the law. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Amarildo Gutic.
World
Moscow stopped its attacks on Grozny because of the pressure of the International Community although they continued with artillery attacks on town’s suburbs. The Russian President Boris Yeltsin accused Chechens that they wanted to take back Chechenia to the Middle Ages. This was followed by a report on current events in Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav Prime Minister, Momir Bulatovic, said that the Yugoslav Army would not interfere in the dispute regarding the expansion of Montenegrin autonomy within Yugoslavia. This was followed by reports on Kosovo and Northern Ireland. The report on current events in the world was produced by OBN journalist, Mladen Maric.
Konjic
Although the security situation in the Konjic Municipality has been satisfactory and there were no inter-ethnic incidents, the return of Croats to their reconstructed houses is not as expected. The cause is probably a difficult economic situation in the area. In the last eleven months, only 173 individuals returned to their pre-war homes. The report was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Alisa Dzebo.
Caire (Doboj)
Although the process of return to the Doboj residential quarter, Caire, began only at the end of the summer, good results were achieved due to a donation made by the humanitarian organisation SEA, which came on time. Electricity and water supply systems were installed in 43 reconstructed houses. Because of this, inhabitants believe that the process of return to this residential quarter could be finished during the next year. The report was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Muhamed Berbic.
Hajvazi (Osmaci)
A report on good results of the process of return in the RS. The reconstruction of houses in the Hajvazi village in the Osmaci Municipality has been almost finished. More than 70 families returned to the village. The reconstruction was implemented by the humanitarian organisation, Intersos. The problem the returnees are faced with is a difficult economic situation.
Visegrad
This was followed by a report on a difficult situation with elementary and secondary education in the Visegrad Municipality. A great number of collective centers for refugees have been located in schools, donations and staff lack. An example is the secondary school “Ivo Andric”. Some 1,000 pupils, both elementary and secondary, attend the school. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Damir Kaletovic.
Sport
A report on European football was followed by reports on international swimming and skiing.