Headlines
- The Representative House of the BiH Parliament did not adopt the law on the border service today
- The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, now can proclaim this law, the IPTF Spokesperson, Allun Roberts, said
- The new Head of the OHR regional office in Mostar, Finn Lynghjem, introduced to the public
- New clashes inside the HDZ Party – Mate Granic left the session of the party’s Presidency
- More than 2,000 dismissed workers of the Ljubija mine ask for their jobs back
Sarajevo
Although the Office of the High Representative gave a recommendation to the Representative House of the BiH Parliament, the Parliament did not accept the Law on the State Border Service. This law is one of the main preconditions for the membership of the BiH in the Council of Europe. The RS representatives announced an approach of not adopting the law at the last session and only confirmed it at this session. They explained that their decision not to vote for the law was through disrespect of the Constitutional procedure and the absence of the BiH Presidency members. The Advisor of the High Representative First Deputy, Michael Hryshchyshyn, said that the OHR the final statement of the High Representative regarding the issue would be announced tomorrow. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Damir Kaletovic.
This was followed by a reaction of the Head of the UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jacques Klein. He said that there were people in BiH who do not take their political positions seriously and who place their private and financial prejudices in front of the benefit of those who have chosen them. The US Embassy also expressed their disappointment because the law was not adopted.
London
This example of the way kind of the BiH Parliament functions puts a question mark over the membership of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Council at a moment when the Political Committee of the European Council Parliamentary Assembly decided to include this issue on the agenda for the session scheduled for April. Today in London, the BiH Foreign Minister, Jadranko Prlic, had a meeting with the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robin Cook. The UK will intensify its support for the process of the European integration of BiH and the membership of BiH into the World Trade Association, Milan Trivic confirmed for OBN from London.
Mostar
The new Head of the OHR regional office in Mostar, Finn Lynghjem, was introduced to the public today. He said that leaders in BiH have not been taking seriously the responsibilities of the Peace Agreement implementation and that only politicians benefited. Finn Lynghjem announced determined action in the region at the press conference held in Mostar today. The report was produced by OBN reporter from the town, Mirsad Behram.
Zagreb
A report on the current political situation in the Republic of Croatia. The Coalition consisting of six opposition parties, which won at the recently held parliamentary elections, has agreed the establishment of the Government and Sabor. New clashes inside the HDZ Party occurred. The HDZ presidential candidate, Mate Granic, left the session of the party’s Presidency. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Zagreb, Gordana Simonovic.
World
The Main Prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal, Carla del Ponte, announced the start of investigations against seventeen individuals suspected of war crimes committed in the post-Yugoslav countries. The Prosecution Office of the Hague Tribunal asked from the new Croatian authorities for a complete cooperation and fulfilling of all Croatian responsibilities. This was followed by a report on the official nomination of the Russian Acting President, Vladimir Putin, for a candidate for the presidential elections scheduled for March 26th. This was followed by a report on Chechenia. The report on these and other current events in the world was produced by OBN journalist, Zeljka Lekic.
The Ljubija Mine
More than 2,000 Bosniak and Croat workers of the Ljubija mine near Prijedor, who were dismissed in 1991, ask for their jobs back. Upon the end of the war, they sent their claims to the management of the mine, but they received a negative answer. The syndicate of BiH announced the raising of charges against the management of the mine. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Anes Alic.
Sarajevo
As from February 1st, police officers from both BiH entities will serve within the UN Mission. The first stage of training was completed by 21 police officers and they will gather in Sarajevo in a ten day period in order to undergo necessary medical treatment before going to East Timor. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Vedran Persic.
Banja Luka
A report on the accusation made by the RS Minister of Information, Rajko Vasic, that the Independent Media Commission, publishing the price lists for the frequencies in BiH, had tried to separate completely media from entities’ responsibilities. He called the owners of electronic media in the RS not to pay taxes for the frequencies. The report was produce by OBN reporter from the town, Dragan Stanimirovic.
This was followed by a statement of the RS Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik, given to the Belgrade newspapers “Blic”, that the Banja Luka newspapers “Reporter” was writing against the RS. He cited the frequent visits of the “Reporter” journalists to Sarajevo. The Director of “Reporter”, Perica Vucinic, said they would sue the Prime Minister because of the allegations of treason against the RS.
Sarajevo
A report on the continuation of the story about Switzerland’s donation to a project which involves more than 750 heart operations for BiH citizens. The negotiations should be finished next month. In the meantime, the Head of the Sarajevo Clinic for Cardiology, Emir Solakovic, who was a member of Doctor Vladimir Velebit medical team from Switzerland was dismissed. Doctor Velebit was not informed in advance. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Sevko Bajic.
Sport
A report on international football was followed by reports on NBA and international tennis.