Headlines
- The first group, out of 234 refugees which will return to BiH from Macedonia, arrived at Sarajevo today
- For the last 11 months, some 43,000 refugees have returned to the BiH Federation, and approximately 20,000 refugees to the RS
- Germany will decrease the number of its troops in the SFOR Mission for one third by April 2000, while West allies think to decrease number of their troops even below 19,000
- Representative houses of the BiH and BiH Federation parliaments held their sessions today – HDZ representatives asked for the dismissal of the Chairman, Enver Kreso
- The “Bosnia” hotels case – except doubts, there is a question how much certificates of citizens really worth?
- Washington – after four years, peace talks between Syria and Israel renewed
Sarajevo
The first refuge group of 95 individuals returned to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Macedonia today. Another group of those who voluntarily applied for return is expected to arrive tomorrow. Two hundred and thirty four refugees from BiH spent the war in Macedonia. Most of them are from Visegrad, Srebrenica and Foca. Because of that, most of them will be placed in the refugee camp Klokotnica in the Doboj Istok municipality. Two hundred BiH refugees from Turkey will return to Bosnia and Herzegovina next week. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Mirna Sadikovic.
Refugee Return
For the last 11 months, some 43,000 refugees have returned to the BiH Federation, and approximately 20,000 refugees to the RS, which is 88% less than planned. In order to alleviate the process of return in the future, BiH authorities will manage the system of submitting applications for return, the data base and the system for information exchange. The establishment of this new system, worth 580,000 dollars, was provided by UNHCR. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Slobodan Maksimovic.
Sarajevo
Despite a great number of problems which accompanied the implementation of the Annex 7, return to Bosnia and Herzegovina has been announced by Croat emigrants. A club of Croat Returnees and Emigrants was established in Sarajevo today. The main aim of the association is to encourage the return of people from all over BiH who have been living in abroad for decades. The Club will establish branches all over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report was produced by Branka Vrebac.
Banja Luka
The High Representative in BiH, Wolfgang Petritsch, met with the heads of the Sloga Coalition and the RS Government ministers in Banja Luka today. It was stressed that refugee return and economic progress will be key issues in the next year. The High Representative emphasised that without functioning of joint institutions there can not be entering into European integration. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Dragan Stanimirovic.
This was followed by a report on the meeting between the Head of the OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Robert Barry, with the RS politicians about the draft election law and preparations for the forthcoming local elections in BiH. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Sanela Zivkovic.
Sarajevo
A piece on the session of the BiH Representative House held in Sarajevo today. The adoption of the law on the BiH border service will be discussed at the next session. Representatives from the RS submitted a number of amendments although the OHR was clear that the law should be adopted without any amendments. The continuation of the session was scheduled in a seven day time. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Damir Kaletovic.
This was followed by a report on the session of the BiH Federation Representative House. Although it was planned that representatives discuss many important issues, more that four hours they discussed whether to vote or not about dismissal of the Chairman, Enver Kreso. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Amarildo Gutic.
This was followed by a piece on the decrease of NATO troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Commander of NATO for Europe, General Wesley Clark, said in Washington and Brussels that insufficient economic development and a great number of illegal institutions were the main problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The West allies think to decrease number of their troops even below planned 19,000. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Zeljka Lekic.
During the second day of his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the German President, Johanes Rau, said that the Federal Republic of Germany will decrease the number of its troops in the SFOR Mission for one third by April 2000. The report on the German President visit was produced by OBN reporter, Vedran Persic.
World
The presidential elections in Croatia will be announced during next seven days. This was announced today by the President of the State Election Commission, Marjan Ramuscak. This was followed by reports on a meeting in Washington on Middle East countries, Syria and Israel, continuation of fights in Chechenia and difficult refugee situation. This was followed by reports on Kosovo and Macedonia.
Sarajevo
During the next four days, the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise meetings with all heads of diplomatic and cosular missions of BiH in the world, which have not been organised since 1996. Today, the BiH Ambassadors talked to the Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Ante Jelavic, and the BiH Presidency member, Alija Izetbegovic. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Bakir Hadziomerovic.
This was followed by a piece on “Bosnia” hotels, produced by OBN reporter, Amarildo Gutic. Agency for Privatisation of the Sarajevo Canton will check offered conditions for the tender where 51% of the “Bosnia hoteli i restorani” company state capital will be sold. The Turkish company “Fabula” offered 6,5 million DEM, and a group of 315 employees, 5,3 million DEM. The employees claim that the offer of the Turkish company was not announced in a legal way.
Banja Luka
A report on the presentation of a Bijeljina company “Bobar” in Banja Luka today. This is the strongest private company in BiH according to their business and profit. At the beginning of 2000, “Bobar” will open their business center in Sarajevo. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Darko Savic.
Sport
A report on the Christmas Tournament in indoor football matches was followed by reports on international football and Formula 1.