Headlines
- NATO targeted military aims in Subotica for the first time – Serbian media reported on 17 wounded during last night
- Pentagon asks 33,000 reservists in order to intensify operation in Yugoslavia
- General Ratko Mladic denies his involvement in Kosovo
- Meeting between Rugova and Milutinovic in Belgrade
- OHR office opened in Bugojno
- OBN’s reporter researches – what did fell in Majevica?
- Reactions on Westendorp’s decision to cancel war and post-war occupancy rights
- RS football teams not participating in finals of BiH play-off
Yugoslavia
During the twenty-third night since the beginning of air strikes against Yugoslavia, NATO was for the first time hitting targets near the Yugoslav border with Hungary. Four strong explosions were heard last night in the vicinity of Subotica. TANJUG reported that an oil refinery in Novi Sad was hit for the fourth time while a bridge between Smederevo and Kovin was hit with two projectiles.
Montenegro
Last night, NATO was active in Montenegro as well. The President, Milo Djukanovic, addressed to the nation. President Djukanovic accused Milosevic to act against the government of Montenegro.
Belgrade
After the meeting between the leader of the Kosovo Democratic Association, Ibrahim Rugova, and delegation of the Yugoslav and Serbian government, the participants did not give statements. There was only an official release, which said that they were talking about principles for the solving of the Kosovo crisis.
Ratko Mladic, indicted for the war crimes committed during the war in BiH, denied his involvement in Kosovo in an interview for the Reuters in Belgrade, a day after the British Defense Minister had accused him for commanding paramilitary units in Kosovo.
Washington
The USA Ministry of Defense tries to persuade the Congress that the air campaign in Yugoslavia has been successful and that they need to send 33,000 reservists as a backup, The New York Times reported.
International reactions
The British Defense Minister says although NATO trusts the air campaign against Yugoslavia, they constantly review plans for sending the ground troops.
The Lower House of the Russian Parliament, Duma, adopted a resolution on entering Yugoslavia into the Russia-Byelorussia Union. However, the officials warned that it would take months to develop details of this decision.
Kosovo – refugees
The spokesman of the UNHCR said at the press conference in Geneva that the Serbian authorities try to expel all Albanians from Kosovo. According to the UNHCR, there are some 400,000 Albanians left in Kosovo. New refugees are coming to Macedonia.
Ramici (Banja Luka)
In SFOR’s base in Ramici, near Banja Luka, the Head the OSCE mission, Robert Barry, met with the BiH Presidency, Zivko Radisic, the RS Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik, and the RS National Assembly, Petar Djokic. There were no details on the meeting and the spokesman of the OHR;s Office in Banja Luka said that political crisis in RS and deblocking of joint institutions were on the agenda.
Banja Luka
The RS Government discussed the budget today. It was announced that the Swedish Government would grant a credit for the RS telecommunication system.
The Government announced that 8,000 refugees from Yugoslavia came to the RS. Some of them were expelled in 1995 from Croatia.
A wave of Kosovo Albanians coming to the BiH federation, and problems of returnees to the Herceg-Bosna Canton were issues at the press conference of IPTF in Banja Luka today.
Bosanski Petrovac
After the last week’s attempt of Kosovo refugees to leave Bosanski Petrovac and BiH, authorities of the Una-Sana Canton try to improve living conditions in this refugee center. However, the refugees still think this is not a lasting solution.
Banja Luka
The representative of the Coalition for Joint and Democratic BiH in the RS National Assembly, Safet Bico, talked about position of Bosniaks in Republika Srpska at the session of the SDA Main Board.
Sarajevo
The mediator for BiH, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, tried to bind municipalities’ authorities through signing agreements, to provide conditions for return, during his seven days visit to Travnik, Bugojno, Vitez, Busovaca and Kakanj.
Bugojno
The OHR Office was opened today in Bugojno. The office will act on the territory of the Bugojno and Prozor-Rama municipalities. The OHR Special Envoy for Bugojno and Prozor-Rama municipalities, Urlich Bucher, said that the intention for establishing of the office was to encourage the cooperation between the local authorities and the international community.
Doboj-Jug
Officials of the Doboj-Jug Municipality think that establishing of the Special Board would encourage two directions return in the area.
Sarajevo
The main topic of the round table meeting held in Sarajevo today was plans of humanitarian organizations and their cooperation with the Sarajevo Canton ministry.
Ahmici
A piece on village Ahmici where in 1993 a great massacre occurred. The inhabitants, gradually returning to their homes, think about their future.
Mostar
The co-mayor of Mostar, Safet Orucevic, and the OSCE’s Regional Office Head, Gary Matthews, talked today about decision of the High Representative regarding canceling of occupancy rights gained during and after the war in BiH. Safet Orucevic gave his support to the decision. The pool, made in the streets of Eastern Mostar, showed that the citizens think same.
Sarajevo
OBN’s reporter, Amarildo Gutic, made a research on details of the Carlos Westendorp’s decision on occupancy rights.
Majevica
During the last week, SFOR several times have denied some media reports on shooting down NATO plane over Majevica Mountain. However, local inhabitants did found something. They found an unexploded shell.
Tesanj
A piece on the SFOR’s action “Zetva 99”. Followed by a report on handing out four tons of weapons by a citizen.
Sarajevo
Opening of art exhibition of the painter, Adriana Amalija Sancevic.
Sport At the meeting of the RS Football Association it was announced that RS football teams would not participate in the finals of the BiH play-off due to the current political situation in the region.