Headlines
- Snow and sleet caused cuts in the electricity supply in the Central, North and North-West part of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Paris – Political Committee of the Council of Europe discussed the acceptance of BiH into its membership
- The President of the Provisional Kosovo Government, Hashim Thaqi, visited Sarajevo
- Berlin – an Association of G 20 countries established with the aim to prevent financial crisis
- The BiH Federation Government adopted a draft law on restitution
- Syndicates of metal industry workers and miners in the RS announced a strike if the Government do not fulfill their requests
According to the calendar, the winter has not started yet. However, the amount of snow nearly caused a collapse in Sarajevo. In Mostar, the river Neretva flooded a part of the bank while the situation in Konjic has been described as very difficult. The electricity supply system in BiH is damaged and some parts of the country do not have an electricity supply. Some twenty towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been left without electricity. Similar problems occurred in the RS.
Mostar
The Neretva river flooded a number of buildings in the center of the town as well as two pedestrian bridges. The material damage is great. There were no casualties. A state of emergency has been proclaimed in the power plant in Mostar although the situation is still under control. The report from Mostar was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Blazica Kristo.
Banja Luka
This was followed by a report on the weather in the RS. The situation is similar to other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Snow has been falling on all parts of the RS, except in Herzegovina, where rain is falling. Traffic security services have been warning citizens to be careful due to the roads covered with snow. The electricity supply system in the RS has been damaged. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Darko Savic.
Sarajevo
The height of snow in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 20 centimetres in the North, 50 centimetres in Sarajevo while in the mountains it reached 1 metre. If snow continues to fall, it is possible that a state of emergency be proclaimed in most towns of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Ministry of Education of the Sarajevo Canton issued an order to stop teaching in elementary and secondary schools for tomorrow. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Slobodan Maksimovic.
Paris
Bosnia and Herzegovina is close to being accepted to the Council of Europe. This is a summary of today’s discussion about BiH held at the EC Political Committee which lasted all day. The report from Paris for TV INFO was produced by Dzevad Sabljakovic.
Sarajevo
One of the Kosovo Albanians’ leaders, Hashim Thaqi, arrived at Sarajevo upon an invitation of the Council of the Bosniak Intellectuals Association. During the day, Thaqi met with Bosniak officials: Alija Izetbegovic, Haris Silajdzic and Edhem Bicakcic. Hashim Thaqi said that the future of Kosovo depends on the people who live in Kosovo and the International Community. OBN reporter, Bakir Hadziomerovic, made an interview for TV INFO.
World
The European Union adopted a budget for 2000, including 720 million DEM for the reconstruction of Kosovo. Although OSCE requested stopping of fights in Chechenia, the fights between Russian and Chechen troops continued. The most developed countries of the world, the G-7 group, together with other countries which are close to be called developed industrial countries, agreed in Berlin to establish an Association of G 20 countries, with the aim to prevent finantial crisis. This was followed by reports on current events in the USA and Lebanon. The report was produced by OBN journalist, Zeljka Lekic.
This was followed by a report on the Middle East. Although reports confirm that clashes did not stop, the second day of the peace talks between Syria and Israel began in Washington. Although a concrete peace agreement is not near, Israel and Syria leaders agreed that they wanted to complete negotiations next year. The report was produced by OBN journalist, Mladen Maric.
Sarajevo
Today’s session of the BiH Federation Government adopted, the long awaited, draft law on restitution. The Government discussed the price of oil and oil derivatives again. Here will be no decrease of prices. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Sanjin Beciragic.
Banja Luka
This was followed by a piece on pensioners in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The BiH Federation Government promised to pay out two late pension payments, and they paid only one. On the other hand, the RS Government promised humanitarian packages. However, pensioners did not receive ether packages nor pension payments.
This was followed by an announcement made by the syndicates of metal industry workers and miners in the RS that they would go on strike if the Government do not fulfill their requests. They ask the Government to provide conditions to start up production and social insurance for those workers who currently do not have jobs.
Sarajevo
A piece on the joint army in BiH. The BiH Federation Defence Minister, Miroslav Prce, said at the annual meeting with the military attaches accredited in BiH, that the solution for the country was not to have two entities’ armies in one state. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Vedran Persic.
Sport
A report on the Christmas Tournament in Indoor Football matches was followed by a report on NBA.