Headlines
- Implementation of the anti-corruption initiative and action during the ecological catastrophe which struck the region were the two most important topics at the work table meeting of the Stability Pact which has just ended
- Guest of TV INFO: BiH Foreign Minister, Jadranko Prlic
- A discussion on economic policy for this year took place at the session of the Representative House of the BiH Federation Parliament but did not have any concrete results
- During last year, ombudspersons started more than 1,000 cases connected to the protection of personal property and human rights
- The BiH Federation Government discussed the firing of the “Soko” and “Aluminij” companies employees
- Topics of TV INFO: pensioners and the Clinical Center in Banja Luka
Sarajevo (Stability Pact Work Table on Security)
In Sarajevo, the second Conference of the Work Table on Security of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe ended. According to the Chairman, two topics dominated discussion: Implementation of the anti-corruption initiative and action during the ecological catastrophe which struck the region. The anti-corruption initiative will be a priority at the donor conference scheduled for March 29th and 30th in Brussels. Earlier, the Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact, Bodo Hombach, expressed his hope that donors would pledge some 10 billion Euro for the Stability Pact projects. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Vedran Persic.
Guest of TV INFO
Guest of TV INFO and OBN presenters, Mujo Delibegovic and Danijela Bozic, was the BiH Foreign Minister, Jadranko Prlic. The Minister was asked to discuss the results of the Stability Pact Work Table meeting on Security. Jadranko Prlic said that Bosnia and Herzegovina presented some 15 different projects at the meeting covering issues of security and internal affairs. Asked to comment what will happen to those projects which do not get financial support, the BiH Foreign Minister said that those projects, logically would not be implemented. However, it was said that all projects will be discussed during the following weeks and will be presented on web sites in order to secure potential donors. Final decision on the projects will be known on March 29th and 30th at the donor conference in Brussels.
This was followed by an analysis of the BiH expectations from the Stability Pact. However, BiH is not the only country which asks help from the Stability Pact. The Special Co-ordinator of the Pack, Bodo Hombach, said that the Pact had 20 billion DEM at its disposal. The ICG representative, James Lyon, said that everything depends in which time period this money is going to be used. The second phase of the Stability Pact, coming of foreign investments to BiH is a real chance for BiH and this should be taken seriously, OBN reporter, Sanjin Beciragic, confirmed.
Sarajevo
Today’s discussion on economic policy for this year, led by the representatives at the session of the Representative House of the BiH Federation Parliament, did not result in any concrete measures, OBN reporter, Amarildo Gutic, confirmed. The most important topic at today’s session was a discussion on the changes of the law on privatisation of companies and using a part of the profit made through this for the reconstruction of pension funds. However, pensioners complain that the funds provided would be insufficient.
Banja Luka
More than 300 pensioners had to wait some ten hours in order to get packages in Banja Luka today. The packages were provided by the RS Government. Three pensioners fainted because of an extremely bad organisation of delivery, OBN reporter from the town, confirmed.
Mostar
An item on the session of the BiH Federation Government held in Mostar today. The representatives discussed the situation with the pension fund in the Federation. Also, fired employees of the “Soko” and “Aluminij” companies were on the agenda of the meeting. Although the BiH trade union complained that the workers were fired because of their ethnicity, the Vice President of the BiH Federation Government, Dragan Covic, said this was not a political but technical problem which occurred from the generally difficult situation in the BiH economy.
Banja Luka
A piece on a very difficult situation with the Clinical Center in Banja Luka (KBC) because of the lack of funds. Next week, a special session of the KBC Board will be held. Director of the Clinical Center, Branislav Lolic, think that the current situation is the result of a political game.
The Hague
The representatives of the Hague Tribunal gathered weapons from the storage of the RS Army near Bratunac. SFOR announced that the gathering of weapons was a part of the Hague Tribunal investigation of the war crimes committed in BiH after the fall of Srebrenica in 1995.
World
NATO and Russian agreed to re-establish their relations which deteriorated through last year’s NATO air strikes against the Federal Republic Yugoslavia. This was announced after the meeting between the NATO Secretary General, George Robertson, and the Russian Acting President, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow. In the South of Chechenia, Russia continued air strikes against Chechens. This was followed by reports on current events in Northern Ireland, Germany, Indonesia and Croatia. OBN journalist, Zeljka Lekic, produced the report.
Mostar
UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not satisfied with the co-operation in the process of integration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. The UN Spokesperson said that this was a continuation of unwillingness of one side to fulfil agreements signed in 1996, OBN reporter confirmed.
Sarajevo
During last year, ombudspersons started more than 1,000 cases connected to the protection of personal property and human rights. The report on the work of the ombudspersons office was produced by OBN reporter, Sevko Bajic.
Fojnica / Kiseljak
An item on refugee return in two towns in the Srednja Bosna Canton. To date, some 1,400 Croats have returned to Fojnica and approximately 1.051 Bosniak families have returned to Kiseljak. However, the International Community was not satisfied with the dynamic of return to the area. After several months’ break, return to these two towns is again under the monitoring of OHR’s Department for Return in Travnik.
Trebinje
This was followed by a report on the meeting organised by the International Community between the heads of the East-Herzegovina municipalities from the RS and the heads of the Hercegovina-Neretva Canton municipalities from the BiH Federation. The topic of the meeting was the process of return in the area. All those who were invited attended the meeting.
Sport
Reports on local and international football were presented.