OBN News Review, 17 August 2000 - Office of the High Representative

Headlines

10 bodies were found and exhumed from Paklenik pit in Sokolac, near Sarajevo
The US Government, the World Bank and the IMF condemned the work of the RS Government
Why the Temporary Management was appointed at the Commercial Bank?
The Russian submarine is close to a catastrophe

Srebrenica

The State Commission for searching missing persons have been exhuming bodies from the Paklenik pit in Sokolac municipality. The US Ambassador in B&H, Thomas Miller was on the spot. There are about 20 000 registered missing persons in B&H. Reported by Vedran Persic.

Sarajevo

The US Government, the World Bank and the IMF condemned the work of the RS Government at today’s press conference. According to the US Ambassador, Thomas Miller, everything they do is counterproductive. The Head of the World Bank Office, Joseph Ingram and the Head of the IMF Mission in B&H, Bruno de Schaetzen suggest, as a solution, that a Law on retirement should be adopted, and the Labour Law and Banking Law should be revised. Anes Alic produced the report.

Banja Luka

There are numerous irregularities in privatisation process in the RS. A concrete example is violation of the article 36 of the Law on privatisation of state capital, Suzana Vukcevic reported.

Tuzla

OBN continues investigating reasons of appointment of the Temporary Management at the Commercial Bank. One of the Bank’s stockholders, “Ina BH” gave loan guarantees to several oil salesmen in the Federation of B&H. Many of them did not pay back the loans. The Commercial Bank and Ina BH sued themselves mutually. It seems that the whole case has a political background, Amarildo Gutic concludes.

World

All efforts in rescuing the Russian submarine were unsuccessful. The Russian delegation arrived in the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, in order to discuss their help in rescuing the staff from the submarine.

About 300 Serbs continued protests near Kosovska Mitrovica, because international forces took over the “Trepca” complex.

The Serbian democratic opposition discuss their political platform for the forthcoming elections.

The US Envoy for Near East, Dennis Ross arrived in Israel, in order to present new suggestions for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Zeljka Lekic reported on current world events.

Turkey

Citizens of Turkey marked the first anniversary since the disastrous earthquake in the country, remembering the victims of the earthquake. Reported by Jusko Bojadzic.

Mostar

Police identification cards will be checked in the end of August. The policemen who are double-occupancy users will have 30 days for restitution of property to original owners. If not, their licences will be cancelled, Denis Vila reported.

Banja Luka

Union of the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs demands increase of salaries for the employees by 35%, improvement of working conditions and salaries in time. Citizens feel that policemen in the RS do a good job. Sanja Srdic produced the report.

Brcko

Capacity of the Brcko Railway Station is limited. Only 3-4 trains pass through the station daily. Six tracks are not functioning, and should be reconstructed. Reported by Slobodanka Radojkovic.

Mostar

Construction of attics at public buildings is very frequent in B&H. The OHR knows about these problems, and they will make decision in order to regulate the issue, Blazica Kristo confirmed.

Sarajevo

Entity ministries for refugees and displaced persons and the UNHCR are re-registering displaced persons in B&H. Those who do not register will lose status of displaced persons, Adis Saranovic reported.

Sarajevo

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in B&H, Jacques Klein delivered a cheque on $ 9474 to the B&H Art Gallery. Mr. Klein promised that he would continue helping the Gallery. The report was produced by Slobodan Maksimovic.

Sarajevo

The 8th Art Manifestation “Ljeto u Kamernom” is taking place in Sarajevo. Reported by Gordana Frimel.

Sport

Reports on international football and tennis were presented.