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

Headlines

Zenica – protest of the “Zeljezara” and ” BiH Steel Co.” workers
A bridge near Doboj, on the high way Samac-Sarajevo, opened
Serb representatives in the BiH Parliament will address the BiH Constitutional Court because they consider the law on the state border service against the Constitution
A socialist won at the presidential elections in Chile

Zenica

A piece on the protest of the “Zeljezara” and ” BiH Steel Co.” Three hundred workers, who are in a very difficult economic position, protested in front of the factory building. Some two thousand workers of these two factories do not have jobs for a long period of time. If the authorities do not help them to solve their social status, the workers announced they would come out on the streets. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Zenica, Koraljka Kurcenberger.

Sarajevo

The Prime Minister of the BiH Federation, Edhem Bicakcic, said that some 20,000 people would get a job and that salaries would be increased by 35 DEM on average. Also, he announced an increase of export activities. However, experts in economics consider his anticipations unrealistic. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Sanjin Beciragic.

This was followed by an interview with the Secretary General of the European Council, Walter Schwimmer. Mr. Schwimmer talked about the importance of BiH membership of the European Council and the message the EC delegation brought to the BiH politicians. He said that he came to Bosnia and Herzegovina to encourage BiH leaders to proceed with their efforts for membership in the EC in a proper way. This includes the respect of laws and human rights as well as the functioning of joint institutions. The EC Secretary General will meet the BiH Presidency members tomorrow. The interview was produced by OBN reporter, Sanjin Beciragic.

Doboj

A bridge over the river Usora near Doboj, on the M 17 high way between Samac and Sarajevo was opened for traffic today. The investment is worth two million and five hundred thousand EUROs. The construction material was produced in the BiH entities. A member of the BiH Presidency, Zivko Radisic, and the Ambassador of the European Union, Hans Jorg Kretschmer, opened the bridge. The report was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Muhamed Cabric.

Sarajevo

The biggest Slovenian Trade Company “Merkator” and the Sarajevo Trade enter have joined their capital. A big trade center will be opened by the end of June. The investment is worth 21 million DEM. There is an interest for investing in BiH and a delegation from China visited the BiH Chamber of Commerce. They discussed the possibilities for investing in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A report on the problems foreign investors are faced with in BiH was produced by OBN reporter, Amarildo Gutic.

This was followed by a report on the session of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly. None of the important laws which this Parliament was supposed to adopt were on the agenda. A report on the inefficiency in the functioning of BiH institutions was produced by OBN reporter, Damir Kaletovic.

Banja Luka

Serb representatives in the BiH Parliament held a press conference in Banja Luka today. They announced that they will address the BiH Constitutional Court because they consider the law on the state border service, enacted by the High representative, against the Constitution. They said that according to the Dayton Peace Agreement the border service was under the responsibility of entities’ authorities. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Tatjana Lajsic.

World

Moscow claims it will put the capital of Chechenia under its control by the beginning of February. Chechen troops returned to the guerilla way of fighting. In the meantime, fights for the capital have been intensified. This was followed by a report on a bomb explosion in a town in the North of Israel. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. This was followed by reports on the presidential elections in Chile and the presidential elections in Finland. The report on the current events in the world was produced by OBN journalist, Zeljka Lekic.

Zagreb

Approximately 34% of voters voted in 11 voting stations in Croatia where the elections were organised for the second time. As expected, this will not influence the previous election results. The attention of the voters in Croatia has been currently directed towards the forthcoming presidential elections which will be held on January 24th. The report on this and the internal fights in the HDZ party, was produced by OBN journalist, Bakir Hadziomerovic.

Uskoplje – Gornji Vakuf

Croats from the divided Gornji Vakuf and Uskoplje will not vote in the municipality elections scheduled for April. Political parties with the Croat prefix did not want to submit their lists for the elections in the constituency unit in Gornji Vakuf. They demand the establishment of their own municipality, that is, the constituency unit. The report was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Olivera Komsic.

Zenica

According to the information of the BiH Federation Ministry of Health, the biggest number of those who suffer from flue is in the Zenica-Doboj Canton. The biggest number of sick people have been recorded in the town of Zenica, some 1,147 cases. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Zenica, Nela Kacmarcik.

Sport

A report on international tennis was followed by reports on NBA and the international football matches.