OBN News Review, 19 August 2000 - Office of the High Representative

Headlines

“Dodik, Bicakcic and their associates are responsible for budget deficits”, said the US Ambassador, Thomas Miller
B&H still does not have a stock exchange market, but it already has false brokers
The level of the river Neretva is below the biological minimum
Refugees from Banja Luka announced that they would construct a refugee camp in Kastel in Banja Luka
Agony of the Russian submarine continues

Sarajevo

The US Government continues supporting Milorad Dodik, although there was a KM 200 million of budget deficit during his mandate. “Dodik is one of the rare people in the RS who publicly condemned events in Serbia”, said the US Ambassador, Thomas Miller. “However, Dodik and Bicakcic are not free from responsibility in these serious budget problems. The situation is very serious, and basic services might shut down by the end of the year”, he added. Vedran Persic produced the report.

Sarajevo

The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch prolonged the 90-day deadline of privatisation investment funds for subscription of citizens’ certificates. B&H still does not have a stock exchange market, but false brokers have already appeared. “Only those who have licences from the Commission for Securities can do this job”, said Enes Gotovusa, the Commission member. The report was produced by Amarildo Gutic.

Travnik

There are about 50 000 refugees from Banja Luka, and only about 3000-4000 of them returned to their homes. Refugees who live in Travnik organised a meeting today. They will demand from the RS authorities and international representatives that they return to their houses in Banja Luka in 10 days. If their request is not fulfilled, they will construct a refugee camp in Kastel, near Banja Luka, Ana Drmac confirmed.

Tuzla

Refugees from Zvornik should start returning on 4th September. This will be a second phase of return to this municipality. Muhamed Berbic produced the report.

Guca Gora

Returnees in the village of Postinje, near Travnik live in their houses without elementary conditions for living. Although Croats started returning to the village a year ago, local officials visited them for the first time this week. Reported by Olivera Dimac.

Banja Luka

Registration of refugees and displaced persons in the RS started on 25th July this year. Only a small number of them registered so far. “I have to warn them that they will lose their status unless they register by 25th October”, said Miladin Dragicevic, the RS Minister for Refugees and Displaced Persons. The report was produced by Suzana Vukcevic.

Prijedor

A delegate in the RS Assembly, the Deputy Head of the Municipality, the Chairman of the Court and the Public Prosecutor received eviction orders in Prijedor. They could not explain the fact they lived in other people’s flats and implemented law at the same time, Milena Letic-Joves reported.

World

The Russian Navy announced that there were probably no survivors in the Russian submarine at the bottom of the Barents Sea. Rescue teams from Great Britain and Norway arrived on the spot.

9 Serb children were wounded in the village of Crkvene Vodice in Kosovo, when unknown persons dropped two bombs at a basketball field, KFOR announced.

The US Envoy for Near East, Dennis Ross met the Egyptian Foreign Minister in Alexandria, in order to start the Near East peace process again. The report on world events was produced by Zeljka Lekic.

Gorazde

Radomir Lucic and Miroslav Bajic died in a mine field in the Sudici tunnel. Three members of a rescue team, the Swedish de-miner Bent Olson, the inspector from CSB Srpsko Sarajevo, Nebojsa Furtula and the RS de-miner, Bozo Vlaski died, recovering the bodies. Vojislav Gavrilovic was injured and transported to the Gorazde hospital. De-mining operation is underway. Elma Kazagic produced the report.

Sarajevo

Three US officials, Joseph Crusel, Robert Fraser and Nelson Drue died in B&H, 5 years ago. They were members of the peace mission. Local and international officials brought flowers to their memorials on the mount of Igman, paying tribute to the victims. Reported by Svjetlana Celic.

Mostar

Water level of the river Neretva is below the biological minimum. The Federal Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Mehmed Saric said that they were doing everything they could in order to prevent ecological disaster. Reported by Alisa Dzebo from Mostar.

Sarajevo

A group of scouts from Italy have been in Sarajevo for a few days. They gave 25 bicycles to children without parents today, Meliha Hasanbegovic reported.

Sarajevo

Children’s programme of the Sarajevo Film Festival was opened in “Skenderija” today. The report on new films that were shown at the Festival was produced by Gordana Frimel.

Sport

Reports on local and international football, and motorcycle racing were presented.