Headlines
- Voting of diaspora marked the beginning of the voting for the Representative House of the Croatian Parliament – twenty nine voting stations opened on fifteen locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Chechenia – fights for Grozny intensified
- Who is Vladimir Putin, the man Boris Yeltsin chose for his successor?
- Most recent economic evaluation of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina published in the Financial Times and the New York Times
Sarajevo
Voting of Croatian diaspora begin voting for representatives who will represent them next four years in the Representative House of the Croatian Parliament. Croatian citizens will be able to vote in 152 voting stations in 47 states. Voting stations in Bosnia and Herzegovina were opened at 7 a.m. in diplomatic and consular departments of the Republic of Croatia. Voting in Bosnia and Herzegovina is being conducted in twenty nine voting stations on fifteen locations. Voting in diaspora will last two days. Voting in the Republic of Croatia will be conducted on January 3rd and 4th. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Damir Kaletovic.
Mostar
This was followed by a report on the voting for the Croatian Parliament in the election unit Mostar. Number of voters in Herzegovina was above expected. All voting stations were crowded. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Mostar, Pejo Gasparevic.
Banja Luka
One voting station was opened in Banja Luka for voting of Croatian citizens for the Croatian Parliament. Sixty eight voters voted until 4 p.m. The reason for a such small number of voters was the fact that voters had not been informed that the voting station would be open today. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Nedeljka Breberina.
World
Russian troops and Chechen rebels have been leading severe fights on the outskirts of Grozny. Russian troops intensified their attacks on the Chechen capital. Agencies reported on severe street fights. According to Russian sources, they conquered 10% of Grozny. This was followed by a report on current events in Shri Lanka. Government forces conducted a mass ground, air and water offensive against separatist rebels in the country. Military officials claim that at least 28 people were killed in the clashes which escalated during the New Year Eve. This was followed by reports on current events in Indonesia and the negotiations on Middle East scheduled for tomorrow in the USA. The report was produced by OBN journalist, Zeljka Lekic.
This was followed by a piece on Vladimir Putin, the man Boris Yeltsin chose for his successor. Until some four months ago, he has been relatively unknown politician. Vladimir Putin is an ex spy of KGB. In 1996 he moved to Moscow and became one of Yeltsin’s men. The report on connection between Putin and the war in Chechenia was produced by OBN journalist, Mladen Maric.
Sarajevo
A piece on the most recent economic evaluation of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina published in the Financial Times and the New York Times which has not been too optimistic. The International Community has promised 5,1 billion dollars of support for Bosnia and Herzegovina within the following four years in order to reconstruct the state and self-sustain market economy. The last amount of 1,5 billion dollars was pledged at the donor conference in May last year in Brussels. Programs of support will be continued but the international and BiH officials estimate they would be decreased by half. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Amarildo Gutic.
Banja Luka
A piece on the difficult economic situation in the RS in 1999 and the problems this entity had to face with. An additional problem for the RS was the restructure of the RS monetary system. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Sanela Zivkovic.
Mostar
In the Hercegovina-Neretva Canton, some 2,000 Bosniak, 850 Serb and 230 Croat families have returned to their pre-war homes, OBN reporter from the area, Sinisa Jokic, confirmed. The biggest number of returnees has been recorded in the Pijesci village in the Jugo-istok Municipality. The USAID project provided the revitalisation of the local infrastructure. Inhabitants are satisfy with the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement.
Janja
A piece on an old water mill on the river Drina. The report was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Slobodanka Radojkovic.
Sport
A report on the first marathon race in this millennium in Rome was followed by reports on the tennis matches in Australia and international football.