Headlines
- Sessions of BiH Presidency and Council of Ministers held in Sarajevo upon initiative of High Representative after two months break
- NATO strikes against Yugoslavia continue – several tactical targets in Kosovo, ammunitions storage in Belgrade and tanks on the ground hit
- Yugoslav army started with ethnic cleansing of Montenegro’s villages
- In Livno Canton, 36 Bosniak police officers got work permissions
- Representative House of BiH Federation Parliament adopted budget for this year – 920 million KM
- Provisional Election Commission announced deadlines for registration of political parties, independent candidates and coalitions, and submitting of candidates’ lists for local elections in BiH
Sarajevo
After almost two months of boycotting the BiH joint institutions, RS representatives attended the sessions of the BiH Presidency and Council of Ministers in Sarajevo today. The sessions were held at the High Representative’s Office. The High Representative, Carlos Westendorp, said that the meeting was productive and that the donor conference on BiH should be held as soon as possible for the International Community to focus its attention on Kosovo over the future period.
Yugoslavia
During the twenty-seventh night of NATO strikes against Yugoslavia, targets in Nis, Valjevo, Pristina and Belgrade were hit. The strikes continued during the day as well. The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, announced today that NATO planes attacked Yugoslav forces in Kosovo and destroyed five tanks, four armored vehicles and twenty other vehicles.
Montenegro
The Yugoslav army closed the border between Montenegro and Croatia. The Montenegro border police reported that a police checkpoint at the border crossing was still open but Montenegro government sources said that the Yugoslav army had put up barricades in the vicinity of the border crossing.
Kosovo – refugees
The UN High Commissar for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, urged today NATO countries and others to increase its support for the humanitarian operation for Kosovo refugees. At the NATO press conference in Brussels, the spokesman of NATO, Jamie Shea, said that Macedonia approved the establishment of another refugee camp where some 30,000 Kosovo Albanians would be accommodated.
Kosovo – reactions
The UK announced today that they would present the International Tribunal at the Hague with information gathered by its secret services on crimes committed against the civilian population in Kosovo. The German Foreign Minister said that NATO had to be ready for a long fight against the Yugoslav president. The Pentagon announced that the allies are considering a total blockade of oil supply for Yugoslavia.
Sarajevo
The BiH Federation Foreign Minister, Jadranko Prlic, met with the SFOR commander in BiH, General Montgomery Meigs, today. They talked about the current situation in BiH and reflections of the Kosovo crisis.
Zagreb
The Special USA Envoy, Robert Gelbard, expressed his concern with the current situation in BiH and strongly criticized the BH HDZ President, Ante Jelavic, at yesterday’s meeting with the Croatian President, Franjo Tudjman, and opposition parties’ leaders.
Sarajevo
The BiH Federal Ministry of Defense issued a press release today regarding a report from Robert Gelbard that suspension of the “Equip and Train” programme was a result of the Croatian party failure.
The Special Envoy of the UN General Secretary, Elizabeth Rehn, has gone to New York today where she will meet with UN officials to discuss the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and impacts of the air strikes against Yugoslavia on BiH.
London
The Conference of the European Bank for investing in BiH was finished today in London. The BiH representative at the conference, Neven Tomic, said there was a delay in the foreign investments due to the Kosovo Crisis and we had asked from the international institutions to continue investing into projects and we received a positive reply.
Sarajevo
The Provisional Election Commission announced deadlines for registration of political parties, independent candidates and coalitions, and the submitting of candidates’ lists for local elections in BiH. Political parties and independent candidates should register between May 10 and 21, coalitions between June 14 and 25 while the candidates’ lists should be submitted between June 28 and July 26.
Sarajevo
Representative House of BiH Federation Parliament adopted draft budget of 920 million KM and economy policy measures for this year.
World
A new round of the peace negotiations for Northern Ireland was postponed for the next week due to the IRA refusal to hand over its weapons. After the parliamentary elections in Turkey, the government should be formed. The procedure of dismissing ex Pakistani Prime Minister has started today at the Pakistani Parliament.
Travnik
After five months break, joint meeting of members of the Municipality Council was held today in Travnik.
Livno
Thirty six Bosniak police officers received work permits from IPTF and six officials were appointed in the Livno Canton.
Mostar – Ortjes
The USA Ambassador in BiH, Richard Kauzlaric, visited returnees in Ortjes.
Kiseljak Action of gathering weapons and ammunition from civilians has begun today in Kiseljak and Kresevo.
Tuzla
A report on gathering weapons in the Tuzla Canton where an important quantity was handed over.
IMC
A piece on a reply of the IMC to the RS Journalists’ Association press release from April 17 when they misinterpreted the position of the IMC regarding transmission of the Serb state television programming.
Banja Luka
The media environment of RS is richer for a NATO radio station. NESS radio from Banja Luka reported on allegedly interruption of their frequency.
Travnik
A piece on 120 pupils who were deprived from free transportation from their villages to the Catholic schooling center.
Sport
Reports from local and international basketball matches, followed by NBA report and results of UK football matches.