22.03.2000

OBN News Review, 22 March 2000

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Headlines

  • The BiH Parliament could not agree upon the election law and law on the BiH Council of Ministers
  • The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, accused Croat officials in the Hercegovina-Neretva Canton of obstruction
  • The OSCE Mission demonstrated the election procedure for the forthcoming local elections
  • A wave of strikes and workers’ protests – protests of the workers of the Zenica factory “Vatrostalna” and the bicycle factory in Lukavica
  • In Tuzla, the managing board of the “Polihem” factory was dismissed, but the strike continued
  • Sarajevo – the promotion of the encyclopedia “Krlezijana”

Protests of Workers – Zenica / Lukavica / Tuzla

Some 200 workers of the Zenica factory “Vatrostalna” protested because of unpaid salaries and social security, asking the management to resign. The deadline for fulfilling their demands, submitted to the BiH Federation Government, is seven days, otherwise, they announced a blockade of roads, OBN reporter from the area, Hajrudin Durakovic, confirmed for TV INFO.

In the factory making bicycles in Lukavica workers went on strike. Workers of the factory have been in a difficult economic situation. Representatives of the trade union asked the crew of OBN to leave the factory, and OBN reporter, Damir Kaletovic, confirmed that the trade union is supporting the management which means that workers have been on their own. The Manager of the factory. Savo Djuka, threatened to fire a worker because of the OBN crew coming to the factory.

In Tuzla, the managing board of “Polihem” was dismissed, but the strike continued. Although the workers were offered one late salary payment, they did not accept it. They said they would stop the strike when they found out the names of the new board members and when they receive would the two late salaries. The piece for TV INFO was produced by Muhamed Berbic from Tuzla.

Sarajevo

The Representative House of the BiH Parliament adopted the budget for 2000. However, the representatives could not agree upon the election law and the law on the BiH Council of Ministers. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Slobodan Maksimovic.

Banja Luka

In Banja Luka, representatives of the International Community met with the RS Government ministers behind closed doors. The Head of the UN Mission in BiH, Jacques Klein, met with the Minister of Internal Affairs, Sredoje Novic, and the Minister of Defence, Manojlo Milovanovic. Military attaché s from eight countries talked to the RS Minister of Defence and the RS Army General Headquarters representatives. The main topics of the talks were the decrease of military potentials and the cooperation between the armies of both BiH entities with the military forces of foreign countries. The report was produced by OBN journalist from the area, Darko Savic

Sarajevo

An item on the finishing of the two day Regional Investment Forum 2000. One of the discussions held at the Forum was the development of a corridor between Istambul, via Bosnia and Herzegovina to Italy. The final decision on whether the project would be brought up at the Stability Pact will be made by state’s and entities’ bodies. The piece was produced by OBN reporter, Vedran Persic.

Montenegro

The Montenegrin President, Milo Djukanovic, denied reports of the Austrian and German press that there would be no referendum on independence this year. The Socialist People Party of Momir Bulatovic scheduled protests in a number of Montenegrin towns at the first anniversary of NATO strikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Podgorica, Amarildo Gutic.

World

NATO peace troops started the establishment of the zone of trust around the main bridge over the river Ibar in Kosovska Mitrovica. The action is aimed at providing a possibility the both Serbs and Kosovo Albanians to move freely around this divided town. The US President Bill Clinton invited India to renew negotiations with its nuclear rival Pakistan, and stressed that Washington will not be a mediator in territory disputes between the two countries. The EC succeeded in agreeing with Russia for the sending of three experts on human rights to Chechnya. The piece on these and other current events in the world was produced by OBN journalist, Zeljka Lekic.

Sarajevo

OSCE is finalising its preparations for the implementation of the forthcoming local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The distribution of ballots to the voting stations will begin on March 28th. Some 2,5 million voters have been registered for voting. Today, OSCE demonstrated the voting procedure, OBN reporter, Mirna Sadikovic, confirmed.

Mostar

The Spokesperson of the UN in Mostar, Stefo Lehmann, said in Mostar today, that after the Croat authorities in Mostar ignored new opportunities to show their readiness for cooperation, the UN Secretary General decided to inform the UN Security Council in New York. The report for TV INFO was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Mirsad Behram.

Sarajevo

The representatives of the International Group for Management and the BiH Federation signed a memo of understanding according to which they would establish an office for support to the Government in the development and presentation of projects for the reconstruction. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Sanjin Beciragic.

Doboj

USAID marked today the end of five projects connected to the process of return to the Doboj area worth two million DEM, Sanjin Kotoric confirmed for TV INFO.

Usora

This was followed by a piece on the construction of the gym in the elementary school in Usora. This is the first one in the area. Drazen Budisa, the President of the Croatian party HSLS, attended the ceremony, OBN reporter from the area, Olivera Dimac, confirmed.

Banja Luka

A piece on the beginning of a two days conference “Religious Communities and Democracy in BiH” in Banja Luka was produced by Nedeljka Breberina.

Sarajevo

An item on the promotion of the encyclopedia “Krlezijana” in Sarajevo today was produced by Branka Vrebac for TV INFO.

Sport

Reports on local and international football were presented.