Headlines
- Assassination of “Nezavisne novine” Director, Zeljko Kopanja, this morning in Banja Luka
- BiH Federation divided in two opposite groups – after some of ministers were dismissed, some others resigned
- Social Democrat Party of BiH unsatisfied with the new election draft law presented yesterday – they offered their suggestion to the Assembly
- Eviction of refugees – pro and contra
- Pensioners will protest again if their demands are not fulfilled
- BiH beauties visited OBN premises – OBN is the general media sponsor of the contest for the most beautiful girl in BiH
Banja Luka
Director of the Banja Luka “Nezavisne novine” newspaper, Zeljko Kopanja, was seriously injured when a bomb hidden in his car exploded. OBN crew from Banja Luka reported on the event from the site. OBN reporter from the town, Tatjana Lajsic, confirmed that the explosion occurred this morning at 7.45 a.m. Zeljko Kopanja is currently in Banja Luka hospital. Police investigation is currently going on. The bomb was place under the personal vehicle. Medical doctor, who treated Zeljko Kopanja in the hospital in Banja Luka said that it was still too early to give any prognosis about his health state.
BiH Federation Government
At yesterday’s session of the BiH Federation Government, Director of the Customs Administration was dismissed. The Federal Finance Minister asked for the dismissal of the Deputy as well but the demand was not accepted. This session showed that there were some serious problems among the representatives and among departments. The special discussion on internal relations between ministers and their deputies, without presence of the press, was announced. The Finance Minister, Dragan Covic, said that approximately one quarter of the BiH Federation public income had not been accumulated due to bad organisation of authorised institutions, Ministry of Finance and tax and customs administrations. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Amarildo Gutic.
Sarajevo
The Social Democrat Party in BiH offered to the state Parliament election draft law which was significantly different from the draft law presented by OSCE yesterday. The President of the SDP Main Board, Sejfudin Tokic, said that their suggestion supports multi-ethnicity of the country at first place. He added that the OSCE suggestion was not made in accordance to the European conventions on human rights and that more than 30% citizens of BiH had not been able to candidate themselves for the most important posts in BiH joint institutions. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Adis Saranovic.
Pensioners
This was followed by a report on the position of pensioners in the BiH Federation. Among other things, pensioners ask their pensions for last five months to be paid. The report was produced by OBN journalist, Slobodan Maksimovic.
World
The Russian Prime Minister said that Russian Army was not responsible for the attack to the market place in the Chechen capital, Grozny, although Russian officials previously announced that they were. This was followed by a piece on the meeting between the EU and Russia in Helsinki. A strong earthquake struck Taiwan this morning. Reports on current events in East Timor, Kosovo and Serbia followed. NATO Secretary General, George Robertson, visited Kosovo and Macedonia. The European Agency for the air space control cancelled today a decision made by the Serbian authorities to cancel flights in Kosovo. The report was produced by OBN journalist, Zeljka Lekic.
Sarajevo (Ilidza)
A report on the failed eviction in Ilidza, near Sarajevo. Several dozens citizens, mainly refugees from Srebrenica, gathered to prevent that. However, although today’s eviction was postponed, the old question remains: How to return refugees to their pre-war homes? The report was produced by OBN reporter, Sevko Bajic.
Capljina (Klepci and Prebilovci)
Authorities of the Hercegovia-Neretva Canton donated construction material necessary for the construction of provisional accommodation for Serb returnees in Klepci and Prebilovci villages in the Capljina municipality. The report was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Mirsad Behram.
Banja Luka
A report on the press conference held by the Association of Refugees and Displaced Persons in Banja Luka today. Representatives of the Association ask that refugees return to towns in the Banja Luka region and in those places in the BiH Federation where accommodation is misused. The report on this was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Biljana Arsic.
Mostar
A piece on the opening of the final production facility in the factory for aluminum production in Mostar. The factory is very important for the economy of the area, OBN reporter from the area, Pejo Gasparevic, confirmed.
Bugojno
Destruction of mines and production facilities in one of the biggest factory of anti-personal mines in the ex Yugoslavia started. This is one of the preconditions for the continuation of the de-mining process in BiH. If BiH do not destroy its stock of mines within a four year period, the International Community will cancel their support. The report on this was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Ana Drmac.
Sarajevo
A report on the performance of the theatre group from New York at the International Theatre Festival “MESS 99” in Sarajevo was produced by OBN reporter, Gordana Frimel.
Sport
A report on the European football matches was followed by a report on the basketball matches within the European cups.