OBN News Review, 23 April 1999 - Office of the High Representative

Headlines

Serbian TV hit last night
Privatization process legalized in BiH
Special relationship between BiH and Croatia
New virus after Melissa

Yugoslavia

NATO airplanes hit Serbian TV last night in Belgrade. As it was announced from NATO, this attack was directed against Milosevic’s important authority aspect. Different transmitters were hit, too. Javier Solana authorized NATO military command to propose plans for possible ground troops intervention. As Pentagon Spokesman, Kenneth Bacon, said, NATO officials started mechanism of changes on the Kosovo ground intervention issue.

Kosovo – reactions

Special Envoy of Russian Presidency, Viktor Chernomyrdin, said at the Belgrade airport last night that international assistance in Kosovo under OUN protectorate is anticipated. Russian participation in this is a part of agreement with Milosevic. But Yugoslav offer was not accepted. American President ,Bill Clinton, and British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, announced that Milosevic’s offer was not sufficient to fill NATO conditions.

NATO anniversary

50th anniversary of the NATO in Washington was introduced by the first day of the Summit Kosovo crises as a main topic.

UNHCR – Refugees

As UNHCR announced, 710.000 people left country from the beginning of the Kosovo crises. In the countries that border with Yugoslavia 594.000 Kosovo refugees are placed. Number of them are in Albania, Macedonia, Monte Negro and Herzegovina. Their life conditions are to hard to sustain. In the rest of Europe number of them are in Germany. Three Macedonian soldiers were wounded. Attackers, who wanted to go back to Yugoslavia crossing the border with to this country, were not announced.

Certificates

According to the about 12 million data collected, we can say that privatization in Federation BiH started from today. The Elvisa Mujkic’s certificate was the first introduced amongst 2 million certificates.

Bonn

German will write of Bosnian debt of 260 million DM. The contract on this issue was signed in Bonn. As it was announced by the German Ministry of Finances, global debt was 490 million DM. Spokesman of German Ministry of Finances, Hans Ajbich, said that this gesture was support to stability and further development in BiH.

Customs

The Croatian Government considered the decision of the Bosnian Presidency to stop implementation of the Agreement on economic BiH – Croatia cooperation. Therefore, Croatia decided to introduce customs fees charging for goods imported from BiH. This will influence export-import relationship.

Kakanj

The system created for exhaust water purging and environment protection was opened in term power station Kakanj. The World Bank paid 5 million $ for this project.

Railways workers would continue strike on Tuesday, 27. April, because Federal Government was not fill conditions and obligations from the document signed with The Syndicate of Railways workers of BiH.

Brcko

As arbiter Roberts Oven decided, the new deadline for submitting comments and opinions on Annexes on the final arbitrary decision on Brcko would be 5. Jun.

Mostar

An inventory of housing funds was taken in Mostar and Hercegovina-Neretva Canton. The first tested in the terms of inventory will be double users of housing units. As our crew noticed, the private house was already returned to owner Slobodan Lukenda. According to this, it was planned for Muhamed Medar, user of Slobodan’s house, to return to his house in Stolac.

The Police Ministry of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton appointed the first group of candidates from minorities in BiH who would attend Police Academy in Sarajevo. After this they will join Police forces in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton on the regular basis.

Refugees – Brcko, Tuzla

According to the Red Cross report, there is 1.000 refugees from Yugoslavia registrated in Prijedor in houses of their families and friends. In Tuzla Canton the new transfer centers for refugees were opened. There is a similar problem with finding a place for refugees in Brcko.

Sarajevo

5th International Book Biennal in Sarajevo was opened today. The main topic was “BiH from 1992. until 1999.” About 11.800 books would be exhibited for seven days.

What after Melissa?

As IBM warned all Internet users, there is new virus “Jesus” capable to destroy their computer program.

Tuzla

The Fashion Show “Fashion 99 Spring – Summer” was held in Tuzla last night. The wellknown pieces of Bosnian underwear, clothes and shoes were presented.

Sport

Reports from international football matches.