OBN News Review, 23 March 2000 - Office of the High Representative

Headlines

The President of the Republic of Croatia is in Sarajevo – he had joint and separate meetings with the BiH Presidency members
The Croatian President had a coffee in the Sarajevo cafe bar “Imperial” and walked through the main street “Ferhadija”
A favourable contract on a credit worth 60 million EUROs signed with the European Bank for the construction of roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Interpol issued a wanted circular for Slobodan Milosevic on the Internet
Momir Bulatovic’s party organised protests in Montenegro to mark the first anniversary of NATO strikes against Yugoslavia
A two days European summit started in Lisbon – the main topics are economic reform and creating of new jobs

Sarajevo

The President of the Republic of Croatia, Stipe Mesic, is on a two day visit to BiH. Today, the Croatian President had a coffee in the Sarajevo cafe bar “Imperial” and walked through the main street “Ferhadija” where a number of Sarajevo citizens gathered and wished him a warm welcome. A poll produced on the streets of Sarajevo about the visit of the Croatian President was presented. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Vedran Persic. An interview made with the Croatian President, Stipe Mesic, was broadcast after TV INFO.

This was followed by a piece on the meetings the Croatian President had with the representatives of joint institutions in BiH and the BiH Federation. A clear message after today’s meeting was that Croatia had to cooperate with BiH. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Sanjin Beciragic.

Tomorrow in Sarajevo, a session of the Council for the Cooperation between BiH and Croatia will be held. It is expected that a number of important contracts will be signed. Drazenko Primorac, the Advisor of the BiH Presidency member Ante Jelavic, said that the contracts which refer to trade, social security, double citizenship and property relations will be signed. The piece was produced by OBN reporter, Damir Kaletovic.

An item on the financial contract which BiH signed with the European Investment Bank. The credit is worth 60 million EUROs, or 117 million DEM, which should be repayed overa period of 25 years. The credit will be used for the construction of roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina, OBN reporter, Damir Kaletovic, confirmed.

Zagreb

Today in Zagreb, expert groups of the Republic of Croatia Government and the BiH Federation Government have been discussing possible models for solving the issue of those BiH citizens who have been receiving their pension payments from Croatian pension funds, and had gained their pensions working for BiH companies. According to new plans, these citizens should start receiving their pension payments from BiH funds. Today, the Croatian Parliament adopted the budget whose biggest part is about solving of welfare and social issues. The report from Zagreb for TV INFO was produced by Gordana Simonovic.

Montenegro

Momir Bulatovic’s party organised protest gatherings in front of the USA Culture Center in Podgorica and in other towns of Montenegro to mark the first anniversary of NATO strikes against Yugoslavia. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, visited Montenegro today, OBN reporter, Amarildo Gutic, confirmed from Podgorica for TV INFO.

World

Following the US State Department’s notice, Interpol issued a wanted circular for the Yugoslav President, Slobodan Milosevic, on the Internet. The Spokesperson of Interpol confirmed that this was their obligation because the Hague Tribunal asked them. In Kosovo, the US marines who will participate in the NATO maneuvers started coming from Macedonia. Some 800 US marines are participating in the maneuvers called “The Dynamic Response 2000”. The leaders of the EU gathered on a two days European summit which started in Lisbon. The main topics are the reform of the EU economy and creating of new jobs. This was followed by a piece on the visit of the Pope to Jerusalem. The report on current events in the world was produced by OBN journalist, Gordana Frimel.

Banja Luka

The RS and the BiH Federation trade unions of energy production talked today on the strengthening of the cooperation in order to protect the interest of workers in the process of privatisation. The report was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Biljana Arsic.

Sarajevo

A piece on the session of the BiH Federation Government held in Sarajevo today. Today’s session was not efficient because many of the important issues were not discussed today. The report was produced by Anes Alic for TV INFO.

Banja Luka

A piece on the end of the two day conference called “Religious Community and Democracy” held in Banja Luka. The main conclusions are connected to reconciliation and joint life in BiH. OBN reporter from the area, Nedeljka Breberina, produced the report for TV INFO.

This was followed by an item on the representatives of the Islamic Community in Banja Luka who announced the beginning of preparations for the reconstruction of the Banja Luka mosque “Ferhadija”. The report was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Darko Savic.

OSCE

The Provisional Election Commission in BiH decided to keep the four years mandate of municipality officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was announced today by OSCE.

Prijedor

An item on the future regulatory plan for the construction of the center of the town of Prijedor. According to the plans, religious marks of the Orthodox Church would be included. This provoked severe reactions. The report for TV INFO was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Milena Letic-Joves.

Sport

Reports on the European football and NBA were presented.