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

Headlines

NATO planes continue two months air campaign against the Federal Republic Yugoslavia
Several thousand refugees fled Kosovo yesterday – this was the biggest exodus for the last couple of weeks
Circle 99’s initiative – Sarajevo should be a candidate for the organization of the Olympic Winter Games 2010.
Catastrophic floods in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Topic of TV Info – reform of judiciary

Yugoslavia

Good weather conditions during the weekend enabled NATO to hit at least nine Yugoslav armoured vehicles. This was announced today in Brussels. During the sixtieth day of NATO strikes against the Federal Republic Yugoslavia, three Yugoslav planes on the ground were hit. NATO confirmed that an electric power plant in Obrenovac, police storage in Belgrade and several ammunition and oil storages were also hit. OBN reporter from Belgrade, Tatjana Stankovic, sent her report.

Kosovo

Several thousand refugees fled Kosovo yesterday. During the past two days, more than 10,000 of them arrived at the border crossing with Macedonia, Blace. This was announced by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The US President, Bill Clinton, said that the Russian troops should be a part of international troops in Kosovo. The British Foreign Minister, Robin Cook, defended the unity of NATO. This was initiated by the anxiety of Italy and Germany due to mistakes made during NATO strikes on Yugoslavia.

Zagreb

A report on the meeting between BiH, Croatia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey held yesterday in Zagreb. Participants of the meeting discussed the establishment of the Pact for the South East Europe Stability. An international conference that would formally approve the Pact should be organized in June.

Drvar / Kakanj

The leadership of HDZ prevents the return of several hundred Croats to Kakanj, currently placed in Drvar. This was announced by the Agency ONASA reporter from Drvar. The Kakanj Municipality Mayor, Kemal Brodlija, said that a hundred houses in Drvar, owned by Croats, are empty, thirty of which were reconstructed with the International Community funds.

Kozarac (Prijedor)

This was followed by a report on refugee return to Kozarac in the Prijedor Municipality. OBN reporter from Prijedor, Dragan Jerinic, reported that 190 houses were reconstructed to date through the help of a German humanitarian organization.

Mostar

A seminar about a new approach to mental health was organized in Mostar. Organizer of the seminar was the World Health Organisation. The seminar lasted for two days.

Brcko

A piece on problems with water supply came from the Brcko Municipality. OBN reporter from Brcko, Slobodanka Radojkovic, reported that repair of the water supply system is necessary.

World

Algerian newspapers reported on killings committed by Islamic rebels near the capital. The US planes bombed posts of the Iraqi air defence today. The Palestinian leader called today in Cairo for the continuation of the Middle East peace process. In Germany, a new federal president was elected. Catastrophic floods in Germany, Austria and Switzerland took four lives.

Sarajevo

A report on reform of the BiH judiciary on the ground. This is one of the preconditions, necessary for the BiH membership in the European Council.

This was followed by the report from the meeting of the independent intellectuals association “Circle 99”. The Association supported an initiative that Sarajevo should be a candidate for the Olympic Winter Games 2010.

Sport

A report on the International Chess Tournament results currently going on in Sarajevo was followed by results from the European Championship in volleyball for paraplegics where the BiH team won the second place. This was followed by results from the local football and basketball teams.