OBN News Review, 25 August 1999 - Office of the High Representative

Headlines

Commander of the RS Army, General Momir Talic, arrested due to the secret indictment of the Hague Tribunal
After Kosovo Albanians’ protests, KFOR decided to postpone sending of the Russian troops to Orahovac for two weeks
Another earthquake struck Turkey last night, this time without consequences – the Turkish Government confirmed 14,000 people killed in last week’s earthquake
Zdravko Tomac said for OBN that Bosnian media reports about raising charges against Franjo Tudman were rumors that would harm both Bosniaks and Croats
Haris Silajdzic said for “Jutarnji list” that Franjo Tudman had to appear at the Hague Tribunal
Arrival of the new USA Ambassador in BiH, Thomas Miller, to Sarajevo
Thirty Bosniak families returned to the Gacko area after seven years

The Hague Tribunal

Austrian police arrested Commander of the RS Army Headquarters, Momir Talic, in Vienna this morning. Talic was arrested due to the secret indictment of the International Tribunal for War Crimes in Hague. Talic was supposed to attend seminar upon invitation of OSCE, OBN reporter Vedran Persic confirmed.

Banja Luka

This was followed by a report on the severe reactions from the RS in respect to the arrest of General Momir Talic. The RS Minister of Defence, Manojlo Milovanovic, returned from Vienna and explained details about the arrest. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Biljana Arsic.

Sarajevo

A report on the arrival of the new USA Ambassador in BiH, Thomas Miller. The Ambassador said that security, economy and development of democracy were priorities for BiH, OBN reporter, Bakir Hadziomerovic, confirmed.

This was followed by an announcement made by the BiH Presidency member, Alija Izetbegovic, who asked for the international investigation about accusation on corruption, brought up by the prominent USA The New York Times. According to the Presidency member, The New York Times presented information which was not true. Kemal Kurspahic reports for OBN from Washington whether that could happen to the respectable newspaper.

Gacko

Thirty Bosniak families returned to Fazlagica Kula in the Gacko Municipality after seven years. The returnees were escorted by RS police and international forces. OBN reporter from the area, Enes Ratkusic, produced the report.

Banja Luka

A report on the family Torbica from Drvar, currently placed in Banja Luka, who had to leave their provisional accommodation due to another refugee family from Croatia. Although the RS Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Persons offered to them alternative accommodation, the family refused it because their son needed proper medical treatment. The report on this was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Sanela Zivkovic.

This was followed by a report on protests announced by the Banja Luka pensioners, scheduled for tomorrow. The pensioners ask for their unpaid pensions.

A piece on official statistics in the RS which have shown the increase of suicides in this BiH entity. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Nebojsa Racic.

Kosovo

Arrival of the Russian troops to Orahovac was postponed for two weeks until tensions between local Albanians calm down. Opposition leaders from Belgrade met today with the Special USA Envoy in Budva and with the German Foreign Minister in Bonn.

Turkey

Another earthquake struck Istanbul last night. Living conditions for those who survived the last week’s earthquake have been very difficult.

World

This was followed by report on fights in Dagestan, Summit of the Central Asia countries, current events in the Middle East, explosion in North Afghanistan and protests in East Timor.

Travnik

Co-chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, Haris Silajdzic, said for “Jutarnji list” that the Croatian President, Franjo Tudman, was responsible for the war between Bosniaks and Croats and because of that had to go to Hague. The leader of the Croatian opposition party, SDP, Zdravko Tomac, during his visit to Travnik, said that Slobodan Milosevic was the only person who should be blamed for the war. OBN reporter from Travnik, Vanja Elezovic, produced the report.

Sarajevo

A piece on 114 machines handed over to farmers in the BiH Federation. The machines arrived with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture with the funds provided by the Japanese Government. The farmers will pay off this credit in the period of four years.

Sport

A report on the International Athletic Championship was followed by a report on the local football matches.