Headlines
- Whether ministers from the RS Socialist Party will step out from the Government of Milorad Dodik? – tumultuous session of the RS Government
- Why did two workers of the “Pretis” company announce going on hunger strike?
- President of the Serbian Syndicate “Nezavisnost” (“Independence”) talks to TV INFO
- What citizens think about constituency of peoples all over Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Banja Luka
The RS Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik, said that all ministers from the RS Government have supported the decision on Tihomir Glogoric’s dismissal from the positions of the RS Government Vice President and the Minister for Soldiers Issues, Victims of War and Labour, and that they have agreed on the reasons for his dismissal. The Prime Minister Dodik said that he had to postpone previously agreed visit to the United States because of current events in the RS. After the RS Government’s session, the Prime Minister Dodik said that the current political situation in the RS was a result of a continued undermining of the “Koalicija sloga” activities. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Tatjana Lajsic.
This was followed by a press conference held by the Socialist Party in Banja Luka today. The RS Socialist Party, one of the “Koalicija sloga” member parties, strongly reacted to the dismissal of Tihomir Gligoric. It will be announced on Monday whether socialists would withdraw their ministers from the Government. In a letter sent by Zivko Radisic to the Prime Minister Dodik, socialists ask the Prime Minister to withdraw the decision on Minister Gligoric’s dismissal. Dusko Bajic, the member of the Main Executive Board of the RS Socialist Party, said if this was not done, the existence of the “Koalicija sloga” would be threatened, OBN reporter from Banja Luka, Zoran Popovic, confirmed.
Sarajevo
Two workers of the “Pretis” company announced going on hunger strike. They claim that there were too many reasons for this unpopular decision. They warned on irregularities connected to the management of the company. They claim that a building of the hub was handed over under some unclear conditions. Also, they complain of the fact that the hub of the company is in Sarajevo while the factory is located in Vogosca. Dzavid Zoranic, one of the workers, complained about low salaries. Also, workers claim that there was pressure on workers of the company by the management. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Anes Alic.
This was followed by an item on the visit of the President of the Branch Syndicates “Nezavisnost” from Serbia, Branislav Canak, and his view about the current economic situation in Serbia. The rate of unemployment in Serbia is 70%, a minimum salary of 75 DEM is paid once a year. The last pension payment in September for only 105 thousand pensioners was 45 DEM. The President of the Syndicate “Nezavisnost” said that the official statistics data should not be trusted. They claim that the situation is much worse and that one third of the labour force have been dealing in smuggling. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Amarildo Gutic.
Zagreb
Only two days after beginning their work, the Government of Ivica Racan wants to show that they will fulfil all their pre-election promises. After a decision on the decrease of salaries of state officials by 40%, the new Government announced a radical change in the attitude of the Republic of Croatia towards the Hague Tribunal. At the first session of the new Government, the Prime Minister Racan said that the relation of Croatia would be in accordance to previously undertaken responsibilities. He added that they would continue to defend “Oluja” and “Bljesak” as actions which helped the liberation of Croatia but individual war crimes must not shadow what the Croatian people had done for independence, OBN reporter Gordana Simonovic, confirmed.
World
Russian units continued the siege of the center of the Chechen capital. A report on the World Economic Forum in Davos followed. The US President, Bill Clinton, invited developing countries to stop their opposition to further liberalisation of world trade. Over 1,000 demonstrators threw rocks at police officers and brake windows trying to stop the session of the Forum. The report on current events in the world was produced by OBN reporter, Gordana Frimel.
Sarajevo
The second day of the BiH Constitutional Court session in Sarajevo ended. The door of the Court was closed to the press. Six local and three international judges discussed the request for balancing entities’ constitutions with the constitution of the BiH state. The most interesting issue is the BiH peoples constituency all over Bosnia and Herzegovina. A poll made on the streets of Sarajevo about the issue was presented. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Vedran Persic.
A piece on the adopted draft budget for institutions and international obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2000 of approximately 265 million and 200 thousand DEM. The biggest amount of the funds, over 187 million was provided for the servicing of the external debt of the state. One million DEM was provided for refugees and displaced persons. Some 33 million DEM will be provided for the budget out of administrative taxes. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Damir Kaletovic.
Prijedor
From January 18th, the entire central heating system in Prijedor stopped functioning due to the lack of fuel. Prijedor is the town with the biggest number of people who suffer from flu in the RS. New damage threatens the recently reconstructed system. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Prijedor, Milena Letic – Joves.
Brcko
A report on the integration and transformation of the health protection system in the Brcko District. Opening of the joint Health Information Center in the Brcko Hospital is only the first step in the integration of the health system in the Brcko District. The funds for the Center were provided by Phare. The report was produced by OBN reporter from Brcko, Slobodanka Radojkovic.
Sarajevo
The opening of 38 centers for mental health protection all over Bosnia and Herzegovina has been planned through a reform of the system for mental health protection. The project will be implemented through the support of the humanitarian organisation “Health Net International”, OBN reporter, Sevko Bajic, confirmed.
This was followed by a report on the exhibition of photos and documents about the life and activities of citizens of Czech origin in BiH, members of the Czech Citizens Association, since the establishment of the Association in 1905. The exhibition was organised with the support of the Embassy of Czech Republic in BiH. The item was produced by OBN reporter, Slobodan Maksimovic.
Sport
A report on European Handball Tournament currently held in Croatia was followed by reports on the Australian Open finals, international skiing and football.