Headlines
- Topic of today’s meeting of the Circle 99 Association was “Development of BiH and European integrations”
- Minister Mirsad Kurtovic talks to TV INFO about the first credit of the European Investment Bank
- Topic of TV INFO: Return and how to ensure necessary financial support
- An Afghanistan plane with 178 passengers on board hijacked
- Vladimir Putin announced: “Operation on liberation of Grozny is finished”
- Eyes of the world still focused on the establishment of the Austrian Government
- Whether the archive of Srednja Bosna is destroyed?
Sarajevo
At today’s session of the Independent Intellectuals Association “Circle 99”, the participants discussed “Development of Bosnia and Herzegovina and European Integrations”. Although the topic was Development of BiH, the only guest at the meeting was the BiH Federation Prime Minister, Edhem Bicakcic, who made an opening speech. Intellectuals criticised the Government, and the Prime Minister said that the situation would improve. The intellectuals asked answers to questions like poverty, joblesness and departure of young people from the country. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Slobodan Maksimovic.
This was followed by an item on the new partner of Bosnia and Herzegovina in financing, reconstruction and improvement of the economic development. A credit of the European Investment Bank worth 400 million DEM should support the implementation of the vital projects for the country, OBN reporter, Sanjin Beciragic, confirmed. The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, Mirsad Kurtorvic, said that from last year, Bosnia and Herzegovina has received a hundred million EUROs credit for reconstruction of roads and railway in BiH. The rest of one hundred million EUROs will be provided with the support of commercial banks or donations.
Today in Sarajevo, the President of the BiH Association of Refugees and Displaced Persons, Mirhunisa Komarica, and the Advisor for the Projects of Reconciliation at the US Instutute for Peace, Willam Stubner, talked about current projects for return to Bosnia and Herzegovina for which financial support should be provided. OBN reporter, Adis Saranovic, produced the item. Mirhunisa Komarica said that they think that there were a lot of manipulations with refugees and that the authorities were not up to the problem because there was no common strategy at the state level for the protection of refugees’ rights. Willam Stubner said that he was optimistic because ordinary people have taken the initiative and responsibility for the process of return.
Malo Polje (Mostar)
A piece on returnees in Malo Polje near Blagaj who lack electricity and water. The project of the complete electrification of the Malo Polje village is worth 200,000 DEM. Some 40 Bosniak families and the same nuber od Serb families have returned to the village. They have not had electricity for the last year. The report was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Sinisa Jokic.
Pelagicevo
This was followed by a piece on the difficult economic situation in the RS Pelagicevo Municipality where every fifth inhabitant is a refugee or displaced person. Last year, the Municipality suffered stagnation in its economic development. The main cause was that the support they received from the RS Government and donors was small. This year, they expect even less support, OBN reporter from the area, Slobodanka Radojkovic, confirmed.
World
An Afghanistan plane “Boeing 727” with 178 passengers on board dissapeared from radars’ screens today. The hijacked plane landed in the capital of Uzbekistan. The kidnappers released 10 passengers. The plane continued the journey and landed in Kazahstan. After that, it continued to fly in an unknown direction. The motive and identity of the kidnappers are not known for the time being. The leader of the Austrian extreme right-wing party, Jorg Haider, did not exclude the possibility of starting up a parliamentary procedure against some politicialny who allegedly committed political treason. Russian troops continued the operation of cleaning Grozny and new fights have been waged in the South of Chechenia. Today in Moscow, Vladimir Putin announced: “Operation on liberation of Grozny is finished”. The report on current events in the world was produced by OBN journalist, Mladen Maric.
Travnik
The archive of Srednja Bosna Canton with the hub in Travnik has not been ruined completely only because of the efforts of eight employees. This institution was established in 1953 and currently the authorities do not want to take the responsibility for the archive. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Damir Kaletovic.
Bijeljina
A piece on the functioning of the courts in Bijeljina. Last year, some 80% of cases submited to court procedure were resolved, OBN reporter from Bijeljina, Zeljko Pantelic, confirmed. For the last three years the RS Government had been providing regular salaries for the employees of the courts in Bijeljina. They only lack four judges in order to improve efficiency.
Sarajevo
In an annex of the Madrid Declaration from December 1998, it was said that free and open media would help the preservation of peace. At that time, an invitation to BiH journalists to establish a council which would deal with pleas against the press was sent. In April last year, six organisations of journalists from all over BiH adopted a Codex of Press in BiH. The document includes ethical principles of journalists’ behaviour. The IMC representative, Dieter Loraine, said that the Council should be established on the state level but not necessarily a union. The body has two tasks, to protect rights and freedom of media and tomake judgements in disputes between the public and journalists. The report was produced by OBN reporter, Vedran Persic.
Banja Luka
A piece on the very difficult economic situation in the RS was produced by OBN reporter from the area, Nedeljka Breberina. The average salary in the RS is 230 DEM, while a four member family needs 784 DEM per month.
Mostar
An item on yesterday’s visit of the Mayor of Croatian town of Makarska to the Mayor of Mostar. The participants of the talks expressed their interest to revive their cooperation in tourism, OBN reporter from the area, Alija Behram, confirmed.
Sport
A report on international skiing was followed by a piece on international tennis.