01 December 97, 19:30
Brussels – Ahead of tomorrow’s Defense Ministers meeting of 16 NATO countries, the so- called European Group, expanded by the US and Canadian Ministers, met with Javier Solana, NATO Secretary General, to discuss various topics on BiH: situation on the ground; staying of NATO troops in the country after expiration of their mandate in June 1998; etc. The idea now circulating in NATO circles, speaks of 20.000 troops with a defense task, deployed in the “hot spots” such as Mostar and Brcko. According to the diplomatic sources, a list of problematic towns has already been made. But differences which exist among the European countries relating to the tasks and participation of their troops in BiH, could drive the Americans to completely drop the Bosnian evil and keep only a supporting role. American Defense Minister Cohen insisted on the strong American-European team in BiH, and a larger contribution of the Europeans in order to prevent a new war. Only the mentioning of war reminds us of the horrors of war, the anchor said. Follows shots of mass graves exhumations and texts which must remind everybody of the most terrible war time. The war criminals still at large, were also mentioned.
3:30
Rakova noga – Around 1600 hours yesterday in a village Rakova noga, Ermin Rapa (born 1970) was killed, two kilometers from the inter-entity line in the direction of Sokolac. It was stated that the killer came from RS and escaped in the same direction.
0:30
Mostar – The rotation of the leading Cantonal authority functions was carried out today at the 11th session of the Hercegovina-Neretva Canton Assembly. In addition, Assembly’s Deputies accepted the Draft Law on the budget as well as the Report on the situation in the Canton. The new Governor and Vice Governor of the H/N Canton from now are Zeljko Obradovic and Fatima Leho. This rotation came as result of the parties agreements and Constitution regulations, Obradovic told media, adding, I believed in a better life in the Canton. Concerning the future, I am sure we shall, with many steps go forward, Fatim Leho said. The rotation of the functions was made also in the Government and Cantonal Assembly. David Foley, OSCE Chief of Mission in Mostar, believes that this is an introduction for the whole reintegration of this Canton.
2:00
Gornji Vakuf – Following their earlier decision, the HDZ party deputies did not appear at the Municipal Council session in Gornji Vakuf. Implementation of the election results depends on solving the name problem for the Municipal Council, as well as harmonizing some other questions between the Coalition for BiH and HDZ parties, relating to the joint authority regulations.
1:30
Bihac – The Una-Sana cantonal police constituted on the federal principles was promoted today in Bihac in the presence of Richard Kauzlarich, US Ambassador, Mark Kroeker, IPTF Deputy Commissioner and Mehmed Zilic, Federal Minister for Internal Affairs. The new police uniform was donated by the US Government. These police powers have passed through a long path of education, organization and restructuring to reach this present framework, Edham Veladzic, Cantonal Minister for Internal Affairs said. US Ambassador Kauzlarich expressed his belief that the police powers will soon be constituted throughout the whole BiH territory.
1:30
Press Conference – OSCE Spokesman Johan Verheyeden rejected the RS monitors accusations of alleged misuse of the election ballot papers which were returned to the OSCE centre in Vienna. He said that the RS monitors in Vienna witnessed the destruction of the ballot papers. OSCE sent a complaint to the RS Government concerning the behaviour of their monitors and offensive remarks on the work of the OSCE.
IPTF Commissioner Manfred Seitner decided that starting from today, all police cars in H.N and Central Bosnian Canton must be painted in uniform colours and display the federal symbols according to the agreement on the federal police symbols. The Croatian side was mostly responsible for not implementing this agreement, Alex Ivanko told media.
2:00
Zenica – The fifth anniversary of the Third Corps was celebrated today in Zenica.