01 October 97, 23:00
Sarajevo – SFOR troops seized four TV transmitters in RS this morning, the transmitters are Udrigovo, Trebevic, Duge Njive and Leotar. The action was carried out upon the request from HR Westendorp. As said by SFOR Gen. Clark, the transmitters will now broadcast programmes from SRT Banja Luka studio. The reason for the action came after SRT broadcast a distorted press briefing by ICTY Justice Arbour. In editing a video of the briefing, a Pale commentary was added which made accusations against the work of ICTY a number of times, calling it a political stratagem against the Serbs. SRT apologised publicly, but apparently, it was not good enough for HR Westendorp. OHR spokesman Bullivant said that SRT now sees how seriously OHR takes Paragraph 70 from Sintra agreement. US Secretary of State Albright said that SFOR had seized the transmitters because of the distortion of a report by ICTY Justice Arbour. The action was also acclaimed by British Foreign Office, and German FA Minister Kinkel.
4’00”
Sarajevo – The election results were published for four BiH municipalities – Tuzla, Bosanski Brod, Rogatica and Hadzici. The results in Tuzla: the Joint List ’97 – 16 places in the City Council, SDP – 3, HDZ for BiH – 3, and the Coalition for Democratic and United BiH (CDU) – 8. The results in Bosanski Brod are: HSS – 3, SP of RS – 4, SDS – 17, SRS of RS – 3, HDZ for BiH – 13, CDU – 5. Results in Rogatica: SP of RS – 3, SDS – 16, SRS of RS – 9, CDU – 21. Results in Hadzici: The Joint list – 1, SDP – 4, CDU – 20.
2’30”
Sarajevo – BiH Federation HoP session was held today. The laws on health insurance, health protection and customs were adopted. HoP also questioned Federation functioning, concerning the recent terrorist acts and disunity of the police and legal system.
3’00”
Sarajevo – The CoM and Turkish Government representatives signed the Protocol on co-operation in Aid Programmes Assistance. The Protocol was signed by BiH Federation Foreign Affairs Minister Assistant Djikic, and the President of Turkish Organisation for International Co-operation Utkan. The Protocol is related to co-operation in various areas – infrastructure, energy, education etc.
1’30”
Maastricht – NATO defence ministers commenced their traditional Autumn summit. One of the subjects is the peace process in BiH. The administrative board discussed the report by HR Westendorp which analyses the aid foundation usage in BiH. The report states that international aid and custom taxes incomes, are mostly ending up in private pockets, bank accounts abroad, in parallel power structures – remains of the Herceg Bosna and special police of RS.
2’00”
Pale – The RS Government threatened SFOR with an austere reply to the action of taking over the TV Transmitters. RS representative Krajisnik said that he can not take the responsibility for things that may happen after this, as a reaction from the RS people.
1’00”
Sarajevo – The Social Democratic Party for BiH held a press conference discussing the matter concerning the release of election results. SDP Co-chairman Avdic said that some manipulations appeared, especially as it was expected, in Brcko. Avdic added that SDP will not recognise the results in Brcko if they are an outcome of ethnic re-engineering, and election engineering. Talking about the forthcoming elections in RS, Avdic said that SDP will ask from OSCE to conduct and supervise the elections, in order to enable Bosniak population to vote.
2’00”