Donors’ Conference was finished today in Brussels. $1.25 billion was collected as aid for BiH instead of anticipated $1.1 billion. One of the main conclusions of the conference was that BiH is closer to reconciliation, refugee return, and market economy. It was also confirmed that two thirds of financial aid would be allocated to the Federation while one third is for the RS. All BiH officials expressed their satisfaction with the conference and promised wider co-operation between entities. CoM Co-chairman Bosic said that the results are impressive not only because of amount of collected aid, but also because of trust that the EU showed towards CoM and entities governments.
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BiH President Izetbegovic received a visit of the US Ambassador Kauzlarich who conveyed him a letter from the US President Clinton. Clinton says that the US supports BiH in finding the stabile peace and commencing the Europe integration. Clinton also appealed on all BiH leaders to be persistent in DPA implementation and to remove remains of war institutions on Bosniak and Croat sides. Clinton added that refuge return is the basic element of BiH Federation integration and that US expects more positive efforts from all sides. Clinton also addressed a letter to Presidency member Zubak in which he expresses his concern because of lack of cooperation about important matters in the Federation. Clinton appealed on Croat leaders to promptly remove illegal separatist institutions established during the war.
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ICTY withdrawn indictments against five Bosnian Serbs, upon request of the Chief Prosecutor Arbour, and who were previously indicted for war crimes in Omarska and Kereterm camps. Arbour said that there was a rapid increase of indicted in the past few months. Arbour supports this trend and appeals on other war criminals to surrender to The Hague. Arbour said she made this decision as an attempt to find a balance between current abilities of ICTY and the necessity that cases must be judged justly and effective. Arbour stressed that this decision was not based on any lack of evidence against the indicted, and that trials can be carried out in another legal form such as trials in country the indictees are from.
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New mass graves were discovered today in regions of Kljevace, Kasapnica, Tomine and Vrpoljski Most. According to findings and statements by witnesses, there are 14 Croats and two Bosniaks in these graves, who were killed in early 1992. All victims are mostly elders except for on 15-year-old boy.
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The second traditional meeting of “Zlatni Ljiljani” (Golden Lilies medal awarded) was held today in Mostar. Representatives of highest military and civilian authorities from all cantons were also present.
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Fighting between Serbian police and Kosovo Albanians are growing from sporadic clashes into a real war, according to the press. London “Daily Telegraph” writes that Kosovo Liberation Army line strengthened, while there are no more isolated actions of Serbian police. BiH TV news reporter said that Serbian forces are keeping under siege villages of Drenice, Decani, Djakovica, Klina and Mitrovica, and that Albanians are more and more organized, defending their homes.
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UN spokesman Ivanko announced that inauguration of the joint police in Livno canton will be held regardless of incoming critics. At today’s presser, Ivanko said that policemen from Gorazde and Una/Sana canton are still wearing former insignia, and with Islamic marks. Federal MUP spokesman refuted Ivanko’s claims, saying that Ivanko is very respected by Federation officials and that he has no need to use such untruths in order to excuse wrong political decision of some high International Community officials in regard with police establishment in Canton 10. Canton MUP ministers also refuted these claims.
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At today’s presser in Sarajevo, head of team that will establish independent media standards and licensing committee, Watkinson said that this body would equalize BiH media with all European media. OHR spokesman Haselock said that the IC is determined to make the current legal confusion about media clear. Haselock added that aim of IMSLC is to end the confusion and remove political control over issuing licenses for broadcasting. Watkinson said that this committee does not intend to establish inquisition within electronic media, but to establish frameworks in which these media can reach critics and sharp journalism. Watkinson said that only electronic media would be under jurisdiction of the licensing regime, while the press and printing agencies will have to follow standards predefined for them. Watkinson added that all the stations that are broadcasting would be called to apply for licenses. These licenses will also have certain regulations such as assuring the impartiality, banning the racist hate, and forbidding the violence. IMSLC and BiH legal and media experts will issue these licenses. Watkinson refuted speculations that this committee will also issue licenses for the press, saying that this is up to editorials and journalists associations.
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After yesterday’s letter that Izetbegovic addressed to HR Deputy Klein, OHR spokesman Bullivant reacted and said that Klein’s standpoints expressed in his interview to “Oslobodjenje” should not be politicized. Bullivant said that some of comments that Klein expressed are showing the true frustration of the IC, because of the fact that most of BiH politicians are unable to fulfill their obligations, but that this does not mean that all politicians in BiH are incapable. Klein is here to serve the ordinary people, said Bullivant adding that Klein’s praising words about Susak should be taken as the epitaph for the deceased, and not as some political statement, because Klein co-operated with Susak during his mandate in Easter Slavonia.
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