The world is ready for intervention in Kosovo. UN Security Council holds an urgent meeting, Albright and Cohen reports to the US Congress on the recent findings regarding development of events in Kosovo, NATO assembles air forces, UK and Denmark are ready for action and US would not even wait for the Security Council permission. The motive for such fast action of the world is the most recent massacre in Kosovo, where 143 children were killed since the beginning of 1998.
2:00
BiH Presidency President Izetbegovic met with Ambassadors of Islamic countries, discussing the issue of Kosovo as the main item on the agenda.
1:00
BiH Presidency President Izetbegovic on Thursday opened a new production facility in the Zenica Steelworks. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Izetbegovic pointed out at the significance which the BiH own steel production had in the reconstruction of the entire country” economy, saying that the re-start of the operations in the Zenica Steelworks “gives back hope in the future of Bosnia.” The opening ceremony was also attended by BiH Federation Prime Minister Bicakcic, U.S. Ambassador to BiH Richard Kauzlarich, as well as by representatives of the municipal and cantonal authorities. Zenica Steelworks also received the ISO 9001 certificate.
3:00
BiH CoM adopted Thursday the text of the agreement between Bosnia and Croatia on the Ploce port and the passage through Neum. The Council will forward the text to the Bosnian Presidency and the BiH Parliament on ratification. Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Kurtovic said that the hb CoM discussed the continuation of negotiations with the Paris Club of Creditors and considered the last offer for pay off the Bosnian debt toward the Club. “The attitude of the Paris Club on pay off of the debt of 67% remains, but the other conditions regarding the BiH debt obtained more adequate treatment.
2:00
The RS government adopted today a new method of registration of transport of goods with the BiH Federation which as interior, does not include customs any more. Deputy Prime Minister and Kremenovic said that the imported goods, serving as repro-material for production of final industrial products, will also be free of customs.
1:30
Sarajevo Canton Governor Haracic signed the contract with French Company “Vuig” Commercial Director for International Construction Ben, on construction of the joint business centre, on 17.000 square meters, formerly belonging to the Sarajevo Tobacco Factory.
1:30
Croats from Central Bosnia blocked the regional road M-17 in the place of Tasovcici near Capljina, after Bosniak refugees returned to this place. In the evening, SFOR special forces intervened and unblocked the road. Croats explained their action by alleged fear of returnees and impossibility of co-existence.
1:30
BiH TV reported on the primary school “Kulin Ban” from Tesanjka, near Tesanj. The pupils of this school are educated by two educating programmes, from BiH and from Croatia. BiH TV also interviewed several of them who, asked about their country and president, replied Croatia or Franjo Tudjman. Several pupils even said their country is BiH but President Franjo Tudjman.
1:30