OHR BiH TV News Summary, 10 February 1999

BiH TV broadcast the BiH Anthem for the first time, as the BiH Parliament HoR adopted the Law on BiH Anthem which will become legislative after the State Parliament HoP adopts it and after the BiH Presidency approve the law. The RS delegates discussed whether Bosnia and Herzegovina is a state, as the Law on BiH Anthem which also calls this tune the State Anthem. As a reaction to this discussion, HR Senior Deputy Schumacher read the part of the BiH Constitution, which clearly reads that BiH is a state. The HoR removed the Law on Flag and the Coat of Arms of BiH and the Law on Communications from the agenda, for there was no consensus to leave it on the agenda. The HoR also adopted the Law on Immunity.
4:00

Another terrorist attack took place in Travnik, when a car bomb exploded near the police station, heavily injuring policeman Vlado Stojak. The explosion occurred when Stojak was to move his car, on his way home. Federation President Andric-Luzanski, who arrived to Travnik today, said this incident was aimed against co-existence and refugee return, and said that Croats will still return to Travnik, for it is their home and their homeland.
2:00

At the third day of the Brcko Arbitration Session, the OSCE, UNHCR and IPTF regional offices testified before the Tribunal. According to assessment of Mirsad Djapo, after testimonies of the International Community representatives, it is completely certain that Dodik’s Government did not fulfill all tasks from the Additional Arbitration Decision in any segment of life.
1:30

BiH Presidency Member Izetbegovic and High Representative Westendorp met today, discussing the Arbitration Decision for Brcko, Izetbegovic’s Cabinet announced. Izetbegovic said that any postponing of the decision would be negative solution, for it would slow the DPA implementation. Brcko citizens are losing their patience, and as a consequence, many of them left Bosnia and many are preparing to leave.
1:00

Peace conference on Kosovo continued in Rambouillet. The Yugoslav delegation made an announcement and said that all ten principles offered by the Contact Group as the basis for negotiations in Rambouillet should be immediately signed by both sides. Only then these principles can be the basis for continuance of the negotiations.
2:00

High Representative Westendorp met with representatives of the Serb Citizens’ Council, Council of the BiH Intellectuals Congress, Croat National Council, and the Circle 99, discussing the issues of constituency in the whole BiH territory and the issue of Brcko. Westendorp said that BiH Constitution makes basis for constituency of nations in BiH. As for the Brcko Arbitration, Westendorp said that this is in jurisdiction of the Tribunal and that he would respect any decision that Tribunal makes.
1:30

Reisu-l-Ulema, Ef. Ceric addressed a letter to High Representative Westendorp, reacting to adoption of the draft Law on Restitution in the BiH Government. The letter reads that the Islamic Community is concerned because of contents of the draft law, regarding the national restitution articles.
1:00