Kosovo – Serb forces continue their operations in the area of Decani. 36 tanks are reported to participate in the actions. Kosovo Liberation Army called all Albanians for a final battle for Kosovo.
3:30
The latest active participation of the USA in the negotiations concerning ports of Ploce and Neum was confirmed today in practice. The US Special Envoy Richard Sclar takes part in the new mission of fact-finding in relation to the renting a free zone in Ploce for BH, and Croatia’s access to Neum. “The briefly and temporarily forgotten issue burdening the relations between BH and Croatia” again gained actuality due to yesterday’s meeting between the US President’s Special Envoy Sclar with the Foreign Minister of Croatia, Mate Granic. As a part of the latest fact-finding mission, Sclar held separate sessions with BH and Croatia’s delegations. BH delegation members, Muratovic and Hajric expect progress in negotiations now that the US took part (Muratovic said that the US participation was “of extreme importance”).
3:20
Regional road from Vitez to Zenica deblocked today around 14:00. Although their demands were not met, refugee Bosniaks from the village of Gacice await fulfilment of their demands, as set at a meeting in Vitez, in the next ten days. Unless results be reached, the refugees will block the traffic again. “The OHR suggested a new plan of return to Vitez municipality, but we did not reach an agreement, since the Croat side was not able to reach decisions”, TV BiH quoted an official who presided the two and a half-hour meeting in Vitez. Adnan Terzic, Governor of the Central Bosnia Canton said that the “OHR could not allow itself the luxury of jeopardizing the functioning of cantonal institutions for giving concessions to local officials in any of the canton’s municipalities.”
2:30
Fourteen days ago, the villagers of Klisa near Zvornik, were prevented in their attempt to return home. Bosniak refugees are still waiting in tents in Sapna, with all the documents necessary for the return prepared. Today, more than 500 returnees found themselves waiting in Sapna. Local refugee association blamed the UNHCR for failing to do their part and enable the return.
1:50
Federal Premier Edhem Bicakcic sent a letter to Carlos Westendorp and SFOR commander Gen. Eric Shinseki, pointing out that the final moment has come for the final resolving of the issue of the reintegration of Sarajevo. Bicakcic drew the IC officials’ attention to the fact that the international forces were supposed to conduct the transfer of authority, i.e. reintegration of Dobrinja I and IV within a 90-days deadline, following the signing of the DPA.
1:00
Federal Premier Bicakcic and Minister Rasim Kadic met with the representatives of the Trade Union in Sarajevo. The Law on Work was discussed. The government said that it would present the Trade Union’s remarks and suggestions to the parliamentary procedure, and also said that the amended laws might be adopted by the end of August.
1:20
RS Minister of Interior, Milovan Stankovic, cancelled the official police escort of Momcilo Krajisnik. The decision followed Krajisnik’s behaviour of August 5, when he called the RS government ‘traitorous’ and President Plavisc ‘a traitor who does not know what to do’ in the MUP premises in Banja Luka. Linked to this, two entity Ministries of Interior today signed an Act on Level, Degree and Volume of the Security of Individual Persons, as well as a document on the prevention of terrorism, organised crime and production and trafficking of drugs.
1:50
The second mini-donors conference for Brcko will take place in the second half of August. The message was conveyed by Brcko Deputy Mayor Ivan Krndelj.
0:45
Central Bank Governor Peter Nicol met with the high BH officials again, due to problems in the process of the liquidation of the BH National Bank.
1:00
Director of the RS financial police, Dragan Veselinovic, informed the public today that 20 criminal accusations against companies and individuals were launched. The names of Velibor Ostojic (Minister of Science and Culture), Spasoje Albijanic (Minister for Civil Affairs and Communications) and Milan Ninkovic (Minister of Defence) featured on the list of those criminally accused.
1:10