Official Washington decided to change their diplomats on the Balkans, TVBiH reported. Richard Gelbard, Richard Kauzlarich and Jaques Klein are leaving the region and will be replaced with new diplomats.
1:00
Robert Gelbard is still the acting US Special envoy and he met Milorad Dodik in Banja Luka, TV said. Statements of replaced RS President Nikola Poplasen that RS will use force if necessary Gelbard called “terroristic,” TV said. TVBiH correspondent fron Banja Luka quoted Gelbard as saying that Poplasen will be responsible for all consequences his actions and statements might cause. Poplasen said he believes that the current situation can be solved by diplomacy and that Dayton accords have be respected but if this does not happen “we are prepared to defend RS and Serb people by other means,” TV said. “If someone does not understand democratic ways and does not read what they have signed themselves and if they want to reconstruct BiH and the Balkans according to one-sided interest it is natural for the Serb people to defend their position with other type of arguments, I mean bats, stones but tanks and weapons as well,” Poplasen said.
6:30
From Banja Luka Gelbard left for Zagreb where he met Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. TVBiH reporter from Zagreb said the meeting was still ongoing (in the time of the news). Among other things the two discussed Brcko decision and the third entity in Bosnia, the reporter said.
3:00
Blockage of BiH joint institutions is a direct and extremely dangerous consequence of the current situation in RS, TVBiH said. Once again Council of Ministers met without RS representatives. Haris Silajdzic, member of the council warned that if this continues measures should be taken according to the existing laws and regulations.
2:00
Federation Vice-President Ejup Ganic and Brcko supervisor Robert Farrand met in Brka, Federation-controlled town near Brcko, just a day ahead of Farrand’s meeting with RS representatives, TVBiH reported. The meeting was held behind closed doors, TVBiH correspondent reported from Brka.
2:30
SDA will actively take part in the implementation of Brcko decision, SDA spokesman Adnan Jahic told a news conference.
0:30
Serb Citizens Council (SGV) said in a statement it feels that Brcko as a district will open doors for the return of refugees throughout BiH. High Representatives decision to replace Poplasen was necessary and justified, SGV said.
0:30
The third entity, the idea presented by Croat political representatives in Mostar and western Herzegovina, cannot and will not ever be formed because the international community will not change Dayton, OHR representative Simon Haselock told a news conference. Croats in Bosnia cannot believe that division and isolation lead to security, an idea some of the hardliners want to present.
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