- Contact Group statement
- World Bank statement
- Hasan Muratovic on Special Relations Agreement
- RS Government Mandator negotiations
The news started with the crisis precipitated by Iraq’s treatment of international weapons’ monitors; next was a summary of the effects of the latest killings in Kosovo, and subsequent international reactions. These were followed by coverage of the Contact Group’s statement on BiH, focusing on the CG’s position concerning the gradual reduction of international aid, and declarations on economic, return, police, media, education, privatisation and electoral issues. The HR received the commendations of the CG, and it was reiterated that ‘only those who advocate a multi-ethnic Bosnia will get support’. The CG supports the OHR’s recommendations concerning rotation of the posts in the CoM, and the formation of additional ministries.
1:20
On the eve of the Madrid conference, World Bank experts have issued a statement on the current economic position of BiH industries – ‘not good, not bad’ said the presenter. BiH World Bank Representive Rory O’ Sullivan gave figures for the Fed. and RS, warning against lack of progress in the area of economic reform. The presenter described how O’Sullivan had mentioned that international experts, in assessing the stability of the countries in the Balkans, felt that the apparent stability of one country in the region is illusionary. ‘This is not Bosnia, this is not Croatia…this is Slovenia.’ Bosnia on the other hand was described as relatively stable, with the potential to advance.
1:30
Deputy HR for Economic Affairs Didier Fau produced a statement on BiH which was, said the presenter, very close to that of the WB. Didier Fau was quoted:’The situation of the BiH economy is satisfying to a certain extent, but there are many problems. No progress has been made concerning some very important projects, such as liquidation of the National Bank, harmonising the Entity tax systems, privatisation, and increasing trust on the part of foreign investors. He particularly emphasised the importance of liquidating the National Bank and the Institute for Financial Exchange (ZPP), which are operating on old fashioned principles and are holding the country back. He said the commission for privatisation established by the OHR would start work in December. He also said that the widespread avoidance of payment into public funds is ‘critical’. Also, the OHR will soon produce a report on the Aluminium Combinate, Mostar.
1:00
‘The initialling of the agreement on Special Relations was greeted with great media attention -but will the delay caused by postponement of the date of signing to 16 November cause any damage?’ the presenter introduced the topic of Special Relations.
BiH Ambassador to Croatia Hasan Muratovic said ‘I am still not certain if this meeting on 16 November will take place, as the consultative session demanded by (President of the Federation) Ejup Ganic will take place on Friday, since Ganic has still not returned from Scandinavia. Mr Klein insists that the date should be 16 November, and he has contacted both sides, but Ganic proposed the 19th. I don’t know what kind of effect this will have.’
1:40
BiH Deputy FM, Husein Zivalj, spoke on the prize recently awarded to Simon Wiesanthal, ‘for punishing Nazist crimes. At the beginning of the aggression in BiH only you, Mr Wiesenthal, raised your voice against the genocide,’ Zivalj was quoted.
1:00
Foreign Bloc
This was followed by RS news: Today in Banja Luka, the new president of the RS Nikola Poplasen continued talks with representatives of Parliamentary parties. According to Slobodan Cvjetic, adviser to the president for political and legal issues, the members of Sloga still hold to their former proposal for Government Mandator. After today’s meeting, he said, there is a possibility of further consultative meetings between Poplasen and party representatives. As for the new mandator, Cvjetic said, ‘The president will respect the regulation on informing the public punctually on who will be Mandator.’ Today’s meeting was not attended by members of the KCD BH, although it had been announced that they would attend. Cvjetic said they had received invitations, and the reasons why they did not attend are unknown to the President. TV BH tried to contact Safet Bico of the KCD BH for comment, but he was not available.
1:15
The Party for Bosnia gave a conference: General Secretary Safet Halilovic said of the Special Relations Agreement that the Federation does not have the competence to manage inter-state communications.
1:20
The SDP also gave a conference: the Special Relations agreement, in spite of its defects, will be passed because the KCD BH and HDZ have succeeded in constituting the Fed. Parliament and its leadership according to their own preferences. The agreement itself answers the ‘interests of the negotiators, but not of the state.’
1:00
The news concluded with coverage of foreign media stories on alleged US negotiations with Radovan Karadzic.