BiH Presidency and the SCMM held their sessions in Lukavica today. BiH Presidency presented the envoys of Turkey, Poland and the Republic of South Africa their letters of acceptance. A decision was reached on the founding of the BiH Presidency secretariat and protocol. The Presidency failed to reach a decision on the purchase of radar equipment for the control of flying over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The largest portion of discussion evolved around the initiative for the founding of the BiH Ministry for European integration. Zubak’s office said that the Presidency would first ask the CoM to present its view of the issue. The SCMM held its ninth regular session, which was also attended by the representatives of SFOR, OHR and OSCE. General Ramiz Sadic, advisor for military questions, said that the agenda was unanimously adopted. A shorter briefing by the representatives of the International Red Cross on the tracing of those killed and missing was presented, and the SCMM was asked to provide support to the ICRC with regard to this. The next session of the SCMM is scheduled for September.
2:20
President of the BiH Presidency, Alija Izetbegovic, received the US Special Envoy Richard Sclar. The two discussed details regarding the port of Ploce, based on Ambassador Sclar’s findings during his visits to Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Ston and Ploce.
0:30
Croat member of the BiH Presidency, Kresimir Zubak, also met with Sclar, as well as with Marco Tocolo, acting US Ambassador to Bosnia. Tocolo and Zubak discussed the proces of privatisation in Bosnia, flights control and the negotiations on the status of the Ploce port. Both sides agreed that the reaching of an agreement between BiH and Croatia regarding Ploce is “unnecessarily politicised by both sides” and expressed hope that the problem would be resolved soon.
1:00
CoM BiH continued its session today. According to Boro Bosic, Co-Chairman of the CoM, the members of the CoM have agreed on a draft version of the Law on Telecommunications on the level of BiH in an urgent procedure. The CoM also discussed the decision on conditions and methods of realisation of customs reductions for the goods that are being imported based on projects for the reconstruction of BiH. Bosic reiterated that the Law on Customs Policy allows a possibility that such goods be exempted from taxes.
1:50
Federal Premier Edhem Bicakcic headed a Federal delegation visiting Tuzla-Podrinje Canton. Bicakcic officially opened a new electricity transformer, which will produce electricity for the whole of the South-East BiH, RS included.
1:20
Undoubtedly, Germany is the country that accepted the first and the biggest wave of refugees from BiH (340,000). Although over two years have passed since the signing of the DPA, the disrespect of some annexes of the DPA, especially the ones concerning the return of refugees and freedom of movement, does not fully open the door for their return. At a meeting between the BiH and German expert teams, the views on the return of refugees were not brought into accordance. The BiH side is against return under conditions that refugees lose their status and be deported. BH insisted that Germany should exercise its influence to the passing of a plan on refugee return to the RS. Federal Minister for Refugees, Rasim Kadic, reiterated that the Federation has turned into “a tight, overcrowded waiting room”.
2:30
Kosovo – A relatively peaceful day in the province, with Ibrahim Rugova, leader of Kosovo’s biggest party, the Democratic League of Kosovo, announcing the formation of the Kosovar negotiating team. The Liberation Army of Kosovo also announced the formation of its team, comprising six political representatives, headed by Adem Demaqi. AFP reported that the Serb police had started a court proceeding against the officials of radical line in the RS, for various abuses. On the list of 27 individuals, the name of Spasoje Albijanic, Minister for Civil Affairs and Communications in the CoM also features.
0:30
In order to prevent the crime and provide conditions for a safe conduction of elections, as well as refugee return, a meeting between the Federal MUP of the Una-Sana Canton, with their colleagues from Banja Luka, Prijedor and Mrkonjic Grad was staged. This is the first meeting of its kind. Cooperation on all levels was agreed on, primarily aimed at prevention of organised crime in both entities and prevention of illegal trade on the IEBL. The IPTF representatives also attended the meeting.
2:00