13.01.2000

OHR BiH TV News Summary, 13 January 2000

News Headlines

  • Petritsch proclaims law on BiH state border service
  • UN Security Council Chairman Richard Holbrook criticizes inefficiency of BiH Parliament and Presidency
  • Holbrook’s statement once again distributes guilt equally on all the sides in BiH – Izetbegovic cabinet
  • Council of Europe delegation meets BiH House of Representatives Speaker Mirko Banjac
  • Council of Europe delegation meets representatives of BiH Council of Ministers and Foreign Ministry
  • Education systems in BiH under strong political influence – Council of Europe report on education in BiH
  • Privatization process in BiH Federation far behind schedule
  • Workers of Zenica iron mill (Zeljezara Zenica) and BH Steel Company announce strike for 17 January
  • Granic and Pasalic resign duties in HDZ
  • The Hague Tribunal asks BiH Federation officials to deliver documents related to case on Darijo Kordic and Marijo Cerkez
  • Murder of four Bosniaks in Prizren blow to peace process in Kosovo – Thaci
  • World news
  • SDA surprised with equalization of guilt of all three members of BiH Presidency for obstructions – SDA Vice-president Halid Genjac
  • SPRS not against law on BiH state border service but objects to adoption procedure
  • BiH Republican Party asks High Representative to establish TV channel for religious programming
  • List of independent candidates in Mostar joins forces with SDA and CD Coalition – SDP BiH Mostar Board
  • OSCE Mission to BiH to draw lots on 18 January for order of political parties and candidates for BiH local elections in April
  • Registration process of citizens for RS privatization not going as planned
  • Syndicate of BiH Journalists Chairwoman Nagorka Idrizovic reacts to press release of employees of RTV BiH Independent Trade Union
  • Signs appearing of flu epidemic in BiH Federation
  • BiH Federation Government discusses report on work in 1999, agrees that frequency fees should be their income and not IMC income
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • Bicakcic orders BiH Federation Interior Ministry to present judicial institutions with results of investigation on Jozo Leutar assassination, the report has already been given to OHR
  • Seks puts moratorium on all parties functions until the end of presidential elections in Croatia
  • Granic announces resignation of functions in HDZ and says he will run as independent candidate in upcoming elections
  • Ivic Pasalic freezes functions in HDZ
  • Bicakcic asks BiH Federation Transport Ministry to protect domestic resources in the field of broadcasting and transmission of radio and TV programs, states it is illogical for IMC to charge fees for issuing broadcasting licenses and other
  • Dodik against decision to pay tax for use of frequencies to IMC and agrees with Bicakcic that fees for frequencies should be exclusive authority of BiH entities
  • Zenica and Travnik municipalities sign protocol to continue building water-supply system
  • Petritsch asks RS Refugee Ministry to start working in accordance with RS Law on Implementing Decisions of CRPC
  • Party for BiH welcomes Petritsch decision imposing BiH state border service law
  • Croatian explanation for not allowing transit of electricity to Slovenia due to unsolved relationships unfounded – leading officials of BiH Elektroprivreda assert
  • Interview with Dr. Faruk Gavrankapetanovic on flu epidemic
  • Cardiovascular clinic in Tuzla carries out successful heart operation
  • 2,500 weapons confiscated from Croat component of the BiH Federation Army in Brcko destroyed in barracks of 4th HVO Guards Brigade in Orasje

News Summary

UN Security Council Chairman Richard Holbrook criticizes inefficiency of BiH Parliament and Presidency

The UN Security Council at Wednesday’s session criticized the work of the BiH Parliament and its failure to adopt the draft BiH state border service law. In the strongest possible terms, Security Council Chairman Richard Holbrook criticized Jelavic, Radisic and Izetbegovic for failing to meet principles set down in the New York Declaration.

00:25

Holbrook’s statement once again distributes guilt equally on all the sides in BiH – Izetbegovic cabinet

In response to statements by Richard Holbrook, the chairman of the UN Security Council, Alija Izetbegovic’s cabinet issued a press release on Thursday. The cabinet said it was absurd to equalise guilt and avoiding naming names of those responsible for obstructions. Izetbegovic’s cabinet reminds that the draft BiH border service law was rejected only by Serb delegates in the BiH House of Representatives.

00:10

Education systems in BiH under strong political influence – Council of Europe report on education in BiH

In post-Dayton BiH, the education systems in both entities are under strong political influence, says a report on education in BiH drafted by experts of the Council of Europe. The report was prepared for the World Bank. “All major decisions in the sector of education, including curricula and school textbooks, are made in the context of constant ethnic tensions” said the report. In order to overcome such a situation the Council of Europe recommend the establishment of common professional institutions in educations and better public awareness on this matter. “With international assistance these problems can be overcome, but only under the condition that education is not used as a platform for political and ethnic control” the report concluded.

01:15

The Hague Tribunal asks BiH Federation officials to deliver documents related to case on Darijo Kordic and Marijo Cerkez

The Hague Tribunal sent an official request to the BiH Federation asking for documents needed in the case against Darijo Kordic and Marijo Cerkez now before the Tribunal. All three requests for documents are addresssed to Croat structures, namely the Croat Defense Council (HVO), Herceg-Bosnia and the HDZ BiH. In the next few days, the Trial Chamber will call on BiH Presidency Chairman Ante Jelavic, BiH Federation Defense Minister Miroslav Prce and Barisa Colak to testify before the Tribunal. The Hague Tribunal Prosecutor sent the request for documents in the General Tihomir Blaskic case two years ago and has still not received a positive response. During that period, Ante Jelavic was BiH Federation Defense Minister, which is the reason the ICTY will hold him personally responsible for obstructing cooperation with the Tribunal.

05:10

BiH Federation Government discusses report on work in 1999, agrees that frequency fees should be their income and not income of IMC

The BiH Federation Government opened its first session in 2000 in Sarajevo on Thursday with discussion on a report on government’s work in 1999. Despite the objections of HDZ BiH ministers, the Government adopted an agreement establishing joint corporation for roads with the RS. The Government also discussed activities on establishment of Public Corporation for Broadcasting and Transmission Infrastructure and concluded that activities must be continued until a satisfactory solution is found. The Government stressed that it is necessary to insure that fees paid for the use of frequencies must be revenues of BiH Federation and not revenues of the International Commission for Media (sic), as is the case now.

02:22