Miners of Zenica mines continued their strike by blocking the regional road M-17 in Zenica today. Miners femnad immediate payment of their salaries, and replacement of authorities responsible for their situation. The police formed barricades in order to prevent miners blockade, and in minor clashes with the police, two miners were slightly injured. According to the last information, situation calmed in Zenica.
2:30
After achieving agreement on negotiations between Milosevic and Rugova, US diplomats Gelbard and Hoolbroke arrived to Sarajevo. Gelbard and Hoolbroke met with BiH President Izetbegovic and Presidency member Zubak. The meetings were held behind the closed doors, and Hoolbroke and Gelbard said discussions were successful but expressed their satisfaction with the fact that Croats refused to participate at the Donors conference. They warned Izetbegovic and Zubak about the need of Serbs return to Drvar and Sarajevo. The message for BiH Croats was that US are supporting DPA and not cantonisation of BiH.
2:30
Izetbegovic’s cabinet made a public announcement in which was said that Dodik conveyed Milosevic’s proposal on diplomatic relations and developing of cooperation between the two countries. The proposal was unconditioned, it did not contain demand for BiH to withdraw its charges against FRY before ICTY. The integral text was published by some daily papers, but next move from the FRY side was to change the clause and put back the demand for withdrawal of charges.
2:00
Hoolbroke and Gelbard visited Banja Luka this afternoon in order to meet with RS President Plavsic and Prime Minister Dodik. After the meeting Hoolbroke praised changes that happened in the RS since the last Donors conference. Hoolbroke said that RS is more and more confirming the readiness for the DPA implementation.
2:00
US Special Envoy Gelbard said that recent actions of BiH Croats are to be concerned about. And their decision to boycott the Donors conference is the recent example of the lack of interest of BiH Croats for improvement of living conditions of Croat people in BiH. Gelbars said that local Croat leaders are responsible for recent house burning in Drvar, while Tudjman’s statement on reopening of DPA is also worrying.
1:00
Representatives of both BiH Parliament Houses met with Spanish Senate delegation and discussed the matters of BiH Parliament work, current situation in BiH, refugee return and perspectives after September elections.
2:00
RS National Assembly session continued today with the only subject Prime Minister Dodik’s review of the first 100 days of the new Government. Dodik’s speech was awarded with applause, except for SDS and radicals, who were offending and calling Plavsic and Dodik servants of the occupation countries. Dodik also reacted to these accusations calling them mentally retarded.
2:30
CoM Cochairman Silajdzic received a delegation from Vitez, of people who were discharged from work on national basis. It was said that 1416 Bosniak workers were discharged from enterprises controlled by Croats. At the same time, there is illegal privatisation of these enterprises.
1:30
Since signing of Dayton agreement, 280 families returned to Bugojno out of which 273 are Croat and 7 Serb families, Bugojno Municipality Governor, Mlaco said. Refugees association of BiH will demand from the IC and UNHCR to enable return to their homes in the RS, and that the first phase should be secured by SFOR.
2:00