News Headlines
- Kofi Annan joins Russian and Western demands for mediation in Kosovo crisis
- Milosevic refuses to meet with UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson
- Turkey approves of NATO flying from their territory during air strikes on Yugoslavia
- Blair honored for role in promoting peace
- Russian Duma opens debate on impeaching Yeltsin
- US Congress approves $11.7 billion for strikes, aid to Kosovo and US military readiness
- Fischer promises to refuse any resolution demanding unconditional cessation of air strikes
- NATO attacks proceed through day 51, Yugoslav Army units in Kosovo targeted again
- After 50 days, Milosevic admits losses – Shea
- Cohen presents reports of Yugoslav officials leaving country with their families and gathered wealth after losing faith in Milosevic
- Nis, Leskovac, Vranje NATO targets in Yugoslavia on Wednesday
- Still no confirmation of Serb force withdrawal, fighting continues heaviest around Albanian border
- Two-day conference on aiding Kosovo region commences in Geneva
- Family members of fallen soldiers and war veterans block M-17 Zenica- Sarajevo road demanding their overdue pensions
- OHR announces BiH Donors’ Conference to be held in Brussels 20-21 May, does not mean BiH authorities fulfilled IC conditions
- BiH Parliament to hold session on 20 May
- Westendorp meets with Croat delegates in BiH
- Izetbegovic meets with Meigs to discuss current situation
- Jelavic and Luzanski visit Tuzla and Brcko-Ravne
- Silajdzic and Klein discuss BiH airspace control
- Silajdzic meets with Rehn on state border protection, legal system reform and establishment of multiethnic police
- Discussion on Zepce Municipality status continued
- Zenica-Doboj Canton police confirm M-17 open for traffic
- UNHCR and OHR sponsored forum on return to HN Canton held in Mostar
- Klein meets with Ambassadors, donors and representatives of financial institutions to discuss support to RS budget
- RS Government adopts budget proposal
- Trial of eight Bosniaks accused of terrorism to conclude 19 May
- Peace Implementation Council extends validity of old travel documents to 30 September, this decision final – OHR
- Croatian Justice Ministry refuses to extradite Croat national Fikret Abdic to BiH following Interpol warrant, says it defies Constitution
- Major General Dragan Curcic appointed Deputy Commander of BiH Federation Army
- IPTF continues training and reform of BiH police force, says new Commissioner
- SDA holds press conference
- President of Republican Party Stjepan Kljuic at CD Coalition press conference demands Abdic be extradited to BiH Court
- Local self rule key to entering European integration – Ibrahim Spahic at GDS press conference
- Democratic Party of Pensioners and Party of Natural Prosperity announce protest if overdue pensions not paid soon
- President of Missing Persons Commission Amor Masovic sends open letter to OHR refuting allegation they neglected obligations toward International Missing Persons Commission
- International Missing Persons Commission sends plea to all governmental institutions to secure exhumations between entities this year
- Is IC abandoning idea of Konjic as Open City – Konjic officials to OHR
- HDZ demands for Bugojno to be divided into two Croat municipalities and requests for Croat school in Bugojno another attempt to install third entity in BiH – Municipal Head Mustafa Srtukar
- Teslic HDZ denies NHI allegations they are responsible for unsuccessful returns in area
- Tuzla officials deny claims from some party leaders that municipality is evicting veterans’ families
- NHI holds constitutional meeting in Sarajevo, emphasizes implementation of Sarajevo Declaration
- Westendorp meets with Croat officials, defined position on cantonization
- Promotion of new edition of ‘Yugoslav Muslim Organization in Kingdom of SHS’
- Statue of Una girl restored to original condition, investigation has still not revealed vandal
News Summary
Discussion on Zepce Municipality status continued
The OHR continued a discussion on the status of Zepce Municipality. Deputy High Representative Simon Haselock stated at a press conference that the SDA did not sign the presented agreement, unlike the HDZ. With this document, the OHR wanted to end the crises in Zepce, Maglaj and Zavidovici Municipalities. According to Haselock, the agreement is a good document and the result of four months of negotiations. The Zepce delegation said that they informed the OHR of the reasons preventing them from attending Wednesday’s meeting in Sarajevo. Zepce Deputy Mayor Sefir Zvekic wondered if their presence would have made any difference, especially since they were given no information of the content of this agreement. “I have proof that the Croat side was presented with this document and we were not, and how am I to sign something unfamiliar to me?” asked Zvekic. President of the HDZ Zepce Municipal Board Perica Jukic was surprised that they failed to attend, since the Maglaj and Zavidovici delegations came, as did a delegate sent by BiH Presidency Member Alija Izetbegovic. Jukic stated that an opportunity to reach a solution that answers to Zepce citizens has been missed. The agreement consists of 12 articles integrating Zepce with the Zenica-Doboj Canton, and offers Croats life as a sovereign nation. “There was some disagreement on the Bosniak side regarding the agreement, which resulted in a refusal to sign it” said Jukic. “The Croat side signed in good faith that the OHR would find solutions satisfying to Zepce citizens.” Haselock blames the SDA for this situation, saying that its representatives, as instructed by the party leadership, refused to sign.
02:59
SDA holds press conference
“The failure of the last BiH Federation Forum again confirmed that the so-called Herceg-Bosna continues to exist” said SDA spokesperson Adnan Jahic during a press conference. Restructuring the Tuzla Cantonal Government was handled in a displeasing manner. The reconstruction of the Balinovac mosque in west Mostar, which was due to begin on 10 May, was a chance for Croat authorities to show their readiness to connect the two Mostar banks. The SDA sees participation of BiH citizens in Croatian elections as unacceptable.
00:41