15 February 98, 19:30
- The world hails the unconditional and voluntary surrender of two Bosnian Serbs to the Hague Tribunal,
- Indications of the peaceful solution of the Iraqi crises,
- UN inspectors arrived in Baghdad,
- BiH PTT stamp welcomed in Europe,
- Western Bosnia: TV BiH covered the first joint journey of the Ministers Kadic and Dragicevic,
- Scattered land mines slow down return to the separation zone,
- President Clinton has overcome the political effects of Levinsky scandal,
- Monograph of Fra Petar Perica Vidic.
The Hague – Miroslav Tadic and Milan Simic, two Bosnian Serbs, accused of war crimes committed in BiH, were brought to the Hague, confirmed the Tribunal. The fact that RS police handed them over, strengthens the world’s support for such attitude. This shows forward movements in RS, as well as confidence in the International Court for the war crimes, White House Spokesman told the press. It is wonderful news that they have chosen voluntarily to go to the Hague, announced the world diplomats and UN Tribunal representatives. This should be a model for all others indicted persons, said Christian Chartier, the Hague Tribunal Spokesman. Only in Serbia disappointment was felt about this act. Belgrade State media broadcast this news every hour, accentuating that Milosevic doesn’t respect the Hague Tribunal.
2:00
Brussels – If NATO, also formally, makes the decision to extend a peace mandate in BiH it will be DPOR and it will have a mandate to avert trouble. The world agencies inform that NATO by Friday, could make a decision on it. DEPOR would not have its mandate limited by time. The Security Council would check its tasks every six months.
1:00
Next were the news items from abroad: Iraq, Algeria, Cypres.
Sarajevo – Follows a story on the BiH history of postal stamps. The new BiH stamp history begins with the year 1995 when the World Post Association issued a certificate and acknowledged the stamps issued by the BiH Public PTT Enterprise. There were explanations of a real worth of the stamps collections as well as, lately, telephone cards at the philatelist market.
2:30
Topic of The Day – A joint BiH delegation consisting of the two Ministers for Refugees and Social Affairs and headed by Senior Deputy HR, Schumacher visited the residents of Drvar and Petrovac in Federation and Mrkonjic Grad and Sipovo in the RS. The trip was meant to demonstrate publicly that the times have changed and the co-operation between two entities became a reality. A story focused on the returnees in Drvar where around 700 families i.e. 1300 Serbs returned back to their town together with Mile Marceta, Drvar mayor. Although they returned back several months ago, they live without electricity, water or telephones. Still they are happy to be in their homes living next to the Croats who were settled in Drvar from 48 municipalities all over BiH.
Ambassador Schumacher refused to enter the Municipal Building and hold talks with the local authorities in the official building which did not have a BiH state flag but where the flag of Herceg Bosna was fluttering. The talks were held in UNHCR container behind closed door.
3:30