12/16/1997

OHR BiH TV News Summary, 16 Dec. 1997

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16 December 97, 19:30

BiH President Izetbegovic’s cabinet reacted to the Croatian Assembly decision to exclude Bosniak minority from the Croatian Constitution. In the official announcement from the cabinet, it was said that this is act was regretful, and represented a policy of ignoring Bosniak national identity. This decision challenged Croatian credibility as a signatory of the Peace agreement, and violated the recent UN Decree on National Minorities.
1:30

The laws on CoM and passports were adopted by the HoP of the BiH Parliament. The Law on Citizenship was rescheduled upon a request by the Serb representatives. Serb representative Tosic said that the HoP representatives should accept the statement of the Presidency which recognises the right of the RS citizens to have FRY citizenship.
2:00

OHR spokesman Haselock announced that the Office is extremely disappointed at yesterday’s failure of the BiH Parliament to adopt the Law on Citizenship, following the deadlines from Bonn. Haselock added that the Office will be more specific during the day regarding possible sanctions if the Parliament does not continue with its work, but also said that it mainly depends on the Parliament itself.
1:30

Social Democratic Party of BiH considers that the adopted Law on Passports was a violation of the BiH constitution. SDP announced that the SDA, the ZA BiH party and the SDS representatives legislated for the division of BiH into three ethnic groups, by voting for three different designs for the passports. SDP will appeal to the Constitutional Court in order to bring back to BiH citizens the rights that the parties’ representatives took from them.
1:30

US President Clinton will visit BiH on the 21 and 22 of December. White House spokesman McCurry said that Clinton will meet with properly elected leadership of the Federation. McCurry added that Clinton will meet BiH President Izetbegovic and RS President Plavsic. (BiH TV news correspondent comment) Is Krajisnik going to take a ‘business trip’ during Clinton’s visit?
2:00

At the NATO session in Brussels, US Secretary of State Albright said that the US will remain engaged in strengthening the police forces, while the other members of the Alliance must work much more. Albright added that this will ensure an equal division of the burden of the Peace implementation process between Europe and the US.
1:30

BiH President Izetbegovic received HR Westendorp and deputy Schumacher. The main subjects of the discussion were the deadlines from Bonn, and the Law on Citizenship, which was not adopted at today’s session of the BiH Parliament HoP. Presidency member Zubak also received Westendorp and Schumacher. The realisation of the Bonn conclusions was discussed. The BiH FA Minister Prlic was also present.

Izetbegovic also received OSCE Mission Head, Ambassador Frowick, in his farewell visit. Izetbegovic thanked Frowick on the job done so far, and wished him success in his forthcoming duties. Zubak and the Federation President Soljic also received Frowick

CoM Co-chairman Silajdzic received US Ambassador Kauzlarich. Kauzlarich informed Silajdzic about details of Clinton’s visit to BiH.
2:00

UN General Assembly passed a non-obligatory decree about the situation in BiH. The decree supports the DPA and the conclusions of the Bonn conference, and also warns the Serb authorities of non-fulfilment of their obligations towards the ICTY, and the consequences of such a standpoint regarding financial aid. The decree also supports refugee return and functioning of the joint institutions.
1:00

ICTY Justice Arbour asked the French FA Minister Vedrine to support an initiative for the arrest of war criminals in all areas covered by SFOR. The team for missing persons carried out an exhumation in the Jelovo Brdo locality. The bodies of three victims were found, and from the statements of eyewitnesses, four persons were killed back then, including two boys aged six and ten. The body of six-year old Civic Semir was not found. As claimed by eye-witnesses, heavily wounded Semir was taken by the enemy in order to be given medical treatment.
1:30

A delegation of the German Office for Repatriation visited Zenica/Doboj Canton today. German Special Envoy for Refugees, Schlee, said that the aim of the German Government was to assist the development of infrastructure in the next year, as well as housing facilities.
2:00

The implementation of election results in Velika Kladusa continued today. The SDA and the ZA BiH Party protested, because they were not informed about the constitutive session, organised by DNZ. While DNZ representatives were alone in the session room, a spontaneous gathering of citizens occurred, but the situation was fully controlled by SFOR and local police.
1:30