Bugojno – HR senior deputy, Ambassador Gerd Wagner died in helicopter crash this morning, together with 11 more IC representatives. The helicopter was meant to transfer the IC personnel to Central Bosnian Canton for an official visit. The cause of the accident is still unknown although fog is being mentioned as potential cause. According to current information present, the helicopter hit a rock of mountain. Four Ukrainian crew members survived the accident, while one person is still missing. SFOR announced that the second victim is David Kriskovic, the IPTF High Commissioner’s deputy. Four Ukrainian crew members were transferred to SFOR hospital in Rajlovac.
BiH President Izetbegovic expressed his condolences behalf of the BiH people as well, saying that Brave and noble people died, and that this is a tragic loss for the BiH and its peace process.
US President Clinton said that he is deeply shaken with the death of the men in the helicopter.
German FA Minister Kinkel announced Wagner’s death at today’s press conference, saying that five more Germans, five Americans and one British were also on that flight. Kinkel added that, supposedly, Wagner and German diplomat Reinhardt died along with three more Germans in the helicopter.
BiH FA Minister Prlic and CoM Co-chairman Silajdzic addressed letters of condolences to HR Westendorp.
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Zagreb – The agreement on the usage of Ploce harbour should be achieved by September 30. The talks between Croatian and BiH Governments representatives began yesterday. BiH Foreign Trade and Economy Minister Muratovic said that the Bosnian side expects from the US Experts team to write the text of the agreement since they know more about harbour legal affairs. Muratovic added that the problem appeared when the Croatian side asked that BiH authorities write the agreement text by themselves. Tomic said that the political question represented a matter of Croatian sovereignty on that area. Tomic added that compromise would be achieved if Ploce was considered as a special zone instead of being rented harbour.
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Sarajevo – Two EASC members, Mitchell and Bowen resigned today, because of OSCE Ambassador Frowick’s decision to repeal the EASC decision of cancelling Pale SDS participation in the elections. Mitchell and Bowen said that OSCE had made too many exceptions just before the elections, and also took a lot of liberty when they repealed the EASC sentences. EASC said that people should be worried because of OSCE tolerance for Karadzic’s too transparent role in SDS matters.
OHR spokesman Bullivant said that the Contact Group acclaimed the successful election process in BiH. The CG concluded that all sides must recognise in future authorities, and to provide full implementation of the election results. CG also supports the holding of Parliamentary elections in RS, as well as elections for some other authorities levels within the RS constitution.
OSCE media committee announced that Mostar HTV and Pale SRT televisions misused their functions by spreading an extremist campaign.
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BiH TV news commentary – BHTV addressed UN representatives and UN Media Watch Group, saying that in the BiH TV news broadcast from Sep. 15 at 19:30 the report was announced from the press conference held in “Holiday Inn” hotel. The report misinterpreted the statement of UN spokesman Ivanko saying that “UN spokesman Ivanko reported on an incident in Velika Kladusa, which occurred when a house owner shot at a man who was writing SDA graffiti on a house wall.” Actually, the incident occured in the night of Sep. 13. Shots were fired on the house owner by those who were writing the graffiti, and in the moment when the house owner was going to inform the police about this event. BiH TV apologises to Ivanko and BiH TV watchers for making this rude professional mistake.
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Sarajevo – The session of the Commission for Implementation of the Brcko Arbitrage Tribunal decisions was held today. The main issues were elections, refugee return, residential places renewal and communication and infrastructure. Federation Co-President Ganic chaired this session.
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Capljina – The Coalition for Democratic and United BiH (CDUBH) announced that after the HDZ manipulations during the registration process, in order to drastically increase the voters number up to 50 %, the manipulations appeared in election process as well. Those incident are the stoning of Bosniak voters buses, pressures on Bosniak representatives in election boards and on CDUBH observers. CDUBH also claims that voting was enabled even for unregistered Croat people, and that minors were voting for old and disabled people. CDUBH also claims that 28 more votes lists were found in one polling station. For all of this CDUBIH complained to EASC.
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Bihac – With the presence of the closest relatives and families members, 10 more bodies were identified at “Bezdan” mass grave location today
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