OSCE Mission Chief, Barry presented the reasons of postponing the preliminary election results, today in Banja Luka. Barry said that the main reason for postponing the announcement of preliminary results was the complexity of elections in BiH. Barry also said that rumors on annulling the elections are launched by those who wish to manipulate the elections by electoral engineering. Barry said that the final results will be published on September 23 and 24. Barry said that the case of violation of the electoral blackout by Nikola Poplasen will go to the Election Appellation Subcommittee. SDS and Radicals yesterday celebrated election results, as their leaders announced them, with flags and car sirens. RS Prime Minister Dodik said that this “spontaneous gathering” is too “spontaneous”, considering that it happened simultaneously in several towns of the RS.
2:00
Ballots counting and speculations about election results, are the motives for another arrival of US Special Envoy for the Balkans, Gelbard, although he visited BiH during the elections.
0:10
HR Westendorp passed the decision that the Communication Law will become valid on September 11, on provisional basis, until it is adopted by the state Parliament. Westendorp admits existence of three operators who are currently offering services of public telecommunications network. Westendorp expressed his expectations that all three operators should make draft Memorandum on Understanding about re-organisation of the telecommunications system.
1:00
OHR made an announcement in regard with HR decision to prolong the deadline for apartment retrieval. The announcement says that this decision was necessary so that everyone would be enabled to return. HR believes that many municipalities used illegal and unjust methods, which prevented citizens from submitting their requests for residential certificate retrieval. Westendorp expressed his disappointment and concern because the RS failed to adopt similar laws, but said he will use his authority to assure adoption of similar laws in the RS.
1:30
About 300 Bosniaks returned to the Hodbina settlement in Mostar-South municipality. The return went without any complications, and it was appealed to the international community members to take more active part in the reconstruction process in this area.
1:30
Offensive of Serbian forces in Kosovo continued today in the region of Vucitrn, Podujevo and Kosovska Mitrovica. Albanian sources reported that about 20.000 people are migrating.
1:30
Albanian Parliament voted on Salih Berisa’s immunity and decided to annul it. More than 2.000 Berisa’s supporters again demonstrated against the government.
1:30
High Representative Westendorp and the OHR staff expressed their most sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the helicopter crash near Fojnica, on September 17 1997. HR deputy Wagner was killed in the accident, along with 12 members of the OHR and the United Nations Mission on their route to Bugojno. HR Deputy Klein and Federation officials visited the site where the helicopter crashed and lain flowers at the memorial.
1:30