OHR BiH TV News Summary, 18 march 1998

Russian FA Minister, Primakov visited BiH Today. Primakov met with the three BiH Presidency members, Izetbegovic, Zubak and Krajisnik, as well as with the BiH FA Minister Prlic, and Federation President Ganic and Co-president Soljic. The main subjects of the conversation were the DPA implementation, bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and BiH, as well as the situation in Kosovo. Primakov also met with the HR Westendorp and his deputies, and scheduled a meeting with the RS President Plavsic and Prime Minister Dodik. Primakov also said that Kosovo is a part of Serbia and Yugoslavia, and that this matter must be solved within Serbia and FRY. Primakov also said that Kosovo must have a higher level of autonomy and stressed the option of dialogue.
4:00

One person was killed and several wounded today in Kosovo, near Pec, during peaceful protest of Albanians. Many protests were held today in different towns of Kosovo. US Special Envoy for Balkans, Gelbard visited Kosovo, and held conversations with Albanian leader, Rugova. During the meeting, a group of about 2000-3000 Serbs protested in front of the American Informative Centre, shouting “Kosovo is Serbia”, “We are going to war”, and throwing stones at the building. The police managed to disband the group, but several windows were broken.
3:00

At the finishing session of FA Ministers of Islamic Countries in Daha, Izetbegovic’s letter was read. The letter concerned the situation in Kosovo and difficult position of Sandzak Bosniaks.
1:30

Commission for Political Affairs of the European Parliament finished its session last night. The Commission also discussed BiH entry to the European Council. As said by Federation Prime Minister, Bicakcic, BiH fulfilled all conditions for entry, and the Commission adopted the decision that opens the procedure for entry to the Council.
1:00

US Senate Committee approved $2.04 billion for US troops in BiH and Iraq. $383 will be allocated for the US mission in BiH.
0:30

Federation President Ganic and Co-president Soljic met with the US Ambassador Kauzlarich. The main issue of the discussion was preparations for the next Federation Forum session. Refugee return was emphasized, as well as media organization and finishing the project of the police establishment in the Federation.
1:00

Exhumations of Bosniaks, killed in clashes of BiH Army and Croatian Defense Council (HVO) in 1993, in the Western part of Mostar continued today, with the presence of the HR deputy Jacques Klein. As said by Klein, three more bodies were exhumed, among which a grandmother, a daughter and obviously a small child. As said by President of the BiH Federation Missing Persons Commission, Masovic, the body of a child was a 10-moths old baby. Masovic added that 36 bodies were exhumed so far in the Balinovac locality. There are also indications that there is more than 60 bodies in this locality.
2:00

Experts’ team of forensics in Tuzla identified the bodies of five more killed Srebrenicians.
1:00

OSCE Provisional Election Committee held a session in Sarajevo. Muicipality election results for Odzak, Doboj and Ljubuski were verified, as well as for the City Council of Mostar. Doboj results were confirmed conditionally, because the Serb Radical Party decided not to post the Secretary of Finances in the Executive Board. It was also decided to expand the Committee for three more members and their deputies.
1:30

Yugoslav border police arrested “Sarajevogas” Financial Director, Hasanovic, at the Sid border. Hasanovic was going to Nis for negotiations with Serbian Petrol Industry. Hasanovic was taken handcuffed, and FRY did not inform BiH authorities nor there was an Interpol or other warrants issued for Hasanovic.
1:00