19 February 98, 19:30
Council of Ministers held a session today. As said by CoM Co-chairman Silajdzic, the CoM adopted, among other issues, the plan for its budget, as well as determining the signatories of bilateral agreements with other countries, and signatories of border agreements between entities. The CoM also approved naming of the Ukrainian Military Attaché to BiH.
3:00
The HR expect the local authorities to give their opinion on the BiH Coat of Arms by May 15. SFOR confirmed that deadline for giving in the illegal weaponry is from March 2 until April 15.
1:00
BiH Federation Government determined the Draft Law on Changes of the Law on Purchase of Apartments With Residential Rights. According to the new changes, the owner of the residential right for an apartment that has been declared abandoned, cannot buy the apartment. As said by the Prime Minister Bicakcic and Minister Morankic, this solution came from BiH Ombudsperson for Human Rights, Gret Haller who asked the Government to include protective regulations in order to prevent the sale of apartments declared abandoned.
3:00
BiH Federation President Ganic received a visit of the Russian Special Envoy for former Yugoslavia, Axenionak. The main subjects of the discussion were relations between Russia and BiH, as well as Brcko arbitration.
1:00
In his visit to Washington, the RS Prime Minister Dodik asked for financial aid, while the US officials want to see concrete results – return of refugees and arrests of war criminals.
1:00
HR Deputy Klein visited Zvornik today. The main aim of the visit was to determine the current political and democracy situation in Eastern RS, as well as of the health care and educational conditions. In this sense, Klein visited the Zvornik hospital and a primary school. Klein held conversations with the Zvornik Mayor and Police Head behind the closed doors. After the conversation, Klein said there is a clear sense of fresh wind here and that the IC is going to take RS out of the political and economical isolation, and allow it to be an equal partner with equal distribution of assistance aid, and other things covered by Dayton. The Zvornik Mayor, Rebic said that return of refugees to Zvornik does not depend on him but it was regulated as one of the basic Dayton principles, so no authority will prevent this.
2:00
At the SDA press conference, spokesman, Grbo repeated SDA demand to the international representatives to explain the expenditure of $13 million for OBN TV, because these revenues were supposed to be used for the support of free media in BiH.
2:00
Association of Returnees demands urgent adoption of the Law on Refugees, stating that main problems for returnees are employment, housing and education, which makes lot of refugees return to the place of their refuge.
1:30
The Inter-Religion Council held a round-table session, with the presence of all three religion leaders and the IC representatives. The main conclusion was that there are possibilities for mutual co-operation. The priorities are return of refugees and the reconstruction.
2:00
Cardinal Puljic announced continuing of the construction works on the Catholic church in the district. Puljic’s statement was given at the Bishops Conference. The delegation of Bishops also visited the construction site, along with the HDZ officials, that were previously replaced because of obstructions – Mijo Brajkovic, Boro Puljic and Mile Puljic.
1:30
BiH TV signed the Protocol of Co-operation with Independent TV Banja Luka. The Protocol covers the exchange of information regarding the economic and political situation, and information that are promoting peace, human rights and freedom.
1:00