War criminal Radislav Krstic, who was promoted to the rank of General after the occupation of the UN safe haven Srebrenica, was arrested today at noon and transferred to The Hague. Krstic’s name, according to SFOR, appeared on the ICTY sealed indictment on October 30, 1998. The General is accused of having committed crime against humanity and genocide. TV BiH illustrated the report on Krstic’s arrest with archive footage of Krstic, surrounded with soldiers, appearing to be celebrating a victory during the war. A photograph of Krstic standing behind a microphone, most likely addressing soldiers, was also shown. Subtly implying an obvious link between the two, TV BiH’s photograph also shows Karadzic, just behind Krstic’s back. Followed a report from Washington, quoting NATO General Secretary Javier Solana as confirming the news on Krstic’s arrest.
2:30
Trains in BH stopped this morning at 7.00. However, the general strike of railway workers was temporarily ‘frozen’, following the signing of a Protocol between the railway workers’ Trade Union and the Federal Ministry. The agreement was signed late this afternoon. The strike, according to the Trade Union, will be completely cancelled once the Federal Government fully meets the requirements imposed by the Protocol. The Trade Union of the Leather, Textiles and Footwear manufacturers expressed support to their colleagues, and also announced a strike, which will start on February 5, unless a satisfactory agreement is reached during negotiations with the Federal Government.
3:00
The RS Parliament session enters its third day: the news on the arrest of General Krstic arrived during a break, at the time when discussions were going on among deputies with regard to the Law on cessation of the application of the Law on use of the abandoned property. The session’s agenda was temporarily changed, since the deputies demanded that President Poplasen address the Parliament in relation to Krstic’s arrest. Poplasen addressed the Parliament at 18.30, stating that he would present his final view of the arrest after the session of the Supreme Defence Council, which he has called for 19.00. However, Poplasen told the Parliament that “SFOR has exceeded their mandate”, due to the fact that Krstic was “not on the official list of indictments.” TV BiH ran two separate reports from Banja Luka (one dealing with the session, the other presenting Poplasen’s activities), but both reporters agreed that during the break, the deputies seemed to be close to reaching an agreement on the Law on cessation of the application of the Law on use of the abandoned property.
4:00
Despite the warning by the supervisor of Brcko, Ambassador Farrand, that “their decisions will be considered null and void” and that “they will have to bear serious consequences”, Ravne-Brcko branch of the HDZ appointed Anto Domic for the post of the Mayor. Even though Ambassador Farrand’s letter of warning to HDZ was delivered to Franjo Cancarevic, President of Ravne-Brcko, during the HDZ session, the party proceeded with Domic’s appointment. TV BiH carried a brief statement from Cancarevic, labelling Farrand’s approach to issues in the municipality as “one-sided”.
1:20
Followed a bloc on political parties’ activities. Co-Chairman of the CoM, Haris Silajdzic, representing the views of the Party for BiH was quoted as commenting on Ambassador Schumacher’s statement that the Bosniak side refuses to accept national parity. Silajdzic said that the DPA envisages the establishment of the CoM based on the balance of forces in the BH Parliament. Silajdzic also said that he would resign in case of an unjust arbitration decision for Brcko. SDP said that the instruments that could secure removal of all those who obstruct the functioning of executive authority should be devised at the PIC in Madrid.
Ahead of the Madrid Conference, TV BiH displayed interest in the seventh OSCE session on the ministerial level. Even though the session was supposed to adopt the Chart on the European Security in the 21st Century, according to Jadranko Prlic, BH Foreign Minister who attended the session in Oslo, told TV BiH’s viewers that the Chart will not, unfortunately, be adopted this year.
1:30
Followed a bloc of international news, introduced by the latest news from Kosovo (mediator Christopher Hill postponed his visit to Belgrade; State Department believes that Milosevic’s power is losing strenght).
OSCE Media Experts Commission presented their report on BH media that were found not to have complied with the PEC rules, based on the monitoring of media in BH during the pre-election period.
0:50