OHR BiH TV News Summary, 2 September 1999

News Headlines

  • Holbrooke meets with RS PM Milorad Dodik in Banja Luka – SDS and SRS openly in breach of Dayton
  • Mostar is one of greatest omissions in implementation of Dayton Accord in BiH – Holbrooke visits Mostar accompanied by new US Ambassador to BiH Thomas Miller
  • We should consult IC on what’s next in harmonization of taxes – Silajdzic
  • DEM 33 million cut after recommended rebalance of current budget
  • RS Government adopts proposal for temporary taxes on oil products, tobacco and alcohol
  • Bosniaks return to Zijemlje in Nevesinje Municipality in East Herzegovina aided by UNHCR and local government
  • Returnees to Zvornik seek help from BiH Presidency and Ministry for refugees during discussion with Izetbegovic
  • Delegations of banished Zvornik settlers and Sarajevo Serbs visit Sarajevo Canton on two-way return, international organisations here to secure big apartments and jeeps – Tuzla Canton Office for Returns Director Fadil Banjanovic
  • Zagreb Canton Court decides Mladen Naletilic will go to The Hague, given eight days to appeal
  • British Foreign Affairs Minister Robin Cook meets with KLA political leader Hasim Thaci; British KFOR finds biggest mass grave so far in Ljubici
  • Gracanica blocked by group of Serbs on account of two missing Serbs
  • Brussels may reconsider attitude toward countries of South Eastern Europe
  • World news
  • OHR postpones appointment of RTV Public Service founding board
  • Arrest of Dani Editor-in-Chief
  • ‘Say clearly what you want in your election law’ – information campaign slogan
  • Jelavic receives credentials of new Bulgarian Ambassador
  • BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Jadranko Prlic receives credentials of new Canadian Ambassador to BiH
  • SDA holds press conference
  • Decision by Croatian Government may end work of BiH Council of Ministers – Neven Tomic at HDZ press conference
  • Despite IC efforts, BiH does nothing to enter European Council and will not receive funds necessary to start production – Republican Party
  • Croat Demo-Christians advocate decrease in army funds, redistribution location could demonstrate governmental concern for social justice
  • BOSS presents additional information for opening case against Tuzla Municipal Head and associates and demand their replacement
  • Senior Deputy High Representative Ralph Johnson hosts roundtable on Sarajevo Declaration
  • OHR convenes meeting to discuss return of Ostrelj to Bosanski Petrovac
  • BiH Federation committee investigates current state in Stolac area regarding building on cultural sites but fail to reach conclusion
  • Sports
  • Weather

News Summary

OHR postpones appointment of RTV public service founding board

BiH Presidency members submitted the names of their candidates for the RTV public service founding board to the OHR. According to OHR spokesperson James Ferguson, appointments have been postponed because one candidate remains to be contacted.

00:23

Arrest of Dani Editor-in-Chief

The IMC made an announcement on Thursday regarding the arrest of Dani Editor-in-Chief Senad Pecanin. “The IMC condemns the recent attempt to arrest Dani magazine Editor-in Chief Senad Pecanin if it is in any way connected to his work in Dani, for this shows disrespect of the recent High Representative’s decision to decriminalize slander and insult. It aims to stop the imposing of criminal punishments, decrease existing pressure on the journalists and eliminate the atmosphere of fear.” This occasion gives room to different explanations – Was Senad Pecanin to be brought in as a witness in revealing the assassination of Deputy Internal Affairs Minster Jozo Leutar or on charges brought by Libyan President Gadafi? “Thursday’s protest by Dani independent magazine on the occasion of my attempted arrest relates to the statement by court policemen, that came to Dani to arrest me, that they are bringing me in respect to the slander and insult case against me” says Pecanin. President of Cantonal Court Amir Jaganjac says that “this particular occasion called for Pecanin to be brought in as a witness on 1 September. Witness procedure is always such that they are clearly subpoenaed as witnesses or defendants. Text and colour of the subpoenas differ. The Canton Court also points out that the Slobodna Bosna Editor Senad Avdic was a witness in the same case. These two editors were subpoenaed twice more on the same occasion, but cited Westendorp’s decriminalization decision when not responding to it.” “We thought it was necessary to inform the public how the Sarajevo Court continues to lead processes against journalists and the media based on the acts in the criminal caw that the previous High Representative, Carlos Westendorp, outlawed in his decision” said Pecanin. According to Jaganjac, “n this case Pecanian and Avdic were not defendants, but witnesses, therefore this law on decriminalization of these acts could not have been applied. On the other hand, we still do not have changes in the criminal law in respect to decriminalization, bearing in mind the High Representatives decision was not published in any way.” The IMC announcement, among other things, states that local authorities should commence legislative reform as soon as possible which would help the development of healthy and investigative journalism.

01:45

SDA press conference

The SDA considers the Croatian Government response to BiH Council of Minister’s Co-chairman Haris Silajdzic’s statement not in the interest of relations between the two countries and wishes to improve these relations. “The CD Coalition will probably consider carefully the implications of this decision” says SDA Spokesperson Adnan Jahic. The Sloga Coalition Presidency is responding to CD Coalition demands calling it a legitimate and serious issue that needs to be dealt with adequately. The SDA condemns the attack on the Zagreb Muftija and supports the political and national demands of Bosniaks in Sandzak.

00:56

OHR convenes meeting to discuss return of Ostrelj to Bosanski Petrovac

The OHR held a meeting to address Una-Sana Canton officials continued demands for the return of the Ostrelj region to Bosanski Petrovac. Three years after the OHR decision to remove the Croat component in the BiH Army from the area, everything is as in the beginning, including returns. The OHR will schedule another meeting for the middle of September. This meeting is expected to finally implement previous arrangements, but locals are afraid that the current situation in Drvar will prolong this process which would cause further economic losses for the area.

02:22