OHR BiH TV News Summary, 20 August 1998

The Council of Ministers held a session today. The CoM signed the Memorandum of Understanding with SFOR in regard with expansion of international operations at the Sarajevo Airport. The CoM also discussed, among other issues, the matters of organisation of the Statistics Bureau and the Central Commission for marking BiH borderlines. CoM members also adopted information on refugee return from Germany.
2:00

OSCE held a press conference in regard with upcoming elections. OSCE mission head, Barry informed the press on OSCE preparations for elections. It was said that the Independent Media Commission (IMC) ordered Croatian Radio Television to correct all irregularities in its work, which are opposite rules and regulations of Provisional Elections Committee for media in pre-election campaign. Radios “Herceg Bosna” from Mostar and “Sveti Jovan” from Pale were mentioned in similar context.
2:00

The RS government held a session in Banja Luka and appointed Dragan Davidovic for acting manager of the “SRNA” news agency. It was also decided that the seat of the agency will be in Banja Luka as of today.
1:00

IMC Director, Thelin met with Presidency member Zubak, discussing the matter of legality of Croatian Television (HRT) re-broadcasting in BiH, as the one of IMC priority considerations.
1:00

60 Bosniaks returned to South Mostar settlement of Gubavica. Delegation of the Federation Ministry of Social Affairs and Refugees visited returnees as well as Serbs who returned five days ago to Bacevice settlement. Federation Refugee Minister Kadic and Mostar Mayor Orucevic visited Mostar South municipality. Kadic and Orucevic said they will ask from the International Community aid return project to the Neretva valley and especially to Mostar city area.
2:00

Regional Refugee Association from Zenica announced a public debate for Saturday in regard with return process to the RS. It was said that failed pilot projects and small number of individual returns are the proof that the International Community does not understand the mentality of our people, and that is why we ask, 33 months after Dayton was signed, responsibility of those who signed and are not implementing it. BiH Refugee Association President, Komarica made a public announcement, which says that she is not an organiser of any kind of assemblies or debates, and also not the one in Zenica. At the session of the Association on August 17 1998, it was decided that the Regional Board Zenica should cease its work and its President was excluded from further membership in the Association. The Regional Board of Zenica reacted to this decision saying that it was illegal and without basis.
2:00

BiH TV reporter from Kosovo reports that the situation in this Serbian province has calmed today. Kosovo Albanians negotiation team leader, Agani said that efforts are being made to continue negotiations with international mediation. Conflicts were also reported in Drenica region and Albanian border area.
2:00