News Headlines
- Donors’ Conference begins in Brussels
- Silajdzic satisfied with first day of Donors’ Conference
- Klein meets with Pale Municipal authorities from both entities to discuss reconstruction of Stambolcici tunnel and signs agreement addressed to Brussels
- Barry meets with Vollebaek
- There will be no compromise with Yugoslav authorities as long as they do not fulfill IC requests
- Chernomyrdin to inform Talbott and Ahtisaari of results of his visit to Belgrade
- Greek Government advises Yugoslav authorities to accept UN troops and try to resolve crisis
- Annan visits Albania
- Kosovo as separate state best solution – Albanian President
- Cook departs for Washington
- There are differences within NATO, but all options are open – Robertson
- British aircraft carrier to leave Adriatic Sea
- NATO carries out heaviest attack on Serbia so far
- Results of NATO bombing of targets in Serbia
- 1,000 Yugoslav Army reservists refuse to return to Kosovo
- NATO confirms one missile missed target and hit Dedinje
- 3rd Army Commander Pavkovic fails to persuade reservists to return to Kosovo
- Yugoslav soldiers on Albanian border want to surrender to Albanian border guards
- US sends evidence of war crimes committed in Kosovo to The Hague Tribunal
- International news
- Blaskic commanded HVO in Ahmici – The Hague Tribunal prosecutor
- Jelavic meets with Barry to discuss cutting military budget
- Luzanski discusses eventual postponement of municipal elections with Barry
- Signing of Special Relations Agreement annexes can be expected in June
- Ganic meets with Croatian Minister for Relations with BiH Federation Kovac to discuss annexes
- Covic meets with Kovac to discuss annexes
- SDA strategy for municipal elections remains same – Jahic
- Center Coalition dissatisfied with privatization process
- Municipal elections should be organized as soon as possible – Zubak
- BiH Federation Syndicate requests immediate adoption of labor law
- Tuzla Canton invalids receive donated equipment
- UN agrees with BiH Federation Ombudsmen report and supports release of three Srebrenica prisoners
- Bone marrow transplants to be possible in Sarajevo
- Report from Cannes Film Festival
News Summary
Silajdzic satisfied with first day of Donors’ Conference
One of the leaders of the BiH team at the Donors’ Conference, Co-Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Haris Silajdzic, stated after the first day that the results were good and that they are satisfied. Regarding sharp objections from US Special Envoy to the Balkans Robert Gelbard to results of Sarajevo Declaration implementation, Silajdzic stated that they thank the donors, those with some suggestions and those with some criticism. Silajdzic stated that they emphasized the media issue. At a press conference in Brussels, he said all that happened in BiH is not only because of a bad economy, but also because of bad ideology. “It is necessary to create good conditions for the development of democracy, and the role of the media is very important” he said, adding that High Representative Carlos Westendorp supported their request for certain aid for media. Silajdzic stated that they had a very positive meeting with Mr. Van den Broek, at which they discussed a pact for stability in southeast Europe that should stabilize the entire area. Silajdzic stated that, directly and indirectly, most of the funds will be spent on the refugee return process.
07:06
Blaskic commanded HVO in Ahmici – The Hague Tribunal prosecutor
“Tihomir Blaskic probably knew about the crimes in Ahmici before British Commander Bob Stewart informed him” stated The Hague Tribunal prosecutor on Thursday. The prosecutor stated that it is illogical to claim that for six days the commander of operative zone did not have information on crimes being committed five kilometers from his headquarters. Blaskic claimed that he did not receive any information on mass killings and destruction in that village while in his headquarters in the basement of Hotel Vitez. The prosecutor tried to prove that Blaskic can be held responsible for the crimes in Ahmici, saying that he formally took command of the military police in the village because, according to testimony, some HVO members under Blaskic’s command were committing crimes.
02:08
SDA strategy for municipal elections remains same – Jahic
SDA spokesperson Adnan Jahic stated at a press conference that the party strategy for the upcoming municipal elections is to reclaim the political and electoral territory of the RS. The SDA appealed to voters to vote in municipalities in which they lived before the war. Jahic stated that the current practice of BiH Croats voting in Croatian elections is unacceptable, adding that (BiH Presidency Member Alija) Izetbegovic addressed a letter to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, in which he requested an immediate meeting regarding this issue. Jahic stated that the SDA is not ready to accept suggestions that would bring the work of TV BiH to a halt and said it is unacceptable that the TV be divided.
00:43