Kosovo remains in the spotlight and TVBiH dedicated its first two stories to it. With less than 24 hours till Kosovo deadline expires, there is no progress reported in Rambouillet TVBiH reported. The representatives of the two sides are still so apart in their positions that the negotiations might end up as a complete failure. The presence of U.S. and French mediators does not seem to help, TVBiH said. International community’s pressure is being maximized, BiH reporter from Rambouillet said adding that Albanian Foreign Minister will join the talks to help. One of the indicators that the sides are nowhere near the final decision is Serb President’s Milan Milutinovic’s statement that “there will be no NATO deployment.” The report on Rambouillet talks also said that NATO council had a meeting in Brussels on Kosovo but there were no details available.
2:30
The second story of the prime time TVBiH news were also on the situation in Kosovo reporting that news clashes between Serb police and Albanians were reported along the border with Albania. TVBiH reporter from the region said it was certain that there were killed and wounded on both sides in the confrontations but there were no details available. Serb sources said that a military convoy was attacked in the region, Monday. the reporter said. Two OSCE officials were beat up Sunday night by Serb police, he said. Yugoslav army Chief of staff Dragoljub Ojdanic said that Kosovo should be defended regardless of casualties, TVBiH said.
2:00
USAID and BiH Foreign Trade Ministry signed a contract worth some 167 US dollars that will supply computer equipment and software to BiH enabling it to process data for its external debt, TV reported. A network consisted of five local networks is to be installed: two in the Foreign Trade Ministry, one in the central Bank and one in Finance Ministry of RS and Federation each, TV said.
2:30
European Bank for reconstruction and development so far has invested some 75 million US dollars in various projects in BiH, TVBiH said. The future activities of the Bank in Bosnia will be in banking and privatization of small and medium enterprises. “We came here to stay for a long time,” regional director of European Bank told a presser. This is an economic not a political message he said. It is important that a single economic market is created in BiH thus enabling the bank to help the economy in the country. “We are not an aid agency,” the director said. “Our projects have to make commercial sense and above all the money that we provide has to be paid back.” So far the bank has allocated 15.2 million Euros for the privatization of small and medium enterprises and it is up to Bosnia to secure conditions for future credits in Bosnia, TV said.
4:00
TV allocated some five minutes to one of the rare successful police actions against smugglers and their battle against corruption with federal Prime Minister Edhem Bicakcic’s exclusive interview on the subject. Border police and customs in Orasje, on the northern border with Croatia, confiscated around one million DEM worth of cigarettes dedicated for the black market, TV said. In addition trucks used for the transport were confiscated too. TV showed footage from the border of the confiscated trucks and cigarettes as well as of the black market on the so-called Arizona road. Bicakcic praised the work of police and said he will ask OHR to speed up reaching a decision on the law on protection of BiH borders and full implementation of the customs agreement on borders between Croatia and BiH.
5:00
Supreme Defense Council of RS army at its session in Banja Luka discussed Carlos Westendorp’s decision that makes the joint Presidency the supreme civil command of both RS and Federation army. The council feels that Westendorp’s decision asks for changes in the RS constitution, TVBiH Banja Luka reporter Miso Vidovic said. According to the RS constitution the Supreme Commander of RS army is Nikola Poplasen, Vidovic said.
1:20
Eight persons went on trial in Bugojno Monday, TV reported. The eight are on trial for terrorism in the region. The trial is closed for press and there were no further details available, TV said.
0:20