European Commission representative in Brussels stated that the EC warned BiH that the future aid, trade and co-operation of BiH with the EC will depend on respecting the present economic and political guidelines, which also include the refugee return.
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US Special Envoy for the Balkans, Gelbard met with Federation highest authorities, discussing, among other issues, the matters of refugee return, DPA implementation, recent BiH elections and terrorism. Ambassador Gelbard also met with Presidency Member Zubak, and said that the International Community is considering the possibility of establishing the permanent election regulations, which would enable transfer of responsibility to BiH authorities. It was also said that additional changes are necessary in the RTV BiH, in order to make it suitable for all three constituent nations in BiH. Gelbard also met with CoM Co-chairman Silajdzic, discussing the matter of privatisation, DPA implementation, elections and succession of property of the former SFRY.
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HR Westendorp met with representative of political parties in Banja Luka. Westendorp said that his arrival to BL has the purpose to inform leaders of political parties that the final election results are still not available and there are still many votes to be counted. Westendorp met with the RS President Plavsic and Premier Dodik. HR also said he will meet with leaders of the SDS, SRS, SP RS, Kalinic, Poplasen and Radisic, adding that when it comes to election results, the International Community will respect the will of people.
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OSCE spokesperson Schultz could not say when the OSCE will publish official resultsof elections in BiH. Schultz briefly said that OSCE will give its utmost in order to make the results available to the public tomorrow, but that they could also be published on Thursday, Sep 24. HR deputy for media Haselock refuted the statements that the HR will not accept election results in BiH. All candidates taking part in these elections confirmed their unconditional devotion to the DPA, Haselock said. He also added that all the elected candidates will have to maintain peace and stability, law, order, tolerance and ethnic re-integration in the future year, make significant progress in refugee return and adoption of the law on ownership relations. They will have to continue the process of economic reforms, as well as the process of legal reforms and will have to co-operate with International Community representatives and donors, Haselock said. The ICTY forensics team commenced seventh exhumation of secondary mass graves in Zvornik area, within the investigation procedure on massacre in Srebrenica, UN spokesperson Moore said. UNHCR spokesperson Quentier said that number of Kosovo refugees arriving to BiH was decreased in the past several days.
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BiH press reports that US are putting pressure on NATO allies in order start the possible military action. The decision, which would give General Clark authority to prepare air forces for possible attack, might be passed in the next two days. Germany threatened FRY President Milosevic by usage of military force if he does not stop the attacks on Kosovo. German FA Minister Kinkel, in his speech at the UN General Assembly session in New York, condemned usage of force by Milosevic’s forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army. Austrian FA Minister Schissel also severely criticised Milosevic, and demanded him to stop the repression and withdraw “Serbian and Yugoslav forces.” British Premier Blair also demanded for sharp action from the Security Council in order to stop Serbian attacks on Albanians.
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Serbian forces commenced heavy attacks in the core of Albanian resistance – Drenica, attacking by heavy artillery and tank fire. AP reports that one police commander (who wished to remain anonymous) estimated that his troops will require at least three days to clean the area off the KLA. Journalists reported that clashes in Kosovo are spreading to the North regions, towards the province capital of Pristina. UNHCR spokesman Janovski said that HCR Ogata will visit Kosovo, Belgrade, Monte Negro and Albania.
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OHR spokesperson Stiglmeyer said that BiH should have the new anthem by November 15.
BiH Central Bank announced that the Governor Nicholle has signed the contract with the “Royal Mint” British minting company on production the coins of the BiH Convertible Mark.
The village of Gacice is blocked for the second day. The meetings on resolving the situation are in progress, and after one of the meetings was finished, chairman Taylor and Vitez and Travnik municipalities governors addressed to the press and said that the return of Croats to villages of Velika Bukovica, Brajkovici and Grahovcici in the Travnik municipality. Taylor estimated the agreement as successful and said that the safety of refugees is jurisdiction of municipal authorities. Return to these villages will start on October 10 this year, and the International Community will provide the material aid.
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