BiH Federation police forces are in control of Martin Brod as of this morning. SFOR soldiers removed Croatian police from this area. As said by SFOR spokesman, Major Chamberlain, SFOR conducted this action as a response to demand from the High Representative, and after several failed demands to Croatian authorities to withdraw their troops from Martin Brod. The whole operation was conducted without any incidents. The OHR supported SFOR action in Martin Brod. Croatian Council for Defence and National Security held an extraordinary session. It was said that such actions of SFOR could have extensive consequences.
2:30
BiH Presidency held a session, discussing, among other issues, the situation in Martin Brod, the CoM, and the draft law on hand-over the duties during the mandate. Session of the Standing Military Committee was also held and decided to accept the OSCE initiative to establish the BiH delegation at the Joint Consultative Commission and the Sub-regional Consultative Commission for the Agreement on Arming Control in Vienna.
2:30
Session of the RS National Assembly was finished today in Banja Luka. The Assembly appointed more than 200 delegates for legal posts, judges, prosecutors and jurors. CDU Coalition and the BiH SPD candidates voted against these appointments for all appointees are exclusively of Serb nationality. The newly elected RS Constitutional Court Judge is Miodrag Simovic.
2:00
The Federation Government held a session today. The main issue of the discussion was the pre-draft of the Federation budget, which is currently in the amount of 975 million KM or 20% more than 1998 budget.
2:00
Two British Army soldiers were killed and one seriously injured in yesterday’s helicopter crash near SFOR base in Gornji Vakuf area. Eyewitnesses claim that the helicopter turned several times in the air and then fell.
1:30
NATO Secretary General Solana stated that the situation in Kosovo is being carefully monitored and that NATO is ready to act. New incidents were recorded in Kosovo, this time it was an attack on two Albanians in a café in Mitrovica, resulting with one killed and one wounded. OSCE verificators are not allowed to the site. Another incident occurred in Pristina, resulting with two wounded Serbian policemen.
2:00
International organisations based in Mostar held a press conference with the main issue the refugee return. OHR regional office spokesman Riley commented on writings of certain media in the past several days, which claimed that Croat returns to the settlement of Polje was not financed by the International Community. Riley said this was completely untrue and that the money for reconstruction of first 40 houses was deposited at the bank.
2:00