The deadline for the agreement on Kosovo expired today. The negotiating sides were until March 15 to make statements on proposal of the peace solution. Part of agreement regarding politic was generally accepted, which finished the first stage of the negotiations. Both delegations confirmed they would continue negotiations on implementation of the agreement. New fighting was reported in Kosovo, and UNHCR said about 9000 Albanians left their homes in the past two days.
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BiH Presidency held a session today, and demanded from the CoM to pay debts toward the United Nations in the amount of almost $2 million. The Presidency also discussed Presidency member Izetbegovic’s initiative regarding resolving the status of refugees and DP’s in BiH, and adopted so called “Presidential Initiative” on return of about 6000 people to areas with Croat, Serb and Bosniak self-governing. The Presidency also adopted proposal of military service term decrease to six months.
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The RS National Assembly is holding a session in Banja Luka. The Assembly accorded the agenda this evening, and main issues of the session will be the Law on Budget, and changes of the law on housing relations, law on amnesty, intelligence-security activities and environment and urbanism. Afterwards, RS Premier Dodik withdrawn the proposal on changes of the Law on Housing from the agenda, and OHR representatives were not ready to comment Dodik’s actions, while Ambassador Schumacher left the session somewhat earlier. Dodik said he withdrawn the law due to number of amendments and that he has no information that such law has been adopted in the Federation.
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Testimony of General Tihomir Blaskic at the Hague was continued today. The defence is trying to prove that the Tribunal cannot charge Blaskic for all crimes committed by HVO in central Bosnia.
SFOR spokesman Chamberlain commented on recent increase of SFOR troops in Foca, and said that this was carried due to difficulties in the rule of law, order and safe environment.
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An explosive device went off last night in Bihac, set under an IPTF vehicle. The MUP announced that only minor damage was made to the vehicle, and that first results of investigation indicate that the event has no political background.
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The Financial Police and the Federation and Cantonal MUP joint team was engaged in investigation of corruption in Tuzla/Podrinje Canton. The Cantonal Prosecution Office said the job is being finished, and Prosecutor Dzanic said there were two reports that are being checked presently.
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Reconstruction of housing units for Serb returns begins in Zenica. 60.000 DEM were provided for 12 houses for minority returns.
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Special Envoy of European Broadcast Union, Riva arrived to Sarajevo and met with RTV BiH General Manager Purivatra and Federation Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Rizvanbegovic. The main issue was the television as the state media and member of the EBU. The issue of future status of RTV BiH was also discussed.
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