OHR BiH TV News Summary, 23 November 1998

The newscast opened with a brief bloc comprising reports on “yet another wave of catastrophies all over the planet”. Victims of a storm raging the Bengali Gulf, tropical storm in Vietnam, low temperatures in Poland, Russia and France received moderate, but leading attention.
1:00

The domestic news bloc started with a report stating that after today’s almost all-day consultations, no precise agreement was reached as regards the extraordinary session of the HoP. The Federal HoP was supposed to present its view regarding the OHR’s request that the Croat delegation for the BH HoP should include a member other than HDZ members. Hilmo Pasic, the HoP Secretary, was quoted as saying that the session might perhaps take place at the end of this week.
1:00

The Special Relations issue was wrapped-up by a report from Belgrade, claiming that the FRY believes that the Agreement mostly fulfills the wishes of Bosnian Croats. The reporter illustrated the stand of the official Belgrade by quoting a headline published in a Belgrade paper: “Wishes of Croats Fulfilled”. Followed a bloc of political parties’ reactions: Liberals and the Civic Democratic Party welcomed the signing of the Agreement; NHI said that Croats did not gain any special rights now, since they had these from before the signing of the Agreement; the Coalition of Center wondered if the Federation had a legal basis to sign the Agreement.
2:00

In the light of preparations for the Madrid Conference, TV BiH said that the realisation of 1999 projects in BH would necessarily mean a more active inclusion of BH authorities on all levels. Excerpts from Simon Haselock’s statement, presented at a press briefing in Brussels, were carried, emphasising that the 1999 will be the key year for the implementation of peace. More significant return of refugees, especially minority returns, to both entities featured as first on the list of priorities.
1:30

Member of the BH Presidency, Alija Izetbegovic and the HR Principal Deputy Klein discussed the refugee returns to Mostar. Izetbegovic informed Klein that 129 apartments in Mostar were emptied for return.
0:40

The Government of Finland signed an Agreement on Cooperation on technical reconstruction of a part of TV BiH with Ambassador Klein. TV BiH’s General Manager Miro Purivatra specified that 500,000 DM will be invested in the reconstruction of the station’s newsrooms. Ambassador Klein, on the other hand, reiterated that major improvements on TV BiH are already visible.
1:20

Following another bloc of international news, the presenter switched back to the BH current affairs. The Hercegovina-Neretva Canton, the audience learned next, obtained its Premier – Franjo Ljubic, and Deputy Premier – Mirsad Saric. Ljubic told the camera that privatisation will be the priority in the canton, while Saric insisted that the 1999 should be a year of sustainable refugee returns.
1:10

As the arbitration for Brcko approaches, TV BiH continues exhibiting growing interest in the situation in this town. The reporter commented that the concept of multi-ethnic administration in Brcko was constantly being burdened with crises, and that only two Bosniak families have returned to the center of the town up until today. The report combined the views of Croat, Bosniak and Serb officials (Mijo Anic, Mirsad Djapo, Munib Jusufovic and Bogdan Savija). Savija insisted that Brcko should stay in the RS, Djapo expressed his firm belief in the return of refugees, Anic was skeptical in saying that even 300 Bosniaks and Croats from the administration were unable to return without Farrand’s orders… The reporter commented that the RS Government, in the case of Brcko, displays “passivity in the implementation of the additional arbitration decision”, and “hyper-activity aimed at keeping Brcko in the smaller BH entity (i.e. RS)”. Reiterating the importance of Brcko (“the strategic issue for BH”), Jusufovic criticised the federal officials for their infrequent visits to Brcko and for paying minor attention to the town.
2:00