120 Serbs returned to Mostar municipality North from East Herzegovina and FRY. Serb citizens returned to Zeljusa settlement and were welcomed by Mostar Mayor Orucevic, Federation Minister for Refugees, Kadic and other local and international officials.
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Negotiations of BiH delegation with the Paris Club were stopped but not ceased, after 30-hour discussion. BiH delegation did not accept Paris Club offer of 67% debts reduction.
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BiH remains to be one of US foreign policy top priorities, said National Security Advisor to the US President, Berger, after his meeting with BiH Presidency member Zubak. US Secretary of State Albright addressed her personal compliments to Zubak, praising constructive pro-Dayton orientation of the New Croatian Initiative.
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Federation Government representatives and Norwegian Government representatives signed the contract on investments and reconstruction of the Federation electric system worth 9 million KM.
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Kosovo Albanian sources reported that more than 70 Albanians were killed in attacks on the city of Orahovac. 220 Albanians were arrested and are imprisoned in Serbian prisons and camps. HR Westendorp expressed his concern that the Kosovo crisis might spread to BiH, and praised diplomatic efforts of the EU in Kosovo. Two foreign citizens, a British humanitarian employee Sally Baker and German journalist Willie Lasky, are also imprisoned for attempt of illegal border crossing to Yugoslavia. Baker also commenced hunger and thirst strike.
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A group of Serb citizens visited Bugojno today. About 100 Serb citizens from Bugojno, currently living in Banja Luka, Prijedor and Bosanska Gradiska, met with Bugojno municipality Governor, Mlaco and other municipality officials. Main purpose of the visit was determining of conditions for return.
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RS Minister for Refugees, Dragicevic and Tuzla Podrinje Canton Governor, Jamakosmanovic held a meeting with the presence of both entity officials and OHR, UNHCR and SFOR representatives. Main subjects of the discussion were possibilities of return to RS and from the RS to the Federation. Dragicevic said that return to RS is possible and now without any political or administrative obstacles. ‘ Banja Luka Mufti, Ibrahim Effendi Halilovic was buried today in Sarajevo Gazi-Husrevbeg’s Mosque. Many followers, local and foreign officials attended the funeral and expressed their deepest condolences on the death of Mufti Halilovic, condemning the act of Banja Luka authorities to ban the funeral in Banja Luka. BiH Presidency President Izetbegovic, and BiH Presidency President Izetbegovic’s Councilor Hajirc were also present at the funeral as well as US Ambassador Kauzlarich, HR Senior deputy Schumacher, UN SG Special Envoy, Rehn and many other religious and political officials in BiH.
- Rijaset of the Islamic Community in BiH reacted to Ambassador Klein’s statement which says that no Mufti has ever been buried within a
Mosque area, saying that religious officials are buried in graveyards of all of Mosques in BiH. We recommend Mr. Klein, if he cares about truth, to visit BiH Mosques graveyards. We expected Mr. Klein to interpreted Dayton Agreement and care about protection of human rights. We did not expect him to protect decisions of Banja Luka authorities, interpreting our Bosniak traditions to us, Bosniaks.
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