Simon Haselock, deputy HR for media told a news conference that the OHR and IMC will not tolerate use of inflammatory language in reports on the crisis, TVBiH reported. Haselock said that several cases of such use were already reported and said TVBiH was one of those who used such phrases. This was followed by a statement of OSCE spokeswoman, Nicole Szulc. “There were some statements made by TVBiH anchor that were opinion not editorial commentary,” Szulc said. Szulc added that it was an opinion on Milosevic and she did not want to discuss the TVBiH’s newsperson’s opinion. “ The point is that the job of the presenter is to present the facts, and the viewers, listeners and readers will be certain to make up their own minds. People in this country are smart, they do not need to have ideas imposed,” Szulc said. “That is the first thing, the other thing is: to make the kind of remarks like the ones made on BHT last night, transmitted in the RS and BiH, could unnecessarily inflame passions,” OSCE spokeswoman said.
“The crew of the information-political program expresses regret for the clumsiness of our young colleague. We would like to ask our viewers to have in mind that last night’s special TVBiH program on air strikes was a four hour live broadcast where the possibility of such mistakes is great,” TVBiH news editor apologetically said.
Headlines
- Clark and Solana – first round of air strikes successful, no NATO planes lost, three Yugoslav MIG 29s shot down
- Yugoslav Government reports 10 civilian casualties, 28 wounded and 58 buildings destroyed
- Yugoslav Government suspends diplomatic relations with US, UK, Germany, France, expels all journalists from NATO countries
- Pristina water and electricity supplies restored, many high profile Albanians killed or taken into custody
- Macedonia receives additional assurances of US and NATO protection of peace on its territory and care for increasing number of refugees
- In Skopje, Serbs protest in front of US Embassy
- Democratic Serb Party President Dragoljub Miletic leads Macedonian Serbs in attack on OSCE Verifiers’ hotel and destruction of US Embassy
- Serb protesters in Macedonia attempt to destroy EBU dish in order to prevent reports from Macedonia
- All journalists banished from Kosovo and Pristina, Macedonia-Kosovo border town General Jankovic burning
- Mass exodus reported from Sandzak
- NATO action will end when Kosovo mission completed, Congress proposes $25 million towards arms for Kosovo Albanians – Clinton
- Milosevic should withdraw and sign agreement – Robertson
- Croatia supports IC resolution to apply any means necessary to stop bloodshed and ethic cleansing in Kosovo
- European tragedy that NATO had to use force as solution for Kosovo conflicts although we tried everything to avoid it – Norwegian Prime Minster
- Air strikes to be intensified, Yugoslav Army planes shot down – Cohen
- Air strikes aggressive, gross violation of UN Charter and International Law, NATO forced small, sovereign and peaceful country into war – Radisic
- NATO action introduces new insecurity, but no significant influence on BiH – Prlic
- SDA sees air strikes as only remaining solution to prevent suffering of Kosovo civilians
- Milosevic’s 10-year regime with policy of destruction and violence provoked NATO reaction – Party for BiH Executive committee
- Air strikes come too late, creating no solution for Balkan crisis although Milosevic must finally be stopped – Stjepan Kljuic for BiH Center Coalition
- Use of force against Milosevic provoked, IC can act energetically when it wishes to – Natural Prosperity Party
- SGV regrets failure of political compromise understands air strikes imminent if suffering of Albanian people to be stopped
- RS Government willing to offer humanitarian aid to Yugoslavia
- NATO action attack on entire Serb nation – SRS
- Our voice is raised along side Russia and China against air strikes, UN Charter also applies to Serbia – Vice-president of SDS Presidency Dragan Cavic
- RS Socialist Party condemns aggression against sovereign state only for refusing occupation of part of its territory, Yugoslavia one of UN founding countries
- IPTF reports its vehicles damaged in Trebinje, Doboj and Bijeljina, all offices remain open with no intention of leaving mission
- Secondary school pupils gather in front of Poplasen’s house exclaiming ‘we will not give you to Westendorp’
- Two NATO planes land at Sarajevo airport – SFOR
- OHR and IMC aware of inflammatory media coverage by BHT, SRT and Dnevni Avaz on Kosovo situation, necessary measures will be taken
- UN Mission to BiH assured by BiH officials there will be no tolerance of peace violations on account of situation in Yugoslavia
- OHR and IMC judgment against BHT
- High Representative concerned over deterioration in Leutar’s health, OHR still calling on Croat officials to commence work in joint institutions
- Westendorp meets with Zubak who gives him document evaluating current BiH situation and offers suggestions for IC measures
- Westendorp and Haselock visit Croat cultural society, discuss Croat cultural and national identity in BiH
- SDA press conference says situation in RS ‘confused’, asks for help in work of joint institutions
- HNZ and HSS join in BiH Croat National Union condemnation of HDZ BiH political irresponsibility in obstructing work of joint institutions
- Protest in front of Banja Luka Banski Dvori over air strikes, unofficial sources report UNHCR offices damaged
- Multiethnic Committee Secretary Mato Jurisic announces delay in session, many delegates failed to appear
- Tuzla Canton Assembly holds session regarding Ganic letter demanding replacement of Canton Head and two Ministers
- SRT reports of another air raid
Mass exodus reported from Sandzak
In Sandzak, there is rising insecurity and a mass exodus of Sandzak Muslims, 15 -20,000 people have reportedly fled the region, most to BiH and Turkey. A state of emergency has been declared and general mobilization is pending. SDA Sandzak President said that people are in a state of panic, citizens fear loss of property and financial assets and the looting of their homes. The people in Novi Pazar fear the arrival of Zeljko ‘Arkan’ Raznjatovic, who is reported to have activated his notorious Tiger Brigade.
02:20
RS Government willing to offer humanitarian aid to Yugoslavia
The RS Government is in permanent session, as reported by Milorad Dodik on Thursday. They condemn the continuation of air strikes and keep in constant contact with the Yugoslav Government in Belgrade. There are inclinations in the RS government to send a delegation to Yugoslavia offering to put their complete humanitarian potential at Yugoslavia’s disposal. Dodik says that the RS Government should place a moratorium on aggressive party addresses, which deepen the abyss between them, and prevent the use of the situation in Yugoslavia to be manipulated for internal retributions. RS National Assembly Speaker Petar Djokic sees the air strikes as derogating to the UN mechanism and charter and that the attack on Yugoslavia seriously endangers all previous attempts on Dayton implementation made in BiH.
01:16
Westendorp and Haselock visit Croat cultural society, discuss Croat cultural and national identity in BiH
Croat Cultural Society ‘Napredak’ President Franjo Topic, in a meeting with High Representative Carlos Westendorp and Deputy High Representative for Media Simon Haselock, said that this society could work with other societies to heal their wounds. Westendorp stated that the diversity of BiH is exactly what the OHR wishes to preserve through cooperation, “but that we should not delude ourselves, for this will not be easy and will take time. It is exactly what we are attempting to do through the restructuring of BHT.” Haselock said that it is important not to believe in the notion some people are suggesting that the IC is wishing to disenfranchise the Croat community from their language and culture, they want to promote specific Croat TV programming in their own language and targeted at their own people.
01:35