International Symposium on prevention of violence was held in Sarajevo toda y. Intellectuals and politicians from Northern Ireland, South Africa, Korea , USA, Canada and BiH discussed the issues on how to prevent the violence, how to make progress in relations between people, how to prevent making mis takes from the past, and especially of the status women in society. The Sym posium was organised by the Carnegie Commission for Prevention of Conflicts BiH Presidency President Izetbegovic made introduction speech at the Sy mposium, and Zubak said that idea of reconciliation represents the corner s tone for BiH. RS officials, although invited, were not present at the Sympo sium.
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BiH CoM held a session in Sarajevo. CoM appointed three-member Managing Bo ard for the BiH Agency for Statistics, and considered OHR initiative in reg ard with changes and adding to the Law on Immunity of Persons Employed in t he State Institutions. CoM also discussed the problem of Albanian refugees ‘ arrival to BiH. CoM Co-chairman Bosic said this process is very unsuita ble for BiH for it could be politicised.
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US Secretary of State Assistant Julia Taft visited Kosovo today, preceding the US Secretary of State Albright. Taft met with Kosovo Albanian officials and visited some of endangered areas. The day before the visit, an explosi ve mixture went off in the front yard of American Cultural Centre in Pristi na with no casualties. Offensive of Serbian forces continued today in the r egions of Suva Reka and Stimlje, as well as in Malisevo. US Administration held a special briefing on Kosovo, but without significant changes in US st andpoint regarding Kosovo.
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Federation President Ganic met with HR deputy Schumacher, discussing the ma tters of return to Central Bosnia Canton. During the discussion, in the pre sence of Federation Prime Minister Bicakcic and CBC Governor Terzic, Schuma cher informed Ganic on the current situation in Vitez, and efforts the OHR is making in order to create adequate safety measures for continued return to this municipality. After this meeting, Schumacher went to Vitez where he met with Skopljak, Vukadinovic and Garic. Schumacher made a statement afte r this visit and said: “I do not see a clear intention to assist us in reso lving the problem of return to Gacice. Signed obligations are not fulfilled and we will have to discuss this at the higher level.”
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High Saudi Commission begins the forth stage of house reconstruction in Brc ko. General Director of the Commission in BiH Al Said informed Federation P resident Ganic on beginning of construction works.
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BiH “Gospodarska Banka” (Economic Bank) signed the contract with German Cre dit Bank for Development, and will begin issue credits for reconstruction o f houses in Sarajevo Canton by the end of the year.
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SFOR Commander deputy, General Pike visited Sanski Most, in order to take i nsight in refugee return process to Sanski Most and Prijedor.
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