OHR BiH TV News Summary, 28 September 1999

News Headlines

  • SFOR soldier and local police officer wounded in Ilici, Mostar Southwest
  • House of Peoples fails to adopt law on rights of soldiers and war veterans
  • Registration of political parties and independent candidates for BiH municipal elections concludes, 81 political parties, 18 independent candidates register – PEC
  • I will ensure that individuals breaking peace process in BiH be removed so that citizens can have safe future – Annan
  • Jelavic meets with Petritsch
  • Stiglmayer comments on Ganic statement
  • European Council representatives sign five contracts valued at DM 37 million for realization of minority return
  • Izetbegovic informs of his visit to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and Kuwait
  • Two killed in explosion at marketplace near Kosovo Polje
  • Montenegrin state prosecutor submits criminal complaint against Bulatovic and members of his cabinet under suspicion of jeopardizing national security and social establishment – VoA
  • World news
  • General Fair ZEPS opens in Zenica
  • BiH Federation Government delegation meets with BiH businessmen to discuss transition possibilities and privatization improvement
  • Bicakcic says increase of oil prices not yet necessary – TV BiH journalist investigates
  • Old BiH passports definitely expire on 30 September
  • Around 120,000 new BiH passports issued in Sarajevo Canton so far
  • International Conference on children’s rights, sponsored by Jelavic and his wife, closes in Dubrovnik on Tuesday
  • Reconstructed paediatric department of Sarajevo Clinic opens
  • BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs organizes meeting of representatives of BiH religious communities, issue of religious communities in BiH discussed
  • Symposium on Internet and Information Systems to take place in Sarajevo 4-6 October

News Summary

House of Peoples fails to adopt law on rights of soldiers and war veterans

The BiH Federation House of Peoples failed to adopt a law on soldier and war veteran rights. Director of the BiH Federation Department for Issues of Soldiers and Invalids Fuad Purisevic informed of the procedure of voting for the law on soldiers’ rights. Purisevic said that, according to conclusions from the previous House of Peoples session, requested amendments to the law on invalid pensions were made. He also explained that the Bosniak side was ready to accept the average salary for soldiers on the basis of salaries from last year, with no conditions placed on payment. Purisevic said that “the Croat side was in no mood for adoption of this law at today’s session.” Purisevic suggested the involvement of IC representatives to reach an adequate draft of this law that would be accepted by both Houses of the BiH Parliament.

03:54

Jelavic meets with Petritsch

BiH Presidency Chairman Ante Jelavic met with High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch. Special attention during the meeting was placed on the nomination of a Justice Minister and Deputy Interior Minister, which was annulled by the High Representative. Petritsch explained that his decision was more of a formal nature and added that the OHR is creating instructions for examination during the nomination of persons for high-level duties and concluded by saying that the current misunderstanding on the issue will soon be removed.

00:38

Stiglmayer comments on Ganic statement

Commenting on BiH Federation Vice-president Ejup Ganic’s statement that the IC should pay for the reconstruction of houses of refugees and displaced persons, OHR spokesperson Alexandra Stiglmayer stated that, “instead of criticizing the International Community for not investing enough in the return of refugees and displaced persons, leaders of this country must find means for those returnees.” She added that a primary responsibility for the future of this country lies in its leadership and people, “because it is their country, not ours.”

00:27

Izetbegovic informs of his visit to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and Kuwait

After his return from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and Kuwait, BiH Presidency Member Alija Izetbegovic informed of the nature of his visits. “I was invited by the three countries; Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iran. I went to Turkey on my own initiative to visit areas destroyed by the earthquake and, later, accepted Demirel’s invitation and went to see him. I informed him of the current economic situation in our country. I tried to interest them in encouraging joint investments here. This was a visit to friends of BiH and our country can only benefit from it. Formally, nothing was violated. According to the BiH Presidency regulation book, we have the right to individual contacts. We have them in Sarajevo, very often, jointly and individually as well. I did not speak with dividers or aggressors of Bosnia, but with proven friends.”

02:44