Because of the failure of deputies to reach an agreement on the Law on Privatisation on a state level at the BiH Parliament HoR session today, continuation of the session was announced for July 14. The appearance of the seal of BiH institutions was adopted, in the version as suggested by the OHR. “Its adoption, unlike the other laws coming from the OHR to date, passed unusually easily”, the presenter said. Should the law gain support by the House of Peoples tomorrow, its adoption will be followed by its publication in the official Gazzette. The adoption of the Law on Privatisation of Companies and Banks in BiH, the most discussed issue at today’s session, was postponed for the continuation of the session. Correspondingly, Minister Mirsad Kurtovic was quoted: “The law, which was submitted as a compromise (solution) by the CoM has the goal of establishing a safe legal framework” for the process of privatisation, giving “the entities the right to implement the procedure”.
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BiH Presidency held its regular 36th session today, particularly emphasising the activity of the working group for special relations between the EU and BiH. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was asked to coordinate with the Presidency envoys in the domain of EU-BiH relations in future.
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Members of the Presidency met with the NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana today. Izetbegovic, Zubak and Krajisnik discussed SFOR activities, refugee returns, forthcoming elections and freedom of media. Zubak warned Solana of the increase in organised crime in BiH and asked the IC to provide support to fight it.
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Mirza Hajric, President Izetbegovic’s advisor for foreign policy, was further quoted as saying that the Presidency had discussed the report of the Human Rights Chamber and authorised the CoM to nominate a BiH representative for this institution.
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BiH Standing Military Committee met today and discussed the activities from the domain of defence preparations. The list of activities had been submitted to the Committee by both entities’ ministries.
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Solana opens the first information NATO seminar in Sarajevo. The following NATO Secretary-General’s message to the BiH peoples was highlighted: “Keep up the process of democratic development and you’ll be heartily welcomed, as a member of the large Euro-Atlantic union”.
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One of the issues discussed at the BiH Presidency session was the solving of the membership for the new Steering Board of RTV BiH. Despite prior announcements that the issue would be solved by the end of day, the solution is yet again delayed until tomorrow. Hajric was then quoted as depicting the fact that Krajisnik refused to discuss the matter the main reason for the delay. Izetbegovic and Krajisnik are expected to meet during the day and “finally solve the issue”. The two will “bring into accordance the list of members of the Steering Board and inform the HR Carlos Westendorp on it”. Hajric’s cabinet later announced that RTV BiH might get a new Steering Board tomorrow.
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Ivan Prskalo, Vice Mayor of Mostar sent an open, sharply-worded letter to all relevant international organisations, excerpts of which were read out: “I warn you that with your activities, especially lately, you have lost credibility and authority in the city of Mostar. With political farces that you organise and the consequences of which are disastrous for sovereignty, constitutivity and equality of Croat people, you want to… humiliate us. Your empty intentions to reach and sign an agreement on return are meaningless and empty, when in spite of the agreement and participation of Croat representatives you realise (refugee) returns in practice…” Referring to the recent return of Serbs to Ortijes, Prskalo continued: “You say that Annex 7 gives them the right (to return) and that nobody has any rights to condition the return. I agree. But, with your activities one or two nations may only exercise the right, and you help them in doing so. Simultaneously, you did nothing so that the Croats exercise their right to return. On the contrary, you’re openly involved in sabotaging the return of Croats to Eastern Mostar…”, Prskalo further accused the IC.
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TV BiH commented on the recent support that some parties expressed to the BiH Trade Union’s warning of a possible general strike. Trade Union reacted to this and underlined that the strike would only, provided that it happen, have a social character, without political conotations. The Trade Union also said they only want to discuss problems with the Federal government only.
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