Killed soldiers families and war invalids from Travnik blocked the road protesting for not receiving their pensions in the past nine months. Money for pensions arrived about two o’clock this afternoon, so the road was unblocked about 15:00.
1:30
Central Bosnia Canton held an assembly session today. The key issue of the session was draft proposal for the new cantonal government forming, which would finally establish the authorities in this canton. No decision on the issue was reached, and tension at the session grew with the spech of HDZ representative Pero Madzar, who was insulting delegates of Bosniak nationality and said for the New Croat Initiative representative Marko Vidak that he does not belong to the Croat people, but to Moslems and the International Community.
2:00
Killed taxi driver Denis Imamovic is going to be buried tomorrow in Sarajevo. Motive for the murder, just like in the previous ones, was stealing of his car in order to sell in the RS. The RS MUP did not make any announcement on the investigation they are undertaking. RS MUP announced in Banja Luka that they will take all measures necessary in order to find the murderers of Denis Imamovic. Srpsko Sarajevo Association of Taxi Drivers condemned the murder of Sarajevo taxi driver Imamovic. The association demands the RS relevant authorities to do their utmost in order to reveal and legally punish perpetrators of the brutal murder.
2:00
OSCE Mission Head Barry made New Year’s announcement commenting on achieved results in this year, and publishing OSCE tasks in the next year. Barry said that main tasks of OSCE in the next year will be to make the permanent electoral law, establishing of permanent electoral committee, appointment of a BiH person for Elections General Manager assistant and further improving of local electoral committees and work of non-governmental monitors.
1:30
SDA President Izetbegovic estimated the year 1998 very successful in political, economic and cultural areas. Number of refugee returns was significantly increased, compared to the previous year. Important aspect of the Dayton Agreement – freedom of movement is being improved, and the number of arrested war criminals increased.
2:00
Conflicts in Kosovo continued in northern part of the province. Kosovo Liberation Army commander of the region said that Serbian forces suffered significant losses of units and weapon, while 4 KLA members were killed and 6 wounded. Special guest in the BHT newscast was BHT correspondent from Brussels, Smajic who commented on NATO threats if the conflicts in Kosovo continue, saying that this time it is serious, for Milosevic shows he is non-compliant in his destruction and NATO initiated huge war-machinery toward Kosovo.
2:00