Carlos Westendorp decided to pass the Law on Courts in Hercegovina-Neretva Canton, as well as the Law on the Court in the central district of Mostar. Both laws came into effect yesterday. This move came as a reaction to the failure of cantonal authorities to implement Westendorp’s decision dated May 6, regarding the establishment of municipal courts in the city. The law gives every municipality in Mostar the right to have their own courts. The structure of judges will echo the national structure of municipalities, based on the 1991 Census. Westendorp demands the authorities fully implement the laws by November 15 at the latest.
2:00
Sarajevo – With regard Central Bosnia Canton, a meeting between Hans Schumacher, IPTF Commissioner Richard Monk, Federation Vice President Vladimir Soljic and Federal Premier Edhem Bicakcic took place in Sarajevo today. Overcoming the situation in the canton was discussed, following the death of policeman Ante Valjan. The Croat side insisted that measures for improvement of safety be introduced first. Soljic: “I believe that we have reached a fine compromise. A joint expert team, comprising police and IPTF should first estimate the situation and then set the security measures.” Soljic also dismissed the allegations that he was calling on policemen to stop working, as false. Schumacher warned that those involved in obstruction would have to face political consequences. The Ambassador reiterated that, with the support of the IC, the perpetrators will be discovered speedily, following the investigation. Adnan Terzic, governor of the CB Canton, asked the policemen to return to work and help improve the situation in the canton, with the support of the IPTF.
2:30
An anti-terrorist team was formed in Sarajevo by the Federal MUP. In connection to this, MUP released a press statement, reiterating that the members of the team were experienced and qualified policemen of the MUP.
0:50
Following his visits to CB and HN Cantons, the international Mediator for the Federation, Christian Schwartz Schilling, staged a press conference in Sarajevo. In a summarized form, Schilling presented his findings from Stolac, Jablanica, Vitez, Bugojno, Prozor and Gornji Vakuf. Among other things, Schwartz Schilling passed on the Head of Vitez municipality’s promises that the return of Bosniaks to the city will be enabled, as well as reiterations from the canton 6 and 7 governors that the murder of policeman Valjan would not stop formation of the joint police force.
1:00
Federal Government held its session today, passing the set of laws concerning employees – the Law on Work, Law on Strike and Law on the Council of Workers. The government also agreed to settle the debt toward pensioners by issuing them certificates for privatisation. As for the Law on strike, the deputies had discussed whether the law should proscribe where the strikes would be allowed to be staged or where they should be banned from taking place. Deputy Minister of Education failed to attend the session, with TV BiH hinting that in the background of failures to adopt unified education schemes, lie political questions. Still, the issue was solved by the ‘pragmatic Premier’ (Bicakcic), who demanded that the schemes be brought into accordance by the end of August, prior to the beginning of the new school year.
1:50
OSCE spokesperson Nicol Schultz denied allegations that the OSCE was involved in financial support of any political parties, coalitions or independent candidates. Schultz explained that the support was purely non-financial.
1:00
Alternative CoM today said that the pre-election campaign began unfortunatelt in BH, with the contesting parties being disrespectful of the refugee return issue. AMV Deputy President Milorad Zivanovic described the pre-election situation in RS by saying that the nationalistic parties were again pressing the thesis that the actual political leadership was pushing RS into a unitary BH. President Sejfudin Tokic sees the future of BH as of September only in an environment of new political concepts.
2:00
There follow reports from the political parties’ press conferences: Sarajevo canton NHI refused the idea of proclamation of Mostar for the capital of BH. NHI said that it was not a faction of HDZ. The party is getting ready to win elections in Sarajevo. BOSS is preparing a protest due to evictions. The party insisted that evictions be stopped and that the occupancy rights be verified for current apartment users. The Party of Economic Prosperity BH wants an international conference on return to be organised. The conference would adopt laws on return and set concrete deadlines.
1:30
350 troops of SFOR special forces arrived to Butmir today. These will be involved in provision of guarantees for public safety, support for the refugee return process and will also help authorities deal with the return in a more constructive way.
1:00