5 September 97, 19:30
Session of the Herzegovina Neretva Cantonal Parliament – The session was abandoned by Bosniak MP’s after HDZ MP’s refused to accept Mostar amendments to the Cantonal Constitution which had been adopted at the meeting in Sarajevo. The Parliament speaker, Bender continued the session which was concluded with a unanimous adoption of the amendments which had been previously suggested by HDZ. HDZ representative Puljic said that HDZ should not be condemned or punished because they were only protecting the Constitution and the DPA. The US and Europe will praise us for making this decision. OHR representative, Garrod, however, condemned HDZ’s decision, adding that they would be punished because of that, but he did not go into detail. He only said that the OHR Sarajevo has already received Garrod’s opinion in that regard and shall make a decision on it.
3:00
Oslo – The International Conference for Complete Removal of Mines – Co-chair Silajdzic, who represents BiH in Oslo asked for financial aid from the IC for the removal of 3 to 5 million mines in BiH.
Brussels – US Special Envoy Gelbard said that that the IC should take a more firm position towards FRY in order to enable the local elections to be held. OSCE supports the sides in BiH which comply with the DPA, whereas those who don’t will be sanctioned. He also mentioned that war criminals should face the Hague Tribunal.
Hadzici – The Federation Army renewed its contract with MPRI on the training of Federation soldiers. The US Envoy, Pardew paid a visit to a company which has started the production of helmets for the Federation Army designed according to NATO standards. The company plans to produce 50,000 helmets within 12 months, and in order to prove the quality of their work, they gave the first helmet produced as a present to Pardew. Pardew also visited a training sight in Butile.
3:00
BH Press reported that after the meeting with OHR today, RS members of the Commission for the BiH flag and the coat-of-arms finally decided not to cause further obstructions and take the six propositions which had entered the last round into consideration. The most acceptable solution for the flag for Bosniak and Croat representatives is the light blue background with geographic borders of BiH instead of the coat-of-arms.
2:00
Sarajevo – the Parliament Speaker Ljubic met a delegation of the Croatian Parliament and discussed the already established good relations between BiH and Croatia, and the possibility of better co-operation between these two Parliaments. The Croatian Parliament also met HR Principal Deputy Klein and the Head of the Franciscan Province, Andjelic.
Sarajevo – UNHCR organised a mini donors’ conference for the return of refugees to the Central Bosnian Canton. They promised to provide additional financial resources for the next year if municipalities of this Canton co-operate. Representatives of all the embassies in BiH, HR Senior Deputy Wagner, the President and the Vice-president of the Federation, Minister of Refugees Kadic, and others also attended the conference. Kadic said that this was the largest meeting on return of refugees in this Canton, adding that the Government provided $ 1 million for the reconstruction of homes.
2:00
Cazin – Marie Stopes International organised a discussion called The Steps of Hope on the processes of repatriation and the Open Cities Project that had been agreed in Sintra. They said that 80,000 people returned to BiH in 1996, whereas 10,000 less returned this year. Central Bosnian Canton is the region where the majority of refugees returned, and only 8,000 refugees returned to the RS. This process is very difficult to carry out because of a number of obstacles (isolation of the RS, economic situation, destroyed homes etc.), and there are still another 400,000 people yet to return.
2:00
The Catholic Archdiocese sent a protest to BiH TV condemning them for bringing Paraga, the President of HSP (Croatian Party of Law), to be their guest, although they know very well that this person wants to stain the HDZ reputation just before the elections. Therefore, the Archdiocese thinks that this act was a pure anti-election campaign targeted against HDZ, and a shameful act for a TV which calls itself the Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They said that Croatian people in BiH can only be pleased that HRT signal is strong enough to reach their homes.
2:00