FRY President Milosevic proposed signing of the joint statement on Establishing Diplomatic Relations to BiH President Izetbegovic. This means that Milosevic, probably under pressure of the International Community, abandoned the demand for withdrawal of the sue in the Hague against Serbia and Montenegro. Izetbegovic’s cabinet announced that Milorad Dodik conveyed the proposal of the joint statement on unconditioned Establishing the diplomatic relations and development of different forms of cooperation between the two countries. Contacts in regard with the most recent initiative are in progress and the public will be informed about development of the events. The definite decision will be passed by relevant joint institutions of BiH.
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BiH President Izetbegovic visited Tuzla/Podrinje Canton today. Izetbegovic visited Lukavac municipality, where he reopened the Sodium factory, and met with political and economy representatives of the canton. BiH President Izetbegovic also met with SDA representatives of the canton.
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RS President Plavsic was arrested on her way to London at the Vienna airport and held for interrogation for one hour. A journalist, who accompanied Plavsic stated for “Reuters” that Plavsic was interrogated about international warrant, allegedly issued for her in 1992. The journalist said that Austrian Internal Affairs Ministry ordered Plavsic’s release after her chief of cabinet asked for intervention by the High Representative in BiH.
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“Reuters” agency reported statements of certain foreign diplomats, who said that Serbian Army and Police are divided in their standpoints regarding the Kosovo crisis. “Beta” agency reported that Albanian Ministry of Public Order announced that Special Forces were sent from Tirana to the FRY border in order to control the weapon trade.
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SDA for BiH announced that the most recent Milosevic’s proposal for establishing diplomatic relations is still to be considered and that it should be commenced if it is fully unconditioned. SDP BiH also approved Milosevic’s initiative, and as said by Bogicevic, this proposal may mean stabilisation of the BiH as a state and its recognition by FRY.
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The fourth Donors’ Conference on Reconstruction and Development of BiH will commence tomorrow in Brussels. The main objective of the conference is to mobilise the funds of financial aid for consolidation of peace and economic recovery of BiH as well as finding the shortest way for refugee return. Official call for the conference stresses that the forthcoming donors’ meeting represents necessary support for democratic changes in BiH, recent agreements on macro-economic development of the country and improvement of public finances. The conference was organised by the World Bank and the European Union, aiming to collect $1.1 billion of aid for this year.
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Meeting of four successor countries of former Yugoslavia was held in Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Representatives of BiH, Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia were present, and it was concluded that FRY should apply for entry to the OSCE and other international organisations. It was also said that FRY membership in OSCE and other international organisation would be in interest of strengthening the trust and safety in the region. The readiness to support the FRY entry to OSCE was also expressed.
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