The Brcko Arbitration session began today in Vienna by hearing of the key witness, Brcko supervisor Farrand. Information that High Representative Westendorp sent a letter to the Contact Group members in which he suggests that the final Arbitration decision should be prolonged for another 3 to 5 years shocked the Federation delegation. First reaction of the delegation was only one word – catastrophe. Mayor of the Federal part of Brcko municipality, Jusufovic only said that this would mean dying of these people and this area. At the first day of the hearing, Supervisor Farrand was answering questions of the Federal side, regarding refugee return issues. RTV BiH also made interviews with Brcko refugees in a collective centre. Many of the interviewees said that they only wish to return to their homes. The ICG believes that the Arbitration Tribunal should decide that Brcko should be a district in BiH.
5:00
Funeral of King of Yordan, Hussein was conducted today. Almost all world leaders arrived to the funeral and many of them ceased hostility in order to attend the funeral.
3:00
Negotiations for resolving the Kosovo crisis continued. NATO Secretary General Solana said that the Alliance has to be prepared for allocation of its troops once the agreement is achieved at the negotiations. After the statement from Lord Owen and calculations to resolve the Kosovo problem by giving territorial exceptions on the account of BiH, Alija Izetbegovic’s cabinet made an announcement and said that Lord Owen’s statements are not surprising but are unacceptable. We are not worried about these statements, for we do not believe that responsible people in the world would dissolve one peace agreement in order to make another one about Kosovo.
2:30
Commission for Constitutional Matters of the State Parliament HoR held its first meeting after the DPA was signed. The Commission supported the draft Law on BiH Anthem, as prepared by the OHR. The Commission also decided to recommend the delegates to adopt four laws as presented by OHR – the Law on Citizenship, the Law on Coat of Arms of BiH, the Law on BiH Flag and the Law on Telecommunications.
2:00
RS Premier Dodik held a press conference in Banja Luka, upon his arrival from the USA. Dodik confirmed that he gained financial and political support from the USA. Dodik said that the US Ministry of Finances made decision to unblock 80 million DEM, and that these revenues will be converted to KM in order to strengthen KM presence in the market.
1:30
RTV BiH Independent Trade Union believes that the draft Law on RTV Federation BiH represents a solid basis for further work, and demands prompt adoption of this law. In the letter addressed to High Representative Westendorp, RTV BiH Trade Union supports establishment of Federal Television, but with no national channels. The Trade Union stressed the progress made in this house in the past several months, but also warns about difficult financial situation although the OHR took the obligation to enable financial and other sorts of aid during the restructuring process.
1:30