Sarajevo – Alija Izetbegovic, BiH Presidency President returned late afternoon back from his two day visit to Qatar which resulted in a way forward for the further strengthening of the economic co-operation between the two countries. Also, the initiative for a brotherhood of two capitals was supported on the occasion of this visit. Izetbegovic expressed his condolences to the family of the late General Hajrulahovic.
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Sarajevo – A Draft Law on abolishing the Law of abandoned apartments was on the agendas of both Federal Parliamentary Houses, which held sessions in Sarajevo today. Since both Houses accepted the Law in different versions, the Parliamentary procedure could not be finalised. Talking simply, the Law needs to be reviewed again. The feeling dominated that the deputies think that this job should be finalised, an anchor said. Yet the answer is missing to the question of how big are its chances to enable all refugees to return to their houses if the same Law is not being accepted in RS. Some HoR deputies formulated an initiative to be sent to the HR in order to ask him for a support of such a stance in another entity. Although this might appear strange, such an initiative did not achieve the required majority.
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Followed lengthy information on Kosovo: for the first time in 10 years, demonstrations – were held in Pristina without being violently prevented. Do not beat them, was ordered from Belgrade, a policeman told the news. A Contact Group meeting in London ended with an Action Plan which should mean pressure on Sobodan Milosevic.
2:30
The talks between Federation Mediator Dr. Christian Schwarz Schilling and Federation President Ejup Ganic focused on the returns to Jajce, Travnik, Vares, Bugojno, Capljina, Pocitelj and Stolac. The Central Bosnian Canton was mentioned as positive and Hercegovina-Neretva as a canton with many problems. The talks also tackled Brcko on the eve of the Arbitration. Brcko was also a key topic in the talks between Schilling and Prime Minister Bicakcic. Relating to returns the municipality Vares was accentuated as a positive result achieved lately. Brcko as well as the forthcoming elections were the topic of the talks held between Zlatko Lagumdzija and Schwarz Schilling.
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Sarajevo – A Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of Sarajevo Housing Committee was signed yesterday by Sarajevo Governor Midhat Haracic, Deputy HR for returnees and reconstruction Andy Beapark and UNHCR Assistant Mission for BiH Torbjorsen. The Committee will help the Cantonal authorities in its approach to housing problems, ensuring that the housing is available for returnees and eliminating multiple occupancy, Beapark said in his address. Haracic ensured that the Sarajevo authorities will do their best to work according to the MoU.
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Senior Deputy HR Hanns Schumacher paid a visit to Mostar today. In his talks with the leaders of the Canton he focused on the current problems there. After the two hour meeting with the Mayor and his Deputy Safet Orucevic and Ivan Prskalo, Schumacher did not hide his disappointment that Prskalo had refused to sign an Agreement on returns to this town. Trying to convince Prskalo, he even mentioned that today’s meeting had been set up by political agreement confirmed personally by Zubak. After Mostar, Ambassador Schumacher travelled to Capljina.
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Some of a very large number of the condolence letters on the occasion of the death of general Hajrulahovic, were read
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Tuzla – The Associations of the Srebrenica citizens held a meeting today with the Municipality and Canton Authority Representatives and Amor Masovic, Commission for Missing People President. The Srebrenica victim people expressed their disappointment about the lowered sentence for Drazen Erdemovic. We are deeply insulted that the Hague Tribunal sentenced Erdemovic only a day and a halve for each man he admitted he had killed, they told the news. The Srebrenica people ask that their representatives are included in the commissions for missing persons and that a special resolution on Srebrenica be adopted.
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Follow protocol receptions in Federation. Aisling Byrne, OHR Spokeswoman told a Press Conference today that Ambassador Schumacher had a full support of the HR as well as his Principal Deputy, Ambassador Klein when sending a letter to the CoM 5 March, concerning the Law of the CoM. She also pointed out that the CoM and its administration should have their seat in the pre-war Assembly building. Due to the necessary rebuilding works, OHR suggested that a provisional solution be found for the accommodation of some Ministries.
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