Sarajevo – After the CoM failed to fulfil the deadlines from Sintra regarding the laws of citizenship and passports, as well as the memorandum on airport openings, the Presidency is having similar problems regarding the deadline for establishment of the diplomatic network. In an attempt to overcome the problem a Presidency meeting was organised at the OHR. Serb representative Krajisnik was not present, but was replaced by BiH Deputy Foreign Minister Bozanic. OHR spokesman Bullivant said on this occasion that the HR reported to the Contact Group members on sanctions that will occur if both sides do not fulfil their Sintra obligations. A list of sanctions has been formed by international organisations representatives, but the details are confidential. Besides today’s meeting at the OHR, a Presidency session was also planned, with an agenda to consider the list of measures for those who do not respect the Sintra agreement.
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Sarajevo – The CoM session was supposed to be held today, but as explained by OHR spokesman Bullivant, it was cancelled because of previously scheduled obligations of the CoM members from RS, and family obligations of some members. The CoM co-chairman Silajdzic held a press conference today where he stated his views about the rescheduling of the CoM session. Silajdzic said that the session will be continued on Monday. Talking about problems on the session, Silajdzic said that the main reason for this delay is demand from the RS side to be the ones to approve citizenship documents, which would exclude the central authority from the process. Silajdzic said that such a decision would create a country out of an entity, which is opposite to the DPA.
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Sarajevo – As reported by ONASA, BiH President Izetbegovic announced the preferences of the forthcoming meeting: Izetbegovic/Tudjman. Those preferences are the co-ordination of relationships regarding the Ploce harbour, transfer through Neum, BiH properties in Croatia, and state boundaries. Izetbegovic said that he was afraid of disappointment and that he did not have the feeling that the Croatian side was ready for fair agreements. ONASA also reported on Holbrook statements regarding the BiH. Holbrook said that at the previous elections, all three sides in BiH elected nationalists, so thus the dream about multiethnic BiH and Yugoslavia is dying. In the remainder of the statement, he said that the leaders of all three ethnic groups are nationalists of the worst kind. Holbrook said that Plavsic is in line as regards the DPA implementation, unlike Karadzic, and Krajisnik who support him.
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Sarajevo – The session of the Federation House of Representatives was continued today. The session discussed draft of amendment on Laws of Custom, and system laws for the Federation implementation. This sitting ended without any results, and apparently the next session will be held after summer holidays.
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Tesanj – Federation Prime Minister Bicakcic went to Tesanj yesterday, where he met the local authorities of the Zenica/Doboj canton, with regard to discussing the formation of new municipalities. The meeting was held behind closed doors, and Croatian representatives were not in attendance.
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Mostar – Minister for Legal Rights in the Canton Government Sadovic refuted the claims of the Croatian Municipalities Union that this ministry approved the forming of the Union. Sadovic said that this ministry had never been asked for a legal opinion on this matter, neither was such a matter ever discussed by this Ministry. Sadovic concludes that this was rude and untrue stated either in order to gain short term political positions, or if not that then the Union managed to obtain the illegal co-operation from some Croatian ministers in Mostar Canton in order to achieve that opinion without any legal value.
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Mostar – At the meeting between Croatian displaced persons union, and RS DP’s union the draft of the agreement on refugee return was signed. Bosnian representatives did not attend this meeting. Croatian DP’s union representative said that he hopes international organisations will support this agreement if CoM approves it.
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Summary SRT TV News
Member of the BiH Presidency Krajisnik said for Tanjug news agency the SFOR’s arrests secretly indicted people caused a great condemnation of the RS people and almost became an obstacle to the implementation of the DPA. ‘The people of RS do not regard Radovan Karadzic as a war criminal, but we will not oppose the investigation of ICTY on this case I the RS,’ Krajisnik said Tanjug. Speaking of the situation in the RS, President Krajisnik said that the ‘crisis is serious and its main cause lies with RS President Plavsic.’ President Krajisnik described current relations with SFOR as fair.The RS Government proposed to President Plavsic to postpone the meeting of the Government until the Constitutional Court brings a decision due on August 12 1997. President Plavsic has recently invited the Government to meet in Banja Luka on Aug. 2 1997. Due to the previously arranged meetings of the Government and the celebration of the great Orthodox holiday, Ilindan, the Government cannot meet on that day. It suggested to Plavsic not to have the next meeting between Aug. 7 and 10, when the National Assembly should hold its session.
RS Minister of Internal Affairs, Dragan Kijac invited President Plavsic to attend the staff meeting of the Ministry, to be held on Aug. 6 1997
The Contact Group for BiH threatened with sanctions against those who disrespect the DPA. OHR Spokesman Duncan Bullivant said that all the sides will be punished unless they reach an agreement.
The RS Parliament should meet again on Aug. 8. Preparations for its 11th session are ongoing.
VRS Commander, Gen. Colic attended the celebratory anniversary of the 5th Kozara Brigade in Omarska near Prijedor. He stressed that all that they have fought for was not for nothing because ‘we have RS which is recognised in Dayton and it will be recognised in the whole world.’
According for findings of RS media, German Foreign Minister Kinkel urged SFOR to ‘perform a technical disturbance of the SRT and radio frequencies and programme.’
Sarajevo – Deputy RS Foreign Minister in the BiH CoM, Dragan Bozanic, talked in Sarajevo with the High Representative of the international community Carlos Westendorp on distribution of BiH diplomatic and consular posts. Bozanic, who replaced President in the BiH Presidency from RS, Momcilo Krajisnik, informed Westendorp of Serb proposal for the distribution of BiH ambassadorial posts.
Doboj – Doboj medical centre staff concluded that medical workers cannot allow the proceedings against their colleagues from the RS because they were together with their people in the most difficult moments. They said that medical workers of RS equally treated all people and act in line with internationally recognised medical ethics.