Sarajevo – Session of the Council of Ministers – Athough the session lasted for five hours, the most important items of the agenda were not dicussed. Adoption of the budget and Budget Execution Law was postponed for the extraordinary session on Tuesday because the members of the Council of Ministers received the working materials late. The Law on the Council of Ministers was also postponed for some other session, and most of the time was spent on adoption of conclusions from the last session. Co-chair Bosic said that they did not think that there would be so much work for them to do, and they would have to consult the Presidency to see what are the closely defined competencies of each of the two institutions. He said that the adoption of the decision on usage of public documents would also require further consultations at a higher level because it is a huge political issue.
4:00
Sarajevo – The Protocol from March 27 had foreseen the inauguration session of the Sarajevo City Assembly for today, as well as election of the mayor and his two deputies, and adoption of the City Statute. As Principal Deputy to High Representative, Michael Steiner said, all the documents were ready, including the necessary amendments to the Federation and Canton Constitution, but the session was not held because the text of the amendment with regard to Mostar was not agreed. This linkage of Sarajevo to Mostar arises from the Protocol which says that the necessary Constitutional amendments for both cities need to be adopted in parallel in both Houses of the Parliament.
2:00
Novo Sarajevo – The work of this Municipality Assembly was finally legalised because the 24 disputed mandates were verified late last night, just an hour before the expiry of the deadline set in the Sarajevo Agreement. Ambassador Steiner also attended the session, and said that he hoped that the establishment of the City Assembly would follow soon, since all the documents, except the Mostar one, are ready.
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Travnik, Central Bosnian Canton – Members of the joint police forces had a muster today in new uniforms with the new police insignia.
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Sarajevo – SFOR Press Conference – OHR Spokesman Murphy announced today that the donors conference should be held by the end of next month. However, this is not the final date, because one cannot say with certainty whether the necessary state-level laws will be adopted by that time. Murphy said that holding of a mini conference which would provide mini resources is possible in the meantime. Ivanko announced that the only Bosniak family that returned to Banja Luka was forced to flee their home again yesterday because of 150 Serbs who stoned their house, enraged by the visit of Bosniak refugees from abroad. The crowd was also hostile towards the RS Police that did everything to protect the family from the assault.
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Federation Minister of Interior Zilic called on the citizens of Sarajevo and Federation to show their traditional hospitality during the Pope’s visit, and do everything in order to provide full security for the Pope, the pilgrims, and other guests.
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For the fifth anniversary of the Bosnian Army, which has “a millennium old defence tradition”, a grand military parade will be organised at the Kosevo stadium on April 15, in which over 2500 soldiers from all the brigades, including the elite units, will take part. Alija Izetbegovic will conduct the ceremony.