Ismir – In the course of his visit to Turkey, President of the BiH Presidency Alija Izetbegovic spent a day in Ismir where he met with the city officials. The city administration of Ismir is supposed to invest US $ 1 million for the reconstruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar. The report concentrated on the events which preceded Izetbegovic’s visit to Izmir. On Sunday night President Izetbegovic met with top Turkish officials such as PM Erbakan and Minister Tansu Chiller at the Presidential Palace in Ankara. During the talks, PM Erbakan pledged that Turkey would prepare well for a Donors Conference for BiH. The central event occurred later when the Turkish President Suleyman Demirel awarded President Izetbegovic a medal of the highest order. In his address, President Demirel spoke about brotherly, family and historic ties between the two states and described the struggle of the Bosniak people as heroic and honourable and President Izetbegovic as a great leader.
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Sarajevo – A session of the BiH CoM scheduled for today was adjourned because RS ministers had failed to appear. Commenting on the situation, Co-chair Haris Silajdzic reminded of the Sintra declaration which anticipates that each individual case of violation or other failures in regard to the DPA should be reported and appropriate measures taken. Deputy Co-chairman Neven Tomic expressed hope that impasse would be overcome. HR Principle Deputy Michael Steiner qualified the absence of RS ministers as a facile approach to the work of the BiH central institution. Ambassador Steiner was reported to have reiterated that the date set for the Donors Conference would not be changed. He added that only the RS did not meet requirements but that the Donors Conference would be held since the FBiH could not be kept as a hostage. However, funds would be allotted only to those willing to cooperate, he underlined.
Co-Chair Haris Silajdzic announced that the next session of the CoM would be held on Thursday.
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Sarajevo – At a press conference today, OHR Spokesman Colum Murphy has confirmed that the Donors Conference for BiH will not be further postponed on the account of the RS. Speaking in strong words, Murphy stated that the RS will not prevent modernization of BiH with its primitive, pre-historic methods of obstruction. Another OHR Spokesman, Duncan Bullivant was quoted as saying that RS leaders could lose their share of funds designated for the reconstruction should they continue with the practice of refusing to endorse key economic laws.
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Salonika – A two-day meeting of foreign ministers of seven East European countries has concluded today with the adoption of a declaration. The declaration points clearly to the importance of full implementation of the Dayton Accords and the Sintra declaration for stability in the region.
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Sarajevo – The Office of the Speaker of the FBiH House of Representatives announced that the fifth session of this parliamentary body would be continued tomorrow in Sarajevo. According to the designated agenda, deputies are supposed to review drafts on the budget, purchase of socially-owned flats, privatization and restitution.
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Sarajevo – Chaired by FBiH PM Edhem Bicakcic, the Steering Committee of the FBiH Government held a meeting today to prepare a platform for the Donors Conference in Brussels.
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Summary SRT News
Drakulici village near Banja Luka – The RS President Plavsic visited the monument which was raised in the memory of 2,300 victims killed in one day by the Ustashas on February 7, 1942. Fra Vjekoslav Filipovic, the Catholic priest from the neighbouring Croat village who later changed his name and continued with the massacres of Serbs in Jasenovac, was the leader of Ustashas. Plavsic said that there was enough of evil to forgive, but never to forget. The Serb Orthodox Church started building a temple and a church in the memory of all victims of the genocide.4:00
Nevesinje – Headed by Prime Minister Klickovic, the RS Government visited this RS borderline municipality and talked with the local leadership about the return and resettlement of refugees, start of economy and industry, and reconstruction. They also talked about the establishment of the telecommunications system between Nevesinje and other parts of the RS, which will have to wait for the Donors’ conference and financial support.
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Banja Luka – The RS Vice-president and the Dean of the Banja Luka University, Dragoljub Mirjanic met the Director of the Swiss International University Centre from Lugano and discussed the concrete help which the universities from the West can provide for the Banja Luka University. They also discussed the student exchange programmes and various scientific projects which were presented by the Banja Luka University today.
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Flash News:
German media, traditionally the champions of anti-Serb propaganda, are becoming objective, so it seems, because the conservative papers Die Welt reported that the US is trying to create an image of BiH as a united country even though the DPA clearly says that BiH is divided into two equal entities – the RS and the BiH Federation. There is also no trust nor co-operation between the two entities. The general situation is best reflected in Sarajevo, which has become a pure Islamic city. Islam is advancing, and it threatens to spread all over the Federation. The Croats in BiH are more afraid of Islam than of Serbs.
HR Deputy Steiner said for Radio Info that holding of the Donors’ Conference will not depend on the RS. There is no sense in postponing the conference because of the Serbs since they received only 2% of the overall financial resources that came into BiH last year. However, he also said without a second thought that the RS is mainly responsible for non-implementation of the DPA.
The President of the Hague Tribunal, Arbour complained about the proceedings against Tadic, saying that he is innocent. She also complained about seven out of nine charges which were pressed against him. The Dutch media criticised Tudjman’s hypocrisy with regard to the promises that Serb refugees will be allowed to return to Croatia, adding that his visit to Vukovar was imbued with nationalism.
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Sarajevo – The RS delegation, headed by the CoM Minister Albijanic, was invited by the Portuguese Ambassador to visit the Embassy on the Portuguese national holiday. After the celebrations, Albijanic met the Swedish Minister, and discussed the return of refugees, implementation of the DPA, establishment of joint institution etc.
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Pale – RS Commissioner for refugees, Kekic met the delegation of the Swedish Committee for Refugees and discussed the return of refugees from Sweden to the RS. Kekic said that they agreed not to force the return and not start until the West provides the basic living conditions for the returnees.
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