Sarajevo – The Federation HoR continued its 5th session, discussing for the third time the central and the only issue of establishment of new municipalities. The session was stopped without any agreement reached again. Most of the problems occurred when the MP’s started to discuss the Usora municipality. Prime Minister Bicakcic appealed to the MP’s to be tolerant and reasonable and work towards finding a final solution. Apart from the usual clashes between HDZ and SDA, the general impression was that the Usora issue doesn’t require a solution since it is not divided by the IEBL and that doesn’t create problems with regard to the elections. Late this evening, MP’s adopted the Law on Municipalities by vote, but the HDZ representatives abandoned the session, dissatisfied with the results of the voting.
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Washington – The CoM Co-chairs Silajdzic and Bosic met the US Secretary of State Albright and her deputy today. Albright didn’t stay at the meeting too long because of another meeting she had with the Russian Defence Minister. Bosic said that the economic development of the country and keeping the peace are the two main issues the CoM must work on in the future. The US wants to help BiH and treat equally all three sides in the country. ‘We place our hope and trust in the US,’ Bosic said.
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Brussels – This Thursday and Friday, the members of the Contact Group will discuss the standstill of the implementation of the DPA. The meeting will be held upon the initiative of HR Bildt, who will, prior to the Contact Group meeting, discuss the current situation in BiH at the session of the Political Committee of the EU. One of the items on the agenda of the Contact Group meeting will be the successor to HR Bildt.
Brka – Headed by Ganic, the representatives of the Federation met Brcko Supervisor Farrand and discussed the election rules for Brcko, as well as the registration of voters there and the return of refugees. ‘To register is not to vote. It’s merely to secure the right to vote,’ Farrand said. However, Federation Vice-president Ganic was looking for a solution towards creation of a multi-ethnic administration, but he didn’t get an appropriate answer. Local commissions for return of refugees of both entities will continue to meet from time to time in order to speed up the process of return.
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Pale – At press conference today, OHR Spokesman Murphy talked about Frowick’s unbending position with regard to the Brcko elections. According to Murphy, Frowick’s words were engraved in stone, and Arbiter Owen sent a message to all sides that measures will be undertaken against those who try to undermine the Brcko elections. SDP party doesn’t accept the Brcko election rules. It will take part in the upcoming elections only if guarantees are given for the establishment of multi-ethnicity and creation of a multi-ethnic society in Brcko. SDP doesn’t accept Frowick’s decision that 25,000 people will not have the right to vote because the Federal partners failed to adopt the Law on Municipalities.
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Sarajevo – At the US Embassy, Federation and RS Governments had their third meeting, which was hosted by the US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Parmley. The two governments agreed on establishment of trade ties between the Entities, which should be verified next Wednesday along with a concrete agreement on railroad traffic between the entities.
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Sarajevo – US Special Envoy for Economic reconstruction, Claude Ganz, said that the BiH railroad link with Croatia and Europe, Sarajevo via Brcko to Budapest, should be in function as of September. The US invested more than $ 5 million in reconstruction of railways. Ganz also said that BiH and Croatia should open their borders to normal trade and tourism, and BiH politicians should enable normal railroad traffic throughout BiH.
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Summary SRT News
Sipovo – RS President in the BiH Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik and Speaker of the RS National Assembly Dragan Kijac paid a visit to this town yesterday to discuss modalities for economic recovery of the area.2’00”
Sarajevo – PMs of the RS and FBiH, Gojko Klickovic and Edhem Bicakcic and their associates harmonized a text of the protocol on commercial trade, which is supposed to be signed by the relevant ministries on Wednesday. After a brief meeting held at the US Embassy in Sarajevo, Klickovic said that the agreement is in the function of resolving practical problems, and that it will not prejudge solutions proposed by the DPA. He added that FOM was also discussed, and some practical solutions proposed.
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Pale – The latest contingent of weaponry delivered to the FBiH within the program Train and Equip, represents a grave violation of the DPA and does not contribute to the stabilization in the area, was the joint conclusion reached at a meeting between RS Foreign Minister Aleksa Buha, Deputy Defense Minister, Dragan Kapetina, VRS Main HQ officials with OSCE Ambassador Martin Krasnyev. After the meeting, Minister Kapetina specified that the weaponry in question was of so-called offensive category with 35 km in range.
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Washington – Co-chairs of the CoM Boro Bosic and Haris Silajdzic met with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. After the meeting, it became evident that revision of US policy in BiH is under way, commented the media. Albright underlined that the US would exert efforts to help in economic and social developments in BiH. Co-Chair Bosic reminded Ms. Albright of the very serious economic and social problems in the RS and FBiH and urged that the Donors Conference be held.
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Sarajevo – The decision on holding elections in Brcko is firm and statements by FBiH officials and threats of boycott are only causing unrest, which we condemn, stated Colum Murphy, OHR Spokesman. He further warned that Brcko Arbitrator Robert Owen had clearly said that the side obstructing the process would have to answer for that.
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World news – Muslim authorities in the municipality Tesanj demolished telephone poles so that the Croatian area Usora is left without telephone communication with the HB, Croatian media reported. Telephone blockade of Croatian villages came as a reply by the Muslim authorities, claimed the same source, to the Croatian request to form a new municipality Usora.
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