The World Bank announced stoppage of its loans and new reconstruction programs in BiH, due to the non payment of the expired loan, although it remains interested in investments in this country. World Bank officials Christina Wallich and Rory O’Sullivan confirmed this today in their talks with the BiH high ranking politicians. At a meeting with Alija Izetbegovic they reiterated that the WB is an institution which makes contracts only with states. In order to go ahead with reconstruction in BiH, they see as their prior task the finding of a solution for the RS to their pay 3,8 million dollars debt. So far, the RS officials rejected a WB loan to sort out debt. Only donation or debt cancellation would do, is their answer.
The Bank delegation also met with Kresimir Zubak and talked about strategy and assistance programs in BiH focusing on the private sector.
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The Donors Conference will be held as scheduled, announced Haris Silajdzic, Co-Chair of BiH CoM today, after he had met with Michael Parmley, Deputy American Chief of Mission in BiH and Scott Brown, IMF Chief of Mission in BiH. All options lead to a solution of the situation, Silajdzic added and pointed out that there are some more things to be done at the BiH side, before the Conference.
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The Military Council convened for a second time in Sarajevo today but failed to adopt the Rules of Procedure. The meeting was attended by Presidency Chairman Alija Izetbegovic, and Presidency members Kresimir Zubak and Momcilo Krajisnik, as well as Defence Ministers of the BiH Federation and RS and their deputies. The representatives of the International Community: Ambassador Steiner, Robert Frowick and Simpson, were also present. Ambassador Steiner expressed his hope that the document will be accepted at the next session scheduled for June 18, in Lukavica.
Today an expert team of the Una-Sana Canton exhumed 17 bodies of the Croats found in a mass grave – Stara Rijeka. According to the witnesses, 80 Croats were killed and buried here.
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A Special team working on exhumations near Sarajevo’s cemetery Vlakovo stated that at least other 10 bodies lie in a mass grave where 71 remains of the bodies have been found.
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Analyses of the establishing of six city’s municipalities in Mostar was a main topic of today’s regular meeting between Mostar Mayor Ivan Prskalo and his Deputy, Safet Orucevic. Both expressed their satisfaction that the job was done. Now we have only another two things to finish: The Amendments on the Cantonal Constitution and establishing of the joint police, Orucevic told press. According to the Sarajevo Agreement the joint police powers should start functioning in the Neretva-Hercegovina Canton, today.
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Summary SRT News
Banja Luka – RS President Plavsic met the special representative of the European Bank, Mr. Monery, and discussed the economic development of the RS, especially with regard to privatisation. Plavsic expressed her concerns in view of the fact that the joint Parliament didn’t adopt the QSP laws. She also said that the leaderships of the two entities shouldn’t use the issues such as this for their political games.2:00
Banja Luka – Plavsic also met the British Embassy Secretary for Development [former ODA] and the British Ambassador to Sarajevo, Crawford. They talked about the donors’ conference and implementation of the DPA. They agreed that the DPA must be respected if the RS and Federation want to receive financial aid.
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Pale – RS President in the BiH Presidency, Krajisnik met the new head of WB mission for the RS and Federation. The discussion was about holding of the donors’ conference.
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Sarajevo – Krajisnik and the RS Defence Minister Ninkovic attended the third joint meeting of the Standing Committee for Military Matters. The members of the Committee didn’t reach an agreement on the work of the Committee, but it was agreed that all three sides should submit written complaints for the next meeting. ‘The RS position is that this body can only advise the parties, and not issue any orders to the military forces. This body cannot command. Commanding is out of the question,’ the RS Defence Minister Ninkovic said.
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Sokolac – Apart from the civilian airport which will soon be opened in Banja Luka, the RS Government will finance the construction of a new RS airport in Sokolac. The cornerstone for the Sokolac airport was laid down by the Prime Minister Klickovic today. Serb Orthodox Bishop, Nikolaj blessed the field where the airport will be built and held a holy mass.
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Pale – The RS Prime Minister Klickovic, Assembly Speaker Kalinic, and the Foreign Minister Buha talked with the delegation of the German company Siemens. Siemens has shown great interest to invest in RS. The RS and Siemens will soon sign various contracts for specific business co-operation in the fields of telecommunications, traffic etc.
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Pale – Buha also talked with the Head of the WB, Potter about the current situation in the RS and the Federation. After the meeting Buha said that the economic blockade must be overcome by adoption of the Law on Central Bank. He said that there are issues which must be understood first and then solved with regard to the overall debt that BiH inherited from the former Yugoslavia. Then the debt must be allocated between the Federation and the RS, and the last stage is its servicing. Buha said that the Federation has already spent some money that was supposed to be returned to the WB.
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The WB decided to suspend the promised credit to the RS and the Federation since the two entities didn’t complete the servicing of the $ 8 million debt inherited from the former Yugoslavia.
Brcko – The RS Brcko municipality sent an appeal to all Brcko citizens to respond to the voters’ registration and fulfil their moral and patriotic duty. This way the town of Brcko will be able to pay tribute to the people killed during the liberation war. The staff which will work on registration of voters starting from June 18 will be appointed tomorrow.
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World News:
Italian paper Corriere de la Sera reported that Tudjman should thank Croats from the BiH Federation for winning the Croatian presidential elections that were held on June 15.
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