The Contact Group for former Yugoslavia held another meeting prior to the Steering Board session scheduled for May 30. Ministers of the EU will meet in Luxembourg on June 2, which will be the last meeting of Mr. Bildt as the High Representative. The Contact Group confirmed its determination to implement the DPA and expressed its concern in view of the fact that the BH authorities do not respect their obligations and do not co-operate with regard to the establishment of common institutions and dissolution of old ones, as well as with regard to freedom of movement, freedom of expression and freedom of press, respect of human rights, right of all refugees and displaced persons to return, co-operation with the Hague Tribunal, adoption and implementation of the QSP laws, and development of democratic police forces. The Contact Group and the international community expect from all three sides to show their seriousness with regard to implementation of the DPA. Klaus Kinkel also agreed with the position of the international community towards BH. He said that the financial aid planned for reconstruction of BH will depend on implementation of the DPA.
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Sarajevo – After his visit to the US, CoM Co-chair Silajdzic said that BH is one of the three main issues that the US is interested in, and it firmly decided to implement the DPA. ‘We are satisfied that the US sees BH as one state with two multi-ethnic entities. Their determination was reconfirmed and they have new plans which will probably be announced in Albright’s speech devoted to BH.’
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UN Security Council decided to send additional 120 international policemen to BH. The Council is concerned with regard to the west Mostar authorities’ behaviour after the February incident and has asked the BH and Croatian ambassadors to UN to discuss the urgent measures necessary to meet the UN Security Council demands and improve the situation in Mostar in that respect.
The announced protocol meeting between Izetbegovic and Tudjman – Izetbegovic’s adviser Hajric said that the meeting is postponed since the Croat side in BH has not enabled the work of the joint Federation police in the Neretva Canton. Hajric thinks that Croatia and Zagreb have a great influence on some of the BH Croat politicians in the part of the Federation with Croat majority.
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Sarajevo – Federal Vice-president Ganic talked with the delegation of Bosniaks from Stolac about the modalities of the pilot project of Bosniaks’ return to this town since all of the attempts to implement it have failed so far.
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Sarajevo – Foreign Trade Minister Muratovic talked with the US Special Envoy for Economic Reconstruction of BH, Claude Ganz, about the standstill of economic development and damages caused by the postponement of the Donors’ Conference.
Sarajevo – three reconstruction companies, two from the Federation and one from Croatia, signed a $ 6 million contract for reconstruction of the bridge over the Sava river, which will link Zupanja and Orasje. The works will last for 15 months, starting from June this year.
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Sarajevo – MBO, HSS, UBSD, SDP, and the Republican Party will run as Coalition ’97 for the next elections in BH.
Summary SRT News
Pale – At its session today, the Main Board of the SDS completed lists for the municipal elections. The SDS will run in the elections in all RS municipalities. We are ready and resolute to contribute to a free and democratic RS at the forthcoming elections, read a statement issued after the session.1’50”
Pale – RS Minister for Civil Affairs and Communications Spasoje Albijanic and Minister for Traffic Nedeljko Lajic held talks with WB Executive Director for Europe Peter Stack. The talks focused on the realization of financial aid allotted to the RS and FBiH by the WB and on details related to the Donors Conference. WB officials are due to visit the RS and ascertain progress in projects sponsored by the WB thus far. Minister Lajic explained that an agreement was reached on programs for financing of road communications.
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Pale – RS Minister for Refugees Ljubisa Vladusic received Stefan Solaz, a member of the International Crisis Group. The collocutors discussed problems of refugees and DPs in the RS. Minister Vladusic pointed out to his guest that the refugee problem could not be resolved without international financial aid necessary for reconstruction of demolished housing units and onset of industry.
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Washington – Co-Chair in the CoM Boro Bosic made a statement to the effect that he was pleased with contacts established during his stay in the US and encouraged by the US Administration’s endeavor to support the peace process and resolution of problems by political means. According to Bosic, his American collocutors agreed that financial aid to BiH should be distributed on equitable basis to both entities. He added that US officials pledged to exert pressure on other countries to hold a Donors Conference on BiH at earliest convenience.
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US troops – US Army troops in the RS, FBiH and Croatia will remain there until 2003, informed the media quoting foreign press. Starting from April 1, all companies interested to do business in this region can apply to the US Air Forces in Europe, Hungary, BiH and Croatia, claimed the report .
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Doboj – SFOR officials confirmed that Serb civilians in the settlement Krtovo, now under FBiH control, had been harassed. Namely, under UNHCR auspices, a group of Serb settlers from the village had returned homes last year. But last weakened, Muslim extremists set ablaze their houses.
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