Pale – US Special Envoy, Gelbard met RS representative, Krajisnik yesterday. After the meeting, Gelbard said that the US delegation believes there was serious threatens to the RS Constitutional Court judges. Krajisnik admitted his knowledge about harassment of only one judge, the one that is against Plavsic’s decisions and that is a member of leading SDS party.
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Banja Luka – Yesterday, Plavsic released of duty the heads of Public Security Center (PSC) in BL, as well as the chief of State Security. Plavsic also named the acting directors for those sectors. The Security Service arrested two newly named chiefs of police and State Security, but released them later on. SDS, the leading party in RS, concluded that Plavsic’s activities were meant to destabilize RS and to eliminate SDS. Opposition parties supported Plavsic in general, as well as the Maj. Lukac who seized the PSC building. IPTF spokesman, Roberts said that IPTF and SFOR entered the PSC building at Sunday, reasoned by an OHR information about human rights violation within the building. SFOR and IPTF found evidences of human rights violation over RS judges, as well as the larger amounts of unregistered weapons and ammo. IPTF also found materials that point out to wiretapping of RS high officers. SFOR spokesman, Wright condemned Lukac’s action because it was not in accordance with annex 1 of the DPA. Wright also refuted the statement from Plavsic’s cabinet, that SFOR units were asked by Krajisnik.
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Mostar – The second phase of joint police forces establishment in the Her/Ner canton has been seriously endangered. Regional OHR chief, Sir Garrod confirmed the existence of problems in this matter, however, according to Garrod, the problems occurred only in three municipalities. Mostar Police HQ deputy, Dziho said that all of Bosniak policemen were returned from Capljina, only because of their nationality, with an explanation that they were not welcome there. Dziho also said that it was not accidental, for, allegedly it has been previously announced by some HDZ party representatives.
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Mostar – Sir Garrod ordered a thorough investigation about the last week’s events in Stolac. Garrod said that yesterday was a meeting of international representatives, considering this matter. Except for Stolac, the incidents occurred in Bugojno as well, where the meeting of the Working Group is scheduled for tomorrow.
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Bugojno – HR deputy, Wagner accompanied with BiH Federation Co-president, Ganic visited Bugojno in order to meet with local authorities. Three issues were discussed at the meeting – the refugee return, the safety conditions for the return, and the matter of joint police establishment in Middle Bosnian Canton. Wagner said that the main problem in Bugojno represents the lack of residential space for the returnees. He also expressed his optimism, regarding the refugee return. Ganic supported Wagner’s efforts, saying that the joint police establishment in Middle Bosnian Canton is of great importance for the BiH as a whole.
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Jajce – The Working Group for the refugee return, chaired by regional OSCE chief, Wright, was analyzing the problem of refugee return to Jajce. Wright said that this process is going on well so far. Wright also said that all activities in joint police establishment are proceeding as scheduled. The local BiH and Croat representatives said that all expellees may be encouraged with the results of today’s meeting.
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Hague – The ICTY has not been informed about the arrest of indicted war criminal, Skopljak. The tribunal announced that Croatian Justice Minister reported about the arrest of Skopljak, but no details were published.
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Sarajevo – The meeting of Political Parties Consultative Council was held today, organized by The Temporary Election Committee. The issues were the financing of political parties for the elections, and the implementation of election results. Election Committee Political Parties director said that the forming of the board, for the election results implementation, is in progress. The board will be consisted of two Federal representatives, and one from the RS.
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Summary SRT TV News
Banja Luka – This evening RS President Biljana Plavsic received in Banski Dvori US Special Envoy Robert Gelbard, HR Carlos Westendorp, SFOR Commander Gen. Eric Shinseki and US Charge d’Affaires in Sarajevo Robert Beecroft. The participants are to discuss the current political crisis in the RS and the meeting is supposed to continue tomorrow morning.1’00”
Banja Luka – A member of German Bundestag, Dietmar Schlee, in charge of the repatriation of refugees from Germany, paid a visit to the RS President. The collocutors discussed modalities for fostering economic relations between Germany and the RS. President Plavsic stated that the RS was interested in the return of DPs and refugees if economic conditions were provided. She has suggested that the precondition for such cooperation would be opening of shortest communications towards the West. Her German guest acknowledged that his country was prepared to render assistance in the process of reconstruction and return of refugees.
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The Office of the RS President presented to the press a decree by which several officials from the Security Centre Banja Luka had been dismissed and their successors appointed.
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Doboj – Speaking at the celebration of Transfiguration in Doboj, Speaker of the RS National Assembly Dragan Kalinic appealed to all deputies to participate in parliamentary debates to resolve all disputes in a democratic manner. Kalinic underlined that discord amongst Serbs could endanger what was achieved in the war and expressed his reservations about regularity of the forthcoming elections. According to him, thousands of Serbs would not be able to vote since they were not registered .
The media carried an extensive report on the celebration of Transfiguration in Prnjavor where Kalinic also delivered a speech.
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Pale – In a letter to Robert Farrand, Supervisor for Brcko, the RS Government reminded of the fact that the RS Interior Ministry was instructed to establish three locations where refugees and DPs can get ID cards. However, we are rather surprised by your statement on the alleged refusal of the RS authorities to issue ID card. The Interior Ministry has promptly opened offices for issuance of IDs, but citizens from the FBiH never show up there, deliberately obstructing the agreement between your office and the RS. The announcement that these citizens could get FBiH document could further complicate the situation in Brcko. The letter also mentioned the problem of 3000 Serbs from Brcko who would not be able to vote
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Banja Luka – RS President Biljana Plavsic met with newly appointed officials of the Security Centre in Banja Luka and asked them to demonstrate professionalism in their work, informed the Office of the RS President.
The media commented on today’s rally in Banja Luka organized by the RS President, by saying that the RS President has been trying to introduce parallel state institutions in the RS and needed public support as a shield for such illegal actions.
Pale – The RS Interior Ministry has warned that .the Ministry would use all available means to protect its employees and that the RS President would have to assume all responsibility.
In an official statement, the RS Interior Ministry protested against President’s decision to dismiss several officials from the State Security in Banja Luka claiming that under the Law only the Interior Minister was authorized to take such actions. Thus, the Ministry informed the public these decisions of the President were considered invalid and that the officials in question would continue with their duties.
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