Sarajevo – The BiH CoM held a session today to discuss preparations for a Donors Conference. After the session, the press were told that the terms of the conference had been postponed for 12 July. Co-chair Haris Silajdzic commented by saying that the BiH CoM did its best to prepare for the conference. However, he added that the main reason for the postponement was obstruction of the Pale leadership regarding the Quick Start Package and customs tariff laws in particular.
Members of the CoM reviewed other issues such as financial arrangements with the IMF, appointed a delegation to take part in the work of the London Club and discussed details related to the upcoming meeting of the Euro Control in Brussels.
The report maintained that although the RS outstanding debt had not been discussed at the session, according to available information the problem had been resolved by an agreement between the WB and the RS.
The CoM is supposed to hold a another session tomorrow to further discuss the Donors Conference, arrival of NATO Secretary General Javier Solana and opening of airports throughout BiH.
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Sarajevo – Before his final departure from the Sarajevo airport, Carl Bildt told the press that he was satisfied with his accomplishments and wished BiH citizens a good and prosperous future.
Bildt’s successor, Carlos Westendorp, told the press that the issue of two HR deputies should be resolved soon. The principle deputy most likely will be an American, and the second one the German diplomat, Dr. Gert Wagner, he said.
Westendorp once again reiterated that the issue of war criminals and their extradition to the Hague was the top priority besides other relevant issues as return of refugees, FOM and human rights.
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Glamoc – SFOR troops held a demonstration drill called Joint Decision in which US, British and Norwegian contingents demonstrated their readiness to react to any violation of the DPA or in case of the eruption of war.
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Sarajevo – Co-chair of the BiH CoM Haris Silajdzic held talks with SFOR Commander Gen. Crouch related to an earlier meeting between Silajdzic and the NATO Secretary General. Gen. Crouch had insisted on the signing of a memorandum on opening of the airports in Banja Luka, Mostar and Tuzla.
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Sarajevo – At a press conference of the SDA, Dr. Halid Genjac, President of the Main Board protested against registration of new residents in some municipalities such as Visegrad, Prijedor, Capljina, etc. Genjac expressed his fear that municipal elections would only confirm the situation on the ground and would not contribute to a multi-ethnic Bosnia.
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Summary SRT News
Banja Luka – RS President Plavsic talked with the Bulgarian Ambassador to Sarajevo, Markov about the current economic and political issues and implementation of the DPA, as well as the possible economic co-operation between the RS and Bulgaria. RS Vice-president Mirjanic discussed with Mr. Markov the co-operation of the RS and Bulgarian universities. Plavsic also met the French Embassy Chargé D’Affaires and discussed the current situation.2:00
Pale – RS President in the BiH Presidency, Krajisnik met the Russian Foreign Ministry Special Representative, Raksanak. The discussion was about the donors’ conference and the disputable Tariff Law from the QSP. After the meeting Krajisnik said that he met Steiner and Raksanak today in order to solve this problem. They have almost reached an agreement on the Tariffs, which was yet another RS compromise for the holding of the donors’ conference.
2:00
Banja Luka – Biljana Plavsic opened the conference on Functioning of the Legal System of the RS. More than 50 legal experts from the RS and FRY attended the conference. Plavsic said that the RS legal system must prove that this Serb country is democratic, a country where the people are not subjects over whom power of leaders is exercised but legal entities free to make decisions on their own.
5:00
Sarajevo – The donors’ conference was once more postponed for mid-July, the CoM members announced after their session today. The CoM could not tell which side is guilty for the postponement this time, saying only that the CoM met all the conditions for holding of the donors’ conference. Among other issues, the CoM discussed the IMF agreement and the preparations for the donors’ conference. A consultative session of the CoM will be held tomorrow in Sarajevo, where the QSP laws will be reviewed in detail for the purpose of creating better conditions for the donors’ conference.
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Today the Head of the RS Office for Privatisation, Milojevic announced that 150 centres for privatisation were opened throughout the RS, in which the RS citizens will apply for free allocation of state capital. He also said that the citizens who lived continuously in RS for at least 18 months before the Law on Privatisation entered into force will be able to take part in this process.
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Mrkonjic Grad – The RS Army HQ Commander, General Pero Colic visited this town and the area that was handed back to the RS after the DPA. He underlined that the defence of the country is the primary task of the RS Army and RS citizens. Colic met the commanders of the RS army brigades located in that area, as well as the local leadership.
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Sarajevo – Carlos Westendorp has officially taken over the duties of the HR, and time will tell whether he will be more successful than his predecessor. Prior to the hand-over of duties, Bildt and Westendorp held a press conference, in which Westendorp was realistic and cautious, underlining that the situation is difficult and that every further step must be carefully prepared in advance. He said that preservation of peace, economic reconstruction, holding of the local elections and freedom of movement and press are the main tasks that lie ahead. The new HR stressed that neither the OHR nor SFOR have the mandate to arrest war criminals. He said that a lot of things have been achieved regardless of the issues above. ‘If Westendorp doesn’t do more with regard to the real situation on the ground, there will not be any difference between him and Bildt except for the letters O and S of their first name,’ SRT journalist said.
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The RS Elections Commission President, Cancar said that the voters’ registration is getting along as expected. More than 80% of people have been registered. He said that the PEC made the right decision to extend the voters’ registration period.
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