Sarajevo – BiH President, Izetbegovic met HR Bildt, to discuss the DPA implementation and the CoM work. They agreed on imposing sanctions against those who resist the DPA implementation.
UN Secretary General, Annan asked for another 186 foreign policemen and 120 as backup, to be sent to Brcko.
Sarajevo – the CoM session – Ministers discussed 13 items, five of which were the QSP laws. After the session, Co-chair Silajdzic said that they agreed on the Foreign Debt Law, whereas the other four laws need to be discussed further. Although adoption of the Budget Law is a condition for holding the donors conference, Ministers didn’t even discuss it today. Silajdzic also pointed out that they discussed the adoption of laws which can be achieved either within 24 hours or 2 months. This is a very important thing for BiH. ‘And one cannot expect from the CoM to do, in 10 or 15 weeks, something about which we have been arguing for years.’
3:00
Sarajevo – Member of BH Presidency, Zubak and BiH Foreign Minister, Prlic talked with Chairman-In-Office of OSCE, Petersen with regard to the BiH local elections and Co-chair Silajdzic’s remarks on the OSCE work in BiH. Petersen said that the OSCE will do their best to organise the elections as best as possible, and he emphasised that he has full confidence in Frowick. He also said that Silajdzic’s criticism is unfair.
2:00
Protocol News:
Sarajevo – CoM Co-chair, Silajdzic and Minister Muratovic met separately with a Turkish delegation to discuss the opening of the first foreign bank in BiH [Turkish], and future economic relations between these two countries. Member of BiH Presidency, Zubak and Foreign Minister, Prlic met separately with a delegation of the country members of NATO, to discuss the current BiH situation and implementation of joint institutions. Minister Muratovic met former Sarajevo Mayor Dzemo Muminagic to discuss the work of the Sarajevo Mayor. Federation Prime Minister, Bicakcic met the head of IMF, Scott Brown, to discuss the donors conference and further reconstruction of BiH.
3:00
Society of Bosniaks from Tomislavgrad Municipality and local SDA board complained for being harassed by local Croat authorities. In their letter sent to TV BiH, they said that the situation reached a climax after the incident which occurred on March 17 [destruction of a mosque]. Croat authorities are carrying out ethnic cleansing by expelling Bosniaks from their apartments, firing them from their work, forcing Bosniak children to learn a foreign language [Croatian] etc. They also said that they had already complained to all relevant international organisations, but there was no reply.
2:00
Tuzla – about 4000 refugees from Tuzla will have to leave their temporary homes [collective camps], because the companies which provided them with the accommodation will not renew their contracts.
2:00
Summary SRT News
President of RS, Biljana Plavsic, met in Banja Luka with Scott Brown, head of IMF. Certain aspects of economic policy were discussed, in particular the Central Bank through which the International community will allocate funds for the reconstrucion of this area. “This nation is expecting the next year to be better than this one. I wanted to give Mr. Brown our support. If there are any obstacles from our side I’m ready to eliminate them,” said Plavsic. Brown added that the RS budget and upcoming Donor Conference were discussed as well.3 min
President from RS in the BIH Presidency, Momcilo Krajisnik, held talks for the first time with charge d’affairs of the Greek Embassy, Rusos Kundoros. The talks focused on the economic situation in RS and functioning of the Joint Institutions.
1 min
The law on ratification of the Agreement on Special Relations between the RS and FRY was signed today in Pale by the Speaker of the RS Assembly, Dragan Kalinic. This law will now be conveyed to the RS President, who is due to announce it. The FRY Assembly is to meet tomorrow and to ratify the Agreement. After that, conditions for implementing 19 provision from the Agreement will be met. Kalinic signed all the laws adopted at the last session of the RS Assembly.
3 min
Dragan Kalinic also hosted a visit of Kai Eide, UN Secretary General Special Envoy. One of the main items on the agenda was the role of the UN in solving crises in areas of former Yugoslavia. Special attention was devoted to the role of the IPTF and its co-operation with the RS Police. Ambassador Eide and Speaker of the RS Assembly Kalinic agreed that the RS should intensify work on implementation of the DPA as the date for the Donor Conference is approaching.
1,5 min
The RS Government is in session in Pale. On the agenda is also the Draft Law on Budget and its implementation for this year.
The RS delegation, headed by Premier Gojko Klickovic, visited the Herzegovina municipalities, Berkovici and Bileca.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aleksa Buha, stated today in Trebinje that “everything that leads towards preservation of the Serb people, be that on a national-historical or information basis, should be welcomed”. ( Special Relations between RS and FRY)
In Sarajevo, CoM discussed possibilities for adopting necessary laws with regard to the Donor Conference in Brussels. Ministers agreed upon refined text on the Law on Foreign Debt. Item 2 of the Law on Foreign Trade and Item 19 of the Law on Customs remained disputed. Ministers expressed optimism for solving problems quickly in order to have both entities participating at the Donor Conference.
2 min