Sarajevo– A delegation of the International Organization for Civilian Air-Transport informed President of the BiH Presidency Alija Izetbegovic that starting from 24 April overflights at a height above 10.000 m within the BiH air space will commence. Future steps for full participation of BiH in the international air traffic were discussed. Co-Chair of the CoM Haris Silajdzic also met with the same delegation to discuss development of Bosnian air-transportation and control of the air space in BiH. Silajdzic stressed that the control of the air space in BiH had to facilitate reintegration of the country and added that “our goal is the BiH state as a technically competent partner to the International Organization for Civilian Air-Transport”.
2’00”
Sarajevo – At today’s press conference in Sarajevo, the OHR Spokesman stated that the OHR “shares fully President Izetbegovic’s concerns about the implementation of the DPA”. He further underlined that OHR officials once again point out the importance of constituting joint institutions and appealed to both entities to exert efforts in that respect”.
1’00
Pale – At yesterday’s session of the SDS Presidency, member of the BiH Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik and Co-chair of the CoM Boro Bosic informed the participants on the process of the implementation of the DPA, with special reference to the joint institutions. A statement issued after the session, states that the SDS Presidency is content with the achieved solution on the Central Bank, informs Beta agency. “This solution protects the interests and the RS economy”, asserted the statement.
1’00”
UN Spokesman Alex Ivanko announced that a RS high ranking official informed IPTF by phone that the Serb authorities would stop all contacts with the international police. Ivanko refused to reveal the name of caller and added that this message was not viewed as an official stand of the Serb authorities. The UN Spokesman confirmed that the threatening message was related to an event of two nights ago when two Serb civilians were killed in a car collision between an OHR vehicle and a car with RS registration plates. In addition, Ivanko informed that a new policy for more efficient traffic control was being specified.
4’00
Tudjman -Izetbegovic meeting – Preparations for the upcoming meeting Tudjman-Izetbegovic are well under way. The two presidents and their associates are supposed to review a large number of issues – economic cooperation between the two countries, private property of citizens and the implementation of the WA and the DPA.
1’00”
Mostar– After an almost three-month standstill, the Herzegovina -Neretva cantonal assembly held a session today. Amendments to the Cantonal Constitution and the budget-draft were on the agenda. It was agreed that relevant ministries should prepare documentation so that within 21 days all drafts would be ready for adoption.
Zenica– HDZ deputies walked out in protest from a session of the Zenica-Doboj Cantonal Assembly. A dispute arouse over the agenda and in particular about the appointment of the Cantonal Minister of Justice.
1’00
Zvornik– The Judiciary Council refused to allow FBiH defence lawyers to take an active part in the trail against the seven Muslims from Srebrenica. The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights appealed to the international community to exert influence on the RS authorities to allow FBiH lawyers to defend the accused.
3’00”
Summary SRT News
RS Peoples Assembly Speaker, Dragan Kalinic, convened the seventh session of the Assembly for tomorrow. The Assembly should discuss the RS economic policy for 1997, along with seven draft laws, among them the Draft Law on the Loan for Reconstruction of Republika Srpska.4:00
Conference of the Peace Implementation Council Working Group on Humanitarian Issues – The Conference will be held in Geneva tomorrow, and its aim will be to try once more to find a permanent solution for all refugees and displaced persons from the territory of former Yugoslavia. Delegations from FRY, Croatia, Republika Srpska, and the Federation shall take part in the conference. Today the delegations from the RS, the Federation, and the BiH CoM held a preliminary meeting, with mediation from the UNHCR Special Envoy, Carol Flaubert, and discussed further steps for implementation of conclusions made at the regional meeting last month. Mr. Flaubert said that the international community supports all the solutions which were mutually agreed, and many of the donor countries are ready to provide financial resources for programmes from the working document on repatriation in RS and Federation in 1997. However, the international community is not satisfied with the speed with which these conclusions are being implemented. After the preliminary meeting, the RS delegation held a number of bilateral meetings with the Federation delegation.
4:00
Srpski Brod – On the basis of an agreement between RS and FRY, after six years, the oil refinery in this city started working again, and the crude oil began flowing in from the Adriatic pipeline.
1:00
The Sporting Youth Forum of the RS is expected to join the European Youth Forum after the RS meets a few necessary organisational requirements, RS Minister of Sports, Papovic, said today after the meeting with the delegation of the European Forum.
2:00
Zvornik – After the closing remarks of the prosecutor, the defenders, and the defendants, the trial of the terrorist group from Srebrenica ended today. The verdict shall be passed on April 24. Today all the witnesses, who are also the damaged parties, demanded from the court the compensation of damages caused by the loss of their family members and persecution of the accused. The defendants may face a death penalty or twenty years of imprisonment.
3:00