Brussels – At the end of the third Donors Conference, donors promised 1.1 billion US dollars for the reconstruction of BiH. Donors also agreed to finance the institutions for DPA implementation with another 142 million dollars. According to the Bosnian delegation, the conference was successful, although the 1.4 billion dollars hoped for was not realised But, they said, this should be achieved by the end of the year. EU Commissioner Van den Broek said that the aid will go only to those who respect the DPA, and that the war criminals were cutting off the aid for their people.
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Brussels – NATO Secretary General Solana announced his personal obligation to bring war criminals to the Hague before SFOR leaves the region. He pointed out that SFOR will arrest war criminals only when possible. He also said that recent NATO policy surely made certain changes in Pale regarding the position of indicted war criminals.
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Pale – RS Prime-Minister Klickovic said that Karadzic could only go to the Hague if those responsible for the war in former Yugoslavia, Izetbegovic, and Tudjman were also there. He also said that RS representatives in Brussels made it clear that they would accept no black-mail regarding war criminals. The leadership of RS could only act in accordance with the DPA otherwise everything else represented re-integration of RS into BiH which Serbs would not allow.
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BiHTV comments – RS President Plavsic met Krajisnik after all in Bijeljina today. The conversations proceeded behind closed doors. White-House spokesman Burns announced a message from the US Ambassador to the UN, Richardson, to Plavsic. Burns said that the US are for the respect of the constitution in RS, and that there is a bunch of bandits in Pale that wanted to grab the power for themselves. Richardson said that Washington supports Plavsic in her fight against ultra-nationalists and war criminals. He added that any attempt of vengeance against IC officials would not be tolerated.
- UN spokesman Ivanko said that two explosions were registered last night in the area of Bratunac. One vehicle was destroyed, but without casualties.
- SFOR spokesman Blakely said that two persons threw a hand-granade at SFOR in Kotor-Varos and caused injury of a Dutch soldier. Both of them were captured by RS Police and SFOR.
3’00” Sarajevo – OSCE mission chief Frowick said that the definite results of the registration process will be announced after August 17. He explained this delay was due to technical problems and the extension of the appeals period in Brcko.
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Sarajevo – HR Westendorp said that the OSCE was preparing for the forthcoming elections in BiH. Westendorp said that OSCE was doing a good job, and that the elections would be far better than last year, but that he was not sure whether it would be totally democratic for there were not enough democratic elements. He also said that the reforms of the BiH media and regional police were two fundamental elements for democratic elections.
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Sarajevo – UN Special Envoy for Human Rights, Rehn, met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Missing Persons Committee of BiH. Regarding Mostar she said that one should be careful in assessing the progress in refugee return, and on Brcko Rehn said that small steps had been taken so far, and that increased action for refugee return were about to start.
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Reuters – reported that an ex-member of HVO told a UN official that he is ready to offer evidence about committed war crimes. ICTY investigators are expected to interview this soldier within the next 48 hours. The soldier also said that he might have been involved in or witnessed war crimes. The soldier’s identity remained confidential.
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Summary SRT TV News
Bijeljina – Plavsic, Krajisnik, and Buha attended the 4th session of the RS Senate, and discussed the current situation in the RS. Plavsic said that they exchanged thoughts, good suggestions, and left the situation to the Senate to decide. One of the Senate representatives, Gojko Djogo said that great damage was caused to the RS that threatens to split the leadership and destroy the RS. That gives an opportunity to the IC to melt the RS into BiH. The Senate thinks that there is a way out from the present situation, if the leadership respects the Senate decision as such: to immediately stop all verbal and other attacks on each other; to accept the Constitutional Court’s decision; the Government must continue its work because of September elections, but if the Constitutional Court decides that the dissolution of the Parliament is in line with the Constitution, additional elections must be held, but only after the local elections. However, if the dissolution of the Parliament is not in line with the Constitution, the current Parliament will continue its work. If Plavsic decides to withdraw her decision on dissolution of the Parliament, the Senate thinks, which would be the best solution because of crime in the country, the Senate suggested that the Parliament instigate reconstruction of both the Government and the Parliament; the IC will probably demand the reintegration of certain RS cantons into a union, and will not send aid as long as the RS harbours alleged war criminals. If the leadership does not agree by consensus the consequences will be unbearable. The RS should establish a co-ordinating ruling body co-chaired by Plavsic and Krajisnik in Banja Luka and Pale or somewhere else, which will make joint decisions. It would be necessary for the leadership and SDS HQ review their hasty decisions, whereas the Senate will intensively work on supporting that body until the RS institutions are re-established.5:00
Banja Luka – The RS President met the head of FRY security and Milosevic’s personal envoy, Stanisic late last night. The talks were held behind closed door and no press release was issued or statements given. SRT assumes that they talked about the current situation and Milosevic’s forthcoming visit to Banja Luka during next week.
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Brussels – The donors’ conference finished its work today discussing the concrete aspects for allocation of aid. Europe and the world expressed their readiness to help both the RS and Federation, but they conditioned the aid with implementation of the DPA. The RS Minister of Refugees, Vladusic said that the RS has great difficulties in providing accommodation for an additional 460,000 Serb refugees, asking the IC to support them. The RS delegation underlined the importance of the Brcko issue, whereas the Supervisor, Farrand said that financial support is a necessity for reconstruction of this town. The RS delegation represented 17 different projects in Brcko asking for DM 10 million. Prime Minister Klickovic expressed his hope that the IC will this time equally allocate the financial aid to the RS and Federation.
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Comments on the donors’ conference – although the IC collected $ 1,1 billion and the conference went rather smoothly, the IC, of course, set up new conditions with regard to implementation of the DPA. These conditions are both of a economic and political origin – more of the political – and SRT noticed ‘double standards’ regarding this issue. They mainly accused the RS for undermining the DPA, without having a look at the Federation, otherwise they would see a lot of things that must be fixed there too. The RS was also accused of hiding alleged war criminals instead of handing them over to the Hague.
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The International Committee for Protection of Peoples from the Political Courts and The Petition were recently founded as a result of the SFOR actions against Serbs people in Prijedor and in order to protect not only Serb people, which includes Dr. Karadzic, from such SFOR actions, but anybody who’s life is in danger. They said that the Hague’s sealed indictments and hunt for Serbs is unacceptable and absolutely not in line with any law or court.
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Voters’ lists – The final lists of voters will be completed by Aug. 18, OSCE said, adding that they will provide financial resources for political parties campaign.
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