Sarajevo – After it seemed that the BiH Presidency meeting would finally convene, it failed once more to hold a session. Citing problems in RS, Krajisnik did not appear for a meeting at the Museum. Instead, Presidency Chairman and Members Alija Izetbegovic and Kresimir Zubak, held a working session with HR Carlos Westendorp. The two gave their agreement on the Citizenship and Passport Draft Laws, as well as for the Amendment on the Civil Aviation, submitted by the OHR. They also requested that the OHR produce a legal explanation of the functioning of the joint institutions in such cases, which was given very soon after the meeting. Westendorp also informed the public that due to RS representatives’ disrespect of several deadlines, he finds it necessary to suggest to the IC introduction of sanctions. Some of these sanctions refer to the RS members of the BiH CoM. If Krajisnik keeps refusing to co-operate in the work of the Presidency, Westendorp suggested his replacement by means of elections for a new Presidency Member.
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Dubrovnik – People in BiH are still shocked by the bus accident in which 4 travellers died and 11 were injured. Another injured man died yesterday. It has been stated that bus speed was not a cause for the incident.
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Sarajevo – The only sanctions I can introduce for those who obstruct the DPA, are symbolic – to forbid issuing of passports or visas to a side which doesn’t co-operate – in this case to the Serb authority – the HR Carlos Westendorp told media. Speaking about implementation of the joint authority in the civil aviation, he suggested the opening of airports by keeping a certain number of vacancies for the Serb side. If they do not fill these working places, they should lose all rights to fly. He also tackled the possible introduction of sanctions against SRT due to their broadcasting of misinformation. He said he had the right, according to the DPA, to suspend SRT programmes and threatened to use this right.
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Sarajevo – German Defence Minister Volker Ruehe visited Sarajevo today. He held talks with HR Westendorp, visited German soldiers in Rajlovac and Kiseljak and talked with the local authorities in Hadzici about the refugee return from Germany.
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Serb entity events (by B.Luka correspondent) – By an order of the new RS Minister for Internal Affairs, Marko Pavic, a transmitter on Kozara mountain has been given for use to the seceded part of the RS. A new TV program began last night. Plavsic’s relations with the RS Army stayed unclear. Her meeting with the Headquarters scheduled for today, was postponed. RS Deputy President, Dragoljub Mirjanic, member of the ruling party in Pale, gave his absolute support to Plavsic, informed BiH Press citing AFP. Talking at a Press Conference held due to a large interest of journalists, Plavsic said that it will be clear tomorrow if the Army is neutral as it should be or loyal to the Pale leadership.
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Sarajevo – Investigators in the Hague wish to investigate the tapes used to bug RS President Plavsic believing that this material could enlighten still unresolved cases pending at the Tribunal, informs Reuters citing the western officials in Sarajevo.
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Follows announcements from several sources which believe that moving the Hague Tribunal to BiH is still too early. BiH parties which held their pressers (UBSD, LBO and ) maintained as quite normal that the Hague Tribunal would move to BiH.
Summary SRT TV News
Pale – RS Defence Ministry Council published an announcement after today’s session which says that the Ministry is aware of new non-constitutional decisions being prepared in the RS President’s cabinet. The new decisions are, allegedly, related to a change of staff in the RS Defence Ministry and Army HQ. It was also said that the announced actions by Plavsic are revealing her ambitions for superseding the legal and executive authorities in RS. The RS Government, Defence Ministry and Army HQ will consider Plavsic’s decisions as non-constitutional, illegal and therefore not obligatory. The announcement was signed by Defence Minister, Minkovic.3’30”
Srbinje – The meeting of support for the Internal Affairs Ministry and other legal institutions of the State, was held today. About 1000 local citizens took part in the meeting. The message was sent that the irresponsible individuals must not be allowed to destroy the best functioning institutions of the State.
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Banja Luka – A group of about 30 politically like-minded persons as Plavsic, attacked members of the SDS party in BL Parliament with eggs. SDS club President, Bulajic repeated his protest against the beating up of two SDS members by Plavsic’s police.
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Banja Luka – The RS Veteran’s Organisation President, Bojic, said today that the RS veterans are ashamed of the recent events in BL, and that they are not allied to either side. Bojic also said that, regarding the protection of RS, he believes only in the RS Army and police. He added that the Serb people wish to see the end to the crisis, which will enable unity of Serb people. Commenting on SFOR involvement in recent events, Bojic warned that those are the same soldiers who were dropping their bombs on the Serb people, and shooting “Tomahawks” at the children of Krajina.
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Foreign media comments – BiH TV reported that since the BL studio was separated from the SRT, the watchers have had the opportunity to choose which media they watch for the first time. This will, as said, probably enlarge the division which tears RS in two parts. BiH TV also reported OHR spokesman Bullivant’s statement, which said that the OHR has expended all diplomatic measures regarding SRT objectivity. Bullivant added that OHR is encouraged with the separation of BL studio from Pale.
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SRT news comments – Austrian, German and Swiss press are pointing out that Plavsic has succeed where NATO could not – to make three anti-Serb cracks on the three most significant ‘stitches’, police, army and media. This black, anti-Serb script, written behind a scenery of anti-civilisation conspiracy, and executed by obedient Serb traitors, caused a burst of anti-Serb euphoria in Austria and Germany. Even their media confessed that the separation of BL studio represents national treason by the Serb Mrs. Albright. German journalists cannot hide their mocking of the media-revolt in BL.
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Srbac – A group of Srbac citizens addressed a letter to Plavsic, Krajisnik, Kalinic and Klickovic. The letter criticised Plavsic for disrespecting the Senate, and ignoring the decisions of the Constitutional Court. Srbac citizens expressed their disappointment with Plavsic, saying that the former RS President Karadzic is probably disappointed too. The Citizens are aware that it is easy to succumb to the influence of the West, who want to tear the RS apart, using the methods of special war. The citizens asked Plavsic if it would be possible for Tudjman and Izetbegovic to work against their parties.
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Sarajevo – The General Director of SRT, Toholj, called all employees in the TV studio Banja Luka to restrain from anarchy in which they were pushed by those who have no legal coverage, nor legal basis in Laws of the Public Enterprise of this house. In the announcement, issued on the occasion of illegal take over of the BL studio from SRT, he reminds that the former deputy general director Neskovic was dismissed and sacked in the legal way from SRT.
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