Sarajevo – For the first time in the history of medicine in BiH, an open heart surgery has been accomplished. Dr. William Novic from the USA operated on two children suffering from a serious heart disorder. Cooperation between Dr. Novic and Sarajevo’s surgeons has been going on since the war. The US specialist and his team are assisting with the professional education of BiH doctors and providing medical equipment.
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FBiH House of Peoples – A session of the FBiH House of Peoples is scheduled to be held in Sarajevo tomorrow. The proposed agenda is comprised of 45 issues: the so-called Sarajevo and Mostar amendments, drafts on split municipalities and formation of new municipalities, the proposal for the Federation Implementation Council, a package of draft-laws on finance, health system, privatisation, commerce, judiciary system, etc.
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FBiH Court for Human Rights – FBiH President Vladimir Soljic received today judges of the FBiH Court for Human Rights, Mirjana Hadzikaric-Jaksic, Domino Albasic and Edag Becirbegovic. The judges briefed President Soljic on competencies and significance of the Court for Human Rights. It was assessed that non-appointment of four judges of this court by the international community was considerably detrimental to the process of protection of human rights in the FBiH.
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Brcko Elections – RFBiH Vice President and the Head of the Commission for Implementation of Arbitral Decision on Brcko, Ejup Ganic, met with Ambassador Robert Frowick to discuss preparation for the upcoming local elections in Brcko. It was jointly concluded that “the election of local authorities in that town have to meet all criteria of the DPA and the arbitral decision on Brcko aimed at the restoration of a multi-cultural environment”.
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The Commission for Implementation of Arbitral Decision on Brcko held a session today to review global plans for the restoration of housing units, traffic infrastructure as well as modalities for return of refugees.
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Brcko – ONASA agency recalling IPTF sources in Tuzla informed that yesterday Serbs in Brcko attacked and inflicted injuries on two Bosniaks trying to visit their homes. A UN Spokesman advised that an investigation was under way but that the incidents should not be given too much attention.
Bishop Kacavenda – At a press conference in Sarajevo, the central topic was Bishop Kacavenda, underlined the report. The media reported extensively on the conference. “The OHR is disappointed that Bishop Kacavenda has not come to Tuzla….The entire event is a cynical manipulation of minority”, stated the OHR Spokesman, Simon Haselock. He accused the Governor of the Tuzla-Podrinje Sead Jamakosmanovic and SGV President Mirko Bozic of having declared that the Bishop was not welcome to Tuzla. He once again reiterated that the OHR had taken a stand that only persons indicted by the ICTY could be arrested, while all others had the right to enjoy FOM. An SFOR Spokesman informed that SFOR confiscated around 2 tons of ammunition and explosive material in the vicinity of Ilidza on Saturday. However, he failed to specify to which army owned the confiscated ammunition.
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Mostar – Deputy Mayor of Mostar Safet Orucevic met behind the closed doors with Sir Martin Garrod, Head of the OHR Regional Office. After the meeting, Orucevic told the press that he briefed Sir Garrod on the letter by the Joint List of Mostar sent to Ambassador Frowick. Asked to explain what was disputable in the HDZ proposal for change of the Statute of Mostar, Orucevic replied that “the Bosniak side cannot agree that one of constitutional nations should have an exclusive right in three municipalities. He stressed that every nation in all six municipalities should have equal rights”.
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Summary SRT News
Second day of Easter – Throughout the RS, the Serbs continued with Easter celebrations. They will celebrate the whole of this week, called the Holy Week.3:00
Brcko – US Supervisor for Brcko, Farrand, wished all Serbs, particularly citizens of Brcko, a happy Easter. Today in Serb Brod, military representatives awarded medals to the families of soldiers killed in the liberation war, which was a gift from the RS President. Representatives of Brcko authorities and members of the Soldiers’ Association were also present. ‘They were defending their country and people, and they gave the most one can give – their lives – for their religion, people, freedom and peace for their people’, one of the officials said.
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The decision of Tuzla-Podrinje Canton authorities to ban the mass service of the Orthodox bishop Vasilije in Tuzla clearly shows in what kind of situation the Serbs who still live in the Federation are, and reveals the intentions of the Muslim policy, which was what the RS leadership was pointing out throughout the civil war. HR Bildt also condemned this incident, warning that the freedom of movement must be respected and the political moves such as this one do not stabilise the situation in the region. Militant attitude and acts of the Muslims are maybe the best warning to the Serb voters prior to the local elections.
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Within the preparations for the upcoming elections, the German Government and UNHCR are trying to improve their co-ordination with regard to return of refugees. Therefore, German Prime Minister Kinkel and European Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek will come to Sarajevo on May 8. Kinkel invited Sadako Ogatha and German regional ministers of refugees to join him on this trip.
Japanese Government donated $ 10 million for implementation of the reconstruction programme in RS and Federation priority regions. The donation will be used for reconstruction of six clinics, six schools, and 1500 houses in both Entities.
Banja Luka – RS Government Vice-president Banjac met the Banja Luka businessmen and discussed a number of problems which their companies and enterprises are facing. They agreed that the RS economy will not be able to sell domestic products at the European market without the establishment of communications with the first neighbours, start of industrial production, and completion of the privatisation process.
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World News: Bosnian Croat leaders demand establishment of new municipalities from all larger Croat villages in Central Bosnia, which goes against the principles of the Muslim side for more than three years now. The Federation Forum accepted the Bosnian Croats’ request, but the Federation HoP session was adjourned as soon as this issue was mentioned.
Local Croat authorities in Stolac do not allow Muslims to work at voter registration centres in Stolac, which is contrary to the elections law, Muslim Radio Sarajevo reports. Stolac SDA sent a letter of protest to the OSCE, warning them that Muslims from Stolac would boycott the local elections.
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