Sarajevo – The US delegation, headed by the Special Envoy for Implementation of the DPA, Gelbard, visited BiH for the purpose of speeding up the implementation of the DPA and the establishment of the Central Bank, particularly the common currency. They met the BiH Presidency members at 16:00 and the meeting is still going on. Although Gelbard showed great optimism with regard to establishment of the Central Bank and joint currency, it seemed that there were was no satisfactory solution in sight. He separately met the BiH Presidency Member Krajisnik in Pale, as well as President Izetbegovic and Presidency member Zubak, to discuss the issues of implementation of the DPA and QSP Laws. Gelbard and the delegation met the BiH Foreign Minister Prlic and his two deputies and discussed the diplomatic activities of BiH.
Gelbard also handed US President Clinton’s letter to Izetbegovic, which was an answer to Izetbegovic’s letter from April 21, ’97. President Clinton has assured Izetbegovic that the US diplomacy is determined to implement the DPA and reminded him of the fact that the US Administration helped BiH to reach peace and economic recovery. He has said that he shares Izetbegovic’s opinion that much more must be done for the establishment of a permanent peace in BiH. Gelbard conveyed Clinton’s position that he and Albright are the representatives of the official US Foreign policy towards BiH.
5:00
Sarajevo – the 5th session of the Federation HoR – HDZ MP’s did not attend the session. They sent their two MP’s to read the letter of explanation, in which it says that SDA and their MP’s are trying to infringe upon Croatian interests in BiH by adoption of decisions through outvoting, as was the case with the essential laws that were passed without the Croat MP’s and ignoring the agreement on the two party’s partnership. The Parliament Speaker, Kreso, responded to the letter, saying that the work of the Parliament has been in accordance with the DPA and that the Parliament Rules of Procedure were adopted by all MP’s. MP Kadic said that the absence of HDZ and their letter are a blackmail in the aim of blocking the Parliament, whereas MP Ajanovic said that the HDZ is acting in contradiction with the Federation Constitution. Due to such circumstances, the work of the Parliament was not very successful. The Budget Law should have been discussed and adopted but the opposition parties decided to restrain from voting, thus the rest of the Parliament members didn’t have the quorum to adopt the Law. MP’s also sent an appeal to the international community to appoint Ambassador Steiner as the new High Representative, and started an initiative of helping Iranians who survived the earthquake which struck their country.
5:00
HDZ President Rajic sent a letter to SDA President Izetbegovic, asking for an urgent meeting of these two main political parties in order to discuss the current crisis in relations between SDA and HDZ.
Sarajevo – Federation President Soljic met separately the delegations from Stolac and Bugojno and discussed the process of return of refugees and the revival of the pilot projects.
2:00
Sarajevo – Federation president Soljic sent letters to representatives of Hercegovina-Neretva Canton, asking them to if they plan to establish the joint police in this Canton by June 10. If not, they should send an explanation and their own suggestions also by that date.
2:00
Banja Luka – OSCE assembly of all BiH political parties – OSCE spokesman Robinson informed party members that more than 1 million people have registered in BiH and abroad. He said that the elections in Mostar will be held in all six city municipalities, as well in Brcko, in its two municipalities. Members of political parties used this chance to give their support to the idea of Michael Steiner staying in BiH.
2:00
Sarajevo – The Commission for Implementation of the Arbitration Decision for Brcko and the representatives of different political parties held a meeting and agreed to continue talks with OSCE and the High Representative about changing of the elections decision for Brcko. Members of the Tuzla-Podrinje Cantonal Assembly sent a letter of protest to Brcko Supervisor Farrand, saying that he had done very little on return of Brcko citizens since he became the Supervisor, although he had more than enough time to make progress with regard to that issue. ‘Because of your activities, the expelled Brcko citizens are losing their hope that they will ever be able to return. You haven’t given any real guarantees for the return of refugees so far, quite the opposite, the returnees must accept the RS documents on your own request,’ Fuad Hadziabdic, the Assembly Speaker said, adding that MP’s are expecting him to give his personal contribution for the purpose of changing the election rules so as to guarantee the right to vote for all refugees who lived in Brcko before the war, in accordance to the 1991 census, and to vote at the local elections at a single electoral unit – the whole pre-war Brcko municipality.
2:00
Summary SRT News
Pale – Momcilo Krajisnik, RS President in the BiH Presidency (as referred to by the media) and Dragan Kalinic, Speaker of the RS National Assembly received today Special US Envoy for the former Yugoslavia Robert Gelbard and US Assistant Secretary of Finance David Lipton. The talks focused on the implementation of the DPA, with emphasis on the Quick Start Package. Commenting on the meeting, Krajisnik expressed his hope that the issue of the Central Bank would soon be resolved. The Speaker of the RS National Assembly made a statement to the effect that RS officials were given firm assurances by their American collocutors that the US presence would extend beyond the next year and the designated term of SFOR’s withdrawal. Our guests have assured us that peace and stability in this region is their top priority and that they will not allow anyone to fan up war flames in the summer 1998. That coincides with the interest of the RS and we welcome that, stated Kalinic.2’50”
Sarajevo – A session of the three member Presidency of the RS and the Muslim – Croatian entity, was held at the National Museum in the Muslim part of Sarajevo. Special US representative for the implementation of the DPA Robert Gelbard and representatives of Bundestag took part in the session. According to available information, Mr. Gelbard appealed that the remaining law package be adopted at once, so as to enable preparations for the Donors Conference to be held in June.
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RS PM Gojko Klickovic held consultations with state appointed supervisors and inspectors on curbing black marketeers and other illegal activities in the state. Klickovic pointed out that in the process of suppressing illegal activities, the entire system of state control organs including auditors and financial police would have to participate. Revision of 17.000 private companies registered in the RS will be carried out soon, added Klickovic. In order to expedite the operation, a Financial Steering Board will be formed to deal with problems of the black market and other illegal activities.
2’50”
Elections – Upon the assessment of the Electoral Sub-commission on alleged irregularities in registration of voters in Drvar, Banja Luka, Kljuc, Kotor Varos, etc, Vlado Mrkes, Director of the SDS Head Office issued a statement to the effect that measures undertaken by the Commission were out of proportion and appealed to the OSCE to reconsider its decision.
2’00
Pale – It was confirmed at a press conference today that due to irregularities in the process of registration, the Electoral Sub-Commission made the decision to remove from electoral lists the names of SDS top nominees in Banja Luka, Kljuc, Kotor Varos and Prijedor, while the SDS was forbidden to nominate its delegates in Drvar. The OSCE also announced that the HDZ in Drvar would be punished for violation of the PEC rules. Commenting on yesterday’s refusal of the RS Assembly to accept ultimatums by IPTF, Alex Ivanko, UN Spokesman threatened that the regime of removing illegal check points would be fully implemented, even with SFOR’s assistance if needed.
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