Sarajevo – The Cabinet of Alija Izetbegovic, confirmed that a meeting between the BiH Presidency Chairman and Croatian President Tudjman scheduled for tomorrow in Split, has been postponed for ten days. Izetbegovic decided to postpone the meeting when it became clear that the Croatian side is still not ready to implement already agreed elements of the peace accord and to seriously work on solving questions which have already waited a long time for solution (harbour Ploce, property questions). The Presidential Court in Zagreb issued a statement saying that the Bosnian authorities delayed tomorrow’s meeting, since they do not wish to see precise implementation of the Dayton Accord. There is much more resistance to the Federation existence on the Bosnian side than on the Croatian, the statement reads.
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Sarajevo – Arriving back in Sarajevo from London, Dr Silajdzic expressed his satisfaction with very favourable arrangements with the London Club Co-ordinating Board.. Our task was to reprogram and reduce part of the USD 1,4 million of BiH debt inherited after the dissolution of FRY, with the London Club in order to open a path for the new loans and to normalise our relations with the financial institutions, Silajdzic told the news. Silajdzic hopes that the London Club will, by tomorrow, solve the only missing detail for completion of the very successful negotiations.
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Sarajevo – Haris Silajdzic, BiH CoM Co-Chair received American Congressman Paul MacHale. Sven Alkalaj, BiH Ambassador to US. Michael Parmley, Deputy Chief of the American Mission to BiH, also attended the meeting. MacHale informed Silajdzic of the American Congress House of Representatives stance on the withdrawal of the American troops from BiH in June ’98, but he pointed out that he will undertake everything possible to form a platform for the continuation of the American engagement in BiH, acceptable for both US and BiH The US Govt insistence on implementing the Dayton Agreement in full, was estimated as very positive. Silajdzic confirmed that the American presence is continuing to be a key factor of the peace stabilisation, safety and economic reconstruction of BiH.
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Brcko – During a second visit to Brcko of Robert Gelbard, US Special Envoy for the implementation of the civil part of the Dayton Accord, there were no concrete new conclusions except global support for the Dayton Accord, for Robert Farrand, Brcko Supervisor and for refugee return. In fact, the central event in Brcko was the opening of the Radio station MIR which will cover the Brcko region before as well as, probably, after the elections. Co-operation of each side in the implementation of the Dayton Accord is one of the facts which will have an effect on the final decision on Brcko, Gelbard said.
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A Central manifestation Ajvatovica 97 with more than a hundred thousand Bosniaks participating from all over the world, ended today. This previously religious pilgrimage also became an important cultural event in BiH. This is a place of religious and cultural inspiration where the Bosniaks identity is being confirmed, Alija Izetbegovic said in his address. He pointed out that BiH needs courageous and educated individuals. He approached the organiser for stopping women from attending the manifestation.
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Summary SRT News
Sokolac – At the Vidovdan ceremony, attended by Mitropolit Nikolaj and the RS Army HQ Deputy Commander Pandurevic among others, RS Assembly Speaker Kalinic addressed the soldiers, families of soldiers killed in the war, war invalids and others by saying that this year’s festivity of Vidovdan, the greatest of all festivities for the Serbs, is a testimony of the Serb victory over the enemy. “You wouldn’t have won Republika Srpska at the table if it wasn’t for military victories. Regardless of the fact that the enemy is being armed from abroad, our army will protect the Serb interests. Republika Srpska does not threaten any of the interests of the US or Europe.” Kalinic also said that the RS cannot stand humiliation by the international community – “this is our country, and you are only guests in it. You are welcome here only if you respect the laws of the RS”. If the international community is trying to go beyond Dayton, then it cannot count on the RS as its ally. The “traitorous opposition” within the RS, which is trying to portray itself as patriotic, is defending a unitary Bosnia and “exchanging kisses” with the enemy. Anyone of them who thinks that they can do things on their own, without the SDS, will indeed end up on their own and isolated. The RS institutions have been legally elected and thus show that conditions have been created for a democratic society, which will develop only if the Serbs are united. “Damned be those who are trying to divide us.”7:00
Banja Luka – Meeting of the 70 highest ranking officials of the Ministry of Interior, including the special units – A decision was made to revoke Plavsic’s decision from June 27, which was declared as illegal and unconstitutional. The RS Government supported today’s decision of the Ministry of Interior. So far, contrary to the DPA, the Ministry has been attacked and humiliated by the international community, and the most recent example of that is the request of the international community for putting the Brcko Ministry of Interior under its control. Therefore the Ministry expresses its deepest regrets due to the unexpected blow coming from President Plavsic. Her decision could be damaging to the Ministry because it is not in the interest of the Serbs, thus it is unacceptable even if coming from the President herself.
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Danish press reports that the Danish Foreign Minister is against American military assistance to the Federation. He said that in 1996 the US tried to balance out military power with the Equip and Train programme, but the real outcome of that was further destabilisation that may eventually lead to a new war.
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