IPTF Office condemned today the barbarous act of placing a Croatian flag on the destroyed mosque in Ahmici, near Vitez, on 29 March. This can be only described as a disgusting act beyond normal human understanding, Spokesman Alex Ivanko told the Press Conference. Although investigation of this act was under way, the flag has still not been removed.
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On the occasion of Easter, Vinko Puljic, Cardinal and Pero Sudar, Assistant Bishop, held a reception for the representatives of the religious, political, cultural and public life in BiH, as well as for the representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations working in BiH. Cardinal Puljic pleaded for adequate organization of the Pope’s visit.
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A promotion of the joint police patrols in Mostar has not been realized despite dates being agreed and fulfillment of some demands on which the Croatian side insisted. Alex Ivanko, UN Spokesman said that two sides could not agree upon the signs policemen should wear on their uniform sleeves. IPTF has set a new date for a meeting for the Federal and Cantonal Officials.
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The SDA Executive Council of the Hercegovina-Neretva Canton issued a Statement following their extraordinary meeting to express concerns relating to the non-establishment of the joint police powers for the City District region, Mostar. These police should have been the first step towards the setting up of Cantonal Police, for which the FF set 15 April as the deadline. Follows the full text of the statement accusing HDZ of not wishing to support the Federation and agreements signed on the Cantonal level. The Federation top officials, OHR and US Embassy will be informed of the situation in Canton.
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The Spanish Brigade of the multi-ethnic division South-East will from 1 April install an alternative command post in Mostar in order to make cooperation with the local international organizations easier. The opening is taking place tonight.
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On the occasion of the arrival and assuming of duties of Brcko Supervisor, Robert Farrand, Fuad Hadziavdic, Tuzla Podrinje Assembly Chairman made a statement based on the earlier accepted Cantonal Assembly conclusions. Besides a welcome for Farrand, the Assembly expects from the Supervisor and his Team to enable that a return of the Brcko residents, regardless of their nationality, be the basic priority which realization should be immediately started on. In this sense, all limitations on number and time for the refugees return should be cancelled, reads a statement.
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A first group of Serb citizens visited Kljuc, today. They paid a visit, together with their hosts, to the Serb and Moslem cemeteries and mass graves Laniste I and II where 224 Bosniaks have been buried. They found a Serb cemetery undamaged contrary to propaganda that it was leveled. Serbs expressed their wish to return and live in their homes.
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Two houses of Serbs who decided to stay and live in Drvar were set on fire on Friday, 28 March, Alex Ivanko, UN Spokesman told a Press Conference today. This practice is becoming more common in this town and local police have done nothing to stop it.
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Haris Silajdzic, BiH CoM Co-Chair, talked with Egyptian Ambassador to BiH, Ahmed Abu Taleb about the recently signed contracts with Egyptian firms and closing preparations related to the setting up of a joint bank with the Association of Egyptian Banks. Following a lengthy introduction by a journalist focused on the negative issues of postponing the Donors Conference, Hasan Muratovic, Foreign Minister, and Colum Murphy, HR Spokesman, answered separately questions about its delay, consequences which it will have for BiH, and the possibility of holding a Mini Donors Conference, etc.
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Summary SRT News
Pale – President of the BiH Presidency, Krajisnik met the Special Envoy of President Clinton and HR Assistant for Economic Issues, Claude Ganz. Krajisnik expressed his readiness with reference to establishment of the Central Bank, as well as his dissatisfaction due to the economic aid given to the RS so far.2:00
Pale – Meeting of SDS Club Representatives – the Representatives discussed the Agenda of the next RS Parliament session, to be held April 4.
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Banja Luka – Government session – members of government did not discuss the Foreign Debt Law, the Foreigh Trade Policy Law, and the Customs Policy Law from the QSP because the documents were not written in Serbian (they were in Latin script and had a lot of Croatian words), therefore they asked the OHR to respect equality with regard to the script and the language. The Government adopted the proposal laws for the work of foreign organisations and representation of foreign persons.
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Pale – Government Vice-President, Ostojic and Serbian Minister of Science and Education, Todorovic signed the Agreement on a Unified Education System Programme, based on tradition and culture of Serb peoples only temporarily divided. The Agreement is in accordance with the Agreement on Parallel and Special ties of RS and FRY.
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Pale – Government Vice-President, Ostojic and RS Minister of Health met in the Greek delegation of the EC, to discuss the education programme of health care staff, reconstruction and equipping of hospitals.
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Muslims, or so-called Bosniaks, interpret the DPA as they please because they have condemned the Agreement on Special ties of RS with FRY, but even little children already know that what they say is not true, because the DPA also requires release of POW’s, refugee return, finding missing persons, etc. which they do not respect either.
Belgrade – Donors from Serbia, various humanitarian organisations and individuals from abroad who supported local Serbs during the war held their 4th Convention today. The RS delegation pointed out the most important issues and problems with regard to the current economic situation and refugee return, stating that something must be done urgently since a new wave of refugees from eastern Slavonia is being expected soon. The RS Delegation read RS President Plavsic’s letter where she thanked all those who financially and morally supported the Serb peoples who are living on both sides of the Drina river.
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