Sarajevo – All BH officials, except for the Member of BiH Presidency Krajisnik, met German Foreign Minister Kinkel and EU Commissioner Van Den Broek and discussed the process of refugee return from Germany. All the present agreed to start with a gradual return to whole of BiH, because as President Izetbegovic said, the Federation will not be able to receive all refugees, especially not those who fled from territories which are now under RS authorities. However, the return (new accomodation and jobs) must be financially supported by the EU. After the talks, Kinkel said that the German Goverment needs to see that BiH is willing to accept returnees. At the press conference which was held afterwards, Kinkel promised to stir the German and world public with regard to non-implementation of the BiH common institutions, and Hans Van Den Broek said that BiH is at a turning point. BiH will receive ECC 282 million, of which 75 million will be directed to accommodation of 50,000 returnees. In the afternoon the two politicians talked with the BiH CoM members.
4:00
Lukavica – After a four-hour discussion, the CoM adopted the BiH Budget Law for ’97, worth of DM 136 million, and the Law on Execution of the Budget. The Budget will be used by BiH institutions and for servicing of BiH external debts. After the sesssion, Co-chair Bosic said that the resources will be provided by the RS and the Federation, as well as by the IMF and WB. The CoM should have adopted the Law on CoM, but this was left for the next session because of ‘the time had run out’.
3:00
Brcko elections shall be held in September 13 and 14. This was announced by Ambassador Frowick at today’s press conference in Sarajevo. Since the PEC could not decide on this issue, Frowick made the decision by himself. The elections will be held at the election district of the pre-war Brcko municipality which is now under the RS control, in accordance to the Award and the DPA. Frowick also said that two sides were against this decision. Only refugees and displaced persons who used to live in this district will be able to vote there. HR Bildt fully supported this decision calling it ‘logical’, adding that the Brcko elections will make Supervisor Farrand’s work much easier.
3:00
Sarajevo – Delegation of the Coalition for a United Mostar met Ambassador Frowick, and discussed the Colition’s position with regard to their refusal to participate at the local elections in Mostar. The Coalition requests implementation of the latest election results and protection of the vital interests of the peoples living in the city.
2:00
Sarajevo – BH President Izetbegovic met US special Envoy for military implementation, James Pardew, and discussed the implementation of the Equip and Train Programme. Presidency member Zubak met Pardew separately.
Sarajevo – Federal HoP 4th session – this is the second part of the session held on April 29, stopped since the MP’s could not agree on division of municipalities. Splitting of municipalities was the main item on the Agenda, of the rest of 45 which would have to wait for better days to be discussed and hopefully adopted. President of the MP’s Club Bender asked for the report from the Federal Government with regard to arrest of MP Djedovic and the reasons why the HoR didn’t inform the HoP about this incident. He also aked for report of the Immunity Commission. Since there was no agreement this time, the third part of the 4th session will be held on May 15.
5:00
Sarajevo – Late this afternoon, Ambassador Steiner held a press conference with regard to yesterday’s arrest of MP Djedovic, saying that the incident was sheer violation of the Federation Constitution and that he received a letter from the Hague which stated that the Tibunal didn’t intend persecute Djedovic. Steiner sent letters to the President and the Vice-president of the Federation, demanding transfer of the Djedovic case from the High Court in Bihac to the Court in Sarajevo. He said that Djedovic shouldn’t be imprisoned, but held in house arrest during the proceedings, and the investigation of the case should start immediately and in accordance with all international standards.
BiH Liaison Officer with the Hague Tribunal said that Djedovic falls under the category of persons suspected of committing war crimes. In accordance with Article 15 of the Roman Agreement and taking into account the situation on the ground, the Hague approved of the proceedings for Djedovic with implementation of the national legilsation.
5:00
Summary SRT News
Sarajevo – RS President in the BiH Presidency Momcilo Krajisnik did not attend the joint meeting of the BiH Presidency with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Hans Van den Broek at the National Museum. Mr. Krajisnik’s office issued a statement to the effect that due to a flagrant violation of the protocol on behalf of the FBiH Federation, Mr. Krajisnik was compelled to leave the venue” The statement further specified that despite the insistence of the RS protocol office with the FBiH protocol service to change table arrangements in the reception lounge, it did not happen. Namely, with constant attempts to disregard the agreed procedure, the Muslim side does everything it can to bring the Serb representatives in the joint institutions in an inferior position, concluded the statement.2’50”
Pale – At its session today the RS Government reviewed a set of drafts, amongst which the most important are related to the process of privatization and war compensation. Social welfare issues were on the agenda as well. Ministers endorsed the decision that the housing problem of war invalids and families of soldiers killed in action has to be resolved by 30 June. The reconstruction of “Serb Sarajevo and Serb Sanski Most” was also discussed and it was decided that during the second phase, 1,700 housing units would be constructed in “Serb Sarajevo”. The Government appointed Milorad Toholj General Manager of the RS TV.
The recent teachers’ strikes in some elementary and secondary schools throughout the RS and requests by the Teachers’ Union were also reviewed. The Government refuted allegations concerning the individual responsibility of ministers and appealed to strikers and their union to take into account the overall situation in the country and stop the strikes.
6’00”
Pale – RS PM Gojko Klickovic held talks with the UN SRSG Kai Eide. The talks focused on the current political situation with an emphasis on Brcko and competencies of the Serb police in that town. PM Klickovic commented on the meeting by saying that problems had arisen because some additional requests were being made for joint police patrols and insignia in Brcko. He was categorical that the Serb side would accept only what was previously agreed upon and signed within the framework of the DPA and other relevant documents. Referring to the case of Gajevi, he qualified the IPTF report as “partial”, since a series of events preceded the final incident for which the Serb side could not assume responsibility. Klickovic announced that FOM in the RS would be further restricted due to an intensified gathering of intelligence and spying in the RS. Lastly, Klickovic warned his collocutor of recent manoeuvres of “the Muslim 5th and 7th Corps”, which was incongruous with the agreed procedure to announce such movements.
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Lukavica – At its session held today the BH CoM continued a debate on the “Quick Start” law package. The minister endorsed the drafts on the 1997 budget and budget expenditures, while the draft on the CoM was partially harmonized.
4’00”
Elections in Brcko -The Interim Electoral Commission of the OSCE announced today that the elections in Brcko would be held on 13 and 14 September. Slobodan Kovac, an RS member of the Interim Electoral Commission specified that the elections would be held only in the Serb part of the municipality since the federal partners could not come up with an agreement on the elections in their territory. Kovac told SRNA that the FBiH representatives in the Interim Electoral Commission voted against holding of elections in Brcko, claiming that “conditions for elections have not been met”.
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