At a session held in Lukavica, the BiH three-member Presidency debated three major issues: the organization of the Holy Sea’s visit to Sarajevo, the Central Bank and the relations between the BiH Presidency and the BiH CoM. The Presidency endorsed a report submitted by President of the Welcome Committee for the Pope’s visit, Neven Tomic. The three members of the Presidency reached an agreement on the Central Bank. During the session, when the issue of the Central Bank was discussed, members of the Managing Board of the BiH Bank participated in the discussion. The Presidency instructed members of the Managing Board to prepare a draft on the Central Bank for the next session of the Presidency. The IMF and the World Bank will also be consulted on the issue.
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As a result of the discussion on relations between the Presidency and the BiH CoM, the Presidency appointed a Working Group represented by Kasim Trnka, Nenad Krizanovic and Nenad Dragovic to prepare documentation for definition of relations between the two state bodies.
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Speakers of the BiH Parliament and their deputies agreed at today’s meeting held in HR Carl Bildt’s office to convene sessions of both Houses of the BiH Parliament on 30 April.
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In response to increasing speculation in the media that the Bosniak side is agreeable to tripartite division of BH, OHR Spokesman Colum Murphy stated at a Press Conference that there had been no discussions on the division of BiH and that despite the fact that the process of reintegration was not progressing at the desired pace, the partition of the country was out of question. Murphy expressed concerns over such speculations in the media, stressing that it would be “an extremely difficult task” to change multi-ethnicity of the city like Sarajevo.
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Today’s Press Conference was informed about Carl Bildt’s letter to FRY’s Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic relating to the agreement between the RS and FRY. In his letter, Bildt points out that any agreement signed between the RS and Serbia or FRY on the issues which are within the competence of the BH Council of Minister, would represent a violation of the peace agreement.
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On a question of whether the International Community was considering the imposition of sanctions against Belgrade and Pale if they insist on this agreement, Murphy responded by saying that economic aid to the RS would be conditioned with its contribution to the peace agreement.
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Consultations on the preparations for the next session of the BiH Federation House of Peoples were held in Sarajevo today. It was decided that the next session should be held between 15 and 30 April. The exact date of the session will be designated by the Speaker and his Deputy tomorrow. The agenda for the session will be defined at a later date.
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Federation PM Edhem Bicakcic met with HR Principal Deputy, Michael Steiner in Sarajevo today to discuss problems related to the return of refugees. They also discussed the implementation of the agreement on Sarajevo which implies the adoption of amendments on the constitutions of the BiH Federation and of the Sarajevo and the Herzegovina-Neretva cantons as well.
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Summary SRT News
Lukavica – 17th Presidency session – The Presidency discussed its relations with the CoM and the Central Bank. The Central Bank Main Board members also attended the session. The Presidency agreed on the main points with regard to the Central Bank and tasked the Main Board with preparing the draft law. The presidency agreed to have a currency board for the next 6 years with the Deutsche Mark used as the currency during that period. With regard to relations with the CoM, President Krajisnik said that some of the CoM members had mixed up their competencies, forgetting that the Presidency has the supreme power. Krajisnik also asked the Presidency to express their position with regard to special parallel ties between RS and FRY.3:00
Pale – a German Parliament delegation met the CoM Minister of Civilian Affairs and Communications, Albijanic, and then the RS Minister of refugees, Vladusic, with regard to the economic situation in RS and problems of providing accommodating for the refugees. Albijanic introduced the German delegation to a very hard financial situation in the RS and international community’s unfair treatment of the Republic. While discussing the current problems with the refugees, the German Parliament delegation emphasised that they do not agree with Germany’s official policy. Minister Vladusic insisted on Annex 7 of the DPA which states that there should be no forced return.
3:00 Script Howard (????) reported that many of the joint institutions that should have unified Serbs, Croats, and Muslims were either not established or do not function, whereas European diplomats expect dissolution of BH Federation as soon as the US stops supporting it. The paper reported that Europeans [various leaders] think that the Serbs shouldn’t stop military equipping and training if the US is turning the Federation into a strong military force. Foreigners, members of foreign humanitarian organisations and SFOR can travel from one Entity to another without any problems, therefore they fool themselves that BH is a unified country. The reality is totally the opposite – BH is divided into three entities.
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Pale – RS Vice-president of Government, Ostojic, received the delegation of the Council of Europe and discussed the protection of cultural monuments in the RS.
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Vukovar – President of the Executive Council of Srem-Baranja Region, Stanimirovic, talked with OSCE Chairman, Danish Ambassador Petersen, about the OSCE involvement after the UNTAES mandate expires. They discussed the future monitoring of the region, which should encompass measures for protection of human rights and the right to return.
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Banja Luka – IPTF spokesman Roberts said that Croat authorities have increased pressure against Serbs in Drvar in order to expel them.
Four leading international organisations, UNHCR, OHR, IPTF and SFOR established a commission for settling refugees in the areas of Kljuc and Ribnik [ZOS]. The Commission will respect the main procedure for return that was established by the DPA.
World News: Sarajevo – SDA party and other Muslim political parties began with boycotting the co-operation with OSCE due to its decision to repeat the Mostar elections. The PEC member from the Muslim-Croat Federation, Kasim Begic, resigned because of this decision. Sarajevo media close to the authorities accused Frowick of supporting the HDZ until it eventually wins in Mostar. Sarajevo – BH Cardinal Puljic said to Italian papers that BH Catholics do not have a future. ‘We are cast aside and our situation is critical. We are powerless against the games of Muslim authorities. Financial aid coming to BH goes straight to the Muslim Government which in return doesn’t give anything to us.’
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