Zenica – Zenica-Doboj Canton Police conducted an operation to seize two foreign criminals [Zefferini Biniam and Lionel Dumont] accused for an armed robbery and murder of a Federal policeman. The action started at 6 o’clock this morning and ended in the death of Zefferini and arrest of Dumont, because they showed resistance, so the police were ordered to fire back. The police are still looking for an unidentified person who is hiding with SFOR. The police chief Zilic said that criminals above were infiltrated into the country in order to spread terrorism against BiH democracy and multi-ethnicity.
2:00
The Security Council should send another 186 international policemen to Brcko soon. However, their mandate will not change. Brcko Mayor Mensur Jusufovis is an optimist regarding the present situation in Brcko. He said that the ZOS will definitely be ‘erased’ if this situation continues, because it gives chances for refugee return, development of economy, the old Brcko image of multi-ethnicity and meets conditions for the local elections. However, Jusufovic said, BiH will not give up its main principle which is that only true Brcko citizens, whose names were included in the ’91 Census will be allowed to vote. Brcko will be the first bridge between the Federation and the RS and the real body of the BiH.
3:00
Sarajevo – 9th session of the SDA main board – SDA members discussed the Brcko issue, forthcoming local elections, the current situation in the Federation and refugee return. BiH President Izetbegovic held a speech about the social cases in BiH and asked the BiH Government to help those people urgently. He also emphasised problems which occurred as a result of the HDZ party obstructions and undermining of the Federation process.
2:00
Sarajevo – SGV [Serb Citizen Party] session – the discussion was about problems in relation to the forthcoming elections and human rights in BiH. SGV concluded that the Serb population in BiH did not fulfil their basic interests by the DPA. They said that Serbs are complaining of being threatened, harassed, evicted from their apartments etc., especially in the Sarajevo region. Nevertheless, about 20,000 people wish to return to their former homes in the Federation.
2:00
Sarajevo – the Swedish Council of Refugees delegation met the BiH Council for Refugees and Displaced Persons to discuss return of BiH refugees. Head of the Swedish Council, Olof Garstedt, said that the Swedish Government will not force people to leave, but will help them to decide by giving 5000 DM of support to volunteers. Head of the BiH Council, Mirhunisa Komarica, said that the DPA is still not a guarantee for return of BiH refugees.
2:00
33 special OSCE monitors from the US who will assist the elections are coming to BiH. We should expect another 100 of them as we come closer to the local elections. BiH officials agree with the OSCE decision on postponement of the elections because otherwise the legalisation of ethnic cleansing and aggression against BiH would be supported, which is not in accordance with the OSCE and other international organisations’ interests in BiH. There are a few conditions which must be met for successful elections such as freedom of movement and refugee return, as well as re-registration of voters, registration of political parties, and helping those elected to get their positions.
3:00
Summary SRT News
President from RS in the presidency of BIH, Momcilo Krajisnik, and Co-Chair, Boro Bosic, held talks in Pale with the representative from Japanese Ministry of Culture, Nabuhiko Suto, and discussed possibilities for advancing co-operation between Japan and RS. Special focus was on business and humanitarian co-operation. Bosic emphasized that Japan provided considerable aid to BIH last year but that almost nothing has reached RS. “This year we will do our best to be equally represented in allocation of funds,” added Bosic.3 min
President of the SDS Club of representatives, Vojislav Maksimovic, stated that the special agreement between the RS and FRY contains some elements of the general national program of the Serb people, sought for more than 150 years. Realization of the agreement already started before the ratification of the agreement since premiers of both Governments, Gojko Klickovic and Mirko Marjanovic, held a joint meeting and agreed upon concrete measures. Maksimovic reiterated that the Serbian Assembly is due to contemplate the agreement at its next session scheduled for 17 March. The declaration will be adopted in that regard. The RS Assembly is to meet on 15 March and will ratify the agreement. The final ratification is scheduled for 20 March in the Federal Assembly. Commenting on the Muslims reactions to the agreement, Maksimovic said that they have the right to react, but that Serbs also have a right to abnegate some International agreements signed with Iran, Croatia and Turkey which, according to the DPA, should be ratified in the BIH Assembly.
5 min
Tension in the Zvornik area is the result of repeated attempts of the Muslim side to settle in the area. This conclusion was made today at the extended Colegium of the Zvornik CSB (Center for Public Security), also attended by the RS Interior Minister, Dragan Kijac.
2 min
The American policy of double standards is back on the scene. While in Israel and in Palestine this policy works against the Islamic cause, using even veto in the UN, in this country the US is lobbying in favor of Muslims. For the September elections, the US Government is sending more then 100 supervisors to “secure the process of the voters registration”. Knowing the American pro-Muslim stand, their increased presence in the OSCE teams is not good news for the Serbs.
2 min
In the Hague, the process against 3 Muslims and one Croat, accused of committing crimes against Serbs in the Celebici camp, will start again tomorrow.
1 min
German Minister of Defence, Volke Rühe, announced today that Germany is not going to prolong their mission in SFOR beyond the mandate.
40 sec