Sarajevo – The planned sessions of the BiH HoR and HoP were not held today since the RS MP’s failed to show up. The reasons for that are still unknown. However, the HoR discussed two items on the agenda, the Draft Law on Immunity and MPs’ questions and then decided to close the session.
3:00
Sarajevo – At the press conference, the US Special Envoy for Military Co-operation, Perdew announced that BiH President Izetbegovic and Presidency member Zubak have agreed on the military strategy [counterattack and defence, professional training] of the BiH Federation which defines the mission of the Federation army. Perdew announced that the US will send 116 howitzers and 21 armoured vehicles for the Federation army. Izetbegovic and Zubak approved of the locations for HQ of four corps, 14 brigades, etc. Ministry of Defence provided resources for construction of a training centre in Livno which will be one of the best in Europe. US and BiH have signed a $ 9 million treaty for locally manufactured 50,000 NATO helmets, 51 howitzers, and ammunition.
4:00
Sarajevo – BiH President Izetbegovic met the members of the French Senate and discussed the implementation of the DPA and Izetbegovic’s letter to country members of the Contact Group.
Sarajevo – with regard to the 5th anniversary of the BiH Army, highest awards and golden badges were given to soldiers and policemen who displayed the greatest courage while carrying out their tasks in 1996. Senior army officers and state officials visited the graves of soldiers killed during the war.
2:00
Former BiH Army Colonel, Mijacevic [currently the member of SDP main board] was arrested by the RS police near Pelagicevo village yesterday. President of BiH strongly condemned the arrest and appealed to all international organisations help in Mijacevic’s immediate release. The arrest is a flagrant violation of the so-called Rules of the Road from Rome, which ought to be respected by all parties that signed the DPA. SDA, SDP, HDZ, UBSD and others also protested against Mijacevic’s arrest. According to IPTF from Tuzla, Mijacevic is accused of giving the order for shelling of one house in Modrica. The proceedings against Mijacevic will begin on June 1. Until then, he will stay imprisoned in Doboj. The SDP main board sent a letter to all relevant international organisations, including OHR, and local politicians and citizens of BiH, which says that Ivan Mijacevic was arrested on the charge of committing war crimes. However, the Hague Tribunal had never shown interest in Mijacevic so this incident is a flagrant violation of the DPA and freedom of movement in particular. SDP will stop implementing the DPA and boycott the local elections if Mijacevic is not released immediately.
3:00
Federal Ministry of Interior released a press statement with regard to the Djedovic case, stating that he was informed by the Ministry about the consequences he would face if the Mandatory Commission of the HoR denied him his immunity. After the Commission did that, the Ministry did not detain Djedovic at first because of the position of the HoP MP’s and Ambassador Steiner, but was kept in Holiday Inn with the presence of IPTF until the decision of The Hague Tribunal. After the Tribunal ruled that it had no interest in Djedovic’s case and that the procedure on his case should continue in accordance with the Roman Agreement, Djedovic was detained on the basis of the Bihac court decision from last year and taken to the District Prison in Sarajevo, also in the presence of IPTF. The Ministry has finished with all the activities it was obliged carry out, and now it is up to the court in Bihac to decide how to proceed.
4:00
Summary SRT News
Banja Luka – On the occasion of the VRS Army’s Day, RS President Biljana Plavsic received VRS Chief of Staff Maj.Gen. Pero Colic, corps commanders and officials from the RS Defense Ministry. At a press conference held after the reception, Gen. Colic stressed that the Army’s main objective was the preservation of the RS. The point is that we are building a professional army, but we are focused on training combat units as the best guarantee, the General specified.The central ceremony of celebrating the RS Army’s Day will be held in Prijedor on May 12 .
3’00”
Sarajevo – Sessions of the both Houses of the BiH Parliament have been adjourned because the Muslim side refused to accept the previously agreed agenda, reported the media. Namely, the draft on customs policy which was supposed to be discussed at the session of the BiH House of Representatives was not verified by Co-Chair Haris Silajdzic. The agenda for the session of the BiH House of Peoples agreed in April included a set of laws from the Quick Start package and the budget draft, but was altered altogether to include only the draft on immunity. The media quoted extensively a letter by RS deputies, addressed to HR Michael Steiner protesting against the manner in which the sessions of both parliamentary houses were conducted and the agendas altered.
Mr. Steiner, we believe that such behavior of the FBiH deputies is aimed at finding excuses to postpone the Donors Conference and as it has been practice before, the culprit would be easily found, read the letter. RS deputies further proposed that Mr. Steiner should be present at sessions of the Collegiate bodies of both Houses and protocol on agreed agendas signed beforehand in order to prevent obstructions in the work of BiH joint institutions.
6’00”
Pale – The SDS Main Board held a meeting today to review the current political and economic situation in the RS. A statement issued after the meeting maintained that the deplorable economic situation in the RS was a result of discriminatory politics of the international community towards the RS. The forthcoming municipal elections were on the agenda as well.
5’00”
Pale -Dragan Kalinic, Speaker of the RS National Assembly met with a group of French senators to discuss a number of issues related to the peace process and economical development.
2’00”
Belgrade – An RS delegation headed by PM Gojko Klickovic is visiting Belgrade today to meet with members of the FRY Government in order to conclude a trade agreement.
1’00”
Pale – Deputy PM Djuradj Banjac held talks with WB Special Envoy on projects in the field of communication and energy resources.
1’30”