OHR RTRS News Summary, 13 January 2000 – Office of the High Representative

News Headlines

Petritsch imposes law on BiH Border Service
No official reaction to Petritsch decision to impose BiH Border Service
RS Government supports law on BiH border service – Dodik
BiH Parliament House of Representatives Chairman Banjac and House of Peoples Co-chairman Ljubicic meet with European Council envoys in Sarajevo
SPRS does not oppose law on BiH border service – SPRS member Cudic
SRS holds press conference
Djokic schedules continuation of Ninth RS National Assembly session for 25 January
Djokic send Orthodox New Year’s greetings to RS citizens
Dodik organizes reception for journalists on occasion of New Year
Petritsch issues decision clarifying the RS Law on Implementation of the Decisions of the CRPC
Association for Return of Serbs to Sarajevo receives office
IMC reaction to Vasic statement
RT RS credited for objective reporting during aggression on Yugoslavia
Bicakcic and Slovenian Ambassador to BiH Mirosic discuss construction Gorenje factory in Blazuj, west of Sarajevo
Independent Union of Professional Journalists invites BiH reporters to attempt to prevent adoption of law on libel and slander proposed by BiH Federation Government – ONASA
Problems in both halves of Mostar but the IC does not have equal approach in resolving them – Mostar Mayor Prskalo
SDP BiH Vice-president Gojer accuses ruling parties in BiH Federation of leading campaign against SDP due to SDP victory in Croatian elections
U.S Chief of Joint Staff Sheldon praises engagement of US soldiers in Kosovo
Albanian terrorists kill two more members of Skenderi family in Prizren
Thaci condemns murder of Muslim family in Prizren
Body of male victim found in Vucitrn on 29 December 1999 – KFOR
Albanian terrorists attack Habici family in Lipljan – Tanjug
Transformation of KLA cannot be executed without problems occurring – head of Kosovo Protection Corps
KFOR to intensify presence around Serb enclaves in Kosovo due to New Orthodox New Year celebrations
Gracanica Serbs celebrate Orthodox New Year
Pozarevac court releases 10 Albanians
Pec prosecutor Soskic raises charges against 144 Djakovica Albanians – BETA
Montenegrin, Serbian, US and EU delegations to discuss aid to needy and poor in Serbia on 19 January
Opposition meeting in Belgrade had ‘advertising significance’ – SPS spokesman Dacic
Granic resigns from all duties in HDZ – BETA
Seks puts moratorium on activities in HDZ until end of elections – BETA
Croatian HDZ member Ivic Pasalic freezes membership in HDZ – BETA
Transfer of authorities to Racan will be carried out as agreed – Croatian Prime Minister Matesa
ICTY Prosecutor’s Office requests that Croatia delivers all documents related to trials of Kordic and Cerkez
World News
UN Security Council decides to extend UN mission in Prevlaka for additional six months – BETA
Construction of RS Academy of Arts and Sciences to start in Banja Luka this year
Banja Luka Reporter magazine to sue Dodik for statements it worked against RS interests
Orthodox New Year celebrated by Serbian, Russian and Jerusalem churches
Patriarch Pavle to officiate at mass on occasion of St. Circumcision on 14 January in Belgrade
Weather

News Summary

Petritsch imposes law on BiH Border Service

OHR spokesman James Ferguson told a press conference in Sarajevo that High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch decided to impose the Law on BiH Border Service due to the constant failure of the BiH Parliament House of Representatives to adopt it. UN Special Envoy Jacques Klein supported this decision. Ferguson added that Petritsch is extremely dissatisfied with the inability of Serb representatives in the BiH House of Representatives to represent the honest people of BiH. Petritsch will not allow a few state representatives from the RS to disrupt the hopes of the entire country for prosperous and open future. According to Ferguson, Petritsch believes that these officials claim to protect the so-called national interests of RS citizens but in fact are harming the development of the RS and welfare of its citizens with this kind of obstruction. Petritsch will not accept the stressed neglect of the interests of BiH citizens and their future, the Dayton Agreement, the Madrid Declaration of the Peace Implementation Council and New York Declaration of the BiH Presidency because obstruction is not an option. Unfortunately, the BiH House of Representatives showed it is not ready to provide leadership that would lead BiH into Europe and a prosperous and democratic future, said Ferguson. The High Representative expects the BiH Ministry for Civil Affairs and Communications to immediately apply regulations from the Law on BiH Border Service because it is vital for European integration. European Commission spokesman Frano Marojevic stated that the EC is disappointed that Petritsch had to impose this law and added that the failure of the BiH House of Representatives, by which BiH stands to lose millions of KM, could have an influence over international donors. Ferguson also said that Petritsch welcomes an agreement between the three director generals of the BiH Civil Aviation Directorate with neighboring countries on the control of airspace, which will open for civilian air traffic on 27 January. Meanwhile, OSCE spokesperson Tanya Domi announced public draws for determining the order of political parties and candidates on election lists for the upcoming BiH municipal elections. The draw will be held on 18 January.