OHR RTRS News Summary, 2 December 1999

News Headlines

RS National Assembly holds extraordinary session on New York Declaration
BiH Presidency members signed New York Declaration – Haselock
International organizations hold press conference
Farrand secures equipment for Brcko hospital information center
Serb and Bosniak Refugee Societies from Brcko hold session on property return
Belgrade Association for Assistance to Refugees and Displaced Persons sends letter to Petritsch and Barry
Sarajevo is key to refugee problems – Belgrade Association for Assistance to Refugees and Displaced Persons
Since signing of Dayton Agreement, 337,000 refugees have returned to BiH and Croatia
335,000 displaced persons have returned to their homes in BiH and Croatia
US Catholic humanitarian aid vehicle activates explosive on road near Gacko, four injured – RS Interior Ministry Information Service
UN and UNHCR spokespersons Hoffman and Smith worried over incident in Fazlagica Kula
Discussion on training center held in Glamoc on 1 December
Four ministers resign at Tuzla Cantonal Assembly session
216 accommodations being reconstructed in Bugojno
Erotel sends appeal to IMC
Herceg-Bosna Executive Board dismisses Erotel Executive Board
Level of violence lower in Kosovo – Rheinhart
Situation calm in Kosovo – KFOR spokesperson Lavoir
One house burned near Pristina
Russia might revise its level of presence in Kosovo – Ivanov’s deputy
Serb National Council President Bishop Artemije speaks with UN Special Envoy Kukan on position of Serbs in Kosovo
General Smith speaks with Kosovo Corps Commander Tcehu on Kosovo Corps consolidation
Kosovska Mitrovica Serb National Council speaks with US representatives regarding problems in Kosovska Mitrovica
US starts investigation into misappropriation of US humanitarian aid sent to Kosovo – Rubin
Reason for WFO plane crash can be break in communications – UN RC Kosovska Mitrovica
Radisic and Dodik speak separately with US Ambassador to BiH Miller on current situation in RS, dismissal of 22 officials in BiH and New York Declaration
World news
Banja Luka Public Safety Station raises charges against Parma Trade owner Zijic for tax evasion
SRS holds press conference
RS Government, Banja Luka and Laktasi authorities sign agreement with Swedish organization on information system
Banja Luka University and Belgrade Art University sign agreement on cooperation
Culture
Sports and weather
RS National Assembly members discuss New York Declaration
RS National Assembly to continue extraordinary session on New York Declaration on 3 December
Petritsch and Barry dissatisfied with BiH Parliament inactivity regarding adoption of Election Law
Reduction of SFOR troops starts on 2 December
15,000 BiH refugees in Germany submit application for migration to US
NATO Defense Ministers hold session on BiH, Kosovo and Yugoslavia
NATO Defense Ministers on progress in BiH
Violence must be stopped in Kosovo – NATO Defense Ministers
Stability depends on Yugoslav democratization – Balkan Foreign Ministers
Kouchner visits Tirana
Kouchner to speak with Albanian Prime Minister and President on border control
Russian Government requests UN Security Council extraordinary session on Kosovo
Orahovac Serbs send open letter to Orahovac administrator on Albanian Flag Day celebration
Kosovo Albanian representative Cosia asks Kosovo Albanians to stop violence in Kosovo
Simic trial at ICTY

News Summary

RS National Assembly holds extraordinary session on New York Declaration

The RS National Assembly held an extraordinary session in Banja Luka on Wednesday. BiH Council of Ministers Co-chairman Svetozar Mihajlovic stated that they discussed four items at the roundtable in New York. Mihajlovic added that some representatives of the BiH Federation opposition, such as Kljuic, Lazovic and Zubak, had asked for revisions to the Dayton Agreement. Mihajlovic also said that RS representatives were against revision. Officials of the International Community supported the RS representatives. RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik stated that their attitudes were similar to those of the International Community. Dodik added that they were against a joint army, but could accept a military downsizing in the RS and BiH Federation. Regarding the New York Declaration, Dodik stated that the official document was not same as the document adopted at the conference. The Border Service was defined by the Dayton Agreement, but the national structure should not be the same as the national structure of the 1991 registration. Dodik claims that joint passports were not adopted in New York and suggested that RS National Assembly permit the issuing of BiH passports without entity signs. According to Dodik, the New York Declaration is just a document for discussion. Dodik thinks that RS soldiers should participate in peace operations if they wear uniforms and insignias of the RS Army. BiH Presidency Member Zivko Radisic pointed out that the New York Declaration was neither signed nor adopted. Radisic is against revisions of the Dayton Agreement, reconstruction of the current law on the BiH Council of Ministers and joint BiH Army. According to RS Vice-president Mirko Sarovic, the New York Declaration is the most dangerous attack on RS autonomy. Sarovic stated that the RS has jurisdiction over its army and police. Regarding the Border Service, Sarovic stated that this is not a Dayton issue. Sarovic also said that entity passports should not lose their importance. According to Sarovic, RS citizens should declare their position on the New York Declaration.