News Headlines
- RS Government, Syndicate and Economic Chamber sign amended law on collective contracts and minimum wage
- RS Interior Ministry staff holds session in Slatina, near Banja Luka
- RS Army General Galic transferred to The Hague – ICTY spokesperson Risley
- Indictments against RS Army General Talic and RS National Assembly representative Brdjanin broadened – ICTY
- ICTY leading 19 investigations, to start 17 more – Carla del Ponte
- Del Ponte holds press conference on work of ICTY
- RS National Assembly Commission for political system and judiciary holds session on privatization of public flats
- SDS holds press conference
- SFOR will encourage all steps towards creation of joint BiH Army – SFOR Commander Adams for Reporter
- UNIPTF holds press conference
- No agreement between BiH Foreign Ministry and IC on number of polling stations in BiH for elections in Croatia – BiH Foreign Ministry
- HDZ will not influence decision on appointment of candidates for Diaspora in Croatian elections – HDZ BiH spokesperson Tomic
- Petritsch still fully trusts Mostar OHR Head Sontheim – OHR reaction to Croat disruption of relations with OHR Mostar
- 11 municipal unions of refugees from RS living in Zenica-Doboj Canton demand Petritsch influence opening of offices for privatization in all BiH Federation cantons
- Cohen visits US SFOR troops in Tuzla
- UNMIK residence in Prizren damaged by earthquake – UN
- Exhumations in Kosovo to last five months – Del Ponte
- Serb professors from Orahovac and Velika Hoca send open letter to UN, protesting against Albanian terrorist crime on 17 December, when they murdered one Serb and injured several others
- Serbian Journalists’ Association protests to KFOR for not allowing them to visit some villages and monasteries in Kosovo
- World news
- 650 years of Dusan’s Legal Code – roundtable held in Banja Luka
- Sports
- Weather
- RS Government satisfied with work of RS Interior Ministry in 1999 – Dodik
- ECHO invests 80 million euros in Yugoslav humanitarian programs
- Russia will not renew relations with NATO because of its disrespect of the UN Kosovo Resolution – Russian Defense Ministry
News Summary
SDS holds press conference
At a press conference held in Banja Luka, SDS Vice-president Dragan Cavic stated that the party would not accept the proposed agenda for the 9th RS National Assembly session until all conclusions from the 8th session are realized. He added that the Assembly concluded that RT RS should submit a complete report on its work to the Assembly and, although RT RS did so, the Assembly leadership, i.e., Sloga, did not discuss the report. The SDS will not accept this. He also presented a document drafted by the RS Health Ministry, Goods Reserve Office and Pensioners’ Insurance Fund for municipal Sloga leaders, stating that the RS Government would give gifts to pensioners. Cavic believes that, by doing this, Sloga abuses authority institutions in order to secure voters for the upcoming elections. SDS President Dragan Kalinic discussed the two-year results of Sloga, saying that it leads the RS into catastrophe. All economic data shows a difficult economic situation during Sloga rule. During the first nine months of 1999, production decreased by 1.5% per month, prices increased by 15.3% and the cost of living increased by 18%. According to Kalinic, foreign taxpayers who invest in the RS know very little of this. Should Sloga reject the most recent proposal of the SDS for a compromise that would save the RS, the SDS would take over partial responsibility for the destiny of RS. By using all democratic methods and allowed political means, the SDS intends to overthrow Sloga.
02:29
UNIPTF holds press conference
UNIPTF spokesperson Alun Roberts stated at a press conference in Banja Luka that groups of citizens prevented the eviction of two families in Banja Luka on 15 and 21 December. He expressed concern over the behavior of police, because they were passive and few in number. Regarding Serb returns to Sanski Most, Roberts said that winter makes return difficult. The Sanski Most Chief of Police refused to cooperate with the IPTF on potential return. The UN and other organizations will undertake more serious measures after the trial against corrupted officials in Sanski Most. Roberts added that the employment of minority police officers in Canton 10 is not going according to plan. He concluded by saying that the Sarajevo Police Academy accepted one Serb.
01:12