29.11.1999

OHR RTRS News Summary, 29 November 1999

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News Headlines

  • Petritsch and Barry dismiss 22 officials in BiH
  • Petritsch address to BiH citizens
  • Barry forbids dismissed officials to run in upcoming municipal elections and hold public office
  • Umicevic holds special press conference to discuss dismissal
  • RS Supreme Defense Council holds session on defense and security
  • Dodik and Bicakcic discuss customs, property laws and privatization
  • Dodik and Bicakcic readjust customs tax
  • Bicakcic opens BiH Federation privatization office in Banja Luka
  • RS Government instructions on ending use of Yugoslav Dinar in RS
  • RT RS polls Banja Luka citizens on implementation of RS Government instructions on Dinar
  • Razvojna Banka (Development Bank) respects RS Government instructions on Dinar
  • Directors of certain Banja Luka companies think RS Government instructions on Dinar another attack on economy
  • RS Government instructions on Dinar do not provoke reactions in Bijeljina
  • Prizren Church Court torched
  • During celebrations of Albanian Flag Day, Kosovo Albanians kill one Serb and injure two others in Pristina
  • Reinhardt condemns attack on Serbs in Pristina
  • Two Kosovo Albanians murdered, two UN police officers injured in Gnjilane, Kosovo
  • KFOR Russian soldiers attacked in northern Kosovo
  • Serb National Council of Kosovska Mitrovica agrees to Kosovo Albanian mayor
  • KFOR transfers prisoners between Prizren and Kosovska Mitrovica
  • Relations between Bosniaks in HN Canton and OHR still frozen
  • BiH Federation House of Representatives adopts 2000 budget
  • OSCE Drvar held seminar for acting municipal officials last week
  • Oslobodjenje reports on tax laws
  • Conference on constitutional and legislative stability in Balkans held in Kranj, Slovenia
  • World news
  • Central heating in Prijedor
  • New digital phone switchboard opens in Banja Luka
  • Recommendations of Sarajevo-Pale road reconstruction coordination team
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • Petritsch annuls decision to appoint Tupadzija
  • Municipal and cantonal institutions must appoint new officials to replace those dismissed
  • Izetbegovic Advisor Mirza Hajric comments on decision to replace 22 officials throughout BiH
  • Tuzla Mayor Beslagic applauds decision to replace 22 BiH officials
  • SDA supports all decisions by High Representative – SDA spokesperson Jahic
  • War to start in Balkans if foreign troops withdraw – Bildt
  • Serb National Council Executive Board of Kosovo holds meeting
  • Culture

News Summary

Petritsch and Barry dismiss 22 officials in BiH

High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch and OSCE Head of Mission to BiH Robert Barry dismissed 22 officials in BiH. The dismissed officials did not, within the scope of their authorities, assist in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

00:20

Petritsch addresses to BiH citizens

High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch informed citizens of the very difficult decision brought by himself and OSCE Head of Mission to BiH Robert Barry. Petritsch stated that they had dismissed certain officials in BiH. In New York, members of the BiH Presidency, in their declaration, stated that there was no place in BiH politics for anti- Dayton forces that intercede for ethnic hate and separation. Petritsch and Barry concluded that they should use the authorities granted to them to dismiss anti-Dayton forces. Any such decision is not brought easily. Petritsch and Barry closely investigated and checked the reasons for the dismissal of all officials. They found out whether they had been violating the law and obstructing peace implementation. The officials dismissed include cantonal ministers, governors, parliamentarians, municipal heads, mayors and employees of the Housing Issues Office. Not one of them was fulfilling their obligation to the citizens. For example, one cantonal interior minister was dismissed because he refused to suspend a police officer that beat and harassed citizens. Members of the Housing Issues Office who refuse citizens their rights in regard to homes and property were dismissed as well. The dismissals were necessary since these officials had not been carrying out their professional obligations and respecting civil rights. Responsible leadership and respect for the law are necessary for BiH to join Europe. These are the main conditions for increased economic investment, development and employment. The dismissed officials were blocking the way to a better future.

03:32

NOTE: After Petritsch’s address, RT RS broadcast the names of dismissed officials, their official duties and reasons for their dismissal.

07:15

Umicevic holds special press conference to discuss dismissal

On Tuesday in Banja Luka, dismissed Banja Luka Mayor Djordje Umicevic held a press conference. Umicevic stated that he would stay on as Mayor of Banja Luka. He added that, during the week, he would call a special session of the Banja Luka City Assembly. According to Umicevic, only the Banja Luka City Assembly is authorized to decide whether he should remain as mayor or not. Umicevic rejected the explanation for his dismissal by High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch and OSCE Mission Head of Mission Robert Barry. Umicevic pointed out that he had been expecting the decision since the beginning of November. Umicevic said that someone wants to provoke incidents in Banja Luka. “They want to turn this currently good situation in Banja Luka into the same situation of conflict currently in the BiH Federation” he said. Umicevic commented on IC activities in BiH with a single word: “Protectorate.” Umicevic stated that dialogue between the people of BiH was absolutely necessary. According to the decision by Petritsch and Barry, Mihajlo Crnadak, currently Deputy Mayor of Banja Luka, will take up the post of Acting Mayor of Banja Luka.

01:33