News Headlines
- Radisic, Sarovic, Djokic and Dodik organize New Year reception for RS officials
- Radisic and Djokic organize reception for journalists
- Sarovic, Dodik and Mihajlovic send New Year’s greetings to RS citizens
- Patriarch Pavle appeals for peaceful celebration of New Year
- Petritsch sends New Year’s greetings to BiH citizens
- Izetbegovic expects establishment of BiH border police
- Acting Banja Luka Mayor Crnadak expects explanation of destiny of 1,200 missing persons in RS
- 1999 was year of stagnation – RS Syndicate Union President Volas
- UNIPTF and OHR spokespeople Roberts and Milisic dissatisfied with BiH House of Representatives failure to adopt law on BiH border service
- BiH Parliament session not held
- Serb Resistance Movement leader Trajkovic wants Yugoslav forces to return to Kosovo, but does not feel conditions are right
- Orahovac and Velika Hoca Serbs demand Kouchner and Reinhardt provide them freedom of movement or collective emigration
- Orahovac Serb National Board requests KFOR intensify patrols during New Year celebrations
- Czech KFOR to be ready for any incidents 31 December and 1 January
- Italian KFOR breaks into police station led by KLA and confiscates weapons and ammunition
- RS Office for Implementation of Traffic Projects denies RT RS talk show claims on price of reconstruction of Banja Luka-Gradiska road (price only 4,358,963 DM, not 8 million)
- 507 families have returned to Zenica as of 30 November
- SDA denies involvement in manipulating voter lists abroad
- IC to punish Central Bosnia Canton Croat police officers for refusing to wear joint symbols of BiH Federation on their uniforms
- World news
- SRS will make efforts to construct BiH judicial system in 2000 – SRS official Brankovic
- Independent SDS holds press conference
- Pavlovica Most border crossing closed due to flooding of Sava and Drina rivers
- Weather
- 1 January non-working holiday in RS – RS Ministry for Issues of Fallen Soldiers, Victims of War and Labor
- Montenegrin people have right to choose to live outside Yugoslavia if they think that is better for them – Milosevic
- China very worried over unstable situation in Kosovo – Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson
- US plans to dethrone Milosevic – Russian Defense Ministry
- Norwegian Government donates fuel to opposition-ruled towns in Yugoslavia
News Summary
Radisic and Djokic organize reception for journalists
BiH Presidency Member Zivko Radisic and RS National Assembly Speaker Petar Djokic organized a reception for journalists in Banja Luka. Radisic stated that, although BiH has been recognized by the International Community, it cannot survive without the equality of the RS and BiH Federation. He added that 1999 was complex and difficult year and that 2000 would be a year of economic prosperity, peace and stability. Djokic thanked the journalists for their objective reporting on RS National Assembly sessions and for their contribution to affirmation of the RS as a community governed by Rule of Law. He added that we can expect a positive turn in economic and overall relations. Djokic believes that privatization is a good chance for the RS and that 1999 was used to educate all those participating in privatization. He concluded that affirmation of cooperation with the world would be the highest priority in 2000.
01:13
Izetbegovic expects establishment of BiH border police
BiH Presidency Member Alija Izetbegovic stated that he expects the establishment of BiH border police and a continuation of the refugee return process in the year 2000. According to ONASA, he added that the main problem in returns is a lack of political will and funds. He believes that emphasis on the breakthrough of the KM throughout BiH is not big enough, which is not only an important economic fact, but a political one as well. Izetbegovic is of the opinion that another important element is establishment of a customs system in BiH. According to him, the priority would be acceptance of BiH into the European Council, cooperation with Stability Pact countries and Croatia and the establishment of unconditional diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia.
00:55
Independent SDS holds press conference
The Independent SDS will take part in the Croatian parliamentary elections. As party President Milorad Pupovac stated, 331, 000 Serb refugees from Croatia make up 18% of the voting body and “it is absurd that they are able to elect only one representative to Parliament.” He added that three of 15 polling stations in BiH would be open in the RS – in Prijedor, Banja Luka and Brcko. Serbs from Croatia would also vote in Croatian consulates in Yugoslavia – in Subotica, Belgrade and Kotor. Pupovac concluded that Serbs from Croatia are still registered on the lists of national minorities, not the general lists.
00:56