News Headlines
- IC to act more aggressively against nationalists in BiH – Petritsch
- Barry statement
- Majority of BiH officials do not accept explanation for their dismissal, which they believe to be unfounded
- Final position on my status will be brought by RS National Assembly – dismissed RS National Assembly representative Zoran Nikolic
- Dismissed Sarajevo Canton Justice Minister Jusuf Zahiragic will respect High Representative decision on his dismissal
- Dismissed Serb Gorazde Mayor Slavko Topalovic blames Bosniak authorities in Gorazde for his dismissal
- Dismissed Gorazde Mayor Elvedin Hrelja says he expected dismissal
- Dismissed Serb Ilidza Mayor Obren Zeljaja will accept High Representative decision because he does not want to harm municipality
- SNS holds press conference
- Petritsch and Barry decision on dismissal of 22 BiH officials wrong path for creating political responsibility – SNSD
- Petritsch and Barry decision on Umicevic dismissal direct assault on people – Lazarevic
- SRS condemns Petritsch and Barry decision on dismissal
- Decision on dismissals precedent in democratic practice – RS Party of Democratic Progress
- Petritsch participates in session of Peace Implementation Council Steering Board in Brussels – OHR spokesperson Milisic
- International organizations hold press conference in Sarajevo
- Sloga Presidency holds session
- BiH House of Peoples does not continue session due to lack of quorum
- RS Soldiers’ Association, RS Defense Ministry and RS Privatization Agency discuss categorization of soldiers in privatization process
- Banja Luka Incel workers go on strike requesting payment of seven back salaries as well as health and social security insurance
- IMC suspends work of RTV St. George
- BiH Federation House of Representatives continues session
- 30,000 Velika Kladusa citizens emigrated abroad – Tanjug
- Deadline for voter registration for BiH local elections expires for BiH refugees living in Yugoslavia
- Genocide practiced in Kosovo – Ivanov
- Kosovo calm last 24 hours – KFOR spokesperson Lavoir
- Two explosions heard in Decani – Lavoir
- KFOR prevents illegal Albanian entry into Kosovo at Morina border crossing
- Period since adoption of UN resolution has been time of crime in Kosovo – Kosovo Provisional Council President Andjelkovic
- UN concerned over lack of functioning judiciary in Kosovo – Mitrovica Serb National Council President Ivanovic
- If Albanians continue attacking Serbs in Kosovo, they risk losing support of IC – British politician Ashdown
- US to grant aid for stabilization of Balkans if asked – Cohen
- Those who oppose dismissal will be isolated and removed – Petritsch
- Peace Implementation Council Steering Board supports OSCE, UN and SFOR actions against those who obstruct Dayton Agreement
- Peace Implementation Council Steering Board welcomes High Representative, IMC and SFOR joint position on necessary freedom of media
- Steps towards establishment of modern RTV system will be made in BiH Federation – Petritsch
- Last day of voter registration is 30 November – OSCE
- Canadian official Hancock new Head of OHR Regional Office Banja Luka
- Conference on national economy in BiH held in Sarajevo
- Rugova and US Presidential Advisor Pardew concerned by incidents in Kosovo and condemn them
- IC provided freedom for just one part of Kosovo population – Bishop Artemije
- Yugoslav Foreign Ministry representative in Kosovska Mitrovica protests to UN due to its inefficiency regarding missing persons
- 17 Albanians arrested in Istok in May released from Serbian prisons – BETA
- EU will continue ‘Energy for Democracy’ program – Patten
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News Summary
IC to act more aggressively against nationalists in BiH – Petritsch
High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch stated that the IC is going to act more aggressively towards nationalists in BiH, adding that he is aware that those politicians who were dismissed are only “the tip of the iceberg” but altering politics must start from the lowest, local level. Petritsch explained that the officials that will replace those dismissed would be elected in a democratic manner. According to him, the Banja Luka Mayor would not be removed by force, but would be isolated with appropriate means. As he concluded, SFOR has prepared their measures, but they are unnecessary now.
00:40
Barry statement
In an interview for Dnevni Avaz, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Robert Barry announced the decision to dismiss 22 BiH officials. Political parties have been clearly informed which members they cannot consider for executive authorities. He added that the IC has already warned political parties that they would closely monitor the activities of party officials before the 2000 elections. According to Barry, it was a coincidence that an equal number of Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats were dismissed. Barry added that these dismissals are not the beginning or end, but a continuation, and that the OSCE and OHR would undertake similar measures should anyone violate laws in the future.
00:53
SNS holds press conference
SNS Vice-president Stanko Stanic stated at a press conference that the SNS does not approve of the decision by High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch and Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Robert Barry to dismiss 22 officials in BiH, but that the decision must be implemented and respected. Commenting on the New York Declaration, Stanic said that the SRS and SDS politicized the issue. He believes that the Declaration is not a law, but a basis for passing certain laws, such as the Law on the Border Service. The SNS will support multiethnic border police according to the present composition of the border population, not the pre-war composition. They will also request that BiH citizens traveling to former Yugoslav republics not be required to obtain visas. Regarding the election of a new or restructured RS Government, Stanic concluded that the SNS position is that the present Government should function until the upcoming elections.
01:30
Petritsch and Barry decision to dismiss Umicevic direct assault on people – Lazarevic
RS Serb Party President Predrag Lazarevic stated at a press conference that the decision to dismiss Banja Luka Mayor Djordje Umicevic is an assault on the people and that the High Representative cannot be above the will of people. The Serb Party will request an extraordinary session of the Banja Luka City Assembly so that the representatives could publicly state their position on the dismissal. They would also use all legal and democratic means to annul the decision. The party believes that one of the reasons for the decision is the Umicevic’s establishment of good relations with Moscow and Beijing. According to Lazarevic, the aim of the decision is to diminish the RS before the municipal elections in BiH. Party Vice-president Aleksandar Iliskovic stated that they would initiate the establishment of a Serb National Council. The party’s City Board President Ljubomir Puvacic said that the dismissal of Umicevic is an attack on the stabilization of Banja Luka.
01:02
IMC suspends work of RTV St. George
The IMC has suspended the work of TV St. George for 90 days due to its violation of the IMC Code for Program Editing. The deadline for St. George to pay a fine of 1,000 KM expired on 8 October 1999. If the station pays the fine within the suspension period, the ban on broadcasting will be shortened. If it does not, the station will be deprived of its broadcast license. According to an IMC announcement, this decision is effective as of 30 November and the station has the right to appeal.
00:37