OHR SRT News Summary, 11 May 1999 - Office of the High Representative

Three people were killed and more than twenty wounded on the 49th day of aggression against the FRY
The Security Council did not accept the request of China to condemn NATO for the bombardment of its embassy in Belgrade – China condemned such a standpoint
Announcement of the withdrawal of the Yugoslav Army from Kosmet caused different reactions in the international community
On the occasion of May 12, the Day of the RS Army, numerous congratulations are addressed to the RS Army members
The BiH Parliament House of Representatives adopted the budget amounting to KM 219 million

In one of the most massive attacks of the NATO aggressor on the FRY, on the 49th day of the aggression, three people were killed in Lipljani and more than twenty were wounded in the attack in the broader area of Cacak, Kraljevo and Nis. There followed more detailed reports of Srna correspondents from Pristina, Nis, Belgrade and Podgorica on the consequences of today’s NATO strikes on targets throughout the FRY.

The majority of UN Security Council members last night rejected China’s request to condemn NATO for the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. China requested the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to start immediately an investigation into the bombing and to submit a report on it by May 14. In the coming days, there will be bilateral consultations held in the Security Council aimed at reaching a compromise, the UN Security Council president stated. However, China will keep requesting that the Security Council condemn the bombing.

Diplomatic activities regarding the resolution of the Kosmet crisis continue. There followed a more detailed report on Chernomyrdin’s visit to Peking, today’s meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia and France in Moscow, tomorrow’s Moscow meeting of the presidents of Russia and France. The arrival of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Talbot in Moscow during the night is expected. Talbot is due to meet with Chernomyrdin. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder left for Peking. The British Foreign Minister Robin Cook called on China not to use the right of veto for the blockade of any agreement in the UN Security Council regarding Kosovo.

Members of the terrorist KLA reject the efforts of the international community to find a political solution of the Kosmet issue, Tanjug carries, reporting that the leader of the Kosovo Democratic Union Ibrahim Rugova is accused of being a traitor to his people.

The UK “Independent” carries, as it is reported, a surprisingly sharp attack of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the media, especially on TV stations like BBC and CNN, for broadcasting Serbian propaganda on the civilian victims, whereas they tackle less the refugee crisis from Kosmet. According to the assessment of the newspapers, the attack on the media represents the government’s frustration at the failure of the military alliance in the propaganda war.

Hungary joined the sanctions, which the European Union imposed on Yugoslavia, Hungarian media report, citing the spokesperson of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry.

The Czech President Vatslav Havel stated today that, regarding the war in the FRY, a solution is about to be reached, Czech radio reported. According to Havel, the solution would mean the presence of peace forces, sent from NATO countries and Russia and possibly some other countries engaged in the “Partnership for Peace” programme, as well as international administration in Kosovo with a UN mandate and a new round of negotiations on the future status of Kosovo.

China and Russia today jointly condemned, at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, the strikes against Yugoslavia as well as the plan of the USA to develop a new rocket nuclear system. The USA today rejected the Chinese request for the halt of the NATO bombing of the FRY before the UN Security Council makes a resolution on Kosovo.

The decision of the Supreme Command of the Yugoslav Army on the partial withdrawal of military troops and police from Kosovo caused different reactions throughout the world. There followed a more detailed report.

There followed a report on today’s NATO briefing. General Walter Jertz stated that NATO had not noticed any signs of withdrawal of Serb troops and that the air strikes would continue. NATO spokesperson Jamie Shea stated that NATO insisted upon the withdrawal of all military troops and police from Kosovo. Shea went on to say that NATO did not believe President Milosevic, since, in October 1998, Milosevic had not kept his promise to withdraw part of the police units from Kosovo. Shea also stated that the KLA suffered big losses in intensified struggles with the Yugoslav Army, but despite that, their moral is at a high level. Shea also added that 10,000 refugees arrived in Albania yesterday.

Today is the second day of the hearing before the International Court in The Hague on charges which the FRY brought against ten countries – the NATO members. There followed a more detailed report.

The RS President, Nikola Poplasen, dismissed from the Office by the High Representative, talked last night with the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly reporters for BiH, Peter Bloetzer and Gelderblom-Lankhout, on conditions for admission of BiH to the Council of Europe and the situation in the RS.

The BiH Parliament House of Representatives today unanimously adopted the budget for this year amounting to KM 219 million. There followed a more detailed report.

The BiH CoM Co-chairman Svetozar Mihajlovic met with the Turkish Ambassador to BiH in Sarajevo today. They discussed the realisation of credits, which Turkey had approved to the RS, amounting to DM 102 million.

The BiH CoM held a session today. There followed a report.

On the occasion of May 12, the Day of the RS Army, Zivko Radisic, Petar Djokic and Tihomir Gligoric addressed congratulations to all members of the RS Army. There followed a more detailed report on the activities related to the celebration of the Day of the RS Army.

SNS held a press conference in Banja Luka today.

Report on the SNSD press conference held in Banja Luka today.

The meeting of the SDS Presidency and the Executive Board of the RS Serb Radical Party was held in Bijeljina today. The meeting was held without the presence of journalists and after the meeting a press release was issued. There followed a more detailed report.

The report on the IO press conference held in Sarajevo today.

FBiH related news.

World news.