Headlines
- The RS delegation went to Madrid to the international Peace Implementation Council
- The RS President, Nikola Poplasen expressed the hope that the RS standpoints would be respected in Madrid
- Dayton takes an exam in Madrid – said Radisic
- Reforming of the police and judiciary will be the main topics of the Madrid Conference- Carlos Westendorp
- Clinton-Arafat meeting in Gaza
- Indictment raised against suspects in Srdjan Knezevic murder
The RS delegation flew to Madrid where it will take part in the work of the Peace Implementation Council. The delegation consists of the RS President, Nikola Poplasen, Chairman of the B&H Presidency, Zivko Radisic, RS Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik and co-chairman in the B&H Council of Ministers, Boro Bosic. The Conference will be opened by the Spanish Prime Minister tomorrow at 10 a.m.
1:01
Just before the RS delegation took off for Madrid, the RS President, Nikola Poplasen and Chairman of the B&H Presidency, Zivko Raidisic addressed the press at Banja Luka Airport. Poplasen expressed the hope that the standpoints of the RS representatives would be respected, adding that the proposal of the final declaration text and annex to the declaration were just cause for dissatisfaction. Radisic expressed optimism, emphasising that RS and B&H citizens expect the most of the Madrid Conference.
1:23
Reforming of the police and establishment of an independent judiciary are primary questions in terms of establishing permanent peace in B&H and they will be the main topics of the Madrid Conference – Carlos Westendorp said. As Tanjug reports, Westendorp said that it is most important in this period to transform the B&H police which should be democratic, multi ethnic and professional. Talking about the judiciary, Westendorp said it is necessary to establish independent, impartial and multi ethnic judiciary which would be free from the influence of local authorities.
0:45
Biljana Plavsic estimated that the RS would have been better off at the Madrid Conference if it had elected a new government which would have the possibility to communicate with the international community. She assessed as positive the distinction between entity and B&H sovereignty in the draft of the Madrid declaration.
0:33
SDS is pleased because the RS delegation went to Madrid with a single platform about the declaration – SDS Spokesperson, Dragana Beric said at the press conference. With some stipulations in the declaration, the international community tries to establish pre-war B&H structure – Beric said. As one example she listed the stipulation in the declaration with which the Council of Ministers would be made up of 6 instead of the current 3 members which means establishment of B&H government.
0:37
Deputy Head of the SNSD caucus in the RS NA, Krstan Simic said to SRNA that we can expect some restrictive measures at the Madrid Conference, expressing his concerns about the announcement that the powers of the High Representative would be increased and demobilisation of entity armies.
0:29
The European Council delegation of the local and regional governments visited Banja Luka and talked with the RS NA Speaker, Petar Djokic and representative of the RS Association of municipalities and towns. Petar Djokic informed the EC delegation about activities of the National Assembly relating to the election of the new RS Government.
0:37
Petar Djokic talked with the Head of the German Embassy office in Banja Luka about the activities of the RS NA relating to the election of the new RS Government.
0:15
The Working group on tracing missing persons will meet on December 15, 1998 in Sarajevo.
0:24
The RS General, Radislav Krstic, who is in the Hague prison, is not on hunger strike – Krstan Simic, Banja Luka lawyer, said.
0:45
The District Prosecutor in S. Sarajevo brought charges against suspects in the Srdjan Knezevic murder.
0:33
Distribution of KM coins of 10, 20, and 50 pfennigs started on December 8, 1998. As we learned in the Banja Luka Payment operations service, they received coins of 10 and 20 pfennigs on December 14 and 50-pfennig coins are expected to arrive this week.
0:13
Kosovo related issues:
- It is expected that Hill and Holbrooke will arrive in Belgrade on Tuesday as well as William Walker, the Head of the OSCE mission.
- Several Albanians were killed trying to cross the Albania-FRY border illegally – Pristina Media Centre reports.
- KLA attacked Belacevac mine.
- Families of missing persons in Kosovo gave a list of names of the missing to the Head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, W. Walker