Headlines
- Brcko as a district would be the worst possible solution, Dodik stated after having returned from Vienna
- Serbian President Milutinovic – Serbia and Yugoslavia do not accept the plan for sending NATO soldiers to Kosmet
- A protectorate has been introduced in BiH, the EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Van den Broek believes
- The 195th anniversary of the first Serb rebellion celebrated in Orasac
- 5 people killed in US bombing of Iraqi anti-aircraft defences
- main roads in the RS passable; winter equipment necessary
Having returned today from Vienna where they testified before the Arbitration Tribunal, the RS National Assembly Speaker Petar Djokic, Prime Minister Milorad Dodik and Expert for Economic Issues Mladen Ivanic expressed expectations that the final arbitration decision on the area of Brcko should be that Brcko should remain within the RS. At a press conference, Prime Minister Dodik assessed that a special district would be the worst possible solution, since in that way Brcko would become a permanent target of extremists from both the RS and the BiH Federation.
4:05
The arbitration process on the IEBL in the area of Brcko continued in Vienna today with the testimony of witnesses from the BiH Federation. Senior BiH Federation officials are to testify tomorrow. It is also expected that Mr. Izetbegovic is to appear before the Tribunal as well. The final word of the Tribunal Chairman Mr. Roberts Owen is to be heard in a few days’ time, which will mark the end of the session.
1:15
By the new competencies of the High Representative Carlos Westendorp, which were given to him at the Madrid Conference, a protectorate in BiH has been introduced, believes the European Union Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, Hans van den Broek, Srna reports. According to van den Broek, there is practically a protectorate in BiH, which is a worrying situation since one wonders when this country is going to function on its own and when its authorities will be able to reach agreements without assistance from the international community. Explaining the reasons for extending Westendorp’s authorisations at the Madrid Peace Conference, van den Broek said that there was a simple reason for it since they were not satisfied with the speed of the Dayton Agreement implementation.
1:05
Kosovo-related news. There followed a more detailed report on the negotiations on finding a peaceful solution of the Kosmet issue taking place in Rambouillet, as well as related activities. The delegation of Serbia and the FRY does not accept the NATO plan according to which 30,000 soldiers would be sent to Kosmet, whereas the delegation of the Kosmet Albanians does not give up the request for holding a referendum on independence after a three-year interim period. Reactions from the world to the negotiations in Rambouillet.
4:35
News from the Federation. The Association of Croat veterans and invalids from the past war “Hvidra” accused the High Representative to BiH Carlos Westendorp, claiming that Westendorp is biased against the Bosnian Croats and does not have the same criteria for Bosniaks and Croats. The Asylum Centre in Bosanski Petrovac for Albanian refugees from Kosmet, which has already started receiving the first tenants, may call into question the announced return of 2,165 Serb refugees to this municipality in the BiH Federation, it was stated by the Mayor of Bosanski Petrovac Vid Jelicic for the Slobodna Evropa (Free Europe) Radio.
2:10
News from the world.
1:35
With the help of donations made by the Spanish Government amounting to DM 5 million, work on the reconstruction of the electric power facilities in Herzegovina have been continued.
1:45
Report on weather and road conditions throughout the RS. The Mrkonjic Grad Municipal Executive Board has today proclaimed a state of natural disaster in the area of this municipality.
1:45