Headlines
- Differing Reactions to Brcko Arbitration Decision
- WB Officials Promise More Intensive Assistance for RS Development
- Demonstrations in Kosovo Today
- Jiang Tse Ming President of China Again
The support of international agencies for the arbitration decision on Brcko was expressed at a joint press conference held in Sarajevo today. Simon Haselock, OHR Spokesman, said that Carlos Westendorp, the High Representative, requested both sides to implement the decision on Brcko unconditionally, as any possible obstructions would have a direct influence on the final decision. Cathy Ladun, IPTF Spokesman in Brcko, said that if no problems occurred during the following day, there would be no further need for extraordinary safety measures.
01:25
Zivko Radisic, President of the SPRS, said that the arbitration decision on Brcko was not a surprise and it was the least unpleasant solution for the RS. Radisic also said that the state authorities had to make great efforts to correct the mistakes of the previous administration, in order to persuade the IC of the necessity for Brcko to remain within the RS.
00:25
Rajko Tomas, Economic Adviser to the RS President, met with Christian Poortman, WB Director for BiH, in Banja Luka today. They discussed more intensive assistance of the WB to the RS, servicing of the RS debt, and signing of the IMF agreement IMF. Poortman said that the WB had recently presented several projects, of which the most significant was the reconstruction project, co-financed by donors. He also emphasised that such projects would help faster resolution of the problems which the RS Government was facing.
01:10
Poortman also met with Milorad Dodik, RS Prime Minister, and Novak Kondic, RS Minister of Finance, in separate meetings in Banja Luka today. Poortman said that the WB had plans for 5 big projects for this year, worth 192 million DM, of which the RS would have direct benefit. These were the 2nd electric power project, public expenditure, privatisation project, an RS credit line worth 11 million DM, and a forestry project.
01:55
At its 9th session held on March 11th, the RS Government reviewed the information on media tax debts towards the state for using radio-diffuse frequencies. The Government decided to take legal action against all media which did not pay their debts within the 30-day deadline, and to revoke their broadcasting licences. The biggest debts were made by Radio “Big” (Banja Luka), “Nezavisna” TV (BL), Radio “Vicom” Gradiska, Radio “Nes” (BL), “Simic” TV (BL), “Bel” TV (BL), “ATV” (BL), “OBN” (Sarajevo), Radio “Izvori” and TV “BiN” (Dvorovi).
01:05
RS Railways and Swedish Railways signed an a agreement for a 2 million DM donation. The BiH Federation will also receive cargo and passenger railroad cars from Swedish Railways.
00:25