Headlines
- negotiations in Rambouillet deepened disagreements in the Contact Group
- Yeltsin warned NATO – do not touch Kosmet
- the BiH CoM discussed the budget for this year
- the case of Ocalan shook the governments of Greece and Kenya; Kurds’ protests in the world continued
- Srpska Telecom and Deutsche Telecom signed the agreement on cooperation
Kosovo-related news. Russian President Boris Yeltsin who met with Gerhard Schroeder in Moscow stated that Russia would not allow Americans to intervene in Kosovo and Metohija. “We shall not allow them to touch Kosovo”, Yeltsin stated before the meeting of Russia and European Union at the highest level. However, the White House denied this statement of the Russian President tonight. The White House spokesperson stated that the two presidents have not been in touch lately and went on saying that the Russian resistance to the use of NATO force on Kosmet is well known. Follows a more detailed report on the negotiations in Rambouillet, related activities and the reactions throughout the world. The foreign ministers of France and Great Britain, Hubert Vedrine and Robin Cook respectively, stated today for the Beta news agency that both parties would have to accept compromises. The NATO Secretary General Javier Solana warned today in Skoplje that the NATO action in Kosovo could follow very soon if the negotiations in Rambouillet between the Yugoslav delegation and the representatives of Kosovo Albanians fail.
4:05
The BiH CoM held a session in Sarajevo today. The most discussed issue at the session was the draft of the budget for 1999. The BiH CoM co-chairmen Svetozar Mihajlovic and Haris Silajdzic, on behalf of the BiH CoM, signed an agreement with the Head of the USAID Mission to BiH Craig Buck and the U. S. Ambassador to BiH Richard Kauzlarich which provides additional US$ 38 million for commercial credits and US$ 35 million for the reconstruction of the infrastructure in BiH.
3:15
A regular meeting of the Joint Military Commission was held in the MND South-East HQ in Ortijes near Mostar. Preparing of the program “Zetva 99” (Harvest 99), which represents collecting the weapons and ammunition that the BiH citizens possess, was the most discussed issue at the meeting. The program will start on March 15. The next meeting of the Commission will be held in three months.
2:05
The Contact Group met in Vienna on February 17 to review the implementation of the December 16 Declaration of the Madrid Ministerial Meeting of the Peace Implementation Council. In particular, the Group discussed progress in implementing the five priority areas identified at its November 10 meeting in Washington. Follows the whole text of the press release issued after the meeting of the CG in Vienna.
4:30
The Ocalan case-related news.
3:35
An agreement on cooperation between the Srpska Telecom and Deutsche Telecom was signed in Banja Luka today.
2:55
Federation-related news. At the Hutovo Blato masquerade, Croat extremists burnt down a puppet of the High Representative to BiH Carlos Westendorp, which represented the highlight of the masquerade. Puppets of Hanns Koschnik, Izetbegovic and Kresimir Zubak were also burned.
2:50
News from the world.
2:25