Headlines
- President Plavsic and PM Dodik Talked with Robert Gelbard in Separate Meetings
- Party Interpretations of Last Elections Continue
- Protest Rally in Belgrade Against Militant Statements of Kinkel and Ruehe
- Albanian Crisis Continues, Deputy’s Immunity of Sali Berisha Cancelled
President Plavsic and PM Dodik today met with Special US Envoy for Balkans, Robert Gelbard, and US Ambassador, Richard Kaulzarich, in separate meetings. There were no press statements after the meetings with President Plavsic. After a meeting with Dodik, Gelbard said that there were many speculations in the media about his post-electoral visit. He said that he came only because he visits this country very often and because he promised to come after the elections. Dodik said that one should wait for the OSCE official results in order to carry out a complete analysis of the entire electoral process. Gelbard also said that, regardless of which party comes to power, it will have support only if it implements Dayton.
00:42
A press release of the OSCE Regional Centre in Banja Luka states that the EASC will not bring a decision on the cases concerning Mr. Poplasen, Mr. Seselj and the Radio Television of Serbia today. These cases deserve thorough investigation, which takes more time, moreover threats to OSCE employees and demonstrations encouraged against the IC should also be taken into consideration. A decision can be expected by the beginning of next week.
00:35
A press conference of the SDS and the SRS Coalition focused on yesterday’s press release of the SNSD. Mirko Banjac, member of the SDS Main Board, recalled that according to the press release, the President of the SNSD and RS PM Dodik suggested the EASC remove him from the candidate list due to a violation of the election silence. Banjac said that Mr. Dodik and SNSD, “… in a manner of chess players – by sacrificing a chessman, are trying to win a game which they lost. That means that Dodik is offering a loss of a deputy mandate in order to remove Dr. Poplasen from the electoral list, i.e. the office of the RS President. This is not in accordance with the electoral rules and we consider it to be an obstruction which might have been planned…” Banjac also said that that the SDS and the SRS cannot be held responsible for the fact that RTS transmitted Poplasen’s interview.
00:45
Vice President of the SNS, Ostoja Knezevic, said at today’s press conference that his party will accept the electoral results which the OSCE makes official and that the party will inform the media about its stand on the regularity of the results, after release of the results.
00:33
The SNSD held a press conference today in Banja Luka. Dodik said that the SNSD, SNS and the SPRS will sign an agreement on a parliamentary coalition and that they will be open to all those who want to join them. Vice President of the Party, Branko Dokic, stated that the ballots were a mistake and that the Party will demand the OSCE take into consideration the ballots in which two parties were marked, by dividing the votes proportionally to the regular ballots. Dodik presented a letter addressed to the OSCE in which he accepts responsibility for violation of election silence by publishing of an interview on September 11th, in Belgrade daily “Danas”. He said that according to the principle of equal binding rules for all, if he is removed from the candidate list, than the EASC should also remove Poplasen.
01:10
The OSCE issued a press release stating that press reports, as well as reports from OSCE field offices, clearly indicate that members, supporters and even officials of the SRS and the SDS are threatening OSCE employees, by encouraging demonstrations against the IC and intimidating local radio stations. This was the case for Radio Pan in Biljeljina and in Sokolac which were forced to transmit false information on passing of decisions and on intentions of the EASC. The OSCE wants to state clearly that it will not tolerate any kind of threat directed against its staff. Head of the OSCE Mission, Robert Barry, addressed a letter to Dr. Poplasen asking for the sources of the demonstrations and threats to be investigated.
00:52