Headlines
- Milosevic refused to receive Hill
- diplomatic activities in Rambouillet; some embassies in Belgrade are about to be closed
- full reform and democratisation of the RS police
- U. S. bombers launched two rockets against Iraq
Kosmet-related news. The FRY President Slobodan Milosevic refused today to receive the U. S. Envoy to Kosmet Christopher Hill. According to Milosevic, the threats to Yugoslavia that it will be bombed if it does not allow the foreign occupation of a part of its territory represents a warning to the whole world and all the nations and people who care about freedom and peace. Milosevic underlined: “We shall not give up Kosovo even if bombing is the price”. The visit of the U. S. Secretary Madeleine Albright and the foreign ministers of France and Great Britain, Hubert Vedrine and Robin Cook, to Belgrade announced for tomorrow is not excluded, diplomats in Rambouillet stated today. Albright is to visit Rambouillet tomorrow as well. There follows a report on the Rambouillet negotiations, related activities and reactions from the world, as well as the situation in Kosovo. Due to the uncertain political situation, the embassies of the USA, Great Britain, Canada and Germany to Belgrade have started evacuating part of their staff and closed the consular offices for issuing visas.
9:25
The Council for Privatisation in the RS held a meeting with international donors in Banja Luka today. The RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik with his associates and representatives of USAID, OHR and the World Bank took part in the meeting. In addition, the RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik talked today with representatives of the International Advisory Group for the transformation of the payment operations service.
2:55
The RS National Assembly Speaker Petar Djokic stated that it would be good if a political consensus would be reached and if the incumbent Prime Minister Milorad Dodik would remain in that post, Beta reports. Djokic, who is the current prime minister designate, said that the election of the Prime Minister and Government is important to those who are to make the final arbitration award. At today’s tribune in Brcko which was held regarding the recent arbitration hearing in Vienna, the RS National Assembly Speaker Petar Djokic, the Brcko Mayor Borko Reljic and the witnesses from Brcko informed Brcko citizens in detail of the happenings in Vienna. It was emphasised that the RS delegation appeared jointly before the Arbitration Tribunal and that they expect a final solution which will be that Brcko is to remain, both territorially and constitutionally-legally, within the RS. Every other solution is unacceptable, it was assessed at today’s gathering in Brcko.
2:20
The BiH Presidency Chairman Zivko Radisic paid a working visit to Trnovo and Kalinovik today where he met with representatives of the political and economic communities of these municipalities.
1:30
At today’s press conference in Banja Luka, the RS Interior Minister Sredoje Novic and the RS Minister of Justice Milan Trbojevic discussed the issues of police reconstruction, the recently completed arbitration in Vienna and visit of the RS Government delegation to the ICTY in The Hague.
2:10
Federation-related news. The NHI President Kresimir Zubak stated that he is not against the establishment of a third entity in BiH. In the interview for Sarajevo media, Zubak said that the current constitutional organisation of BiH is a precedent in the theory of state and law since BiH is the state of three peoples and two entities.
1:50
News from the world.
2:05
The SDS Main Board held its session in Pale today. The main issues were the current political situation in the RS, Brcko, Kosovo and the continuation of the unprincipled and non-democratic pressures of the international community on the RS President regarding the appointment of the prime minister designate, says the SDS Main Board press release.
2:20