23.03.1999

OHR SRT News Summary, 23 March 1999

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Headlines

  • A special session of the RS NA today in Banja Luka.
  • After the second round of talks with Milosevic, Holbrooke returns to Washington via Brussels – unfinished business.
  • For the first time since it was established, the Yugoslav-Macedonian border was closed, due to the escalation of fighting in Kosmet
  • NATO and the Western leaders threaten more aggressively attacks on FRY
  • Today’s blocking of the Bijeljina-Brcko road is a response to increasingly frequent controls, searches, break-ins and arrests by SFOR troops.

The current political situation in the RS is the main topic of the RS NA session, scheduled for 16:00 today.
1:10

Second round of talks between Milosevic and Holbrooke concluded unsuccessfully today. The FRY Government definitely refused to sign the agreement on Kosovo.
1:10

The NA of the Republic of Serbia holds session today to discuss topics related to the Kosovo agreement.
1:55

After leaving Belgrade, Richard Holbrooke said none of the goals of his mission were achieved.
0:50

The Russian foreign minister, Igor Ivanov said Russia would consider lifting the embargo against Yugoslavia, in case NATO bombed Yugoslavia.
0:25

Diplomatic sources at NATO HQ claim that air strikes against Yugoslavia could begin within 24 hours, if Richard Holbrooke does not reach an agreement with Milosevic.
0:25

UK PM, Tony Blair said Britain was ready to participate in air strikes if the agreement was not reached.
0:15

French PM, Lionel Jospin said France had decided to take part in military action against Yugoslavia, upon the failure of negotiations.
0:15

On behalf of the EU, the German foreign minister Joschka Fischer called upon the Yugoslav President Milosevic to sign the agreement and avoid war.
0:10

Russia suggested the continuation of talks and strongly opposed military action, “Srna” agency reports.
0:55

China calls for a patient and flexible approach in the Kosovo negotiations, “Beta” agency reports.
0:20

Greece thinks the problems in Kosmet should not be resolved by a military intervention, said the Greek foreign minister, Jorgos Papandreu.
0:25

The national security council of the FYR Macedonia decided that the territory of this country could not be used in aggression against any neighbouring country.
0:15

The NATO commander in FYR Macedonia, Michael Jackson said that 10,000 of his troops stationed there are not a threat for the FRY.
0:20

Macedonia closed all border crossings with Yugoslavia this morning.
0:15

Three foreign airlines cancelled their flights to Belgrade.
0:10

Conflicts in Kosmet continue.
1:25

The citizens of Brcko gathered for a peaceful rally for the sixth time today, to protest against the arbitration award.
0:35

The road between Bijeljina and Brcko was blocked today by citizens, in protest against frequent SFOR controls and last night’s arrest of members of presidential security.
1:50

The members of the presidential cabinet, Mirjana Sainovic and Ognjen Tadic held a press conference today and strongly condemned SFOR actions last night.
1:40

CoM co-chair, Svetozar Mihajlovic explained that the stopping of his vehicle by SFOR troops was due to wrong identification of the vehicle.
1:30

SFOR troops carried out a cantonment site inspection in the VRS barracks in Zvornik today.
1:25