OHR SRT News Summary, 24 August 1999

News Headlines

  • Petritsch discusses with RS leaders on return of refugees and economic reconstruction
  • Radisic and Dodik meet with Egyptian Ambassador
  • Annan nominates German Kennings to UN Mission head position
  • Vedrine and Fisher visit Kosovo
  • Vedrine on KLA disarmament
  • Kosovo Albanians forbid Russian troops to enter Orahovac
  • Russia criticizes Kosovo Albanian provocations in Orahovac
  • KFOR and Kosovo Albanians discuss Russian troops deploying in Orahovac
  • NATO rejects KLA accusations on Russian troops bias
  • 17 gypsy bodies discovered on Montenegrin coast – Montenegrin Internal Ministry
  • Four persons injured in Gnjilane
  • 28 Serbs evacuated from Prizren
  • 30,000 Serbs stay in Kosovo – UNHCR spokesperson
  • Editor-in-chief of Kohaditore asks Kosovo Albanians not to attack Serbs
  • KFOR spokesperson Lavoir on KLA disarmament
  • Belgium under pressure from Kosovo Albanian refugees
  • German media on relations between KLA and KFOR
  • Both Houses of BiH Assembly to hold sessions on 31 August
  • RS Education Minister criticizes announced education workers strike
  • SNS holds press conference on arbitration decision, fight against crime, RTV BiH and strike of education workers
  • SNSD holds press conference
  • Petritsch will impose law on SRT if RS does not adopt law – OHR spokesperson Stiglmayer
  • CD Coalition to ask for debate on RS Government at next RS Assembly session, if RS Government does not answer CD Coalition requests
  • International organizations hold press conference
  • RS delegation to participate in ‘Doctrine of Defense’ seminar
  • BiH Federation Army Commander Delic on joint BiH Army
  • Middle Bosnia Canton Head Terzic on position of Croats in Travnik
  • Terzic addresses letter to Bicakcic on current situation in Middle Bosnia Canton
  • Croat refugees to block roads in Middle Bosnia if islamisation is not stopped
  • Jajce Main Board on Bosniak members in executive leadership
  • Tuzla Hospital expert team finishes exhumation
  • Serb National Party President Djukic on return of Serbs to Croatia
  • Serb National Council President Pupovac on possible violence in Knin
  • 18,000 dead and 42,000 injured in earthquake in Turkey – CNN reports
  • Serb opposition meets with US Envoy to Balkan Dobbins in Montenegro
  • Dobbins to visit Kosovo
  • Kosovo Albanians attack Serbs and Gypsies in Prizren
  • Six Serbs kidnapped in Gnjilane
  • Fisher and Vedrine on creating cantons in Kosovo
  • Fisher on Russian troops settling in Orahovac
  • KFOR rejects any compromise with Kosovo Albanians in Orahovac
  • Russian Envoy on Russian participation on economical reconstruction in Balkan
  • Patriarch Pavle meets with Serbian pensioners trade union
  • Serb Church Main Board to declare on current situation in Yugoslavia – Pavle
  • Pensioners to hold protest meeting on 26 August in Belgrade
  • New earthquake in Turkey
  • Djokic visits ‘Standard’ company in Gradiska
  • Agriculture
  • Sports and weather

News Summary

Petritsch discusses with RS leaders on return of refugees and economical reconstruction

High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch discussed with RS and BiH leaders on refugee return and economic reforms on Tuesday in Banja Luka. After meetings with member of the BiH Presidency Zivko Radisic, RS Assembly Speaker Petar Djokic, RS Vice-president Mirko Sarovic, RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik and leaders of the Sloga Coalition, Petritsch stated that the talks were constructive and friendly. Petritsch considers that, after four years since the signing of the Dayton Agreement, the results are only partially positive. Petritsch stated that Europe was ready to accept BiH if BiH and its leaders make concrete steps for the respect of human rights and the rule of law. Petritsch also mentioned the right to return. Petritsch considers that this right should be put into practice in BiH and Kosovo. He also believes that a media without political influence and functional state administration should be established. On the meeting with Dodik, Petritsch pointed out that the tempo of economic reform would have to be faster. Petritsch promised assistance to Dodik in solving unemployment problems and making better economy results. He informed interlocutors that after the Sarajevo Summit, and in accordance with the situation in region, the International Community will not send aid only to BiH. A press release issued by Djokic’s office pointed out that Djokic and Petritsch discussed Brcko. The results of the arbitration decision will be positive if a good solution for Serb refugees in Brcko can be found. In a press release from Sarovic’s office, it was pointed out that activity by the OHR on possible corruption and the abuse of public funds was supported at the meeting.

03:12

SNSD holds press conference

On Tuesday in Banja Luka, member of the SNSD Main Board and SNSD representative in the RS National Assembly, Irena Soldat Vujanovic, held a press conference. Vujanovic stated that the decision on Brcko was adopted as a result of the crisis initiated by the SDS and SRS. Concerning the annex to the final arbitration decision, Vujanovic stated that, by that decision, the International Community had assumed responsibility for the realization of all its promises. In her opinion, that means accommodation, employment, healthcare and education. About the initiative of the CD Coalition in its participation in the RS Government, Vujanovic stated that Sloga would declare on that. On the strike by workers in education, pensioners and other budget users, Vujanovic said that asking for salaries higher than was realistic could only initiate hardship for all. In reply to a journalist’s question on the attitude of the SNSD to the BiH-Croatian border issue in the Srpska Kostajnica region, Vujanovic stated that the SNSD has not accepted the agreement because the border should be on the Una River.

01:33

Petritsch will impose law on SRT if RS does not adopt the law – OHR spokesperson Stiglmayer

On Tuesday in Banja Luka, OHR Spokesperson Alexandra Stiglmayer informed journalists that High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch will impose the law on SRT before the RS National Assembly session in September if the RS does not adopt that law. Stiglmayer stated that the RS should have adopted the law by 15 August. The OHR will not give up on forming a united TV system at BiH state level, but every entity will have its own TV.

00:31