Headlines
- Talks between Djokic and Ralph Johnson on current political situation in the RS;
- New sufferings of Serbs in Kosovo;
- Patriarch Pavle talked to representatives of Serbian opposition parties and G-17;
Ralph Johnson had separate meetings with Djokic, Loncar (RS Dep.PM) and Plavsic. After the meeting with Johnson, Djokic said that the main topic was the current RS political situation with special emphasis on forthcoming activities of the RS NA. SRT carried the statement of Djokic who said that the RS would continue to implement the policies which enabled RS to be recognised by the IC. Djokic also added that it was very important that the IC would be supporting this political orientation which has been grounded on the realistic situation in the BiH. Johnson said that Carlos Westendorp solved many problems and opened many issues; Carlos Westendorps’s decision to remove Poplasen from office, Johnson assessed as a closed case; Johnson expressed his content regarding the boundary treaty and added that the signing of the treaty is the beginning of the process and there were a lot of things to be done regarding the issue. Asked to comment on the recent media decision, Djokic replied that the RS NA cannot discuss that until September. Simon Haselock supplemented the answer saying that it is possible to make a compromise acceptable for both sides if they work together.
The RS Ministry of Information stated that the RS Government appointed General Bosko Kelecevic to the post of head of the RS Intelligence Service.
Kosovo and FRY related news
Besides usual incidents, arsons, KLA terror over the Serbs throughout Kosovo, SRT paid attention to the talks between Patriarch Pavle, Serbian opposition parties and G-17 group of economic experts, carrying the statements of the leaders of SPO, DS, DSS and G-17.
SRT also carried the news on a new political party established by general Perisic (former FRY Army Commander dismissed from the post in October 1998) and statement of Montenegrin Minister of Justice who addressed a lot of criticism to “the Montenegrin political party loyal to Milosevic”.
Interesting is the piece of news on Poplasen’s visit to Belgrade and the meeting with Milosevic. They assessed that all political issues and problems in the RS and BiH could be solved only by consistent implementation of the DPA. They specially stressed the need to resolve issues of dual citizenship.
The third protest rally took place in Srpska Kostajnica today. It was reiterated that the river Una is the border between Croatia and BiH. A participant assessed the signing of the boundary treaty as a shameful act and said that nobody had the right to change the borders between two countries. Assembled people addressed a lot of criticism to Ostoja Kremenovic and Zivko Radisic.
SDS held a press conference in Banja Luka today; Cavic said that signing of the boundary treaty was a violation of the DPA and requested Radisic to raise the subject at the RS NA; SDS also expressed its dissatisfaction with the SRT, commended the HR’s media decision that will restructure the RS state media. Cavic added that the RS Government should initiate the procedure for adopting the law on SRT as soon as possible. Cavic also acknowledged HR’s decision to reverse the deputy mandate to Cavic.
The RS Ministry of Education on OHR decision on removing inflammatory language from the school textbooks. Ministry of Education stated that they informed OHR on textbooks in the BiH which do not contain inflammatory language. They also delivered a list of textbooks which should be out of use.
Minister of Information, Rajko Vasic and General Director of SRT Andjelko Kozomara reactions on the protocol signed between RTV BiH and TV Montenegro. Vasic said that it is impossible to establish the link between the RS and TV Montenegro through BiH Television, which is in the process of slowly dying and because the technical links go through the RS. Vasic added that the RS Ministry of Information was not informed on the protocol. Kozomara said that the protocol signed between these two televisions was scoring cheap political points before the IC and domestic public. Kozomara added that contracts of that kind were unacceptable from the SRT’s point of view.
Mirsad Purivatra said that this protocol was only a matter of co-operation between Podgorica and Sarajevo and there was no need for SRT General Director to sign it. Purivatra added that in case they would be using SRT transmitter, SRT will be involved.