OHR
Press Conference this afternoon
The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, today hold an extra-ordinary press conference. The Press Conference will be held here today at 14.00 – and no I won’t be speculating about the topic or the content of this press conference; you will have to come along at 14.00.
New PDHR Larry Butler
As PDHR Larry Butler, under the HR’s guidance, will continue to be responsible for economic reform issues. In addition the PDHR will also guide the Rule of Law department in initiatives to create a criminal, civil and commercial legal environment conducive to economic development and European integration. Ambassador Butler will also be the OHR’s liaison with the NATO office in BiH. Many of you called yesterday requesting interviews with the new PDHR. Ambassador Butler will not be giving interviews immediately but we will keep any bids received on file and contact you when he starts to give interviews.
OSCE
No statement for today.
EUFOR
No statement for today.
NATO HQ
NATO Contributes to Indonesian Disaster Relief
At the ceremony in Ploce, Croatia on 25 March, NATO officially handed over ownership of emergency bridge building equipment destined for disaster relief in Indonesia to the Kingdom of Netherlands . Dutch forces have arranged for immediate transportation of this urgently needed equipment to Bandah Aceh province where it will be used to repair the tsunami damaged infrastructure.
These bridges were formally used for emergency replacement of damaged structures in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the war. They will now be used to reopen vital roads to relief supplies and reconstruction material.
This highly specialised equipment is valued at over six million Euros. It is designed for fast repair of damaged bridges and can be disabled and re constructed in new locations as the rebuilding process evolves.
NATO is pleased to use its multi national capabilities and resources to assist in this humanitarian emergency and we recognise the generosity of the Government of the Netherlands in arranging for transportation from Croatia to Indonesia.
EUPM
As the summer approaches, EUPM continues to follow the work of the police in regard to ensuring security for returnees. Although incidents concerning returnees are these days quite small EUPM is following two quite serious incidents effecting returnees in the Tuzla area, which are being investigated by local police. On 22nd and 23rd March two houses, properties of returnees were set on fire by unknown perpetrators. Nobody was injured as the houses were un-occupied at the tie. Both were lightly damaged. Then last week on 17 March was a report of a physical assault on an elderly Serb couple in the village of Gojcin , close to Kalesije also in the Tuzla area. The family is one of ten who have returned to the village.
EUPM is in contact with local police, who are investigation both incidents.
We would like to inform you that on Wednesday, 30 March 2005, a ceremony of official hand over of “Krimo-Lovci” crime hotline, from EUPM to SIPA will take place in the premises of the SIPA HQ, Adema Buce 102, Sarajevo.
On that occasion, a public campaign of this specific phone line shall be promoted. The phone line shall serve the citizens and enable them to give information on war crimes’ suspects, locations of mass grave, crimes of terrorism, illegal trafficking in drugs etc.
Representatives of international organisations and institutions of BiH shall address you at the press conference.
We are inviting you to attend the press conference on Wednesday, 30 March at 09:30.
Third point concerns the ongoing series of public debates to inform the public on the issues about police restructuring. This week EUPM with our colleagues from OHR will be presenting information to police and the public in the following three municipalities:
Zvornik, Tuesday, 29 March – Town Hall Tuzla , Wednesday, 30 March – National Theatre Teslic, Thursday, 31 March – Kardigal Hotel.
No questions for today.