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Srpska Republika News Agency (SRNA), 98-03-15

Srpska Republica News Agency (SRNA) Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Serbian Unity Congress Server at http://www.suc.org


MAR. 15, 1998 DAY

NEWS REVIEW, REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

BANJALUKA - Yesterday at a continuation of the fourth session in Banjaluka the National Assembly of Republika Srpska (RS) adopted the Budget for 1998 amounting to 2,107,018,560 dinars. The Government accepted and the Assembly adopted the request of Serbian Democratic Party (SDS) to include into the Budget the Republican Waterpower Engineering Bureau and amendment regarding donations for the top sport of RS. Collective centres for refugees in RS, as well as material expenditures of the National Assembly will be financed by the Budget. The Assembly did not adopt the amendment of SDS, which proposed to give donations to the Serbian Orthodox church in amount of 1 million of dinars. Neither the SDS's amendment to include the RS Red Cross into the Budget for 1998, nor the amendment of Serbian Radical Party (SRS) to reduce financing of the RS President's Cabinet for 10%, and increase financing of the best students for the sane percentage, have been adopted.

BANJALUKA - After the representatives had adopted the Budget for 1998, and then the Law on the Budget Performance, the RS Prime Minister thanked for "the great task that has been accomplished" and called the representatives to urgently adopt the Law on RS Banking Agency as well. The Law on Budget Performance will take effect after it is published in the RS Official Gazette. The representatives made many remarks on the Draft of the Law on RS Banking Agency, so it will be discussed in continuation of the fourth session on March 20. Adjourning the session, the president of the Parliament Dragan Kalinic called the representatives to deliver their written comments on the Draft on the Law on the RS Banking Agency before March 18. Today the Assembly's leadership and a part of the Government's colegium will have a meeting to prepare the session's continuation and establish the method of cooperation between the Assembly and Government.

PRISTINA - The leader of Albanian separatists Ibrahim Rugova scheduled for today in Pristina a session of the Main Board of Democratic Union of Kosovo where the preparations for the general Albanian's elections in Kosovo, scheduled for March 22, will be discussed. SRNA unofficially learns that preparations for eventual participation of the Albanian delegates in the talks between the Serbia's Prime Minister and Kosovo's Albanians scheduled for tomorrow, might be discussed as well.

MAR. 15, 1998 DAY

NEWS REVIEW, REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

NEW YORK - According to the Arbitrage Award which will announce the international arbiter for Brcko Roberts Owen today, Brcko will remain under the jurisdiction of Republika Srpska for the time period of one year, and after that period its status will be revised - stated for SRNA Obrad Kesic, one of the directors of International Research Centre IRECS in Washington. According to him, such decision was brought on Owens meetings with representatives of American Government in the seat of State Department. Until expiring that one year period the international supervision in Brcko will be continued, and the supervisor will furthermore be Robert Farrand.

BRCKO - Few hours before announcing the official Arbitrage Award for Brcko, the situation in this town is quite peaceful - confirmed for SRNA the IPTF spokeswoman in Brcko Katy Laden. She stressed that the staff of representatives of SFOR, IPTF and heads of Centre and Station of Public security are in the permanent session, and that there is no any information about eventual incident situations from any side of demarcation line. The policeman from Moslem and Croat nations are patrolling today exclusively in the zone of return.

BRCKO - The head of Moslem part of municipality Brcko and delegate of Coalition for B&H in National Assembly of RS Munib Jusufovic transferred to the deputy supervisor for Brcko Ian McLeod the clear message that they will not accept the Arbitrage Award which would Brcko leave in RS. "Mr. McLeod, you can think whatever you want and intervene as you wish, but my word is last that there is no Brcko in RS and its ultimate" - reports the Jusufovic's statement Moslem daily "Avaz" from March 14. The vice-president of Executive Board of municipal assembly of Brcko Mirsad Islamovic publicly announced that in case of declaring award unfavorable for Moslems, they will forcibly enter into town after leaving of international forces from these regions.

BRCKO - The mayor of Brcko Borko Reljic and deputy supervisor Ian McLeod in the office of the international representative to Brcko expect today from 12,00 h the decision about this city, which will most probably announced at 16,00 h. As expected, mayor Reljic will read the text of decision to Serbian members of Brcko's parliament, and after that at 17,00 h will hold the press conference in the house of the municipality. McLeod warned all parties that respecting and implementing Owen's decision is compulsory - no matter what it was.

PALE - The Appealing Sub-commission /IAP/ sacked the president of municipal board of Serbian Radical Party /OO SRS/ and leader of its election delegate list Aleksandr Divcic from the post of delegate in municipal assembly of Pale because, as explained, of not respecting Rules of PEC (provisional electoral commission), that delegate mandate belongs to individuals but not parties - learns SRNA today in OO SRS Pale. It was ordered to him to read the statement of excuse, made by IAP, at the session of the municipal parliament and he refused that. "The statement made by OSCE I could not read, not only as the member of SRS, Serbian nationalist and Serb, but also because of the way how I was asked to do that - no as a man" - said Divcic.

SARAJEVO - The head of General Staff of RS Army /VRS/ colonel general Momir Talic stated for todays Belgrade's "Evening News" that he is content with the state in commands and units of VRS. "After visiting all units I can say that I am content with what commands and units have done, without any material investments, on training soldiers and maintenance of technics for performing their tasks" - stressed general Talic. Talking about eventual access of VRS in NATO, he added that it is very expensive adventure, for which army of RS has no conditions and added that "about these things politicians are deciding, not soldiers". Commenting the programme "Equip and train", he said that Serbian army did not get any concrete offer yet. The relations with the Army of FR Yugoslavia, general Talic assesses as good stressing that "it is the cooperation of one people with two armies". Commenting events in Kosovo, general Talic assessed that it is acting of "terrorism which nobody in the world can support" and added that everywhere in the world that problem is being solved by police.

PRISTINA - Around 2,000 Albanian separatists are protesting in the centre of Pristina, in front of the hotel "Grand" and house of Radio, protesting because of alleged terror of Serbian police in Drenica - reports SRNA reporter from the spot. The protesters first gathered in Pristina Catholic church where as the sign of protest they burned candles, while walking through the streets of Tirana and carrying also pictures of Mother Theresa and Albanian and American flags.

TIRANA - In case of armed conflict in Kosovo Albania will open its border for refugees, women, children and old people, but not for massive crossing border of population, because it would be in favour of ethnic cleansing - stated in Tirana the spokesman of Albanian government Ben Blusi. He added that, in that case "Albanian border will be closed for weapons and other criminal acts. Blusi stressed that on Monday in Tirana will come high representative of State Department, which will, he believes, contribute to solving the Kosovo problem by peaceful means and without conditioning. He announced the series of meetings and talks with representatives of Albanians from Kosovo.

TUZLA - The international mediator for establishing Moslem- Croatian federation Christian Swartzshiling stated after yesterday's visit to Tuzla that Moslem and Croatian side did not respect any item from earlier signed agreement on solving mutual disputes. As Croatian media report, Swartzsilling visited Tuzlapodrinje Canton after the call of the Croatian Democratic Community, where he was acquainted with difficult position of Croatian population in that region. The representatives of Croats said to international mediator that federal partners - Moslems - still did not start returning captured property - business premises, homes, apartments and cars.

MAR. 15, 1998 EVENING

NEWS REVIEW, REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

BRCKO - The Arbitrage Commission for inter-entity demarcation line in the region of Brcko passed the decision that in this region will remain status quo, i.e. that the region will remain under the international supervision until the final phase of the arbitrage procedure, anticipated for the end of 1998 or beginning of 1999. In the meantime the continuation of international supervision will protect legitimate interests of both parties. The decision is accentuating that in the final arbitrage phase the active burden of providing evidence will be on RS, which will have to persuade Tribunal neither to deliver Brcko to Federation B&H nor to apply the former proposal to turn Brcko into the "neutral zone" under the democratic governance, out of exclusive control of any entity. The Tribunal also informs that "it will hold each party fully responsible for any action which could once again jeopardise bringing final decision". The constitutive part of the Award are the additional decisions, which have obligatory character for both parties - signatories of the Annex 2. of General Framework Peace Agreement, and with which all parties must comply with and fully cooperate: The regime of supervision set out by the decision will be continued along with authorisations and competence anticipated by the decision. In the function of deputy High Representative for Brcko region the supervisor has authorities equal to those, according to Bonn Conference from December 1997, given to High representative, including right to sack the official who, according to his opinion do not cooperate adequately with him in his efforts to secure respecting Dayton Agreement, strengthening democratic institutions in the region and start-up of local economy. The supervisor is authorised and it would be desirable to undertake adequate measurements with the objective of economic start-up, including the following: a/ reintegration of economy of that part of pre- war municipality Brcko which is on the North side from inter-entity boundary line with the economies of its neighbouring parts; b/ making duty free zone or special economic zone in the region of Brcko in order to boost economy in the region; c/ crating the programme of privatisation of state and socially owned enterprises in the region with the same objective and d/ re-opening the harbour in Brcko, activating the Traffic Corporation of B&H and instigating international support for development of the harbour. Until bringing further measures of the Tribunal, the inter- entity boundary line in the territory of the pre-war municipality Brcko will remain unchanged.

SARAJEVO - The president in the Presidency of B&H from RS Momcilo Krajisnik assessed in Pale that Arbitrage decision about inter-entity demarcation line in the region of Brcko "was brought in the circumvention of Dayton agreement, because of introduced status of being temporary which is not anticipated by the agreement". Mr. Krajisnik reminded that in Dayton was precisely stated and ordered the final bringing of the decision about inter- entity boundary line in the region of Brcko.

BANJA LUKA - The representative of RS in Arbitrage team for inter-entity demarcation line in the region of Brcko Vitomir Popovic did not signed the decision of presiding of Tribunal Robert Owen, by which in that region remains status quo, because he deems that the decision had to be final. On the Serbian Radio- TV he reminded that it was expected after the last decision of presiding Mr. Owen, and reminded that both RS and FB&H made their efforts for passing final decision.

BANJA LUKA - The president of Serbian Radical Party and vice-president of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Nikola Poplasen assessed today in Banja Luka in the statement given for SRNA that the decision of the Arbitrage Tribunal bout Brcko for Serbian side is completely discouraging. Poplasen thinks that the decision, even in accordance to direct formulations of main arbitrator Roberts Owen, "mainly lies not on legal, but on quite undetermined political principles and very flexible notion of justice".

DOBOJ - The first who will be arrested in RS because of various criminal acts will be members of MUP of RS /ministry of internal affairs/ - announced in Doboj the first policeman of RS Milovan Stankovic, adding that already at the beginning of March will start the final clarifying of numerous affairs, in order to find out who is guilty and who is innocent". After the Assembly of the Organisation of families of fallen and detained veterans and missing civilians of the Doboj municipality he announced that the cadre reconstruction of MUP of RS will be finished until March 24, and on Tuesday 17 will be promoted new official identity cards of members of MUP of RS.

DOBOJ - The Government of RS will propose to National assembly the changes of existing laws, in order to solve systematically the status of the families of fallen veterans and missing persons and civilian victims of war on the level of state, stated in Doboj the minister for the issues of veterans and victims of war Tihomir Gligoric.

SRBINJE - The lawyer Slavisa Prodanovic thinks that his client Dragoljub Kunarac is "innocent and that this will be proved in the process before the Hague tribunal", which indicted him for war crimes. In the statement for SRNa Prodanovic said that Kunarac "would not voluntarily surrender if he was not convinced in his innocence, which he wants to prove".

TUZLA - The international mediator for establishing Moslem- Croatian Federation Christian Swartzshilling stated after yesterday's visit to Tuzla that neither Moslem nor Croatian party fulfilled any item from earlier signed agreement about solving mutual disputes - reports the Croatian radio.

PRISTINA - His Holy Highness bishop rasko-prizrenski Artemije stated at the press conference of the Serbian Resistance Movement in Pristina that All Serbian Church-National Congregation condemns any violence and terrorism and gave a message that Kosovo problem could be solved only by dialogue between Serbs and ALbanians. "It is better to start this dialogue even with delay, than to continue armed clashes of Serbian police and terrorists" - said the bishop Artemije and added that "Kosovo problem cannot be solved by force from any side".

MAR. 15, 1998 EVENING

NEWS REVIEW, REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

BANJA LUKA - The president of Republika Srpska /RS/ Biljana Plavsic assessed the decision of Arbitrage commission for the region of Brcko to continue status quo until the end of the year as "the outcome by which there have to be seen whether the new policy of RS will consistently fulfil its obligations, what will be crucial for passing final decision". "By postponing the final decision was significantly deviated from our requirement, but there is no any reason for citizens of RS, and especially of Brcko, to be upset. The premier of RS Milorad Dodik and I quarantee that we shall fulfil all obligations which comes out of requirement of arbitrage tribunal" - stressed the president Plavsic at the press conference in Banja Luka.

BANJA LUKA - The premier of RS Milorad Dodik is not too happy because of the decision of the Arbitrage Commission about remaining of status quo in Brcko, and he is sorry because his Government did not have enough time to persuade the international commission that he will fulfil all decisions of Dayton Agreement. "The requirements of Government were clear - to pass the final decision, but earlier created atmosphere was not favourable for that" said Dodik, alluding on the former Government of RS. "Such decision has put RS into the active proving of its intentions in implementation of Dayton agreement and Arbitrage Award about Brcko" - said premier of Srpska and expressed the conviction that the efforts will bring the results and that Brcko after the final decision of the Arbitrage Commission will finally remain in the composition of RS

BRCKO - The acting supervisor for Brcko Ian McLoed commented today for SRNA that "the year in front of us is determined by the arbitrage decision" and that "the time was left for the new authorities in RS to fulfil its commitments". "The new government of Milorad Dodik gave many promises and now they must stand behind that, and I expect good cooperation with all friends in Brcko and continuation of already drawn projects", said McLoed.

BRCKO - The mayor of Brcko Borko Reljic accepts the decision of Arbitrage Tribunal, although he and his assistants think that all prerequisites were met for awarding Brcko to Republika Srpska permanently. "We shall not doubt in good intentions of Mr. Owen and because of that we accept that decision, which practically means status quo until the end of the year" - said Reljic at the press conference , adding that the next period will prove the sincere intentions of Serbian party, which wants full implementation of Dayton agreement.

BANJA LUKA - The vice-president of Serbian National Union /SNS/ and delegate in the National Assembly of RS Ostoja Knezevic stated that this party is not pleased with the decision of the main arbitrator for Brcko, because of prolonging the final decision. "We can, nevertheless, be content by giving our full contribution, which was confirmed in the explanation of the decision. It was confirmed that in these regions were commenced the democratic processes and changes", stressed Knezevic for SRNA.

BRCKO - The head of the Croatian part of municipality Brcko in Federation B&H Mijo Anic warned that by today's decision was only prolonged the agony, unbearable for all three nations in Brcko". "This is not good for people, nations, expelled and refugees. It is another year of agony in which will arise a series of problems, and I think that people will not withstand that indeed" - said Anic in the statement for SRNA and announced the resignation on the function of the first man between Croatian .in the region of Brcko.

BRCKO - The vice-president of executive board of municipal assembly of Brcko Mirsad Islamovic is not satisfied with the postponement of bringing final arbitrage decision for the region of Brcko, because by that, as he said "is not respected the minimum of requirements of federal party". In the statement for SRNA Islamovic said that "not in any part of the decision he read anything that would enable accelerated return of refugees in the town, by which is continued a great uncertainty of refugees, no matter are they Croats, Moslems or Serbs".

BRCKO - The Ambassador Donald Lemont from the Office of High civilian representative /OHR/ thinks that the arbitrage decision for the region of Brcko clearly shows that OHR will continue with establishment of multi- ethnical administration, police and justice, as well as process of return and economic recovery of the region. "The decision is obligatory for all since tomorrow" - he added, giving statement for numerous reporters in Brcko.

WASHINGTON - USA welcomed the decision by which Brcko remained under the international supervision another year, complaining that return of refugees in that region is too slow - reports the SRNA correspondent from Washington. "We believe that today's decision is in the best interest of implementation Dayton agreement in B&H" - stated the spokesman of State Department James Rubin at the press conference and acknowledged that in Brcko has happened the progress in last year.

WASHINGTON - The president of Federation B&H /FB&H/ Ejup GAnic thinks that today's arbitrage decision about inter-entity demarcation line in the region of Brcko is bad news, because it is not final decision.

SARAJEVO - The arbitrage commission for inter-entity demarcation line in the region of Brcko passed the decision to continue status quo under the international supervision until the final decision of arbitrage procedure, foreseen for the end of the year /or beginning of 1999/, and in the meantime the continuation of international supervision will protect interests of both parties.

In the first reactions of the representatives of Serbian and federal party in the arbitrage dispute prevails the discontentment because the final decision was not brought. Since each party expected passing the decision in its favour, the discontentment because of such stance of arbitrage tribunal is understandable. /The review of the SRNA journalist Darko Terzic: "Brcko is (not) closer to stay in Srpska?"/.

/end/

Copyright © Srpska Novinska Agencija - SRNA Republika Srpska

From the Serbian Unity Congress Server at http://www.suc.org


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