15 December 97, 19:30
Sarajevo – The BiH public waited and waited today for the fulfilment of the first tasks scheduled in Bonn to be carried out – sessions of the Assembly’s HoR and HoP. These two sessions should have passed the laws on the citizenship and passports. Follows a report from the Museum showing the hour by hour wait for the RS deputies attendance-and-non attendance at the meetings, delays, further waiting, cancellation of the meeting, etc… Hanns Schumacher, HR Senior Deputy warned that the Assembly is not a children’s playground. After five hours, it was agreed that HoR meeting would start at 1900hrs. Some late incoming news informed that the HoR had accepted the Law on the passport.
1:30
American President Bill Clinton is due to visit American troops serving in Sarajevo and Tuzla, next Monday or Tuesday. The US President traditionally visits military staff during holidays, but the media speculate that he will use this trip to explain the reasons for why the American troops have to stay in BiH after June 1998. It seems that Clinton will talk to the three member Presidency in Sarajevo. He might receive Biljana Plavsic, but he denied that he might speak with Milosevic. The NATO countries Ministers will discuss four options for NATO troops staying in BiH, tomorrow in Brussels.
1:30
ICG foresees that the international troops in BiH will only be able to remain if US soldiers are also there. In its report dated 15 December an estimation is given on the possible situation if the NATO troops really leave BiH in June 1998. The report talks of extremely negative consequences: dangers of new clashes with much greater powers of destruction, economic and humanitarian catastrophe, possible Bosniaks attempt to use the RS vulnerability and escalation of the war clashes on the local levels.
2:00
NATO Secretary General, Javier Solana commented on the criticism which Louise Arbour addressed to the French for the non-preparedness of their troops in BiH to arrest the war crime indicted persons. The majority of the war crime indicted live in the BiH regions under control of the French troops, the Hague Tribunal President told the media recently. Solana answered by expressing praise for the French soldiers in BiH saying that they play a very important role under difficult conditions and that they are a good example of courage and professionalism. All the forces who are participating in SFOR have the same responsibility for bringing the war crimes indicted to justice, Solana stated.
2:00
Suhodol – Supported by IPTF, a BiH Federation Police Academy was opened today in Suhodol, south of Sarajevo. The first generation encompasses 100 students from Canton Sarajevo. The inspectors comprise representatives from the International Police Powers. Mark Kroeker who opened the ceremony, said that the Police Academy will work only at the beginning under the auspices of IPTF after which it will be handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs as soon as the alternations of the Law on the Federal Ministry have been made.
2:00
Follow reports on the economic issues: The salt factory in Tuzla is back in production. A custom free zone opened in Mostar.
2:30
Sarajevo – Edhem Bicakcic, Federation Prime Minister received Dr Schwarz Schilling, international mediator for BiH. Their talks focused on refugee return with a special accent on the experience, results and difficulties in carrying out this process in the Central Bosnian Canton. It was agreed that the necessary measures have to be carried out in full and without delay to enable a return of refugees to Vares.
1:30”