News Headlines:
- Continuation of 25th session of BiH House of Representatives; TV BiH reports on lack of political will and disputes among house delegates (03:28)
- BiH Federation Government guarantees pensions will not be decreased
- PEC announces removal of eight candidates from list, saying they are unsuitable because of violation of Article 108 of PEC rules and regulations; Petritsch removes three members of de-mining commission (01:57)
- Clinton sends personal note to BiH Presidency Chairman Izetbegovic two days before his announced retirement from BiH Presidency; he says BiH is now on good path to better future thanks to his efforts (00:32)
- Albright sends personal note to Izetbegovic thanking him for his contribution to BiH’s future (00:04)
- World news
- Petritsch demands conditioning of IC assistance to Serbia on Kostunica position and relationship to BiH – Financial Times
- US and Yugoslavia agree to initiate process of re-establishing diplomatic relations – Kostunica-O’Brien meeting in Belgrade
- Italian Premier Amato meets with Kostunica; their meeting is still in progress
- Return of Yugoslavia to UN is very important issue – Bildt comments during Belgrade visit
- Of 175 illegally occupied houses in Bocinja, 156 are vacant and dozens of former Bocinja residents are living together in remaining houses in Bocinja; Bocinja Serb refugees still not returning to their village
- Report on satisfactory results of two-way return of Bosniaks and Serbs to Kalesija and Osmaci settlements, thanks to IC assistance
- OHR to announce names of members of Zepce Interim Board on Monday – International Zepce Supervisor Richard Williams, who regrets pressure exerted by senior SDA officials on local SDA Zepce municipal officials who originally accepted Article 9
- Two viruses, flu and hepatitis A, expected to arrive in BiH before end of November – Sarajevo Canton Health Ministry says it will provide free vaccinations
- BiH Association of Artists demands BiH Federation Government to reconstruct art colony in Pocitelj, southern BiH
Election Chronicle Headlines:
- Association of Mothers of Srebrenica and Podrinje calls on all political parties to boycott upcoming November municipal elections in Srebrenica (00:33)
- SDA dissatisfied with PEC decision on rule for elections of delegates to BiH Parliament and BiH Federation Parliament Houses of People
- Recent PEC decision on rule for election of delegates to houses of people at BiH and BiH Federation levels is direct attack against Croat interests – Croat Demo-Christians (00:13)
- NHI surprised with PEC decision on rule for election of delegates to houses of peoples (00:26)
- SDP BiH advocates strict implementation of Dayton Peace Agreement and says it does not support Party for BiH President Silajdzic initiative for abolishment of RS – SDP Banja Luka Regional Board President Slobodan Popovic (00:27)
- SPRS says that ICG Director Lyon assessment that RS Socialists will also fall following fall of Milosevic is unfounded – SPRS Main Board member Drago Vucic (00:31)
- BOSS calls on municipal authorities to pay accommodations for evicted persons from municipal budgets (00:16)
- BiH Republicans believe upcoming elections are opportunity to elect persons that want wellbeing of their people (00:18)
- LDS BiH President Kadic protests last night participation of Meho Obradovic and Redzad Catic in TV BiH programs ‘Sports on Wednesday’ prior to broadcasting of BiH-Israel World Cup qualifier (00:21)
- SDA condemns IMC request for police to use force to ban further work of Bosniak Radio-Television International (BRT) and demands resolution to formal/legal dispute without banning BRT broadcasting (00:14)
- Sports
- Weather
News Summary:
Continuation of 25th session of BiH House of Representatives; TV BiH reports on lack of political will and disputes among house delegates (03:28)
[The TV BiH report on the continuation of 25th session of the BiH House of Representatives showed this senior BiH institution in an uncomplimentary light. House delegates were suppose to discuss laws brought on an interim basis by High Representative, as well as a list of upgraded conditions for BiH membership to the Council of Europe. Instead, Thursday’s session of this house showed delegates and their lack of political will to discuss these laws and other information delivered to them on review.] According to the TV BiH presenter, “this is by far the most complicated session ever of this house.” At the session, Sejfudin Tokic called on delegates to reduce the number of laws the High Representative adopts and attempt to do their part instead of the High Representative doing it for them. House delegate Branka Jovanovic commented on the current situation in the house and Petritsch’s unilateral adoption of laws, saying everything accomplished through the use of force cannot be good. Mirko Banjac said that there is no need for their harmonization of legislation because, as he said, laws do not have to be discussed “until they are adopted in the proposed form.” In the meantime, Tokic mentioned the term “mentor from Belgrade” that brought about sharp reactions from Miodrag Deretic and Mirko Banjac. Speaking on the adoption of the BiH permanent election law, Jadranko Prlic said BiH would not join the Council of Europe for a long time to come because it did not satisfy the minimum of needed democratic relations.
BiH Federation Government guarantees pensions will not be decreased (02:31)
The BiH Federation Government at its Thursday session agreed pensions would not be decreased. BiH Federation Prime Minister Edhem Bicakcic said conditions to increase pension would be achieved during the next year. He stated that, only in September, market and labor inspection teams discovered 1,400 illegal workers, and once again mentioned IC organizations [as culprits in this situation]. Bicakcic said, as soon as High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch recognizes the Venice Convention, which is an obligation of his, and when he, as one of the largest employers, registers his local employees and other IC officials working for him, pensions will automatically increase. Bicakcic stated, according to his assessment, about 20,000 new tax contributions would be added to revenues. Following Bicakcic statement, TV BiH interviewed OHR spokesperson Oleg Milisic. Milisic said in principle the OHR is not against this proposal. Regarding the issue, Milisic said the OHR, as an international organization, should discuss this issue at the state level with the BiH Foreign Ministry. He added that certain moves have already been made in that direction.