23 October 97, 19:30
‘A large portion of money designated for the reconstruction of BH ended up in the hands of those against peace in BH,’ stated HR Carlos Westendorp. The report conveyed BH and Bosna-link based information on the contents of an unpublished report, obtained by the Spanish paper El Paese. Westendorp will soon disclose in public a set of measures to curb corruption in BH and prevent illegal spending of European financial aid. The media quoted the High Representative as stating that corruption existed within all ethnic groups in Bosnia, but that it was particularly worrying that the special police forces in the RS and Croatian extremists got hold of substantial amounts of money. Donated funds were used for covert purchase of weapons as well.
However, the same report conveyed Westendorp’s most recent statement given in Stockholm that corruption in BH was an internal matter mostly related to misuse of tax and customs revenues.
0:50
At its session in Sarajevo today, the BH CoM has harmonized a set of operational measures related to foreign trade and commerce. Co-Chair in the CoM Haris Silajdzic commented on the OHR Spokesman’s remark on the work of the CoM. Silajdzic said that the CoM would function much better if the OHR were to use “the right to a final interpretation of the Dayton Accords”.
“We could have completed the entire set of drafts by now.. The OHR is partly responsible for our failure “, he declared.
1:50
The FBH Ministry of Defence promoted new standard military registration plates. At a press conference held afterwards, Ante Jelavic, FBH Defence Minister announced that the new insignia for the FBH Army uniforms would be ready in a month. The Defence Minister and his Deputy Sakib Mahmuljin submitted a report on progress in the implementation of the programme Train and Equip. James Pardew, US Military Envoy told the conference that the programme would make the FBH Army strong and NATO oriented. To a question when the RS would be included in the programme, Pardew replied that the RS first had to met certain requirements such as FOM, surrender of war criminals, etc.
2:50
Valentin Coric, Interior Minister of the Neretva- Canton and his Deputy Sefkija Dziho reviewed progress in the restructuring of police. Both ministers expressed satisfaction with results achieved thus far. Coric told the press that “a little problem in Jablanica is resolved and that Croat policemen will show up at work tomorrow”.
Robert Frowick, Head of the OSCE mission, held a meeting with leaders of political parties in Srebrenica. The participants discussed implementation of election results.
Representatives of political parties from the Federation did not take part in this meeting, underlined the report.
0:50
The Interior Ministry of the Zenica-Doboj Canton issued a warrant for the arrest of the general manager of the Hipo Bank in Zenica. The warrant is based on substantial evidence indicating freud and embezzlement of funds and credit lines for the reconstruction in BH worth 6 million Deutsche marks.
1:50