26 November 97, 19:30
Sarajevo – The HoR of the BiH Parliament held a session today. Since there was no agreement, HR Westendorp addressed to the representatives appealing on the HoR to be more effective. Westendorp said that there are three crucial laws to be adopted: laws on passports, citizenship and the work of CoM.
Westendorp refuted the claims about the protectorate, as opposite from the DPA. CoM Co-chairman Silajdzic said that the main problem is disrespect of the BiH Constitution, and discordance of entity constitutions with DPA. SDS representatives asked for the delay of the three laws discussion, because, as they said, these laws were not accorded at the CoM sessions. Silajdzic, on the contrary, said that the laws on passports and CoM were adopted, while the Law on Citizenship was proposed by the OHR because of disagreement of the CoM.
4:00
Brussels – Preparations for the forthcoming meeting of NATO alliance member countries are in progress. One of the subjects will be the SFOR mission in BiH, and the possible remaining of the troops after June next year. In his interview to ‘Algemeine Zeitung’, German Defence Minister, Ruhe said that Germany is ready to remain in BiH with its troops after the SFOR mandate expires. During his recent visit to New York, the NATO Secretary General Solana said that the decision about Bosnia might be made in the late December.
3:00
Banja Luka – Banja Luka-Sarajevo Economy Fair was opened today by HR deputy Schumacher. Schumacher said that this fair is a proof that economy has no borders, and that pragmatism is the quality that is missing in BiH, especially in RS. Schumacher added that every environment that is isolated from the outside world is a failure in this global village where we live today. Schumacher also said that freedom of movement is the pre-condition of opening the entity lines towards each other, and to the world. The BiH Government Bicakcic said that this fair represents a progress regarding the freedom of movement. The Banja Luka Government President Cubrilovic said that this is a step forward for the renewal of broken connections.
BiH Federation delegation visited the Islamic Community in BL. In the Community, they were told that there are 350 refugees in Banja Luka. The Community also told the delegation that the return of refugees to BL will begin when the corner-stone is placed for the ‘Ferhadija’ Mosque, which was demolished in 1993. The BL Bishop, Komarica also verified this and said that they have no access to sacral objects in RS. He also said that the two minority nations in RS were denied all rights, and that all religious communities should be equalised.
4:00
Tuzla/Podrinje Canton – At today’s session of the Canton, the proposal on the Law on Housing by the OHR was discussed. It was decided that the building of some cheaper residential units should commence as soon as possible in order to avoid the housing problems during the return of refugees.
2:00
Sarajevo – OHR spokesman Haselock stated today that BiH TV reported a statement of the BiH Government Co-president Ganic, who said there is a lack of residential space for Serbs who would like to return from Brcko. It is obvious that the returnees are facing the problem of settlement because some families occupied two or more apartments in Sarajevo. The alleged comment by Mr. Ganic is slightly confusing, since it is not in accordance with co-operation between Ganic and OHR, said Haselock.
The President of the War Disabled Veterans Association for BiH, Kriko addressed a protest letter to HR Westendorp regarding his proposal on the Law on housing. The letter says that Westendorp’s activities, regarding this matter, crossed every reasonable border of enduring humiliation. The Association thinks that Westendorp’s demands are groundless and inhumane. The letter proceeds: when You are about to implement Your demands towards the BiH Federation, do reconsider all the aspects of what was happening during the aggression, and You will understand that You have made a big mistake towards the victims.
2:30
BiH TV news comment – We would like to make a short introduction to the audience, regarding the new Law on Housing, proposed by the OHR. A Sarajevo resident Fadil Halimovic told his story about losing his house, demolished by shelling. Now, he is being told by some proposers of the new Law on Housing: go to the street, Fadil. We are not interested where are you going to live, they are saying, we want to implement the Annex 7. Maybe, since you were rich, you will have some temporary place, and the owner of this apartment will return here, says Fadil Kulenovic and adds: I don’t know if I should paint this little flat or not. This is only one of the cases how the new Law on Housing throws people out on the street.
3:00
Stolac – The municipality authorities published an open letter, which says that the Croatian authorities banned the return of 14 more Bosniak families within the Pilot Project.
1:00
Banja Luka – RS President Plavsic said that the results of the elections, published by the Elections Committee before the final counting, are not complete and non-formal. She also appealed to RS citizens to wait for the official results that should be published on December 10. HR deputy Schumacher also agreed about this statement.
1:00
Sarajevo – An incident occurred in Sarajevo last morning about 2:30 A.M. when two British soldiers tore the BiH flag and stepped on it. The local police tried to identify the two British soldiers, but were denied. After the intervention of IPTF, the soldiers were identified as Sylvi Anton, and Andrew Clark. An IPTF officer said that Anton and Clark were on a visit to Sarajevo, and that they were returned to their base in order to be interrogated by the Military Police.
1:00