The conference also adopted a new timetable to implement concrete provisions of the Dayton agreement, many of which are overdue. Local elections must now be completed in summer 1997 and the arms reduction program by 31 October. About 100 workers from the construction firm GP Sarajevo went on a hunger strike to protest poor wages and living conditions, AFP reported on 5 December. The group includes many demobilized solders, reflecting the problem across Bosnia-Herzegovina that tens of thousands of men on all sides have little or no work. Fighting is the only trade that many of them know.
Aid agencies blame the attitude of the local Serbian authorities for the problem.
Officials said it was the first loan to be signed by both Bosnia's Serb and Muslim-Croat entities. But the international community warned that they would not support the country's economy forever. They also stressed future aid would depend on how the Bosnian sides comply with the Dayton peace agreement. In other news, the Croatian Journalists' Union has said that pressure on and threats to journalists have increased since Croatia was admitted to the Council of Europe, Vecernji List reported on 6 December. Diaconescu replaces Emil Constantinescu, who resigned after his election as Romania's president last month.