BosNet News: (July 13, 1996)

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From: Adnan Smajlovic <asmaj@spectranet.ca>

CONTENTS

[01] CROATS PROTEST AGAINST THE RESULTS OF THE MOSTAR ELECTIONS

[02] AFTER DUBROVNIK, KANTOR ARRIVES AT SARAJEVO AND ZAGREB

[03] SCALFARO, IZETBEGOVIC ON SREBRENICA & BILATERAL RELATIONS

[04] HANS VAN DEN BROEK ON ARREST OF KARADZIC AND MLADIC

[05] THE ICTY WANTED CIRCULAR FOR KARADZIC AND MLADIC

[06] NOWAK: SERBS AND IFOR GUILTY OF MISSION OF FINNISH EXPERTS' FAILURE

[07] CASSESE DEMANDS FROM TUDJMAN TO ARREST KORDIC

[08] CASSESE DEMANDS UN SANCTIONS AGAINST BELGRADE AND PALE

[09] OSCE: SDA TO BLAME FOR ATTACK ON SILAJDZIC IN CAZIN

[10] BOSNIA WAS MOURNING FOR SREBRENICA, KARADZIC'S SERBS CELEBRATED

[11] BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT PLEASED WITH THE DECISION OF ICJ

[12] GARROD ON THE ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

[13] CARDINAL SIMONS ON THE SITUATION IN BANJALUKA

[14] IZETBEGOVIC ON THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA

[15] MUHAMED SACIRBEY ON VERDICT OF ICJ

[16] AN AMERICAN WOMAN INJURED IN FIRE NEAR SARAJEVO

[17] IN SIX MOSTAR BOROUGHS - SUCCESS OF THE SDA-LBO COALITION

[18] FOUR SERBS AND A CATH-BOSNIAK HAVE OUTWEIGHED

[19] VOORHOEVE: SREBRENICA - END OF THE UN PEACE KEEPING OPERATIONS

[20] CROATS ANNOUNCED POST-ELECTORAL OBSTRUCTION IN MOSTAR

[01] CROATS PROTEST AGAINST THE RESULTS OF THE MOSTAR ELECTIONS

Mostar, July 12, 1996 (Press TWRA)

Of total 99,143 voters registered in the voters' list, 59,368participated at the elections. 782 ballots were invalid. The List of citizens for integral Mostar got the greatest number of votes (28,165) followed by the List of HDZ B-H, the List of the B-H joined democrats (1921), the List of Croatian party of pure right HCSP (616), the List of Croatian party of right HSP (389) and independent candidate Dragan Ziga (167).

Of 37 seats in the Mostar City council, the List for integralMostar got 21 (16 Bosniaks mainly members of SDA supported by Bosniaks-liberals, liberals, Silajdzic's SBH and the civil democrats as well as five Serbs, the representatives of Serb citizen council SGV B-H), and HDZ 16 seats (all Croats). The joined B-H democrats (ex-communists and reformists - now social- democrats of SDP and UBSD, Croatian peasant party of B-H, Republicans and Muslim-Bosniak organization - five parties representing a bloc for the autumn elections), who received nearly two thirds of the remaining votes did not get enough support to have their representative in the Mostar city council.

HDZ of B-H joined by the other two Croat parties, registeredin western part of Mostar (HSP and HCSP) announced bringing the charges against EUAM legal representative Konstantin Zepos who decided to suspend a decision of the city electoral commission (made by outvoting), annulling the Bonn elections due to 26 surplus ballots. Zepos' decision led to the EUAM decree declaring the current results of the Mostar elections final. Zepos and EUAM did not regard 26 ballots a vital figure, as over 4,000 people voted in Bonn and List for integral Mostar got five times as many votes as HDZ.

Besides the disputable 26 ballots in Bonn, HDZ, HSP and HSCPallege some other cases which Croat media to Mostar stress and which EUAM and Bosnian authorities do not take as true - disappearance of the ballot box in Switzerland, voting of unregularly registered persons and some cases of one person voting at several places.

Displeasure of Croat nationalists in Mostar with the defeatof HDZ in that town was described by one of the most extreme media supporter of "Herzeg Bosnia" and hatred towards Bosniaks Smiljko Sagolj. In the article in this week's "Panaroma", he claimed that the votes from abroad could not justify defeat of HDZ and hide the fact that a great number of Croats in Mostar did not go to the polls. In the same text, Sagolj criticizes the statement of the first candidate of the HDZ list Mijo Brajkovic, who said three days before the elections that he alone was not a member of HDZ. Sagolj claims the "List of Jole Musa" played its part and though it did not enter the Mostar city council, it took a number of Croat votes from HDZ. (end) A.S.

[02] AFTER DUBROVNIK, KANTOR ARRIVES AT SARAJEVO AND ZAGREB

Sarajevo, July 12, 1996 (Press TWRA)

[03] SCALFARO, IZETBEGOVIC ON SREBRENICA & BILATERAL RELATIONS

Sarajevo, July 12, 1996 (Press TWRA)

After the talk with Izetbegovic and Zubak, Scalfaro saidfriendly relations between Italy and B-H would, without any doubt, continue at all fields and be additionally promoted.

Speaking at commemoration of the first anniversary of thetragedy of Srebrenica, B-H president Izetbegovic condemned indifference and hypocrisy of great powers, promising the culprits and victims of Srebrenica would be searched for with the same persistence, the first to be given due honour and the latter to be adequately punished." We will persist in searching for the missing to save them, if still alive, and those who are dead to be buried with due respect. We will search for the killers, day after day, regardless of problems, sacrifices and time that will be needed. Nowhere like in Srebrenica was so clearly shown that odd and shameless indifference of great powers which could prevent catastrophe, but they always found the reasons not to intervene," said the president of B-H presidency, Alija Izetbegovic. (end) A.S.

[04] HANS VAN DEN BROEK ON ARREST OF KARADZIC AND MLADIC

Belgrade, July 12, 1996 (Press TWRA)

[05] THE ICTY WANTED CIRCULAR FOR KARADZIC AND MLADIC

The Hague, July 12, 1996 (Press TWRA)

[06] NOWAK: SERBS AND IFOR GUILTY OF MISSION OF FINNISH EXPERTS' FAILURE

Sarajevo, July 12, 1996 (Press TWRA)

[07] CASSESE DEMANDS FROM TUDJMAN TO ARREST KORDIC

The Hague July 12, 1996 (Press TWRA)

[08] CASSESE DEMANDS UN SANCTIONS AGAINST BELGRADE AND PALE

The Hague, July 12 1996 (Press TWRA)

Bonn - German Vice-chancellor and foreign minister K. Kinkelsaid that it was necessary to use all diplomatic and political means and only then force to bring the war criminals to justice. "We must state clearly and explicitly that we mean on sanctions," says Kinkel adding: "Probability to use force to arrest Mladic is not great for the time being. There is no change in the IFOR mandate after ICTY had issued the arrest warrant."

German and European mediator in the B-H Federation, ChristianSchwarz Schilling said that IFOR should arrest and extradite R. Karadzic to ICTY as soon as possible, comparing that criminal with Nazi top official Heinrich Himmler.

Pale - Self-styled foreign minister of Serb Republic (B-Hentities, by the constitution of that state agreed in Dayton do not have the right to develop international relations.) Aleksa Buha threatened that the ICTY decision to send out the arrest warrant for Mladic and Karadzic could question the autumn elections and even maintaining the peace in B-H.

Athens - two ICTY judges arrived at Athens to talk with Greekminister of justice about trial to Karadzic and Mladic. As for now, their meeting with Greek lawyer Alexader Lykourezis registered in the Hague as Mladic's defender, has not been planned.

Washington - State Department spokesman N. Burns said thatthe USA were pleased and support the international arrest warrant for Mladic and Karadzic. (end) A.S.

[09] OSCE: SDA TO BLAME FOR ATTACK ON SILAJDZIC IN CAZIN

Sarajevo, July 12, 1996 (Press TWRA)

[10] BOSNIA WAS MOURNING FOR SREBRENICA, KARADZIC'S SERBS CELEBRATED

Tuzla, Sarajevo, July 12, 1996 (Press TWRA)

Women from Srebrenica and others who searched for the truthabout their nearest were joined yesterday by Jordan's queen Nur, US ambassador to Vienna Swanee Hunt and EU commissary for humanitarian work Emma Bono. Jordan's queen brought over four tons of medical necessities and substantial financial support. All women of the world were called from the meeting to join in the appeal to save those who might survive the catastrophe of Srebrenica and to bury with dignity all those whose corpses are now not possible to evacuate from Serb entity as Karadzic aides in Pale do not permit that.

Commenting Serb celebration of "liberation" of Srebrenica. UNspokesman in Sarajevo A. Ivanko said: "It is disgusting, completely sick. It is to regret and blame that controlled Serb media continue to refuse and deprive its people from the truth about what actually occurred in Srebrenica a year ago," said Ivanko. Serb media informed on two-day celebration including football and basketball tournament and prayers for Serb soldiers killed in the attack on Srebrenica.

Washington - US president Clinton sent a letter to Tuzlaaddressing it to women from Srebrenica expressing his admiration for them.

US State Department spokesman N. Burns said: "Serbcelebration of the first anniversary of the fall of Srebrenica shows entirely distorted view of history. The hands of those who celebrated have been still wet with the blood of innocent victims." (end) A.S.

[11] BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT PLEASED WITH THE DECISION OF ICJ

Sarajevo, The Hague, July 12 , 1996 (Press TWRA)

Yesterday at the anniversary of the fall of Srebrenica, thevery day when ICTY sent out the wanted circular for Karadzic and Mladic, ICJ declared itself competent in the process which B-H started against Belgrade due to violation of the 1948 Paris Peace Convention, genocide, war and ethnic as well as crimes against cultural heritage committed in B-H in 1992-95. The decision by which the suit was estimated as legal was brought by majority vote of 15-member Court council, explained by Muhammad Bedjaoui.

Belgrade prepared, organized and conducted aggression on B-Hproviding logistic support for Serb paramilitary in B-H all the time, causing death of 250,000 people - over 5% of total B-H population, alleges the suit filed by Sarajevo on March 20, 1993.

The Belgrade authorities claim in the complaint that B-H warwas civil, religious, ethnic in which FRY played no part and that B-H illegally left Yugoslavia.

After the ICJ decision, further hearings should follow toestablish if Belgrade was generator of the war in B-H and guilty for the dead, missing, wounded, devastation and if B-H has the right to war reparation it demands. ICJ is not expected to finish this process soon, as step by step action will be taken. The ICJ spokesman Arthur Witteveen refused to specify the term adding that further development of the situation from both sides was expected, "and will take some time." Unlike ICTY, ICJ is not threatened with abolition or bankruptcy except in case of the UNO bankruptcy. (end) A.S.

[12] GARROD ON THE ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

Mostar, July 13, 1996 (Press TWRA)

"Nobody has the right to deprive Mostarians of the electionresults. That is the reason for EUAM and administrator Casado to decide to inform Mostarians on what they have the right know, after 11 days of waiting, as the City electoral commission neither had done it nor intended to. Now, we have a decree with the election results for the city and six borough councils which are final and official. Decree was issued as there were no signs that the results would be released in regular procedure. Decision on decree was made by EUAM in agreement with R.P. Casado and president of European union," said Garrod.

Garrod's replies to the journalists' questions were asfollows: Question: How could EU accept irregularities that occurred in Bonn? (Croat media) Garrod: EUAM ombudsman Konstantin Zepos controls legality in the EUAM work and his decision on elections in Bonn is final. Q.: Could you comment the statement of Mijo Brajkovic announcing that Croat delegates would not participate in the authorities and that they do not accept the EUAM decree? Garrod: I have no comment of Mr Brajkovic's statement. I cannot speak about statements given for media as our administration received no document including such a message. Q.: Can the elections in September be expected to be fair and correct besides such irregularities ? (Croat Radio Mostar) Garrod: I do hope there will be elections in B-H, but I also hope they will not be- without results. It would be wrong and unfair towards the voters. If the same syndrome appears in September, it would not be good. Q.: How do you comment a suit against Zepos filed by the Mostar city board of B-H HDZ? Garrod:There was no reason for EUAM not to reveal the election results, especially as the time for complaint for all sides had expired. The residents of Mostar would never know the election results in the current situation. Decisions of ombudsman Zepos, regardless of someone's likes and dislikes, are final. Q.: What do you think about the decision of OSCE and OSCE temporary electoral commission ton non-repeating local elections in Mostar, released by the B-H govt. official in the OSCE temporary commission Kasim Begic in the interview for the Mostar RTV? Garrod: If the decision was made by OSCE, we should accept it such as it is. Garrod also informed the journalists that the administrator Cassado would participate on July 15, this year in the work of EU Council of Ministers in Brusselles and demand the EUAM mandate be extended to the end of this year. As Casado said, the mandate would be helpful to democratically elected authorities to cope with their tasks and primarily to renewal and reconstruction of the town of Mostar. (end) A.S.

[13] CARDINAL SIMONS ON THE SITUATION IN BANJALUKA

Utrecht, Banjaluka, July 13, 1996 (Press TWRA)

[14] IZETBEGOVIC ON THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA

Sarajevo, July 17, 1996 (Press TWRA)

Bosnian government will be preparing the elections scheduledfor September as if everything was in perfect order, but even superficial look at B-H shows there is no freedom of movement being one of the conditions for elections, no freedom for political activities, no freedom of media in the Serb-controlled part of B-H and regretfully, in the HVO held area, as well. Also, there is no return of refugees and this segment shows the main failure in the elections implementation. Not only that refugees have not returned, but most of them have not been registered. Large number of people, the assumption is about a million and a half has not remained in the places where registered in the voters' list. According to the rules, they must be re-registered and say where they will go to the polls. I appeal to our voters to register themselves, and those who have changed their residence should check if they are in the voters' list. (...) In Mostar, there were the HVO and the B-H army controlled parts of the town. It is always easier to reach an agreement when two sides are in question and at the September elections, there are three sides. Unimpeded elections should be also secured in the territory under Karadzic's Srebs control. (...)

No use denying the pressure exerted on some Serbs on the freearea. To stop such things, they must be admitted first and then prevented. I think that Serb population has problems in these areas. Yet, we have come to double standards now applied by the world community. When a Serb is beaten up, everyone speaks about that. At the same time, when expulsion of Bosniak families, always followed by beating up, continues in Kotor-Varos, the world acts is if got used to it. No affair is made out of it." (end) A.S.

[15] MUHAMED SACIRBEY ON VERDICT OF ICJ

Sarajevo, The Hague, New York, July 13, 1996 (Press TWRA)

[16] AN AMERICAN WOMAN INJURED IN FIRE NEAR SARAJEVO

Sarajevo, July 13, 1996 (Press TWRA)

[17] IN SIX MOSTAR BOROUGHS - SUCCESS OF THE SDA-LBO COALITION

Mostar, July 13, 1996 (Press TWRA)

In six Mostar boroughs, the List of SDA-LBO coalition forintegral Mostar won total 80 seats and the HDZ list only 46. If the results of the elections for the City council are added, the List for integral Mostar and the List SDA-LBO have total 101 seat and HDZ 62.

In each of six Mostar boroughs were planned maximum 25delegates and in most of them, little fewer were elected as follows:

North: seventeen (17) elected - SDA-LBO thirteen(13), HDZ four (4),

Old town: twenty-four (24), SDA-LBO twenty (20), HDZ four(4),

Southeast: twenty-two (22), SDA-LBO nineteen (19), HDZthree (3),

South: nineteen (19), SDA-LBO seven (7), HDZ twelve(12),

Southwest: all twenty-five (25), SDA-LBO twelve (12), HDZthirteen (13),

West: nineteen (19), SDA-LBO nine (9), HDZ ten(10). (end) A.S.

[18] FOUR SERBS AND A CATH-BOSNIAK HAVE OUTWEIGHED

Mostar, July 13, 1996 (Press TWRA)

All 16 seats planned for Croats included the candidates fromthe HDZ List. Those are: Ante Rozic, Marija Leko, Vjekoslav Kordic, Dragan Marijanovic, Zdenko Mihic, Mile Puljic, Marin Topic, Vlado Culjak, Dragan Kolobara, Ivan Zovko, Mijo Brajkovic, Srecko Vucina, Ivan Prskalo, Andjelko Sesar, Jadranko Lovric and Zdravko Soldo.

Of 16 Bosniak delegates, two are from the List of citizensfor integral Mostar - Safet Orucevic and Hamdija Jahic and other 14 from the SDA and LBO coalition list are - Hamid Tipura, Semir Saric, Alkan Mujic, Rusmir Cisic, Azer Djelilovic, Esad Pobric, Mirsad Huskovic, Selim Isic, Esad Humo, Selim Spago, Sead Salcin, Asim Krhan, Enver Colakhodzic, Alija Djulic.

Candidates from the List of citizens for Integral Mostar wonall five seats planned for the others - those are four Serbs (Milan Jovicic, Ratko Pejanovic, Obren Lozo, Friderik Vasic) and one catholic-Bosniak (Vladimir Fink) (end) A.S

[19] VOORHOEVE: SREBRENICA - END OF THE UN PEACE KEEPING OPERATIONS

The Hague, July 13, 1996 (Press TWRA)

Considerable part of guilt for death of 8,000 people inSrebrenica is on DUTCHBAT which was stationed there, but the Dutch put blame on UNPF command, Bernard Janvier (French gen.) and UN leadership (B.Ghali, Y. Akashi). After exchanging accusations with France, Netherlands demanded last month the UN investigation on Srebrenica. (end) A.S.

[20] CROATS ANNOUNCED POST-ELECTORAL OBSTRUCTION IN MOSTAR

Mostar, July 13, 1996 (Press TWRA)

"Croat side will not participate in creating the Mostar citycouncil till the Federation Constitutional court gives a verdict regarding the suit of the City board of HDZ, filed due to irregularities at the elections. (...) Breaking the unity of HDZ has failed as it won all 16 seats planned for Croats. HDZ succeeded this time in the town of Mostar showing it is one of the most monolithic and strongest parties (...) All the people who voted for HDZ clearly said they wanted to live as they had. Yet, a hurry can be noticed on the other side, a hurry to constitute authorities in the town of Mostar which EU will exclusively contact with. So one side would be neglected, one complete nation which clearly stated its wish. We will not permit that. (...) Decision of R. Casada to announce the results of the Mostar elections by a decree is an introduction to anarchy. I call Mostarians for dignity and calm."

Observers warn that Brajkovic called for "dignity and calm"wile preparing and leading a campaign of enraged crowd of Croat extremists against Casado's predecessor, Han Koschnick who resigned due to the lack of support of European Union as a whole, particularly Germany. Koschnick's decree on central city district, by whose size HDZ was not pleased, Brajkovic described in the same words - as an introduction to chaos and anarchy, what will not be permitted.

As Brajkovic is not the most extreme Croat politician inMostar, his statement is regarded a clear sign that the Mostar and "Herzeg Bosnian" HDZ is not ready to face the Mostar election results and participate as minority in creation of new city authorities. Even before the election results were revealed, Brajkovic had announced that prior to the HDZ permission to form the city authorities, three boroughs would be established with Croat majority, connected in one integral part and then decision what to do next will be made.

Observers are not certain if such obstruction of thereconstruction of integral Mostar authorities is the result of the attitude of the Local HDZ in Herzegovina or a decision directed from the HDZ leadership in Zagreb which similarly acted after the local elections in Zagreb. However, while the Zagreb opposition is sometimes ready to yield before blackmails and pressures of HDZ due to national interests, HDZ in Mostar cannot expect the same as the majority in the City council have no the same interests like HDZ, but hold HDZ responsible for severe devastation, division, gethoization, culturocide, urbicide committed in 1993. Current leadership of HDZ in Mostar and Herzegovina and the whole of B-H is not the same as supported by voters in 1990 but took the position by the party's coup, publicly conducted from Zagreb. Local elections in Mostar late last month, identify current HDZ leadership in Mostar as a representative of the will of most Croats who voted at the elections though the number of Croats who boycotted the elections and in that way HDZ, should not be neglected.

Journalist of "Croat Radio of Herzeg Bosnia" Ivan Kristoficcomments defeat of HDZ: "HDZ leadership made a number of mistakes at the elections. They hardly had any pre-election activities, they did not hold any pre-election meeting. They acted as if drunk with power. They did very little. Therefore, a substantial number of Croats abstained."

Local Croat media in Mostar have recently led a campaignseverely criticizing EU administration in that town, specially Konstantin Zepos who refused to annul elections in Bonn due to 26 surplus ballots and Casado who by a decree revealed the election results after waiting for 11 days and realized that the town electoral commission, due to protest of its Croat members did not mean to announce them. (end) A.S.

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