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BosNet News: Press TWRA (96-08-06)
From: HR-Net News Distribution Manager <dist@hri.org>
CONTENTS
[01] AGREEMENT HAS BEEN FINALLY SIGNED
[02] CROATS THREATENING WITH BOYCOTTING OF ELECTIONS
[03] ARKAN AND SESELJ CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIONS IN B-H
[04] "IT IS NOT A NORMAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION"
[05] TENSE ATMOSPHERE AMONG CROATS IN MOSTAR
[06] ZUBAK: "WE DO NOT GIVE BOSNIA TO ANYONE"
[01] AGREEMENT HAS BEEN FINALLY SIGNED
Mostar, August 6, 1996 (Press TWRA)
Somewhat earlier than 2 p.m., agreement between Bosniak and Croat side in
Mostar, concerning the resolving of the actual crisis in the town, has been
finally reached. The agreement on "Joint action" should have designed the
conditions of the remaining of EU in Mostar and its Special Envoy, Sir
Martin Garrod. Discussions upon the 4th article lasted a whole last night
and were continued since 11 a.m. today, after which the final agreement has
been finally concluded. All elements upon which insisted the Croatian side
are actually making part of the agreement on the tJoint actionv, signed by
both sides who are now obligated to cooperate with EU and its Special
Envoy. Civic council will gather on August 8 in order to appoint Major
(Croat) and his deputy (Bosniak) and who will cooperate with Martin Garrod
in all issues for which they are responsible. Council will gather again
after the BH Federation Supreme Court resolution regarding the HDZ BH
accusation on the irregularity of the Mostar elections. Immediately after
the signing of the agreement, President of the Mostar municipal council,
Mijo Brajkovic, stated "signing of the agreement enables the process of the
organization of the civic administration in accordance with the Dayton
accord commitments, which does not include only the election of Major and
his deputy but also a constitution of the six municipalities in Mostar out
of which three will be Bosniak and three Croatian." Eight article of the
agreement says this document does not represent neither appointing in
advance a legal attitude of any side involved nor Temporary civic statut
designed in Dayton. EU Special Envoy to Mostar, Michael Steiner stated
Croatian Foreign Minister, Mate Granic, considerably helped reaching of the
agreement. This, lately often attacked Croatian diplomat, probably
seriously understood warning of EU in the case the Mostar crisis is not
resolved. (end) D.O.
[02] CROATS THREATENING WITH BOYCOTTING OF ELECTIONS
Vitez, August 6, 1996 (Press TWRA)
Protesting gathering of Croats from Central Bosnia was held in Vitez last
Sunday, requesting the exchange of the election rules, regarding OESS rule
all persons with the status of refugees could decide themselves on which
election point and in which BH municipality they will vote. Head of OESS
regional center in Mostar, Wolfgang Odendahl stated there would be no
exchange of the election rules, no matter of the numerous requests, for
this could cause new problems and unsatisfactions. Odendhal also added he
understands fear of the Croatian population in the area claiming expelled
Bosniaks could vote for the municipalities where Croats are now in
majority, such as Kiseljak, Capljina and Stolac. In connection with
Croatian threatening with the boycott of the elections, Odendhal answers:
tI do not believe Croats from Central Bosnia will boycott the elections.
They have been agreed on the highest political level of all three nations
with the international community supervisionv, refusing any possibility of
exchange of the election rules that are making part of the democratic
process in BH and form a basis to the implementation of the Dayton accord
commitments. (end) D.O.
[03] ARKAN AND SESELJ CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIONS IN B-H
Sarajevo, August 8, 1996 (Press TWRA)
Independent candidate for the approaching September elections Vladimir
Srebrov, in yesterday's announcement told that in Serbian entity for
elections would be candidate Party of Serbian Unity and Serbian Radical
Party, which leaders are Zeljko Raznjatovic - Arkan and Vojislav Seselj.
Srebrov made an appeal to Temporary Election Commission which was refused
with explanation that either Seselj and Arkan are not accused by ICTY.
Srebrov made another appeal, and he said: "Parties from Serbia and parties
that massacred the Bosniaks cannot and must not participate elections in
Bosnia". (end) D.O.
[04] "IT IS NOT A NORMAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION"
Sarajevo, Washington, August 6, 1996 (Press TWRA)
U.S. officials, while commenting these days, for them disputable, Iranian
help to BH and pointing out they are have nothing against Bosnian-Iranian
diplomatic and economic cooperation, but adding this cooperation does not
enter in the category of normal economic relations. tIt is an effort to
buy positions in the regionv, a high U.S. official stated. Actual position
of the U.S. administration, after they themselves stated at the end of
June that there is no more BH-Iranian military and intelligence services
nor Iranian military instructors in BH, is explained by an U.S. diplomat in
Sarajevo: tWe are closely examining this issue which does not mean that we
check every day the number of Iranians in BH nor their activities. Since
the end of June we have not been discussing this question, until the
Iranian credit-proposalv, U.S. official stated. High U.S. official,
familiar with the situations in the Balkans stated last week in Sarajevo
Americans are imposing pressure upon the nature of BH-Iran relationship due
to Iranian relation with AID. According to U.S. viewpoint, it is one of the
greatest problem in Bosniaks-Croats relations in BH Federation. Iranian
offer of 50 million $ is, according to Ameircans, just a purchase of
influence in the region while Bosniaks are asking themselves how it is
possible any of promised U.S. dollars has not yet reached BH as a part of
"sincere and unconditioned help" to this suffering country. (end) D.O.
[05] TENSE ATMOSPHERE AMONG CROATS IN MOSTAR
Mostar, August 6, 1996 (Press TWRA)
A former member of BH Army (Croat), holder of "Golden lily flower" medal,
was arrested yesterday without any reason in Western Mostar. Immediate
counter- measures took place in Eastern Mostar, under the control of
Bosniaks, so friends of the arrested soldier kept prisoners several
Croatian voyagers passing through this part of the town. Soon afterwards,
a soon exchange of the prisoners happened, besides the fact Croatian police
claimed they were not familiar with arresting of the BH Army soldier. Such
incidents happen frequently during the last period but Croatian media claim
it is mostly incited by Bosniaks. Today, while expecting a signing of the
agreement, a group of unsatisfied Croats gathered, reminding of the recent
incident during the mandate of former EU Administrator, Hans Koschnik.
(end) D.O.
[06] ZUBAK: "WE DO NOT GIVE BOSNIA TO ANYONE"
Mostar, August 6, 1996 (Press TWRA)
BH Federation President, Kresimir Zubak, gave interview to Croatian weekly
"Obzor", in which he commented the actual situation in Mostar and relations
in BH Federation. While speaking about the latest elections, whose results
Croats still do not accept, besides the signed agreement, Zubak said Croats
in Mostar were absolutely cooperative and imposed to pressures from both,
Bosniak and international side. "It is still repeated on the international
level that Croats do not want to form Civic administration in the town. I
do not understand who operates with these hypothesis for the concept of the
organization of Mostar is a proposal of the Croatian side." While speaking
about BH Federation, he stated: "It is our destiny to divide this area with
others. Some time ago, it was completely our region but now it is 1:3. But,
we can give BH to anyone. It is a country organized by Croats even in the
Middle ages, which they chose through referendum and for which they gave so
many victims. This situation is not a final one. It is just a process. Who
knows how this will end." (end) D.O.
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