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BosNet News: Press TWRA (96-08-11)
CONTENTS
[01] "RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO PEOPLES ARE MORE DURABLE THAN OUR CARRIERS"
[02] SOLANA ON IFOR'S TASKS
[03] REHN SUPPORTS ELECTION BY FORESEEN DEADLINE
[04] PEACE DOES NOT AGREE WITH SERBS
[05] RETURN OF REFUGEES BY OCTOBER 1st
[06] KORNBLUM IN BELGRADE - "SANCTIONS ARE STILL ON TABLE"
[07] INDICTMENT RAISED AGAINST FIKRET ABDIC
[08] IZETBEGOVIC-ERBAKAN TALKS
[09] INCIDENT IN DONJA MAHALA
[10] "MOSTAR'S MAFIA OBSTRUCTS AGREEMENT"
[11] HERZEG-BOSNIA: OPEN WOUND - WHICH WITHDRAWS IN CANCER'S PACE
[12] WEST SACRIFICES JUSTICE IN BH
[13] NO ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR IN SEPTEMBER
[14] WHEN WILL, FINALLY, SO CALLED "HERZEG-BOSNIA" BE DISSOLVED?
[15] SERBS DID NOT COME TO MEETING
[16] SERBIAN PRE-ELECTION THREATS
[01] "RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO PEOPLES ARE MORE DURABLE THAN OUR CARRIERS"
Zagreb, August 11,1996 (Press TWRA)
The BH Federation vice- president E. Ganic in an interview for Zagreb's
magazine "Nacional" talked about recent meeting with pres.Tudjman and
Croatian-BH relations. TWRA reports part of the interview: "I concretely
said that we demand dissolving of "Herzeg-Bosnia". I said: "Mr President,
that can not be done without you, you can do it...". It is a little bit
inconvenient to talk about that, because those were diplomatic talks,
closed in a way, and I would rather not talk about what I precisely said to
him, and what he answered. But among others, I said one thing: "Mr.
President, I support establishing the relations which will outlive the
politicians. The relations between two peoples are something more durable
and long term than our carriers. (Croatian side, allegedly, in return for
dissolving "H-B" demanded strengthening the borders with Republic of
Srpska?) Nobody asked me that, that would be division of Bosnia. First time
in the history Catholic Church has no influence on Drina River. To maintain
such situation would be defeat of the West, not only Croats and Bosniaks.
We talked about weakening the RBH authority. I said that RBH will have
neither more nor less authorities than those foreseen by Dayton agreement.
That is why at the state level in B-H at this moment, there are six
ministries. (...) Ombudsman analyzed all that and came to conclusion that
this disputed 26 votes could not in any way influence the election results.
But if you ask me about the HDZ election defeat Mostar, I can say that HDZ
did just fine because in the long run only policy of integrated Bosnia
could withstand.The integrated Bosnia guards 80% of Croatianborders and in
that way saves the money for the Croatian military budget. Bosniaks guard
Croatian belly, cover 80% of its border with Serbs. So, Croatia has to
guard only small part of the border on Cape Prevlaka and with Vojvodina.
The integrated Bosnia is the best solution for Croats. Croats have two
states: their own, Croatia, and Bosnia which they share with others, and in
which they have one third of the power. Croatia enjoys the whole Bosnia, as
we do. What more Croats want? (...) Serbs at the moment have 49% of the
territory, but they do not have that much power... Croats and Bosniaks are
strong enough to preserve Bosnia. The concept of the Federation was made as
a base for the integrated Bosnia. It foresees that Serbs from Republic of
Srpska latter transfers to the territory of the Federation. It is no
science to divide Bosnia, but we want Federation which would be strong and
which could raise Bosnia again. This idea has a support of Catholic church,
Franciscans. Their structure, which has been developed through centuries,
now is disturbed by "HB". Anyway, which would be the better solution for
Croats. (...) Our strategy is to build the best possible relations with
Croats, and the conflicts in 1993 we consider "traffic accident". That was
not the war between two nations but the conflict with one interest group,
part of Croatian people in Bosnia. We did not fight with Croats in
Posavina, Tuzla, nor we had any serious conflicts with Croats in central
Bosnia. That was the conflict between one fraction of HVO and BH Army. The
conflict between Croats and Bosniaks has no logic because Croats fight for
something they already have. They are on their land in Bosnia, which is
also ours as much as theirs. That is mutual property and it can not be
divided. That is what Serbs want: to divide Bosnia with the help of Croats.
We off course oppose to that. Bosnia can not be divided since the whole
region would get into war and economic crisis. And than some one in Europe
out of blue says: "Put them all into some Balkans basket".(...) We had 250
000 soldiers, 50, 500 or 1000 Mujaheeds makes no difference. That problem
was invented. They are obviously very attractive, so when CNN journalist
meet five or six those "individuals" with scarves around their heads, they
take pictures of them immediately.On the other hand,200 000 of our
beardless soldiers are not interesting because they look like Europeans.
The Mujaheeds story is implanted cuckoo egg. We did not guard the borders.
How did they enter BH then? On one occasion, I was informed that some
Mujaheeds appeared in Zenica and I asked: How many? 30, they said. I said
I would lead them when there will be 300 000 of them, and I would be able
to drive away Serbs from Drina River. I said that those 30 can pack their
bags and return to where they come from because they only create problems.
Religious war about which foreign press writes is pure deceit.(...)Serbia
is not as strong as it was. Serbs are not economically strong enough to
dictate any rules on this territory. They had advantage because they took
all from the army which we created for 50 years. (...) We will find the
medicine for the joint federal army. A Herzegovinian can not say he does
not want to be drafted into the same army with Muslims, because he is
surrounded with Muslims everywhere. Herzegovina can not exist without trade
in Sarajevo. When this starts, and it did already, people will have to take
care of some different, everyday things. (end) S.K.
[02] SOLANA ON IFOR'S TASKS
Paris, Brussels, August 11,1996 (Press TWRA)
The NATO General Secretary Javier Solana considers that the three most
important IFOR's tasks until the end of its mandate in BH will be
monitoring of elections foreseen for September 14, to continue to support
the humanitarian aid and prevent creation of international borders inside
BH, said Solana in the article published at "International Herald Tribune".
"We will continue our policy regarding arrest of criminals and helping
investigations by International Tribunal for war criminals in The Hague",
writes Solana. "IFOR has no mandate to search for war criminals like
Radovan Karadjic and Ratko Mladic who are heavy handicap for Bosnian Serbs,
but it has task to catch them if they show up on any IFOR's check point",
repeated Solana. (end) S.K.
[03] REHN SUPPORTS ELECTION BY FORESEEN DEADLINE
Sarajevo, August 11,1996 (Press TWRA)
"Undoubtedly the democracy of September elections will be on the low level,
but the voters must have a chance to give their opinion on the BH future
and the offered political options", stated UN Special Rapporteur for Human
Rights Elizabeth Rhen who supported the holding of elections by the
foreseen deadline although she confirmed that international monitors
reports showed that many irregularities have been present and violations of
human rights in the procedure for registration of voters, so far. She also
proposed to OSCE to denote the mechanisms which would in this one month
period before elections enable the straighten up of obvious injustices like
forcing refugees to register to vote in their new places of residence.
Rhen also said that at the meeting with opposition parties representatives
in Sarajevo get the impression that they could decide to boycott the
elections if the irregularities noticed so far are not removed. "Opposition
parties consider that elections under present circumstances only firm the
results of ethnic cleansing", warrned Rhen.
She also emphasized that the important part of her present mission inthe countries of former Yugoslavia was to find out about the human rights
situation in the parts of Republic Croatia liberated during the military
operation "Storm". Rhen expressed her disappointment because the return of
local Serbian population is very slow and emphasized that the threats
directed against them intensified. According to UN Special Rapporteur's
reports the non- government organizations which work on the territory of
Knin are also exposed to pressures and intimidation's which she considers
inadmissible. (end) S.K.
[04] PEACE DOES NOT AGREE WITH SERBS
Sarajevo, August 11,1996 (Press TWRA)
Yesterday near Sanski Most the IFOR patrol was attacked. According to
IFOR's spokesman Bratt Boudreau, on the members of IFOR, Czech soldiers'
patrol came under attack from firearms. The soldiers returned the fire. It
has been denoted that two Bosnian Serbs in civilian cloths and armed with
automatic guns fired on the soldiers. One of attackers fleet away, while
the other was given the first aid after he had been wounded by the attacked
IFOR's soliders. The IFOR police interrogated him afterwards. Baudreau
reported that the storage full of arms was found near Sokolac on Romania
for which Bosnian Serbs did not have permission. Large amount of arms are
now under NATO control now, and soon it will be taken away and destroyed.
(end) SK
[05] RETURN OF REFUGEES BY OCTOBER 1st
Bonn, August 11,1996 (Press TWRA)
Return of 320 00 BH refugees which are at the moment situated in Germany
could start on October 1st, announced that President of German Red Cross
Knut Ibsen. Unmarried men, couples without children and couples whose
children are in BH will be the first to return. Ibsen welcomed the recent
decision of the Federal Administrative Court according to which refugees
from the territory under bosnian Serbs control can not get asylum in
Germany since they can return to BH Federation territory. (end) S.K.
[06] KORNBLUM IN BELGRADE - "SANCTIONS ARE STILL ON TABLE"
Washington, Belgrade, August 10,1996 (Press TWRA)
The US State Secretary Assistant and the Special Envoy for the Balkans,
John Kornblum, stated yesterday that "US will not raise the level of its
relations with FRY until the peace in the region is not the way it should
be, and without that there is no question about FRY's return to
international financial institutions". Kornblum added that in his talks
with Serbian President, and also with the acting President of Republic of
Srpska B.Plavsic and President of RS Parliament M. Krajisnik stressed that
Bosnia has to enter new faze, which he named "the fase of new cooperation".
"We came to the turning point in the peace process stated Kornblum adding
that eight months from Dayton Accord "we still talk about the same topics
as in March - freedom of movement, freedom of press, expelling people,
level of cooperation". He also emphasized that his collocutors in Belgrade
must know that the Pale leadership must oblige to real cooperation, secure
that Karadzic has no influence, and that local officials of Republic of
Srpska respect the obligations they undertaken. "I emphasized two things:
either we will undertake action ourselves or we will recommend to OSCE the
actions against groups and individuals; and that the sanctions are still on
the table", said Kornblum. US envoy warned Milosevic that if Dayton fails
the whole region will be lost, and Milosevic with it, and repeated the
position that the establishing of relations between US and FRY is the
precondition for the bigger step - recognition of FRY by the financial
institutions, off course, under condition that FRY and Bosnian Serbs
fulfill all that was agreed in Dayton. (end) S.K.
[07] INDICTMENT RAISED AGAINST FIKRET ABDIC
Sarajevo, August 10,1996 (Press TWRA)
According to Sarajevo's daily "Oslobodjenje" the Court in Bihac raised
indictment against Fikret Abdic. The indictment accuses Abdic of criminal
acts against civilian population, and war crimes against war prisoners.
The warrant for Abdic has been issued, and the prosecutor proposed the
trial in absence and the expropriation of his property as a side
punishment. The prosecution proposed 56 witnesses, number of written
documents and reports of international organizations for human rights.
Abdic was accused of, in contrast to BH constitution, proclaiming so called
Autonomous Province West Bosnia and started to establish his own army in
order to turn that territory into independent state. The indictment said
that Abdic established detention camps where he detained civilian
population and his political opponents. More than 5000 people were in that
camps and most of them were maltreated. The witnesses claim that at least
two persons were killed by beating. Abdic is accused of cooperation with
Martic and Karadjic and preventing the passage for humanitarian convoys for
Bihac. The date of trial will be announced in the next few days, reported
"Oslobodjenje". At present Abdic is living in Croatia where he prepares
for BH elections for which he registered his party. (end) S.K.
[08] IZETBEGOVIC-ERBAKAN TALKS
Ankara, August 10,1996 (Press TWRA)
The President of BH Presidency Alija Izetbegovic besides Turkish President
Demirel, during his visit to Turkey talked also with the President of
Turkish Government N. Erbakan. After the talks on the present situation in
BH Prime Minister Erbakan was interested in the help coming from Islamic
countries to BH since, at present, several representatives of Asian Islamic
countries have been visiting Turkey. The issue of help by Islamic world
and Turkish part in reconstruction of BH will be considered in detail
during the BH Government President Hasan Muratovic visit to Ankara at the
end of month. (end) S.K.
[09] INCIDENT IN DONJA MAHALA
Mostar, August 10,1996 (Press TWRA)
As our correspondent reported yesterday afternoon the unknown individual
driving in the vehicle without the plates fired from automatic weapon on
densely populated part of Mostar Donja Mahala. The eyewitness said that the
vehicle moving very fast came from the city center direction, and than
disappeared in the settlement Radoc, which is under Croatian police
control. One vehicle was hit, along with the several houses. There were no
casualties. WEU Police and police station in east Mostar confirmed this
incident. They are still looking for the attacker. (end) S.K.
[10] "MOSTAR'S MAFIA OBSTRUCTS AGREEMENT"
Mostar, August 10,1996 (Press TWRA)
The Mostar's City Council session announced for August 14, will be held for
the first time after Croats agreed to end the boycott. The mayor and his
deputy have to be elected at the session. The President of HDZ Mostar Mile
Puljic refused yesterday to accept the invitation to City Council session
which according to the agreement signed on August 6, has to be held this
month. Puljic stated in a letter to special European Union envoy for Mostar
Sir Martin Garrod that the invitation to the session of the City Council
sent by President of City Council Hamdija Jahic, was violation of the
agreement signed between Bosniak and Croatian side. "The Article 4 of the
agreement says that the session will be held during August and that mayor
and his deputy will be elected", stated Puljic. The PIC High Representative
deputy Michael Steiner stated yesterday that Mafia prevents the integration
of the part of the city which is under HVO control. Steiner described Mafia
in mostar as secret organization which makes pressure on the authorities to
prevent Herzegovina's Croats to enter the joint City Council of Mostar.
"This organization is divided in several branches and is connected with
Zagreb", said Steiner adding that the same Mafia is responsible for the
attack on the former EU Administrator in Mostar Hans Koschinik and for
other attacks including the assault on several Croatian politicians. The
special EU envoy for Mostar Sir Martin Garrod on yesterday press-conference
in Mostar reminded about the Washington Agreement between President of
Republic Croatia Tudjman and US President Clinton on establishing the City
Administration in Mostar, based on the Mostar's election results. Asked
about local elections in September in Mostar Garrod said that OESS does not
consider holding another local elections as a part of September elections.
The Temporary election commission confirmed on July 8&9 that Mostar's
elections are part of general elections in September. (end) D.O.
[11] HERZEG-BOSNIA: OPEN WOUND - WHICH WITHDRAWS IN CANCER'S PACE
Sarajevo, August 8,1996 (Press TWRA)
After failure of yesterday's agreement at the Federation Forum once again
the unreadiness and clumsiness about dissolving the so called "Herzeg-
Bosnia" para-state was transparent. The TV cameras recorded delegations
coming from the Federation Forum session and the expression on John
Cornblum's face, which described the best the situation on Bosniak-Croats
negotiations on dissolution of the so called "Herzeg-Bosnia". The Special
US Envoy for Balkans, serious and obviously disappointed, shortly stated
that the agreement could not be reached that day. The Prime Minister
Muratovic said: "Herzeg-Bosnia is para-state creation headed by extreme
nationalists and war profiteer. That is the cancer which viciously attacked
Federation and Dayton agreement". On the other side BH Federation
vice-president Kresimir Zubak said that Croatian side is ready to transfer
the "Herzeg-Bosnia" authorities to the Federation administration, if the
Republic bodies transfer their responsibilities to Federal administration.
On the ground everything moves in a cancer pace. (end) D.O.
[12] WEST SACRIFICES JUSTICE IN BH
Washington, August 10,1996 (Press TWRA)
The BH Ambassador at UN Muhamed Sacirbey accused western countries for
sacrificing the justice in BH for the temporary political interests. The
President of ICTY Antonio Cassese two months ago urged UN Security Council
to undertake the adequate measures against FRY and Bosnian Serbs in order
to arrest and extradite the leaders of Bosnian Serbs Radovan Karadzic and
Ratko Mladic. "Unfortunately, instead of firm decisiveness some members of
the Council where only ready to give statements about hard situation in BH
and the Tribunal", said Sacirbey and added: "Such conduct will undermine
the whole peace process including those aspects of political goals which
now have advantage on account of justice". (end) D.O.
[13] NO ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR IN SEPTEMBER
Mostar, August 9,1996 (Press TWRA)
On today's press conference at the EU Administration's Headquarters in
Mostar the Special EU Envoy Martin Garrod reported that Mostar City Council
session will be held on August 14. As it was foreseen, the city mayor and
his deputy will be elected on that session. Garrod emphasized that the
signed agreement between Croatian and Bosniak side is very clear about
overcoming of the administration crisis based on results of local
elections. The agreement says precisely that the next session must be held
within 60 days after the Constitutive session, whether the Supreme or
Constitutional Court of BH Federation will be established in that period or
not (still nonexistent court to which Croatian side filed the charges
against the election results in Bonn) and regardless the court will come to
decision on HDZ BH charges on "Bonn case". Garrod, in that way, denied the
statements of Mostar's HDZ officials who said that after the August
session, the sessions of the City Council will not be held until the Court
decision on irregularities of elections held in Germany. Garrod expressed
his hope that the Federal Court decision will come before the end of two
months because the President and vice-president of Federation Zubak and
Ganic appointed yesterday the judges. Now the Constitutional Assembly is
on the move and it will surely support the quick establishing of the local
administration in Mostar. The special EU envoy eliminated another dilemma
launched through Croatian media by Mile Puljic, president of local HDZ who
claimed, basing on Article 17 of the Transitional Statute of the city, that
the elections will be repeated in Mostar in September. Garrod rejected such
possibility and reminded of the Temporary OSCE election commission written
statement from August 4, according to which OSCE considers elections held
in June the part of September elections. Since OSCE has been conducting the
September elections the BH election laws including Article 17 of the Mostar
Statute are invalid, stated Garrod. "The Transitional Statute is law for us
because that is the product of Dayton accord, which says that everything is
temporary until the September's elections. If the local elections will not
be held in September we will behave accordingly, relying on Dayton Accord
product of which is Transitional statute including Article 17", stated Mile
Puljic, President of the local HDZ Board who commented the OSCE decision on
elections. At the end of press conference, Garrod expressed satisfaction
because the situation in Mostar normalized after the heavy incidents in the
last few days. However, Garrod also warned that violence and ethnic
cleansing still has not been stooped in the western part of the city. He
accused the leaders of Croatian side because they do not raise their voices
against lawlessness in Mostar, even when the targets are some Croatian
politicians like Dragoslav Ziga or Josip Musa. The new elected Counceler of
the City Council Milan Jovicic was threatened in front of Croatian
policemen and at present he is forced to live in exile at the Pensioners
Hotel, EU Administration Headquarters in Mostar, instead of living at home
in the western part of the city. "I am waiting for leaders to finally rise
their voices and accept the responsibility for preventing the lawlessness
and violence in western Mostar", said Garrod.
Milan Puljic, President of HDZ Mostar City Council today refused theinvitation for the City Council session foreseen for August 14, convoked by
Hamdija Jahic, president of City Council appointed on the session held in
July on which Croatian representatives were not present. Puljic claims that
is the violation of the "Joint action" agreement and demands new meeting on
which he and president Jahic would "yet have to agree on holding the first
session of City Council and its agenda".
Bonn - According to German paper "Bilte" which came across somesecret reports, EU Financial control is worried about spending of European
funds in Mostar. The report specially emphasizes the use of big amounts of
cash, stating that allegedly the treasurer of European Police in Mostar
transferred half of million of DEM in a plain bag. The accounts are not
conducted properly, while the procedure for issuing the receipts does not
exist ", says the report adding that on one occasion EU issued 528000 DEM
without any kind of receipt. (end) S.K.
[14] WHEN WILL, FINALLY, SO CALLED "HERZEG-BOSNIA" BE DISSOLVED?
Sarajevo, August 9,1996 (Press TWRA)
The fifth session of the Federation Forum was held yesterday in Sarajevo.
Besides the numerous officials from Republic and BH Federation the special
US envoy for the Balkans John Cornblum, and the vice-president of Croatian
Government and Foreign Minister Mate Granic were also present. After the
several hours long talks the member of BH Presidency and the vice-
president of Federation Ejup Ganic was the first who stated for the press
that the session was concentrating on the issues concerning dissolution of
so called "Herzeg Bosnia". "We talked about dissolution of
"Herzeg-Bosnia", when will this creation unilaterally established by one
group finally be dissolved", stated Ganic and added: "We did not find out
the precise date of its dissolution, which we expected today, but we had a
very productive talk headed by President Muratovic on preparation of
annexes which will be define when will things be concretely done and at
which Ministry. That part of the work has partly been done and we are ready
to continue tomorrow". The Federation vice- president thanked the US
Embassy and its officials for their help and emphasized that in relation to
dissolution of so called "Herzeg-Bosnia" the conditions and demands are out
of question. "We did everything we had to, we have Federation's
Government, central Government and Republic Government, each does its job,
and we see no need to drag "Herzeg-Bosnia" around any longer because it
violates Dayton Accord", stated Ganic. The President of RBH Government
Hasan Muratovic stated that Federal partner was offered a document which
did not denoted the date until which "Herzeg- Bosnia" has to be dissolved,
however Croatian side did not accepted to say: "Herzeg-Bosnia" legally and
functionally cease to exist as of today, and all their ministries will be
integrated into Federation Ministries by September 1, this year". Ganic's
conclusion was that no longer will be allowed the prolongation of this
issue by Croatian side and that dissolving of this unilateral creation is
in Zagreb's which created "Herzeg-Bosnia", so it can dissolved it in the
same way. The President of Federation Kresimir Zubak had no comment to
that, and the special US envoy for the Balkans Cornblum stated that
political agreement was not reached. (end) D.O.
[15] SERBS DID NOT COME TO MEETING
Sarajevo, August 9,1996 (Press TWRA)
The meeting of council of arbitration for Brcko, which was held on
Wednesday failed, because the representative of Serbian entity Vitomir
Popovic did not come to the meeting. The Bildt's office spokesman Column
Murphy stated yesterday that still are unknown the reasons of his absence,
but if turns out that that was intentional obstruction that would be
qualified as open violation of Dayton agreement. The officials of High
Representative office will try to organize the meeting of Federation and
Republic of Srpska representatives in order to come to agreement on Brcko
status. (end) D.O.
[16] SERBIAN PRE-ELECTION THREATS
Sarajevo, August 9,1996 (Press TWRA)
Yesterday the headquarters of the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OESS) in Sarajevo raised the voice against the pre-election
statements on the alleged independence of the BH Serbian entity. The
acting President of Republic of Srpska Biljana Plavsic stated that the
elections in September will "legalize the independence of RS". OESS
reminded that according to Dayton Accord, elections must make preconditions
for denoting the joint institutions of two entities, with the participation
of elected representatives which will be elected by Bosniaks, Croats and
Serbs.
Bijeljina - The Commander of the NATO Land Forces Walker warned onWednesday about the consequences of the possible violence on election day
in BH, after the group of Bosnian Serbs threatened to block the roads to
prevent Bosniaks and Croats to vote in their former place of residence.
Walker did not say precisely which steps NATO will undertake in order to
held September 14, elections. He only said that NATO will "secure several
additional layers" of security for local police and UN police. (end) D.O.
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