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BosNet Digest V5 #39 / Jan. 25, 1996From: Nermin Zukic <n6zukic@sms.business.uwo.ca>Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory
CONTENTS[01] VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PEACE PROJECT ![02] MLADI MOST IS IN NEED OF INTERNATIONAL VOLUTEERS!![03] SESELJ WANTS TO GO TO THE HAGUE[04] IZETBEGOVIC ON SILAJDZIC AND SDA[05] HASAN MURATOVIC - A SHORT BIOGRAPHY[06] CIA STARTED AN INVESTIGATION ON MILOSEVIC[07] IZETBEGOVIC ON FILIPOVIC, SACIRBEY AND HVO[08] ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC - JOHN SHATTUCK[09] TALKS ON ORGANIZATION OF MOSTAR[10] SERBS WILL REMAIN IN SARAJEVO[11] "HERZEG BOSNIA" - "REPUBLIC" BECOMES "COMMUNITY"[12] TUDJMAN - ROBERT FROWICK, NO COMPROMISE IN MOSTAR[13] AMERICANS ANXIOUS BECAUSE OF MUJAHIDS IN BOSNIA[14] JOULWAN VISITED RUSSIAN PARACHUTISTS[15] PORTILLO ON ARMING AND DISARMING[16] PERRY ON CRIMES, CASSESE IN BELGRADE[17] WORLD BANK'S LOAN TO BOSNIA - US$ 15O MILLION[18] APPEALS FOR RELEASE OF PRISONERS OF WAR (PoWs)[19] MILITARY MOBILIZATION IN SERBIA, CLAIMS SPO[20] MILITARY POISONS USED DURING THE ASSAULT ON SREBRENICA[21] JOZO RADOS - CANDIDATE FOR ZAGREB'S MAYOR[01] VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PEACE PROJECT !MLADI MOST (young bridge) The Youth-Center in Mostar, Bosnia-HercegovinaMladi Most is a neighborhood center and meeting place for different ethnic groups in Mostar. The house offers the opportunity to meet and come together in an environment free of hate and ethnic/religious prejudice. Since September 1994, a group of international volunteers is working closely together with the community to plan different activities such as discussions, games, music, art and language classes, a youth magazine and a photolab. As most of the visitors are youth and kids, the program is organize to meet their needs the most. [02] MLADI MOST IS IN NEED OF INTERNATIONAL VOLUTEERS!!Volunteers work for a period of six months and come from various countries across Europe and the USA. They work with an NGO contract from the German peace organization Action Reconciliation/Service for Peace. Regional support groups exist in Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and in the USA. Currently, we are looking for new volunteers starting in March/April 1996.Experience in social work, conflict resolution, group dynamics and the strength and sensibility to deal with the every-day-situation of Bosnia are required. Working language of Mladi Most is English, however, some knowledge of Bosnian is very helpful. FOR MORE INFORMATION on applications or with further questions, please contact us: MLADI MOST ph. +30-2886184 c/o ASF e.V. fax +30-2886150 August Str. 80 10117 Berlin e-mail: Germany engel@zedat.fu-berlin.de [03] SESELJ WANTS TO GO TO THE HAGUEThe Hague, Jan 24,1996 (Press TWRA) - International Tribunal for War Crimes will next week release the evidence on 51 accused for war crimes on territory of former Yugoslavia", stated Chartier, ICTY spokesman. Aim of this is to make pressure on authorities which protect the accused and prevent them from avoiding the extradition any longer."Two main accused - Radovan Karadjic and Ratko Mladic will not be among 51 accused because investigation against them is still on", stated one ICTY official.Belgrade - "It is senseless to try any Serbian until they put Slobodan Milosevic on trial", said leader of Serbian Radical Party Vojislav Seselj, which reflects the position of large majority of Serbian opposition. Seselj offered last month to Chief Prosecutor Goldstone to testify on events which took place during the war in Croatia and B-H. Seselj claims that he possesses the precise data which show that neither Karadjic nor Mladic commanded the war operations, but always and exclusively Slobodan Milosevic. (end) S.K. [04] IZETBEGOVIC ON SILAJDZIC AND SDASarajevo, Jan 23, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Alija Izetbegovic issued a comment to Bosnia's TV, regarding the resignation of H.Silajdzic:"The Government failed to solve many problems, particularly social issues, foreign pensions of our citizens, and jobs for our demobilized soldiers. In the coming period, people need managers, technocrats in its positive meaning, rather than leaders. As for Silajdzic's resignation, I think there were some caprices as if there will be six of five-and-one ministries. It is not crucial difference, except the issue of the Army, which was not properly solved either in Dayton or now. In Republic's Government, there is no space for it. Haris does not see that there is no that function in the Government of Republic, though it is very important. Meanwhile, he claims that the sixth ministry is to be or not to be for the Republic. To be or not to be was the issue of the Army, which defended this state, making this discussion possible. He does not care for that. The law opposed by the prime minister was regularly adopted by the Parliament. It is sad to hear Silajdzic say he does not want to be responsible to such a Parliament. By that, he put himself above not only the Parliament, but also above democracy. To be honest, I am sad that Haris is leaving, but if the question is whether to change people and Parliament, or to move Haris, it is easier to move Haris. He has many qualities, but also some very important shortcomings. He is a self-centred person, and my opinion is that the problem is not us, not party, not the Government, but the problem is Haris. Silajdzic claims that Republic's institutions are affected in this way, so the Republic cannot function properly. Is there some any more important function for prerogatives of a state, than the army? Yet, I was shocked in Dayton. Haris headed the team of experts, dealing with the 4th annex of the agreement. After 1O or 15 days, I found out a striking fact that there was no army there, at all. No police, eiyher, being perhaps less bad. None security service, nothing. Why? Because Haris is not in charge of the army commander and does not care about it. De facto, I had to make some corrections in Dayton, to put the Army in. Such are the problems. Last summer, when he resigned, does anyone know why he did? He officially stated that he requested demobilization of 5O,OOO soldiers, in order to revive production. "It was not accepted and I do resign" he explained. Clearly, we could not demobilize 5O,OOO persons, after the crisis in Zepa and Srebrenica, before a significant period of the war. We have done it now. Not 5O,OOO but 3O,OOO people were demobilized. We had to return a half of them to the barracks, at their demand, as they failed to find any job. So, it is not a real motive, it is some strange game with those, very serious issues". "Nothing was prepared on the ground. Three days after their demobilization, people ask for their return to the barracks, as they are accepted nowhere, they cannot get a job. Government might not be guilty for that, I do not know whether it could do more to revive the production and absorb those people. However, there are no project for reception of those men. The problem in Bosnia is economy, retired persons, doctors who are not paid, roads, the problem is unpaid work, which became normal for this Government. The Government simply thought that people would go on after the war to work, and not to be paid. It discussed the high policy, instead of solving these issues. The problem are Shahids' families, invalids, the wounded. Problem is a group of people which was solved yesterday in Vozuca, and it should not have been so. Those are the problems. The problem is not freedom in Bosnia, as Silajdzic says. I do claim that there has never been more freedom in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in spite of the war. Silajdzic claimed that SDA interfered with the Government's affairs. The prime minister should say what affairs SDA interfered with. It did interfere, it seems to me, twice - last summer, when soldiers' fees were solved, after a whole year during which we insisted on solving that. Finally, SDA made model and put it on. It interfered once more - a delegation of association of Shahids and invalids, as representatives of the party, visited me and told me that the law on their right had been waiting to bbe passed in the office of a minister for a half a year. Then I called SDA to say - that law must be adopted, or some people will be moved, and proceed it immediately to the Republic Presidency. It was adopted in term of several days. We did it urgently. As far as I remember, those are the only two times when SDA interfered with the Government affairs" Speaking about the next session of the Main Board of SDA, A. Izetbegovic said two names of the Main Board's new members were known so far - Atif Dudakovic & Mehmed Alagic, commanders of the 5th and recently the 7th Corps of B-H Army. (end) A.S. [05] HASAN MURATOVIC - A SHORT BIOGRAPHYSarajevo, Jan 23, 1996 (Press TWRA) - New mandatory of Government of the Republic of B-H, Hasan Muratovic, was born in Olovo, 194O. He graduated from Mechanical Engineering Faculty in Ljubljana. His PhD was about management. He is a professor of Economics and Electrical Engineering Faculties of the Sarajevo University. He published three books on management and system theories, as well as numerous scientific articles. He speaks English. So far, he has been minister without portfolio, and president of the State Committee for relations with the UN and the international associations. He is not a member of SDA, but is often present at sessions of the party's highest bodies. (end) A.S.[06] CIA STARTED AN INVESTIGATION ON MILOSEVICRome, Washington, Jan 23, 1996 (Press TWRA) - CIA investigates if Serbia's president Milosevic bore responsibility for slaughters committed by Karadzic's Serbs in Bosnia, alleges Italian press agency Adnkronos. The same source states the investigation has been underway for some months and was started at the president Clinton's demand who ordered CIA close cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. It has been a change compared to previous period when R. Goldstone complained about inadequate US cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Adnkronos claims: "Clinton & Christopher decided not to make any exemptions regarding disclosure and prosecution of the war criminals," adding that 22 officials and 1O US agents work full time for the International Tribunal. /end/ A.S.[07] IZETBEGOVIC ON FILIPOVIC, SACIRBEY AND HVOSarajevo, Jan 23, 1996 (Press TWRA) - In the interview for B-H TV, A. Izetbegovic spoke about Bosnia ambassador to London, M. Filipovic, foreign minister Muhamed Sacirbey and the statement issued by Bosnian high official, a Croat, Ivan Bender saying that "if there had not been HVO, we would not take any seat in the B-H Parliament in Sarajevo now": "I thought Bender was right. We probably would not be in the same building but in the real building of the Parliament which was destroyed and our army would be positioned on the river Drina if there had not been HVO.""Ambassador Filipovic will be invited to Sarajevo to answer some questions about financial affairs of the Embassy in London. According to the report which Foreign Ministry submitted to the Presidency, the Embassy's expenses exceeded DM 4OO,OOO -5OO,OOO." "Sacirbey's resignation is valid if the competence of the B-H Republic government is expanded to the HVO controlled areas. In that case M. Sacirbey could become a special envoy of the Republic Presidency for contacts with some states. /end/ A.S. [08] ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC - JOHN SHATTUCKSarajevo, Jan 23, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Assistant of the US secretary of state for human rights John Shattuck talked with A. Izetbegovic informing him on his visit to all places around Srebrenica suspected to hide mass graves. "The fact that our delegation was provided unimpeded access to the Serb held part of B-H, is important progress in the Dayton accord implementation," says Shattuck. Shattuck informed that IFOR had started patrolling in the area near Serbrenica regarded as a site of mass atrocities committed against Bosniak population by Serbs. Shattuck expressed Clinton administration's displeasure as all POWs in B-H were not released on the expiry date, Jan 19.: "President Izetbegovic said that B-H government would not obstruct the process. President Milosevic yesterday promised he would demand from Bosnian Serbs release of all POWs unilaterally. The war is over, so there is no exchanges - all POWs must be unconditionally released. /end/ A.S.[09] TALKS ON ORGANIZATION OF MOSTARMostar, Jan 24,1996 (Press TWRA) - The EU Administrator for Mostar H. Koschnik held separate meetings with mayors of two parts of the city. On the schedule was territorial division of the city into six municipalities and central district, according to EU proposal. The mayor of the western part of the city M. Brajkovic said after the talks that the negotiations concerning the maps of 6 future city municipalities are close to an end. In relation to establishing the districts Brajkovic said: "That should be the city area where civic, cantonal and federal agencies are situated", and added that Croatian representatives want Mostar to be the capital of Croats in B-H, where national identity of others is respected. Unofficially, Croatian proposal on borders of municipalities have been estimated as "realistic and correct". The mayor of east Mostar S. Orucevic, at last nights meeting with the administrator Koschnik made number of objections about the proposal on establishing the district. He warned Koschnik that district can not be institute in Mostar because that would divide the city into two parts" and in order to solve this problem the international arbitration will be necessary with participation of Europe and US.EU Administration in Mostar still did not issue the official press release about the talks. (end) S.K. [10] SERBS WILL REMAIN IN SARAJEVOSarajevo, Jan 24,1996 (Press TWRA) - "The Serbian delegation informed us that Serbs demanded to move the citizens from Ilidza to the territory of Bijeljina and Foca. It seems they gave up on the idea because there is no more place there. Serbs decided to stay where they are, but they demand the amnesty in return", said the mayor of Sarajevo T. Kupusovic, after the talks with the representatives of Bosnian Serbs' authorities on Ilidza. Kupusovic informed that Serbs demanded that Ilidza stay Serbian but that demand was rejected. "On Ilidza will be put all signs which will show that this part of the city belongs to B-H Federation", said Kupusovic. (end) S.K.[11] "HERZEG BOSNIA" - "REPUBLIC" BECOMES "COMMUNITY"Mostar, Jan 24, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Presidency of HDZ B-H decided to suggest transformation of "Croatian Republic Herzeg Bosnia" to "Croatian Community Herzeg Bosnia"="political, economic, cultural community of Croats in B-H". Also decided was that Kresimir Zubak should in transitory period remain president of B-H Federation. Executive authorities of "CR Herzeg Bosnia" should step by step be moved to the institution of the B-H Federation. (end) A.S.[12] TUDJMAN - ROBERT FROWICK, NO COMPROMISE IN MOSTARZagreb, Jan 24, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Croatia's president Tudjman received Ambassador R. Frowick, head of OSCE's Mission to B-H."If Mostar negotiations fail, we accept the international arbitrage. Mostar is big, but not the main problem in Federation. The key is establishment of Federal & Republic Governments, and cantons, according to Dayton, and free elections" Tudjman said. Mostar - there is no agreement on Mostar, EU administration spokesman Dragan Gasic said. Hans Koschnick will consult with the European Union, in Brussels, next Monday. (end) A.S. [13] AMERICANS ANXIOUS BECAUSE OF MUJAHIDS IN BOSNIANew York, Washington, Jan 24, 1996 (Press TWRA) - IFOR enforced its security measures, due to intelligence's claims that it might become target of terrorism of extreme mujahids, volunteer Islamic warriors in Bosnia, The New York Times wrote. CIA is afraid that mujahids' hatred for the USA has grown after the US demand for them to leave B-H, and life sentence in USA for Umar AbdulRahman, spiritual leader of "Gamma al-Islamiya", blamed for inspiration of the bomb-assault on New York's World Trade Center. Mujahids were registered to watch the US troops & bases in B-H. (end) A.S.[14] JOULWAN VISITED RUSSIAN PARACHUTISTSMoscow, Jan 24, 1996 (Press TWRA) - In the base 8O km south of Moscow, Russian parachutists, volunteers for IFOR's mission in Bosnia, were visited by NATO's commander, Joulwan, who told them: "I did not come only to see your training, but also to tell you that I am in advance happy to cooperate with you". (end) A.S.[15] PORTILLO ON ARMING AND DISARMINGWashington, Jan 24, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Talking with officials of the USA, British defense secretary, M. Portillo said: "Instead of arming Muslims, more suitable for balance & peace in the region would be partial disarming of Serbs and Croats". (end) A.S.[16] PERRY ON CRIMES, CASSESE IN BELGRADEWashington, Jan 24, 1996 (Press TWRA) - "USA has important data on the crimes committed in Bosnia. It is insufficient to answer all the question, but it may help investigators' efforts" stated the US defense secretary, William Perry.Belgrade - "We are ready to allow opening of the Tribunal's office in Belgrade, and help its activity, but our Constitution prohibits extradition of our citizens to a foreign tribunal" said Uros Klikovac, Yugoslav justice minister, after today's meeting with the Tribunal's president, judge Antonio Cassese. (end) A.S. [17] WORLD BANK'S LOAN TO BOSNIA - US$ 15O MILLIONSarajevo, Jan 24, 1996. (Press TWRA) - World Bank credited Bosnia with US$ 15O M, for reconstruction of roads, and supplies of gas, water and electricity. Out of it, $ 25 M is irretrievable, while $ 125 M should be paid back in 4O years, without interest rate. "We made an exception - B-H is not yet the World Bank's member. The war damage is unknown, we estimate it to $ 25 billion" said Roley O'Sullivan, the Bank's Sarajevo office director. (end) A.S.[18] APPEALS FOR RELEASE OF PRISONERS OF WAR (PoWs)Sarajevo, Jan 24, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Representatives of Britain, France & Italy, on behalf of EU, visited Bosnia's president Alija Izetbegovic, demanding of BH Government to release PoWs. Bosnia's Govt. is willing to do so, Izetbegovic's office stated.The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) stated that 318 PoWs are in B-H prisons, 15O in Serbian, 177 in Croatian, along with non-registered PoWs, e.g. in Tuzla. (end) A.S. [19] MILITARY MOBILIZATION IN SERBIA, CLAIMS SPOBelgrade, Jan 24, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Oppositional SPO (Serbian Renewal Movement) claims that mobilization took place in Serbia (Cuprija, Jagodina, Despotovac, Pozarevac, Paracin..). (end) A.S.[20] MILITARY POISONS USED DURING THE ASSAULT ON SREBRENICALondon, Jan 24, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Serbs used prohibited poison gas BZ (with effect similar to LSD) during the offensive against Srebrenica, said British journalist Brian Thomas. (end) A.S.[21] JOZO RADOS - CANDIDATE FOR ZAGREB'S MAYORZagreb, Jan 24, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Seven parties proposed Jozo Rados (HSLS) for Zagreb's mayor, after F. Tudjman refused to accept G. Granic. Other oppositional candidates were Radimir Cacic, Silvije Degen, Stipe Mesic. HDZ rejected all of them, and proposed Ljerka Mintas-Hodak, Hrvoje Hitrec, Jurica Pavelic, Ante Ledic and Zdenko Mahmet. (end) A.S. |
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