BosNet News: (July 23, 1996) - Press TWRA

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From: Adnan Smajlovic <asmaj@spectranet.ca>

CONTENTS

[01] FIRST ARMS DELIVERY FOR THE FEDERATION

[02] OBSTRUCTION OF MOSTAR AFTER ELECTIONS - DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

[03] ORUCEVIC RECEIVED A SYMBOL OF VALENCIA

[04] VOJISLAV KOSTUNICA REQUESTS ARREST OF EJUP GANIC

[01] FIRST ARMS DELIVERY FOR THE FEDERATION

Sarajevo, July 23, 1996 (Press TWRA)

[02] OBSTRUCTION OF MOSTAR AFTER ELECTIONS - DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

Sarajevo, Mostar, Zagreb, July 23, 1996 (Press TWRA)

Today's assembling was convened by the oldest member ofMostar city council elected on June 30, Mr. Milan Jovicic. Yesterday's issues of Croatian newspapers close to the HDZ government in Zagreb and authorities in so-called Herzeg-Bosnia revealed that Croatian representatives would most probably boycott the assembling which consequently would prevent constituting the Mostar city council. According to the media, HDZ will employ the Mostar Interim Constitution which provides that a candidate for the mayor can only be a person who is supported by a third of attendant councilors from every nation. According to the same Constitution, conclusions concerning essential interests of one nation have to be reached by the majority of votes of both nations.

The SDA party issued yesterday a press release stressing thatlatest statements made by the BH Federation President, Kresimir Zubak regarding the results of Mostar elections are "legally and politically unpermissible" and that negotiations can potentially be held only with regards to dividing seats within the city council. At a farewell meeting with the departing EU administrator, Mr. Cassado, Zubak spoke about "Croatian willingness to reach just and practical basis for constituting Mostar city council through negotiations. (end) D.O.

[03] ORUCEVIC RECEIVED A SYMBOL OF VALENCIA

Mostar, July 23, 1996 (Press TWRA)

[04] VOJISLAV KOSTUNICA REQUESTS ARREST OF EJUP GANIC

Belgrade, July 23,1996 (Press TWRA)

Ganic's visit to Belgrade has come under question in Sarajevobecause of the possible arrest of Ganic because of reasons stated by Kostunica. "Slaughter in Dobrovoljacka street" is a surprise attack at a JNA convoy which was leaving Sarajevo and was headed to the surrounding hills from which in the following three and a half years bombed the city and killed over 12 thousand citizens. In this attack a certain amount of heavy weapons was seized, and few JNA and Bosnian territorial defense soldiers were killed. All this took place on May 2,1992 after the JNA arrested Bosnian President Izetbegovic at the Sarajevo airport. In retaliation, Serbian general Milutin Kukanjac, who prepared the occupation of the city, was captured in Dobrovoljacka Street, after which he and his associates were exchanged fro President Izetbegovic and his associates.

When in 1993 relations between Belgrade and Pale turned cold,Serbian opposition leaders (Kostunica, Djindjic, Seselj and most others except V. Draskovic, V. Pesic, and Veselinov) often visited Pale and expressed their support to Karadzic and Mladic. Most persistent in endorsing genocide perpetrated on Bosniaks was Kostunica. In the last few days Karadzic's media reported about terror exercised over Serbs in the BH Federation. Bosnian President Izetbegovic said that although there have been cases of violence committed over Serbs, these are incidents which will be investigated and which cannot be compared to the systematic terror exercised over non-Serbs living in a Serbian entity in Bosnia.

An additional hindrance to Ganic's visit to Belgrade is thatthe BH Government refuses to drop the charges against FRY for aggression and genocide submitted to the International Court of Justice, and a request for $60 billion reparation costs.

A recently conducted poll in Serbia, Montenegro and Vojvodina(FRY without Kosovo) shows a decline in popularity of S. Milosevic. The largest number of those questioned ( a sample of 2448 persons examined by the Center for marketing mark plan) does not trust any politician (28,8%). Milosevic follows (23,7%) to whom this is the lowest level of popularity so far (similar was in the autumn last year), while the highest rise in popularity so registered Kostunica (9,2%, twice as the last time) . Milosevic is supported mainly by the people over 54 and of lower education, and Kostunica by younger educated people (18-34). Djindjic and Seselj follow (each 6,7%), but Seselj's popularity has declined while Djindjic's has risen which makes him the most popular politicians among middle aged (35-54 years). Among the Serbian opposition leaders the lowest position occupies Vuk Draskovic, who in the last fey years has shown highest criticism towards aggressive and genocidal Serbian politics (but his opinion tends to shift). The eight place occupies Milosevic's wife Mirjana Markovic (who leads "leftists") whose popularity in the last poll rocketed, but now has stabilized.

Analysts close to the Anti-war campaign in Belgrade warnthat such results show a disturbing trend among Serbs and Montenegrins in FRY ( a number of Montenegrins is far smaller than a number of Serbians). This represents a continuation of a trend present from the second half of the eighties in which the highest popularity was recorded among politicians who asked for defending national interests, even at a price of war, including the crimes committed towards other nations and recalcitrant Serbians. In case these politicians tactically or for some other reason endorse a rhetoric of tolerance and pacifism, their popularity drops instantly. Additional worry is that chauvinism is present among college educated people, especially among young and middle aged. (end) A.S.

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