 |
Freedom Of Movement
The recent Bajram festivities saw a marked increase in the number of
cross-entity visits by refugees and displaced persons most of which were
co-ordinated by UNHCR, with support from the UN International Police Task Force
(IPTF) and IFOR so as to minimise threats to public order during the Bajram
period while upholding the right of freedom of movement.
Special efforts were made to ensure that local police forces fulfilled their
responsibilities regarding maintenance of law and order.
Although a number of visits took place peacefully, there were some
disturbing incidents, notably at the village of Kapetanovici near Doboj. At
least two gunfire-related deaths and a number of injuries were reported.
Following these tragic events, the High Representative, Carl Bildt,
accompanied by the Commissioner of the UN International Police Task Force
(IPTF), convened a meeting on 1 May between Dr. Hasan Muratovic, Prime Minister
of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Mr Momcilo Krajisnik, President of the Assembly of
Republika Srpska.
Among other things, it was agreed that the Republika Srpska police
authorities, in co-operation with Federation authorities, will undertake an
urgent criminal investigation into the events at Kapetanovici. IPTF was
meanwhile tasked with convening a meeting between the Chiefs of Police of Doboj
and Tuzla on the issue.
Mine Clearance
Mine clearing has long been identified as one of the gravest problems facing
the full implementation of the Peace Process. To this end, the OHR-led Working
Group on mines, comprising delegates from the Entities, the UN and a number of
NGOs, World Bank, USG, IFOR and the EC has been developing a strategy for
dealing with this problem.
This strategy is now to be put into effect through the UN-led Mines Action
Centre (MAC), which became operational 1 May at a newly constructed albeit
temporary facility in "Tito Barracks" in the centre of Sarajevo. The MAC's
principal task is to provide technical advice and co-ordination for all mine
related issues.
- The final touches are being put to a number of pilot demining
projects around Sarajevo, notably clearing the Ilidza tramway and the Sarajevo
airport runway.
- Estimates from the World Bank suggest that demining tasks for the
next 3 years will cost over $ US 200 million and the continuous engagement of a
force of 1000 men for the next 33 years.
- Norwegian NGO NPA is implementing a number of Humanitarian demining
training programs for the Bosnian refugees in Norway in line with attempts to
develop an indigenous mine clearing capacity.
- A second consignment of 150 mine detectors from the European
Commission were delivered to IFOR last week for distribution to all sides to
facilitate mine clearance process.
Economic Reconstruction
The World Bank and other leading international
agencies are engaged in a
large number of projects for the balance of 1996 that are contained in the $1.8
billion emergency reconstruction package for which funds were pledged at the two donors'
conferences in December 1995 and April 1996 in Brussels.
The World Bank has to date approved a number of projects to help Bosnia and
Herzegovina address some of its most urgent priority needs, mainly in
agriculture, transport, and water and sanitation, with total costs of more than
US $420 million.
These projects aim to:
- Support and jump-start production;
- Help repair infrastructure;
- Assist in institution building, and
- Finance small & medium-sized enterprises.
Particular emphasis is being placed on electric power generation, without
which much of this work cannot take place.
Work is already underway on these projects.
Other projects being prepared by the World Bank for 1996 include:
- War Victims Rehabilitation;
- District Heating;
- Land mines Clearance, and
- Housing.
In the meantime, a number of civil projects are being driven by IFOR:
- The 4th UK Brigade co-ordinated with Bosnian Serb Army engineers a
road clearing project leading to a garbage management area in Sipovo.
- The Nordic-Polish Brigade civil affairs and D-Rear civil areas teams
met with the city council secretary for the city of Srpski Brod to plan the
road ahead for the city's largest business, an oil refinery.
- As part of its civic clean up activities, the 2nd Canadian Brigade in
Kljuc helped de-chlorinate the Bosanski Petrovac swimming pool.
- The IFOR Civil Military
Co-operation Unit (CIMIC) co-ordinated the
delivery of cash crop seeds through a number of aid programs.
The European Commission Office in Sarajevo was
perhaps quickest off the mark of the main reconstruction
agencies in Bosnia & Herzegovina and urgent work is underway to follow
up on commitments made by the EU at the Brussels Donors Conference.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the European Commission and
the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management for the
provision of seeds, crop protection inputs for the Federation in the amount of
$1.98 million.
Joint Bodies
The Office of the High Representative brings the Parties together in a
number of joint bodies set up under the Peace Agreement to promote co-operation
on political and other subjects. The highest such body, the Joint Interim
Commission which includes the Prime Ministers of Bosnia & Herzegovina, the
Federation and Republika Srpska, has met 5 times.
The Joint Civilian Commission brings together ministerial representatives of
the Entities, and the international agencies active on the ground in Sarajevo
while a similar structures exist at the regional level in Tuzla (JCC North East
- last met on 12 April), Banja Luka (JCC North West to meet 10 May) and
Bijeljina (end of May).
Refugee And Humanitarian Affairs
- Progress was reported following the meeting of the Sub-Groups on Pension
Funds and on Social Security and Personal Documentation chaired by OHR on 2 May.
The Sub-Groups are tasked with enabling BH citizens and administrative
authorities to receive access to and use personal documentation records in the
fields of pension funds, education, health care and employment records. This is
a grave problem for a considerable part of the country's population who, through
displacement and forced movements have been left without essential personal
documents.
- Officials from the Republika Srpska, including the Mayor of Brcko, and
federation delegates from the Tuzla and Zenica Cantons have agreed to address
the problems of refugees and displaced persons through six working groups set up
following the first meeting of the North East Regional JCC Working Group on
Refugees and DPs, chaired by UNHCR in Tuzla on 3 May. These local working groups
will convene weekly bringing together representatives of the affected
communities in both Entities. The JCC Working Group is to meet again on 30 May
in Zvornik in eastern Bosnia.
Human Rights
The BH authorities in Sarajevo have arrested two persons wanted by
the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
(ICTY), setting a
precedent for one of the Parties carrying out an arrest warrant. The two men -
named as Hazim Delic and Esad Landzo - are wanted by the ICTY in connection with
alleged abuses committed at the Celebici detention centre in Central Bosnia in
1992, including torture, rape and murder.
Media Development
Following the meeting of the Peace Implementation Council Steering
Board in Sarajevo on 24 April, The High Representative, Carl Bildt outlined the
position of the international community with regard to the media in Bosnia &
Herzegovina.
- The Parties are required to "urgently create the necessary
conditions for the conduct of free and fair elections with respect to equitable
access to the media for all political parties and candidates on all aspects of
news and current affairs programming".
- "As to the proposal to facilitate the setting up of an independent TV
network, the Parties are expected to allow all interested journalists, programme
producers and broadcasters to take part in the work of this network and to
ensure that the full transmission of its programming is permitted throughout
Bosnia & Herzegovina, in both Entities".
A team of technical broadcast experts and consultants from some of
the world's leading broadcast agencies and equipment producers (among others
CNN, USIA, Harris Corporation) visited Bosnia-Herzegovina at the request of OHR/OSCE and
has produced a cost and feasibility study regarding the proposal for an open broadcasting
network.
This document is now being examined urgently with a view to expanding media
access for independent TV producers from both Entities.
The Media Experts Commission (MEC) held its inaugural session on 3
May in Sarajevo with Ambassador Frowick in the chair. The MEC's two main roles
are to investigate and adjudicate complaints on the basis of the OHR/OSCE agreed
Media Rules and Journalistic Standards, and to launch its own investigations on
the basis of the MEC's own media monitoring and evaluation.
Federation
As a follow up to the meeting on the Strengthening of the Federation, which
took place in Bonn-Petersberg on 25 April with German Foreign Minister Kinkel in
the chair, and in the preparation of which the OHR had been extensively
involved, work continued on furthering the creation of structures for the
Federation. The establishment of the remaining canton and municipal structures
and the development of the Federation's joint economic system, especially on
customs, payments and banking matters remains the top priority. These and other
activities and results will be reviewed at the next high-level gathering, the
Federation Forum which is to take place on 14 May in Washington D.C. at the
invitation of the U.S. Government.
Mostar
The new EU Administrator for Mostar, Ricardo Perez Casado, has called
elections for the city Council and the six municipal Councils in Mostar for 31
May 1996. This decision was taken following consultations with the Bosniac and
the Croat side and with their agreement. The move is based on the conclusions of
the General Affairs Council of the EU of 22 April, as well as with the
Petersberg Declaration on the Federation of 25 April. The voter registers will
be published by 10 May.
ICRC
The German Red Cross and the International Committee of the
Red
Cross opened last week a new public kitchen for 400 beneficiaries in Ilidza.
This is the 7th kitchen opened in the Sarajevo area by the German Red Cross
and the ICRC since the beginning of the year. Public kitchens provide one hot
meal per day for the most vulnerable population. A new public kitchen is
expected to be open in the Dobrinja municipality during next week.
The joint Belgium Red Cross and ICRC program for reconstruction of
the Centre for Women and Pregnancy in Sarajevo started last week. This is the
first part of a reconstruction program of two health centres in Sarajevo.
Brussels
The OHR office in Brussels is headed by Dame Pauline Neville-Jones and deals
with the international aspect of the Peace Agreement.
- Dame Neville-Jones addressed the North Atlantic Council of NATO in
Brussels on 2 May.
- Martin Lutz, Ambassador in charge of regional issues conducted a small
tour of the former Yugoslavia, during the course of which he met with FRY Deputy
Foreign Minister Cicanovic in Belgrade 30 April and Dr Rugova, head of the
Kosovo LDK party, in Pristina the following day. Ambassador Lutz also held
talks with officials of the FYROM Government on 2 May.
Looking Ahead
- 6 May:
Opening OHR Office in Banja Luka
- 7-10 May:
2nd session of Human Rights Chamber
- 10 May:
JCC Banja Luka
- 14 May:
Federation Forum in Washington
- 22 May:
General Affairs Council, Brussels
EU Foreign Ministers to discuss Bosnia.
Produced by the Public Affairs Department of the Office of the High
Representative in Sarajevo. Suggestions and contributions are welcome and
should be addressed to the Public Affairs Department of the Office of the High
Representative in Sarajevo (387-71) 447 275 ext. 562. Callers from outside BH dial via Brussels switchboard:
Tel. (32-2) 737 7000 & Fax (32-2) 737 7901
OHR Bulletin nr. 1, issued 6 May 1996.
|
