ONASA: After the political opposition won the elections in Croatia, what
changes
do You expect in BiH?
PETRITSCH: Well, I believe that this is definitely progress which
spells
progress for the whole region, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. First of
all, I
believe that relationship between the Croats, being the citizens of this
country
(BiH), and Croatia will definitely improve, there will be new and
probably more
realistic view upon the overall situation, meaning basically that the
Croats
here will realize they live in sovereign Bosnia and Herzegovina and
therefore
they are the citizens of this country and that they have to also
try to
contribute to the reconstruction of this country. On the other hand, of
course,
because of the same language and culture there are ties, historic ties.
There
will always be a special relationship between the Croats here and the
Croats
across the border. I believe that it should and could be a great
advantage for
the Croats here, as they could serve as a bridge between these two
sovereign
countries of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
I had several meetings over the past couple of days with the Croat
leadership. I
talked with president (of the Croat Democratic Union and BiH
Presidency
Chairman) Ante Jelavic, (BiH Foreign) Minister Jadranko Prlic, (Deputy
Chairman
of the BiH Council of Ministers Neven) Tomic, (President of the New
Croat
Initiative Kresimir) Zubak. I also met cultural leaders, as well as the
Church
leaders, Vinko Cardinal Puljic, fra Petar Andjelovic. My impression is
that they
all are realizing that there is a historical chance for the Croats of
Bosnia and
Herzegovina to find a more constructive way in order to improve the faith
of the
people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that means, basically,
cooperation with
the two other constituent peoples, cooperation with the international
community,
and also, of course, cooperation on an equal and democratic
footing with
neighboring Croatia.
ONASA: Is there enough time for them to rebuild this faith again?
PETRITSCH: Well, I believe that there is a chance now to turn around the
minds
of the Croats here, who sometimes feel like prosecuted minority,
which they
should not. They are not a minority here, they are also not the Diaspora
people.
They are the constituent people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and this
should give
them more reassurance also that Dayton and Washington agreements
provide for
them quite a lot of the rights, that they should fully exercise. They
should
keep in mind that they comprise about ten percent of the population and
have won
a third of the positions or influence in many of the institutions.
That, I
believe, is very important to keep in mind and that could strengthen the
feeling
of the Croat population that they are important in this country and
that they
can make important contributions to the reconstruction of
Bosnia and
Herzegovina. It is so important for me to say that a Croat in this
country can
be a good citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a good Croat at the same
time,
that is possible!
ONASA: In regard to what You have said, do You think that the Croats
and the
others might choose to vote for the opposition this time, at the
elections in
2000, the force which would represent all the citizens of BiH, as the
Croats in
Croatia did?
PETRITSCH: I do not want to side with any of the democratic parties here,
but my
advice is that the citizens of this country, including the Croats, should
think
very carefully when it comes to such an important decision as election
is ? to
vote for the right people into positions, people who will support the
well-being
of the people, who will get them jobs and have political programs that
promote
the overall development of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and at the same time,
as an
extension, the well-being of the Croats in this country.
ONASA: Do You think that, in case the same political parties remain in
power in
BiH, there could be any changes, at least in those areas in which
HDZ, with
support from Zagreb, was the obstructing force?
PETRITSCH: Definitely, there is not going to be a support for the
obstruction
any longer from Zagreb, from the government over there. This is
definitely
finished and over. In my meetings with the top leadership of the
Croats in
Bosnia and Herzegovina, I was very clear with my message. I said
?take this
opportunity and let?s come back to the table and talk to
establish a
relationship of partnership between the international community and the
Croats?
and I must say I got very positive signals for this.
ONASA: And, maybe, the partnership between the two countries...
PETRITSCH: Of course. That is something that the two governments
and two
countries should be most interested in. We are encouraging this
relationship.
These are, after all, two neighboring countries with a lot of common
history and
common interests also. Just think of the situation that now, with the
Stability
Pact which is focusing the region, the regional cooperation will be
decisive. So
these countries that are ready to cooperate with the neighbors will have
a huge
advantage of isolationist policies that sometimes are also practiced
here, in
this country.
ONASA: Are You more optimist now, when it comes to the establishment
of the
state border of BiH?
PETRITSCH: I had a very long meeting today (Thursday) with Mr. Radisic
(Zivko,
the Serb member of the BiH Presidency), and we devoted enormous part of
our time
to discuss the consequences of the Serb side not to vote in the
Parliament for
the border service. There, I made it clear that I expect cooperation
from the
Serb side. I expect cooperation from all three sides, but in this
case in
particular from the Serbs, because their representatives voted against the
state
border service. We know that Minister (for Civil Affairs and
Communications
Marko) Asanin is in charge of the state border service, another
Serb. So,
therefore, in this respect, it is their responsibility now to be
really more
constructive.
I told Mr. Radisic that, no matter what happens, the international
community
will insist on the professional state border service. We want to
stop the
borders to be a problem for the rest of Europe when it comes to organized
crime,
when it comes to migration. If BiH wants to be the partner in Europe, it
needs
to take care of its own problems. The border service is very
substantial
contribution to the improvement of the relations with Europe, but now,
since BiH
wants to become a member of the Council of Europe, this border
service is a
concrete and very important contribution on the way to the Council of
Europe.
ONASA: That is about the adoption of the law, but what about the
situation in
the field, once the law is passed. Do You expect the obstacles in
implementing
the law?
PETRITSCH: The international community is so involved in constructing the
border
service, that I, being a realist, expect the problems, but they can be
solved.
We are committed to this, and we would not allow a digression. The state
board
service has to be implemented, and there is no question.
ONASA: Is there a deadline, and have You prepared any measures to make
sure the
state border will function?
PETRITSCH: This is an ongoing process. We already have the first 30
border
policemen for training in Austria, another group is right now in
Austria been
trained for this and, eventually, there will be all together up to 3.000
border
policemen. There will be the border police established at the
airport in
Sarajevo first, because this is the most important gateway into
Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Then, we will go on with important border crossings around
BiH.
ONASA: Is the international community prepared to help the process
financially,
once the border service is established?
PETRITSCH: First, of course, it is the obligation of the state here to
provide
sources for the salaries, as the matter of the principal. This is so
around the
world. BiH should not in the first place ask for financial support, but
first to
look into how to finance this. There are going to be the incomes
generated
through the border service, and there is going to be an improvement in the
terms
of customs. There is not going to be so much smuggling, so there are going
to be
additional revenues coming in. That is one source.
But, the international community is also ready to either financially
support the
border service. I had the meeting the other day with the Dutch ambassador
here,
and he informed me that the Dutch Government will provide four million
dollars
for a loan for this year for the state budget, for the state border
service.
This is a very generous contribution on the part of the Dutch Government,
which
I very much appreciate, and I am sure that this will be also appreciated
by the
people of the state.
ONASA: What are the relations between the OHR and the Bosniaks and
Croats in
Canton 7 now, after Mr Lynghjem is appointed the head of this office,
having in mind that neither side was satisfied with the work of Mr.
Gerhard
Sontheim?
PETRITSCH: I believe that this is very unfair assessment, because Mr.
Sontheim
did, and still is doing an excellent job. Basically, it is really up
to the
authorities and the people there to asses the situation. The new head
of OHR
Mostar, judge Lynghjem, together with Mr. Sontheim will continue in the
course
of implementing the Dayton Agreement in the Canton and in an environment
which,
as we all know, is extremely difficult. I am quite confident that the
latest
development in Croatia will also have a moderating effect on the HDZ
politicians
there. And of course, I will also appeal to SDA to be forthcoming, to be
ready
for a compromise.
ONASA: How do you assess the current situation in Srebrenica?
PETRITSCH: My assessment is that the situation in Srebrenica is
improving. The
municipal authorities will now again function fully. The multiethnic
police will
be set up very soon, and the international community is working on this.
We had
to set up RRTF (Reconstruction and Return Task Force) Office there in
order to
push the return process.
ONASA: Do You expect major improvement there before the municipal
elections this
year?
PETRITSCH: We have to keep in mind that Srebrenica is a very difficult
area. We
all know the tragic events and have to be particularly sensitive and try
to do
very good job there. But I am optimistic that we will make
progress and
improvement, and this is very important to me. I believe that we will
be able
eventually to establish a community there in which people will be able
to live
together.
ONASA: The International Crisis Group (ICG) predicts failure of Your
decision on
amendments to the property legislation due to the non-existence of
mechanisms
for its implementation...
PETRITSCH: First of all, what we do in here is to put a framework in
place, and
then put additional pressure to the authorities to use it. When it comes
to the
implementation, that is of course up to the housing offices. They will
do it,
through the pressure, but there is also additional money for the housing
offices
that would improve their quality and efficiency. Shortly before the end
of the
year, I asked prime ministers Edhem Bicakcic (of the Federation) and
Milorad
Dodik (of the Republika Srpska) to make provisions in the budgets
for the
improvement of the housing offices, and thus for the improvement of
their
efficiency. So, there is an extra money in the budgets both in the
Republika
Srpska as well as in the Federation of the BiH, where the situation
is more
complicated because of the cantons. We are pretty much pushing the
governments
here to come up with more personnel and more money, and of course,
we are
monitoring this very closely, so that the process really goes on.
In this way, I believe that ICG is not right, and I think that there
would be
proof at the end of this year, they will see that we have made quite
substantive
progress.
ONASA: ICG also proposed the amendments to the Annex 4 of the Dayton
Peace Accord, the Constitution of the BiH. There are debates about the
election law, which was not passed because it would not comply
with the international
standards for human rights...
PETRITSCH: I can give you a several answers to this, but first of all, I
am here as
the High Representative of the international community to implement the
Dayton
Peace Accords, including the Constitution. I stick to the Constitution.
However,
politically speaking, I see the limitations of the Dayton Accords
and the
Constitution, because, as we all know, Dayton was basically there to
stop the
war and get the communities to engage in a more peaceful exchange and to
create
the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
There is a possibility to change the Constitution. You need the two
third
majority in the Parliament for the Constitution to be changed. If
there is a
complaint about the certain aspects of the Constitution, and if the
Parliament
adopt the amendments, we will have to accept this decision.
ONASA: Now, as the law was not passed at the Parliament, what do You plan
to do?
PETRITSCH: I think BiH finds itself in a rather strange situation.
There were
two proposals in front of the representatives in the Parliament. Both were
voted
out. Now, the members of the Parliament are there without a draft, so
they have
put an end at the top to the parliamentary process. Members of the
Parliament
now have to see how do they want to make progress in order to come out
with the
election law, which is the most important precondition for entering the
Council
of Europe. The representatives are caught up in the situation, where
through
this decision they are actually blocking the acceptation process to the
Council
of Europe. This is really up to them to undo this.
ONASA: BiH citizens of Croat nationality, who possess a Croatian
passport, have
the deadline until 2003 to decide which citizenship they would keep.
According
to OSCE, within that period they can vote at the Croatian elections,
unless the
two states sign the agreement on dual citizenship. In regard to this,
would You
explain your position that the authorities should take care that such an
anomaly
is not repeated?
PETRITSCH: This is very easy, because this is now limited until Jan. 1,
2003.
Then they have to decide for one citizenship, either Croatian or BiH.
But what
we are looking forward to is also that there is a bilateral agreement
between
Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina which would regulate this.
This is a
transitional period, what I call incomparable to other countries, where
this is
absolutely not the case, an anomaly. This anomaly has to come to an end
by the
date that was set in order to make a smooth transition and bilateral
treaty
between Croatia and BiH.
ONASA: What about the BiH Croats who run at the elections here and at
the same
time run at the elections in Croatia. Is that legal too, to have two
positions
in two different countries?
PETRITSCH: I will not go into these concrete details, but it is just yet
another
example of what I call anomaly. That is an abnormal situation, and
needs to be
corrected. What is important is that it has to come to the legal basis,
and it
has to be regulated. It is up to Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to
come up
with the agreement.
Interview by Miranda FEJZAGIC
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