Q: Representatives of the international community reacted strongly to the decision on interim Croat self-government in BiH. Sanctions were announced, however, one gets the impression that pressure has been easing off from both sides in the past days.
A: The HDZ passed an illegal, unconstitutional decision, which violates the Dayton Agreement and is not acceptable. Besides, the HDZ is not a party which has a right to represent the entire Croat people in BiH and that is why the decision on interim independence is completely unacceptable to the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Q: However, after a few days, it appeared that there is a readiness for compromise. Ante Jelavic, the leader of the BiH HDZ, seems himself to be trying to find a way out by proposing some new solutions. One could also hear that Jelavic is even ready to dissolve his party, the HDZ BiH - the party which was supported by the Croat people at the elections, but with whom, however, they can not move forward.
A: No one is asking the HDZ to dissolve, but to work in accordance with laws, constitutions and their elected positions. I have had a myriad of meetings with Jelavic in the last couple of months. The last time we met was three weeks ago. At that time, we talked in depth for two and a half hours. He presented his problems and I responded to every single item. At the end, he promised to talk about everything with the HDZ leadership and expressed his full support for our agreement. At that time I was completely sure that an agreement had been reached. However, several days later I received an open letter from Jelavic in which he did not even mention the issues we discussed and agreed upon. In this manner, he showed to me that he would not keep his word.
Pasalic's plan
Q: Jelavic and the HDZ , along with most Croats in BiH, insist that the election results should be respected and that the authorities should be formed on the basis of these results. What was your suggestion?
A: I asked Jelavic to say publicly that he would, in line with the Constitution and Dayton Agreement, stay in the state institutions and work in them. In return, I promised that we would be open to proposals pertaining to changes of the election rules the HDZ has been complaining about. Even with those rules in place, the HDZ would have received 16 or17 of 30 seats in the House of Peoples in the Federation if they had participated in its formation. I invited the HDZ to join the constitutional commission in the Federation and in the RS. As you know, the BiH Constitutional Court proclaimed that Croats are a constituent people not only in the Federation but in the RS as well. We want Croats to start returning to the RS. However, Ante Jelavic simply does not want Croats to start believing in BiH as a state.
Q: Why has Jelavic changed your agreement?
A: One should not have any illusions about this. We are talking here strictly about personal interests of few people who are now representing the HDZ. In the case of the HDZ, that interest has always been stronger than the interest of the Croat people and issues relating to their living standards.
Q: Whose personal interests?
A: Shortly, the people who are now leading the movement, supported by certain individuals from the military structures of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, are behind the decision on the interim self-government. Also, it is important to say that the action was most likely led, to a large extent, by Zagreb, by the Croatian HDZ. We have reliable information that there was a very close cooperation between Jelavic's HDZ and the Croatian HDZ in the entire operation. The visit of Ivic Pasalic to BiH several weeks ago was a clear signal that something was in preparation.
Sanctions for the leaders of the HDZ
Q: Do you think that there is a connection between the events in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the earlier mass demonstrations of veterans in Split, and in Zagreb?
A: I think that the authorities of both states, of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, have to be very concerned because of the trans-border cooperation between the extremists. It is very dangerous for the new democratic institutions in Croatia, but also for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as an emerging state.
Q: You are announcing sanctions, however, one gets the impression that sanctions will, for the most part, be personal, in other words directed at the reduction of political and economic power of certain individuals. Ante Jelavic, General Stanko Sopta Baja, and even Ljubo Cesic Rojs, a former general and a present representative in the Parliament, are mentioned as the targets.
A: Clearly, I do not want to speak about the details for the time being, however, I assure you that the sanctions will not be directed at the Croat people, but strictly at individuals who will be very much affected. My intention is not to punish the people, but only the leadership of the HDZ.
Q: Could you be more specific about a type of sanctions or measures. For instance, will the business interests of Ante Jelavic and his group be affected?
A: All this time we have been in touch with the Government in Zagreb, the European Community in Brussels and main representatives of the United States. I want to say that there is a full consent that, with the decision accepted on Saturday, the Assembly passed a point and we must show that we can no longer tolerate political extremists. I was additionally disappointed with the stances of the Catholic Church in this matter.
Peric's hatred
Q: Who do you have in mind?
A: I am appalled and shocked by the speech of the Bishop Ratko Peric and I can not even start describing his enormous hatred, and his support for convicted war criminals, expressed in his speech.
Q: You are announcing sanctions, however they may not be able to make any substantial changes except for, once again, homogenizing the Croat population.
A: Along with sanctions, it is necessary to establish a dialogue with those Croats who are truly willing to cooperate and to support the efforts to affirm Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to help Croats to understand that BiH is their state too. My interests lie in the fact that BiH can not exist without Croats. It is necessary to pay full attention the Croat component and its relations with Croatia. It is easier for BiH to get closer to Europe through Croatia.
Q: Do you think that the latest events de-stabilized Croatia?
A: I would not like to interfere in the policies of the Croatian authorities, however, they have to be very much interested in the developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are two reasons for that. The first reason is that the dissatisfaction is spreading to Croatia, as we saw in the case of Split, and the second, more important reason is that I expect the Croatian authorities to fully support the historical and cultural identity of the Croat people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It has to become a partnership.
Q: What do you think about the role of Zdravko Tomac, who represented the Croatian ruling coalition at the Congress in Mostar?
A: Mr. Tomac did not come with a hidden agenda. He is truly interested in overcoming this crises, but, unfortunately, no one heard his voice of wisdom.
Q: Do you intend to negotiate with someone from the HDZ leadership in the coming days?
A: I do not think it would make any sense now, because Jelavic discredited himself for any future negotiations. I do not believe we have something to talk about any more. Extremists are losing the battle, but they are trying at all costs to keep the status quo, to protect their business interests. It is very unfortunate that the Croats in Herzegovina are getting poorer every day, while their leaders, in only a couple of years have made incredible fortune. Such a system is a tragic mistake. In this state, the law has to replace the tribal, Mafia-ridden oligarchies, which have shown that they have no respect for anything but their own concerns concerns for their own pockets.
Q: Who do you cooperate with in the Croatian authority?
A: Mostly with the Premier Racan. We met recently, on Tuesday, while a group from my Office also talked with the Croatian Government about this crisis. On the other hand, we cooperate with the non-HDZ representatives of the Croat people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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