- BH-Central Institutions
- BiH Presidency postpones naming of BiH Council of Ministers
mandatary:
- Petritsch meets with Radisic:
- Federation
- Dragan Covic took over the Federation Prime Minister post:
- Another meeting on pensions cut short without results:
- Sarajevo canton Interior Ministry denies eaves dropping:
- Republika Srpska
- RS Parliament meets today - Prime Minister to be elected:
- Former RS President in The Hague pleads not guilty:
- RS Government sends guarantees to the ICTY:
- Richard Holbrooke on Plavsic:
- DNS on composition of the RS cabinet:
- RS Cabinet asks top RS officials to explain why they signed the
"political capitulation," at the OHR:
- International community:
- Petritsch's historic decision:
- OHR welcomes BiH Constitutional Court's decision:
- HR Military Advisor says BiH needs a "white book," on defense:
- The Alliance members meet with the HR:
- Kostunica is visiting Sarajevo on January 19th:
- Exclusive: Reaction by Croatian President Stipe Mesic to the
interview with Ante Jelavic published in Republika - 'Mesic: Ante Jelavic
is either a bandit or a corrupted person':
- Head of EU Mission to BiH supports the Alliance for Changes:
- High Representative and his wife award RS Helsinki Committee with
3,000 KMs:
- Reactions to the HR's decision:
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Central Institutions related Issues:
BiH Presidency postpones naming of BiH Council of Ministers mandatary:
BiH Presidency at its session on Thursday has postponed the naming of the
BiH Council of Ministers mandatary until the constitutive session of BiH
Parliament House of People is held, Oslobodjenje reported, The Presidentcy
at the same time has started consultations with relevant parliamentary
parties, coalitions and alliances on the candidates for the mandatary. BiH
Presidency spokesman told the press after the session that Presidency's
position on the issue is supported by the High Representative who met on
Friday with the President of BiH Presidency, Zivko Radisic.
High Representative meets President of BiH Presidency:
Sarajevo and Banja Luka papers reported that the President of the BiH
Presidency, Zivko Radisic met with the High Representative, Wolfgang
Petritsch in Sarajevo yesterday. At this meeting, initiated by Radisic,
they fully agreed on the constituting of authorities at all levels as soon
as possible, stated Radisic's Cabinet. It was jointly assessed that only
persons who enjoyed professional, moral and political reputation, and who
were ready to fully engage in the implementation of the Dayton Agreement,
could be appointed to the positions in executive authorities. Once again
they pointed out the need for the realization of all obligations that BiH
had to fulfill in order to be integrated into Europe, states the press
release. In the following period, the protection of all human and national
rights will be a priority in the work of the Presidency and the OHR,
agreed Radisic and Petritsch.
Federation
Dragan Covic took over the Federation Prime Minister post:
Dnevni Avaz reported that according to the Federation Constitution Dragan
Covic took over the position of the Federation Prime Minister. Covic took
over from Edhem Bicakcic who left to post to become the General Director
of Elektroprivreda. Covic will carry out his duties until a new government
is established, the daily said.
Another meeting on pensions cut short without results:
Yet another meeting on the pension issue between Federation Government
officials, the OHR and the World Bank representatives held on Thursday was
cut short without reaching an agreement, Sarajevo papers said. The main
problem, the payment of August 2000 pensions in January this year was not
solved at this second meeting and the negotiations will continue on
Tuesday, OHR officials said. The Pension Law, imposed by the High
Representative will remain and it is in the interest of the OHR that the
best solution for pensioners is found, Alexandra Stiglmayer, head of OHR
Public Affairs told Dnevni Avaz.
Sarajevo canton Interior Ministry denies eaves dropping:
Following an SFOR inspection of the Bjelave police station Sarajevo Canton
Interior Ministry officials denied that they were eaves dropping on the
OHR, the UN and the OSCE. Ministry said that they are not familiar with
the results of the SFOR and IPTF investigation but that they did not eaves
drop "because it is illegal."
Republika Srpska
RS Parliament meets today - Prime Minister to be elected:
President of the RS National Assembly has called of a meeting of the RS
Parliament on Friday, Oslobodjenje reported. Of the five topics on the
agenda the main is the election of RS Prime Minister. The names of the
candidates have been kept in secret and the only after the session will it
be known who will be the new RS Prime Minister, the daily said.
Former RS President in The Hague pleads not guilty:
Former RS President, Biljana Plavsic, indicted for war crimes committed in
BiH in her first appearance in front of The Hague War Crimes Tribunal
pleaded not guilty to all counts, Sarajevo and Banja Luka papers said. The
first woman publicly indicted by the tribunal and the second key figure
from the former Bosnian Serb leadership to come to The Hague, pleaded not
guilty to all nine war crimes counts, papers said.
RS Government sends guarantees to the ICTY
Both Banja Luka dailies reporetd that at today's session in Banja Luka the
RS Government gave guarantees that are to enable Biljana Plavsic to defend
while on bail and ensure she would respond to the Tribunal's summons when
needed, stated after the session Rajko Vasic, the Director of the
Government's Public Affairs Bureau. He said that the letter of guarantees
would be sent to The Hague today. He specified that these were the same
guarantees as in the case of Simo Zaric, according to which the defendant
would not leave the territory of the RS and that he/she would respond to
the summons of The Hague Tribunal. The Government also adopted the
proposal on the decision on the temporary financing of the RS budget for
the first three months of this year, as well as the report on the work of
the ministries. According to Vasic, the Government also adopted a
conclusion that requests the CoM to approve low level air traffic be
controlled by Belgrade and Zagreb Flight Controls, and not only by Zagreb,
as the Federation has requested.
Richard Holbrooke on Plavsic
Glas Srpski reported that Richard Holbrooke said he knows Biljana Plavsic
from the times when he was trying to restore peace in BiH and that the
NATO troops had the had the opportunity to arrest her but she decided to
cooperate with The Hague. "I think that this one more signal that
Karadzic's time is running out. She knows a lot, and she will tell many
things", says Holbrooke.
DNS on composition of the RS cabinet
The member of the DNS Executive Board, Borislav Bjelic, said that
everything had been agreed regarding the constitution of the new RS
Government, in which the majority of the ministerial posts would be given
to the SDS and the PDP. The SPRS would also get some positions and two
departments would be given to the independent candidates.
The DNS would support the government by Ivanic only if Ivanic succeeded
in providing support and assistance by the international community.
RS Cabinet asks top RS officials to explain why they signed the
"political capitulation," at the OHR:
RS news agency Srna reported on Friday that the RS Cabinet called on
president Mirko Sarovic, vice-president Dragan Cavic and parliamentary
speaker Dragan Kalinic to tell the RS public what sort of political
capitulation they signed at the OHR and who else can we expect to go to
the Hague, says a press release from the Cabinet's press office. The
Cabinet feels that Sarovic, Cavic and Kalinic should explain their
shameful response to former RS president Biljana Plavsic's surrender to
the Hague Tribunal. Premier Milorad Dodik told SRNA that Dragan Cavic "is
lying to the public regarding Plavsic's departure for the Hague" and ought
together other RS leaders tell the public what was signed and promised
just prior to the authorities being formed.
International community related issues:
Petritsch's historic decision:
All BiH media on Friday reported extensively, with daily papers dedicating
front pages to the High Representative's decision to establish interim
procedures to protect the vital interests of Constituent Peoples and
Others. While Oslobodjenje's headline says "The High Representative
responds to the requests of the Alliance for Changes," Dnevni Avaz's
headline reads: "Siljadzic's great success.' The front page of the weekly
Dani says this is a "Historic decision," and the "First big victory of
the Alliance for changes."
Party for BiH officials said this Petritsch's decision is the most
important political act since Dayton Agreement.
"This was possible to achieve only thanks to the vision and the
persistency of Dr. Silajdzic and other responsible leaders from a number
of parties who were aware that only with a clear political program and
with the help of the High Representative and entire international
community mechanisms for radical positive changes could be started," a
Party for BiH statement said.
OHR welcomes BiH Constitutional Court's decision:
The OHR welcomed BiH Constitutional Court's decision that Elektroprivredas
should compensate the Mostar City Council for the use of power plants on
the Neretva river. This decision will secure the much needed help to
financing of the city and will enable Mostar's Mayor and his deputy to
continue their positive work on unification of the city, Oleg Milisic, OHR
spokesman told a news conference on Thursday.
The High Representative is satisfied that a domestic court has supported
the rule of law and has shown that the concept of ownership is being
implemented in BiH, Milisic said.
HR Military Advisor says BiH needs a "white book," on defense:
The High Representative's Military Advisor, Gen. John Moore Bick told
Oslobodjenje in an interview published on Friday that BiH should have a
"white book," on defense if it wants to talk about its admission to
Partnership For Peace. If the "white book," is published by the end of
this year it would be a good signal to others that time has come to open
talks on the admission to Partnership for Peace, Moore Bick told the
daily.
The Military Advisor also told the daily that BiH needs a civil aviation
board that really acts. The three previous directors were not up to the
job and were fired and now there is a Working Group with the Council of
Ministers and an agreement between the Council and international
organization of civil aviation, Moore Bick said.
The Alliance members meet with the HR
Both Banja Luka dailies reported that although it was expected that the
Documents on the Alliance of Changes would be signed in Sarajevo yesterday
it did not happen. After the meeting, some leaders said that the Document
on the Alliance was signed, while the others denied it. "The Alliance
exists anyway and I do not know what did you expect to be signed", said
Zlatko Lagumdzija and told journalists to address all their inquiries to
Haris Silajdzic.
Kostunica is visiting Sarajevo on January 19th
Glas Srpski reported that at today's session the BiH Presidency adopted
the Report on realization of the Platform on establishment the diplomatic
relations between the FRY and BiH, the Report on BiH Foreign Ministry's
visit to Belgrade and the announcement on Kostunica's visit to Sarajevo on
January 19th.
Exclusive: Reaction by Croatian President Stipe Mesic to the interview
with Ante Jelavic published in Republika - 'Mesic: Ante Jelavic is either
a bandit or a corrupted person'
Zagreb daily Republika published an exclusive interview with the Croatian
President Stipe Mesic.
Mesic: I have never talked with Mr. Petritsch in private, I only met him
in meetings with other people attending. Only a mad man could say what Mr.
Ante Jelavic has been reiterating, and one should be either a fool or a
corrupt person to be reiterating it as my opinion or my statement, without
asking me first as to whether it is the truth. What is happening with Mr.
Jelavic, I really do not know, and he himself should decide which category
he falls under. He is either a fool or a corrupted person because
otherwise, he would not be repeating as my opinion that Croats in B&H
should be trampled down. Jelavic should stop and think about such
statements same as the Croats in B&H that he represents, should.
The time of the HDZ power in Croatia is over, just like the time of the
Croat policy being formed in Mr. Jelavic's circle, because he claims for
himself more rights than anyone could give him. I am disappointed that
someone can give such public statements and still aspire for representing
one people. I find it surprising and sad. I can only tell him at the end
that he has to decide which option he prefers - either a fool or a corrupt
person.
Q: Do you think that the relation between you and Jelavic, and the HDZ
B&H, is irreparable, especially following these statements?
A: I do not fear that the things could break off between myself and
Jelavic, or his party, because I never had anything to do with them. I
absolutely refute that I ever said what Jelavic keeps ascribing to me.
Head of EU Mission to BiH supports the Alliance for Changes:
RS news agency Srna reported that The head of the European Commission
delegation, Hans Jorg Kretchmer, said he supports the Alliance for Change
and expressed the hope that the Alliance will succeed in taking power in
the FBiH and in BiH. The Swedish ambassador to BiH, Niels Eliasson,
reminds us that Sweden is chairing the EU for the first time and stressed
that Sweden will give priority during its mandate to expending the EU
while supporting reintegration processes in countries of central and
eastern Europe.
High Representative and his wife award RS Helsinki Committee with 3,000
KMs:
RS news agency reported that for their engagement in protecting and
affirming human rights in 2000, the RS Helsinki Committee has been awarded
KM 3,000 by the private charity fund for BiH of Nora and Wolfgang
Petritsch, reports the Committee. "This award is given to individuals and
organisations committed to building a civil society in BiH and
endeavouring to secure respect for the human right of all the citizens,"
says a press release.
Reactions to the HR's decision:
While the Federation media carried numerous reactions to the latest
decision of the High Representative in their Thursday evening and Friday
morning editions, RS media were more concerned with the indictment of
Biljana Plavsic. There are still no official comments to the decision from
Banja Luka.
Commenting on the decision on the establishment of constitutional
commissions in both entities which was imposed yesterday by the High
Representative, the OBN Television reporter noted that the decision is of
a historic importance, but that its proclamation created an ultimate
confusion within the OHR. The OBN newscaster noted that the OHR media
advisory distributed to the press on Thursday indicated that all Alliance
party leaders were to show up at the press conference along Wolfgang
Petritsch. However, he noted with a doze of irony, reporters were greeted
only by the somewhat confused Petritsch, while some of them were bumping
into Zlatko Lagumdzija and Kresimir Zubak in the hallways of the OHR
building. Finally, the OBN stressed it was greatly mislead by the OHR
media advisory which promised that all relevant party officials including
Lagumdzija, Silajdzic, Zubak and others would address the press following
the meeting. Other then that, it provided no commentary on the content of
the decision.
In his interviews with the Sarajevo Canton Television and the RTV BiH,
Haris Silajdzic praised at great lengths the High Representative for this,
as his called it a historical decision, and stressed that BiH is entering
a new phase in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. Silajdzic
also expressed his satisfaction with the genuine willingness of Petritsch
to, this time around, does not allow any obstructions of the peace
process. Moreover, Silajdzic said that he received strong guarantees from
the HR that he would tolerate NO obstructions, and immediately "act upon"
all those who try to stand in the way.
Silajdzic's Party for BiH issued a statement for the press immediately
following the OHR press conference saying that this is the most important
decision in the post-Dayton period, and the highest accomplishment of the
forces which want to see BiH move forward in the interest of all of its
citizens. The statement also said that Petritsch's decision is, in fact,
is the support and the guarantee for the justified efforts of BiH parties
ready for changes.
An unidentified Alliance for Change source told Oslobodjenje yesterday
that the Alliance parties, after the decision was passed, have been
presented by several suggestions by the High Representative, some of which
were accepted by the former. "In any case, the most encouraging
Petritsch's statement was that he would not tolerate even the slightest
possibility of obstruction in the process of the implementation of our
program," - the same source told the Sarajevo daily, and added that one of
the great accomplishments of the Allaince was that it made the
International Community an equal political partner in this process.
The President of the NHI (New Croat Initiative), Kresimir Zubak, was of
similar opinion, and reiterated that Petritsch's decision was of the key
importance for the future work of the Alliance of Changes. "If it were not
for this decision, the existence of the Alliance would have no meaning. We
cannot make changes if the people are not equal on the whole territory of
BiH," - Zubak said, and added that the introduction of the CC opens the
path towards the final establishment of mechanisms which would guarantee
the protection of the vital interests of BiH citizens.
In a live interview with the OBN, the chairman of the BiH Presidency,
Halid Genjac, also noted that the latest decision of the HR was "indeed of
the crucial importance for the future of BiH, but that the SDA still has
some reservations." Genjac said that his party is concerned that the
individuals which will by appointed to the Constitutional Commissions by
the High Representative may act in a manner which will be detrimental to
the national groups in BiH. In other words, he noted that the officials
appointed by the International Community often tend to neglect "the
national question", which is dangerous, since the CC will de facto have
the purpose of the House of Peoples, which in turn is the legislative
guarantor of the rights of respective nations. Moreover, Genjac said that
this decision will create a non-reciprocal situation in BiH, since the RS
will have only the CC to protect the right of its peoples, while the
Federation will have both the CC and the House of Peoples. "Aside from the
fact that they may duplicate the work, they also may make the entire
process more complicated", said Genjac.
His (SDA's) third complaint is that the decision foresees that both entity
parliaments are to present proposals for the implementation of the
Constitutional Court's ruling on the constituent status of all peoples in
BiH, while it does not set the actual binding deadlines for the
implementation. Genjac finally noted that this lack may simply provide
room for further obstruction.
Immediately following the announcement of the decision, the US Embassy in
BiH came out with its statement for the press, in which it expressed a
strong support to yesterday's decision of the High Representative. "This
is a creative and an innovative interim solution, which is aimed at the
fulfilling of the requirements set in the 'constituent decision' of the
Constitutional Court, and which will secure the rights of all citizens of
BiH."
BH Dani provided perhaps the most extensive coverage of the issue.
Petritsch was on the cover page of the latest issue which came out only
few minutes after the press conference in the OHR building. In its regular
section "Person in Focus", Dani almost pompously notes that Petritsch may
enter the annals of history as "an Austrian who succeeded in BiH". Unlike
his long ago predecessor, Benjamin Kallay, who sought to create an
overriding civic (Bosnian) identity, preclude the awakening of various
nationalisms in this country, and who ultimately failed in his project,
Petritsch may be more successful. Indeed, Dani notes, the latter never
burdened himself with such a great task. His aim was the creation of a
functional state, which could guarantee equal rights, the equally good
state and a responsible government to all of its peoples. Although his
mission is still not over, he is just s step away from the ultimate
success.
"What leads Petritsch towards his success is his resoluteness, courage,
and the fact that he was patient enough to wait for some new players, who
will realize that the IC is here to help them, not to be in their way
while they are enriching themselves, to come around", writes Dani, and
adds that, choosing the right side, the Austrian, embarked on the cleaning
of the decade-long chaos, together with the Alliance.
Commenting on the decision on the establishment of the Constitutional
Commissions, Dani said that this is the most important decision the HR
ever had to make. "Consequences of such decision will have long-term
effects, and the most important of them will be the creation of conditions
for the final trip home of one of the High representatives, who will not
have a great deal to do in a state which will no longer enact laws which
have for their aim the destruction of the very state".
Dani concludes that this story is the proof that Wolfgang Petritsch is the
most successful High Representative in BiH thus far.
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