- BH-Central Institutions
- BiH Minister for European Integration participates at session of
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly:
- Radisic and Jelavic for Raguz, Genjac for the Alliance?
- Political slalom: B&H after the visits of the Croatian and Yugoslav
President -
- The turnabout in the forming of the Council of Ministers of the BiH
Federation: Is Lagumdjija waiting for the Prime Minister's chair:
- 'Spook of third entity'
- Federation
- Payment of January pensions to being on Wednesday:
- Croat Peoples Assembly will not recognize the rule of the Alliance
for Changes:
- Implementation of property laws in the Federation continues:
- Vakuf Direction sends petition supporting natural restitution to OHR
and Council of Europe:
- Republika Srpska
- RS Finance Minister Milenko Vracar on the RS Budget
- Krstan Simic, Plavsic's lawyer on alleged agreements between Biljana
Plavsic and the Hague Tribunal
- French Ambassador says RS Government enjoys wide IC support:
- International community:
- High Representative addresses the Foreign Affairs Committee of the
European Parliament:
- Head of UN Mission to Bosnia proposes that an Interior Ministry be
formed on state level:
- The Hague Tribunal - Krajisnik hearing on January 25
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Central Institutions related Issues:
BiH Minister for European Integration participates at session of Council
of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly:
BiH Minister for European Integration, Bisera Turkovic is participating at
the session of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly,
Oslobodjenje reported. During the session Turkovic met with Assembly
officials as well as the Council of Europe's Secretary General. During
these meetings participants expressed their expectations that BiH will be
admitted to the Council of Europe soon, Oslobodjenje said.
Radisic and Jelavic for Raguz, Genjac for the Alliance?
Both Banja Luka and Sarajevo dailies reported on the nomination of Martin
Raguz for position of CoM Chair, saying that BiH Presidency had no
intention to change its decision.
"It is up to House of Representatives of BiH Parliamentary Assembly to
express its position on the nomination as well as on composition of BiH
Council of Ministers", said Slobodan Radulj, advisor of Zivko Radisic,
Bosnian Serb member of the Presidency.
Radulj pointed out that, by appointing Raguz, the Presidency had taken
into consideration the principle of rotation, that is, the fact that the
Chair of the Council of Ministers should be a Croat, since the BiH
Presidency is now chaired by a Serb, and the House of Representatives by a
Bosniak.
Political slalom: B&H after the visits of the Croatian and Yugoslav
President -
Slobodna Dalmacija in its Tuesday's editorial by Marijan Sivric asks will
Vojislav Kostunica apologise for the crimes his compatriots and the FRY
committed in B&H in the last war and what kind of message will he send to
the 'Bosnian Serbs' were the two most important issues before he arrived
in B&H for the first official visit. The representatives of the Bosniac
SDA and Islamic Community, most of all, expected the answers to those
questions, while the Bosniac political parties who are now trying to take
over the authority showed almost no interest in the visit. However, the
FRY President, 'Kostunica the democrat' did not say anything about those
issues. Although the Bosniac public explicitly asked for Kostunica to say
what Croatian President Stjepan Mesic stated during his visit to Sarajevo,
he kept sticking to the diplomatic phrases. Namely, Mesic said at that
time that the Croat people should build their future in Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Kostunica was asked to send the same message to the Serbs.
At any opportunity Mesic used to speak about wrong and criminal policy of
his predecessor Franjo Tudjman, while Kostunica did not even mention
Slobodan Milosevic. So, it came out that Croatia and 'Tudjman's regime'
are to blame for the bad things happened during the war in Bosnia and
Herzegovina and not Serbia ' and the world's butcher Milosevic'. What is
important more than apologies and alleged establishing of truth, which is
known to everybody, is Kostunica's view about the issues of the borders.
He principally opposes the further 'fragmentation of the area' and holds
that it is the key for peace and stability in the region. However, what
will happen if the borders are changed and Yugoslavia gets fragmented ? He
is aware that it may happen, maybe even this year. He himself said in
Sarajevo that there are two opposite views as to how the relation between
Belgrade and Podgorica should be resolved. The first one, the one of
Belgrade, which stays with the Federation and the second one, the one of
Podgorica, which supports the union of the two independent states. Also,
there is no relevant political force of the Kosovo Albaninas who will give
up the requirements for the independence of Kosovo. So, both the
Montenegrin and Kosovo requirements go toward the change of borders. In
that case Kostunica openly says that even the borders toward B&H, more
specifically to the RS, cannot stay same. Sarajevo has an official answer
to the challenge - the phrase on recognition of the sovereignty. However,
everybody knows that Bosnian Serbs look at that as a chance for themselves
to annex to Serbia. No reactions have come from Zagreb yet. Is Bosnia and
Herzegovina still important for the Republic of Croatia? Does Zagreb have
an answer in case the events, foreseen by Kostunica, start happening? Is
it enough only to support in general the independence and sovereignty of
Bosnia and Herzegovina? What will happen if the process of disintegration
of the rest of Yugoslavia continues and the RS organises a referendum on
annexation to Serbia? Zagreb should have, at least for its own egoism, the
clear attitudes toward B&H, like Kostunica, and the Croats in B&H should
preserve their constituency and feel that there is someone frankly and
efficiently standing behind them.
The turnabout in the forming of the Council of Ministers of the BiH
Federation: Is Lagumdjija waiting for the Prime Minister's chair:
Zagreb daily Vecernji List reported that since Zlatko Lagumdjija, the SDP
President, did not want to speak about the concrete names, even at the
regular session of the Independent Intellectuals 'Krug 99', except when he
stressed that it is an issue of political culture that Raguz gives back
his mandate, and that the Presidency (it is obliged to do that by the
Constitution) withdraws the mandatory who cannot get the Parliamentary
majority, this issue is very difficult.
However, this SDP's hiding suggests that Lagumdjija does not have or that
he has not had yet, a Croat in his lines, who would be suitable for this
high-ranked position, which according to some sources, the HR intends to
put before the Presidency.
The former calculations that Jadranko Prlic might join the SDP, as well as
the actual thesis that this party would support him regardless of the fact
that he is not their member, are believed to be unrealistic. Since Ivo
Komsic, the Croat with political experience, does not have any chances,
the impression that Lagumdjija keeps the position of the Prime Minister
for himself becomes more realistic every day. Does he expect, since the
turn for the Croat came, the intervention of the HR or some other
calculations are in a play? We shall know the answer after the first
session of the state Parliament.
Rasim Kadic, the President of the Liberal Party, which is one of the
members of the Alliance, stated: 'We welcome the announcement of Halid
Genjac, a member of the BiH Presidency, that he will support the candidate
of the Alliance for Changes for the position of the mandatory of the
Council of Ministers. It is a wise decision, but it should have been
passed long time ago.'
'Spook of third entity'
Zagreb daily Vjesnik in its Tuesday editorial written by Jurica Korbler
analyses the situation in BiH.
As far as Croats in B&H are concerned, the situation is undoubtedly
dramatic. The RS is still being ethnically cleansed and is assuming the
appearance of a state on its own, while many things are still pending in
the Federation, and Croats are finding it more and more difficult to
struggle for equality. The IC reacts harshly to every mention of a third
entity which usually comes from Mostar, and the Croats are asking Zagreb
for specific support even in the matters where Zagreb cannot be of help,
often forgetting that the times have changed and that Tudjman is no longer
there.
Post-Tudjman Croatia now has a clearer attitude to B&H than it ever had
before. Third entity is not the solution for Croats in B&H, but consistent
protection of Croats in the whole of B&H is what is demanded.
However, Zagreb has big problems not only for its clear and explicit
attitude but also for the intra-party games that are ongoing in B&H. On
one hand, the Croatian foreign policy realise that Croats are in an
unenviable position, but cannot bring themselves into a situation to
arbitrate on the divided intra-party scene.
The initiative that came from the Croatian Parliament for a multi-party
delegation to visit B&H, is more than welcome. It would be a chance to
clearly tell the Croats in B&H once again that Croatia would always be
standing in favour of the equality of Croats in B&H, but that, in this
moment, Croats in B&H must take responsibility for their destiny.
Waging of politics is drastically changing in this region, and the leaders
of Bosnian Croats will have to get used to that fact. Drawing Croatia into
party conflicts would be dangerous for the credibility of the newly
defined foreign-policy strategy and Croatia would thus lose credibility
with the IC, too.
Zagreb is no longer a place where crucial decisions for the destiny of
Croats in B&H are to be made, but Zagreb will now more than ever be the
place from where Bosnian Croats will be receiving support in their
legitimate requests for equality and constituency in the whole of B&H.
Then no one in the IC will be bothered by Croatia demanding redefinition
of Dayton and considering all options open and legitimate. Still, the idea
of a third entity as a method of pressure is as foreign to Croatia as it
is to the entire IC.
Federation
Payment of January pensions to being on Wednesday:
Both Oslobodjenje and Dnevni Avaz reported on today's front page that
payment of January pensions will begin in the Federation on Wednesday.
After receiving reassurances that the payment will surely begin, pensioner
associations canceled their announced demonstrations. A compromise
solution was found - January pensions will be paid thus obeying the
Pension Law passed by the High Representative, and will be decreased some
14 percent, all but the minimum ones, papers said. But the Pension Law
will not be obeyed completely because all the necessary funds were not
collected and the pensions will not be distributed in two days.
The question is, Olsobodjenje said, will the High Representative veto the
reached compromise. Pensioners said if the payments are stopped they will
hit the streets immediately and protest.
Croat Peoples Assembly will not recognize the rule of the Alliance for
Changes:
Petar Milic, Vice-president of the Croat Peoples Assembly following a
meeting of the Assembly in Mostar on Monday told a news conference that
the parties from the Assembly (HNS) ``will not recognize the rule of the
Alliance for Changes on the territory controlled by the HNS,'' and that
the first step is ``leaving the Federation.'' Asked if this means that a
third entity will be established, Milic said that the phrase ``leaving
with Federation is more than clear.''
After the first step there will be a transition period, he added.
``During the transition period we will establish a inter-canton (zupanija)
council or we will pass a constitution that will be confirmed by a
referendum and that will have all the democratic institutions in order to
prevent repetition of mistakes made when Herzeg-Bosnia was established,''
Milic said according to Dnevni Avaz.
Implementation of property laws in the Federation continues:
Oslobodjenje quoted Federation Refugee and DPs Minister, Sulejman Garib as
saying that ``despite all the problems, the implementation of property
laws in the Federation is being continued.''
According to Garib's interview with RS radio in Banja Luka more than 25
percent of the claims for the return of property in the Federation are
being solved and he underlined that in Sarajevo city zone alone 600
eviction a month are being carried out.
Vakuf Direction sends petition supporting natural restitution to OHR and
Council of Europe:
Vakuf Direction has collected more than 150 thousand signatures from the
members of the Islamic Community that support the natural restitution in
BiH. The main reason for this petition was the Proposal for the
Restitution Law and recent position of the OHR regarding the restitution,
Direction officials told a news conference on Monday. They added that they
are offended by the letter Gary Collins, OHR legal advisor sent to
religious communities in August last year inviting them to sacrifice for
the general cause and give up.
``It is an obligation of the state and the entities to give back the
confiscated property and we cannot give up,'' Nezim Halilovic Muderis,
head of the Vakuf Direction told reporters.
Muderis said that the petition was sent to the OHR, Council of Europe,
Federation Government, BiH Council of Ministers and the RS Government.
Republika Srpska
Salaries from the Budget to February 15th
Glas Srpski reported that RS Finance Minister, Milenko Vracar held a
presser in Banja Luka.
"Situation in the RS Budget is very difficult. The Government will not be
able to resolve this issue in a short period of time. We are trying to
improve financial discipline and force companies into paying their
obligations in order to provide primary incomes to the budget. There will
be no special help from the IC and the Government will, according to
realistic possibilities, do payments to the users of the budget. We will
try to pay at least one out of three unpaid obligations in period from
February 1st to 15th", said Vracar at the press conference.
Sarajevo-based news agency Onasa reporting on the same issues quoted
Vracar as saying on Monday that the Government could pay only a part of
last year's debts to the beneficiaries in a period from February 1 to 15,
so he called on them to refrain from protests and strikes and to
give the Government 90 days to fix the situation in the budget. Vracar
said the Government has no money at the moment to pay 65 million KM
of debts to the beneficiaries.
He said the process of the payment operations system
transformation contributed to the poor situation in the budget because the
banks in the RS werenot prepared to take over the job. Vracar said the
Government has 5,300,000 KM at the Razvojna Banka, but the money is not
available because the banks has not sorted the incomes by the
municipalities.
He said the statements of the former RS prime minister, Milorad Dodik,
who said the Government has the funds to pay off the debts
towards the beneficiaries, were incorrect.
"It is correct that we have 32 million KM in the Central Banka, and
that money became available on January 11, but these funds are intended
for the RS reform and the repayment of the foreign debt, which for this
year amounts to 80 million KM," Vracar explained.
He also announced a strengthened financial control aimed at ensuring
regular inflow of funds into the budget.
Vracar said a "huge problem" are the banks that fail to fulfill
the obligations. These are the banks that the former Government approved
the money, which they were giving to the companies as credits.
"Now, those companies have no money to repay the credit, which is a
huge problem," he said.
Plavsic could be liquidated
GS: Lawyer of the former RS President Biljana Plavsic, Krstan Simic,
stated before the Hague Tribunal he hoped his client would be allowed to
stand trial in absentia.
He also said that Plavsic could be liquidated as and "inconvenient
witness" after writing of certain media that she had an agreement with the
Tribunal.
French Ambassador says RS Government enjoys wide IC support:
RS news agency Srna reported on Tuesday the French ambassador to BiH,
Bernard Bajaulet, said that the new RS Cabinet enjoys "wide IC support,
which it will need in order to secure stability and solve financial and
social problems." "I congratulated Mr. Ivanic for his handling the
situation so well in the last few weeks. The IC respects Mr. Ivanic and
places a lot confidence in him," Bajaulet told reporters in Banjaluka
following a meeting with RS premier Mladen Ivanic. Bajaulet said that a
great majority in the IC have decided to resume offering aid to RS.
International community related issues:
High Representative addresses Foreign Affairs Committee of the European
Parliament:
Sarajevo papers reported that the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch
on Monday addressed the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European
Parliament and met with the Stability Pact Coordinator.
Head of UN Mission to Bosnia proposes that an Interior Ministry be formed
on state level:
Sarajevo papers reported that the proposal of the head of the UN Mission
to BiH, Jacques Paul Klein that an Interior Ministry be formed on the
state level was supported by the Federation Interior Ministry. Federation
Ministry in a statement released on Monday said that an efficient struggle
against crime in BiH, equal attitude of police towards citizens in entire
BiH and single presentation of BiH police abroad ask for the establishment
of a single Interior Ministry on the state level.
In this respect Federation Ministry has in March 1998 submitted an entire
project for the establishment of a single, state Police Ministry to the
OHR, UN and IPTF Missions in BiH, the statement said.
Hearing of Krajisnik on January 25th:
GS/NN: Momcilo Krajisnik, a former RS high political official, is to
appear at the hearing before The Hague Tribunal on Thursday, January 25th.
According to Reuters, the hearing is expected to be attended by the former
RS President, Biljana Plavsic, who, like Krajisnik, is charged with
genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
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