- BH-Central Institutions
- BiH Presidency to convenes today;
- HDZ-related news
- Croat National Assembly to face strict sanctions?;
- Ante Jelavic appeal to the US to help resolve political crisis in
BiH;]
- Ante Jelavic says the problem will not be solved by banning the HDZ;
- Wolfgang Petritsch: Responsible Croat leaders will be penalized not
the Croat people;
- President of "Croat Autonomy in BiH" says the Croat National
Assembly does not want Herzeg-Bosna;
- Large Herzegovina companies say the West will not freeze the capital
invested in BiH;
- Bosanska Posavina Croats say Jelavic betrayed them by proclaiming
the Autonomy;
- Republika Srpska
- Special parallel agreement between FRY and the RS before the
Constitutional Court;
- International community:
- Wolfgang Petritsch meets Croat officials in BiH;
- Wolfgang Petritsch names a Finnish Judge the Acting Director of the
Independent Judicial Commission;
- PDHR Ralph Johnson meets the RS Prime Minister;
- International Task Force submits proposals and options on
Constitutional reform;
- OHR Banja Luka Head, Georges Bordet: Our aim is not to stay in BiH
forever:
- Editorials
- Slobodna Dalmacija: The Mostar self-government and Zagreb cynicism;
- Jutarnji list: Will Zagreb introduce sanctions against Mostar?
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BiH State Institutions-related Issues:
BiH Presidency to convenes today:
News agencies report that the BiH Presidency will convene today in
Sarajevo in order to discuss, among other things, the document on the BiH
Defense Policy and the proposed budget for the BiH institutions for the
year 2001. The session is scheduled for 11 a.m.
HDZ-related news (see also editorials)
Croat National Assembly to face strict sanctions?:
All Sarajevo dailies speculate today that the Croat National Assembly and
its key party, the HDZ, will most likely face rigid sanctions by the
International Community. Dnevni Avaz and Oslobodjenje report that the High
Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to
BiH, Robert Barry, met on Monday with key foreign ambassadors to BiH and
discussed the present situation in BiH, in particular, the recent
decisions of the Croat National Assembly. Avaz claims that the ambassadors
agreed that more concrete steps ought to be taken. Some of these would
include severe sanctions of the HDZ and its individual leaders, while the
ambassadors did not exclude the possibility of economic sanctions of
certain companies which finance the party, and revoking of travel
privileges to some HDZ officials. An unidentified senior official within
the International Community told Oslobodjenje that Ante Jelavic, the
leaders of the HDZ and the Croat National Assembly, as well as other
hard-liners in the HDZ, will be dismissed "very soon". "If we fail to do
it, would it make any sense for us to stay in BiH any longer," asked the
official. He said that the disputed Croat politicians could also face
criminal investigation following their dismissals by the High
Representative.
Meanwhile, CNA's decision to proclaim a Croat self-governance in BiH was
strongly condemned by the OSCE's Chairman in Office, Mircea Geoana, who
lamented that Saturday's agreement endangered the peace process in BiH and
the blocked the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. "The
conclusions (of the Croat National Assembly) contravene the constitutions
of both BiH and the Federation and are, thus, in clear violation of the
General Framework Peace Agreement," said Geoana.
The European Union also condemned the move of the Croat National Assembly
on Tuesday, saying that its efforts are "in vain" and would jeopardize
BiH's relations with Europe. The EU said that the citizens of BiH can
only move towards Europe in the framework of a unified state and stressed
that decisions such as those taken by the CNA on Saturday will severely
impede this process.
Ante Jelavic appeal to the US to help resolve political crisis in BiH:
Ante Jelavic, the Croat member of the BiH Presidency and the leader of the
HDZ and the Croat National Assembly, appealed to the US President George
W. Bush to help resolve the crisis provoked by the proclamation of Croat
autonomy in BiH. In a letter, Jelavic said that he expected the president
and his administration to "take clear diplomatic action" to prevent the
crisis from deteriorating. Jelavic wrote that BiH could be stable only as
a federal state comprising more then two federal units and suggested a new
international conference on the future of BiH.
Ante Jelavic says the problem will not be solved by banning the HDZ:
In an interview with Zagreb's Vecernji List, Ante Jelavic, the Croat
member of the BiH Presidency and the leader of the HDZ and the Croat
National Assembly, said that, at its session in Mostar, the HDZ did not
establish any third entity, and that the proclaimed self-rule is only a
provisional measure until full rights for Croats in BiH are secured.
Dismissing the allegations presented by the High Representative, that the
HDZ is merely trying to preserve its financial interests, Jelavic said
that the HR should be more concerned about the people "he has been having
dinners with" (i.e., the Alliance party representatives) then about the
HDZ. "Time will show that the circles gathered around Petritsch and the
Alliance are the circles of individuals who want to protect their
interests," said Jelavic, and added that certain members of the Alliance
are the "largest financial mafia since the Ottoman times." Milorad Dodik,
Jadranko Prlic, Safet Orucevic, Zlatko Lagumdzija, and Haris Silajdzic are
but a few names mentioned by Jelavic. He stressed that the present
political situation in BiH cannot be resolved by removing him or by
banning the HDZ, and added that a dialogue is the only option.
Wolfgang Petritsch: Responsible Croat leaders will be penalized not the
Croat people:
In an interview with Vecernji List, the High Representative, Wolfgang
Petritsch, said that he is extremely disappointed with actions of certain
religious leaders, such as the Mostar Bishop Ratko Peric. Petritsch said
that possible sanctions imposed by the International Community will not be
aimed against the Croat people in BiH, but against certain political
leaders. "Croat people have been punished enough just by having such a
political leadership," said Petritsch, and added that the OHR is presently
discussing the gravity of sanctions with the EU, the US and Zagreb. "All
of them are of the opinion that they (extreme Croat leaders) should be
shred to ribbons," he said and warned that the HR has broad powers and
will not hesitate to use them if the implementation of the DPA is blocked.
Petritsch also stressed that he will not allow Jelavic to dictate
conditions.
Large Herzegovina companies say the West will not freeze the capital
invested in BiH:
"We think the threats of sanctions against any of the economic subjects,
including our bank, because of decisions of certain political structures,
are impermissible. Those threats are aimed at destabilizing the economic
and banking systems. However, we are sure that this attempt will be yet
another in a string of unsuccessful ones," said Milan Sutalo, the Director
of the Public Relations Office with the Hercegovacka Bank, commenting on
the IC officials' announcements of possible introduction of economic
sanctions. He added that the accusations about a transfer of the money in
the Hercegovacka Bank, intended for the Federal Budget, are unfounded.
Mijo Brajkovic, the General Manager of the Aluminium Factory, the
strongest production plant in BiH, which makes a half a billion marks of
profit annually, seconded such opinions: "I cannot believe such
announcements will be realized because if the economy is destroyed,
political progress cannot be expected either. American, German, Swiss
capital has been invested here and I simply cannot believe in the
announced nonsense, because the economy is always prioritized over
politics."
According to Brajkovic, "Daimler-Chrysler," "Fiat" and other reputable and
strong companies invested in the production giant. Brajkovic said: "Let
them not get involved in such nonsense, because the AF exclusively has
long-term contracts. In that case, we can address the International Court
of Justice, in order to have the signed contracts respected."
Public Company "Sume Herceg-Bosne" (forest company) has also become a
target of the IC due to the alleged financing of the HDZ BiH pre-election
campaign. They are accused of financing the party for years.
"This is absolutely untrue and we are open for all controls and audits. 15
days ago, we had an EU audit, and we gave them the amount of documentation
we thought was appropriate to give them. After that, they have not got in
touch with us. We have nothing to be afraid of, including the
international arbitration, because audits were conducted last year as
well," said General Manager Pero Markovic.
As for the announced sanctions, Markovic thinks they are damaging for
their business. "All of our buyers are domestic clients, all of them are
from BiH, and our complete annual budget is realized there. We co-operate
with 'Srpske sume' in Banja Luka and 'BiH Sume' in Sarajevo," said
Markovic. He added that he does not know the extent of sanctions and that
he found out about them from the media.
Although the OSCE and the OHR are still analyzing as to how the announced
sanctions will be realized on the ground, some Croatian companies that
have affiliates in BiH are also in fear. Oil holding "INA BiH", according
to the information of its Marketing Service, has considered consequences
of possible sanctions.
OSCE Deputy Spokesperson Sanela Tnovic-Becirovic, in a statement for VL
yesterday, said that all the aspects of possible introduction of sanctions
are being carefully analyzed.
President of "Croat Autonomy in BiH" says the Croat National Assembly does
not want Herzeg-Bosna:
In an interview with Slobodna Dalmacija, Marko Tokic, the president of the
self-proclaimed Croat Autonomy in BiH, said that Croat people have been
under sanctions for the past five years and that it is time that they are
finally recognized a political people. Commenting on the possibility that
the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, revokes travel privileges to
certain Croat officials in BiH, Tokic said that he does not take this
possibility seriously, and that Croats can always find a way to go to
other countries. He also expressed hope that Croats will be invited for
constructive talks before any such steps are taken. Asked as to how viable
and sustainable will be the possible autonomous Croat region in BiH, Tokic
said that he did not anticipate any serious problems, since Croat parts
have been functioning with a minimum of international funds for the past
several years. He stressed that even if the International Community
imposes sanctions on the self-proclaimed autonomy, it could still function
with financial help of Croats living in Diaspora.
Bosanska Posavina Croats say Jelavic betrayed them by proclaiming the
Autonomy:
Croats from Bosanska Posavina and other parts of the northeast BiH
expressed yesterday their disappointment with decisions made at the Croat
National Assembly, in particular the decision to form a sort of
self-governing region in BiH, saying that 140,000 Croats presently living
in the RS are betrayed by such plans. Mate Gogic, the president of the
Croat Assembly of Bosanska Posavina, said that they are against any third
entity and would prefer if the present two are annulled, since they
further divide BiH. Gogic said at the end that Jelavic, in an egocentric
manner, created a state in four hours and betrayed Croats living in the
RS.
Republika Srpska
Special parallel agreement between FRY and the RS before the
Constitutional Court?:
Immediately following the signing of the agreement on special and parallel
relations between the RS and the FRY, the Party for BiH (SBiH) along with
other political parties, will initiate a legal process before the BiH
Constitutional Court claiming that that this agreement in not in
accordance with the BiH Constitution, in particular with provisions
referring to sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH. The SBiH also
said that the RS Constitution foresees that the RS National Assembly can
ratify its agreements with other states or international organizations
with the approval of the BiH Parliament. Thus, according to the Party for
BiH, all bilateral inter-state agreements on important issues should be
discussed between the states and in accordance with the international law.
Oslobodjenje, however, quotes the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch,
as saying that this agreement is not a sign of a revamped Serb
nationalism. In an interview with the Austrian Television ORF, Petritsch
explained that, following his talks with the FRY President, Vojislav
Kostunica, it was agreed that all provisions in the Agreement should be in
accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement.
International community related issues:
Wolfgang Petritsch meets Croat officials in BiH:
The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, met on Monday the President
of the BiH Federation, Karlo Filipovic, the Chairman of the Federation
Parliament's House of Peoples, Ivo Komsic and the Deputy Chairman of the
Federation Parliament's House of Representatives, Ivan Brigic. All
Federation media carried the OHR press release.
Wolfgang Petritsch names a Finnish Judge the Acting Director of the
Independent Judicial Commission:
According to media in the Federation, the High Representative, Wolfgang
Petritsch, named yesterday a Finnish Judge, Kari Kiesilainen, the Acting
Director of the Independent Judicial Commission. OHR spokesman, Oleg
Milisic, told the press that Kiesilainen will remain on that post until a
new director is appointed.
PDHR Ralph Johnson meets the RS Prime Minister:
The Principal Deputy High Representative, Ralph Johnson, met yesterday in
Banja Luka with the RS Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic, and discussed the
present situation in BiH and in the RS. According to media, Johnson
expressed his satisfaction that the RS Government and the National
Assembly are willing to work efficiently on resolving important legal
issues in the entity, and stressed that the OHR will be ready to cooperate
with the entity government and the NA.
International Task Force submits proposals and options on Constitutional
reform:
The International Task Force set up by the High Representative, Wolfgang
Petritsch, to consider amendments to the Entity Constitutions has
submitted yesterday its guidance and options for constitutional reform in
BiH to the Presidents of Constitutional Commissions, as well as to the
Chairman of the entity parliaments.
OHR Banja Luka Head, Georges Bordet: Our aim is not to stay in BiH
forever:
In a short interview with Dnevni Avaz, the newly appointed Head of the OHR
Banja Luka, Georges Bordot, said that it is a responsibility of local
authorities to establish a regulative, judicial, and legal infrastructure
which would direct the country towards a better economic future. "We are
here to help, but the idea is not that the International Community and the
OHR stay in BiH for good," said Bordot, and added that BiH society needs
to voluntarily accept international standards in order to make this
infrastructure work. Bordot warned that the international interest for BiH
is declining, and that diplomatic and financial resources of the IC are
quite limited. "The International Community may find itself in a situation
that a different region attracts its attention. This is why you need to
show results," said Bordot.
Editorials:
Slobodna Dalmacija: The Mostar self-government and Zagreb cynicism
By Josip Jovic
At the time when Croats clearly and loudly expressed their views about the
future of BiH, an entire propagandist mechanism full of condemnation,
humiliation and discrediting was initiated. Unfortunately, this mechanism
cannot make the problem go away, but can only exacerbate it.
Political leaders from Zagreb to Washington and regime media relentlessly
contribute to this campaign. The HTV (Croatian Television), for instance,
has been carrying for days various reactions to the Mostar gathering,
mainly the negative ones. Various statements have been issued by paid
representatives of minor political groups and parties, diplomats,
politicians from Croatia .... All of them are reacting, but nobody is
referring to concrete examples. To claim that the "horrible HDZ", led by
criminals, stands behind the entire action in order to protect its
privileges, is rather stupid and flimsy argument. Stipe Mesic and Ivica
Racan, the Croatian pair with a cox, is a story for itself. They are just
a mere marionettes on long strings of their political sponsors. The Croats
are invited to join the political institutions and engage in a dialog,
although they are practically sacked from the same institutions. This is
an old and a hackneyed attempt to separate political leadership from its
people. The very right to self-government and the orientation of the Croat
people in BiH are disputed by and large by those who dispute the same
right to Croatia. It is no surprise Kosovo or Montenegro are plagued by
the same problem. The International Community, however, does not question
the legitimacy of the Karadzic's Republic, which was brought to existence
not by the will of its people, but by ethnic cleansing and violence.
Jutarnji list: Will Zagreb introduce sanctions against Mostar?
By Sanja Modric
The issue of Herceg-Bosna's type of autonomy, which was proclaimed in an
arbitrary manner by the HDZ BiH, is, in its essence, very simple to be
understood, as was the case of Mirko Norac (retired Croatian general
accused of war crimes committed against Croatian Serbs).
The general was first treated as a (war crime) suspect, than he was
officially indicted, and, now, he will face a trial. Jelavic's "entity"
decided to separate from the rest of BiH.
However, (late Croatian President) Franjo Tudjman is no longer in power,
and the independent and sovereign state of BiH is functioning in
accordance to its Constitution and the Dayton agreement. These documents,
regardless of their contents, have been accepted by legitimate
representatives of BiH peoples and citizens and they included the IC
protectors.
The Herecegovina's "autonomy" does not want to remain a part of this
state, because the HDZ BiH has lost a complete control over the "Croat"
territories since some other BiH Croat political parties have turned to
new allies.
The state of BiH and the International Community should therefore
undertake wise and adequate measures to return Mostar (as a HDZ BiH
bastion), with or without the HDZ BiH, to Dayton, bearing in mind that the
HDZ BiH hard-liners have never fully accepted BiH as their state and
homeland.
Although it seemed that the story about the war-time BiH Croat Republic of
Herceg-Bosna ended, now the reincarnation of the Mate Boban's (HDZ BiH
war-time leader) para-state has to be dismantled.
Croatia has been trying since the last elections to end its financial
support to the wrong HDZ BiH policy sending a clear message to the BiH
Croats that they have to decide their destiny, not in Croatia, but in
their own state, together with other two peoples.
Some among BiH Croats have well understood this message, but the HDZ BiH
has not and will not.
The issue of the Jelavic's "self-rule" is, therefore, not a problem of
Zagreb but of the international community.
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