HDZ-related News Wolfgang Petritsch removes Ante Jelavic and his three party colleagues from all elected and party functions; Wolfgang Petritsch says Jelavic is not a politician Croats need; US supports the dismissal of Jelavic; European Commission supports decision of Wolfgang Petritsch to remove HDZ officials; Dismissed officials, Luzanski and Tokic, say they will not comply with Petritsch's decision; Marko Tokic condemns Petritsch's decision; Jelavic's advisor says dismissals are a sign of impotence of the International Community; Croat Demo-Christians express support to dismissed HDZ officials; Aide to the Serb member of the Presidency says decision will just exacerbate political crisis in BiH; Political parties in BiH support Petritsch's decision; Croatian Prime Minister, Ivica Racan, says Croatia was afraid of similar development; Reactions of deputies in the Croatian Parliament; Senior Croatian official proposes a new plan for BiH; Croatian government preparing solutions for crisis in BiH?; OHR Stiglmayer says International Community will undertake further measures; Editorial Slobodna Dalmacija: The Hypocrisy of Zagreb government; HDZ-related News: Wolfgang Petritsch removes Ante Jelavic and his three party colleagues from all elected and party functions: Naturally, the news that the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, removed Ante Jelavic (Croat member of the BiH Presidency, and the president of the HDZ and the Croat National Assembly) and his two senior party colleagues, Marko Tokic and Zdravko Batinic from all elected and party functions and barred them from further political and party engagement was the top story in all Federation and most Croatian media. During a late press conference on Wednesday, Petritsch announced that he also removed Ivo Andric Luzanski as a delegate in the BiH Parliament's House of Representatives. Explaining his decision, Petritsch said that Jelavic and his colleagues acted irresponsibly towards their voters and forced the HDZ to withdraw from political institutions and violate the Constitutional order in BiH. At the end, the High Representative explained that Jelavic rejected all his attempts to establish a constructive dialogue, and that his actions led him to believe that Jelavic is not concerned with the well-being of the Croat people. Jelavic's dismissal was the top story not only in the BiH and Croat media, but was also given a substantial coverage in reports of most foreign news agencies (Reuters, AFP, Associated Press) and dailies filing from BiH (The Financial Times). Meanwhile, Sarajevo Oslobodjenje reports that the leadership of the HDZ met last nigh in Sarajevo restaurant La Famiglia to discuss further steps. Wolfgang Petritsch says Jelavic is not a politician Croats need: In an interview with the central news program on the HTV (Croatian Television), the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, said that Ante Jelavic and his party brought into question the functioning of the legal state in BiH by proclaiming a sort of a third entity in the country. Explaining his decision to remove Jelavic and his closest party colleagues from public functions, Petritsch said that Jelavic started an irresponsible attempt of revamping the Herceg-Bosna in order to meet the interests of few officials in his party. He stressed that such behavior could no longer be tolerated. Petritsch stressed that Croats are needed in BiH, and that he wants them to actively participate in process of improving social and economic circumstances in BiH. "I want them to feel good and to prosper in the homeland they have been living in for centuries," said Petritsch, and added that he will not allow a few individuals to get rich, while common people are being neglected. The HR also stressed that the Croats in BiH need politicians who are genuinely interested in their well-being and who will respect the law, legal institutions and international treaties. "Mr. Jelavic showed that he is not one of them," said Petritsch, adding that individuals like Jelavic do not want legal state and economic prosperity for everyone. He also said that there will be no economic or any other sanctions against the Croat people in BiH. US supports dismissal of Jelavic: Shortly following the announcement of Jelavic's dismissal, the US Embassy in Sarajevo and the US State department issued their statements of support to the move of the High Representative. "Mr. Jelavic and others in the HDZ have taken actions that are anti-Dayton and would result in marginalization of the Croat people in BiH in order to protect their own interests," read the US Embassy press release. US State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, said in his statement for the press that the US joins the International Community in supporting the decision of the High Representative who has the authority to remove any official who obstructs the implementation of the DPA and violates the Constitution of BiH. Boucher stressed that Petritsch's decision is appropriate response to extra-constitutional actions taken by Jelavic and his party colleagues. European Commission supports decision of Wolfgang Petritsch: The European Commission fully supports the removal of Ante Jelavic, the EC said in a statement issued on Thursday. "The European Commission Delegation firmly believes that Mr. Jelavic and his associates have repeatedly tried to misrepresent the interests of Bosnian Croats by using manipulation aimed at creating a feeling of instability and fear in the population," the statement said. Jelavic and his allies "are leading Bosnian Croats into isolation," it added, saying that "the international community cannot allow such actions, which clearly damage the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement". Dismissed officials, Luzanski and Tokic, say they will not respect Petritsch's decision: In a statement for Onasa news agency, Ivo Andric Luzanski said that he was not surprised by the decision of the High Representative. "Petritsch's decision did not take me by surprise, it did not make me angry or disappointed me, and he should know that we will not comply with such a decision," said Luzanski, and refused to comment on the possible further action of the dismissed HDZ officials. In a short interview with Oslobodjenje, Marko Tokic, the removed president of the so-called Croat autonomy in BiH, said that he is "quite satisfied" (!?) with Petritsch's decision, and added that this move of the HR yet another in "the series of unacceptable and totalitarian rulings". He also said that Wolfgang Petritsch and his colleagues did not find appropriate answers to requests of the Croat National Assembly. "Instead of answers, we were faced by unfounded pressure and political harassment," said Tokic, and stressed that he is not sure whether officials of the International Community will get support from democratic countries they represent here. Tokic also said that Petritsch's decision will in no way influence his further political engagement. Marko Tokic condemns Petritsch's decision: In an interview with the Croat Radio Herceg-Bosna, Marko Tokic, said that his removal was "undemocratic act of those who want to lead us to democracy through a dictatorship". Asked to comment on the current position of the "Croatian self-government" in the Croat majority regions, which was established by the Croatian National Assembly, Tokic said that Petritsch's decision only strengthens the Croatian self-rule, which will start realizing its goals as early as Monday. He also called upon the Croats to stay calm. "The Croat people have to keep their peace and dignity and it will have firm guarantees from its political leadership that it will justify decisions passed at the Croat National Assembly," said Tokic. Herceg-Bosna radio reported that the CNA is to establish an executive council and the government of the interim self-rule. Jelavic's advisor says dismissals are a sign of impotence of the International Community: In an interview with the Croat Radio Herceg-Bosna, Tihomir Begic, the Aide of the, now former, member of the BiH Presidency, Ante Jelavic, said that the dismissals of the senior HDZ official and Jelavic are just a sign of impotence of the International Community. Following is the transcript of the interview. HB: Commenting the last night's decision of High Representative in B&H Wolfgang Petritsch on replacement of the member of the Presidency of B&H Ante Jelavic and another three senior officials of HDZ BiH, Tihomir Begic, the advisor of the replaced president Jelavic, stated the following today: Tihomir Begic: I can say that with the replacement of the Presidency member from the lines of the Croat people Ante Jelavic, the last legal and legitimate representative of the Croat people, democratically elected by the political will of that constitutive people in B&H was replaced. And about the decision of the High Representative on the elimination of the Croat presidency member Ante Jelavic and the three leaders of the temporary Croat self-rule in B&H, just to remind it is Mr. Tokic, Mr. Luzanski and Mr. Batinic, I would say that it is the best proof of the impotence of the current IC in B&H to implement DPA justly and in accordance with the Constitutions. I would also say that it is the proof that the people from the IC, with their unprincipled moves, brought themselves in a situation to, without any valid arguments, by using methods similar to the methods of some totalitarian systems, de-class people and eliminate them from the political life, and which is the worst, they are taking away from them the fundamental human rights, which is to elect and be elected. HR: Do you have the information, how many officials up until now have been replaced by the IC? Tihomir Begic: You can get this information at the Public Information Office of the HDZ BiH, however, this statement I am giving is in the capacity of the Advisor of the B&H Presidency member. In any case, this number is high, even containing three digits, however I have to say that all this seems sad, to be happening in the heart of the democratic world, I would also add the hypocritical world, however, if the HR thinks that by these replacements he has resolved the political crisis in B&H and led this country towards progress, then I have to reply negatively to this and say that he is actually wrong. Because the Croat people in B&H, and that will be shown very soon, will never, nor can they, accept that anyone from the IC changes Dayton, breeches the Constitutions of B&H and the Federation and all that always one-sidedly and at the expense of the Croat people in B&H. HB: Mr. Begic, tell me what will be the reactions of HDZ? Tihomir Begic: I can only say that the Decision of the HR will only additionally homogenize the Croats in B&H and it will homogenize them in their just fight for the establishment of the whole and democratic B&H, in which rights for all of its constituent peoples will be standardized and in which those people and citizens will be absolutely equal and in the same position, the actual and institutional. In this moment I can say that the only light in B&H dark is the yesterday's proposal of Mr. Drazen Budisa that B&H is re-organized as a federal republic with no entities and some ideas are heard that the new international conference should be convened in B&H, which for this region is more needed now than ever, if the wish for it is to be truly stabile. Co-signatories of the DPA have special responsibilities in the establishment of stabile B&H, and in that context certain proposals are expected. I can say that this decision, as I have the information from the HNS, will only speed up the decisions of the HNS, so that these decisions become reality as soon as possible. So, the HNS will stick to their decisions, i.e. wait for the 15 day deadline to expire, and then we will have the proclamation of the self-rule, not the temporary as we have now, but the real self-rule in B&H. HB: Mr. Begic, if Mr. Jelavic has been replaced as the B&H Presidency member, who will replace him? Tihomir Begic: Now this is a new process, it is similar to what happened with the Bosniak member of the Presidency, when Mr. Izetbegovic left the Presidency. It is expected, according to the Law, that Mr. Jelavic is to be replaced by a member of the House of Representatives, by a person from the same nation as Mr. Jelavic was from, that is the member of the Croat people. Croat Demo-Christians express support to dismissed HDZ officials: Department of the Victims of the Homeland War within the Croat Demo- Christians issued their letter of support to the dismissed HDZ officials, Ante Jelavic, Marko Tokic, Ivo Andric Luzanski, and Zdravko Batinic. "Jelavic, Tokic, Luzanski and Batinic, and all other Croat officials who have been dismissed thus far, have been elected by the will of majority of the Croat people, and not through elections engineering, and this decision of the Croat people should be respected," read the statement. Demo-Christians also said that opinions of certain international officials are not relevant, and that they cannot decide what is good for the Croat people. "Gentlemen from the International Community, perhaps this situation can serve you to justify your high salaries," read the statement. Demo-Christians said at the end that the Croat people will be the one to decide on their future and will eventually reach "the institutionalized freedom". Aide to Serb member of the Presidency says decision will exacerbate political crisis in BiH joint institutions: An Aide to the Serb member of the BiH presidency, Zeljko Samardzija, said that Petritsch's decision will just exacerbate political crisis in the BiH joint institutions. He said the crisis which started in the BiH Council of Ministers transferred to the Presidency, which now, de facto, has only one genuine member - Zivko Radisic. Samardzija stressed that this institution will not be able to make any important decisions until the other two members are elected. Political parties in BiH support Petritsch's decision: Several political parties in BiH promptly expressed their support for the decision of the High Representative to remove Ante Jelavic and his three party colleagues. Ilija Simic of the HSS (Croat Peasant Party) said that he is saddened by this move, but stressed that Wolfgang Petritsch did not have any more choice in this matter, since decisions of the Croat National Assembly were directly violating the BiH Constitution. Kresimir Zubak of the NHI (New Croat Initiative) marked the dismissal as justified, logical and expected. "I am not surprised by the decision, but by the fact that Ante Jelavic did not change his behavior and harmonized his moves with the DPA," said Zubak, and stressed that he does not expect any major problems to follow. "It will be like the (Nikola) Poplasen case (removed RS President) - it will be the focus of attention for a while, but then it will go away," said Zubak. Safet Halilovic of the Party for BiH said that the International Community and the HR made a right move. "It is only questionable why they waited for so long with it," said Halilovic, and added that actions of the dismissed HDZ officials were anti-Dayton and illegal. "This is a political adventure which was bound to end this way," said Halilovic and explained that this move will allow for the real protection of interests of all peoples in BiH. Safik Dzaferovic of the SDA also said that HR's decision was expected after the Croat National Assembly proclaimed the self-rule on Saturday. Dzaferovic expressed support for the removal of Jelavic, but added that, unfortunately, this decision will not resolve the current situation in the country. Croatian Prime Minister, Ivica Racan, says Croatia was afraid of similar development: Croatian Prime Minister, Ivica Racan, told the journalist yesterday that he was afraid of such developments and stressed that the Croatian government will put in extra effort to resolve the present crisis in BiH. "We warned the HDZ leadership to shy away from radicalism and hasty decisions, said Racan, and concluded with resignation that the outcome is well-known. Racan also stressed that Croatia is not willing to arbitrate in the matters of BiH. The President of the Croatian Parliament, Zlatko Tomcic, reiterated the attitude of the Croatian Prime Minister and added the Republic's government will try to reach more permanent solutions which would genuinely protect the interests of the Croat people in BiH. His deputy, Zdravko Tomac, said he expected strong reaction of the High Representative but stressed that the Croat people in BiH needed to be protected from leaders and decisions which are not viable. "Thanks to the talks we had, the reaction of the IC affected only the top organizers (of the Croat national Assembly), and did not touch the Croat people in BiH," said Tomac and added that he is happy that the IC gave up the idea of penalizing the people with economic sanctions. Speaking for the Sarajevo independent radio Studio 99, the president of the Association of Journalists, Drago Pilsner, said that the Croatian government was, despite the public statements of its officials, relatively taken by the decision of the High Representative. He said that the International Community did not leave enough time for Croatian officials to come up with a compromise or a viable plan which would end the crisis in BiH. He did not clarify the possible plan further, but Croatian media speculated or implied yesterday that this plan would most likely include a proposal (already made public by HSLS president, Drazen Budica) of cantonization of BiH. Racan did not confirm (or deny) this, but said that Croatia has a vision for the solution of the problem in BiH, but did not want to comment any further. Reactions of deputies in the Croatian Parliament: Representatives of political parties and deputies in the Croatian Parliament commented yesterday the decision of the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch to remove Ante Jelavic and his three party colleagues from all public functions. Dorica Nikolic of the HSLS (Croat Socialist Liberal Party) said that the dismissal was expected, but is will not be good for the situation in BiH. "They should have taken a path of dialogue," said Nikolic. Milan Kovacevic of the HDZ said that Ante Jelavic could be dismissed only by those who elected him - the Croat people. "Everything else is an improvisation, which will not resolve the problem which was caused by the creation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the BiH Constitution by the International Community. Ante Capic of the HSP (Croat Party of Right) said that the removal of Jelavic is expected and is a clear sign that the International Community does not respect the electoral will of Croat people in BiH and the will of the Croat National Assembly. Capic added that he believes that such decisions are not a way to resolve the political crisis in BiH. "This political harassment of Croat people in BiH cannot end well," said Capic, strongly condemning the decision of the HR. "The HR does not want to admit that he makes mistakes, and his move just shows that he is not up to his task," said Capic, and added that he hopes that the Croat people will engage in a democratic and peaceful struggle to obtain its right to sovereign and constituent status in the country. Zlatko Kramaric of the Liberal Party (LS) stressed that Petrtisch's decision is a logical move of the International Community, and that Jelavic himself provoked such reaction. He said that the situation is too emotionally loaded at the moment and should be eased. Kramaric added that this dismissal should not affect Croat people in BiH, and it is important to make a distinction between politicians and the people. He concluded that Croats should be allowed to elect their new representatives without any pressure or impositions. Damir Kajic of the IDS (Istrian Democratic Union) said that this Petritsch's decision came as no surprise to anyone, and that the events of the past fifteen days were provoked by individuals who still believed that it is 1992 and that Herzeg-Bosna could actually exist. Anto Kovacevic of the HKDU (Croatian Christian Democratic Union) said that the International Community could remove Ante Jelavic but not the Croat people who clearly said what kind of BiH they want. Kovacevic also accused the IC of leading a politics of double standards in BiH. "The International Community is guilty because BiH is divided in two. Without the cantonization and the annulment of the RS, there will be no peace in BiH. Senior Croatian official proposes a new plan for BiH: In an interview with Zagreb's weekly, Globus, the president of the HSLS (Croatian Socialist Liberal Party), Drazen Budisa, proposed a new plan of internal structure in BiH. He said that the constitutions of the Federation and the RS should be abrogated, and that BiH should be made up of 12 to 14 cantons. According to Budisa, the new state should have a two chamber Parliament, while the House of Peoples would ensure the national equality of all peoples. Finally, he said, certain cantons would not be allowed to establish special and parallel relations with the neighboring states. Budisa also criticized the present Croatian policy towards BiH saying that it should be more active. According to Slobodna Dalmacija, the Croatian Prime Minister, Ivica Racan, could not explicitly confirm that in the meeting of the Six, this plan has been discussed, and refused to provide any further comment. He stressed that all issues and plans should be discussed with partners in the International Community. Deputy President of the Croatian Parliament, Zoran Tomac, told Slobodna Dalmacija that he agrees with Budisa's plan. Croatian government preparing solutions for crisis in BiH?; According to Vecernji List, the Croatian Prime Minister, Ivica Racan, talked with the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, late Wednesday, and discussed the present situation in BiH. The daily wrote that, during the conversation, Racan proposed to Petritsch some new solutions of the situation in the country, but within the framework of the Dayton peace Agreement. The same report indicates that the idea to organize a new international conference on BiH is being seriously considered by the International Community, which may adopt several other Croatian initiatives as well. OHR Stiglmayer says International Community will undertake further measures: "The international community in BiH will undertake further measures if the HDZ BiH continues implementing decisions of the Croat National Assembly pertaining to the establishment of the Croat self-rule", said Alexandra Stiglmayer, spokesperson of the OHR today. Conveying the views of the High Representative, Stiglmayer said that Jelavic belongs to the same political school of the old-fashion Balkans politicians, the likes of Slobodan Milosevic. The OHR also expects the HDZ to give up the project of the Croat self-rule and believes that the leaders of the HDZ will not be crazy enough to go on with that project. Editorials Slobodna Dalmacija: Zagreb hypocrisy By Petar Milos After the DPA was signed I was given a journalist task to make an interview with Vladimir Soljic, the President of the BiH Federation. After we had greeted warmly, Vlado got serious all of a sudden and asked me worriedly: 'For God's sake Petar, what is going to happen with us?' His question hides all the drama of the Croat people during the last few years. And all the Croats are posing the same question even now, after the decision on the Croat self-government was passed at the Croat People's Assembly. The Croats in BiH remained alone after everything that had happened. It is unknown when they felt worse: during the time of the Tudjman's Authority in Zagreb when they were giving them unrealistic promises or now when the Croatian Authority almost gave them up, leaving them to the IC, with the famous Mesic's recommendation given to Petrisch to press them as much as possible. The new Croatian Authority announced that Zagreb will not create politics on behalf of Mostar and that they particularly will not allow that Mostar rules over Zagreb. However, does Zagreb really behave in this way? It is true that Croatia deprived the most influenced BiH Croat political representatives from its assistance, and that it has almost suspended all political connections and relations with them. But it is still, to a large extent, trying to influence their politics, this time not in Mostar, but in Sarajevo. At the eve of the elections, they (new Croatian political leaders) used to go there to make agreements, to lobby for certain parties and people and agitate against those that they did not like. The Croat people recognized such the politics as hypocritical, and the majority of them therefore voted for the HDZ without some obvious reasons to do that. Now, the new Croatian leadership is sending a message from Zagreb to BiH that all problems should be solved through a dialogue without taking some radical measures. The question how they did not succeed to establish the dialogue with Mostar during one year and a few months of their rule remains open. And how they did establish the dialogue with Montenegro and Serbia, Banja Luka and Sarajevo? Consequences of such a politics are now coming back as a boomerang. Once again no one wants to speak with legally elected Croat representatives in BiH. Moreover, High Representative Petritsch, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Robert Barry, SDPBiH leader Zlatko Lagumdzija and Zagreb are making agreements on the sanctions to BiH Croats. It seems that they still do not know what will happen with us. Racan hopes that only the HDZ leaders will be punished, and not the people, who should not suffer consequences of the sanctions.

The BiH Media Round-up is being compiled primarily for the OHR's internal purposes under time pressure. Please disregard grammar and typing mistakes. The mentioned media reports do not reflect OHR views, and the OHR does not take responsibility for them.

OHR BiH Media Round-up