- BiH/Central institutions:
* BiH Foreign Ministry to investigate abuse of state funds Bosnian
diplomats:
* Dobrinja arbitrator to meet RS Prime Minister:
* Croatian parliament annuls agreement on special relations between
Croatia and BiH Federation:
- Federation:
* Croat National Assembly postpones the establishment of Croat
self-rule in BiH:
* More resignations of Croat officials from jobs in Federation
institutions can be expected:
* More than hundred thousand people expected to gather on Monday in
Mostar:
* Federation Prime Minister meets British officials:
* Federation Prime Minister says removal of parallel institutions a
priority:
* Ministry of Interior of Federation BiH comments consequences of
declaration of Croat self-rule
* On Monday, after the Croat self-government in BiH came into force:
At the prayer meeting in Mostar 100 000 people?
* The removed Croat Member of the B&H Presidency, Ante Jelavic, for
Vecernji List - 'Agreement with Petritsch is still possible' (by J.
Pavkovic)
* Crisis in BiH: Ivo Lozancic was appointed the Deputy Minister of the
Federation Army: The anarchic state of the Army will be stabilized within
one week
* Croat officers reject Deputy Commander of the Federation army:
- Republika Srpska:
* Delegation of the RS Government visited Mrkonjic Grad
* RS Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic comments the latest initiatives of
Croatian Government
* Top war crimes suspect said returned to Bosnia from Yugoslavia
- International Community:
* Head of OSCE visits Gorazde returnees:
* The Hague Tribunal announces beginning of "Keraterm" trial
* Interview: Wolfgang Petritsch - The High Representative of the
international community in BiH: It is too late for Jelavic
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BiH State Institutions-related Issues
BiH Foreign Ministry to investigate abuse of state funds Bosnian
diplomats:
BiH Foreign Ministry has opened an investigation in abuse of funds and
positions of members of BiH diplomatic corps abroad. According to reports
some members of BiH diplomatic corps used state funds to privately
purchase apartments in the countries they were posted. The Ministry has
instructed all its embassies and diplomatic mission to submit a financial
reports and housing credits their employees might have, papers reported.
Dobrinja arbitrator to meet RS Prime Minister:
Oslobodjenje reported that Diarmuid Sheridan Dobrinja I and IV arbitrator
will meet with RS Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic who said that these two
Sarajevo neighborhoods should be divided according to the present
situation. An unnamed source told Oslobodjenje that Sheridan does not want
to discuss the arbitration until he has cleared the things with Ivanic.
"Ivanic's statement has created problems that prolonged the entire
arbitration process," the source said and added that Sheridan will most
probably meet with Ivanic on Monday.
Croatian parliament annuls agreement on special relations between Croatia
and BiH Federation:
Sarajevo papers reported that the Croatian Parliament at its session last
week decided to annul the agreement on special relations between Croatia
and BiH Federation. It was decided that all relations should from now on
be between Croatia and BiH state institutions. At the same meeting
Croatian Parliament said it does not support the decision of Croat
National Assembly in BiH on Croat self-rule, dailies reported.
Federation related issues:
Croat National Assembly postpones the establishment of Croat self-rule in
BiH:
Sarajevo papers reported over the weekend that the Croat National Assembly
at its meeting decided to postpone the establishment of Croat self-rule in
BiH for another two months. The Assembly at a meeting held on Friday
decided to postpone the establishment but Ante Jelavic, dismissed HDZ
President told reporters after the meeting that Croat self-rule is already
functioning. Oslobodjenje reported quoting unnamed sources that Matko
Tokic was named the President of the new Croat government. In addition to
Tokic his deputies all other ministers of the government were named,
papers said.
OHR spokesman, Oleg Milisic told the press that the High Representative
has a wide range of authorities and new actions against Bosnian Croat
officials are not excluded.
"If sanctions are imposed they will not be imposed on the Croat people
but on individuals who are involved in illegal and unconstitutional
politics," Milisic said.
More resignations of Croat officials from jobs in Federation institutions
can be expected:
Federation Defense Minister, Mijo Anic said that more resignations of
Croat officials from their posts in the Federation institutions can be
expected, Dnevni Avaz said. Anic said that eight Croats left their posts
last week and that it is very likely that more Croats will leave their
posts this week.
"We do not want to force anyone to do a job they do not want," Anic told
Dnevni Avaz and added that new people have been elected to replace the
eight officials.
More than hundred thousand people expected to gather on Monday in Mostar:
Sarajevo papers reported that up to a hundred thousand people are expected
to gather in front of the Mostar Cathedral on Monday to celebrate St,
Joseph's Day . The meeting organized by Bishop Ratko Peric even though
announced as a mass is more of a political HDZ meeting intended to test
the support of Croat people to the Croat National Assembly and its goals,
Dnevni Avaz said. Bishop Peric is a well-known hardliner and supporter of
HDZ and is using a religious holiday for political purposes, the daily
said.
Federation Prime Minister meets British officials:
Federation Prime Minister, Alija Behmen met on Sunday in Sarajevo with the
member of British Parliament, Paddy Ashdown and British Ambassador to BiH,
Graham Hand, Oslobodjenje reported. The troika discussed the current
political situation and the effect of latest HDZ policy in the country. It
was concluded that straightening of democracy and economy and protection
of human rights should be the main goals in BiH.
Federation Prime Minister says removal of parallel institutions a
priority:
Federation Prime Minister, Alija Behmen at a meeting of Circle 99 held in
Sarajevo on Sunday said that the priority of his new government will be
the removal of parallel institutions in BiH.
"Because of the existence f parallel institutions BiH is not a serious
partner in for concrete talks about its integration in Europe and we will
try to enable the admission of our country to Council of Europe in the
shortest time possible," Behmen told Circle 99.
Ministry of Interior of Federation BiH comments consequences of
declaration of Croat self-rule
Both, Glas srpski and Nezavisne Novine quote Minister of Interior of
Federation BiH as saying: "There are no problems in the field which could
suggest establishment of Croat self-rule and its negative influence on the
unique police system. The message was sent to Cantonal ministers and to
all organizational units in Federal Ministry by which damage and danger of
possible leaving of posts in the police was pointed out".
On Monday, after the Croat self-government in BiH came into force: At the
prayer meeting in Mostar 100 000 people?
Split daily Slobodna Dalmacija reported that a big prayer meeting in
Mostar, which starts on Monday at 13:00 hours, is expected to gather from
50 000 to 100 000 persons, the organisers say. The Mostar-Duvno Bishop,
Ratko Peric will give a sermon. Apart from the prayer meeting, a gathering
for justice will be held, when political leaders will make use of the
opportunity to send out new messages to the gathered persons and also to
the international community, although their new messages and intentions
are kept in deep secrecy. People in Mostar do not believe that any
intervention of SFOR will happen during the meeting, since it is a prayer
and not a political meeting. However it is quite clear that the
stabilisation forces of the international community will very closely
monitor the events in Mostar on Monday. Various sources hold that SFOR
might use the gathering in Mostar as an excuse for the intervention, and
even the arrest of the removed leader of the HDZ BiH and the Croat
National Assembly (HNS). His close associates say that Jelavic himself is
aware of such a scenario. After the self-government 'discreetly' came into
force, without ceremonies and political pomp, the officials of the HNS
will say that the HNS did not give up its positions but, with the
self-rule starting functioning automatically, they gave to the
international community a new deadline for dialogue (one thing does not
exclude another one). However, it became clear that the outcasts of the
HDZ BiH and HNS decided to start their political struggle in a systematic
way and without any dramatic turns.
Officials:
Dragan Covic, as a coordinator in charge of the negotiations with the
international community, and Miroslav Prce, as a coordinator, are the
members of the special Coordination Body of the Croat Self-rule, led by
Martin Raguz. Rade Bosnjak is in charge of police-related issues,
Nedjeljko Obradovic, who offered his resignation to the new Minister of
Defence, Mijo Anic, is in charge of defence matters.
The removed Croat Member of the B&H Presidency, Ante Jelavic, for Vecernji
List - 'Agreement with Petritsch is still possible' (by J. Pavkovic)
"What is my sin for SFOR to arrest me? It could be an arrest only for the
sake of some political process," stated Ante Jelavic regarding the more
and more frequent announcements that SFOR would arrest him. If that
happens, he explained, the only reason behind it would be a staged
political process.
"The statements accusing me of economic crime have no grounds. In any
case, if I am guilty, let the Prosecution and the police do their jobs,"
Jelavic told the Zagreb daily Vecernji List..
He added that "SFOR have nothing to do with it, it is outside of their
mandate." Jelavic hopes there will be enough common sense not to take any
repressive actions.
"In any case, the dialogue with the International Community has been
resumed and we hope to achieve solutions acceptable to all through that
dialogue," Jelavic stated optimistically.
In answer to the question as to whether Wolfgang Petritsch already issued
an order to the SFOR to arrest Jelavic, as some media have announced, OHR
Spokesperson Oleg Milisic explained that the High Representative does not
have the mandate to do it. Vecernji List reporter asked if Petritsch,
perhaps, suggested to the SFOR to take that action, and Milisic stressed
that SFOR works independently from the Office of the High Representative.
The advocators of the principle of law in the OHR and SFOR think that the
Federation Prosecutor's Office should start legal proceedings against
Jelavic, if he really is guilty of something. They say that even if
Jelavic were to be proven guilty, he should not be picked up with an SFOR
armored personnel carrier.
Crisis in BiH: Ivo Lozancic was appointed the Deputy Minister of the
Federation Army: The anarchic state of the Army will be stabilized within
one week
Zagreb daily Jutarnji List reported that Mijo Anic, the Federal Minister
of Defence, appointed Ivo Lozancic the Deputy Commander of the Federation
Army. Lozancic will take up the post on Monday. However, he has to agree
the takeover with Drgan Curcic who resigned. The New Deputy Commander
stated: 'I believe that we shall stabilize the anarchic state of affairs
in the Army within one week.'
Lozancic stated that within 60 days a full professionalism would be
established within the units. The main condition, which has to be
fulfilled in order to win the HVO support, is to pay out salaries to the
soldiers. The salaries were supposed to arrive last week. Mijo Anic
announced that the payment would start when they start implementing his
decisions in the field. The new Federal Government announced severe
sanctions against all those who do not pay in customs and taxes according
to the valid legal procedure, while the IC Representatives are monitoring
closely the work of the Hercegovacka Bank.
Croat officers reject Deputy Commander of the Federation army:
Bosnian Croat news agency Habena reported on Monday afternoon that
fourteen officers of the Croat component of the FBiH Army do not accept
Ivo Lozancic as the deputy
commander of the Joint Command of the Federation Army, a statement issued
by the Command says.
"Mr Lozancic was appointed the deputy commander in an illegal way, that
is, his appointment was not confirmed by the Croatian member of the BiH
Presidency as the civil commander, so he has no legitimacy to represent
Croatian people." The statement said
" As professional and politically uncommitted soldiers proved in the
Homeland War we express our loyalty only to the legally elected
representatives of our people", the statement points out.
Republika Srpska:
Delegation of the RS Government visited Mrkonjic Grad
Glas srpski reports on the visit of the delegation of the RS Government to
Mrkonjic Grad on Saturday. The Delegation was comprised of the RS Prime
Minister Mladen Ivanic, Deputy Prime Minister Petar Kunic, Minister of
Agriculture Rajko Latinovic, Minister of Industry Pero Bukelovic and
Minister of Traffic and Communications Branko Dokic.
At the joint meeting with the mayors and businessmen of the seven
municipalities of the South-eastern part of the RS, the Prime Minister
Mladen Ivanic was informed about difficult economic situation in this part
of Republika Srpska.
The Government was asked to help resolving problems in forest and
wood-processing complexes. The RS Prime Minister and Minister for
Agriculture promised that passing of new laws on Forestry and
Wood-processing should resolve problems in this field of work.
Apart from that Mayors of the seven municipalities asked the Government to
give a special status to these municipalities in terms of reduction of
taxes and customs fees.
"The fact is, without support of the RS Government, many bordering
municipalities, especially those in the category of extremely
underdeveloped, couldn't exist any longer and their population would have
to move towards more developed areas", Glas srpski concludes.
RS Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic comments the latest initiatives of
Croatian Government
Glas srpski carries statement of the RS Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic to
Srna news agency, in which he comments the latest initiative of Croatian
government.
"By announcing cessation of Special Parallel Relations between Federation
of BiH and Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Government sent out an
indirect message suggesting BiH no longer existed."
While speaking about establishment of Croat self-rule in BiH, Ivanic
reminded that Federation BiH was created on basis of a free will of Croat
and Bosniak peoples.
Top war crimes suspect said returned to Bosnia from Yugoslavia
Former Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic, one of former Yugoslavia's
most wanted war crimes suspects, has fled Yugoslav territory and is now
hiding in eastern Bosnia, Dnevni Avaz daily reported Monday.
Quoting an unnamed source, the daily said that Mladic returned to
eastern Bosnia, Kalinovik and Han Pijesak, after Belgrade "showed it was
not going to protect him any longer."
According to the daily, "Mladic, escorted by his personal guard, moves
from one town to the other every two days ... in early morning or late
evening hours."
Han Pijesak, 30 miles (45 kilometers) northeast of Sarajevo, used to be
a headquarters of the Bosnian Serb army commanded by Mladic during the
1992-95 war in Bosnia.
As Kalinovik, south of Han Pijesak, is his hometown, Mladic "probably
feels safe there," the daily added. w
Mladic is one of the top suspects sought by the International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, along with former
Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and Bosnian Serb civilian leader
Radovan Karadzic.
International Community:
Head of OSCE visits Gorazde returnees:
Oslobodjenje reported on Monday that the head of OSCE Mission to BiH,
Robert Barry visited Serb and Bosniak refugees in Goarzde. Barry, during
the meeting with refugees said that providing jobs and enabling the
education for children of returnees are the priorities in this region. He
also said that the return to Gorazde and the surrounding villages should
be boosted, the daily reported.
The Hague Tribunal announces beginning of "Keraterm" trial
Both RS dailies (Glas srpski briefly and Nezavisne novine at length) carry
announcement from the Hague Tribunal on beginning of trial to former
Commander of "Keraterm" camp Dusko Sikirica and to Damir Dosen and Dragan
Kolundzija (commanders of guards).The two later are accused of murders,
tortures and beating up of Bosniaks and Croats in 1992. as well as of
crimes against humanity and violation of rules and customs of war.
Dusko Sikiricais accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and
violation of rules and customs of war.
They all pleaded not guilty.
Interview: Wolfgang Petritsch - The High Representative of the
international community in BiH: It is too late for Jelavic
"He had his chance for many times. I was criticised by the international
community for so many times, but also by some Croats because I was late
with the decisions, which have been made now. I am sorry, however, the
time of Jelavic, as a politician, has passed definitely. I removed Jelavic
because he violated the laws of a state, which he was supposed to protect,
in line with his position. If it were up to him, we would have a total
anarchy!" Petritsch told Slobodna Dalmacija in an interview.
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