- BiH/Central institutions:
- Germany and BiH initiate an Agreement on Mutual Protection of
Investments
- BiH: Martin Raguz, the new leader of BiH Croats
- Federation:
- Croat left police in Mostar:
- In his meeting with Mostar leaders, the Director of the World Bank
for Southeast Europe claims: The World Bank will keep assisting the
development of Mostar
- In front of the barracks of the HVO Motorised Guardian Brigade
'Hawks' in Busovaca: A peaceful protest rally today at 10:00 hours
- Vitez: Central Bosnia Canton Governor Rudo Vidovic about the reasons
and consequences of the failure to appoint the new Cantonal Government
after as much as five months - There will be no donations before executive
authorities are formed
- Antun Mrkonjic, Minister Anic's Assistant: "The situation within the
Army getting better and better"
- The Croat self-rule Coordination in Posavina
- HNS against Anic's call to demobilized soldiers to come back:
- RS:
- RS Refugees and Displaced Persons Ministry to open an office in
Sarajevo:
- RS Government Held Session
- RS National Assembly Session on April 10-11.
- Commission for Constitutional Issues of the RS National Assembly
held a meeting
- Milorad Dodik accuses Alija Izetbegovic
- International community:
- The High Representative extends deadline on state-owned property:
- World Bank Executive Director meets BiH officials:
- The High Representative names the Director of Independent Judiciary
Commission:
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BiH/Central institutions related issues:
Germany and BiH initiate an Agreement on Mutual Protection of Investments
Representatives of German and BiH Foreign Ministries have initiated the
Agreement on mutual protection of investments, all Sarajevo media
reported. The agreement was initiated during the official two-day visit of
BiH Foreign Minister, Zlatko Lagumdzija to Germany and it is expected that
the agreement will be verified and officially signed soon. During his
visit Lagumdzija met with German Foreign and Defense Ministers and the
representatives of Volkswagen, media said.
BiH: Martin Raguz, the new leader of BiH Croats
The representatives of the international community in BiH are ready to
support the election of Martin Raguz as the new leader of Croats in BiH,
Nacional found out from well-informed diplomatic sources in Sarajevo. In
the BiH capital they believe that he could be a co-operative and tolerant
interlocutor in the future negotiations between the BiH Croats and the
international community. Because of that, they have even asked the
official authorities in Zagreb to co-operate with and favour Martin Raguz,
currently the Co-ordinator of the Croat self-rule in BiH, so that they
could directly help him strengthen his position in the HDZ top leadership.
In Sarajevo, Raguz is considered to be the representative of the moderate
faction of the HDZ. In Sarajevo, they believe that he, who gets the most
credit for the fact that the HDZ BiH leadership agreed to give the 60-day
deadline in order to reach a compromise on Croat requests, with the
support of the most powerful Herzegovinian entrepreneurs who turned their
back on HDZ fundamentalists, could get a support of Croats in BiH and
start implementing a more tolerant policy. In that way he could
politically eliminate the HDZ radicals and extremists, which, according to
the analyses of the representatives of the international community, are
led by Ante Jelavic and generals Sopta and Ljubo Cesic Rojs. Although
Croatia is trying to stay as far away as possible from the events in BiH,
in the official circles in Zagreb, it is also perceived that the arrival
of new politicians, and one of them in Martin Raguz, could significantly
improve the position of Croats in BiH and make easier the possibility of
reaching an agreement.
Federation related issues:
Croat left police in Mostar:
"Croats left police in Mostar," Dnevni Avaz front page on Wednesday
reported. Herzegovina-Neretva canton Interior Minister, Dragan Mandic and
20 other Croat police officials said they support the Croat National
Assembly and do not recognize the Federation Interior Ministry as their
authority. Oslobodjenje also reports on the split in police quoting Mandic
as saying that they will continue to carry out their duties professionally
and cooperate in preventing crime.
IPTF Commissioner, Vincent Courderoy after meeting with the Federation
Interior Ministry officials said that those police officials who support
the unconstitutional concept of Croat self-rule will be punished.
In his meeting with Mostar leaders, the Director of the World Bank for
Southeast Europe claims: The World Bank will keep assisting the
development of Mostar
Split daily Slobodna Dalmacija reported that Neven Tomic, the Mostar
Mayor, and Hamdija Jahic, the Mostar Deputy Mayor, met with Joseph
Portman, the Director of the World Bank for Southeast Europe. They talked
about the project of water distribution for the City of Mostar and the
reconstruction of the Old Bridge, the two projects that the World Bank is
financing at the moment.
In his press statement, Portman refused to talk about the request of the
Mostar HDZ Board for the replacement of Neven Tomic. He explained that he
did not come to Mostar to talk about politics but about concrete ways of
providing the assistance for the economic progress of all Mostar citizens.
In front of the barracks of the HVO Motorised Guardian Brigade 'Hawks' in
Busovaca: A peaceful protest rally today at 10:00 hours
The Central Bosnia Headquarters for the Protection of Identity and Croat
National Interests announced a peaceful protect rally in front of the
barracks of the HVO Third Motorised Guardian Brigade, Slobodna Dalmacija
reported. At the rally, they will, among other things, call on all those
who joined the Alliance to return to their Croat people.
Franjo Matkovic, a member of the HQ Presidency and President of HVIDRA in
Central Bosnia said that he is sure "that the SFOR will not take anyone's
side and that they will not prevent us from holding our peaceful protest.'
He also accused the international community for the deteriorated political
and security situation in BiH.
He also added: 'Their unreasonable moves are the reason of the disastrous
situation in this country. By this protest rally we want to warn the BiH
and international public of these problems, of obvious failures of some
international community officials.'
Vitez: Central Bosnia Canton Governor Rudo Vidovic about the reasons and
consequences of the failure to appoint the new Cantonal Government after
as much as five months - There will be no donations before executive
authorities are formed
Slobodna Dalmacija reported that the representatives of the Cantonal
Assembly were on Saturday supposed to verify the Government seat
allocation proposed by Governor Rudo Vidovic and his Deputy the day
before. However, the Vice Governor withdrew the proposal at the session,
explaining his action by an insufficient co-ordination within the
parliamentary parties that participate in the authority.
Governor Vidovic stated the "appetites" of the Alliance keep growing and
they are demanding nine mandates in the executive authorities, in addition
to the leading positions in the legislative authorities.
"We would not reject a conversation about any proposal or any possible
option. We are also prepared to make concessions when it comes to the
legislative authorities, but as a condition for it we request the
inauguration of the executive authorities," stated Governor Vidovic.
He added that he expected a greater and more decisive engagement from the
international community on resolving this burning issue in the Canton.
Vidovic says that the situation reflects negatively on the general
atmosphere in the Canton.
"One can feel a slackening in the work of individual cantonal officials
who know they are leaving, strikes become more and more numerous, even the
education workers and policemen have announced strikes, the filling of the
budget has been reduced... All these occurrences threaten to deteriorate
additionally what is already an alarming political and security situation
in our Canton and the BiH Federation in general," stated Vidovic.
Vidovic commented on an article published in Oslobodjenje, which said that
"we want that the official name of the Uskoplje municipality be
'Uskoplje-Gornji Vakuf' and all problems will be solved," and that the HDZ
Cantonal Board supported the idea.
"When it comes to the functioning of Uskoplje and the future structure of
the municipality, all the competencies have been taken over by the
competent local political leadership. Therefore, there has been no talk
about this issue at the cantonal level.
Besides, the OHR representative Ulrich Bucher was tasked a few months ago
to solve this issue, and he intensified the talks with the representatives
of Uskoplje and Gornji Vakuf and also he engaged all the relevant persons
from all realms in those talks.
According to the information I have, there have been certain positive
steps towards a final solution of this issue and therefore I am surprised
and wonder why anyone would launch such misinformation that causes
disturbance among our citizens," says Vidovic.
Antun Mrkonjic, Minister Anic's Assistant: "The situation within the Army
getting better and better"
"The situation within the BiH Federation Army has considerably changed for
the better over the last several days. When I say this, I have arguments
for that: first of all, the situation in Bosanska Posavina in the 4th
Division, i.e. the 4th Guardian Brigade has stabilised. The situation is
close to normal and the Army starts to function in an almost normal way",
Antun Mrkonjic, Press Assistant to Mijo Anic, the BiH Federation Minister
of Defense commented for Zagreb daily Vecernji list.
The Croat self-rule Coordination in Posavina
Vecernji List reported that on Wednesday, the Croat self-rule Coordination
delegation, which consisted of distinguished Croat officials led by the
former BiH Presidency member Ante Jelavic, visited the Posavina Canton.
During their stay in the farthest in the North canton of the Federation,
they visited Odzak, Orasje and Domaljevac.
In the meeting of the Coordination with the highest officials of the
Posavina Canton, the current security and political situation in the
Posavina Canton, but in all the other Croat-majority Cantons too, was
discussed.
HNS against Anic's call to demobilized soldiers to come back:
Sarajevo-based Onasa news agency reported on Wednesday that the Croat
National Assembly (HNS) opposed on Tuesday the public call by BiH
Federation Minister Mijo Anic informing the soldiers of the Croat
component of BiH Federation Army, demobilized after January 31, as
well as the soldiers retired pursuant to the decision of the dismissed
BiH Presidency member Ante Jelavic, that they are obliged to report to the
commanders of the closest barracks.
Such a call by Anic, as the HNS states in a press release, is
illegitimate
and "testifies to all his disorientation and arrogance."
Croat component of the BiH Federation Army, based on the
decision of
Brussels declaration of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) and
decisions of
the BiH Presidency members, has, by January 31 and completely
within the
framework of the existing legislation, reduced the number of troops by
15%. In
doing so, it called for measures to be taken to provide for demobilized
soldiers
and to respond to their needs by creating new jobs. Talks were conducted
on that
subject with the World Bank (WB) representatives, the HNS statement
specifies.
The HNS further adds that very shortly the urgent implementation of
the test
project of the WB of providing the demobilized soldiers with new jobs
is to
start.
"However, with his move, Mijo Anic jeopardizes all that, and we
can only
guess where the funds will be redirected. We are positive that they will
not be
used by demobilized soldiers of the Croat Defense Council (HVO), whom Anic
calls
on to man the vacated and abandoned barracks", the HNS press release
read.
RS related issues:
RS Refugees and Displaced Persons Ministry to open an office in Sarajevo:
RS Refugees and Displaced Persons Ministry has announced that it will on
April 9th open its office in Sarajevo.
"With this the Ministry want to help people who are asking for the return
of their property or want to return the Federation," Mico Micic, RS
Minister of Refugees told the press.
Micic said that his ministry plans to open similar offices in Mostar,
Tuzla and Drvar, Dnevni Avaz reported.
RS Government Held Session
Both RS dailies report on the session of the RS Government which was held
in Banja Luka yesterday. As stated by the aid for economic issues to the
RS Prime Minister Milica Bisic the Government confirmed the proposed law
on changes and amendments to the Law on Excise. Adoption of this Law is a
pre-condition for extension of stand-by arrangement with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF).
Emphasizing that the RS Government has to harmonize sales tax rates and
excise with the BiH Federation, Bisic said that the proposed act defined
two tax rates - the lowest of 8% for taxing services and the highest of
18% .
RS National Assembly Session on April 10-11.
Glas srpski writes that the 4th RS National Assembly session which will be
held on April 10&11, as announced after consultative meeting of the RS
National Assembly' leadership and heads of deputy's caucuses.
Discussion on about 30 items of agenda is foreseen.
Commission for Constitutional Issues of the RS National Assembly held a
meeting
Glas srpski reports on yesterday's session of the Constitutional
Commission at the RS National Assembly, at which use of official language
and alphabet in Republika Srpska couldn't be agreed upon.
According to Miroslav Mikes, President of the Commission, the HR would
have to arbitrate on this issue since the commission failed to agree.
The Commission hasn't either taken a final position on the RS
Constitution, in terms of existence of the preamble on constituent peoples
in the RS. If decided that the preamble should exist it would read that
"Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks and others are constituent peoples in the RS"
an din that case Article 1 of the RS Constitution would read "RS is an
entity within BiH". This line would remain if the preamble did exist.
Bosniaks and Croats insist that there should be paragraph 2 of this
Article suggesting that "authorities belong to Serbs, Bosniaks and
Croats".
This means that if there is a preamble it would state that Serbs, Bosniaks
and Croats are constituent peoples in the RS. If decided to go ahead
without the preamble, Croats and Bosniaks insist that there is a
paragraph 2 of the Article 1 of the RS Constitution which would state that
they, together with Serbs, are constituent peoples.
Milorad Dodik accusses Alija Izetbegovic:
Nezavisne Novine reported on Wednesday that Milorad Dodik, the President
of Independent Social Democrats, yesterday stated that the arrest of the
former Yugoslav President, Slobodan Milosevic, for misuse of official
position "represents a first step towards Milosevic's departure to The
Hague".
At the press conference, Dodik said that: "The only manner, in which he
can defend from accusations and charges by The Hague Tribunal and remove
the anathema from the Serb nation, is to go to The Hague."
He is also of the view that the Serbian judiciary now has a chance of
"gaining international verification" and trying Milosevic upon indictment,
brought against him by The Hague Tribunal.
Dodik also said that the conditions were provided to try all those
responsible for war crimes committed in former Yugoslavia before The Hague
Tribunal.
The SNSD President emphaised that: "Now, when Milsoevic is in prison,
Alija Izetbegovic, the Bosnic war-time leader, should also face the same
destiny. The responsibility of the former Croatian President, Franjo
Tudjman, should also be posthumously processed by The Hague Tribunal."
He also added that Izetbegovic was responsible that the war in BiH had
begun, expressing his readiness to testify before The Hague Tribunal on
responsibility of the Bosnic leader for the beginning of war conflicts in
BiH.
Dodik detailed that: "As being the youngest delegate of reform forces at
the BiH Parliament, I myself did hear Izetbegovic saying that he would
sacrifice the peace in Bosnia for the creation of Bosnia, which he wanted.
Apart from this, he refused the plan of Cutiliero on resolvement of
crisis, which Serbs had already accepted."
The former RS Premier also said that his government had submitted an
extensive documentation to The Hague Tribunal, proving that war crimes
against Serbs had been committed during the war in BiH. And this has
provided presumptions for charges being brought against Bosniac military
and political leaders.
International community related issues:
The High Representative extends deadline on state-owned property:
The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch has extended the deadline of
his decision on suspension of distribution of state-owned property,
Sarajevo papers reported. Municipal authorities in both entities cannot
hand out state-owned property till July 31st next year, Alexandra
Stiglmayer, head of OHR PA told a news conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday.
The deadline was extended in order to enable the pre-war owners to return
to their property and to prevent the distribution and sale of state-owned
property to those who were using it temporarily, Stiglmayer said.
Till July municipal authorities can hand out property only with the OHR
authorization, she added.
World Bank Executive Director meets BiH officials:
The World Bank Executive Director Peiter Stek met with Chairman of BiH
Council of Ministers, Bozidar Matic and entity Prime Ministers, Alija
Behmen and Mladen Ivanic in Sarajevo on Tuesday, Sarajevo papers reported.
After the meeting Stek said that he is encouraged by the intentions of the
new government and that he believes that BiH will be a country where
conditions will be set for domestic and foreign businessmen to invest.
"The World Bank will be happy to contribute to the establishment of such
an environment," Stek told the press.
Study on Corruption in BiH Presented in Sarajevo
Glas srpski and Nezavisne novine report on presentation of a documents on
Corruption in BiH and on Obstacles to Income of Foreign Investments ,
which was a cause for a meeting between the World Bank, CoM, Prime
Ministers of BiH entities. The meeting was also attended by the RS Vice
President Dragan Cavic in the capacity of the President of the RS
anti-fraud team and by BiH Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and
Trade Azra Hadziahmetovic.
As stated by the Executive Director of World Bank Peter Steck, after the
meeting "These two studies represent a basis for a overall program of work
of BiH Council of Ministers for achieving a self-sustainable economy,
since the time of big donors' conferences and donations has past".
RS prime Minister Mladen Ivanic stated that the studies were very useful
for creation of overall atmosphere for a fight against corruption. He
added that the study is late compared to the steps already taken by the RS
in terms of increasing of financial discipline and decreasing of
corruption.
The High Representative names the Director of Independent Judiciary
Commission:
The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch has named Rakel Surlien, a
judge from Norway, as the Director of the Independent Judiciary
Commission, Dnevni Avaz reported. The Commission, whose mandate Petritsch
extended two weeks ago, will be in charge of the judiciary reform and
promotion of the rule of law, OHR officials said.
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