- BiH/Central institutions:
- Council of Ministers and the F BiH Federation of Labor meet
- New circle of succession negotiations begins in Brussels
- Austrian economic delegation visits Sarajevo
- Branch Office of the RS Ministry of Refugees and DPs Opened in
Sarajevo
- Zubak, Micic and Halilovic Reached Agreement on Urgent Assistance to
DPs and Refugees
- BiH Foreign Ministry: Election Law needs to be harmonized with
European conventions:
- Arbitration decision on Dobrinja I and IV by the end of April or the
beginning of May
- HDZ-related news
- Planned mass protests of Croats in Busovaca fail
- Assembly of Hercegovacka Banka shareholders meets on Monday
- Provisional Administrator: I am protecting the interests of HB
customers
- Federation Banking Agency supports the appointment of provisional
administrator:
- BiH Foreign Minister: The problem of Hercegovacka Banka is a problem
of crime
- Peter Nicholl, the governor of the BiH Central Bank: Hercegovacka
Banka complied with all rules
- Federation Privatization Agency Director resigns because of the
"Croat problem"
- OHR denies exerting pressure on journalists covering incidents on
Friday
- OSCE condemns the violence in Mostar
- Head of UN Mission to BiH: Incidents - a death grip of corrupt
politicians
- Assistant to the NATO Secretary General: We will fight the HDZ with
political and not military methods
- Cardinal Vinko Puljic to BiH Croats - do not sign petitions and do
not leave your jobs
- Blockade of SFOR base in Divulje near Split - Petritsch compared to
Hitler, Mesic and Croatian government booed
- The "Atena," (Athens) plan eliminates Croat self-rule - Armed raid
on Herzegovacka Bank is part of a secret document of the international
community
- What are the urgent measures of Federation Finance Minister for
collecting of taxes
- Ivankovic brothers: Economic interests closely connected to
Hercegovacka Banka
- A strong blast near the house belonging to Ivankovic family in
Siroki Brijeg
- Croat Peasant Party calls the HDZ to return to the legally
established institutions
- Federation
- SDP candidate nominated for the post of the General Manager of
Elektropriovreda
- Republika Srpska
- An Explosion in Vlasenica: Returnee's house destroyed
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BiH/Central institutions related issues:
Council of Ministers and the F BiH Federation of Labor meet:
The chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, Bozidar Matic, said that
better economic and social circumstances can not be expected before
privatization is completed in another three to six years. At the first
social dialogue between the Council and the FBiH Federation of Labour,
Matic said that jobs can not be created without first completing
privatisation, banking reform and resolution of the difficult social
circumstances.
New circle of succession negotiations begins in Brussels:
A new circle of negotiations about the succession of the SFRY property
began yesterday in Brussels. According to media reports, the BiH
delegation for the first time has a coherent and unified attitude about
the issue. Sense agency reports that after the Macedonain (FYROM)
delegation succumbed under the pressure of the International Community,
the final distribution of gold reserves is full up to BiH.
Austrian economic delegation visits Sarajevo:
Yesterday's visit of the Austrian economic delegation to Sarajevo was the
top story in all Federation media. According to reports, the delegation
discussed with state and entity officials the strengthening of the
existing and the creation of new partnership ties between the two
countries. The visiting Austrian economists stressed the importance of
having a single economic space in BiH, which would most likely foster the
foreign investments into this country. The delegation also opened
yesterday a new office of the Raiffeisen Bank in the BiH capital.
Branch Office of the RS Ministry of Refugees and DPs Opened in Sarajevo
Today's editions of both Federation and RS dailies report that the RS
Ministry of Refugees and DPs opened a branch office in Sarajevo. The main
goal of the office is to provide legal assistance to refugees from the RS
who currently live in the BiH Federation. The Assistant/Minister of
Refugees and DPs, Drago Vuleta, said that the Sarajevo office will provide
legal assistance to all returnees regardless of their ethnic background.
"The Bosniaks from the RS will now be able to contact our office in
Sarajevo and get all necessary information about their property and
reinstatement process. We shall also provide legal assistance to refugees
who currently live in the RS and wish to return to the BiH Federation",
said Vuleta. The opening of the office was welcomed by the Head of the
UNHCR Mission to BiH, Werner Blatter. He pointed out that the IC insisted
on the faster implementation of the property laws and expressed hope that
the office of the RS Ministry would make its contribution to that.
Zubak, Micic and Halilovic Reached Agreement on Urgent Assistance to DPs
and Refugees
Both Banja Luka dailies report that the BiH Commission for Refugees and
DPs, comprising of Kresimir Zubak (BiH Minister of Refugees and DPs), Mico
Micic (RS Refugee Minster), Sefer Halilovic (Federation Minster of
Refugees) and the UNHCR representatives, held a session in Sarajevo
yesterday and agreed on an urgent assistance for refugees from Gorazde who
currently live in a tent settlement. After the session, Zubak, Micic and
Halilovic confirmed that the RS will provide assistance to Bosniak
refugees whilst the BiH Federation will help Serb returnees to Gorazde.
The RS Minister of Refugees and DPs, Mico Micic, said that the RS is ready
to cooperate with the Federation authorities, and at the BiH level, in
order to provide assistance to those who wish to return. Micic also
stressed that problems of those people whose property is devastated have
to be urgently resolved. "There are 39.000 people in the RS whose property
is devastated and they should be given the opportunity to stay in the RS,
respecting the decision of the High Representative on Land Allocation",
said Micic.
BiH Foreign Ministry: Election Law needs to be harmonized with European
conventions:
In a statement for the press, the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the
election law is one of the preconditions for the BiH's membership in
the Council of Europe, but it must be harmonized with the European
conventions that set the highest standards of human and civic rights.
"Without the application of these standards and principles while
creating not only the election, but all other laws, BiH can hardly
become a part of the
unified Europe and its institutions. Having that in mind, we
believe that [Robert] Barry's statement that the Foreign Ministry is
blocking the BiH's admission into
Europe is groundless and unacceptable," the Ministry said. Barry said that
"this law is a prerequisite for membership in the Council of Europe and is
the first step in the EU roadmap." "It is an irony that the obstruction is
coming from a member of a party making up the Alliance for Changes, the
platform of which claims to embrace these goals," he
added. Barry called on the Council of Ministers to urgently
reconsider today's
decision and immediately send the draft law to Parliament where it
can be
debated by BiH's elected representatives.
Arbitration decision on Dobrinja I and IV by the end of April or the
beginning of May:
Sarajevo's Jutarnje Novine quoted Chris Bird, OHR spokesman as saying that
the OHR expects that the arbitration decision on Dobrinja I and IV by the
end of April or the beginning of May. According to Bird, the decision will
be irrevocable and local authorities will only have to implement it.
Despite earlier announcements that the arbitrator will reach his decision
by the mid-April, OHR spokesman's statement tells us different, the daily
said. "This is the first time I hear that it will be passed by the end of
April or in May. We expected that it will be reached by the mid-April,"
the head of Novi Grad municipality, Damir Hodzic, told Jutarnje Novine.
HDZ related News
Planned mass protests of Croats in Busovaca fail:
At an initiative of the HQ for the protection of identity and national
interests of Croats in BiH, some 2000-4000 people showed up on the
premises of the evacuated HVO barracks in Busovaca protesting the
"treatment of BiH Croats" and condemning the "Croat traitors" who now work
for the Alliance for Change. The protesters were caring signs displaying
the name of Ante Jelavic, Franjo Tudjman, calling all members of the NHI
(New Croat Initiative) - the biggest traitors of the Croat people
(Najveci Hrvatski Izdajnici), and inviting those officers and soldiers who
stayed in the Federation Army to "return to their people because it is
still not too late." Just a few hours before the protestors gathered, the
barracks were temporarily evacuated following the order of the deputy
commander of the Joint Command of the Federation Army Ivica Zeko and are
soon to return. According to media reporters, most demonstrators were from
Herzegovina and Central Bosnia and were frequently served alcohol by the
organizers.
Assembly of Hercegovacka Banka shareholders meets on Monday:
Federation media report that the Assembly of Hercegovacka Banka
shareholders met on Monday at an extraordinary session in order to discuss
the decision of the High Representative to impose a provisional
administration in this bank. According to reports, the shareholders agreed
to hire a lawyer, Josip Muselimovic, who would deal with all legal issues,
and to name members of a negotiating team for talks with representatives
of the International Community, in particular the OHR, and with the
Federation Ministry of Finance, Banking Agency and the Central Bank. The
shareholders used this meeting to once again condemn the "forceful take
over" of their bank by members of the IC.
Provisional Administrator: I am protecting the interests of HB customers:
The OHR appointed provisional administrator of Hercegovacka Banka, Toby
Robinson, issued a statement yesterday saying that it is her
responsibility to secure the bank's funds, the interests of its customers
and to prevent all illegal activities. Robinsosn also explained that all
measures undertaken by her and her staff are fully in accordance with the
Federation Law on Banking. Oslobodjenje carries (second page) the OHR
press release.
Federation Banking Agency supports the appointment of provisional
administrator:
In a statement for the press, the Federation Banking Agency expressed its
support for the decision of the High Representative to appoint a
provisional administrator (Toby Robinson) in the Hercegovacka Banka and
stressed that her authorities are fully in accordance with relevant
provisions of the Federation Law on Banking. The Agency stressed that it
is necessary to show an utmost patience and understanding in order to make
the auditing process as efficient and quick as possible.
BiH Foreign Minister: The problem of Hercegovacka Banka is a problem of
crime:
The BiH Foreign Minister, Zlatko Lagumdzija, told the press yesterday that
the problem of Hercegovacka Banka is a problem of criminal activity, and a
problem which could be found on all three sides. He stressed that the new
authorities will fight this crime equally and through the legally
established institutions. "What they are doing cannot survive in the age
of new economy," said Lagumdzija.
Peter Nicholl, the governor of the BiH Central Bank: Hercegovacka Banka
complied with all rules:
In a shorter interview with Jutarnje Novine, the governor of the BiH
Central Bank, Peter Nicholl, said that the Hercegovacka Banka functioned
very well and complied with all rules and regulations of the payment
traffic. "They certainly did not cause any problems for our payment
system. That bank was placed under the provisional administration by the
OHR, which is the same as if the Banking Agency imposed the provisional
administration," explained Nicholl, and added that the Central Bank will
keep all the bank's assets frozen until the provisional administrator or
the OHR decide otherwise.
Federation Privatization Agency Director resigns because of the "Croat
problem":
The Director of the Steering Board of the Federation Privatization Agency
and the assistant to the BiH Minister of Foreign Trade, Velimir Lovric,
submitted his resignation yesterday on both functions. Explaining his
decision, Lovric said that he could no longer endure seeing that the basic
postulates of democracy and rights of the Croat people in BiH have been
violated. "At this time, any continuation of my professional engagement or
participation in the institutions of authority would be contradictory to
my attitudes and beliefs and my advocacy of legality and legitimacy, and
to my moral standards as a human and as a Croat," Lovric said in his
resignation letter, and added that he refuses to work at the detriment of
the Croat people in BiH. Lovric is known as one of very close colleagues
of Ante Jelavic, the dismissed Croat member of the BiH Presidency.
OHR denies exerting pressure on journalists covering incidents on Friday:
Commenting on yesterday's claims of the Croat National Assembly that the
leading representatives of the International Community have been exerting
pressure on journalists covering the Friday events in Herzegovina, the
OHR, in a statement, rejected all allegations and stressed that the OHR
and other members of the IC worked transparently and never pressured any
members of the press who were reporting on the issue. Only Habena and
Onasa news agencies carried the press release.
"No representative from the OHR or any of the representatives of the IC
have put pressure on reporters as was claimed by certain extremist forces
today", said OHR spokesman Chris Bird in a statement for SRNA.
OSCE condemns the violence in Mostar:
The OSCE chair in office, Rumanian foreign minister Mircea Geoana,
condemned the organized violence in Mostar and other areas controlled by
the HDZ that occurred April 6 and was directed against the International
Community and the Federation officials. Geoana also expressed her support
for the newly established institutions of authority in the Federation and
the state.
Head of UN Mission to BiH: Incidents - a death grip of corrupt
politicians:
In a statement for the press, the Head of the UN Mission to BiH, Jacques
Paul Klein, said that the latest incidents in Mostar and other towns in
Herzegovina was no more then a death grip of corrupt political leaders and
other criminal elements who work against the Croats in BiH. See the UNMIBH Press Release.
Assistant to the NATO Secretary General: We will fight the HDZ with
political and not military methods:
In an interview with Sarajevo Dnevni Avaz, Daniel Spickhard (sp!), a
political assistant to the NATO Secretary General, stressed that the
International Community will fight the HDZ BiH using political, not
military methods. "This is a political and not military crisis," said
Spickhard, and added that the international community has been using an
array of different methods, which will inevitably provide results in the
end.
Cardinal Vinko Puljic to BiH Croats - do not sign petitions and do not
leave your jobs
Zagreb daily Jutarnji List on the front page on Tuesday carries the
message of Cardinal Vinko Puljic to BiH Croats in which he says they
should not sign petitions or leave their jobs. Puljic, during the mass in
Sarajevo's Cathedral on Monday, criticized international community
representatives and had a message for them as well. "Do not humiliate,
trample us and do not build peace with arms anymore. If someone is guilty
lock him up, do not label and imprison the entire nation. Build peace with
agreement, talks and dialog," was Puljic's message to the IC.
In his message to BiH Croats, Puljic also said that they have a right to
work.
"Do not allow anyone to blackmail you. Whoever offers you papers to sign
in solidarity is not a friend of the Croat people. Who has the right to
blackmail us that we have to sign a document that we love this country and
that we want live in it?" Puljic said, and invited the confronted leaders
of BiH Croats to talk. "In the name of Christ's sufferings, stop this
bargaining with us, stop that hate you are spreading among the people,"
Puljic said.
Blockade of SFOR base in Divulje near Split - Petritsch compared to
Hitler, Mesic and Croatian government booed
About a hundred demonstrators blocked the SFOR base in Divulje, near Split
on Monday in a protests against the recent SFOR action in Mostar, Jutarnji
List reported on Tuesday.
Some carried banners that read: "Hitler robbed the Jews and Petritsch -
the Croat people in BiH." The protest was about a half an hour long and
the organizers sent a letter to the High Representative expressing their
bitterness about the "brutal action against unarmed civilians." As the
names of the Croatian president, Stipe Mesic and the Croatian government
were mentioned, the crowd booed and called Mesic names, the daily said.
The "Atena," (Athens) plan eliminates Croat self-rule - Armed raid on
Herzegovacka Bank is part of a secret document of the international
community:
Tuesday's Slobodna Dalmacija reported that the international community
continues with the "breaches of essential human rights of the BiH Croats".
The naming of the provisional administrator for the private Herzegovacka
Banka is unique because, according to the law, this can be done only by
the Federation Banking Agency which was not even included in the entire
action. Bank's share holders announced action against the High
Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, who issued the warrant and his
Principal Deputy, Ralph Johnson, who signed the plan of the "Atena,"
operation.
In the section of the Atena document called the Special Aspect, the
political aspect of the entire action is clearly shown: "The OHR and
especially the Anti-Fraud Department is intensively monitoring the
political situation in the Federation, especially the territory with Croat
majority. The self-rule, which was defined and declared by the Croat
National Assembly dominated by the HDZ, is not in accordance with the
Dayton Peace Agreement and the international community cannot accept it.
The AFD has ruled that the information show that this is an attempt of
illegal establishment of the third entity financed by the HDZ."
Dalmacija claims that this part of the Atena plan is a classic example of
politically motivated criminalization of an institution and part of a
special war against HNS BiH. In addition to this, the order for the
operation, which is part of the Atena plan, does not have a single peace
of concrete evidence against the Hercegovacka Banka but is based on
insinuations and accusations without arguments, the daily argues.
Petritsch instructed the Central Bank to revoke the license for
Herzegovacka Bank thereby creating pre-conditions for a total collapse of
this successful business enterprise.
According to the Split daily, the plan B (Atena) is at the same time an
attempt of a desperate man, the High Representative, who now goes a step
further in abusing his powers. "He physically stops the work of the Bank,
without consultations with Federation Banking Agency. Petritsch uses
powers he was not granted by the Dayton Agreement.
The Atena operation shows the true background of High Representative's
action - to prevent HNS activities and the Croat self-rule. The excuse for
this are alleged suspicion that secret accounts for financing of parallel
institutions exist in the bank.
With this the High Representative has shown that for him politics are
above the law and that in political struggle he leads against the HNS he
can use the means that are not part of the DPA or BiH laws," writes the
daily.
According to the same source, in the Herzegovacka Bank case, Petritsch has
again bypassed the authorized BiH institutions and again breached the
ownership concept he promoted upon his arrival to BiH. "Petritsch has to
justify the wasted money he spent on wrong politics against nations in BiH
and is trying to justify this project, just prior to his departure, by
initiating national conflicts and raising tensions among the nation that
is the smallest but economically most successful", the HNS statement
carried by Slobodna Dalmacija said (It is not clear from the article
whether only the last paragraph is authorized by the HNS or the entire
article is a form of an HNS press statements).
What are the urgent measures of Federation Finance Minister for collecting
of taxes
Slobodna Dalmacija reported that in order to collect customs and taxes
more efficiently and to prevent that these funds are used for financing
the Croat self-rule, the Federation Finance Ministry has proposed new
measures:
- plan has to be prepared to close down all customs offices who start
diverting the money to any other account but that of the Federation
- Prepare a plan for suspending of head of customs offices and other
employees is they reject Federation as their authority.
- Monitor the situation in customs office daily
- All unofficial border crossings should be physically closed with
concrete or steel barriers to prevent vehicle from crossing.
The daily gives more details of the plan and says that it has been
distributed to all important Federation officials as well as the US
Ambassador to BiH, Thomas Miller and the SFOR Commander.
Ivankovic brothers: Economic interests closely connected to Hercegovacka
Banka:
Mladen Ivankovic, a minister without portfolio in the Federation
government, and Jerko Ivankovic, a deputy in the BiH Parliament's House of
Peoples issued a press release late yesterday in which they addressed the
Croat people. The Ivankovic brothers stressed that the economic interests
of Croat people are closely connected to the faith of the Hercegovacka
Banka, but expressed concern that the HDZ organized the Croat people in
Mostar and other towns in Herzegovina only to protect their own personal
interests.
A strong blast near the house belonging to Ivankovic family in Siroki
Brijeg:
Meanwhile, a strong blast was heard around 0300 a.m. on Tuesday in central
Siroki Brijeg. According to unofficial information, the explosive device
was placed under a
Jeep owned by Siroki Brijeg's family Ivankovic, proprietors
of the meet-processing company "Lijanovici". The vehicle was parked in
front of their old family house across the Siroki Brijeg plant "Feal".
Except for the physical damage to the vehicle and the ouse, the blast
caused no casualties. Police performed preliminary on-the-spot
investigation. Mladen Ivankovic and Jerko Ivankovic, co-proprietors
of the company "Lijanovici", currently hold posts in the
newly-elected state and BiH
Federation authorities. Mladen Ivankovic is a minister without a
portfolio in the
BiH Federation government, and Jerko Ivankovic is a deputy in the BiH
Parliamentary House of Peoples. The BiH Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) and
Croat National Assembly, as well as the Croat Union of the veteran
invalids of the war of independence have lately placed these two
businessmen in the spotlight of local media as "traitors to the Croat
national interests".
Croat Peasant Party calls the HDZ to return to the legally established
institutions:
The Croat Peasants Party (HSS) BiH called on the Croat Democratic Union
(HDZ) BiH officials to return to the legal institutions in BiH and
the Federation BiH.
"HSS is still ready for a dialogue with a part of HDZ leadership which
does not hold extreme attitudes. We are urging them to return to the
institutions, because that is the only way to help the Croat people,"
Ilija Simic, the HSS president, told a press onference in Sarajevo on
Tuesday. Simic called, in behalf of the HSS, the Croats employed in the
police forces and members of the Croat component of the Federation BiH
Army to continue to fulfill their duties. As chairman of the House of
Peoples in the BiH Parliament, Simic told the Croats in BiH that " not a
single one law, or any other document, which is against national
interests of any nation, and especially Croats, will be passed in the
House of Peoples." "As the Chairman of the House of Peoples, I am
certainly going to do my best to protect the vital national interests of
Croats," stressed Simic.
Federation:
SDP candidate nominated for the post of the General Manager of
Elektropriovreda:
According to Oslobodjenje, the SDP nominated its candidate, Mirza
Kusljugic, for the post of the General Manager of Elektroprivreda. The
daily also reports that Kusljugic, who is presently a deputy in the BiH
House of Representatives, is perhaps the most serious candidate for this
post, however he has not yet confirmed the nomination.
Republika Srpska:
An Explosion in Vlasenica: Returnee's house destroyed
An unknown perpetrator threw a hand grenade at the house of Edin
Alihodzic, an employee at the police station in Vlasenica. The explosion
caused serious damage, but no one was injured in it. The Police Station
Zvornik confirmed that that this incident indeed took place over the
weekend. Due to the ongoing investigation, the press release did not give
any more details.
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