BiH/Central institutions: House of Peoples to discuss the laws imposed by the High Representative Dobrinja Arbitration & Reactions International Arbitrator for Dobrinja I and IV awarded 800 apartments to the Federation, 300 to the RS Federation officials welcome, RS authorities shocked and appalled by Dobrinja decision The High Representative welcomes the decision of Justice Sheridan Sarajevo Canton Police moves in Dobrinja; Serb residents hold peaceful protests Entity police and IPTF will ensure the implementation of Arbitration decision RS Police withdraws from Dobrinja I and IV Federation Police edges into Dobrinja I and IV (Reuters) HDZ-related News HDZ is preparing for negotiation with IC and local authorities Representatives of the Croat coordination meet with the Croatian leaders Hercegovina-Neretva Canton authorities say SFOR action had negative impact on security situation in the canton Two members of the Presidency visit Mostar Leaflets threatening International Community appear in Central BiH Association of Hercegovacka Bank depositors to Toby Robinson: Get your dirty hands off our money Vlatko Menix: My appointment is delayed because I was nominated by Jelavic Deputy President of the Croatian Parliament criticized international officials in BiH during his visit to Washington D.C HDZ: If it were not for the HDZ and HVO there would be no Croats in BiH Compromising (but fake) photo about Aluminijum signed by SFOR Bosnian Congress: Let us save BiH from election laws Brcko District New Brcko Supervisor says he will work hard on returns, educational and economic reform Editorials Republika: Ante Jelavic is leaving from positions in HDZ BiH and the Federation JUTARNJI LIST: Ante Jelavic: HDZ is returning to the BiH Parliament Nacional: David Rivkin persuaded Jelavic that The Hague will be abolished and that the HDZ will come to power in the Republic of Croatia BiH/Central institutions related issues: House of Peoples to discuss the laws imposed by the High Representative At a session scheduled for today, the BiH Parliament's House of Peoples is to discuss the 16 laws which were imposed by the High Representative in BiH, among those - the law on state anthem, flag, coat of arms, state court, State Border Service etc. Dobrinja Arbitration & Reactions International Arbitrator for Dobrinja I and IV awarded 800 apartments to the Federation, 300 to the RS: The International Arbitrator for Sarajevo neighborhoods of Dobrinja I and IV, Justice Diarmuid Sheridan, reached his final ruling on this issue early yesterday morning, awarding 800 apartments to the Federation and 300 to the Republika Srpska. The RS, which thus far had control over the almost entire territory of these two neighborhoods, also kept the Orthodox Church and the bus station. Judge Sheridan said this was a very difficult decision for him, but that the realized that it was the Federation residents who were by and large deprived of their apartments and this was one of the ways to justly compensate them. Federation officials welcome, RS authorities shocked and appalled by Dobrinja decision: While Federation officials naturally welcomed this decision, most RS institutions and authorities were appalled by the ruling. The RS government said in a statement for the press that it was shocked by Sheridan's decision and termed it as one more attempt to provoke a crisis in the RS. "The arbitration decision is just a continuation of an unjust attitude towards the legitimate interests of the RS, which are mostly ignored by the International Community, who in nearly all cases sides with the Federation," read the statement. The RS government also stressed that the security of its citizens living in these neighborhoods must be guaranteed by the IPTF, since the entrance of the Federation Police in Dobrinja I and IV may cause significant problems. RS authorities said that no Serb resident of these neighborhoods could be evicted before his housing issue is resolved, and his property returned or compensated. "We will hold the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, responsible for the implementation of our demands," said the RS government at the end of its statement. The Mayor of Serb Sarajevo, Predrag Lasica, said that the decision made by the Justice Sheridan is a fatal decision for Dobrinja. "I do not have any information as to how many people will stay again without a roof over their head," said Lasica, and added that the new IEBL (inter-entity boundary line) is catastrophic, since it runs between the school and the bus station. Vladimir Lukic, the head of the RS team in the arbitration process, said that this decision may lead to new conflict in the area. "The decision of the international arbitrator... is completely unjust and illogical. Sheridan made the worst possible solution for the Serbs living in this area," said Lukic, and added that this solution may cause a new exodus of Serb people from Dobrinja. "This neighborhood will become a constant source of aggravation and conflict between the two sides," said Lukic. The RS President, Mirko Sarovic, who is paying an official visit to the US, will return to the RS today due to the new situation that arose in the RS. In his statement to the Radio Serb Sarajevo Sarovic assessed that the arbitration award for Dobrinja 1 and 4 was negative and detrimental to the RS. He pointed out that this decision was aimed at provoking a new crisis in the RS. "This decision simply did not respect a minimum requests of the RS expert team, established by the RS Government, and did not accept the facts presented by ordinary people who live in the part that for the past five years have been under the control of the RS. This decision might bring about a series of unwanted consequences and that is why I am of the opinion that it is extremely important for us to be calm, as well as for those who created the award. I believe that we have to stick together, we have to express solidarity, and this includes not only the residents of Dobrinja 1 and 4, but also all people in Serb Sarajevo, and I would say in the RS. We have to state clearly what we think of the arbitration award and I believe that the key RS institutions have already expressed their opinion. I am of the opinion that it is important for us to make smart and rational moves in order to protect the basic interests of our citizens in the municipalities Serb Ilidza and Serb Sarajevo." The RS Vice President, Dragan Cavic, assessed that the arbitration award for Dobrinja 1 and 4 was completely unacceptable for the RS. Cavic pointed out that the situation that had arisen, might cause instability in BiH. "Those who made this decision will have to face with the fact that no one in the RS is going to accept it", Cavic said and emphasized that the RS institutions would raise the issue of drawing the boundary line between the RS and BiH Federation in other regions. Dragan Savic of the Association of displaced Serbs from Dobrinja I and IV warned that, unless the "unjust decision" is revoked or alleviated, the present peaceful demonstrations of Serb residents could turn into serious turbulence. He added that dissatisfied residents spontaneously gathered and organized checkpoints in order to prevent the Federation Police, the IPTF, and the SFOR from passing. He said that his association is just coordinating citizens' requests. The Chairperson of the BiH Presidency, Zivko Radisic, assessed last night that the arbitration award might be a new factor that would make the situation in both the RS and BiH more complex. "All aspects of the arbitration award need to be reviewed and in accordance with the prescribed procedure, the issue of the protection of our interests, the protection of the RS and basic provisions of the Dayton Agreement, needs to be raised", Radisic stated to the press in Banja Luka. The Democratic Initiative of Sarajevo Serbs was the most moderate in its statements following the announcement of the decision. It said, in a statement for the press, that there is no need for the Serb residents to move out of their apartments, since those who have built additions to the existing buildings will remain in their apartments. "Their apartments (additions) will be legalized," said the Initiative and asked the Serb resident not to leave their apartments in Dobinja I and IV. Serb Sarajevo Municipal Assembly in Session - An extraordinary session of the Serb Sarajevo Municipal Assembly is scheduled for 10:00. High-ranking international representatives have been invited to attend the session. A protest rally has been scheduled for today in part of Dobrinja that remained in the RS and the gathering is expected to be addressed by the RS Vice Premier, Petar Kunic. Commenting on the Arbitration Award Zlatko Knezevic of the DNS (Democratic National Alliance) said that the word dissatisfaction is too mild to express the real dissatisfaction of the DNS. "It is very sad that all arbitration processes, that were carried out so far, have been detrimental to the RS", said Knezevic. He also expressed his discontent regarding the reasons Justice Sheridan presented yesterday. Mr.Vlatkovic quoted several excerpts from Justice Sheridan's Reasons - letters of citizens, stand of Bosniaks, the fact that Sarajevo should be viewed as a whole, school, etc.- and said that the Reasons that Justice Sheridan presented were more problematic than the Award itself. "This basically tells us that law has less and less to do with views of the IC representatives. What kind of stand is that Bosniaks wish to return, since we all know that nobody questions the process of return? What kind of stand is that that the school will start working now when the Federation gained these settlements? Does it mean that school could not work when Serbs controlled the area? We have to stress that the RS still does not control 49% of BiH territory as it was agreed in Dayton, and one of the most important and the most essential points of the DPA is demarcation. The RS Government has to give an explanation regarding the work of the RS Expert Team", says Mr. Knezevic. Commenting on the Arbitration Decision, Nebojsa Radmanovic of the DSP (Democratic Socialist Party of the RS) said that the issue of Sarajevo settlements Dobrinja I and IV has been in focus for the past couple of months and definitely is the one that made a big splash on BiH political scene. "The Award opened new crisis in BiH, apart from many others BiH has been currently dealing with. It is quite clear that the Arbitration Award is unfavorable for the RS and citizens of Serb nationality who live in these settlements. That is why the RS politicians reacted to it in a way they did. This is just one of those situations when our (RS's) reactions are very loud after everything is over. I hope that this is not going to have any affect on political situation in BiH", says Mr. Radmanovic. Asked to comment on possible exodus of Serbs from Dobrinja I and IV, Mr. Radmanovic says that people and the RS leadership have to calm down, be wise and do everything in their power to prevent exodus from happening again. Meanwhile, representatives of Sarajevo Canton, the Federation government and the Federation team in the arbitration process welcomed the decision and said this is the only just solution for these neighborhoods. They also added that the rights of all residents of Dobrinja I and IV will be respected and asked the Serb resident to peacefully accept this ruling. The speaker of the Canton Sarajevo Assembly, Miro Lazovic, says that in the arbitrage decision on Dobrinja 1 and 4 "there are no victors or losers," and urged the local residents to accept arbitrator Diarmond Sheridan's decision. Stari Grad mayor Damir Hadzic says the decision "reintegrates" the last remaining part of Sarajevo and complies with the Dayton Accords. The High Representative welcomes the decision of Justice Sheridan The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, expressed his satisfaction that the final decision about Dobrinja I and IV has been reached, and stressed that the decision of the Arbiter Sheridan is final and binding. See the OHR press release. Sarajevo Canton Police moves in Dobrinja; Serb residents hold peaceful protests According to Sarajevo media, a number of the Canton Sarajevo Ministry of Interior troops, escorted by the SFOR and the IPTF, entered early this morning the parts of Dobrinja I and IV which were awarded to the Federation. These troops will patrol the neighborhoods in a more alert manner in the next few weeks in order to prevent any possible incidents or criminal actions. Sarajevo electronic media reported late last night that there have been no incidents following the announcement of Sheridan's decision, however, numerous groups of Serb demonstrators gathered occasionally expressing their dissatisfaction with the ruling. They said, more protests are to follow in the coming days. Entity police and IPTF will ensure the implementation of Arbitration decision The UN Mission spokesman, Douglas Coffman, told SRNA that the police of both Entities together with the IPTF will closely cooperate in implementing the arbitrage decision in the dispute over the inter-Entity line running through Dobrinja. He said that it's up to the federal police to decide when they will take position on the new line of demarcation but that there would be no spectacular take over of territory. RS Police withdraws from Dobrinja I and IV Police officers of the Serb part of Sarajevo withdrew late on Tuesday from the suburb of Dobrinja I and IV, in compliance with the arbitration award on the final position of the inter-entity boundary line (IEBL), the police said in a press release on Wednesday. Since the award was made public until the moment the Serb police forces withdrew from the suburb, awarded to the BiH Federation, no security incident was registered. The Republika Srpska's police forces will, the press release says, continue to take all measures, as part of their every-day duties, to prevent the offenses and preserve public order, as well as to ensure the protection for the personal and property safety of the citizens. Police officers of the Sarajevo Canton Interior Ministry were not able to take the control over the area awarded, because a major group of citizens would not allow the cantonal police officers to enter the area. During the night, IPTF and SFOR troops maintained their presence in Dobrinja. Federation Police edges into Dobrinja I and IV (Reuters) Federation Police edged into the disputed, Sarajevo suburb of Dobrinja on Wednesday, after an earlier delay due to fears of clashes with Serb protesters. A few police moved on foot a few meters into the area and others drove through in an unmarked car, staking their claim to territory handed over to the Federation on Tuesday by an international arbiter assigned to resolve the dispute. "Police are trying to do it in a very low-key way to prevent an escalation of tension," said Douglas Coffman, spokesman for the United Nations mission in Bosnia. "Federation police have conducted patrols in the area they are now responsible for and reported no problems today," he told Reuters at the scene. As the midnight deadline expired for the handover of Dobrinja -- an area bitterly contested during the 1992-5 war and the last still in dispute -- protesters marched up and down shouting at the police, who held back to avoid clashes. On Wednesday morning, the protesters had gone. A smouldering fire, bottles and cans and two chairs were the only signs of their overnight demonstration. But a local Serb community leader said citizens would set up checkpoints if local and international police and peacekeepers began patrols before their accommodation problems were solved. HDZ-related News: HDZ is preparing for negotiation with IC and local authorities According to Oslobodjenje, the HDZ is preparing a negotiating team for the possible talks with representatives of the International Community. The same source said that the HDZ is ready to return to the institutions of authority, while its spokesman, Zoran Tomic, confirmed that the party is ready for negotiations which would end the present political crisis in the country. Commenting on this, OHR spokesman Patrik Volf said that the OHR will talk only with moderate representatives of the HDZ, and rejected any possibility of discussion with those who violated the constitution of BiH. Representatives of the Croat coordination meet with the Croatian leaders A delegation of the BiH Croat Coordination will have official meetings on Thursday in Zagreb with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, speaker of the Croatian parliament Zlatko Tomcic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan. During their Thursday's visit to Zagreb, the delegation of the Croat Coordination, composed of Kresimir Zubak, president of the New Croat Initiative (NHI), Ilija Simic, president of the Croat Peasants' Party (HSS), Milenko Brkic, president of the Croat People's Union (HNZ), and Mladen Ivankovic, independent politician, will be led by chairman of the Croat Coordination Marko Tadic. Tadic told ONASA the ''delegation will brief their Croatian hosts on the Coordination's positions on the upcoming modifications of the BiH Federation and Republika Srpska' constitutions, based on the ruling of the BiH Constitutional Court, as well as with the Coordination's views on the new draft election law of BiH. "Members of the Coordination will inform the senior Croatian officials about their views on the current political situation in BiH,'' he added. The Croat Coordination was established a month ago in Sarajevo and brings together two ruling parties, NHI and HSS, one opposition party, HNZ, as well as non-governmental organizations, Croat People's Council (HNV), BiH Croats' Forum 2000 (FORUM HBH 2000), and Mostar's Democratic Circle (MDK). Hercegovina-Neretva Canton authorities say SFOR action had negative impact on security situation in the canton: After evaluating the present situation in Hercegovina-Neretva Canton, the Croat authorities in the cantonal government said that the activities of the SFOR and the Federation government had negative impact on the security situation in the canton. The cantonal (Croat) authorities also dismissed the decision of the UN/IPTF to suspend 17 officials of the Ministry of Interior. Two members of the Presidency visit Mostar: Two members of the BiH Presidency, Beriz Belkic and Jozo Krizanovic, visited Mostar on Tuesday and discussed the present political and security situation in the Hercegovina-Neretva canton with its authorities. According to media reports, Croat representatives in the cantonal government were not present during these meetings. Belkic and Krizanovic stressed, commenting the so-called Croat self-rule, that they have no intention to talk to those officials who support this para-state formation and who work outside of the legal and constitutional system of the country. Referring to this visit, the Croat National Assembly (HNS) said that the fact that the Croat member of the Presidency, Krizanovic, visited only the East side of the city is a good indicator that he is an illegitimate representative of the Croat people. Leaflets threatening International Community appear in Central BiH: Leaflets in which thus far an unknown organization 'HPGNS-VID BiH' addresses very serious threats to the Croat officials in the Federation authorities, whom it calls "traitors of the Croat people imposed by the international community," appeared in Central Bosnia on Tuesday morning. In the leaflet, Jozo Krizanovic, Karlo Filipovic, Ivo Komsic, Bozidar Matic, Ivica Zeko and Mijo Anic are called to step down from the positions that they were installed and appointed to against the will of the Croat electorate in BiH. "You should take this as a picked white rose that we are offering you as a symbol of peace and freedom, withdraw to where you came from. Otherwise, you should remember, the white rose, if rejected, will end up on your graves or the graves of your dearest. You cannot hide." It is requested from the international community to respect the Croat people's will expressed at the elections, "or we shall make sure that its representatives share the destiny of their associates and our traitors." The leaflet further reads: "Do not indict and arrest the fine Croat sons. Do not destroy the dignity, property and economy of Croats in BiH. For our sake and for yours, we are asking you for the last time, do not put arms in our hands again." Copies of the leaflet were dispersed in Novi Travnik, Vitez, Busovaca and other places in Central Bosnia. Another leaflet, a white paper of the A4 format, titled "Waste is Waste" and bearing the signature "Cleaners," contains offensive and threatening messages and is addressed to the international community officials. This leaflet ends with the message: "It is never too late." Association of Hercegovacka Bank depositors to Toby Robinson: Get your dirty hands off our money On behalf of the Initiative Board of the Hercegovacka Bank depositors, Zvonko Krtalic said that Petritsch occupied their private property, which is inalienable and infallible everywhere else in the world, and left them without the means for life. "By keeping our deposits in the Hercegovacka Bank, we expressed our confidence in that financial institution. Therefore, we are especially annoyed by the statements of Ms Robinson that she, under Petritsch's decision, took over the administration of the Bank and froze our accounts in order to protect our interests," stated Zvonko Krtalic on behalf of the depositors. He asked Ms Robinson not to defend them, not to speak on their behalf, not to come to their Bank escorted by helicopters and APCs, and to "get her dirty hands off their money and accounts." Vlatko Menix: My appointment is delayed because I was nominated by Jelavic Although the BiH Presidency appointed the BiH Ambassadors to the Netherlands and the FRY on March 7, BiH still does not have its highest diplomatic representatives in those countries. The appointed Ambassadors, Vlatko Menix to The Hague, and Lidija Topic to Belgrade, are waiting for the "green light" to finally be on their way to their diplomatic service, reads the article. Menix decided to ask the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs for some information about the case, but has not received any to date. He is surprised with the statement by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Misic, who said that economical measures and economic motives stand behind the stalemate in the case of sending the Ambassadors to The Hague and Belgrade. Menix said that the only thing that Misic's remark could refer to is the fact that he was nominated by the then BiH Presidency Member Ante Jelavic, although the nomination was supported by the other two Presidency Members as well. Amer Kapetanovic, the Spokesperson for the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated: "We are not sure if Jelavic appointed those two ambassadors before the High Representative removed him from the position of BiH Presidency Member. Making of the new criteria for appointment of ambassadors is underway and the BiH Presidency will discuss the appointment of the Ambassadors to Belgrade and The Hague within the framework of those criteria." Deputy President of the Croatian Parliament criticized international officials in BiH during his visit to Washington D.C. Following his visit to the US for the talks with senior US officials, the deputy president of the Croatian Parliament (Sabor), Zdravko Tomac, said that US officials accepted the Croatian views of the situation in BiH. In talks with Gregory Schult, presidential advisor for Southeast Europe, Dean Pittman, and the director for Europe within the National Security Council, Tomac expressed several critiques on the work and actions of the International Community in BiH. "The talks were very difficult," said Tomac, and added that the they were at the end successful, since no one can deny "the Croatian platform for BiH." HDZ: If it were not for the HDZ and HVO there would be no Croats in BiH "If the intentions of the international community are honest, let them introduce House of Peoples in the RS and let them include in the Election Law a provision under which Croats will elect their representatives on their own, instead of their representatives being elected by Bosniaks and 'Others.' Once that is done, we shall re-define our standpoints easily and quickly. Otherwise, we shall not," said Zdravko Batinic, the dismissed HDZ BiH Vice President during a celebration marking the 11th anniversary of the party. Batinic said that the HDZ is indeed a national party, but not a nationalistic party, as some want to present it in the worst sense of the word. He stressed that if it were not for the HDZ and the HVO, there would be no Croats in Central Bosnia. Compromising (but fake) photo about Aluminijum signed by SFOR: In their letter to Slobodna Dalmacija, the Independent Union of the Aluminium Factory Employees say they were appalled by what was published in the Slobodna Dalmacija's edition of April 20, 2001. "Who used the picture of the access road to the Aluminium Factory and photomontage to put on the picture what is contrary to the Aluminium Factory and thus blacken the most successful company in BiH? Who is the domestic or international enemy of the work, prosperity and the honestly earned bread that around 25,000 people in the suffering BiH live off, that could sow so much evil, untruth and lies on one single distorted photograph, and put the SFOR sign on the bottom of the photograph, along with the slogan: 'SFOR: Here for peace, here for Bosnia and Herzegovina.'!?," reads the letter. The AF employees also demanded that SFOR deny "the provocative photograph" which bears the SFOR sign. In the explanation of the Slobodna Dalmacija Editorial Office, it is said that the "SFOR advertisement is, by all accounts, a provocation by an unknown source, directed perhaps against the Aluminium Factory, perhaps against SFOR, and perhaps even against the Croat National Assembly." The Editorial Office said that the Advertisement Service was not careful enough and apologized. Bosnian Congress: Let us save BiH from election laws "With the administrative measures of Barry, Petritsch, Miller and Klein, independent media are abolished on a daily basis, the last remainders of the BiH economy are usurped, citizens who have different opinions are sacked. Everyone knows that there was more freedom in the communism that there is in Miller and Petritsch's democracy," reads the Online Bulletin of the Bosnian Congress. In addition, the Congress said that the new Election Law is disastrous for BiH and that it was exactly the SDP leaders that characterized it as "legalization of an apartheid in Europe." "Adoption of the Election Law is a much greater evil than the street demonstrations in Mostar, Banja Luka or anywhere else," reads the Bulletin. Brcko District: New Brcko Supervisor says he will work hard on returns, educational and economic reform The newly-appointed Brcko District supervisor, Henry Clarke, said that in the coming period he would work at solving the issues of refugee return, reforming education and developing the economy. Speaking of educational reform, he told reporters that the purpose of the law on elementary and secondary education is to create an integrated, multiethnic school system, which would "respect national interests in those subjects directly pertaining to such interests." Editorials (prepared by the OHR Mostar): Republika: Ante Jelavic is leaving from positions in HDZ BiH and the Federation (by Hrvoje Kranjcec, full translation) According to unofficial information from well-informed sources, the President of the Croat National Assembly and removed BiH Presidency Member Ante Jelavic is retiring from politics and leaving the leadership of the HDZ to the people accepted by the international community. The international political factors are allegedly demanded, by indirect ways, to suspend all investigations into the alleged criminal actions of Jelavic and his closest associates in the next six months. The US Ambassador to BiH, Thomas Miller, upon his return from Washington, stated that there would be no negotiations with Ante Jelavic and the people gathered around him. The US Ambassador, however, left room for talks with the "moderate part of the HDZ." Still, a question is whether there exists the more liberal part of the HDZ that would finally decide to escape the influence of the powerful military part within the HDZ headed by Jelavic, Sopta and a group of generals from the former Logistic Centre in Grude. Another question is as to how powerful Bozo Ljubic, Davor Cordas, Nevenko Herceg and Ivan Bagaric, who is allegedly coming back to the political scene, really are. According to some information, the "moderates" are discontent with the closing of the doors to the international community and want to establish contacts with it, as well as with the BiH authorities, in order to save what can be saved of the HDZ. The number of discontents in the Croat self-rule is increasing, and the demobilised soldiers of the Federation Army, invalids and other Homeland War victims are threatening with a large-scale rebellion. The promises of a financially self-sustainable self-rule have fallen through, and the generals and politicians secured themselves beforehand. According to some information, with a mediation of the Church and the international community, a meeting between some people from the HDZ and the representatives of the Alliance member parties has already been arranged, although it is not known as to where that meeting could be held and who would participate in it. The only thing that is known is that Ante Jelavic and his creators of the so-called Croat self-rule will not be sitting around the table. An HDZ official who wanted to remain anonymous confirmed that a meeting was arranged and that there is a faction in the HDZ which includes the persons of moderate views who are allegedly making decisive preparations to take over the party. What could be added, within this context, is the announcement of Ante Jelavic that he would withdraw from the political scene before the session of the HDZ BiH Congress. Possible transformation of the HDZ BiH must be painful and very hard to accept for the radicals in the party who have turned into real storm troopers lately. They literally go from one house to another, threatening all those who are against the self-rule. According to some information from Mostar, on the door to the flat where Marija Topic Crnoja, the Editor-in-Chief of the Federation TV, was living for years, appeared an inscription "Traitor." Ms Topic urgently left the flat in fear and panic, and the self-rule leaders allegedly denied her of the pension that her child was receiving in the name of her/his late father. JUTARNJI LIST: Ante Jelavic: HDZ is returning to the BiH Parliament President of the Croat National Assembly Ante Jelavic announced a return of the HDZ into the State and Federation institutions. The first step in this radical turnabout will be a return of the HDZ BiH representatives to the State and Federation Parliaments, as Jelavic stated after meeting the HDZ BiH deputies of both Parliaments. "The presidents of the HDZ BiH caucuses in the State and Federation Parliaments will go to the sessions of the Parliament. The HDZ BiH considers the new Federation and State authorities illegitimate because they were elected contrary to the will of the Croat electorate, the vast majority of whom voted for the HDZ, but the presidents of the caucuses will say that, even though the authorities are illegitimate, we respect the Parliaments. We will send our proposals of the Election Law and constitutional reforms to undergo the procedure," stated Jelavic. Judging from what has been published so far, the views of the HDZ and the Croat Co-ordination (which gathers the Croat member parties of the Alliance for Changes) coincide on the key issues. In addition, Jelavic sets conditions for their complete return to the institutions: "We demand that parliamentary and presidential elections be held by the end of the year and that the withheld human rights be returned to all those who have been removed by the decisions of the international representatives in the past years. We really want to solve everything through a dialogue, and if the condition is that I leave the political scene together with 10 leading persons, then I am ready to do it. However, the illegitimate Croat representatives, appointed against the will of the people should do the same," said Jelavic. Jozo Krizanovic, who replaced the removed Jelavic in the BiH Presidency, stated a week ago that the best thing to do would be to hold elections in the autumn. Krizanovic said that his election was legal, but not legitimate because he was not elected at general elections. Nacional: David Rivkin persuaded Jelavic that The Hague will be abolished and that the HDZ will come to power in the Republic of Croatia David Rivkin, a former Croatian Attorney at the ICTY, succeeded to persuade Ante Jelavic, the President of the HDZ BiH, of a few very suspicious judgments: that the USA, with George Bush in power, is radically changing the policy towards BiH, that his personal influence in the Bush's Administration is so strong that he almost became the main American Governor in BiH, that with a change of the American policy BiH is breaking up in three ethnically constituent units, that the raid of the Hercegovacka Bank will not end up with the arrests of Mijo Jelic, Stanko Sopta Baja, and Jelavic, and that in less than two years The Hague will be abolished and that the HDZ will come to power in Croatia again. According to the last information, Rivkin is one of the key persons in the Headquarters for the Defense of Mladen Naletilic Tuta, who has been in The Hague prison Scheveningen for over a year, charged with war crimes committed over Muslim civilians. The Naletilic's Defense Headquarters is interweaving, in terms of personnel and finances, with the Headquarters for the Defense of the so-called Croat self-rule in BiH, through which the HDZ BiH wants to reconstruct the former Herzeg Bosnia. Along with Rivkin, Ante Bakovic, a former HIS member, and Stipan Udiljak, who is still active in the HIS, are working for both Headquarters. The curiosity of Naletilic's defense team is Petar Luburic, a former secret partner in the Dubrovacka Bank and removed Chief of the Service for Protection of the Constitutional Order (SZUP), whom Nelatilic's attorneys hired as an investigator. While waiting for his case of unauthorised and illegal eavesdropping to expire by limitation, Luburic is looking for Muslims and Serbs in BiH who would be willing to say a few nice words about Naletilic in The Hague. In the capacity of Jelavic's advisor, Rivkin radically changed his former tactics. As a reminder, he used to squeeze millions of Dollars out of Franjo Tudjman, intimidating him with secret indictments against Croatian generals in The Hague. Today, as the political and legal advisor of the HDZ BiH leader, he is boasting about his good positions in the White House, acting as a comforter who turns the real state of affairs into Jelavic's wishes. The crucial fact, however, is completely different: it is exactly the Americans that are in charge of the investigative action in the Hercegovacka Bank and of collecting evidence for indictment bills against HDZ BiH leaders, which means that there is no significant turnabout in the American attitude towards the BiH integrity and the Americans' view of the HDZ BiH as a mafia organisation. The pace of solving things is the only real change in the attitude of the international community.

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