- BiH/Central institutions:
- Both Houses of BiH Parliament to discuss the security situation in BIH
- Federation related issues:
- April pensions still a no go
- Hand grenade thrown on Orthodox church in Sanski Most
- Suspended Herzegovacka Bank management takes the OHR to court
- Mostar: The Croat Co-ordination holds a press conference - A meeting
with officials of Croat-majority Cantons to follow soon
- The number of soldiers in the Croat component of the BiH Federation
Army to be reduced by 50%
- RS related issues:
- Situation in Trebinje remains tense
- International community related issues:
- Zenica Red Cross awards the High Representative with Humane Deed
Award
- Wolfgang Petritsch Visits Zenica - Perpetrators Behind Bars!
- Refugees support OHR Special Envoy to Trebinje
- Petritsch visits Puticevo, a Croat returnee village
- Mostar: Visit of the International Mediator for the BiH Federation and
Republika Srpska - Schwarz-Schilling meets with Merdzo
- OHR: No talks with the HDZ before their representatives return to
the Parliament
- Matica Hrvatska sends an open letter to the High Representative
- Banja Luka incident and aftermath:
- Banja Luka incidents - the aftermath (Federation media reports)
- Peaceful demonstrations against Banja Luka violence held in Sarajevo
- Graham Hand Says Mladen Ivanic Is the Number One To Blame For Banja Luka Incident
- Sarovic and Kalinic Condemn the Violence;
- Alexandra Stiglmayer Says Political Directors of PIC Steering Board
Will Discuss Croat Self-rule and Incidents in RS;
- BL Town Authorities Condemn Banja Luka Incident;
- Interview with BL Mufti Edhem Camdzic;
- Mladen Ivanic Says Statements of the IC Representatives Are
Premature;
- Murat Badic in Coma;
- The day after: Bishop Franjo Komarica about the violence in the
streets of Banja Luka - We were being stoned for six hours!
- A strong reaction of the police following the incidents in Banja
Luka - 20 persons detained
- Kostunica sees danger in restoring Bosnian mosques
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BiH/Central institutions related issues:
Both Houses of BiH Parliament to discuss the security situation in BiH
Sarajevo papers reported that both Houses of BiH Parliament will hold a
joint extraordinary session on Thursday. The main topic on the agenda will
be the security situation in BiH and the aftermath of the incidents in
Trebinje and Banja Luka, Parliament officials told the press.
Federation related issues:
April pensions still a no go
Sarajevo papers reported that the Steering Board of the BiH Pension Fund
still has not reached a decision on the level of April pensions. Board
officials said that the Fund does not have enough money to pay even the
minimal 117 KM pensions to all the pensioners in the Federation. The final
decision on April pensions will be reached on Thursday, Board officials
said.
Reporting on the same subject Zagreb daily Vecernji List said the Pension
Fund in Sarajevo (PIO) needs another 23 million KM to be able to pay the
pensions for April. Sefer Halilovic, the Minister of Welfare, Refugees and
DPs, asked the Federation Government to provide those "tiny" 20 millions
so that the pensioners can get on time the little money they usually get,
reads the Vecernji List article.
While the PIO in Sarajevo is demanding that their empty treasuries be
filled from the Federation Budget, the Pension and Invalidity Insurance
Bureau in Mostar (MIO) had to get into debts due to the blockade of
Hercegovacka Bank.
"The political structures of the Alliance for Changes and the
international institutions are trying to integrate the empty PIO in
Sarajevo and the blocked MIO in Mostar. PIO in Sarajevo owes the
pensioners millions and millions of Marks and the inflow of taxes to their
treasuries is decreasing. At the same time, the MIO in Mostar has enough
money to pay the pensioners two monthly pensions. Still, someone is in a
hurry to integrate the two pension funds.
It is believed that the political structures of the Alliance and the
international community want to impoverish the MIO in Mostar and reduce it
to poverty, as is already the case with the PIO in Sarajevo," reads
Vecernji List.
Hand grenade thrown on Orthodox church in Sanski Most
UN officials reported that on Monday a hand grenade was thrown on the
Orthodox church in Sanski Most, Sarajevo papers said. There were no
injured and only minor damage was done to the church. Two perpetrators,
Bosniaks in their early twenties were arrested, UN officials said and
condemned this act of violence.
Both BL dailies report that a hand-grenade was thrown at orthodox church
of Holly Apostles Peter and Paul in Sanski Most yesterday. Chief of Police
in Sanski Most, Nurija Jakupovic says that the explosive device was thrown
around 21:30 hrs. After that two persons were detained and one of them
confessed the crime. Mr. Jakupovic says that windows on café "Ronhil",
owned by a Serb returnee, were smashed and police officers identified the
perpetrators. In both cases criminal charges were pressed against the
perpetrators. UN Spokesman, Douglas Koffmann told press that persons
suspected of throwing hand-grenade at orthodox church in Sanski Most,
confessed the crime. BL dailies also report that Serb returnees from the
village Krkojevci had only verbal confrontations with their Bosniak
neighbors.
Suspended Herzegovacka Bank management takes the OHR to court
Oslobodjenje reported that the suspended management of Herzegovacka Bank
has sued the OHR, The case was taken to the Mostar municipal court and a
three-man lawyer team will represent the bank. Milan Sutalo, spokesman for
the suspended management said that he believes that the OHR will realize
they were wrong and will return all the bank documents and withdraw the
decision on imposing the provisional administrator.
Zagreb daily Vecernji List reporting on the same subject said that
according to Josip Muselimovic, the head of the team of lawyers who
represent the Hercegovacka Bank shareholders, they filed charges against
the OHR with the Municipal Court in Mostar, and demanded from the Court to
introduce the temporary measure of ordering the OHR to return the money to
its owners and allow the HB employees to go back to work.
Muselimovic announced that his team would also file a suit for a
compensation of the damages caused by the blockade of the Bank and its
operations once the Hercegovacka Bank experts produce an elaboration about
the depositors.
Speaking about the immunity granted to all the Provisional Administration
officers, Muselimovic said that the High Representative cannot have such
powers because it would mean a total suspension of the BiH legal system.
He added that his team needs to study thoroughly the documents from the
peace conferences on BiH that the High Representative refers to.
In answer to a question about the steps they plan to undertake in case the
BiH Courts declare that dealing with the case against the OHR is out of
their jurisdiction, Muselimovic said the legal procedure does not rule out
the possibility of filing charges with international courts. Still, he
believes that the international community representatives will realize
what they did was "impermissible," and that all the confiscated materials
will be returned to their owners before the case is initiated.
Mostar: The Croat Coordination holds a press conference - A meeting with
officials of Croat-majority Cantons to follow soon
Slobodna Dalmacija reported that Jadranko Prlic, the Chairman of the Croat
Co-ordination, spoke at the press conference, and Coordination members
Mladen Ivankovic and Milivoj Gagro were also present.
Prlic stated that the Croat Coordination would organize a new round of
meetings with the representatives of the international community in the
course of May. As Prlic said, at a request from the international
community, they will also organize a meeting with the representatives of
the authorities and associations in the Croat-majority cantons and the
Herzegovina-Neretva and Central Bosnia Cantons in order to continue the
dialogue and advance the unity when it comes to the national interests and
their protection by means of acting within the legislative and executive
authorities.
The number of soldiers in the Croat component of the BiH Federation Army
to be reduced by 50%
Wednesday's last edition of the dying Zagreb daily Republika said that the
Federation Minister of Defense Mijo Anic stated on Tuesday that the number
of the Croat component members in the Federation Army will be reduced by
50%, and that the process of filling the professional structures of all
units will be completed by the end of the week.
Anic appealed to the former members of the Federation Army from the
Brigades stationed in Drvar and Capljina and who originally come from
Central Bosnia to ask that their contracts with the Ministry of Defense be
renewed, reads Republika.
RS related issues:
Situation in Trebinje remains tense
Dnevni Avaz reported that the situation in Trebinje remained tense.
According to the daily groups of Serb extremists were circling the town
carrying Chetnick flags and signing Chetnick songs. For at least an hour a
bus full of extremists was driving through town sending a clear message
that Bosniaks are not welcome there.
``We will slaughter the Turks,'' extremist were shouting, the daily said.
International community related issues:
Zenica Red Cross awards the High Representative with Humane Deed Award
Zenica Red Cross has on Tuesday awarded the High Representative, Wolfgang
Petritsch with its highest award ``Humane Deed Award''. The award was
handed to Petritsch at a ceremony in Zenica for his achievements in
humanitarian work and his help to BiH.
Wolfgang Petritsch Visits Zenica - Perpetrators Behind Bars!
Both BL dailies quote High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch as saying
that the priority of the IC is to find people responsible for incidents in
Banja Luka and Trebinje. Ambassador Petritsch called on local authorities
to respect the rule of law and stressed that he would discuss further
steps with the RS leadership very soon. "I think it is high time to talk
about political responsibility and the persons involved in the crime
during the past few years. I think, that these hooligans showed to the IC
that the rule of law will not be possible as long as Karadzic and people
like him are at large", said Mr. Petritsch during his yesterday' visit to
Zenica.
Refugees support OHR Special Envoy to Trebinje
Daniel Ruiz, OHR Special Envoy to Trebinje on Tuesday received support of
refugees from this town, media reported. Ruiz was welcomed in front of
the OHR headquarters in Sarajevo by scores of people, mainly Bosniaks
refugees from Trebinje, who waited for him in front of the OHR building
and cheered ``You are our hero.''
``I am not afraid and I am not leaving Trebinje,'' Ruiz told the crowd and
added that the perpetrators of the attacks have been identified and it is
just a matter of hours when they will be arrested.
Petritsch visits Puticevo, a Croat returnee village
The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch on Tuesday visited Puticevo
village near Travnik, Dnevni Avaz and Oslobodjenje reported. Puticevo is a
village of Croat returnees and Petritsch said that he visited it to see
``what is happening on the ground and how the return of Croats is going on
because I know that it is slow.''
``The return is of vital importance in entire BiH. It is very important
that Croats, as a constitutive nation, return to their homes because this
is their homeland as well,'' Petritsch said.
Oslobodjenje reported that at one point during his visit to Puticevo the
High Representative was threatened by a Bosnian Croat who was later
identified as Mario Lovrinovic.
Slobodna Dalmacija reported that the High Representative Wolfgang
Petritsch visited the returnee village of Puticevo, Travnik Municipality,
on Tuesday afternoon.
The High Representative is quoted as saying the following: "The return of
refugees and displaced persons is of vital interest for BiH, and I am
particularly interested in the return of Croats, as the fewest constituent
people in this state. I wanted to learn about the reasons of the slow
return and the problems that the Croat returnees face in this part of the
Municipality of Travnik."
The paper reads that Travnik Croats invited the High Representative to
visit the wartime cemetery of Prahulje, where over 400 Travnik Croats who
had died or had been killed during the war were buried, and the village of
Maljine where what seems to be a mass grave of the killed Travnik Croats
was discovered only a few hours before the High Representative's arrival.
"However, Petritsch could not accept the invitation because he had other
appointments scheduled earlier, but he promised to come to Travnik again.
He said he would make maximal efforts to help and he encouraged Croats to
return," reports Slobodna Dalmacija.
In another article next to this one, under the headline 'Corpses of 21
Travnik Croat found?, " Slobodna Dalmacija reports that two villagers of
Maljine found and dug up a pit in which they found remains of human bodies
and clothes. The pit is believed to be a mass grave of 21 of the 37
Travnik Croats who were killed on June 8, 1993.
The BiH Army members shot 37 imprisoned soldiers, wounded persons and
civilians, most of whom were residents of Maljine and other villages in
the Travnik Parish of Guca Gora, and the bodies of 15 of them have been
found and buried so far, says Slobodna Dalmacija.
Mostar: Visit of the International Mediator for the BiH Federation and
Republika Srpska - Schwarz-Schilling meets with Merdzo
Split daily Slobodna Dalmacija reported Josip Merdzo, the President of the
HNC Government, was visited by Christian Schwarz-Schilling, the
International Mediator for the BiH Federation and Republika Srpska, the
HNC Government released.
Merdzo informed Mr. Schwarz-Schilling about the activities that are being
undertaken with regards to the "establishment of the authority bodies in
the HNC and the problems that the Canton is facing as a result of the
blockade of the payment system which was caused by the OHR's decision to
introduce the provisional administration and the SFOR's actions in the
facilities of Hercegovacka Bank and Cantonal Treasury."
They also discussed the problems related to the functioning of the
Cantonal Ministry of Interior following the decision of the international
community to temporarily suspend a big number of Croat officials in the
Cantonal Ministry of Interior, Slobodna Dalmacija reports.
Merdzo expressed his expectation that the future moves of the
international community in this regard will not make the functioning of
the Cantonal Ministry of Interior additionally difficult.
OHR: No talks with the HDZ before their representatives return to the
Parliament
Zagreb daily Jutarnji List quotes OHR Spokesperson Oleg Milisic as saying:
"We are willing to talk to any party or individual that have not violated
the Constitution and the laws, but participation in the legal institutions
is dependent on nothing."
Milisic also said that the door for the HDZ to take up their positions in
the parliaments is open and that it is the parliaments where they should
address the issues they find important, reads Jutarnji List.
In answer to the question as to whether the OHR finds some of the
negotiating team members disputable, Milisic said that matter is not so
relevant at this point and reiterated that they have always been willing
to talk about the legitimate issues of Croats with those who have not put
themselves outside the Constitution and the laws, reports Jutarnji List.
A similar article was published in Vecernji List.
Matica Hrvatska sends an open letter to the High Representative
Bosnian Croat news agency Habena reported on Wednesday afternoon that
members of the Central Croatian Cultural and Publishing Society (Matica
hrvatska) Mostar have sent today an open letter to the High
Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, expressing their consternation at his
decision to bar Josip Merdzo from holding office of president of the Government of the Herzegovina/Neretva Canton.
"As a non-political and non-government organization, we would like to
affirm to you that the implementation of this decision would badly hurt
the ethic principles of an educated, cultured, tolerant and above all
responsible man such as Josip Merdzo, and consequently the lasting values
of a people on which their identity and their further survival rest.
"Convinced that you took this decision under the influence of wrong and
false information, the Matica members and the members of the Council for
Co-operation of Maticas in the Herzegovina/Neretva Canton, request you to
reconsider this decision, for you barred an honourable and honest man from
exercising his Constitution-guaranteed rights, a man who just for these
moral qualities of his enjoys an absolute support of his people.
"Only in this way will you be in position to protect the credibility of
the International Community at the head of which you are" - the letter
concludes.
Banja Luka incidents and aftermath:
Banja Luka incidents - the aftermath
Banja Luka incidents continue to occupy the attention of media in BiH.
Oslobodjenje on its front page on Wednesday quotes OHR officials as saying
that removals of RS President, Mirko Sarovic and Prime Minister, Mladen
Ivanic are not excluded. The daily quoting Oleg Milisic, OHR spokesman
said that after organized violence in Banja Luka these removals are a
possibility and that the High Representative will meet with top RS
officials to discuss the events.
The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch at a press conference held in
Zenica on Tuesday said that this is not just a problem of the RS but of
all in BiH.
``I think it about time that we talks about political responsibility and
persons who who have been involved in criminal activities in last several
years. These hooligans have clearly shown to the international community
that the rule of law is not possible as long as Karadzic and others like
him are at large,'' Petritsch told reporters.
BiH Presidency held an extraordinary session on Tuesday, discussed the
incidents and asked for punishment of perpetrators as well as officials in
charge of securing the ceremony of laying of the cornerstone for the
Ferhadija mosque.
RS Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic told the press that RS Police using the
TV footage has identified some of the perpetrators but refused to disclose
any details.
BiH Council of Ministers also met and discussed the Banja Luka incidents,
papers said.
Murat Bandic, one of the Bosniaks injured in the rampage of Serb
nationalists is still in a coma in Banja Luka hospital, papers reported.
All papers carry numerous reactions of other BiH and international
community organizations and officials.
Peaceful demonstrations against Banja Luka violence held in Sarajevo
Tuesday night peaceful demonstrations against the violence in Banja Luka
were organized in Sarajevo, Oslobodjenje reported. Youth from Sarajevo's
Ilidza neighborhood walked to the center of Sarajevo demonstrating. They
also protested in front of the OHR headquarters, the daily said.
Graham Hand Says Mladen Ivanic Is the Number One To Blame For Banja Luka Incident
Today's edition of "Nezavisne novine" quotes British Ambassador to BiH,
Graham Hand as saying that the RS Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic is the
number one to blame for yesterday's incident in Banja Luka. He says that
SDS supporters caused the incident in Banja Luka yesterday and that he
discussed that with SDS President Dragan Kalinic. "I told Mr. Kalinic that
he is the person leading the SDS and he has to help the Government to
bring perpetrators to justice", said Mr. Hand. According to him "two
persons have already offered their resignations which will, most probably,
be accepted, whilst the RS Government is still trying to identify persons
who participated in the incident". British Ambassador also said he
expected the RS Government to schedule an extraordinary session that will
only be dedicated to the BL riots. Mr. Hand added that the SFOR made a
wise decision when decided not to intervene because it would have been
people hurt. "I want to underline that a very important task is before the
RS Government who has to prove that it is capable of controlling the
entire situation", says Ambassador Hand.
Sarovic and Kalinic Condemn the Violence
Both BL dailies carry press release issued by RS President and RS NA
Speaker, Mirko Sarovic and Dragan Kalinic in which they condemned the
violence and religious intolerance demonstrated during yesterday's
incident in Banja Luka. The press release further reads that Mr. Kalinic
and Mr. Sarovic agreed with Envoy of the German Foreign Ministry in charge
of the Southeast Europe and the Balkans, Michael Scheffer that responsible
authorities should work on finding perpetrators and instigators of the
Banja Luka incident. "The RS will have perspective only within BiH as a
free and democratic community of peoples who live in it and who have the
equal treatment and where all human rights and freedoms are complied
with", reads the press release.
Alexandra Stiglmayer Says Political Directors of PIC Steering Board Will
Discuss Croat Self-rule and Incidents in RS
Today's edition of "Nezavisne novine" quotes Alexandra Stiglmayer as
saying that the incidents in Trebinje and Banja Luka will be one of the
topics of the PIC Steering Board meeting that will take place in Sarajevo
tomorrow. The Board will also discuss the situation in Herzegovina after
the HDZ walked out of the Federation authorities, implementation of the
BiH CC ruling, Election Law and other relevant issues. She says she does
not expect anything sensational and adds that when it comes to the
incidents in Banja Luka and Trebinje the Board will discuss how to face it
and what to do in order to prevent such events from happening again. "The
High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch thinks that these are very grave
incidents that should be systematically approached. He will have
discussions with the RS authorities, BiH Presidency and CoM", says
Alexandra Stiglmayer.
BL Town Authorities Condemn Banja Luka Incident
Banja Luka town authorities, led by BL Mayor Dragoljub Davidovic, issued
press release in which they condemned the incidents that happened in Banja
Luka the day before yesterday. The press release further reads that
terrible pictures from Banja Luka went around the world. BL authorities
hope that these events will not ruin good relations and cooperation Banja
Luka town has with other municipalities in BiH and the international
institutions. BL Town authorities call on RS authorities to find
perpetrators and inform public about it.
Interview with BL Mufti Edhem Camdzic
Today's edition of "Nezavisne novine" carries interview with Banja Luka
Mufti Edhem Camdzic in which he comments on the incident that happened in
Banja Luka the day before yesterday. Banja Luka Mufti Camdzic refused to
comment on role of Sarovic and Cavic and called on Serbs, Croats and
Bosniaks to develop tolerance and leave in peace. Mufti Camdzic said that
Prime Minister Ivanic promised him that "vakufi" will be repossessed so
that BL imam can live there.
Mladen Ivanic Says Statements of the IC Representatives Are Premature
Today's edition of "Glas srpski" quotes RS Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic
as saying that we have to wait for the RS Police to finish its part of the
job, that is, to assess causes of the Banja Luka events. "I think that one
cannot draw conclusions because small number of people participated in the
incident and great majority of RS citizens supports the RS Government and
its measures. Ivanic says that the statements of the IC representatives
that only RS authorities are responsible for the incidents, are premature.
Note: RTRS reported last night that RS Minister of Internal Affairs,
Perica Bundalo removed Chief of Trebinje Police, Jovo Cokorilo and
suspended 5 officers from Banja Luka Public Security Center.
Murat Badic in Coma
"Nezavisne novine" reports that one of the Bosniaks who wished to attend
the ceremony in Banja Luka fell into a coma. According to one of the
physicians from the Banja Luka General Hospital, Dr. Milijan Kalusevic,
Mr. Badic has brain contusion and serious injuries of occipital bone and
sinuses. Dr. Kalusevic says that Mr. Badic is in coma and that the final
outcome of Mr. Badic's treatment is very uncertain.
Ivanic.
The day after: Bishop Franjo Komarica about the violence in the streets of
Banja Luka - We were being stoned for six hours!
Split daily Slobodna Dalmacija reported that Banja Luka Bishop Franjo
Komarica said that the incidents started when Mr. Klein and Mr. Lagumdzija
arrived. In his words, there were around 300 to 350 persons inside the
Islamic Community building, which was being stoned all the time.
Slobodna Dalmacija reports that the High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch
blamed the RS authorities for allowing "an extremist minority to terrorise
the rest of the population" by failing to react properly to the events in
Trebinje. The High Representative warned that such incidents would become
a rule without prosecution and punishments of those responsible, but did
not state what measures he himself is intending to undertake, reads
Slobodna Dalmacija.
Kostunica sees danger in restoring Bosnian mosques
Reuters news agency reported that Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica
criticized Serb nationalists on Tuesday who rioted against reconstruction
of a medieval mosque in Bosnia but questioned whether the mosque should
have been restored.
While he was "very concerned and unhappy because of the incident of
violence and religious intolerance in the case of Banja Luka," some
churches and mosques should not be rebuilt because they "might provoke
these incidents," Kostunica said after talks with U.N. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan.
Bosnian Serb police in Banja Luka had to evacuate nearly 300 people,
including top Western diplomats in Bosnia, on Monday after they became
trapped in a building by rioting Serb nationalists.
Jacques Klein, head of the U.N. mission in Bosnia, and other officials
were trapped by Serb protesters throwing tear gas grenades, stones and
eggs at Muslim refugees and officials who came to mark the reconstruction
of a 16th century mosque in Banja Luka that was destroyed in Bosnia's
1992-95 war.
At least 30 people, 19 Muslims and 11 Serbs, were injured after protesters
broke through a special police cordon and began throwing stones and
beating people, some of them elderly Muslim believers, who had gathered
for the ceremony.
The famed Ferhadije mosque was one of 16 destroyed in Banja Luka and 618
in Bosnian Serb territory during the country's 1992-95 war, and local
authorities approved its reconstruction only months ago.
In apparent retaliation, two Bosnian Muslims threw a hand grenade at an
Orthodox church in Sarajevo on Monday night, U.N. officials said on
Tuesday.
Nobody was injured in the Monday night blast, which did only minor damage
to the church in the northwestern town of Sanski Most, the officials said.
Two Bosnian Muslim men had been arrested and one had confessed to the
attack, they said.
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