BiH State-related Issues
Alliance: Petritsch mostly responsible for the slow implementation of the Constitutional Court’s decision on “constituent peoples”
Oslobodjenje reports that the Alliance leaders concluded unanimously that the activities related to the implementation of the Constitutional Court’s Decision on the constituent status of all peoples are taking place “catastrophically slowly”, and the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, bears a great deal of responsibility for this, it was concluded at yesterday’s meeting of Alliance representatives. They criticized the High Representative, who created the Entity Constitutional Commissions in charge of drafting amendments to the Federation and the RS Constitutions, of slowing down this process. “It was noted that Petritsch, by making up some kind of fora during which one could endlessly discuss the implementation of the CC Decision, is actually deceiving the authorities and citizens in BiH,” an unidentified Alliance leader told the daily. He added that BiH authorities will soon ask the High Representative to “finally make up his mind as to whether he will cooperate with the Alliance or with nationalists from the RS.” Commenting on the latest ICG report on the RS, the same source said that the Alliance will remind the High Representative about his responsibilities and ask him to show more decisiveness about “moving things from the standstill.”
Representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDS) at yesterday’s press conference expressed similar opinion about this issue. Strajo Krsmanovic said that the High Representative, instead of sticking to earlier promises and agreements, is “offering alternative and irrelevant institutions, such as the Civic Forum, which could not genuinely contribute to significant changes.”
Deputy Chairman of the BiH House of Peoples says BiH army is indeed a precondition for joining the Council of Europe
The deputy chairman of the BiH Parliament’s House of Peoples, Nikola Spiric, said he is in possession of a document which states that a single BiH army is one of the conditions for the acceptance of BiH into the Council of Europe. “The document states that following constitutional reform, in three year’s time, there will be work on forming a single army. The document is still in preparation, and was accepted by the BiH parliamentary delegation with the Council of Europe,” Spiric told SRNA. He added that the first step towards the Council of Europe membership is the BiH Defense Paper, the second compliance with the conditions for membership in the Partnership for Peace, and the third is constitutional reform and a single BiH army.
Belgian ambassador and chairman of the BiH House of Peoples discuss the CIPS Laws
At yesterday’s meeting, the chairman of the BiH Parliament’s House of Peoples, Sejfudin Tokic, and the Belgian ambassador, Robert Devries, pointed out the need for adoption of the legislation pertaining to the protection of information on citizens’ personal identity, ro the CIPS laws, says a press release from the office of the chairman. Tokic and Devries achieved a high degree of agreement on the need for the fulfillment of conditions for the admission of BiH to European integrations, and assessed as positive the efforts of BiH institutions in preventing terrorism and fostering economic reform.
Federation
Alliance: New Federation Interior Minister will be a politician
Oslobodjenje reports that members of the Alliance made a decision late last night that the new Federation Minister of Interior will be a politician, rather then a policeman. An anonymous source told the daily that the coalition will urgently start discussing the possible candidates for replacement of Muhamed Besic in order to demonstrate that it takes the fight against terrorism very seriously. Oslobodjenje notes that this issue may become slightly problematic, as one of the main pre-election promises of the Alliance was the creation of professional police free of political influence.
Minister’s resignation questions anti-terrorism commitment – US envoy
HINA news agency reports that the resignation of the Federation interior minister, Muhamed Besic, has elicited a very harsh reaction from the United States embassy in the country. Diplomatic sources in Sarajevo have confirmed to Hina that the US charge d’affaires in Bosnia, Christopher Hoh, has forwarded a very strong-worded letter to all significant state bodies of authority, pointing out that Besic’s resignation brings into question the US government’s trust in Bosnia’s willingness to continue taking resolute anti-terrorist measures. The Sarajevo daily Dnevni avaz has quoted the long letter by Hoh, the highest-ranking diplomat until the new US ambassador arrives early next month. The letter emphasises the surprise and disappointment at the fact that Besic, of the Party for BH, has been forced to resign. The former interior minister of Federation is described as the leading figure in Bosnia’s struggle against terrorism, something the ruling Alliance for Changes coalition, which includes the Party for BH, has directly been committed to.
Hoch has warned BiH authorities the USA will not have understanding for those outside the world coalition against the perpetrators of the 11 September terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Bosnia’s authorities are requested to clarify their position towards terrorism, not only in words but through action as well.
Before resigning, Besic accused Haris Silajdzic, Party for BH’s former leader, of having attempted to extort a resignation in August. The resignation was to be a punishment for Besic’s refusal to replace Dragan Lukic as head of police administration at the federal Interior Ministry with a Muslim. Silajdzic has been in Turkey for some time now, while his closest party associates, Beriz Belkic and Safet Filipovic, have recently vehemently criticised Besic, particularly in light of his statement that 70 Al-Qa’idah members were preparing to come to Bosnia. An anonymous source told Oslobodjenje that one of the main reasons behind Besic’s de facto removal was his “diligent cooperation with international, in particular American, organisations and agencies,” rather then with local authorities which appointed him.
The international community’s High Representative for Bosnia, Wolfgang Petritsch, has also been notified about Hoh’s letter. OHR spokesperson Alexandra Stiglmayer said Petritsch’s Office had been very surprised by Besic’s resignation, adding cooperation with the former minister had been good. In the explanation of his resignation, Besic among else said he had been forced to make the decision in order to foil the struggle against terrorism and organized crime.
The Nezavisne novine daily from Banja Luka claims many tycoons were implicated in the resignation. Besic became a problem after coming close to the mastermind of organized weapon trafficking from Bosnia for Kosovo, a top Bosnian politician, the newspaper said.
Spokesperson for the Provisional Administrator of Hercegovacka Banka refuses to comment on the litigation
Written by Tomislav Kvesic; full translation
Following the announcement of a litigation to be launched by the Hercegovacka Banka (HB) owners, Dnevni list contacted Johan Verheyden, the Spokesperson for the Provisional Administrator Toby Robinson. Verheyden did not want to comment on the litigation because, he said, he only found out about it the day the paper contacted him and it was from the media. He only said that the owners and shareholders should first consider the instructions from the OHR. Asked to explain as to why no specific steps have been made in regard to the HB audit in the past six months, which is what the Bank owners blame them for as well, Mr. Verheyden said:
“Certain things have been done (but he did not specify them), it is a very complicated process because HB was the third or fourth bank in BiH and there is a sizable documentation, and not all can be done in a short time, although it seems to be going on for much too long.”
Verheyden said that Ms. Robinson herself stated that the audit of Hercegovacka Banka was developing at a record speed as opposed to some other audits she had been in charge of.
Verheyden reiterated the statements that had been presented on several previous occasions and repeated once again the earlier excuses for the postponement of the audit results publishing, accusing the former management of the HB, which, in his words, at first showed no wish to co-operate.
A significant change in this respect occurred no sooner than 29 July when the former employees and management stated they were willing to co-operate with the Provisional Administration, which happened much time after the audit started, said Verheyden.
Representatives of the HB shareholders have meanwhile had a meeting in Mostar to discuss further steps in the process of launching an international litigation.
It was stressed that a foreign law firm will be selected and the owners hope to be able to pay for the legal services with the compensation money, which shows that the owners are absolutely convinced they will win the case before an international court.
The owners would like a domestic law firm to co-operate, if possible, with the foreign firm. They did not want to say which foreign firm they had in mind and only explained that it would remain a secret until the very beginning of the litigation. According to them, there have been a number of offers that started coming in since the very beginning of the HB case.
Stock Holders of Hercegovacka Banka start a litigation: Provisional Administration spent millions of the depositors money
Vecernji List carries an article about the investigation in the Hercegovacka Banka stating that that a large share of files that were supposedly erased, around 95 % of them, have been, according to the High Representative Petritsch, retrieved by IBM experts in New York. Vecernji List phoned IBM and tried to get a confirmation of this but was told by the company that they would not comment on rumors and that the IBM guaranteed discretion to all clients. Vecernji List also says that the Provisional Administration has spent around 7 million KM of the depositors’ money on its employees in the past six months and in the meantime sacked 124 employees of the bank justifying it with current capabilities of the bank. “Experts will look into the documents, and if they find something that could warn of irregularities, I think that appropriate measures need to be undertaken. But I would not say that there were any irregularities in the bank if nothing is found in it”, said the former US Ambassador to BiH, Thomas Miller, who is believed to be one of the creators of destruction of the Hercegovacka Banka, for the Voice of America on April 19 (…) Banking experts assess that the bank is now close to receivership. If their account was de-blocked, that would lead to the collapse which was the OHR’s goal. It is hard to believe that Petritsch will be celebrated by the Croats in BiH when he goes public about the “criminal” in the Hercegovacka Banka because they have poorer standard ever since the bank was destroyed. It is more likely that Petritsch’s words will be taken as demagogy for which the Austrian gets 50.000 DEM a month, reads Vecernji List.
Federation of BiH Statistics Institute: Average salary 445, and average pension 170 KMs
According to the Federation of BiH Statistics Institute, an average salary for the last month was 445 KM and the average pension was 170 KMs. In the same time the cost of living have increased by 1,5 % when compared to the month of August. Industrial production in the federation of BiH has increased by 7 % when compared to the month of September in 2000, reads Slobodna Dalmacija.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Jerko Ivankovic, joint owner and Vice President of Peoples Party Working for Progress – These kamikaze from HDZ destroy others but protect themselves!
Is it a little bit unusual that your party has not a Croat prefix in its name since it has been established at Siroki Brijeg?
We did not want to do it because of the misuse of the adjective “Croat, Croatian and similar”, because the adjective has definitely been devaluated by everyone and everything who took upon himself/herself to exclusively represent the Croats without asking them to do so. When it comes to good intentions and achievable economic program, our party is the “Croatest” party so far, excluding the time when the HDZ was being created, when the Croat(ian) people was ready to destroy communism, moreover when the people was attacked. I personally think that the HDZ is not backed an ordinary Croat in BiH.
What members are you counting on?
We have a great potential. We have long-term plans so our members will be the ones who got cheated and disappointed, and you can make an estimate how many of those people are in BiH. We are not counting on Croats only, our party is open to everyone and we are not reluctant to say it.
Your address called the already elected Croat MPs to join you. Who did you have in mind?
Every elected MP is an exclusive holder of his/her mandate and we know that some of them disagree with the pinnacle of once the most influential party that wanted them to leave the institutions at which they were supposed to represent their people’s interests. In that sense we have made certain contacts with some people and we are expecting results of those negotiations. The pressure on those people is enormous
How did you see the last congress of the HDZ?
The atmosphere before the congress was clear to us long before it was convened. It was a typical HDZ attitude towards their membership and voters, with hints of dictatorship, “all for one” principle. It is ridiculous. But it is the HDZ thing. But I have to stress another hypocrisy when my brother Mladen warned the Croat National Assembly at its second session in Tuzla that the Croat self-rule would be very dangerous for the Croat people when his statement encountered much disagreement from the HDZ at the time. However, when Jelavic stated at the last HDZ Congress that the self-rule proved to be an unattainable project, he received applause and was re-elected the President! It is an unprecedented political hypocrisy! Of course nobody remembers Mladen’s statement and nobody will apologize to him. But I think that Mladen made a mistake by calling them “kamikaze”, because “kamikaze” destroy others and themselves, and these kamikaze destroy only others.
Lets go back to events in your municipality and canton. You have been exchanging letters with the municipal authorities, especially with the Head of Municipality Jelic pertaining to, let’s call them administrative problems, problems regarding the construction of the new factory. What the problem, what’s the factory about, how many people will it employ?
On the factory, briefly: It will hire 500 people, should be operational by 2005 and will supply the whole Southeast Europe. The current authorities in the Municipality and Canton are politicizing the problem of the construction although the factory is once in a century chance for the future of the Croat people here. Some people want to make the best out of it. We would suit the authorities if we’d fund it, kept our mouth shut and hire people. It is not going to work like that! Situation with Jelic is something different. He would not admit that he is not up to it.
You think that he does not know his job?
A: I do not say it like that. He is a young politician and has perspective. But he is only a politician. He as a politician should know that he has been elected by the people of Siroki Brijeg and that he should take care after them and not represent interests of individuals from his party. I hope he is aware of it because I am suppose to meet him today.
What about those famous 12 million KMs that you allegedly have asked for the construction?
Jelic is a young man, a lawyer, inexperienced. He does not know finances and we should not mind those statements. We should clear that story once and for all: Siroki Brijeg will not pay a single KM for the factory. Jelic’s statement lead us to conclusion that the Municipality is not sincere when it comes to the factory
What could stop the construction at Siroki Brijeg?
We are aware of the dangers. One of possible problems could be that the Head of the Municipality follows orders from individuals from his party who would try to “punish” the Lijanovici for forming a new party by preventing them to build the factory. Outrageous! Almost tragic for Croats here, if turns out to be true. Jelic has a big responsibility ahead of him. He can solve it logically. We can be members of different political parties but nobody has a right vis-ŕ-vis that to prevent the construction of the factory which would ensure 10 million KMs a year to this area. We can go back to the “kamikaze” story again, says Jerko Ivankovic, reads Slobodna Dalmacija.
No session before the Zenica Cantonal Court: Did Lozancic and Jukic receive court summons?
Slobodna Dalmacija reports that Ivo Lozancic and Perica Jukic have failed, for the second time in succession, to appear before the Zenica Cantonal Court (ZCC). Investigative Judge, Hilmo Ahmetovic, could not confirm that they have been given court summons in an orderly manner so their absence cannot be established as justified or unjustified. According to Slobodna Dalmacija’s sources, the ZCC will continue to issue summons to the Zepce Croats this week until next Monday and if they fail to appear again, the ZCC would decide on future measures.
Jozo Krizanovic, Chair of the BiH Presidency: No self-sustainability without investments
In an interview for Vecernji List, Chair of the BiH Presidency, Jozo Krizanovic, talks about the current political and economic situation in BiH.
Talking about the economic situation, Chair of the Presidency says that there is no self-sustainability without investments, and adds that there will not be investments until the legal, security and market ambiance is created. “Until we’ve finally become a part of Europe and accept the international standards, BiH will not be self-sustainable. It is a long process. We have to use our potentials, such as agriculture and make our state administration more rational and efficient”, says Jozo Krizanovic.
Mr. Krizanovic also says that BiH is a complex state established by the Dayton Peace Accord which stopped the war and that the solutions in it have not been exhausted yet and that a lot of work is still ahead. He thinks that the DPA is not sacred and believes that it could be changed when the BiH citizens create the ambiance that is necessary for the change. Mr. Krizanovic feels sorry for the young people who leave the country but in the same time understands them because they deserve more.
Egyptian Mustafa Kamel Suleiman, a former mujahedeen: We went with Croatian documents via Zagreb to fight in BiH
Mustafa Kamel Suleiman, an Egyptian citizen and a former mujahedeen in BiH, says for Vecernji List that they received an order in mid 1992 to leave Afghanistan and other Arab countries and go to Saudi Arabia, which was the main organizer and financier of the departure to BiH. In his words, there they were given a cover and next they took a flight to Zagreb as employees of the humanitarian organizations Al Haramein or the High Commission for Refugees of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. An army delegation from BiH welcomed them at the Zagreb Airport. After they received credentials from the Croatian Foreign Ministry as humanitarian workers, they were taken via Split to Mostar, Sarajevo, and some of them went to Central Bosnia.
He says back in Saudi Arabia they were told the transit was safe because Tudjman and Izetbegovic had signed an agreement, under which Croatia, in return, was to receive a portion of the weapons and money originally intended for Bosniaks, reads Vecernji List article among other things.
Republika Srpska
Bosnian Serb defense ministry employees stage one-hour strike
Employees at the defense ministry in Bosnia’s Serb Republika Srpska staged a one-hour strike on Monday over a four-month delay in being paid their wages. Bosnian Serb Defence Minister Slobodan Bilic described the strike as “groundless”, saying other civil servants here faced a similar situation and that those serving in the army were even worse off.
Return of Bosniaks to eastern Bosnia postponed
SRNA news agency reports, quoting the head of department of RS Ministry for Refugees and Displaced People in Bratunac, Djukan Licina, that the return of 40 Bosniaks and their unauthorised repossession of their property in Bratunac, which was scheduled for Monday, has been postponed due to political and media pressure. He stressed that “this political and media pressure was aimed at denigrating the work of this department”. “The majority of Bosniaks who announced their return are already in possession of a part or the entire property, but they do not live there, which is their right,” Licina said. According to him, “regardless of all acts of provocation and pressure, and regardless of the complexity of problems which this department is facing, the process of the return of the property is proceeding according to plan and the biggest problem is posed by the lack of alternative accommodation”.
Bosniak returnee students start attending schools in Zvornik
The head of the OHR-Zvornik, Jonathon Robinson, confirmed that classes for Bosniak students have commenced in Zvornik schools. At a meeting attended by representatives from the municipality, NGOs, the OHR, OSCE and UNHCR and the Office for Human Rights, Robinson said that Bosniak students have begun attending primary schools in Krizevici, Sjenokos, Kamenica and Djurdjev Grad.
Privatization of Apartments in the RS
Glas srpski carries a statement of the Aide to the RS Minister for Refugees and DPs Drago Vuleta who said that responsibility of municipal authorities in the RS and FBiH was to, upon a request of an occupancy right holder, issues a certificate that the apartment was not disputable. Vuleta added that this applied to individuals who, in period between April 30. 1991. and until adoption of the Law on Privatization of Socially Owned Apartments in the RS, changed their addresses and occupancy rights on the territory of BiH. According to Vuleta, new instructions for privatization of apartments issued by the RS Ministry for Refugees and DPs, should be approved at the meeting with representatives of the respective FBiH Ministry and the OHR.
RS Minister for Urbanism Nedjo Djuric Said the RS is to Collect KM 150 Million From Privatization of Apartments in the RS
Glas srpski carries a statement of the RS Urbanism Minister Nedjo Djuric who said that the Law on Privatization of Socially-owned apartments in the RS foresees the establishment of the RS Housing Fund, from which building of new apartments would be funded. He assessed that the RS would collect 150 million KM from the process of privatization of apartments.
Pakistani With no Documents in Doboj
Glas Srpski carries a statement from Doboj Public Security Center in Doboj saying that local police found eight foreign citizens at the bus station in Doboj, who had no documents on them. The press release notes that the foreigners were Pakistani citizens who had intention to seek asylum in BiH.
CRA (Communication Regulatory Agency) Announced Results of Competition for Long-term Broadcasting Licenses for Regions Banja Luka, Bugojno and Konjic
Both RS dailies report on the CRA’s press conferences at which results of competition for long-term licenses for regions Banja Luka, Bugojno and Konjic were announced.
Attached is the CRA’a press release with results:
International Community
Polish special units reportedly “in Balkans” hunting Karadzic
Belgrade Politika TV reported yesterday, quoting Polish magazine Wprost, that a group from the elite Polish Grom special unit is in the Balkans on a strictly confidential mission for over nine weeks already, tasked to find and arrest former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. As broadcast by Voice of Russia radio, Polish Defence Minister Bronislaw Komorowski confirmed this information but refused to give details on the operation.
Italians to replace Americans in Kosovo and BiH: Berlusconi meets Bush over Balkans
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi following his gaffe with the statement about the dominance of the western civilization over the Islamic civilization, met with the American President George Bush and offered a concrete help, meaning a bigger engagement of the Italian forces in the Balkans in order to move the American forces closer to Afghanistan. Italians will replace a big part of American forces in Bosnia and Kosovo by deploying between 3 and 4 thousand troops (…), reads Vecernji List.
Editorials
Editorials in Sarajevo dailies
In today’s issue of Oslobodjenje, Mirko Sagolj notes that the Alliance for Change has become a ruling coalition without any viable opposition and now holds the ultimate responsibility for the country’s future. Sagolj argues that the recent Congresses of once strongest nationalist parties in the Federation, the SDA and the HDZ, sent a clear signal that both parties lost their dominant place in the country’s politics, which may not necessarily be negative. However, he notes, what concerns at this time is not only the fact that the Alliance does not have a viable opposition, but that opposing but democratic views within the Alliance are becoming increasingly silent. With the withdrawal of strong political personalities such as Haris Silajdzic, Bozidar Matic or Safet Orucevic, Lagumdzija’s position remains truly unchallenged and unchecked.
In a separate editorial, Senka Kurtovic argues that the withdrawal of Alija Izetbegovic from politics and the leadership of the SDA may not change much, as he will keep the post of the honorary president and thereby continue making all important decisions and setting policies. For, Kurtovic claims, Izetbegovic will retain full control over the newly elected leading members and remain the axis of the party.
Oslobodjenje also reports that Izetegovic and Sulejman Tihic, the new president of the SDA, received the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, on Monday and discussed the present situation in BiH and party activities in the future period.
Dnevni Avaz carries a shorter editorial about rate of economic/industrial production in BiH.
TV BiH sees Izetbegovic continuing leading role in the SDA (commentary)
Alija Izetbegovic was declared honorary chairman of the SDA and chairman of the political council that will be appointed at the proposal of the honorary chairman. According to some views, the function of honorary chairman will in fact be instrumental in running the party and that Izetbegovic’s stepping down from the post of SDA chairman is an illusion.
Despite his own announcement that he would step down as SDA chairman and a new person would be appointed, Alija Izetbegovic, the honorary and until Saturday the official chairman of the SDA, will practically remain one of the party’s leading personalities. This conclusion is inevitable after the SDA presidency decided to confer on Izetbegovic the title of honorary chairman. Izetbegovic himself will nominate members of the political council, a new body to be set up in line with a resolution of the SDA’s third congress. The council over which he will preside will take an active part in the party’s work and suggest certain solutions.
“Mr Izetbegovic has stepped down. However, in view of his charisma, role, the fact that he formed, founded and established the SDA, the party will most likely never again have a similar leader. There will be a team of people who will work together, discuss, and attempt to implement the SDA manifesto and declaration,” said Husein Zivalj of the SDA.
According to Hasan Muratovic, under the existing ideas the SDA political council will analyse political trends and table proposals under certain circumstances. “He (Izetbegovic) will remain involved in creating macro-policy, as it were, but the party will be led by a large team that will include professionals – as you know this is the largest party in Bosnia-Hercegovina,” said Hasan Muratovic.
And while the party is trying to implement certain changes, the situation inside the party is far from being idyllic. Discontent is widespread but no-one is prepared to speak out for the time being. The fact that almost one-third of the invited delegates failed to attend the congress speaks for itself. (Regarding the last point, the SDA issues a statement for the press, strongly criticising the lack of professional standards on the part of TV BiH reporters who “deceived the public incorrectly stating that only one third of invited delegates turned up at the Congress.” The party said that the attendance was at the highest possible level as nearly fourth fifths of the invited delegates were present in Sarajevo. “Those who did not make it were mostly elderly members or representatives from abroad who could not afford the accommodation in Sarajevo).
Vjesnik: Izetbegovic is the shadow leader of the SDA
Written by Mario Marusic; partial translation
Alija Izetbegovic’s eleven-years-long leadership of the SDA is (not) over. (…) Sulejman Tihic was elected the President of the party but Izetbegovic “invented” the Political Council of the SDA, which will be under his leadership, and thus left the door “wide open” to those who tend to claim that Tihic will only be the formal boss while Izetbegovic will continue to rule “from the shadow.” (…)
What confirms the opinion of those who say that the new SDA leadership is practically incapable without Izetbegovic is the fact that Izetbegovic, while announcing his retirement (or “retirement”) prior to the Congress, said that he would be preparing the new leadership of the party (?). (…)
The election of party Vice Presidents also confirms Izetbegovic’s real power. He trifled with Bicakcic (…) whom he initially proclaimed his successor, but when Bicakcic’s ambitions turned towards Izetbegovic’s own pedestal, he showed him who the boss was.
There were no drastic changes at the SDA Congress, although they had been announced. It is true not only when it comes to the leading positions in the party, but also when it comes to the future orientation of the party. Although there had been some talk about “profiling” the SDA from a national party to a people’s party, the “profiling,” if one were to judge by the idea of a “Bosnian nation,” which was once more revived by Izetbegovic, is going in the wrong direction and serves as a confirmation that nothing, in fact, has changed in the SDA, reads Vjesnik.
Dnevni List: Bosnian nation – a joke or…
Written by Ivan Pavkovic; partial translation
Jokes about Bosnians have always been amusing to Herzegovinians. On the other hand, Bosnians have nothing against hearing a joke about Herzegovinians, either. On the contrary! Therefore, the idea of calling the Herzegovinian population Bosnians seemed like a joke to many people. Still, the idea of Alija Izetbegovic and his SDA is not too funny because it implies serious intentions with far-reaching goals and consequences for the peoples in BiH. It is by no means a coincidence that the word ‘Herzegovina’ in the name of the state has been systematically omitted in the past years. In spite of the explanations that it is “more convenient” to say only “Bosnia,” it is simply unbelievable that one of the words in the official name of the state can be such an obstacle in pronunciation, reads Dnevni List.
On the other hand, one should not forget that Muslims, the predominant people that is the biggest in number in BiH, renamed themselves to Bosniaks. The difference between those two words in the English language, for instance, is not too big (Bosnian-Bosniak), and there is not much difference in the “domestic languages” either, so that those two names often get mixed. (…)
If Herzegovinians can be renamed to Bosnians, why could Bosnians not be renamed to Herzegovinians, or Sarajevans to Mostarians and Mostarians to Sarajevans, Slavonians to Istrians, and so on… As for the jokes… They seem to be becoming quite dangerous when made by those who do not have much sense of it!, reads Dnevni List editorial.