- NATO Delegation Ended Visit To BiH
- BiH Defense Policy Useful For RS
- BiH Foreign Ministry Spokesman Says Prlic and Halilovic Are Not Arrested
- Dobrinja After the Arbitration Award – 200 Flats Repossessed
Aftermath of the Terrorist Attacks/BiH events
- Council of Ministers orders a probe into BiH citizenship/passports granted after the Dayton
- OHR and BIH Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Speculations about alleged terrorists in BiH are detrimental to BiH
- Bosnians suspected of terrorism to be extradited soon, interior minister says
- RS news agency claims a BiH citizen took part in terrorist attacks in the U.S.; UN warns that such reports are aimed at discrediting Muslim population
- Haris Silajdzic withdraws from politics; leaves Party for BiH to Safet Halilovic
- Financial Experts on financial audit in Aluminij: Why would Aluminij be an exception?
- Pro-The Hague Posters turn up in Mostar
- RS NA Session Recessed – Government Reshuffle Is Necessary
- FRY Government Gave Guarantees For Momcilo Krajisnik
- High Representative to brief the UN Security Council about the IC activities in BiH in the past 6 months
- Interview With Wolfgang Petritsch – Privatization Has to Be Transparent
- International Organizations: Instructions for Purchase of Apartments in the Federation are urgent and necessary
- OHR Spokesman Says Additional Clarifications on privatization of apartments Necessary
- Slobodna Dalmacija: Three Herzegovinian Kings of Oil
- Vecernji List: Izetbegovic and associates brought Mujahedeen and cooperated with them
BiH State-related Issues
NATO Delegation Ended Visit To BiH
Both Banja Luka dailies quote the Acting Head of NATO’s Defense Partnership and Cooperation Directorate, George Katsirdakis, as saying that regardless of the Partnership for Peace (PfP), BiH needs a joint institution that will deal with defense issues. “If you want this country to work normally, then the military personnel have to communicate, cooperate with each other and have joint civil structures. However, we still need to discuss what these structures will be called and how they will work”, says Katsirdakis. When asked if joint BiH army was mentioned as one of the conditions that BiH has to meet in order to gain accession to the PfP, Katsirdakis said that the talks with entity governments were not directed at creation of joint army in the full sense of the word. According to him it is necessary to respect the DPA and a reality that there are two separate armies and separate entity structures in BiH. “It is also necessary to develop, at a higher level, the cooperation between the two armies at the state level and to undertake activities that will lead to creation of joint bureaucracy or civil service that will deal with defense issues. Judging by the meetings I had with BiH officials I realized that this principle is acceptable for both sides but under condition that the DPA is complied with”, concluded Katsirdakis.
BiH Defense Policy Useful For RS
Both Banja Luka dailies report that the Commission for implementation of Annexes 2 and 4 of the DPA held meeting in Banja Luka yesterday and discussed preparations exercise for aerial reconnaissance that will take place in both BiH entities. The OSCE member in this Commission, General Claudio Zapula, said that the meeting was very successful and stressed that in BiH it is necessary to shift the attention from security issues to economic development. The paper quotes Aide to the RS Defense Minister, Bosko Gvozden, as saying that the BiH Defense Policy foresees existence of the RS as well as limits of peace-time and war-time military with the defined number of troops, which is useful for the RS.
BiH Foreign Ministry Spokesman Says Prlic and Halilovic Are Not Arrested
Both Banja Luka dailies quote BiH Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Amer Kapetanovic, as saying that Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Jadranko Prlic and the Federation Minister of Labor, Social Policy and Refugees, Sefer Halilovic are not arrested upon the ICTY indictments.
Dobrinja After the Arbitration Award – 200 Flats Repossessed
Today’s edition of “Glas srpski” reports that at the meeting of Srpska Ilidza and Novi Grad municipalities, held yesterday in Ilidza, it has been concluded that the implementation of the Arbitration Award for Dobrinja 1 and 4 is going on as planned. In parts of Dobrinja, which according to the Award, were attached to the BiH Federation, 200 flats have been repossessed so far. The representatives of the two municipalities also agreed on transfer of documentation for 106 provisional facilities and documentation needed for issuance of construction permit.
Aftermath of the Terrorist Attacks/BiH events
Council of Ministers orders a probe into BiH citizenship/passports granted after the Dayton
The BiH Council of Ministers broadened on Thursday the mandate of the Commission for Revision of the status of naturalized BiH citizens so it would also include the audit of all passports obtained after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, i.e., after 1995. The chairman of the CoM, Zlatko Lagumdzija, said at a press conference in Sarajevo that in the view of the global fight against terrorism and BiH participation in this effort, the Council decided to charge the Commission with conducting a comprehensive audit of BiH citizenship granted from 1992 onwards.
OHR and BIH Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Speculations about alleged terrorists in BiH are detrimental to BiH
After the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the speculations that Osama bin Laden has a BiH passport and that he is training future terrorists in this country, OHR spokesman Kevin Sullivan said that the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, is confident that BiH authorities are giving a serious consideration to the problem of terrorism and wanted to also distance himself from the speculations. “Unfounded rumors do not positively contribute to the process of reconciliation,” said Sullivan, and added that the Ambassador Petritsch already discussed this issue with the Foreign Minister, Zlatko Lagumdzija.
The spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Amer Kapetanovic, also stressed that such speculations could only be detrimental to BiH and could “scare off” the potential investors.
Bosnians suspected of terrorism to be extradited soon, interior minister says
The Federation Interior Minister Muhamed Besic said on Thursday during his visit to Mostar that a number of persons with BiH citizenship who are suspected of being involved in terrorist acts would be extradited soon. He confirmed to HINA news agency that the person who was suspected of planting explosive in the Croatian port of Rijeka in 1995 had been arrested and that it was established that that person was a Bosnian national. That person will be extradited to Croatia, Besic said. “There are also three Egyptians with BiH passports who have been arrested, and they will probably be extradited to Egypt, as they have already been stripped off their BiH citizenship,” Besic said. According to Besic, two persons suspected of having ties with terrorist groups have already been extradited to France this summer.
RS news agency claims a BiH citizen took part in terrorist attacks in the U.S.; UN warns that such reports are aimed at discrediting Muslim population
A source close to Sarajevo authorities said that a Bosnian national, whose first name is Amir, took part in organizing and implementing the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington last week, SRNA news agency reported on Thursday. The same source added that the surname of this person is still unknown, but that it was certain that the person in question was not a naturalized citizen of Bosnia-Hercegovina. SRNA reports that Amir’s name was on the list of 19 suspects the US forwarded for a probe to all member-countries of the Interpol, including BiH. BiH Foreign Ministry denied the allegations.
Commenting on similar reports, the UN mission to BiH voiced concerns that allegations about Bosnia’s links with Islamic extremists could destabilize the country.”Extreme elements among Bosnian Serb and Croat circles are using the events that took place in other parts of the world to discredit the Bosnian Muslim population,” Stefo Lehmann, a spokesman for the UN mission here, told journalists on Thursday.
Federation
Haris Silajdzic withdraws from politics; leaves Party for BiH to Safet Halilovic
The top story in Friday issues of the Federation print media is the news that a high profile politician and the war-time Foreign Minister of BiH, Haris Silajdzic, decided to withdraw from political life and leave the party (Party for BiH – S BiH) leadership to his thus far deputy, Safet Halilovic. At an extraordinary and closed session held late last night in Sarajevo, Silajdzic announced his decision and the present members elected a new party Presidency, which is to jointly make all important decision in the future. After a secret voting, Izet Zigic, Gavrilo Grahovac, Beriz Belkic, Mustafa Pamuk, Sahbaz Dzihanovic and Spomenka Micic were elected members of this body. Belkic, who is also a member of the BiH Presidency, told the press that the party policy will not change after the withdrawal of Silajdzic and stressed that S BiH will remain within the Aliance for Change.
Financial Experts on financial audit in Aluminij: Why would Aluminij be an exception?
The Steering Board of the Federation Agency for Privatization concluded on Thursday that all companies in the entity are obliged to conduct a financial audit and stressed that the Aluminij Factory in Mostar cannot be an exception to this. The Board decided to order a financial audit as soon as possible, so the preparation for the sale of this company could start. Although the Agency officials did not want to disclose the names of all other companies in the Federation which will be audited, they, according to Oslobodjenje, mentioned only the names of Agrokomerc and BH Steel.
The director of the Agency, Resad Zutic, said that the main precondition for the drafting of the privatization documents is that companies, whose shares were being purchased by workers before the war, hire an authorized auditor and determine the value of the state and shareholders capital. “The Aluminij is not an exception to this,” stressed Zutic, and added that the financial audit will in no way harm the business of the most successful Mostar company.
The Independent Trade Union of Aluminij addressed a letter to the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, on Thursday informing him that it will not accept the financial audit which was agreed without consultations with the management of the company. “Certain political structures in BiH led by Haris Silajdzic and his Party for BiH have conditioned their participation in the so-called Alliance and blackmailed the Federation government with the financial audit in Aluminij. According to media reports, they have succeeded in their intention,” reads the letter.
Pro-The Hague Posters turn up in Mostar
Posters that read “The Hague Tribunal – Anti-Serb, Anti-Croat(ian), Anti-Bosniak – Anti-criminal ” appeared in public places in Mostar and drew Mostarians’ attention. Posters caused different reactions. Vecerni List published a photo of the poster. The mentioned posters appeared 2 nights ago in both Bosniak and Croat-majority municipalities of Mostar. They are made by a Civic Initiative from either Zenica or Tuzla.
Slogans “Anti-Serb, Anti-Croat(ian), Anti-Bosniak” are crossed and the only thing which is left is: the Hague Tribunal – Anti-Criminal.
Republika Srpska
RS NA Session Recessed – Government Reshuffle Is Necessary
Both Banja Luka dailies report that the RS National Assembly (RS NA) adopted the RS Budget Execution Report for first six months of this year. RS Finance Minister Milenko Vracar told that 297,6 million KMs have found their way into the budget while the total expenditure amounts to 344 million KMs. The RS NA deputies concluded that the RS Government should be reshuffled as soon as possible. Another conclusion, adopted by the RS NA, is that the Government has to inform the RS NA about financial effects of the RS Law on changes and amendments to the Law on excise and turnover tax as well as the results on implementation of the RS/FRY Special Relations Agreement at the next session.
FRY Government Gave Guarantees For Momcilo Krajisnik
Both Banja Luka dailies report that the FRY Government gave guarantees to the ICTY for Momcilo Krajisnik’s temporary release. The FRY Government issued press release saying that if the ICTY accepted the guarantees, Krajisnik would stay in Yugoslavia.
(Please note that in Krajisnik’s case the FRY Government (DSS/Kostunica) gave guarantees, not the Serbian Government (DS/Djindjic), as was the case with Biljana Plavsic.
International Community
High Representative to brief the UN Security Council about the IC activities in BiH in the past 6 months
Media report on Friday that the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, will address today the UN Security Council and inform it about the activities of the International Community in BiH in the past six months.
Interview With Wolfgang Petritsch – Privatization Has to Be Transparent
Today’s edition of Nezavisne Novine carries an interview with the High Representative for BiH, Wolfgang Petritsch, in which he explains his views on the possible effects of the terrorist attacks in the US on BiH, the accession of BiH to the Council of Europe, the privatisation process and problems in BiH public media.
International Organizations: Instructions for Purchase of Apartments in the Federation are urgent and necessary
International organizations in BiH – OHR, OSCE, UNHCR, CRPC and the UNMIBH – stressed in a press release yesterday that the Federation government needs urgently to draft instructions for the implementation of the most recent decision of the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, on property laws in the Federation.
OHR Spokesman Says Additional Clarifications on privatization of apartments Necessary
Both Banja Luka dailies quote OHR Spokesman, Kevin Sullivan, as saying that the OHR is of view that additional clarifications must be addressed before the apartment privatization instructions, drafted by the RS Ministry of DPs and Refugees and the Federation Ministry of Urban Planning and Environment, can be finalized. “Specific details regarding the documentation have to show that the purchaser is not in violation of property laws, the requirements placed on those who may be returning from abroad, and assurances that the administration cannot unlawfully delay or prevent privatization, still have to be addressed. The OHR, along with its partners in Property Legislation Implementation, is therefore still engaged in dialogue with these Ministries and they call upon the competent Ministries to ensure that the final versions of the instructions conform with the requirements of the Laws and are created in a timely manner. Many returnees are waiting for these instructions to be issued so they can begin to privatize their apartments”, says Sullivan.
Editorials
Slobodna Dalmacija: Three Herzegovinian Kings of Oil (provided by OHR Mostar)
By Marijan Puntaric
Bosnian Serbs did not pay for oil only in money. A part of a complete commercial arrangement and agreement between Jadranko Prlic and Vladimir Lukic was a free passage for the Croat displaced persons from the Central Bosnia, Jajce, Bugojno and Travnik via territories controlled by the Serbs. (…) The free passage for the Croats was paid in great amounts of oil. In the same way it was paid for the medical treatment of wounded Croats and HVO members from Zepce placed in Serb hospitals. The Croat side also paid in fuel for the deliveries of Serb weapon and ammunition for the HVO units. (…) All losses of ‘Inter-Ina’, all suspicious financial claims and uncontrolled fuel deliveries for the HVO military operations, were covered by the decision of the Herzeg Bosnia Government. (…) After the signing of the DPA Instead of ‘Inter-Ina’, ‘Ina BiH ‘ was created. ‘Ina’ is the owner of this Company. Thanks to excellent relations with Franjo Greguric, Nikica Valentic and Zlatko Matesa, Jadranko Prlic became the President of the ‘Ina’ Steering Board. It is indicative that at the same time the fast development of the private company for the oil trade called ‘Circle International’, from Medjugorje, took place. Its owner is Niko Dodig, from Citluk, who is a close friend and a close associate of Jadranko Plic and Neven Tomic. People in Medjugorje believe that the two of them are co-owners of this Company. (…) The findings of the BiH Federation Tax Administration warn that due to unpaid sale taxes, the toll for roads and taxes, the debt of Prlic’s Ina has reached 10, 2 million Marks during the last five years, as long as Prlic has been the Minster of Foreign Affairs. (…) The tycoon family Lucic has succeeded to co-capitalize and put under their control a Herzegovinian part of the Sarajevo Energopetrol. Apart from Energopetrol and Dodig’s Circle International there are another two oil distributors. The Company Zovko from Zepce has strengthened during the last few years and they are in a close relation with the Lucic family and Kresimir Zubak, the NHI President. Croherc from Mostar is the Company whose only owner is Hercegovacka Bank and this means that it belongs to the group that is close to Ante Jelavic and Dragan Covic. This company has developed in a short period of time thanks to the cooperation with Istrabenz from Kopar. (…)
Vecernji List: Izetbegovic and associates brought Mujahedeen and cooperated with them
Senior Bosniak officials had a dual attitude towards mujahedeens. They publicly invited them to help, and when there were objections to crimes the Arabs committed – the Sarajevo authorities defended themselves with a claim that the Arabs have come to BiH in, more or less, private arrangements. They claimed that they had, upon going on the ground, broken loose. Although they knew it, they still attended their ceremonies. For instance, Izetbegovic visited the BiH Army’s 3rd Corps during which an inspection of its elite units was held. Among them was the “El Mudzahid Squad”, consisting mostly of Arab volunteers, some of them being Islamic terrorist of international reputation, like Abu Ma’alija, who is one the most wanted terrorist nowadays, Abu Hamza, one of organizers of the anti-Croat wave of terrorism in Central Bosnia or Ahmed Zuhair, aka Handal, who is the prime guilty person in the case of the car bomb in Mostar. According to many testimonies, it is obvious that Izetbegovic and the Bosniak political pinnacle were cooperating closely with the mujahedeens, therefore the most dangerous Islamic terrorists, reads Vecernji List. In a separate article Vecernji List reports that mujahedeens are leaving BiH for other crisis spots in the world (Chechnya, Algiers, Afghanistan) with one more war under their belt having recruited successors among the domicile Muslims aged between 16 and 25