- BiH SBS to take over the Banja Luka Airport on December 14
- BiH Foreign Ministry not formally informed about RS officials’ visit to Moscow
- BiH authorities to check passports found in Afghanistan
- BiH State Agency for Investigation and Protection (SIPA) to be established by the end of the year – Sredoje Novic to Become the Head?
- PDP opposes proposal for a single BiH intelligence service formation
- Vecernji List: Through their roaming services three GSM networks in BiH earn millions from their users
- Vecernji List: Interview with Kresimir Zubak, the BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees
- SDP says its is unacceptable that Petritsch makes decisions in place of the BiH authorities
- BiH Federation leaders meet with SFOR Commander
- Izetbegovic declared the Islamic Person of the Year
- LDS welcomes Petritsch positions presented in the New York Times article
- BOSS requests that Mesic and Kostunica withdraw signatures from the Dayton Agreement
- BiH war-disabled persons send an open letter to Petritsch
- Herzegovina tycoons have been robbing the state for years
- Dnevni List: Professor Bozo Zepic from the Mostar (West) Law School wonders why Croats have to live in the same entity with Bosniaks
- Slobodna Dalmacija: Interview with Mostar Mayor Neven Tomic
- Slobodna Dalmacija: Safet Orucevic, a former Mostar Mayor, says his sister does not stand behind purchase of Tito’s Villa
- Vecernji List: The scandal regarding the departure of a Croat liaison officer to The Hague broke out
- Several war crime indictments against Bosnian Serbs to remain sealed
- SNS condemns Croatia for preventing return of Serb refugees
- An explosive device exploded in front of the flat of a Prijedor journalist
- Petritsch says BiH has grown up
- Petritsch meets with a group of Croat parliamentarians
- Dnevni Avaz declares Petritsch Person of the Day
- Second session of the Civic Forum held in Sarajevo
- Dnevni List: Colin Munro, the Head of the OHR Mostar, admits IC mistakes
- Sonn meets with top Herzegovina-Neretva Canton officials in Mostar
- Oslobodjenje and Dnevni Avaz
- Dnevni List: Six years of Dayton
- Vecernji List: On the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement
- Dnevni List: What do participants at the BiH political stage think about the Dayton Peace Accord?
BiH State-related Issues
BiH SBS to take over the Banja Luka Airport on December 14
UN/IPTF Spokesman for the Banja Luka ad Bihac regions Alun Roberts said on Wednesday that the BiH State Border Service (SBS) would take over control over the Banja Luka Mahovljani Airport on December 14. According to Oslobodjenje, the date was set at a recent meeting of the SDS representatives with the Republika Srpska and IPTF officials.
BiH Foreign Ministry not formally informed about RS officials’ visit to Moscow
“The BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not been formally notified that senior officials from the Republika Srpska were going to visit the Russian Federation,” SRNA learnt on Wednesday from BiH Foreign Ministry Spokesman Amer Kapetanovic. “It was mentioned that some senior Bosnian officials might visit Moscow, but nobody had ever sent us any formal correspondence informing about this,” Kapetanovic said. He said that the BiH Foreign Ministry was disappointed that there was no official correspondence which could have contributed to better co-ordination of the visit and that the ministry hoped that all future visits of senior officials to foreign countries would be organised in co-operation with the BiH Foreign Ministry. Thursday’s edition of Nezavisne Novine reports the RS delegation met with the Deputy Russian Foreign Minister, Aleksander Avdeyev, and not with Igor Ivanov. The paper reports that BiH Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija refused to comment on the RS delegation’s visit to Russia. “It is well known that only representatives of the countries, recognised by the IC, can have bilateral talks”, said Lagumdzija. He also said that Russia was an important partner of BiH and announced he would visit Moscow soon.
BiH authorities to check passports found in Afghanistan
Both Banja Luka dailies report that the travel documents bearing BiH insignia and found in a house in the Afghan capital Kabul have already been sent for checks to the relevant institutions in BiH, the head of the BiH anti-terrorism team, Ivica Misic, told SRNA on Wednesday. When asked to reveal more details about the documents and how many of them were found, Misic said that he had information that there were two BiH passports. The documents were sent on Tuesday to the Interior Ministries of the BiH Federation and Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Communications of BiH, the BiH Foreign Ministry and all other institutions which play a part in the procedure of issuing passports…
BiH State Agency for Investigation and Protection (SIPA) to be established by the end of the year – Sredoje Novic to Become the Head?
Thursday’s edition of Nezavisne Novine reports there is a possibility that the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA – a single BiH intelligence agency) might be established by the end of this year. The newspaper learns that there are three proposals for structure of the agency and that, at this moment, the one proposed by the UN Mission to BiH has the best chances to be accepted. Spokesman for the UN Mission to BiH Stefo Lehman confirms that officials from both entities are still considering three proposals and stresses that one of the most important tasks of the agency will be anti-terrorist campaign. Nezavisne Novine also learns from well-informed, anonymous sources that two or three departments tasked with counter-intelligence protection of officials, bodies and BiH institutions will be included in the structure of the agency. One of the agency’s units will be tasked with intelligence collection and crime prevention pertaining to the field of international law, which also includes locating and arresting war criminals. According to the newspaper’s sources former RS interior minister, Sredoje Novic, has the best chances to become the head of the SIPA.
PDP opposes proposal for a single BiH intelligence service formation
The Republika Srpska Party of the Democratic Progress (PDP) condemns the initiative of Speaker of the BiH Parliamentary House of Peoples Sejfudin Tokic for the formation of a single intelligence service at the state level. “We strongly condemn that initiative, which is in fact an initiative for abolishing the RS intelligence service,” PDP Spokesman Igor Crnadak said.
Vecernji List: Through their roaming services three GSM networks in BiH earn millions from their users
(Provided by OHR Mostar)
A sophisticated robbery, as it has been described by an increasing number of embittered subscribers, was made possible by a special decision of the international and domestic Authority structures, so that three GSM operators can spread their business empire on the ground of their pure profit. Behind the whole roaming system stand interest lobbies from international and domestic circles, who by a mutual financial support help the development of the GSM operators because of the future sale at the market.
Amela Odobasic, a CRA Spokesperson, stated that an urgent awarding of the concession for the third GSM operator and making of a stiff competition will cause the reduction of prices of many mobile services.
Vecernji List: Interview with Kresimir Zubak, the BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees
(Provided by OHR Mostar)
“According to the assessment of the Ministry, over 780 000 persons have returned so far as more than 400 000 refugees or displaced persons have expressed a wish to return. These 400 000 persons are our target group and we would like to return them, however, unfortunately, we need money and time. (…) We are far from a normal law-respecting society. The law-respecting society has not started to function yet. Many laws, passed at the state and entities’ level, are not being implemented. Even the HR’s decisions are not being implemented. As an example I will state his decision on a free allocation of plots. In spite of the fact that the plots cannot be allocated without the OHR consent local Authorities continue the process of an illegal allocation of the plots. (…) They keep talking that the Croats are endangered and in this way they also scare those who want to return. I will not say that the Croats are not in a difficult situation. However, all peoples are in the difficult situation, and especially the Croats, who are the people smallest in a number. However, it is not the reason to believe that the democratic state cannot be established, and it would be our interest that BiH joins the states of a free democratic world. It is the best ground for the further development of the rights of the Croat people.”
It has been speculated that you met with Ante Jelavic after the HNS had announced that it is open for all political parties with a Croat prefix, if they want to respect the HNS principles…
I am a free citizen, in a free country and I am free to meet and talk with everybody, even with Ante Jelavic. As far as the HNS attitude is concerned, whoever wants to join them is free to do it, however, the NHI will never do it. They have finally admitted that nonsense called the HNS has brought the HDZ to this position, and not only the HDZ but the whole set of the parties, that make the so-called the Croat people’s Assembly. What is it? A parallel institution that has no any powers. We want to talk, but it does not make any sense and it is not necessary to create some new associations.
Does it mean that you have met with him?
Yes. Why not?
Is it true that the parties within the Alliance for Changes are not at best of terms?
In the whole world, parties within Coalitions are not at best of terms. It is more complicated in BiH because the Coalition consists of a bigger number of parties and because these parties have different ideological and political orientation and, also, BiH as a state is more complicated. I do not doubt that the Alliance will last till the end of its mandate and we are not intending to leave it. As far as debates on some issues and disagreements within the Alliance are concerned it is a normal situation.
Federation
SDP says its is unacceptable that Petritsch makes decisions in place of the BiH authorities
Vice-president of the BiH Social Democratic Party (SDP) Sead Avdic told a press conference in Sarajevo on Wednesday it was unacceptable that the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, continued making decisions in place of the BiH authorities (Oslobodjenje and Jutarnje Novine announced the article on the SDP press conference on their front pages, as Dnevni Avaz reported on the event but not mentioning Avdic’s criticism). He added that such the methods of cooperation with OHR were not in accordance to the established partnership relations. Avdic also said no one in BiH had known that fulfillment of the 18 EU Road Map points was a pre-condition for holding a new international donor’s conference for BiH, otherwise the BiH authorities “would ensure that these conditions be a subject of consideration.” “We have realized a large portion of the Road Map obligations and there is no need that Petritsch sends messages to us through media,” Avdic emphasized.
BiH Federation leaders meet with SFOR Commander
According to Oslobodjenje, BiH Federation President Karlo Filipovic and Prime Minister Alija Behmen met with SFOR Commander John Sylvester in Sarajevo on Wednesday. It was confirmed at the meeting that two BiH passports had been found in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul. These passports belong to the persons from a group of 94 foreigners who lost their BiH citizenship through the recent revision.
Izetbegovic declared the Islamic Person of the Year
The former BiH Presidency member and SDA leader, Alija Izetbegovic, is the 2001 winner of the international award the “Islamic Person of the Year,” the presidential palace of the United Arabian Emirates (UAE) announced, according to Oslobodjenje. Prior to Izetbegovic, this award was given to the three prominent Islamic scientists from Egypt, India and Qatar, the SDA said in a press release. The ward will be officially handed to Izetbegovic at a ceremony scheduled for December 5 in Dubai.
LDS welcomes Petritsch positions presented in the New York Times article
The BiH Liberal Democratic Party (LDS) expressed its satisfaction with balanced positions of the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, presented in his New York Times article. “With a high degree of sense for the position of European Muslims following the September 11, Petritsch in his article encourages primarily Europe to with a less suspicion accept BiH as a country in which, among others, European Muslims live,” the party said in a press release carried by Oslobodjenje. In this sense, the LDS expects Petritsch to together with the BiH authorities take more concrete steps in order that a visa-free regime is established between BiH and European Union countries as the first visible sign of the Europe’s will to support BiH in its efforts to join the European integration.
BOSS requests that Mesic and Kostunica withdraw signatures from the Dayton Agreement
The president of the Bosnian Party (BOSS) and a deputy to the BiH Federation Parliament, Mirnes Ajanovic, called on the BiH Presidency to request that Croatian and FRY Presidents, Stipe Mesic and Vojislav Kostunica, withdraw their signatures from the Dayton Agreement. Otherwise, according to Ajanovic, further interference of the neighboring countries in the BiH internal matters will be allowed.
BiH war-disabled persons send an open letter to Petritsch
According to Dnevni Avaz, the BiH Association of War-disabled Persons (RVI) sent an open letter to the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, to remind him that in 1999 he had made a decision to amend the Law on the Cessation of the Application of the Law on the Abandoned Apartments leaving a possibility for the RVI members to get permanent solutions on the apartments owned by the BiH Federation Defense Ministry. However, the Association emphasized, five members of the former Yugoslav people’s Army (JNA), which was the owner of the apartments before the war, had launched a legal proceeding before the BiH Chamber for Human Rights demanding the annulment of this part of the High Representative’s decision as discriminatory.
Herzegovina tycoons have been robbing the state for years
The international officials involved in the investigation into the Heregovacka Bank operations claim that the state of BiH has been systematically robbed for years through the CroHerc, Hercegovina Gradnja, Hercegovina Osiguranje, Hercegovacka Bank, CroBiH and some other companies. “It can be said that, during the past five years, BiH has lost hundreds of millions marks,” a senior official of the OHR Anti-Corruption team told Dnevni Avaz.
Dnevni List: Professor Bozo Zepic from the Mostar (West) Law School wonders why Croats have to live in the same entity with Bosniaks
(Provided by OHR Mostar)
Dnevni List carries an interview with Professor Bozo Zepic of the Mostar (West) Law School who used to be and advisor to the former President of FBiH, Ivo Andric Luzanski.
Professor Zepic thinks that the DPA is an important document because it brought peace to these areas adding that it is understated. “Its biggest flaw is that it does not define BiH as a state instead of that it defines the RS as a state. Its flaw is also the unequal status of the peoples, so we have three peoples living in two entities. It is not clear to me why the Croats have to live in one entity together with Bosniaks and that the Serbs have their own entity. Perhaps there are reasons that the Croats should live in an entity together with the Serbs. I think that the most logical arrangement would be: three peoples – three peoples. On one hand we have a centralized entity, the RS, and in the FBiH we have ten cantons, which are in its essence states within the state. I think this political system is asymmetrical and cannot function, it is a system of blockades (…) The DPA needs to be changed, but not drastically, because the positive decisions it had brought should not be discarded. We need to start from the current agreement and improve it gradually. The organization of the state also needs to be solved”, said Professor Bozo Zepic, reads Dnevni List.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Interview with Mostar Mayor Neven Tomic
(Provided by OHR Mostar)
In an interview with Slobodna Dalmacija, the Mayor of Mostar, Neven Tomic, warns that when it comes to projects defined by the City’s Statute there are frequent “legal obstructions” coming from persons who are against the projects because there are certain groups in Mostar that do not want a single market in the city and that they’d rather have their own markets which they could have the control of. “Members of these lobbies are on a lookout for any excuse to obstruct our work, and they find legal ground in provisions that suit them. For example, the law, which does not define cities, states that a municipality is in charge of public transportation, whilst the (Mostar) City Statute states that it is in the competence of the City. Then a question raises? Is the law stronger then the Statute? After that we have to go to the Constitutional Court to prove that we were right. But if the Federation Government harmonizes the Law on Local Administration to the Constitution and defines a city (because there are only provisions on municipalities) or makes a distinction between a city, municipality within a city and a normal municipality then we could see this thing through. Otherwise we shall be wearing each other down in political games that will not benefit the citizenry but certain circles that control the current two markets in Mostar”, said Mayor Tomic (…) Speaking about the recent visit that the new US Ambassador to BiH, Clifford Bond, paid to Mostar, Mayor Tomic said that the US would continue to have the same attitude towards Mostar and that he’d received direct confirmations in all his contacts. “The USAID continues its infrastructure-related programs in Mostar, with its loans but it also continues with the reconstruction program and I think that we will have on our Bulevar Street, from what I hear from senior staff of the American Embassy, two little twins i.e. two buildings that will be reconstructed by the US Government which would confirm the US support to Mostar.”
Quite recently you said that you have had enough of advises from “the big Mostarians who have a mouth full of Mostar but dare not to take a walk on the other side”. Many people see that you targeted the ex Mostar Mayor Safet Orucevic with this?
Tomic: That statement does not explicitly refer to Safet Orucevic but to a big number of people that surrounded Orucevic who, deep inside, as shown by many examples, are in favour of two markets in Mostar. Because if you have one market, then you have one set of rules that apply to everyone. It is obvious that there are people who do not want a single Mostar of who want it the way they’d like it. The reality is that we have Bosniaks, Croats, Serbs and others living in Mostar and that the City Statute and the decision on the constituent status of peoples create a framework for Mostar on basis of which we can build Mostar if we are to maintain good intra-national relations.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Safet Orucevic, a former Mostar Mayor, says his sister does not stand behind purchase of Tito’s Villa
(Provided by OHR Mostar)
Safet Orucevic sent a letter to Slobodna Dalmacija reacting against the article published in SD on November 19, 2001 (see cropress summary distributed on this day). The letter says: ‘This is not the first time that they want to discredit me and my work in Mostar by the articles published in Slobodna Dalmacija. The fact is that one of Slobodna Dalmacija correspondents is a politically active person, and that he uses that influence for showdowns, media commission business and personal interests. For this reason I believe that those, who order such articles, do not sit in the Split’s editorship of Slobodna Dalmacija but that they are a part of political circles close to your reporter bureau in Mostar, who have been writing their articles for years for the same idea, but for the other mentors.
My sister, who was mentioned as a purchaser of Tito’s Villa, is a displaced person from Mostar West and even now she lives a life of a refugee and she does not run any business. It was easy for a well-intentioned and professional journalist to check up this information. Since this was a serious slander followed by a schemed media persecution, I have decided to press charges against your journalist if he does not make a public apology.
Vecernji List: The scandal regarding the departure of a Croat liaison officer to The Hague broke out
(Provided by OHR Mostar)
The Dutch Government has refused to issue a long-term visa to Goran Mihaljevic, a Croat liaison officer, although the BiH Presidency has approved his appointment. The Dutch Government has used its ‘discretion right’ and it did not officially inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and BiH Presidency about the reasons because of which they did not issue the visa. According to unofficial sources, the issuing of the visa was stopped after the documents and information, which were allegedly supposed to discredit Mihaljevic, were sent ‘from influential political circles’ to The Hague. However, passivity of the BiH Presidency is surprising since after they received the refusal of the Dutch Government they have not taken urgent measures to overcome the crisis. Sources, close to the state Government in Sarajevo, claim that Mihaljevic’s departure to The Hague has been stopped so that the Croat liaison officer starts with his work as late as possible.
Republika Srpska
Several war crime indictments against Bosnian Serbs to remain sealed
Sinisa Djordjevic, Republika Srpska Prime Minister’s Adviser for relations with the ICTY, on Wednesday told SRNA that there were still around five to seven indictments which would remain sealed despite the recently adopted law on cooperation with the ICTY. “Some two or three months ago, we were told indirectly that because of our bad record in cooperation in the past, a certain number of sealed indictments – I presume that its is about five to seven of them – will remain sealed. They contain the names of persons whom the ICTY have judged to bear higher levels of responsibility for war crimes,” Djordjevic said. “When these indictments become public, I would suggest to all those who might find their names in them and are residing in the RS to surrender, because only then the Government will give certain guarantees for their temporary release during the trials,” he added. According to Djordjevic, if they do not surrender, they will be arrested, taken to court, their identities will be established before the investigative judge and they will be extradited to The Hague, in accordance with the law on cooperation with the ICTY. The prime minister’s adviser also said that the repeated check of dozens of public ICTY indictments had not shown that any of the indicted persons were residents of the Serb Republic.
SNS condemns Croatia for preventing return of Serb refugees
The Serb National Alliance (SNS) on Wednesday asked the international community in BiH and the Republika Srpska Government to immediately stop the eviction of the Croatian Serb refugees from their temporary homes in the RS, until Croatia changes its stance and starts implementing the return program and reconstruction of damaged Serb houses. In its press release, the SNS strongly condemns a statement made by the Croatian state attorney, Ante Klaric, who said that “the Serbs in Croatia voluntarily left their property, and that because of this, Croatia has no intention of returning it.” The SNS assesses that Klaric’s words represent a “hypocrisy and violation of human rights guaranteed by all international conventions, including the Dayton peace agreement, signed by Croatia.”
An explosive device exploded in front of the flat of a Prijedor journalist
Both Banja Luka dailies report that a powerful explosion in 3 Jovana Raskovica Street, outside the flat of journalist Zoran Sovilj who works for the information and business centre – Kozarski Vijesnik – Prijedor radio and television, rocked the town of Prijedor on Tuesday, SRNA learnt on Wednesday from the Prijedor police. The police say that the explosion was caused by a planted explosive device, which did not injure anybody but had caused damage to the front door of the flat and the hall in the building. An investigation is under way.
International Community
Petritsch says BiH has grown up
In an interview with SENSE news agency carried by Oslobodjenje, High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch said that BiH had grown up in the past six years since the signing of the Dayton agreement. “The Government of the Alliance in Sarajevo is, among other things, the confirmation of an extraordinary progress made in the period, ” Petritsch said. He added that, at the same time, these results represented both the challenge and the motivation for further achievements.
Petritsch meets with a group of Croat parliamentarians
The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, met on Wednesday with Mariofil Ljubic, Miro Grabovac-Titan, Zdenko Vukic and Marko Amidzic, HDZ deputies in the BiH House of Representatives, who have participated constructively in the work of the House over the last few months. (All Sarajevo dailies carried the Press Release)
Dnevni Avaz declares Petritsch Person of the Day
Dnevni Avaz declared the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, the Person of the Day due to support to overcoming a gap between the West and the Muslims following the September 11 events expressed in his New York Times article.
Second session of the Civic Forum held in Sarajevo
According to Dnevni Avaz, High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch’s Wednesday meeting with prominent BiH businessmen and academics including Jerko Ivankovic from Lijanovici, Nihad Imamovic from ASA Holding, Fuad Strik from Coca-Cola, Alma Smailbegovic from the Univerzal Bank, Professors Dragoljub Stojanov and Zarko Papic, ad with Joseph Ingram, the Head of the World Bank’s Office in BiH, lasted four hours. The economic situation in BiH was in focus all the time, as well as the economic cooperation in the region. Professor Stojanov particularly emphasized that the privatization process had been set wrong from the very beginning. He said that the sale of the state-owned companies for the vouchers did not guarantee their further success. Participants at the second Civic Forum meeting including Petritsch agreed that the most significant progress had been made in the BiH banking system, but that neither in this sector there were positive effects yet.
Dnevni List: Colin Munro, the Head of the OHR Mostar, admits IC mistakes
(Provided by OHR Mostar)
Colin Munro, the Head of the OHR South, admitted that the IC was too much insisting on the elections and return, and it did not insist enough on the conditions for the return, the Rule of Law and economy, saying that it was a mistake.
‘We were hoping that after all those sufferings the people would turn against those who caused it, however, we underestimated the fact that the people are ready for changes and that they still live in fear.’ He added that for this reason they voted as members of national communities.
Munro stressed that the DPA has stopped the war and it has brought peace. He sent the message that they will be working with the people of good will to correct these injustices. He expressed a hope that BiH will join the Council of Europe and that many things will be clearer then. All three peoples have equal rights in BiH, however, they also have to have equal responsibility.
On the Anniversary of the DPA Munro stated that a lot of things should be done but that there is a true hope for the future of BiH.
Ludvik Skoberne, a representative of the OSCE Mostar, talked about the activities on the establishment of the Election Commissions. He added that during the last 5 years the OSCE has been conducting this process, but this OSCE activity will finish soon and domestic Authorities will be responsible for this task.
Mayor Pettetin, a Spokesperson of the SFOR Multinational Division Southeast, denied writings of some media that the SFOR has a discriminatory policy towards some Croat media regarding the campaign against mines.
Sonn meets with top Herzegovina-Neretva Canton officials in Mostar
The Senior Deputy High Representative in BiH, Matthias Sonn, met on Thursday in Mostar with the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Sefkija Dziho and Dragan Vrankic respectively, FENA news agency reported. During the meeting they talked about the document on functioning of Mostar as an integrated city that was presented by the Mostar Mayor Neven Tomic and Deputy Mayor Hamdija Jahic. The SDHR Sonn supported the document stressing that it represented a true effort towards establishing of a well-organized city. He said that the IC was tired of politicizing about Mostar coming from the ones who would like to preserve their particular interests. “It is time for action and not just for announcements of good intentions”, said Sonn. He also supported Cantonal authorities adding that the role of the Canton in the process of reunification of the City of Mostar is very important. Governor Dziho supported the document adding that the document represented an inspiration for a quicker solving of vital problems in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. According to Deputy Governor Vrankic the Cantonal Government has lately enacted several laws that support the integration of Mostar. “That is in the interest of all citizens, as well as in the interest of the Croat and Bosniak people”, said Vrankic.
Editorials
Oslobodjenje and Dnevni Avaz
Zija Dizdarevic dedicated Oslobodjenje In Focus column to the famous Sarajevo poet, Izet Sarajlic, who has recently received the Alberto Moravia award. In another Oslobodjenje editorial, Gojko Beric commented on the Dayton’s sixth anniversary. Beric believes that there are no too many reasons to celebrate this date, since the nationalism still holds divided BiH in its hands, which is a fact the West does not see or does not want to see. Oleg Lokmic wrote in the Avaz Commentary of the Day about a shameful fact the members of the Speed sitting volleyball team, who had won golden medals at the recent European Championship in the Netherlands, were welcomed in Sarajevo only by members of their families and one official – Mustafa Demir.
Dnevni List: Six years of Dayton
Written by Alenko Zornija (Provided by OHR Mostar)
It has been six years since the Dayton Peace Accord was initialed in the Wright-Patterson Airbase, Ohio. The document was officially signed one month later in Paris which marked the formal beginning of its difficult implementation. The DPA has many limitations. The limitations do not diminish the DPA’s best result – it stopped the bloody war that raged for almost four years. The so-called military part of the Accord was implemented successfully owing it to the international military. The civilian part was not as successful. It would be unfair to neglect the achievements in that area: starting with the freedom of movement and so on. Although many think that the war would start all over again if the international forces were to leave the country, it is clear that the atmosphere has changed in the last six years. It is not unusual to have sports events involving clubs from the RS and FBiH which was inconceivable before the DPA. The DPA has offered a constitutional framework for a state called BiH envisaging two entities with broad authorities and decentralization at lower levels. But the formula: “One state, two entities, three peoples” appears to be an obstacle for the future democratization in BiH. On the other hand it is very dangerous to open the “Pandora’s box” – revision of the DPA – regardless of direction of the changes. Although the DPA has been, in practice, heavily revised, that much that some even say that “the Dayton is dead”, the ones who dare to say that the future of BiH is in abolishing of the entities, cantonalization of BiH or establishing of three entities are very rare, reads Dnevni List.
Vecernji List: On the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement
Written by: M. Bosnjak (Provided by OHR Mostar)
While the HR stresses that the DPA has opened up the way towards Europe, that BiH aspires to, a situation on the ground is different. All sides frequently accuse one another that the DPA is being revised at their cost. Croats say that there is an attempt to centralize everything. Having had a bad experience with a former state they are often right when the issues of education, finances and each form of majorization are in question… Muslims Bosniaks, cannot get rid of an impression that Sarajevo is a center of everything. Serbs in the RS believe that they can achieve everything without any connections with the state.
Dnevni List: What do participants at the BiH political stage think about the Dayton Peace Accord?
(Provided by OHR Mostar)
Dnevni List carries commentaries of prominent politicians about the DPA, its achievements in the past and its future.
Beriz Belkic is of opinion that BiH does not have a tradition when it comes to implementation of the Constitution. He believes that the solution should be sought in the Constitution of BiH and that the attitude of the citizenry towards the Constitution should change.
Zivko Radisic thinks that the good side of the DPA is that BiH has been recognized in its internationally recognized borders adding that it is still insufficient. “If BiH were to function as a proper state, its institutions have to strengthen”, says Radisic.
Zlatko Lagumdzija thinks that the DPA has to be implemented in its unchangeable part, and that the changeable part should be used for a legal framework that will make BiH a more European country.
Miro Grabovac claims that the DPA has not solved intra-peoples and intra-citizenry relations adding that the DPA needs revisions in order to solve establishment of BiH in the long run and achieve stability.
Halid Genjac thinks that the Constitutional Court’s decision on the constituent status of the peoples needs to be implemented which is the right move to lessen problems adding that we could in the future talk about the revision of the DPA but only with the assistance from the IC.
Robert Beecroft is happy with the implementation of the DPA so far saying that we are on the right track. He considers the DPA as the floor, not the roof, on which we could build everything else.
Alexandra Stiglmayer says that if a major step forward were to be made in the near future then BiH could become a normal state that could offer its citizens what they need, but it takes an extra effort.
Stefo Lehmann says that the UN Mission in BiH started out with many tasks. First they had to cut down the Police force which had 40.000 police officers after the war, now the figure is 23.000 trained officers adding that it cost 10 million US$. Lehmann also added that BiH now has a SBS, which controls 75% of BiH border crossings which is a concrete result of the UN Mission in BiH.
The article is concluded with a sentence, which reads that unlike domestic and foreign officials, who think that BiH needs not much to function as a proper state, the common people are still skeptical.