OHR BiH Media Round-up, 15/4/2004

Oslobodjenje

Tihic and Colak pushing Party for BiH away from authorities; Instead of arrests of criminals, statement on cooperation with the Hague; RS Government received the preliminary report [by Srebrenica Commission]; Police Office among Karadzic’s helpers

Dnevni Avaz

About 4000 people applied for intelligence officers; Ashdown opened forestry season in Glamoc; Floods update: A fear of new floods

Dnevni List

Positive decision on giving guarantees to The Hague expected’; Issuance of third GSM licence starts

Vecernji List

Married women and minors equally abort; Statement on cooperation with The Hague signed

Slobodna Dalmacija

High Representative visits flooded areas in central Bosnia; Ashdown in boots; Sjekirica is in Sweden and is travelling to Madrid on Friday

Glas Srpske

Tuzla: Graveyard full of secrets; Upon the order of BiH Court: One search after another; Sokolac: Grounded suspicion ungrounded (?!)

Nezavisne Novine

Following the BiH Court order: premises of Insurance company ‘Jahorina’, ‘Srpske Sume’ and Radio and Institute ‘Sveti Jovan’ searched: The police was looking for documents related to financing of the Hague indictees; Joint statement of representatives of state and entity authorities: War crime indictees will be brought to the face of justice

Blic

Defense reform: Financing of RS Army critical since June; Search: Police action in Sokolac and Pale; 2,500 houses under water

War crimes

RS MoI searches premises on Pale due to suspect of assisting war crimes indictees

RHB, FTV, BHTV 1 – RS police on Wednesday searched inside the Pale-based Sveti Jovan [St John] radio, owned by Radovan Karadzic’s daughter Sonja Karadzic Jovicevic, the head office of the Srpske Sume company and the home of Jahorina insurance company director Mile Renovica.  The Serb Sarajevo Public Security Centre confirmed to SRNA that the operation has been a part of the investigation conducted based on instructions from the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, signed by prosecutor Vlado Adamovic, which says that “steps are being taken over well-founded suspicions regarding the funding of the support network of war crimes suspects”. The police have seized documents from the companies they were checking and a computer was taken from Sveti Jovan radio. RS Interior Ministry later confirmed that homes of several other people were searched, including the house of RS MoI employee from Bijeljina Public Security Centre.  SFOR and EUPM were informed about the operation.

RTRS – Sonja Karadzic said that search in Radio Sveti Jovan took more then four hours, adding that Police has searched everything from old newspapers to documentation and they have took some of documents and one computer. Goran Kanostrevac, Director of Srpske sume Legal Department, said that police have taken some documentation on company’s financial operations in 2003 and 2004, but he claims he doesn’t know what was the motive of the search.

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘RS MoI probably cooperates with the Hague’ -“MoI has assignment – I want to make myself completely clear – to intensify and activate its capacities to reveal and confirm the facts about persons indicted by ICTY and persons who are eventually helping them to hide,” said Dragan Cavic, RS President, adding he learned about the action from the press which was fine with him as police was not obligated to inform him on actions like this in advance. Order of BiH Court states that all temporally confiscated objects will be surrendered to BiH Prosecution, as eventual evidences.

Oslobodjenje cover, pg 7 ‘Police officer among Karadzic helpers’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Searched Sveti Jovan, Srpske sume and Jahorina’ Nezavisne Novine cover and pg. 3 ‘The police was looking for documents related to financial support to war crime indictees, Glas Srpske cover page ‘One search after another’, Slobodna Dalmacija page 16 ‘Police broke into Radio ‘Sveti Jovan’, Dnevni List page 3 ‘Police took documents from few companies in Pale’, Blic front, pg p 12 ‘Documents confiscated’, Vecernje Novosti pg 17 ‘They took documents away’  – also covered the action. 

BiH top officials sign statement on cooperation with ICTY

RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘War crimes suspects invited to surrender voluntary’, Dnevni List page 2 ‘Indirect admitting that there was no cooperation by now’ – Senior officials of BiH and entity institutions signed a joint statement on Wednesday on cooperation with ICTY. The statement reads all BiH authorities levels are determined to fully cooperate with the Tribunal. “We shall do our best to ensure the apprehension of war crimes suspects, and we call on them to surrender voluntarily,” reads the statement, signed by BiH Presidency Chairman Sulejman Tihic, Deputy Speaker of BiH House of Representatives Sefik Dzaferovic, BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic, FBiH and RS Presidents Niko Lozancic and Dragan Cavic respectively, FBiH House of Representatives Speaker Muhamed Ibrahimovic, RS National Assembly Speaker Dragan Kalinic, RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and FBiH Deputy Prime Minister Gavrilo Grahovac.

FTV – FBiH President Lozancic explains this statement obligates its signatories to put a maximum into the efforts to arrest war crimes suspects in the area of BiH. Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, said the statement was not given for the admission to PfP, but to ensure that crimes do not happen again, and that those responsible are tried and convicted.

RTRS – Dragan Cavic considers that this statement an expression of determination of BiH institutions to fulfil its international obligations: “[It] is also an invitation to all institutions of authority, …to approach to practical cooperation with ICTY, meaning to fulfil its international obligations”. Adnan Terzic commented: “By passing and implementing the Laws which will give authorities to SIPA, and by establishing a single state intelligence agency, all these are mechanisms will create the possibilities for Council of Ministers to take the responsibility and to participate in apprehension of most wanted war criminals.”

BHTV 1 – At this occasion, Borislav Paravac was asked if he considered necessary for SFOR to carry out operations aimed to apprehensions of the war crimes suspects its actions after this document has been signed. “I believe BiH institutions ought to do that”, answered Paravac.

Nezavisne Novine cover and pg.2 ‘Authorities promised to arrest war crimes indictees’, Glas Srpske pg.2 ‘To The Hague voluntarily’ – Nikola Spiric, former speaker of BiH HoR also invited to sign the statement, refused to do so explaining: ‘I did not want to take part in Kalinic’s and Cavic’s game and to be involved in it. Tihic wants to turn Serbs into hound dogs through SDS and that is why I did not want to be the one to sign the statement.’

Oslobodjenje cover, pg 3 ‘Instead of arresting criminals, a statement on cooperation with the Hague’ by Az. Kalamujic– Covering the abovementioned event, author says that none of present officials “dared to say that most wanted war criminals Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic should be arrested.” Author also says the signing of the statement as the absurd act.

RS Govt extends Srebrenica Commission deadline for final report to 12 October

Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘RS Government asks for extension of deadline till 12 October’ – According to its press release issued late yesterday night, RS Government decided to adopt he proposal by the Commission, appointed to investigate the events in Srebrenica region from 10 to 19 July 1995, and to extend the deadline for final report to 12 October, giving three additional months to this commission. At the extraordinary session of the RS Govt it was agreed for the members of the Commission to meet today with the authorized ministries and RS Govt services and to discuss the preliminary report of the Commission, to further outline the problems present in the Commission’ work, to discuss the way to remove obstacles and to establish further activities with an aim to fulfil the decision issued by the BiH Human Rights Chamber.

BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 5 ‘RS Government submitted with the preliminary report’, Nezavisne Novine pg.6 ‘Srebrenica commission asks for extension of deadline’ – Note that media reported on the submission of the preliminary report, and intention of Srebrenica Commission to ask for deadline extensions. The RS Govt session ended to late for media to report on in this morning.

DL: ‘Positive decision on giving guarantees to The Hague expected’

Dnevni List, front page splash and page 5 ‘Positive decision on giving guarantees to The Hague expected’ by R. Radic, N. Dedic – DL reports that the FBiH Justice Ministry has sent the FBiH Government a memo, which states that there is a legal possibility that the ICTY indictees, namely Jadranko Prlic, Bruno Stojic, Slobodan Praljak, Valentin Coric and Berislav Pusic be granted pre-trial release. According to the FBiH Justice Minister, Borjana Kristo, the aforementioned persons should indeed be granted pre-trial release because they surrendered voluntarily. DL also carries the FBiH Deputy PM, Dragan Vrankic, as confirming that the FBiH Government will be discussing the issue of giving the guarantees to the ICTY at today’s session. Vrankic notes that should not be problems with giving the guarantees since similar guarantees were given before. Finally, the FBiH President, Niko Lozancic, is also in favour of giving the guarantees.

BiH HoR condemns injuring priest Starovlah, and son in SFOR action

RTRS – The BiH House of Representatives issued a statement condemning the 1 April act of violence against the Starovlah family during which SFOR members inflicted serious and life-threatening injuries on Orthodox priest Jeremija and his son Aleksandar. The decision calls on the relevant state and entity institutions, not intending to reduce the scope of or suspend altogether the search for war crime suspects, to investigate the case and brief the parliament and the BiH public about the findings. Independent representative  Mirko Blagojevic and SDA officials voted against the statement. “We can’t condemn something which we don’t know whether it is to be condemned, only when we find out all facts we can decide whether to condemn or praise it,” said Seada Palavric, chair of SDA club. Also covered in Vecernji List page 4 ‘Parliamentarians condemned wounding of Starovlah’

VL: SIPA and OSA might be involved in search after war criminals

Vecernji List page 2 ‘SIPA and OSA start ‘hunt’ after Karadzic’ by E. Medunjanin carries that in case that entity authorities, especially the ones in the RS, do not show resoluteness and efficiency in the arrest of war criminals until the NATOs’ Summit, that is to take place in Istanbul in June, it is almost certain that the International Community will assign this task to state security and police agencies. VL says that most probably SIPA will be in charge of this issue and according to the article there are hints that closer cooperation should be established between SIPA and newly established Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA).   

Mostar Prosecutor investigates war crimes in Dretelj

RHB – Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office in Mostar confirmed to FENA news agency that investigation against five former officials of Dretelj camp near Capljina, lasting already for several months, is about to be completed. They are suspected of war crimes against Bosniaks and Serbs. “Upon completion of the investigation… analysis of investigative procedures is to follow, and only after that court will make decision on issuing of bill of indictment,” said for the Fena the Cantonal prosecutor Ibro Bulic. Investigation against two guards in Dretelj camp, Ado Alagic and Meho Gusic, as well as against three members of HVO Military Police, Gojko Sakota, Vido Palameta and Mijo Banovic, and legal proceedings against them are approved by the Hague Tribunal.

Political developments

BiH HoR adopts budget for BiH institutions; reps criticise BiH Presidency costs

RHB, RTRS – At the session held on Wednesday, BiH House of Representatives adopted the Proposal Budget of BiH Institutions and International Commitments for 2004, and the Law on budget implementation. BiH Finances Minister, Ljerka Maric said that budget estimated at about 480 millions KM, out of which 268 millions KM will be directed to servicing external debt.

BHTV 1, FTV – Budget also had to respect the “Stand- by” arrangement, on whose grounds the International Monetary Fond says that the amount for budget can not be higher than the last year’s, said Maric. She adds that financing of state institutions have been increased this year for only 30 000 KM and that due to the budget limitations, new institutions will be financed out of entity budgets. Sharp critics were also addressed to BiH Presidency because, was stated, its expenditures of projected 6,6 million KM are equal to those of both Houses of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly. Nikola Spiric: “How is it possible for members of Presidency to have three Cabinets, for Foreign Affairs Minister to have a cabinet in Banja Luka,…, does BiH needs that?”.  As unequal distribution of budget, representatives pointed to SIPA, which as important institution in BiH should employ 1000 workers, but for which only 6,5 million KM of budget has been stipulated.

Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘BiH institutions budget is more than 480 million KM’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Adopted state budget almost half of a billion KM’, Dnevni List page 5 ‘State budget amounting to 480 million KM adopted’ – also covered the session.  

FBiH HoP adopts law on direct election of municipal heads in FBiH

RHB, BHTV 1, FTV – FBIH House of Peoples adopted at the extraordinary session held on Wednesday in Sarajevo adopted the Law on the Direct Election of Municipal Heads in the Federation. This law enables citizens to directly elect the heads of municipalities for a four-year mandate by a preferential system of voting. The Law the will come into effect immediately, as the BiH Election Commission has to officially announce by 15 April the date of the next local elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina. HoP also adopted the amendment to the constitution enabling transfer of authorities from Federation to the state in the case of High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, enabling its existence as a single and state institution. Second proposed amendment to the FBiH Constitution – which should have provided for transfer of competencies ont eh FBIH for systematic structuring of local self-governance – was not endorsed by majority of Croat deputies. 

Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Direct election of municipal head enabled’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Revoke of municipal head only through referendum’, Slobodna Dalmacija, back page ‘Everything is ready for municipal elections’, Dnevni List page 3 ‘Direct election of heads of municipalities confirmed’, Blic pg 12 ‘Election date will be made public today’ – also covered the session.

BiH Presidency in session; topics: Central Bank, floods, SIPA

RHB, BHTV 1, FTV – At the session on Wednesday, BiH Presidency adopted the Financial Report of the BiH Central Bank for 2003, based on which – as stated by the member of BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac – its was concluded that the foreign currency is growing, so that today we have net foreign currency reserves, i.e. surplus foreign currency reserves of approx. 153 million KM, and the foreign currency reserves only are estimated at two billion and 780 million KM. Paravac expressed hope that by next year BiH Central Bank will be able to participate in financing of BiH Budget. Presidency also issued the Decision on deploying the BiH Armed Forces in the cases of elementary disasters, authorizing Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic to, at request of the Civil Protection, use military units for these purposes.

RTSR – The Presidency also accepted the report submitted by Director of the BiH Agency for Information and Protection [SIPA] on the progress in establishing the Agency, and requested that this report be considered at the next session of BiH Council of Ministers, for the purpose of insuring additional funds for its establishment.  Presidency said it was dissatisfied as set of Laws offering police competencies to SIPA weren’t passed. Paravac said that SIPA required more than 5 or 6 million KM of budget, and estimated that its establishment would request a minimum of 23 million KM.

Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘4000 people applied for intelligence officers’, pg 2 ‘Four thousands of people applied to SIPA’s vacancy announcements’ – “If new law on SIPA would be adopted, than that would be a classic police institutions, with a use of force, whose [mandate] would include [fight against] terrorism, organized crime, war crimes drugs, nuclear weaponry and witness protection. For functioning of that SIPA, the [agency] would need 30 million KM per annum,” commented Paravac.

Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘More money for the work of SIPA’, Dnevni List page 4 ‘To involve soldiers in recovery of damage caused by floods’ – also covers the session.

Oslobodjenje claims new crisis in FBiH authorities upcoming

Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4&5 ‘Tihic and Colak are pushing Party for BiH away from authorities’ by Senka Kurtovic – According to daily, the new crisis is facing an outbreak in FBiH Government, as leaders of SDA and HDZ Sulejman Tihic and Barisa Colak respectively, reached an agreement which would, in their mind, lead to stabilisation of the FBiH. The problem is, says author, that the representatives of the Party for BiH have not participated in that agreement, and that the SBiH has been left out in the plans for future personnel distribution. Colak and Tihic apparently agreed and signed that Bosniak from SDA will head PIO [Pensions and Invalids Fund], while HDZ will take two leading positions in the Directorate for Roads and Employment Bureau. Source close to SBiH says for Oslobodjenje: “Such strade pf personnel reached between SDA and HDZ will not be accepted by Party for BiH.” Same srouce claims that SBiH and FBiH Vice President Safet Halilovic and Gavrilo Grahovac were presented with the completely different conclusions of the meeting.

Update to OHR sanctions against SDS, HDZ

Dnevni List, page 6 ‘HDZ expects suspension of decision on sanction’ – OHR spokesperson, Mario Brkic, refused to comment on possible future moves of the High Representative for BiH in case the HDZ and SDS, whose funding from budgets was temporarily halted by the HR, do not respect the set deadlines and carry out the tasks given to them. According to Brkic, the OHR will wait for the deadlines to expire and only then one can talk about next steps. DL also carries an HDZ spokesperson, Pero Pavlovic, as saying that the HDZ is expecting a dialogue between the HDZ and OHR in order to overcome problems. ‘The cantonal assembly in Central Bosnia Canton and our municipal councils in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton will be discussing proposal of law that has been submitted by the competent ministers, which contains elements related to the education reform’, says Pavlovic. Pavlovic adds that there was no reason for the HR to pressure the HDZ the way he did, expressing optimism regarding lifting of the HR’s decision.

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Sanctions until fulfillment of the obligations’, Nezavisne Novine pg.8 ‘No answer on cancellation of decisions on SDS and HDZ’, Slobodna Dalmacija, page 18 ‘Payments to SDS and HDZ still ‘frozen’’– bring FENA item reading that OHR could not comment as to HR would abolish his decision.

DL claims HR Ashdown will not lift financial sanctions against SDS

Dnevni List, page 19 ‘Destiny of party in hands of international community’, by P. M. – Author argues that no matter how good, accurate and ideal the report on financial operations of the SDS proves to be, the report that the SDS President, Dragan Kalinic, is to submit to the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, the HR will not withdraw his decision. In that context, DL argues that HR Ashdown cannot do it because in case he did, he would confirm that the SDS did not fund Radovan Karadzic and other ICTY indictees and that the party cooperates with the ICTY. ‘In the same time he would free the party of every responsibility relating to arrest of the founder of the SDS, as well as other persons wanted by The Hague Tribunal. Ashdown and his superiors would not do it even if they were insane’, concludes the author.

Hamdija Jahic new President of SDA Mostar

Dnevni List, front and page 6 ‘Hamdija Jahic appointed president’ – Members of the City Board of SDA of Mostar appointed the current Mayor of Mostar, Hamdija Jahic, as the new President of the said Board at a session held late last night. Jahic received backing of 11 members of the Board, whilst his counterpart, Mustafa Skoro, was backed by 10 members. DL says the appointment comes despite some reports that Jahic was not interested for the office. Jahic has replaced Fatima Leho who resigned after the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, imposed the decision on Mostar.

DA: municipal elections on 2 October

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Municipal elections on 2 October’ – DA learns ahead that the municipal elections in BiH will be held on 2 October. BiH Elections Commission is expected today to reach an agreement on the date of upcoming elections to be held in 141 municipalities and Brcko District and to announce it. 

Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Today, announcement on the elections date’ – also mentions decision to be taken today.

Terzic on reforms process in BiH 

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘I expect positive answer from Brussels’ – Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic stated for DA that having in mind the measures and actions carried out to ensure fulfilment of the 16 preconditions from the Feasibility Study he expected the positive answer in next few months. Terzic also says that “[European] Commission demands from us to achieve with these reforms an obvious progress. I interpret that as adoption of the laws. However, it is in our interests,… to have those laws to start being implemented as soon as possible. That is because the reforms needed to join EU do not mean only that, but much more: they mean improving conditions for all BiH citizens.”

Floods, economy

Floods update

RHB, BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover, pgs 12&13 ‘Fear of new floods’, Nezavisne Novine pg. 4 ‘2500 houses flooded’, Glas Srpske pg. 3 ‘Srbac municipality fears floods may happen again’, Blic front, pg 13 ‘2,500 houses flooded’ – as in past several days, the levels of some rivers in BiH are still rising, such as Sava in Brcko causing more damage in Brcko District; areas in Posavina, Una-Sana Canton are still being flooded, while about 2500 homes were flooded in RS.

Ashdown in Glamoc and Livno

Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Ashdown opened forestry season in Glamoc’, pg 4 ‘Ashdown visited two companies, examples of success business’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Forests exploitation will be legally regulated’, Slobodna Dalmacija last page ‘HR visited Glamoc and Livno’, Nezavisne Novine pg.8 ‘Ashdown satisfied with the work in forestry’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, visited Glamoc on Wednesday where he met with Head of the Cantonal public company ‘Hercegbosanske Sume’ Marko Bagaric and visited textile company ‘Pavone’. The HR stated that positive progress was noticed in Hercegbosanske Sume and he was glad that employees of this company are coming from lines of all 3 BiH peoples, however, he was sad about the fact that, nevertheless, employing depends on political connections the most. After Glamoc, the HR visited Livno where he met with journalists and the OHR employees in this town.  

DL: CRA starts with procedure to issue 3^rd GSM licence

Dnevni List, front and page 3 ‘Issuance of third GSM licence starts’, by J. Petrovic – reports that the Communications Regulatory Agency (RAK) has started the process related to the issuance of the 3^rd GSM licence. Namely, HT Mostar d.o.o. and Eronet d.o.o. companies have been asked to declare themselves in writing whether they agree to, pursuant to conditions stipulated in the BiH Council of Ministers’ decision, submit a request to get the 3^rd GSM licence. Upon receiving the replies, the RAK will forward the interested parties ‘conditions for awarding the third GSM licence’. Final deadline set to companies to reply is Friday, April 23.

Croatian Govt says it will insist on FTA implementation

Dnevni List front and page 4 ‘Croatia will insist on respecting of Free Trade Agreement with BiH’ not signed carries that Croatian Minister of Economy Branko Vukelic and Croatian State Secretary for Economy Vladimir Vrankovic stated at the press conference yesterday that the Croatian Government will insist on respecting of the Free Trade Agreement with BiH, its implementation is not questionable and possible changes of the contents of the agreement can be achieved through bilateral talks and in a way that can satisfy both sides. 

Telekom Srpske to have new leadership

Nezavisne Novine pg. 5 ‘New Telekom leadership to be elected in May’ – Deputy Director of the RS Telekom, Milenko Stanic announced that the shareholders assembly of the RS Telekom will convene in May in order to appoint new members of the Management and Steering board of the company. The daily recalls that following the special auditor’s report on RS Telekom in October last year, the RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and PDHR Donald Hays, have publicly requested Telekom officials to resign, but nothing happened. According to the daily, some 200 people have applied for posts in RS Telekom.

Defence issues

Civil service as of May 10

Dnevni List pg 7 ‘In mission of peace – without weapon’, Vecernji List pg 6 “Noncombatant military service in BiH starts as of May 10’ – The Federation of BiH Ministry of Defense signed in Sarajevo yesterday contracts with 52 legal entities that will be organizers of noncombatant military service in the FBiH. The dailies say that in this way conditions for beginning of noncombatant military service as of May 10, 2004 have been met. Also covered in Sarajevo dailies.

SD on vetting procedure for generals in BiH Army

Slobodna Dalmacija front and page 18 ‘Selmo Cikotic under magnifying glass’, by Z. Tulic – Writing about the ongoing process of vetting of candidates for future generals in the BiH armed forces, SD says that the reason why the vetting is taking so long is because of proposed candidates from the line of Bosniaks. According to SD, Selmo Cikotic (one of alleged candidates) has the most dubious wartime past, and he was investigated into by the ICTY investigators. SD goes on to report that according to BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic’s words, the decision on vetting could be in by Friday.

DL: vetting procedure takes too long

Dnevni List, page 9 ‘Reform of armed forces in BiH is behind schedule’ by Renata Radic – Article notes that the vetting process for generals’ positions in taking too long, although it was expected that the process would have finished by middle of this week. According to an SFOR spokesperson, Dave Sullivan, the reason why is because it is about a comprehensive work.

DL: FBiH Veterans Law not harmonized

Dnevni List, page 7 ‘Croat side against use of term sehid’, by Ivica Glibusic – Notes that despite statements by the FBiH Minister for Defenders’ Issues, Ibrahim Nadarevic, that the law on rights of defenders has been harmonized, the issue is yet to be taken care of, as proven by a statement of the Minister for Defenders’ Issues in the Canton 8, Zdravko Beslic, who says that there are few pending issues. According to Beslic, it is the term sehid that is disputable. ‘It is a religious term that means a fighter for Islam, which we do not intend to accept. We have to harmonize it and see whether there are ways to remove it’, says Beslic. DL also reports that both sides (Croats and Bosniaks) have made some compromises so far and carries Beslic as saying: ‘We are on good path to get the job done, but in case we do not reach an agreement, there is a higher level of authority that will continue working in case the negotiations fail’.