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| Inauguration of FBiH HoR | Explosive device thrown at Islamic Community building in Prijedor | Prijedor incident | Christian Schwartz Schilling on refugees problems |
| Mayors of Mostar municipalities with Croat majority request ending of teacher’s strike | Inauguration of FBiH HoR | Protests over Hague verdict against Mitar Vasiljevic
| Explosive device thrown at Islamic Community building in Prijedor |
| Mostar water supplying disputes | HR’s testimony before ICTY | 10 injured in Frutex workers clashes with police | UN inspections in Iraq |
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| Inauguration of FBiH HoR |
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| Dnevni List | Events regarding Cardinal’s residence in Sarajevo: Fadil Smajilovic was eavesdropping Cardinal Puljic |
| Vecernji List | Scandal at promotion of book of Franjo Boras: Praljak accused Jelavic of immorality |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Andjelko Barun, President of HVIDRA of HR HB, announces actions because disability allowances were not paid: We shall block life in Federation – our lives have been blocked too! |
| Glas Srpski | No criminal charges for money laundering yet: “Launderers” covered their traces; Trebinje: Two people die in fire; Ashdown sweeps away obstacles |
| Nezavisne Novine | House of Representatives of BiH Federation Parliament constituted: News leadership from SDA and HDZ; Settlers of Krupa announce protest against hydro-electric power plants on Vrbas river |
International community/OHR | |
| Ashdown’s testimony before the Hague Tribunal
OHR’s Day on removing obstacles to private business
Christian Schwartz-Schilling’s visit to Banja Luka
CRO press on SFOR hunt for war criminals in Croatia
Vjesnik on IC policy in BiH | Nezavisne Novine (p 5) reports that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, testified yesterday before the Hague Tribunal in the trial to Radoslav Brdjanin, who is indicted for genocide, crimes against humanity, severe breaches of Geneva convention and violations of customs of war. Ashdown testified on his visit to BiH and detention camps in Manjaca and Trnopolje, in August 1992. Ashdown said that he came to Bosnia after the invitation of Radovan Karadzic, and that at the time of his arrival he only knew about detention camps in Omarska and Keraterm, that he learned about Manjaca detention camp upon his arrival to the country. At the end of his testimony, Ashdown said he does not remember that he heard the name of Radoslav Brdjanin during the visit and that the permission for visiting detention camps should be issued by him. Vecernji List (page 2, title “Ashdown testified before The Hague”), Dnevni List (page 5, “Inhuman treatment in prison camps Manjaca and Trnopolj”) and Slobodna Dalmacija (page 7, “Ashdown: I saw inhuman treatment in prison camps”) covered the OHR press release on the testimony that Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative, gave in The Hague. The Head of OHR Banja Luka, Graham Day, stated on Wednesday that the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, intends to annul all laws, provisions and rulebooks that prevent development of private entrepreneurship (Glas Srpski, p 2). After the meeting with representatives of small and medium enterprises in Banja Luka Chamber of Commerce, Day also stated that the High Representative wants to encourage just tax system, resembling the one accepted in countries that went through transition successfully. According to Day, the main goal of the “bulldozer” initiative is to remove all obstacles that prevent development and work of small and medium enterprises. The international mediator for BiH, Christian Schwartz Schilling visited Banja Luka on Wednesday where he met with the RS President, Dragan Cavic, and the Chairman of the Executive Board of SNSD, Nebojsa Radmanovic (Nezavisne Novine, p 7, Glas Srpski, p 3) Speaking about the implementation of property laws, Schwarz Schilling said that the results reached in the RS in last two years are impressive but “there are still things that need to be done”. In its research as to who SFOR and OHR actually address via their advertisements containing the message: “War crimes indictees, we are searching for you”, which have “flooded” newspapers in Croatia (Globus, page 36, “Arrest Warrant from Cover Pages – SFOR “hunting” in Croatia?”, by Gordan Malic), Globus wonders if the advertisements represent a threat to General Gotovina. The weekly quotes SFOR PIO officer, Dave Asscoti, as saying: “It is true that SFOR does not have authorities in Croatia, yet it is our mandate to arrest war criminals, including propaganda-psychological activities related to that, so the advertisement could refer to those fugitives who are Croatian citizens but are hiding in BiH. At the moment, the only known Croatian fugitive is General Gotovina and, should he appear on the territory in which we have the jurisdiction, it is our duty to arrest him and hand him over to the ICTY”. The advertisement at first glance seems like an ICTY one, but it is about SFOR one that has been published in BiH media and put in public places for years. This is about typical special war that SFOR and OHR lead against war criminals and those who protect them. When it comes to the biggest fugitives, the action did not bear any fruit, just like “Mirko” magazine which unsuccessfully lobbied for pacifism, organized crime combat and nationalism in BiH. Reminding of a number of war criminals arrested by SFOR, Globus notes a couple of aborted SFOR attempts to arrest Radovan Karadzic, due to which SFOR leaders are often the target of BiH media but also of the ICTY Prosecutors’ Office. Publishing of psychological-propaganda ads in Croatia seems pointless from that perspective but can also be seen as a slap in the face to the Croatian authorities who have so far not taken promotional activities of this kind. SFOR has, on a number of occasions, informed Croatian investigative bodies that the fugitive Croatian General is moving along the BiH border belt, yet Gotovina has not been arrested to date. It is paradoxical that the international military forces do not arrest Gotovina on the territory of the country in which they act, but they do pay advertisements in the country in which they have no jurisdiction at all. Vjesnik (page 4) carries an editorial signed by Ivan Sabic, who says that the International Community believes that strengthening of the central institutions is long-term way out for BiH. The editorial says: “In order to improve the situation, the IC chose a long and slow way, with unclear and uncertain result, thus refusing initiatives that imply more radical moves – forming of the third entity or cantonization of the whole BiH.” The editorial also says that the changes will not go smoothly, especially when the status of the RS is in question, and the fact that not only SDS and Serb radicals left the constituting session of the BiH Parliament, but also representatives who come from the line of moderate parties proves it. |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| Continuation of BiH HoR session
Reactions to the interruption of the HoR session
Ashdown to address BiH HoR
BiH Presidency session
Another Croatian’s Tomac statement about position of Croats in BiH
SDP’s Komsic on BiH-related statements by Pack, Tomac | The continuation of the interrupted session of the House of Representatives of BiH Parliament is scheduled for Monday, the 9th of December (Nezavisne Novine, p 3, Glas Srpski, p 5). The Serb delegates who interrupted the session announced that they will come to the session. The SNSD delegate, Nikola Spiric, expressed hope that the High Representative will attend the session, as requested in the protest letter signed by Serb deputies. The OHR Spokesman Mario Brkic did not confirm Spiric’s statement but said that the High Representative will attend the first working session of the House of Representatives “when invited by the new Speaker of the House”. Glas Srpski (p 5) also carries statement of some of the Serb delegates who left the session. Nikola Spiric, SNSD: “This was not an attempt to block the work of the joint institutions, but a warning that deputies are fighting for democratic principles and that is very important for BiH. The High Representative should explain the citizens why he imposed the Law on CoM one day before the inaugural session of the House of Representatives of BiH Parliament.” Momcilo Novakovic, SDS: “The motive of Serb delegates is clear: we want all deputies to be respected and we want laws to be passed in parliamentary procedure. We reject claims that this is any sort of tactics, especially not the ‘cynical tactics’. For us the problem lies in the fact that the law was imposed one day before the inaugural session of the House and none of us saw it. I’ve heard that the High Representative will attend the session on Monday and explain his decision.” Petar Kunic, PDP: “I believe that basic principle of democracy is that the laws are passed in the Parliament and nowhere else. Even if some political parties gave their approval on the Law as such, that does not imply that it should not be dealt with through the parliamentary procedure.” Dnevni List (page 2) carries that Sonja Pastuovic, an OHR Spokesperson, stated that Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative, is intending to address the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament, however she is not sure as to when this will happen because she does not know his schedule. The BiH Presidency supported the initiative of the CoM to organize a meeting of representatives of local and international institutions on violations of UN Resolutions, export of weapons and military equipment from BiH. The Presidency also supported the idea to establish a working group which should discuss the issue (Glas Srpski, p 3, Nezavisne Novine, p 3). The working group should consist of members of BiH CoM, representatives of OHR, OSCE and representatives of entities Governments. Jutranji List (page 8) carries Zdravko Tomac, the Vice President of the Croatian Parliament, who says that it is time to open a new discussion about relation of Croatia towards BiH. Tomac says that the International Community has to understand that it has made many mistakes and that it is necessary to remove contradictions that unable functioning of BiH. The current model of the BiH organization is not sustainable. Tomac said that Croats should have a similar position as Serbs, who have the RS and he added: “It does not matter whether it will be achieved through organization of a central state, cantonized and decentralized with the Council of Peoples, or through opening of a discussion on the third entity for the Croat people. It is unjust to say that the Croat people is equal with those, who have their entities.” Dnevni List (page 3) carries Zeljko Komsic, the Vice President of the Social Democratic Party of BiH, as saying that a part of the International Community runs campaign against statehood and constitutional organization of BiH. In this context, Komsic mentioned statements given by Doris Pack, the President of the European Parliament for Southeast Europe, who said that due to the corruption the Government lost trust of voters at the elections and Zdravko Tomac, the Vice President of the Croatian Parliament, who advocates the idea to establish the third entity. Komsic added: “These and similar statements given by lower-level OHR officials in Sarajevo are very problematic and they do not fit in political and moral frameworks.” |
Federation BiH | |
| Inauguration of FBiH House of Representatives
Canton 10 Assembly inaugurated
20,000 HVO invalids threaten to block roads in FBiH
Stolac
Mostar | Nezavisne Novine (p 3) reports that the inaugural session of the House of Representatives of BiH Federation Parliament was held yesterday and that the House got new but incomplete leadership. SDA’s Muhamed Ibrahimovic is the new Chairman, HNZ/HDZ coalition candidate Josip Merdzo is elected as Deputy Chairman while the Chairman representing Serbs and Secretary of the House were not elected. Vecernji List, p 2, by E. Medunjanin, Dnevni List, p 5, and Slobodna Dalmacija, last page, also reported on the issue. According to Vecernji List, after the inaugural session, Donald Hays, the Principle Deputy High Representative, held a meeting with Presidents of Caucuses of political parties who participate in the work of the BiH Federation Parliament House of Representatives. According to VL, Hays warned the Presidents of the Caucuses that it is necessary to adopt the Federation budget for 2003 as soon as possible and he called on them to work efficiently. Vecernji List (page 2) and Slobodna Dalmacija (page 10) carry that during the first constituting session of the Herceg Bosna Cantonal Assembly, Dragan Bagaric, who was the Governor of this Canton, was appointed the President of the Canton 10 Assembly. Jasenko Tufekdzic and Slobodanka Grubor were appointed his Deputies. Also Mate Franjicevic, Mate Jankovic, Jasenko Tufekcic and Vlatko Zrilic were appointed representatives in the House of Peoples. Vecernji List (front and page 4), Vjesnik (page 11) and Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 15) carry that over 20 000 HVO invalids will block all roads in the BiH Federation and border crossings towards Croatia if they do not get overdue disability allowances. Andjelko Barun, the President of Association of HVO Homeland War Invalids of Croat Republic of Herceg Bosna stated that the blockade will last until they receive the overdue disability allowances. VL says that Homeland War Victims informed OHR about moves of Suada Hadzovic, the Minister in charge of issues of soldiers and war invalids, who, according to HVIDRA members, caused this situation. Dnevni List (p 8) carries the letter which, among other things, reads that this Association’s members are surprised with and concerned about the behaviour and decisions of some of the Municipal Council Councillors and a part of the IC pertaining to the erection of the monument to the killed Croat defenders. At the moment when only the exclusiveness of Bosniaks, whose representatives do not take part in the municipal bodies of authority, is louder than the messages of peace that are daily sent from the mosque of spite, the Islamic Community’s Medzlis from Stolac in their letter offend all the well-intentioned Stolac citizens. The Medzlis’s unrealistic requests, which are in advance known to be impossible to accept, seem to be co-ordinated with the obstructions in the Municipal Council’s work by the Bosniak representatives who re-activate spiritual exclusiveness, intolerance and hatred. They aim to have Stolac constantly perceived as isolated from its surroundings and aim at sotonising the Croats of Stolac. For them, the Turkish conquering is the only measure on which one is to build co-existence between the 2 peoples, which is something that Bosniak mentors from Mostar and Sarajevo, as well as international “spiritual tutors” who so much care for us but do nothing for this municipality, which they call a Zoo, advocate. Concluding that the final goal seems to be maintaining status quo and letting the past, to which Stolac Croats are proud of, be forgotten, the Association members say they are not ready for such co-existence. Dnevni List (p2, by Ivica Glibusic), gives an overview of post-war contradictions in Mostar saying that it was Bosniaks who, immediately after the war, advocated unification of the town whereas Croat representatives advocated a number of Municipalities with either Bosniak or Croat majority. The IC at the time reacted to some moves in the western part of the town, calling them destructive. But, it did not take long before one reached out for new solutions and Bosniaks, with the assistance of the IC and domestic media, exerted pressures leading to unification. HDZ opposing lead to an even greater distance between the East and the West. Abolishment of Cantons with special regime intensified realisation of that unification, but Deputy Mayor Tomic’s latest proposal to have the town organised as a single Municipality is now opposed by Mostar Bosniak politicians who now claim it is out of question as Croats would dominate the town in that case. Thus we have experienced the turns of both Bosniak and Croat policy in Mostar, both of which have gone from one extreme to another but could not find a common ground. There is still a long and tough struggle for a unified, normal town that would be governed by its citizens and not somebody else, ahead of Mostar. |
Republika Srpska | |
| RS Interior Minister rejects allegations on Banja Luka, Sarajevo as crime centers RS PM designate
Bomb incident in Prijedor | The RS Interior Minister, Dragomir Jovicic, rejected allegations of his Serbian counterpart, Dusan Mihajlovic, who said that Banja Luka and Sarajevo are the centers of crime in the region (Nezavisne Novine, p 2). Jovicic said that the Interior Ministries of FRY and Serbia never asked the RS Ministry to investigate such claims. Jovicic also stated that the RS Interior Ministry has not yet received the report of the RS Chief Auditor, Bosko Ceko, on Orao affairs. The PDP is supposed to announce the name of its candidate for RS Prime Minister designate today (Nezavisne Novine, p.7). The PDP Spokesman, Igor Crnadak did not want to comment on names that appeared in public as PDP’s candidates. He said that the PM designate should be from PDP and that PDP also supports SNSD’s idea that Milorad Dodik and Mladen Ivanic should become members of the BiH Council of Ministers. The SDS announced that the SNSD leader, Milorad Dodik, rejected the offer of the RS President, Dragan Cavic, to gather three strongest parties in RS and create stable majority in the Parliament. The SDS draws the conclusion from Dodik’s appearance in a show of Banja Luka local BEL television. The release issued by SDS said that the “RS needs new Government the appointment of which is supported by Serb majority in the National Assembly, it does not need empty stories of Milorad Dodik.” (Nezavisne novine, p 7, Glas Srpski, p 2) Last night, an unknown perpetrator planted explosive device at Imam’s house in Prijedor settlement of Donja Puharska. According to the police report, there were no injuries but material damage was caused (Nezavisne Novine, p 6) |