Members of the Special Police of so called Herceg-Bosna and armed civilians attacked today a larger group of Bosniaks on their way to the cemetery 100 m far from the previous ZOS in Mostar. A man was killed and 21 injured by gun fire, stones and sticks coming from a mob which first encircled Bosniaks and than started to attack them.
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Sefkija Djiho, an acting cantonal police minister asserted that the attack was well planned since the whole region where the Bosniaks were passing by was clear of other people and the special police were brought along. Unfortunately, the first among them who started to shoot was the oldest member of the police. The worst attack occurred after our efforts to bring back our group, at the moment when we realized we were being attacked and they saw that we did not wish to enter the fight, he said.
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Safet Orucevic, acting Mostar Mayor, was shocked by the incident. They did this to us and we gave our best during Christmas to prevent the smallest possibility of any incident.
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Follows a list of dead and injured people by names.
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Alija Izetbegovic, Presidency President told Press Conference that his and Kresimir Zubak’s information relating the tragic incident, differ. Yet, I can tell that the Federal Croatian officials are not involved in this incident, Izetbegovic said, pointing out that he could however say with the same certainty that the local powerful persons in so called W. Mostar had a part to play in the tragedy.
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This incident proves that the problems cannot be solved by political pressures and by general psychosis, reads a Statement from Kresimir Zubak’s office. The statement calls for both peoples to make an effort to overcome this and other problems in Mostar.
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Haris Silajdzic arriving in Mostar early afternoon said that the incident were the worst blow to date for the Federation. The International Community already for three years overlooks the fact that the extreme circles in Mostar, supported by certain centers in Zagreb, have been trying to destroy the Federation. This tragic incident is only a result of that fact. The International Community should finally have found the address of those who do not wish the implementation of Federation.
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The talks between Dr. Silajdzic and the representatives of SFOR and IPTF, which was attended by Ambassador Michael Steiner, are under way. Asked by Silajdzic if today’s incident could have been possibly caused by any provocation on the Bosniak side, Frank Server, Chief of the IPTF Office in Mostar, clearly denied such possibility saying that according to his information, the shooting came only from the Croatian side. He called it murder.
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Edhem Bicakcic, BiH Federation Prime Minister, held talks with the representatives of the institutions most responsible for the implementation of the Dayton Accord in our country: Robert Beecroft, Acting US Ambassador to BiH, the HR Carl Bildt, General William Crouch and Robert Wasserman, and asked their help to clear up the incident. Beecroft pointed out that the steps have been taken to inform Washington of the incident.
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Today’s incident in Mostar was provoked by ”the recent throwing of explosive devices on the residential objects and Franciscan monastery as well as shooting from the eastern part of Mostar during the last days” Valentin Coric, the cantonal Minister for interior affairs, explained as the reason for the attack on Bosniak civilians in Mostar. He also said that everything started when a group of Bosniaks were approaching the Croats in front of the Croatian Cultural Hall attending a carnival and police tried to stop them. The Moslem civilians returned with an attack and one person was even injured with knife. The same Statement reads that travelers of Croatian nationality have been ambushed on the M 17 road between Mostar and Jablanica in the last few hours and therefore a curfew was ordered between 19 and 6 hours.
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Andrew Saddleton, SFOR Spokesman has his point of view of how the incident started: The Bosniaks were heading toward the cemetery when they were confronted with a group of Croats. Someone shot, but ”we are not sure who”. He confirmed though that all the injured were Bosniaks. He confirmed that groups of people were gathering on both sides of the Neretva river, but there were no danger of new clashes.
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Carl Bildt, the HR called the incident “a murder” in an commentary for BiH TV and asked for arrest of those who did it. He left the responsibility with the federal authority demanding from them the most decisive steps to prevent such incidents.
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In other parts of BiH and BiH Federation many citizens, high representatives of the religious, political and military leadership have been reported to have visited shehid’s and fallen soldiers grave yards. After that followed a reception for the representatives of the shehid’s and dead soldiers’ families.
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UNHCR office sent an appeal to the authorities and the individuals of both BiH entities to keep peace regardless of the Brcko arbitrage solution.
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Summary SRT News
Pale – RS Foreign Minister Buha met OSCE political director Kuzniecev and talked about the forthcoming local elections, whereas Buha pointed out a problem of arming of the Federation army. Buha said that he insisted that all Serb refugees from Krajina and elsewhere vote where they wish and where they want to continue their life.2:00
Bijeljina – RS MUP representatives held a meeting summing up the work done so far, discussing the political and security situation in the country, especially considering the Brcko arbitration process, and adopting the rules of procedure for this year.
1:00
Dugi dio – RS police will not patrol the village tomorrow because of the Muslim religious holiday Bajram, which was an initiative of the US SFOR command.
Doboj – the RS army regional command sent a letter of protest to the Nordic SFOR troops stationed in that region complaining that the SFOR plains fly too low, which causes trouble and panic among the population.
Commentary – regarding Muslim reactions on Krajisnik’s interview showed at SRT the other day. The SRT reports on Muratovic’s reaction saying that he is a man who always forgets the facts such as that RS has its parliament, army, flag, police and it does not depend on the Federation at all. This is actually written in the DPA. They quoted some parts of Adil Zulfikarpasic interview given to Slobodna Bosna on Dec 15, last year wondering if he is more precise when saying that the RS has all attributes of a state: its army, police, government, parliament, court, autonomous administration, schools and above all its well defined borders within which it can establish its political ideas and national programme. He also said that Croats are the best example of the ‘unity’ within the BiH. They have their own army, organised autonomous administration, customs, created attributes for a state which will be totally consolidated and reintegrated into Croatia. Adil Zulfikarpasic thinks that BiH does not have its government and that it would not have it under this conditions. BiH is divided now and it is a fact. This conclusion was made, SRT reports, in accordance with relations between RS and the Federation, as well as the relations within the Federal partners. It is obvious that each time there are some problems, like now in the Federation, the ‘blade’ is pointed towards the RS. This is the good way to turn away attention of both local people and the international community, from the real problems.
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Milosevic said to the Greek media that the DPA has brought peace to BiH and recognised the RS rights. He also emphasised that there is a possibility that RS gradually reintegrates into Serbia as well as within BiH. He said that international factors caused the war here, adding that it would have been avoided if there were no economic, political and other international interests aimed at this region.
A group of 50 Muslim civilians visited graves in Srbinje and Novi Grad for their religious holiday Bajram. There were no incidents. This proves, the SRT journalist concluded, that Serbs are those who comply with the DPA.
World News: Mostar – An armed conflict happened between Croats and Muslims, when Muslim civilians came across to the west Mostar to visit their graves. One person was killed and about twenty wounded in the incident. SFOR has increased its patrolling, while IPTF conducted the investigation. This was probably a Croat answer to three grenades which were fired from the east part of Mostar last night.
Sarajevo – Kresimir Zubak, member of the BiH Presidency and President of the Federation, accused CoM Co-chair Haris Silajdzic for moving in to his office.
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