SARAJEVO – On the second day of British Foreign Affairs Minister Cook’s visit to Bosnia, he met the Presidency members, and the CoM. He is also supposed to visit Tuzla and Banja Luka today. The essence of the discussions between Cook and BiH officials was the corruption in BiH, and arrest of war criminals. Cook replied that his Country will insist on a united BiH, in accordance with the DPA.
Cook also talked with Krajisnik in Lukavica today. According to unofficial information the only subject of the meeting was co-operation of the RS with ICTY.
Cook said that he was satisfied with Izetbegovic’s decision to form a committee in order to investigate the problem. Cook also hopes that the committee will be able to account for the aid money.
TUZLA – Cook went to Tuzla in order to meet Canton President Jamakosmanovic and Municipality President Beslagic. Cook said he especially wished to visit this municipality as it is known for the good relations between local people, and it is said that it should be a role model for BiH as a whole. He also said that it was evident that the IC had done a lot in arresting the war criminals but had not finished. Representative of alternative government, Tokic said that the sanctions of EU cannot be applied to everyone in BiH since only a part of BiH is under criminal corruption.
STRASBOURG – German Foreign Affairs Minister said yesterday that he had no knowledge of alleged misuse of aid for BiH.
SARAJEVO – at the session of the BiH Presidency Deputy Foreign Minister Bozanic replaced Krajisnik. On the agenda discussion continued on the allocation of diplomatic and councilor posts worldwide. Regarding the matter of security of BiH representatives the Presidency elected two committees from OSCE.
SARAJEVO – CoM session was not held today. The reason for this is disagreement of the members regarding the session agenda. Co-chairman Silajdzic explained the reasoning of session failure saying that it was a matter of obstruction by the RS side who do not want to accept previously revisited CoM laws. Other problematic matters were issues of citizenship and passports. Silajdzic said that international factors attending the session could be assured that the obstruction comes from the RS side.
SARAJEVO – At the session of House of People there were also a few problems the agenda, but these were eventually overcome. But HoP President Ljubic announced his proposition on the draft of the HoP functions, bulletin of government actions, draft of a new law of changing the areas divided entity lines. After a pause, Ljubic proposed a new schedule that was accepted immediately. The main conclusion was that within ten days the representatives should deliver their proposals and suggestions on the draft.
SARAJEVO – Regarding the QSP laws published in BiH “sluzbeni list” (official gazette) the representative HoP chairman Lozancic announced that those laws cannot be applied nor have the legal activities, for they have not been published by an authorized editor. It was not published in the form previously set.
BRCKO – UN spokesman Ivanko announced that the experts team began an exhumation on the area near Brcko This exhumation should reveal some new evidence for the investigation of severe violations of international rights. Ivanko said that the exhumed bodies were already transferred, but no information had been published for matters of security. Ivanko said that the RS authorities were also called to monitor the exhumation.
HAGUE – Indicted war criminal Kovacevic will stand trial tomorrow for the first time since his arrest and give his plea.
ZAGREB – Croatia addressed ICTY saying that they would only submit those documents concerning the war in BH, and asked them not to meddle in internal affairs of Republic of Croatia. Defense Minister Susak will not be sent to the hearing.
SARAJEVO – UNHCR Special Envoy Faubert announced that there are about 800.000 DP’s in BiH which actually means that 1.6 million people require solution. The Number of returnees will probably grow this year to about 65,000 to 70,000 people. Most of them are returning to the territory of the Federation, while a very small amount is returning to the RS, and Croatian parts of the Federation. The laws on property are the main obstacle in process of return, therefore UNHCR and OHR are working on new laws.
JAJCE – at today’s meeting, organized by UNHCR, and the Jajce Municipality, representatives of displaced from Jajce, SFOR, IPTF, and ECMM were present . Local authorities claimed that the only problems regarding return were financial aid.
MOSTAR – At the regular press conference organized by international organizations the current situation in Mostar and Her/Ner canton was discussed. OSCE office Head Joseph refuted certain Croatian officials who said that they weren’t invited to the meeting with US Human Rights Special Envoy Shattuck..
Commenting on municipalities with Croat majority OHR’s Sir Garrod said that Constitutional and legal elements are very clear, and in that case, such a body could not exist.
Summary SRT TV News
Pale – Krajisnik held separate meetings with British Foreign Minister Cook, Greek Embassy Charge D’Affairs, and Russian Special Envoy, Gerasimov, and discussed implementation of the DPA, and distribution of financial aid to the RS. In the talks with Mr. Cook, Krajisnik emphasised that attacks on British SFOR troops are result of SAS actions in Prijedor, that the Hague tribunal conducts political rather than legal role, and that the RS does not consider Karadzic a war criminal. Therefore, the RS has invited the Hague to investigate the case on the ground, because it is the RS wish and obligation to lift charges against Karadzic.3:00
Sarajevo – After the meeting with the BiH Presidency, Cook held a press conference, saying that Britain wants to see a unified BiH, and those who do not respect the DPA will not receive aid. He expressed satisfaction that Izetbegovic had established a commission for investigation of missing aid, and underlined the IC decisiveness to continue with arrest of war criminals.
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Sarajevo – the Presidency session – The Presidency discussed 11 items, such as distribution of diplomatic posts, the Memorandum on Understanding with regard to the Mostar and Banja Luka airports, in which Croat and Serb agreed that the airports are the property of the cities. They also discussed the Memorandum on Understanding regarding the Hague Tribunal, in which Bozanic, who replaced Krajisnik, demanded radical changes. The Presidency discussed the meeting between Izetbegovic and Tudjman, to be held in Split on Aug. 6.
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Sarajevo – Cook met the CoM and conveyed the UK position regarding the Sintra Declaration and conclusions from the donors’ conference.
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Pale – The RS Government session – the Government discussed the pensioner fund, to be established from the IC financial aid, distribution of shares free of charge, and the conclusions from the donors’ conference.
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The RS Foreign Minister Buha sent a letter to the head of OSCE, Frowick, in which he said that the Government supports the PEC and thinks that fair elections in BiH are impossible, unless OSCE announces voters’ lists as soon as possible. He said that over 3,500 voters from Brcko could not register, but they were sent to the Federation to register there. If the RS accepts this situation it will violate the Geneva agreement on the rights of refugees and displaced persons to choose their future place of living. Therefore, the RS demands from OSCE to deliver them voters’ lists by Aug. 20 at the latest, and to extend the timeline for registration complaints. Buha underlines that the OSCE mandate is to verify the election results, and not to establish municipal authorities.
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SDS HQ report – Although the RS Senate banned public campaigns, Plavsic held a rally in Kozarska Dubica the other day, and attacked SDS on SRT on Tuesday evening by using harsh and inappropriate language announcing a media and political war. SDS is obliged to react with ‘no comments’ on Plavsic’s claims and nonsense that SDS members are afraid of their monstrous leadership. Plavsic delivered a number of false conclusions on Tuesday evening so that SDS concluded that the President cannot be informed about everything that is going on in the country because she does not gain knowledge from the legal institutions but from minor political parties which tell her that the one-party system is ruling the RS (which is impossible because there are opposition parties in the RS too). It is normal everywhere in the world that a party that wins the elections takes over the power, but Plavsic was convinced that she is that power. Some of the IC members will be responsible for deceiving Plavsic and her total isolation from the RS institutions. She is simply not informed about the situation since she does not attend the Parliament sessions. She does not know that the RS has the best security system (against crime) in the whole region. She is the only statesman in the world, who totally destroyed her country. She has publicly said that she is alone in her policy, but not that she is surrounded by a bunch of ignoramuses. She sold her party and her voters. ‘Voters of minor parties come to her rallies now, those who are against us. She should resign with dignity if she has realised that there is a total misunderstanding between her and the RS institutions. Former president Karadzic also resigned in order to protect his people, and in the end he survived and he is still popular.’
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Banja Luka – Plavsic met representatives of the Workers Union and discussed establishment of a fund for socially vulnerable categories.
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Banja Luka – the legal advisor to Plavsic, Dupor said that Plavsic’s legal advisors will totally ignore the Constitutional Court’s decision with regard to the Government charges against Plavsic’s decision to dissolve the Parliament. Hinting against the Constitutional Court and its President Mijanovic, Dupor inferred that the Constitutional Court can only confirm the previous decision of the Supreme Court. Dupor said that pre-term elections scheduled for September 1 will probably be postponed because of a number of difficulties.
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