BosNet NEWS / Mar. 29, 1996

From: Nermin Zukic <n6zukic@SMS.BUSINESS.UWO.CA>

Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory

From: Nermin Zukic <n6zukic@SMS.BUSINESS.UWO.CA>

Subject: BosNet NEWS / Mar. 29, 1996

CONTENTS

[01] KRSMANOVIC WAS CAPTURED WITH GENERAL DJORDJE DJUKIC

``The trial chamber orders that Colonel Krsmanovic be remanded to the authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina by midnight April 3 at the latest,'' ICTY presiding judge Claude Jorda said. Krsmanovic was captured with General Djordje Djukic by Bosnian government forces, and subsequently charged with war crimes in connection with the siege of Sarajevo.

Chief prosecutor Richard Goldstone told the tribunal on Friday there was no reason to hold Krsmanovic any longer in The Hague as he was unwilling to cooperate as a witness.

The tribunal rejected Krsmanovic's attorneys request for release and claim he ic should not have to face investigation and possible trial for war crimes in Bosnia where he might face the death penalty if convicted.

The U.N. criminal tribunal for former Yugoslavia said on Wednesday it would hold public hearings next Tuesday against 37-year old Ivica Rajic, nationalist Bosnian Croat militia leader. He and his troops are accused of destroying village and slaughtering at least 16 civilians.

Zvonimir Hodak, lawyer for General Tihomir Blaskic, one of seven Croats indicted for war crimes, told reporters in The Hague that he had met the tribunal's chief prosecutor Richard Goldstone to discuss ``terms of (Blaskic's) detention.'' ``We spoke, but nothing was decided,'' Hodak said. He hoped his client could be in The Hague within two weeks.

[02] "BOSNIA SOLIDARITY" ACCUSES GENERALS ROSE AND SMITH

London, March 28, 1996 (Press TWRA)

The British lobbyist association "Bosnia Solidarity" exposed evidence against British high officials who were UNPROFOR Commanders during the war in BH. This association accused Gen. Rose for helping the Serb aggressor in BH. According to data of U.S. intelligence services, Gen. Rose manipulated with SAS scanning units: during the siege of Bihac he ordered them not to inform on the positions of BH Serbs in order to disable NATO strikes. As the U.S. side insisted upon NATO intervention, they launched the action several times, but lacking the information on Serbian position, which SAS was supposed to provide, they usually returned without getting anything done. His concern for the safety of UNPROFOR units on the ground (through which he, in accordance with London, sabotaged U.S. actions, helping, thus, the Serbian side) was usually mentioned as a main reason. Representatives of "Bosnia solidarity" exposed also evidence on the responsibility of the other British General: Gen.Rupert Smith, who was generally considered as having better relations with Washington than with London. He was accused for signing a secret agreement with Serbian General R. Mladic on the "evacuation of women and children" from Srebrenica from which they excluded men. If those accusations would be proven, Gen. Smith would be responsible for destiny of 8.000 missing men from Srebrenica. "Bosnia Solidarity" also mentions that British intelligence service MI6 had influence on British journalists reporting from BH, giving them instructions to advise inhabitants of Srebrenica to leave the area for their own sake, which strengthen the supposition that London was familiar long ago what Serbs were intending to do in Srebrenica area. Activity of MI6 is seen as a British effort to decrease a number of civil casualties in order to make international community accept "more simply" the fall of Srebrenica. <end> S.K.

[03] 30.000 MISSING PEOPLE IN BH AND CROATIA

Geneva, March 28, 1996 (Press TWRA)

According to the latest report of M. Nowak, head of special investigation services for missing people, more than 30.000 people (3.000 in Croatia and 27.00 IN BH) are missing in the area of former Yugoslavia. There are well-founded doubts that some 300 collective graves are situated in the area of Croatia and BH which should be located and where bodies should be identified, Nowak said. During his last visit to the ground, his access to the territory of the Republic of Srpska and area under the Serbian control in Eastern Slavonia and Baranja was allowed. He also requested approach to "SRJ", for it is needed for a complete investigation. Nowak pointed out the importance of the excavation of the graves in the area of Prijedor and Srebrenica, for which the cooperation of all sides is needed. From the Croatian side, Nowak requested the assistance during the investigation of destiny of persons missing after the operations "Oluja" ("Storm") and "Bljesak" ("Flash").

[04] EXTRADITION OF WAR CRIMINALS CONDITION FOR FREE ELECTION

Sarajevo, March 28,1996 (Press TWRA)

The B-H Prime Minister H. Muratovic met today with the OECS Flavio Coti on organizing the free elections and war criminals trial. "We can not discuss conditions for the elections while war criminals dictate the policy in almost two thirds of the country. We demand from the international community to make a pressure on those who can extradite war criminals", said Prime Minister Muratovic. He added that elections should be held as soon as possible and international community should take strong position and prevent all those who obstruct the creation of conditions for maintaining the elections and implementation of Dayton accord. Muratovic and Coti talked also about the ways the B-H refugees will be enabled to vote. (end) S.K.

[05] ESTABLISHED NERETVA' CANTON

Mostar, March 28,1996 (Press TWRA)

After introductory misunderstandings relating to display of the national flags in the conference room, the constitutional session of canton Neretva was held today. Fatima Leho from Mostar, member of SDA B-H Executive Comity was elected for the Canton's Governor, and Pero Markovic from Capljina, member of HDZ B-H for deputy Governor. Ivan Bender, from Neum (HDZ) was elected for the President of Canton Assembly, and Ramiz Leto for his deputy (SDA). The candidates for the leading positions in the canton were agreed between the parties in advance, and adopted unanimously. (end) S.K.

[06] "FRY IS A CRIMINAL STATE", SAID WILLIAMSON

The Hague, March 28,1996 (Press TWRA)

Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the International Tribunal in The Hague Clint Williamson on the final hearing relating to confirmation of the indictment to the former Yugoslav Peoples Army's officers Mrksic, Radic and Sljivancanin stated that "FR of Yugoslavia became criminal state because in front of the whole world shelters war criminals and supports them". Williamson demanded from the International Tribunal not only to confirm the indictments for these three officers and issues international warrants for the arrest but also to inform Security Council about the Belgrade's refusal to co-operate with the International War Tribunal. (end) S.K.

[07] NATO WAITS FOR RIGHT MOMENT

Washington, March 28,1996 (Press TWRA)

"NATO forces will, in the end, arrest the leader of Bosnian Serbs R. Karadjic and military commander Gen. Mladic, charged for war crimes", stated gen. Patrick Hughes, director of military intelligence agency before the Seat Comity. Maybe the use of force will be necessary, stressed Hughes and added that so far there were no right moments for the arrest. "I know that adequate conditions for the arrest will arise and I know that IFOR, and especially US IFOR will do what's necessary when the time comes", said Hughes. (end) S.K.

[08] TRAVNIK CANTON ESTABLISHED

Travnik, March 29,1996 (Press TWRA)

The constitutive session of Travnik Canton was held yesterday. Forty representatives were present at the session - 24 Bosniaks, 23 Croats and 2 others. Midhat Karadzic from Jajce was elected for the President of the Assembly, and the Governor is Ivan Saric from Uskoplje. After Neretva Canton that is the second, mixed canton established. Two days ago two cantons with Croatian majority were also established: West Herzegovina Canton (Posusje, Grude, Siroki Brijeg and Ljubuski) and Tomislavgrad-Livno Canton (Bosansko Grahovo, Glamoc, Livno, Tomislavgrad, Kupres and Drvar).

On yesterday's canton's assembly session the B-H Federation arbiter C. Schwartz-Shilling announced that after his report on one week visit to B-H Federation the representatives of US and Germany will meet. He stated that the sanctions for all individuals and sides which prevent the implementation of B-H Federation can be expected. "I will propose that Bugojno and Jajce be excluded from the program of financial aid", stated Schwartz-Shilling after he was present at the unsuccessful Bugojno Canton's constitutive session.

Schwartz-Shilling also demanded that accorded program and estimates for reconstruction of Travnik municipality houses which German government would finance, be delivered in a fortnight. Representative of Bosniak authorities in Travnik dr. Mirsad Granov stated that he will, together with Croatian authorities in Nova Bila, made list, in weeks' time, of all vacant housing space and enable the return of Croatian refugees. (end) S.K.

[09] EUROPEAN CITIES FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF SARAJEVO

Sarajevo, March 29,1996 (Press TWRA)

Martin Kenty, representative of European cities organization "Megapolis" from Amsterdam, signed the contract with city authorities on reconstruction of Sarajevo settlement Hrasno. Other European cities are also interested in reconstruction of Sarajevo's settlements. Barcelona would participate in the reconstruction of Mojmilo, Paris in the reconstruction of city center, and Lisbon in the reconstruction of the old town, Bascarsija. (end) S.K.

[10] RUSSIA READY TO BUILD PIPELINE THROUGH FRY

Sofia, March 29,1996, (Press TWRA)

According to Bulgarian daily "Duma" Russia is prepared to build up the pipeline through Serbia and Monte Negro up to harbor Bar. Project would cost $1 billion. Russia, writes "Duma", is forced to take this step because Turkey limits the passage of tankers through the Bosphorus. In the same time that would enable Russia to have its own pipeline in this part of Europe. (end) S.K.

[11] JOUWLAN ON EXTENSION OF IFOR MANDATE

Washington March 29,1996 (Press TWRA)

US and its European allies will soon discuss weather the military mission in B-H need to be extended after the end of IFOR mandate at the end of this year, stated the NATO Commander Gen. George Jouwlan before the US Congress Comity for national security. Although the Clinton administration believes that IFOR mission should terminate at set date, Jouwlan announced that in mid April NATO would start to consider extend of their mission in B-H.(end) S.K.