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BosNet News: Press TWRA (96-08-17)
CONTENTS
[01] FROWICK ABOUT BH ELECTIONS
[02] SILAJDZIC WILL NOT GO TO THE POLLS
[03] BEGINNING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT
[04] PRSKALO: "WE ARE FACING A BETTER FUTURE OF MOSTAR"
[05] IZETBEGOVIC DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM PRE-ELECTION INCIDENTS
[06] IS BH READY FOR ELECTIONS ?
[07] TURN BACK REFUGEES TO BH BY HOOK OR BY CROOK
[08] BODIROGAFS LETTER TO FROWICK
[09] GENEVA - MINI-DAYTON ?
[01] FROWICK ABOUT BH ELECTIONS
Sarajevo, August 17, 1996 (Press TWRA)
Press-conference of OSCE Chief of Mission for BH, Robert Frowick, was held
in Sarajevo yesterday. Ambassador Frowick informed the Geneva summit has
brought about some very important results which should considerably support
strengthening of the election-process in BH. He also pointed out the
importance of the agreement on the abolition of "Herzeg-Bosnia" and its
integration into the Federal institutions. Frowick also mentioned
representatives of the international community discussed at the Geneva
meeting about the creation of the conditions for voting of refugees and
displaced persons in the municipalities where they lived in 1991. "For the
sake of the civil agencies responsible for the implementation of the
peace-accord and IFOR, we decided to open a Joint operative election
center, within the seat of OSCE Mission, which is supposed to organize
gathering each day", Frowick said. He also added meetings of the
international institutions responsible for the implementation of the
peace-accord, presided by Carl Bildt, IFOR Commander and High
representative in BH, will be organized on the highest level.
When asked about the number of refugees that would be allowed to pass
entity-borders in order to vote in the municipalities they used to live and
about the creation of the safe conditions for their passing, Frowick
answered: "I can not speculate about that number. I believe this would be
much bigger number after the Geneva meeting for the considerable efforts
have been made in order to provide conditions for such kind of voting. I
will do everything possible in order to ensure their safe passing on the
say of elections", Frowick pointed out. As an important improvement in the
election-process, Frowick mentioned a registration of refugees for the
elections. At the end, he said the elections must be held in September,
besides the all existing problems. Such an attitude, Reuter says, expresses
the existing concern of the diplomats regarding the possibilities of
holding free and fair elections, due to the possible obstruction of
Serbian, Croatian and Bosniak nationalistic parties. (end) D.O.
[02] SILAJDZIC WILL NOT GO TO THE POLLS
Sarajevo, August 17, 1996 (Press TWRA)
Former BH prime Minister and actual President of the Party for BH, Haris
Silajdzic, stated, during his meeting with U.S. State Secretary, Warren
Christopher, he intends to boycott the general elections, scheduled for
September 14, 1996. He explained his decisions by saying that, according to
his opinion, elections would be used in order to legalize the ethnical
division of the country. "Elections will ratify the genocide", Silajdzic
stated. According to the latest survey, supported by U.S., Silajdzic is the
most serious opponent to President of BH Presidency, Alija Izetbegovic.
(end) D.O.
[03] BEGINNING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT
Mostar, August 17, 1996 (Press TWRA)
On yesterday's usual press-conference held in EU seat in Mostar, it was
stated activities regarding the installing of four envisaged Federal
ministries have been started. According to EU Special Envoy to Mostar, Sir
Martin Garrod, they discussed with Americans means of their placing, so EU
Reconstruction department has already started to project the future
offices. Talks with the World Bank are also expected for this Bank
expressed readiness to help building of these Federal ministries whose seat
should be placed in Mostar. Garrod expressed his satisfaction with the
normalization of the situation in Mostar, expressing special thanks to
Presidents of the clubs of representatives to the Mostar Civic council,
Srecko Vucina and Safet Orucevic who, according to his words, "showed
enough courage to make concessions without putting in question their main
view-points". (end) D.O.
[04] PRSKALO: "WE ARE FACING A BETTER FUTURE OF MOSTAR"
Mostar, August 16, 1996 (Press TWRA)
EU Special Envoy to Mostar, Martin Garrod announced on todayFs
press-conference that the united administration would start functioning on
December 31, at the latest, for it is a condition for EU withdrawal from
the town. Answering on the question what should be done in the meantime in
order to ensure a satisfied functioning of the civic administration for the
both sides involved, newly appointed Mostar Major, Ivan Prskalo, stated:
"Civic administration must be really organized. Leading personalities
should be appointed in all ministries, their mandates should be legalized
by the Civic council and then we will start realizing all the activities as
they were planned by the agreement. Citizens of Mostar fulfilled their
obligation and it is now on the European Union and World Bank to show their
generosity and give us certain financial sources that could improve our
living conditions." Prskalo also pointed out that a presence of both
nations must be respected during a nomination of the staff, so this issue
will be solved through a joint activity of Prskalo and his deputy, Safet
Orucevic. At the end, Major of united Mostar said to his citizens: "If we
were able to survive in these difficult days that are now behind us, I do
believe we will be able to overcome all the obstacles standing in front of
us. I hope that we are all facing a better tomorrow of Mostar". (end) M.S.
[05] IZETBEGOVIC DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM PRE-ELECTION INCIDENTS
Sarajevo, August 16, 1996 (Press TWRA)
In connection with the latest non-democratic incidents that took place in
Gradacac and Kalesija, during which opposition parties pre-election
gathering were prevented, President of BH Presidency, Alija Izetbegovic,
gave a statement yesterday in which he condemned such acts. "I say to
everyone, no matter who they are, to stop mentioning my name during such
incidents. I was fighting for Bosnia in which people should be free to
think and to speak freely. I am very unhappy seeing that some individuals,
instead of using arguments, use hurling and hoes, because such a behavior,
no matter of its motives, help our enemies". The statement also says Ivo
Komsic and Stjepan Kljujic, members of opposition parties, are supporting
President Izetbegovic who, besides their different political view- points,
"remained honorable people, worthy of being respected." (end) M.S.
[06] IS BH READY FOR ELECTIONS ?
London, August 16, 1996 (Press TWRA)
British daily "Times" speaks in its yesterday's exemplar about the report
of NGO International crisis group claiming BH has not yet been prepared for
the elections. This organization, according to "Times", thinks holding of
the elections in actual conditions could transform the Dayton accord into a
charter of the ethnical cleansing. President of this organization, Nicolas
Hilton, stated holding of the elections, scheduled for September 14, could
have very harmful consequences for BH that could mark a beginning of the
end of the peace-process. "Times" also mentions Flavio Coti, Presiding of
OESS, expressed some similar doubts.
Opposite to this, OESS representative, Robert Frowick, stated today BH
elections must be held in September, besides some very difficult problems
that can hardly be solved. "There are many proposals for the postponement
of the elections because the conditions are not the same with those
envisaged by the peace- accord", Frowick stated, adding a decision on the
possible postponement could only be discussed, according to him, in the
case of serious violence. (end) M.S
[07] TURN BACK REFUGEES TO BH BY HOOK OR BY CROOK
Bonn, August 17, 1996 (Press TWRA)
It is being repeated more and more frequently during this last period in
Germany, that has received 320.000 BH refugees, more than all other EU
members together, that all refugees should turn back after the BH elections
(September 14). The main reason for it comes from the financial
burdens. Federal Minister for economic cooperation and support, Carl Dieter
Spranger, stated in Hamburg's "Bild" that refugees must turn back "as soon
as possible". "There is no more reason for their staying in Germany",
Spranger stated. He also explained they can not expect any benefices for
their return. Germany supports the reconstruction but can not completely
renew BH. "It must be performed by its citizens", Spranger said, adding
"The first period of their return has already passed. German authorities
believed in voluntary returns of refugees but our expectations have not
been fulfilled." Minister Spranger explained that for that reason Germany
must follow the rule: "By hook or by crook". Regarding possible critics
mentioning alleged German intolerance towards strangers, Spranger answered:
"I consider such critics as senseless because Germany received more
refugees than all other countries." He also added that more attention
should be paid to social peace in his proper country than to such
objections, adding that a "patience of German people should not be
encumbered too much". "After all, we are not an immigration country nor a
multi-cultural society", Spranger said. German Minister Mayer-Vorelder
also severely criticized refugees who intend to prolong their staying in
Germany, objecting them for refusing to assist in the reconstruction of
their homeland. This Minister also said Germany can not afford supporting
refugees for an infinite period of time. "Nevertheless, the war has been
finished, so a democratically elected post-war authority will be
constituted after the elections". (end) D.O.
[08] BODIROGAFS LETTER TO FROWICK
Mostar, August 17, 1996 (Press TWRA)
In connection with OSCE resolution on non-holding of the local elections in
Mostar within the framework of BH general elections in September, President
of the Serbian national community Mostar, Milan Bodiroga, sent a letter to
OSCE Chief of mission in BH, Robert Frowick, criticizing such a decision of
the Temporary elections commission, considering it as a violation of the
rights of the Serbian national community. "In actual Municipal board of
Mostar, 11 places have been emptied since the June elections for tothersv,
including Serbs, so we ask You to intervene in order to make Temporary
commission reconsider its decision", Bodiroga says in his letter.
"It is also mentioned in act 17. of the Transitory Mostar statute, saying
mandates of Council deputies and all other appointed leaders last until the
first general elections in the Federation. Since Mostar is also part of the
Federation, there is no reason to make an exception and not to participate
in the general elections, for we also expect our rights to assist in
filling the empty 11 places will be considered", Bodiroga said at the end
of his letter to Frowick. (end) D.O.
[09] GENEVA - MINI-DAYTON ?
Sarajevo, August 17, 1996 (Press TWRA)
In his interview to Sarajevo daily Dnevni avaz, Vice-President of BH
Federation, Ejup Ganic, answered on the question about the future of AID
(Agency for investigation and documentation): "AID has been organized on
the state level, but we agreed upon reconsidering its competencies. We must
possess an organization representing BH in its cooperation with Interpol",
Ganic said. When asked in which measure he considers Geneva as a
"Mini-Dayton", he responded: "One thing that has been constantly
threatening to mine Dayton commitments has been annulled. It is an
agreement witnessed by U.S. State Secretary and, at the same time, an
important impulse to the Dayton accord", BH Federation Vice-President
stated. (end) D.O.
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