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Serbia Today 96-09-16Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>Serbia Today16 September 1996CONTENTS
[01] FREE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - THE BEST CONFIRMATION OF DAYTON AGREEMENTPresident of the Republic of Serbia Slobodan Milosevic received yesterday Richard Holbrooke who visited him after having, in the capacity of the envoy of the US President Bill Clinton, attended the elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina. It was stated that holding of the free elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina is the best confirmation of the Dayton Agreement success. Legal elections of the authorities in the Republic of Srpska, Muslim-Croat federation and at the level of Bosnia-Herzegovina, is establishing their legitimity and thus wholesome conditions for all the future steps and decisions to be the subject of competencies of the so established legitimate bodies. "We are awaiting the all the forces on the political scene, within legitimate bodies, shall focus their efforts on a fast economic recovery of the entire war-thorn area and on establishing successful cooperation. There are many reasons for optimism regarding the overall further development of the region:, said President Milosevic. Joint expectations were expressed that soon after publishing the results, there will be constitution of the authorities on the basis of the confidence entrusted by citizens, which will have the strongest impact on dynamization of the normalization of the overall relations in these areas and strengthening of peace and stability in the region. (Politika, September 16, 1996)[02] TURNING POINT TOWARDS A NEW PHASE OF ACCELERATED NORMALIZATION OF LIFEPresident of the Republic Slobodan Milosevic received chief of the American team for the Balkans, John Cornblum, Deputy Secretary of State who arrived in Belgrade with his associates. It was stated with pleasure that the elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina were successful, which is the strongest confirmation of the success of the Dayton Agreement. According to the joint view, elections are a turning point towards a new phase of accelerated normalization of life and confidence building between citizens, most of all stabilization of peace and establishment of conditions for an efficient protection of freedoms and equality of citizens. Mutual readiness was confirmed for further promotion of bilateral relations and cooperation between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the United States, which are marking continuous progress. (Politika September 16, 1996)[03] CONFIRMATION OF ALL THE VALUES OF DAYTON AGREEMENTPresident of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zoran Lilic stated for the British TV agency BTA that he is expecting from the elections in Bosnia to confirm all the values of the Dayton Agreement and to pave the way for an overall democratization of the region of former Yugoslavia. "Dayton Agreement, to the signing of which and especially its implementation Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has given an immeasurable contribution, has created real conditions for the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina to be replaced with peace, for the destruction to be replaced with construction, and most of all for the extreme nationalists and all nationalism's as causes of all sufferings in these areas to be replaced with people who will work in the interest of all citizens of this area", underlined Lilic. Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is firmly oriented towards this road, because this is also in our best interest and it is our target, stated the President of the FR of Yugoslavia. (Borba, September 16, 1996)[04] THE FIRST POST-WAR ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ADJOURNEDIn Bosnia and Herzegovina this Saturdy tool place the first post-war elections which were supervised by some 1.000 international observers, in the presence of 50.000 IFOR soldiers. As prescribed by the Dayton Agreement, citizens of the two Bosnian-Herzegovina entities will elect at the level of Bosnia-Herzegovina the three-member Presidency and House of Representatives, then the Presidency and the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska and the House of Representatives of the Federation and the Control Assembly within the Muslim-Croat part of Bosnia-Herzegovina. For the elections 25 political parties have applied, five coalitions and three independent candidates. The constituency in Bosnia and Herzegovina numbers some 2.9 million eligible voters, and according to the first estimates form 60 to 70 per cent of voters took part at the elections. According to the official information by the representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (O.S.C.E.), which has organized the elections, voting took place without any incidents or major problems. (Politika, September 16, 1996)[05] REACTIONS IN THE WORLD TO THE BOSNIAN ELECTIONSThe United States President Bill Clinton qualified elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina as an important step towards realization of the peace process and stabilization of peace in Bosnia. Recalling the report of his observer team in Bosnia, headed by Richard Holbrooke, Clinton said that elections, were generally speaking, took place in regular and peaceful way, and expressed his belief that newly elected institution, will help Bosnia be preserved as an entity, instead of falling apart. The US envoy Holbrooke stated that elections are crucial event in the realization of the Dayton Agreement. Complaints of Alija Izetbegovic that the elections in the Republic of Srpska were not free and fair the American diplomat Robert Frowick who is heading the OSCE mission, commented by saying that the Muslim Party of Democratic Action is not competent to judge weather the elections in the Serbian part of Bosnia were valid or not.The two leading American dailies "The Washington Post" and "The New York Times" have underlined yesterday in their commentaries that the elections in Bosnia took place without any serious problems. According to the statements of by the American diplomats, elections in Bosnia can not be brought under a question mark. Such evaluations of the Bosnian elections which in a certain way have already been proclaimed legitimate, are announcing that within ten days economic sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will be finally and formally lifted. German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel stated that the elections could be an introduction into a political normalization of the region and added that the democratic reconstruction of Bosnia should be rounded up even this year by conducting the postponed local elections. British commentators are reporting that elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina took place without any serious problems and according to the expected standards of a free and fair voting. Thus the surprise is even greater at the objections coming from the Muslim Party of Democratic Action and its leader Alija Izetbegovic which are placing under a question mark the electoral results in the Republic of Srpska. British reporters are recalling that the major number of problems were registrated actually in the Muslim and Croat Federation. Belgian media are stating with pleasure that the elections were successful and are underlining that now it is the turn for serious preparations to be made for the local elections, without which there is no final formation of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its entities, Republic of Srpska and the Muslim and Croat Federation, as prescribed in the Dayton Agreement. In the first comments of the Swiss media there is the basis conclusion that the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were successful beyond all expectations. In the unofficial qualifications by the Geneva diplomatic circles it is stated that the electoral results are not so much important, as the very act of holding of the elections, because this will greatly instigate the process of normalization of the situation in Bosnia. Regarding the dissatisfaction of the Muslims, it is understandable, claim the well informed circles, because it is actually the elections which have ended the long ago expired term of office of Alija Izetbegovic as President of Bosnia and Herzegovina and that now the main say will be held by the three Presidency. (TANJUG, September 16, 1996) [06] FRANCE IS NOT CONDITIONING REINTEGRATION OF YUGOSLAVIA IN THE WORLDAmbassador of France in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Gabriel Keller, stated for Radio Kragujevac that the Dayton-Paris Agreement prescribed that sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Srpska should be finally lifted ten days after the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina."The influence which President Milosevic is having on Serbs in the Republic of Srpska was useful and decisive for the dialogue between the international community and Pale, which made it possible to facilitate preparations of the elections", stated the French Ambassador. He underlined that his country is not conditioning reintegration of the FR of Yugoslavia into the international community by the solution of the Kosovo issue. (Borba, September 16, 1996) [07] RADULOVIC: THERE WILL BE NO DEVALUATIONGrowth of the international income, industrial production and productivity, which were at the beginning of this year planned very ambitiously - are not unrealistic, stated the Deputy of Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Slobodan Radulovic. He also said that the industrial and economic results will be close to the planned, although the difficulties of reintegration of the FR of Yugoslavia into the world market are greater then expected. Deputy Prime Minister Radulovic warned that all speculation are harmful regarding the change in the dinar exchange rate. "There will be no devaluation whatsoever and if someone is expecting it he is letting himself into a very great, personal and business risk", said Radulovic. (TANJUG, September 16, 1996)[08] MANIPULATION WITH REFUGEESAlthough the UNTAES mandate, as transitional administration of the Baranja, Western Srem and Eastern Slavonia Region is for one year, with the option of extension for one year if this should be requested by either side (Serbian of Croat), Croatia has started with fierce pressure on the UNTAES, refusing extension of mandate which expires on January 15, 1997. The most that the Croat side would allow is an extension of three months, which would actually server for the withdrawal of the peace forces. Pressures have culminated these last few days by organized and synchronized movement of Croat refugees form these areas, who have gathered at large rallies in Vinkovci and Osijek uttering new threats and messages of hatred to Serbs in the UNTAES region. It is not just by chance that these rallies are organized immediately after the speech of the Croat Defense Minister Gojko Susak who announced that Croatia will wait until March at the latest and then will forcibly enter this protected region, which is actually the wish of the militant nationalistic wing which would most gladly see Croatia completely empty of Serbs. (Vecernje novosti, September 16, 1996)[09] CROATIA - A SPONSOR OF WARTrial Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia has confirmed the indictment and placed on the international list of wanted persons Ivica Rajic for crimes against Muslims in Central Bosnia in the year 1993. The Trial Chamber has thus, for the first time, stated accusations against Croatia, concluding in its statement that Croatia was the sponsor of Croat troops in Bosnia. The Trial Chamber has also stated that there is evidence that units of the Croat Army were present in Central Bosnia from the end of 1992 until March 1994 and that the Croat Government has sent units of the Croat Army to fight, together with the forces of Croats form Bosnia, against Bosnian government. It is also stated that there is evidence that Croatia was sending aid in arms, logistics and military equipment and that the units of Croats form Bosnia were its agents in the fight against Bosnian government. (Vecernje novosti September 16, 1996)Serbia Today Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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