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BosNet NEWS - May 5, 96
CONTENTS
[01] RESOLUTION ON THE EXTENSION OF NATO MANDATE AFTER ELECTIONS
[02] "BOSNIAN SERBS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOBOJ INCIDENT", BILDT SAID
[03] WILLIAM PERRY ON MILITARY SUPPORT TO B-H FEDERATION
[04] IZETBEGOVIc - ORU+EVIc ON ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR
[05] GERMANY POSTPONED THE RETURN OF BH REFUGEES
[06] BELGRADE ACCUSED SARAJEVO FOR GENOCIDE UPON BOSNIAKS
[07] BOSNIA - IFOR: SUSPICIONS ABOUT CHEMICAL AND NUCLEAR WASTE
[08] FINANCIAL POLICE THE "PANORAMA" WEEKLY
[09] CROATIA'S PARLIAMENTARIAN DELEGATION IN B-H
[10] LETICA & IDS ON "PANORAMA"
[11] VLADIMIR hEKS ACCUSED BOSNIAKS FOR BLOCKADE OF FEDERATION
[01] RESOLUTION ON THE EXTENSION OF NATO MANDATE AFTER ELECTIONS
Washington, May 4, 1996 (Press TWRA)
NATO Commander for Europe,
General George Joulwan expressed concern due to maltreatment of
the refugees who wanted to return to their homes in BH. The last
incident happened on Monday when two Bosniaks were killed and 10
wounded while trying to visit their family vaults near Doboj.
Joulwan stated NATO forces would try to ensure full freedom of
moving till the September elections, adding the final resolution
on IFOR withdrawal would be made afterwards. According to the
statement of one American official, the administration "can not
give approval for the extension of NATO mandate at the moment, but
the ground has being prepared for it is clear to anyone the
considerable forces should remain in BH in order to prevent
further conflicts". "The Administration will wait for
applications: from the seat of NATO, UN, EU and then will,
unwillingly, decide about a certain kind of the extension", he
concluded. Diplomatic sources in Washington claim about the
possibility of the formation of IFOR ll, composed of European and
other forces, in which Americans should provide logistic support
and include their air and marine forces. The operation should also
be under the command of General L. Smith, while the ground forces
should be commanded by a British general. As the American
administration is concerned the announcement of the possible
extension could slow the peace-process, the final resolution can
not be expected before the conclusion of the elections in BH.
(end) S.K.
[02] "BOSNIAN SERBS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOBOJ INCIDENT", BILDT SAID
Podgorica, May 4, 1996 (Press TWRA)
BH High Commissioner,
C.Bildt said Bosnian Serbs authorities are responsible for the
incident in Doboj in which two civilians were killed. The
incident took place at the territory of Bosnian Serbs, so their
authorities are obliged to find the reponsibles", Bildt said in
Milocer, where he met with President Bulatovic. "A part of Bosnian
Serbs' leadership prevented a participation of Serbia at the donor
conference in Brussels and, consequently, Bosnain Serbs would be
deprived of the economic support", Bildt pointed out. Requests for
the separation of Montenegro from FRY, coming from the top of DPS
(Democratic party of socialists), headed by Prime Minister
Djukanovic are becoming more evident. Montenegrian government
recently independently decided to open a new border to Albania,
nearby Ulcinj and Montenegrian TV launched a morning program which
should replace Serbian TV,introducing also a second program.
Montenegro is founding the ground to its independence, however,
the most important aspect, the economic independence from Serbia,
is not easy to realize in a short period of time. Djukanovic is
trying to attract foreign investors to ensure the further
independent development. Besides the more and more frequent
conflicts between Serbia and Montenegro, Bulatovic and Djukanovic
are trying to maintain the balance. While Djukanovic is
criticizing the Serbian regime, saying Montenegro will remain a
part of the Federation only as an equal partner, Bulatovic speaks
about the "glimmering future" of the country within FRY. (end)
S.K.
[03] WILLIAM PERRY ON MILITARY SUPPORT TO B-H FEDERATION
Washington, May 2, 1996 (Press TWRA)
A multinational program to
equip & train the Bosnian Federation Army should start in full
force in June, said the US defense secretary, William Perry,
adding the program was designed to establish defense balance in
Bosnia between the Federation and the Bosnian Serb entity.
According to Perry, the program was delayed because the B-H
Government did not fulfill some of its obligations, especially the
one that all foreign forces must leave Bosnia's territory.
Meanwhile, Perry also stated that the secret arms exports to
Bosnia in 1994, that were supplied by Iran, were overlooked by the
US, and that such actions facilitated the Dayton agreement. (end)
A.S.
[04] IZETBEGOVIc - ORU+EVIc ON ELECTIONS IN MOSTAR
Sarajevo, May 1, 1996 (Press TWRA)
Bosnian president Izetbegovi5
and the Mostar mayor Safet Oru^evi5 had talks today. They
discussed the elections in Mostar on May 31, this year. It was
stressed that a wide-scale action is needed to enable each person
who fled Mostar to vote at the elections. Those who cannot vote in
Mostar, can do that in Bosnia's diplomatic offices, it specially
refers to Germany, Norway and Sweden where most of the expelled
residents of Mostar live. (end) A.S.
[05] GERMANY POSTPONED THE RETURN OF BH REFUGEES
Bonn, May 4, 1996 (Press TWRA)
Ministries of Internal Affairs
(federal and regional) decided to postpone the final resolution
about the return of BH refugees (according to official data, there
are 320.000 of them in Germany) till the end of June. According to
the first resolution (January 1996) refugees should start
returning from July 1, in three phases. After the recent incident
in BH, discussions about refugees intensified for, according to
some estimations, their chances to return to their homes,
decreased. Besides of all the problems connected with the
accommodation of the refugees, Commissars for foreigners of the
federal and regional governments requested Ministers to prolongate
date-limits, believing conditions for the return will not be
fulfilled till July 1. (end) S.K.
[06] BELGRADE ACCUSED SARAJEVO FOR GENOCIDE UPON BOSNIAKS
The Hague, May 2, 1996 (Press TWRA)
"Behavior of FR of
Yugoslavia and its claim that B-H is to guilty for genocide on its
own people, is top of cynicism. It is manipulation of law. FR of
Yugoslavia refuses to admit the facts, what makes impression that
it tries again to advocate idea of the Greater Serbia, which would
include all its neighbors" said Sacirbey, B-H ambassador to the
UN, who leads the B-H delegation in process against FRY before the
Hague's International Court of Justice (ICJ). His statement
followed that of British Ian Brownlie, the Yugoslav delegation
member, who disapproved Bosnia's claim that Belgrade was guilty
for genocide committed during Serbia's aggression on Bosnia.
Brownlie said Belgrade had no influence on situation on B-H's
territory, after that Republic seceeded from Yugoslavia, so it
cannot bear the responsibility for events in the area. The only
government which might be responsible for the genocide in Bosnia
is the one in Sarajevo, which failed to avoid or punish the
genocide on the territory of its own country, Brownlie said. (end)
A.S.
[07] BOSNIA - IFOR: SUSPICIONS ABOUT CHEMICAL AND NUCLEAR WASTE
Sarajevo, May 5, 1996 (Press TWRA)
Bosnian authorities suspect
IFOR of building the vast dump near Kladanj, in the area between
Sarajevo and Tuzla, and look for increased possibility of
monitoring the actions of IFOR and the foreign companies which
work with IFOR support in B-H, without consulting the
representatives of host country. The B-H authorities demand the
possibility to check the material IFOR and the attached companies
input in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Without announcing or getting
permission from local or state authorities IFOR took about 2O OOO
m2 of land which is state property, near Kladanj and built a waste
dump from where "the smell similar to soap" was coming, and where
the more dangerous chemical materials could be store. The
Government commission from Sarajevo visited the dump and Zagreb's
newspaper "Vjesnik" reported that on the occasion US officer from
the base "Lindo", who accompanied Stjepan Bagaric, B-H
Federation's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Waterpower,
said: "US Army respects the laws of the country but it does not
necessarily implement them". Bosnian officials approached IFOR
since the municipality authorities should have been consulted,
and they would surely found more appropriate place for building
the dump. The present place threatens the nature, the small river
Stupacnica in the first place, but also the most important rivers
in the central and north east Bosnia - Krivaja and Bosnia. IFOR
located the dump in the village Cule, and arranged with US
company "Brown and Root" to build it. Bosnians are afraid that
similar arrangements could bring more dangerous chemical materials
to Bosnia from abroad.
On several occasions, Bosnian authorities criticized IFOR forthe way their units act, too demonstratively patrolling the
streets of Bosnian towns and drove armed transporters through town
centers, plundered the shopping center Skenderija in Sarajevo, and
the Post building on Sarajevo's railway station, their vehicles
occupy the elite spaces in the city etc. Even before the waste
dump incident Bosnian authorities accused IFOR of ecological
pollution of Mt. Igman and Bjela\nica, and to excessive cutting of
the Bosnian woods. Bosnia-Herzegovina Prime Minister Muratovic
already warned about the fact that the "waste" dumped in the areas
which IFOR denoted for that purpose in Bosnia could contain
besides the waste dangerous chemical and radio-active materials
and emphasized that possible attempt of some foreign companies
which are hiding behind the IFOR authority to bring the dangerous
materials to Bosnia must be prevented. The former B-H Minister for
Agriculture, Forestry and Waterpower Ahmed Smaji5 accused IFOR of
threatening the health of people in Sarajevo by dumping
uncontrollably the garbage and by spilling the great quantities
of oil and its derivations, on Mt. Igman and Bjela\nica, and by
polluting the water which citizens of Sarajevo drink in the first
place. Smajic warned that B-H Government delegation was not
allowed to visit some suspicious places which IFOR used on Mt.
Igman for dumping the waste, and also emphasized that IFOR
vehicles and their cargo are not under Bosnian authorities
control. Smaji5 stated that it is very possible that on the places
where IFOR dig the sand for the fortifications the great number of
barrels filled with nuclear waste, brought from the ships which
wonder on world's seas, is located. After Serbs left IlidWa in the
middle of March, the Factory of thermal equipment building (TAT)
which belongs to "Enegoinvest" company, came under BH Federation
authority. There was found the concrete bunker and four barrels of
radio-active material. That is the consequence of the TAT's pre-
war work on building the equipment for nuclear industry.
Sarajevo's newspaper "Dnevni Avaz" reported that contaminated
material from that building spreads dangerous radiation in the
range of one kilometer. IFOR announced that its experts visited
the building and confirmed the dangerous radiation due to which
the building was as a precaution closed and distinctly marked, and
entrance was forbidden. Radiation spreads out from the facilities
and endangers citizens in near by buildings and international
police forces (IPTF) located on IlidWa, reported IFOR. French
soldiers registered in that building the high level of
radioactivity with their measuring devices. (end) A. S.
[08] FINANCIAL POLICE THE "PANORAMA" WEEKLY
Zagreb, May 1, 1996 (press TWRA)
Allegedly for financial
violations, Croatia's financial police closed the office of
Croatian weekly "Panorama" which came out two years ago releasing
different articles from sensationalistic to serious ones. The
weekly was regarded close to a group of businessmen and
government officials originating from Herzegovina. Some
journalists close to "Herzeg Bosnia" wrote in it. Son of ex-
Yugoslav diplomat, Croatian journalist originating from Dubrovnik
,Goran Mili5, once popular TV Belgrade News editor in early 90-
ies, editor in chief of "Yutel" in Sarajevo, wrote in it. Mili5
lived in many countries and worked at the UN seat in New York. It
is believed the action of financial police followed the articles
of Josip Jovi5 and Slaven Letica in the latest "Panorama" issue.
Letica, sociologist and economist, prof. at the Medical School of
the Zagreb University, from 1990-91 was the president Tudjman's
advisor, then became one of his most severe critics. J. Jovi5
criticized the opposition for some time in "Slobodna Dalmacija",
and was its editor in chief. He was replaced when he started to
criticize the authorities. In the latest issue of "Panorama, he
wrote about corruption and stealing under disguise of
authorities. (end) A.S.
[09] CROATIA'S PARLIAMENTARIAN DELEGATION IN B-H
Vitez, May 1, 1996 (Press TWRA)
Returning recent visit of B-H
parliamentary delegation to Zagreb led by presidents of the
parliaments of the Republic & the B-H Federation, Miro Lazovi5 &
Mariofil Ljubi5, delegation of Croatia's Parliament visited B-H.
The delegation, led by its vice-president Vladimir heks started
the visit with a little town of Vitez, a stronghold of Croat
militia in central Bosnia. They were met by the officials of the
local authorities in Croat held Vitez, Busova^a and Novi Travnik,
although the number of Bosniaks is little less than of Croats
where also some Serbs lived. Chairman of central Bosnia's HDZ
Zoran Mari5 attended at the meeting. The hosts asked for help of
their Zagreb guests to make pressure on Bosniaks " to specify
their relations with Croats as being their partners as well as on
the B-H Federation," expressing concern about "acts of Bosniaks
ranging from terrorism, to charges against the HVO members due to
alleged war crimes, to disturbing acting of Bosniak leaders. B-H
authorities have not commented the case described by B-H media as
a diplomatic provocation and arrogance of Croatia. (end) A.S.
[10] LETICA & IDS ON "PANORAMA"
Zagreb, May 2, 1996 (Press TWRA)
On the action of financial
police, which closed the office of the "Panorama" weekly in
Radi5eva 12 and Marti5eva 17, speaks its columnist Slaven Letica:
"Decision signed by two inspectors, Balka Barnjak and Ivan Balek,
says that the office is closed due to fact that the publisher,
"Croata Ltd.", did not obtain a certificate of administrative body
that the office meets health, technical, ecological requirements.
It is a formal reason, cynical I would say. The Panorama's office
is really suitable, recently decorated, with an adequate sanitary
system, a small kitchen, so the alleged reasons are far from
truth. (...) The matter is that the authorities have become a bit
too nervous. If we analyze the mosaic of various recent attempts
to limit the freedom of speech, we see that what I called
capillary totalitarism, is growing. Once it is allegedly unpaid
customs duties, as in case of "Novi List", somewhere the police
interrogates journalists, as in "Nacional" case, somewhere is
removed the editor-in-chief, as in case of Josip Jovi5 in
"Slobodna Dalmacija", who accidentally became editor-in-chief of
"Panorama", phones are sometimes bugged, as in case of cardinal
Kuhari5. Anyhow, those are lower clerks, whose excuse is probably
the very top state authorities, so they maybe speak on bad mood /
displeasure of president Tu-man with some article, though I do not
think so. In Panorama's last issue, I wrote a very favorable text
on president Tu-man. The key idea is that opinion of president
Tu-man himself is that till our time, communist ex-dictator and
his neighbor, president Josip Broz Tito, was the greatest Croat,
and that from now, it is president Tu-man alone. So in the text,
written as a warm human tale, I defend the view that president
Tu-man sincerely loves his neighbor Tito, and that he expressed
many compliments about him in the latest interview. I tried to put
forward several possible motives of him to do so. So, there is
nothing controversial in my text."
In front of the closed Panorama's office doors, editor-in-chief of the paper, J. Jovi5, held a press-conference, and said: "
The editorial staff and myself bear responsibility for what is
released in "Panorama". We want to make a state-building paper,
critical to any obstacle in developing the democratic state and
its institutions. Jovi5's deputy Andrej Rora said the financial
police visited "Panorama" two months ago, but they had no
complaints about the sanitary conditions in the editorial office.
This time, the policemen took away diskettes with already prepared
texts, without recording it. Jovi5 said no criticism can harm the
state as much as this action of police, i.e. authorities.
The IDS (Istrian democratic assembly) statement speaks aboutthe pressure put on press: "IDS uses the opportunity to express
its concern due to possibility that financial police's break-in at
the Panorama office is a part of the HDZ campaign of pressure upon
free & independent media in Zagreb, Rijeka, Istria, Split...
elsewhere in Croatia". (end) A.S.
[11] VLADIMIR hEKS ACCUSED BOSNIAKS FOR BLOCKADE OF FEDERATION
Sarajevo, May 2, 1996 (Press TWRA)
Vladimir heks, vice-president
of the parliament of Croatia, leading Croatia's parliamentary
delegation to Bosnia, said after the talks with the BH Federation
leadership that Bosniaks were to blame for stalemate of the
Federation, blockade of the Dayton and the Sarajevo accords,
defense law and banking agency law, unsolving the status of
Sarajevo, delay in establishment of the central and local
authorities.
Among the politicians who received the guests from Croatia,there was no Ejup Gani5, the highest-ranking Bosniak official of
the Federation. (end) A.S.
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