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BosNet NEWS: (June 20, 1996)Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Adnan Smajlovic <asmaj@spectranet.ca>CONTENTS
[01] STEINER ABOUT THE SITUATION IN SARAJEVOSarajevo, June 20, 1996 (Press TWRA)M. Steiner, PIC High representative deputy described, in an interview to tOslobodjenjev, the situation in Sarajevo, as follows: t8.000 Serbs remained in these suburbs (Vogosca and Ilidza) and have been exposed to terror during the last period. Already 12 families have left their homes while the majority of others is preparing to go, as well. I am ashamed for I have promised personally to Serbs living in Sarajevo they would keep their positions. But I saw that two weeks after the transfer of the authority one Serb physician lost his jobv, Steiner said. He also added that robberies of private houses are taking place every day, committed mostly by refugees who arrive in organized manners and he considers as tunbelievable the explications that nothing can be done to prevent thisv. tAll reports about what is going on are regularly transmitted to the administration bodiesv, Steiner informed, asking: t Why does President Izetbegovic keep silent ?v tI am wondering why reis-ul-ulema Mustafa Ceric who is constantly speaking about the return of refugees does not raise his voice against such a situationv, Steiner stated, adding the strategy of ethnical engineering is taking place in Sarajevo which would lead to the establishment of monoethnical society. tI can not accept the explanation that something is going on here for it had already took place somewhere else. No one raises the voice against it. It is very difficult to defend the right of Bosniaks to return in all areas while the policy completely different to what they proclaim are taking place daily in their capital. This policy leads to a final division of BHv, Steiner said. (end) S.K.[02] GANIC REQUESTS DISMISSAL OF PRLICSarajevo, June 20, 1996 (Press TWRA)Member of BH Presidency and BH Federation Vice-President, Ejup Ganic started a procedure for dismissal of Jadranko Prlic, BH Foreign Minister, Onasa reported, according to reports close to BH Presidency. The reason for his dismissal is the recent reconstruction of so-called Herzeg-Bosnia government. Onasa also reports that President and Vice-President of BH Federation, Zubak and Ganic, made on February 12, the tgentlemen agreementv in which was settled HDZ BH would be given the post of BH Foreign Minister in the government of BH Prime Minister Muratovic if Herzeg-Bosnia government was annulled. The reconstruction of tHerzeg-Bosniav government marked the violation of the mentioned agreement.Zagreb - tCroatian police poses the greatest problem to UNpolice forces in BH. Unfortunately, Dario Kordic has a big influence on the creation of policy and we consider the constitution of new Herzeg-Bosnia government as a negative factor in the peace-processv, UN spokesman, Ivanko, stated on a press- conference. Ivanko pointed out the importance of the extradition of Kordic, Karadzic and Mladic to the Hague Court for they present the main obstacle to the forthcoming elections in BH Federation. tInternational community has also problems with Muslim side, for SDA high officials frequently mention a muslim state, without taking care of Croats and Serbsv, Ivanko stated, adding that Serbia refuses to cooperate with ICTY while Croatia is more cooperative, besides it is not yet sufficient. Ivanko hopes the Republic of Croatia will use tits influence upon alleged Herzeg- Bosnia in order to solve the all existing problemsv. Paris - tReconstruction of so-called Herzeg-Bosnia governmentis opposed to the Dayton accord so France expects from Zagreb authorities to undertake a decisive action towards BH Croats in order to make them give up from their decisionv, spokesman of French Foreign Ministry, J. Renoir stated, adding tbesides the fact that the peace-accord recognizes the existence of three ethnical groups it, however, foresees the two entities: BH Federation and the Republic of Srpskav. (end) S.K. [03] MILITARY AGREEMENT OF CROATIA WITH BULGARIA AND TURKEYZagreb, Ankara, June 20, 1996 (Press TWRA)Croatia and Turkey signed agreement on military cooperation. During the two-day visit of Croatia's top delegation to Turkey, the agreements on cultural, scientific-technical and tourist cooperation are expected.In the joint statement, presidents Tudjman and SuleymanDemirel pointed out excellent relations of the two states,"helping the peace in all region". Besides the talks between the two statesmen alone, two delegations also met. Croatia's delegation includes Mate Granic (foreign and vice prime minister), Gojko Susak (defence minister), gen. Zvonimir Crvenko (Croatian army chief of staff), ambassador to Turkey Ivica Tomic, Tudjman's foreign policy advisor Zeljko Matic and deputy foreign minister (ex-ambassador to Ankara) Hidajet Biscevic. Biscevic is of Bosnian origin, a Croat of Islamic religion (but atheist), successful journalist in 80ies, author of a few books about the Middle East (e.g. "In the Name of Allah", the impressions of Iran after the 1979 revolution), interviews with radical PLO leaders whose secret bases were accessible to him, editor-in-chief of the "Vjesnik " daily for a short time, has become the third man in Croatian diplomacy hierarchy (after Granic and Ivan Simovic) mainly in charge of relations with Islamic states. In a number of his public speeches, Hido Biscevic blamed Bosnian authorities for Islamic fundamentalism and unfair relation towards Croatia and Croats in B- H. Before he left for Ankara, Croatia's president Tudjman saidat the Zagreb airport Pleso: "Friendship with Turkey is important to us because of our relation with B-H. Turkey actually represents a power in international relations, it is a state with 65 million of people playing an important part in today's world." Before visit to Turkey, Croatia's defence minister Susak signed an agreement on military cooperation with his Bulgarian counterpart D. Pavlov saying it was not secret that Zagreb wanted to buy Fagot, anti-armored missiles and might produce them cooperating with Bulgarians. Pavlov said the agreement helped in security of southeast Europe. Such agreements are easier to make for Croatia since this week's lifting the UN arms embargo on ex-Yugoslavia, which have no vital importance of e.g. a military pact. Yet, the backers of such relation with Croatia are the circles in Sofia which regard Serbia as the least close neighbour accepting the axis with Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, Italy, EU, USA. The opponent lobby is for close relations with Macedonia, Romania, FRY, Greece and Russia. On the arrival to Turkey yesterday, Tudjman laid wreaths andrecorded himself in e book of impressions at the mausoleum of the founder of modern, secular Turkey, Mustafa Kemal-pasha Ata-Turk. Visit to Ataturk's grave is a part of obligatory protocol for all foreign delegations.The fact caused a slight uneasiness at the visit of B-H president Izetbegovic to Turkey-Izetbegovic is not a great supporter of Ataturk except for his credit in defence of Turkey from Greek-Anglo-French-Armenian forces, his name is linked to high illiteracy among the Turks (he abolished the existing and introduced Latin alphabet at that time) enforcing the measures to "europeanize" Turkey (obligatory hat, ban on covering for women, killings the imams..) Yet, disarray about importance of Ataturk has no impact on good relations of Sarajevo and Ankara, confirmed lately when Demirel and Izetbegovic visited Mostar and agreed on the joint reconstruction of the Old bridge and the town city (Croatia which showed interest in Turkish-Croatian project, is excluded as in 1993 its heavy artillery destroyed it). Tudjman several times stressed Ataturk as positive "Europe -orientated example" that should be a model for B-H Muslims." As the opposite example, Tudjman alleges "fundamentalist influences" alluding to Iran with which Zagreb has good political and economic relations: some media claim that Iran, besides B-H, reinforced Croatian army with modern equipment. During the stay Croatian president will visit Efes and some other sites in Turkey, mainly related to the Classical Greek period (Helenism) (end) A.S. [04] ITALIAN DIPLOMAT ON PROSPECTS OF BOSNIARome, June 20, 1996 (Press TWRA)Under-secretary in Italian Foreign Ministry Pierro Fassino told: "Only time and change of generations might help in overcoming distrust among the sides waging the war in Bosnia. " (end) A.S.[05] PARTICIPATION OF CROATIA AND FRY AT THE OLYMPICS UNCERTAINZagreb, June 20, 1996 (Press TWRA)"After winning the European Football Championship in England, we will play against the USA in the Basketball Tournament finals of the forthcoming Olympics in Atlanta. So, we do not prepare for likely non-participation of Croatia at the Olympics", answered Croatian prime minister Zlatko Matesa to the question of the IDS delegate in Croatian parliament Damir Kain. In his question Kain referred to the president of ICTY A. Cassese's statement.A. Cassese announced a likely demand of ICTY to IOC to boycotCroatia and FRY as those states refused to extradite the indicted war criminals. (Belgrade refuses to hand over Mrksic and Sljivancanin, Radic and suspect Serb criminals from B-H, particularly Karadzic and Mladic; Zagreb acts in the same way in case of suspect Croat criminals from B-H, specially Ivica Rajic and Darijo Kordic). The boycott would mean ban on sport national teams of Croatia and FRY to participate at the Olympics in the USA this year, as Croatia could not take part at the sports competitions during the sanctions imposed against Serbia and Montenegro. (1992-94). After recent talk with Croatian foreign minister Granic,Cassese said: "Official view of the Zagreb government is: 'We have adopted the constitutional changes enabling extradition of the indicted war criminals, but we regret that five of them are in "Herzeg Bosnia", outside Croatia's territory'. We do not regard such explanation as convincing enough." Cassese has already said that such arguments of Zagreb are not valid regarding both the impact that Croatian government has in "Herzeg Bosnia" and the fact that some of the indicted including Darijo Kordic stay in Croatia, either secretly or on occasional visits. Similar situation is with Ivica Rajic as reported in Croatian papers. "We read all the papers and also use other sources to get information," says Cassese. He expressed regret that his idea to boycott FRY at the Florence meeting was not supported, in case that state continued to provide shelter and support to its own criminals and those from Serb entity in B-H. It is not enough to accuse some politicians and prevent them from candidating at the elections, claims Cassese adding: "Karadzic will not candidate himself but will propose his followers, back them and continue with his so far policy through them." Ban on participation for Yugoslav teams at the 1992 Olympicsin Barcelona were criticized not only by Belgrade but also by some international dignitaries like the IOC president, a Catalonian Juan Antonio Samaranch who holds that political reasons should not limit the right for participation at the Olympics. President of HOO (Croatian Olympic Committee) Antun Vrdoljak, a close associate of F.Tudjman and Croatian government, had a similar view backing participation of the athletes from Yugoslavia at the international competitions. Vrdoljak was occasionaly criticized by Croatian opposition as inappropriate for such a high Olympic duty for his racist statements (e.g. "I know our guys who want to be football players, actors, artists, basketball players, but none of them would like to be a Negro" - that he issued in a discussion on the US Basketball Professional NBA league with mainly black basketball players. (end) A.S. [06] COMMITTEE TO SAVE CHILDREN IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINASarajevo, Washington, June 19, 1996 (Press TWRA)Committee to Save B-H Children, founded early this year by the Schiller Institute & Center for Peace Studies of Georgetown University, covers three areas of activities on which the Committee chairman (the former vice-premier (first post-communist) of Czechoslovakia J. Miklosko (Bratislava) told TWRA: "The Committee comprises politicians, scientists, artists, representatives of churches and religious communities (e.g. Catholic Relief Service from Baltimore) from all the world, even a professional rugby player from Nebrasca. The goal of our campaign is to warn the public of the needs of Bosnia's children and to achieve forgiveness of debt at foreign investors which Bosnia inherited from ex-Yugoslavia. (17% of total debt). It is absurd that B-H still has the same duty after the aggression she suffered. We try via NGOs to pressure govts. of the developed states, specially the USA to launch a new "Marshall plan" for B-H - one can call it a Clinton plan, not to make B-H a colony of IMF & the World Bank. We made the main effort at our first stage in the USA, then Europe. We shall try to get the aid from the rich states, and all will help if properly explained the need to do so. We shall go on the world campaign to achieve the goals - helping children, the debt forgiveness, development of B-H, for which we hope, will not repeat naive mistakes of other ex-communist states."Last spring. delegations of the Committee visited Sarajevothree times. First two visits to B-H were preparatory when the Committee prominent members (E. Fimmen & J. Miklosko, E. Fimmen & P. Raimondi) talked with the officials of B-H authorities and NGOs (political, economic, cultural, humanitarian). During the third visit to Bosnia, the delegation of the Committee to Save Children in B-H and the Schiller Institute included Elke Fimmen, Jozef Miklosko, Theo W. Mitchell (former US Senator from South Carolina), Benjamin Swan (Congressman from Massachusetts), Nihad Dzinovic (chairman of the Bosnia Relief Organization in California and member of National Advisory Board for Humanitarian Aid), James Mann (former US Congressman from South Carolina), Paolo Raimondi, Umberto Pascali (secretary of the International Parliamentarians Against Genocide in Bosnia). The Schiller Institute reported on the visit of thedelegation in its papers ("Neue Solidaritaet/ "Nouvelle Solidarite"), and was widely covered in the weekly EIR ("Executive Intelligence Review"). EIR No. 20 of 1996, (Vol 23) reported on the visit, released Susan Welsh's report from the press conference of the Committee in Washington (when the USA was called to launch a new Marshall plan, this time to help Bosnia), a number of interviews (with dignitaries of the religious communities - Ceric of the Islamic, Kuharic, Puljic, Sudar of Catholic, Rosic of Orthodox community, talks with the B-H presidency members Kljuic & Pejanovic, Deputy Defence Minister H.Cengic & Spokesman of the Ministry Nanic; officials of the leading party SDA Grbo & Genjac; managing directors of the firm "Elektroprivreda", Bicakcic, Sadikovic, Vejzagic, Hadrovic, Karamehmedovic; headquarters of Bosniak charitable organization Merhamet - Kraikovic, Becirbegovic, Fazlic, Traljic, also meeting delegations of Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish charities - Caritas, Dobrotvor, La Benevolencia, respectively). Also, reports on other meetings of the Committee and the Schiller Institute delegation during its stay in Sarajevo and while in Zagreb (with ex-Croatian foreign minister and rector of Zagreb University, president of the Victimology society, the "Libertas" movement and action for just peace in B-H, Prof. Separovic and representatives of humanitarian organization DESA-Dubrovnik Hansal and Primorac, director of the Bjelave Orphanage, Zelic, director of the Institute for Public Health, Smajkic, phone talk with prof. Finci (Jewish community Sarajevo) visit to the School for Europe and talks with the Malaysian govt. delegation) EIR reviews the reports of the Sarajevo media on the visit of the Committee's delegation (including thearguments of the Schiller Institute that lady Thatcher was among those who permitted Serb aggression). (end) A.S. Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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