BOSNEWS digest 481 - 27/11/95

From: Nermin Zukic <[email protected]>

Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory

From: Nermin Zukic <[email protected]>

BOSNEWS Digest 481

CONTENTS

[01] BOSNIAN SERB NATIONALISTS STILL OPPOSE DAYTON DEAL.

Bosnian Serb nationalist leaders still oppose parts of the "peace accord" reached in Dayton, Ohio, last week. The deal, which divides Bosnia into two republics under a weak central government, was agreed to by Serbian President Slobodon Milosevic in their name; Bosnian Serb representatives refused to initial it during a ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force base.

Bosnian Serb political leaders later acquiesced to the accord under heavy pressure from Milosevic, according to media reports. By the weekend, though, some Bosnian Serb leaders again criticized the plan and called for the future of Sarajevo to be renegotiated. "The Dayton agreement will not live until a solution is found for Sarajevo," said Momcilo Krajisnik, a leading Serb hardliner. Radovan Karadzic demanded "special status" for Serb-occupied districts of Sarajevo, and international protection for at least five years. Such moves would cement the division of the city, diplomats told Reuters. Karadzic also said a Serb assembly would have to ratify any deployment of NATO troops.

But U.S. chief negotiator Richard Holbrooke and Defense Secretary William Perry said Sunday the accord has already been accepted, and will not be renegotiated.

Holbrooke also scoffed at Radovan Karadzic's claim he personally must attend a formal signing ceremony in Paris on behalf of Bosnian Serbs. "They [Karadzic and Gen. Mladic] won't be in Paris," Holbrooke said. "They are indicted war criminals. If they set foot in Paris, or for that matter in any European or American country, they will be arrested."

[02] SARAJEVO REUNIFICATION DENOUNCED.

Under the Dayton agreement, Sarajevo is supposed to be reunified, with Serb authorities ceding control of several occupied districts including Grbavica, Vogosca and Ilidza. Sarajevans driven from those areas early in the war now dream of returning home.

However, Serbs in those neighborhoods -- ethnically mixed before the war, but "cleansed" of Muslims and Croats during the siege -- have demonstrated daily against the plan, saying they will never submit to Bosnian rule and will not leave. One demonstration blocked UN traffic into Sarajevo for hours.

Bosnian Serb commanding Gen. Ratko Mladic sent a statement to the protesters, vowing that the Bosnian Serb Army would never desert them.

"We can't let Muslims in here," Nesa Dodik, a Serb sniper, told Reuters. "I fought for every corner and street here."

More than 10,000 Sarajevans have been killed in the Serb siege of the city, most of them civilians. About 1,500 of the dead were children -- including many youngsters shot through the head by Serb snipers. Serb nationalists besieging the city also murdered Sarajevans as they searched for food and firewood, and waited on line for water.

The Serb sniping campaign against civilians has been called a war crime by an international tribunal in the Hague.

The BBC notes that Serbs in occupied territories have been subject to a steady barrage of vitriolic anti-Muslim propaganda, a major reason they fear living under Bosnian government rule--even though tens of thousands of Serbs remained in government-controlled parts of the city, victims of the Serb siege along with Muslims, Croats, Jews, and others.

"Though some Bosnian Serbs were remorseful about the pounding their forces gave the city during the war, others defiantly declared that if they couldn't control the city, they should destroy it," Associated Press reports. Museums, libraries, and other cultural landmarks were among the early targets of Serb guns.

[03] THREAT TO IMPLEMENTATION?

BBC says Serb opposition to reunifying Sarajevo casts further doubts on the Dayton accords. And, the Belgrade daily Politika called hard-line Serb criticisms of the agreement "a very serious threat to peace."

"Diplomats say the Serb moves augur badly for the chances of its complete implementation," according to Reuters.

However, both Reuters and CNN speculate that Bosnian Serb nationalists are not likely to immediately go back to war over the issue.

[04] SARAJEVO AGAIN WITHOUT HEAT.

Ham-radio operators in Serb-besieged sectors of Sarajevo say that the city is again without adequate supplies of natural gas as bitter-cold weather hit the region. Gas is being rationed, with homes receiving supplies only every second day; and even when gas is "on," pressure is too weak to provide heat. Electricity remains severely rationed, and the limited amount allocated per household prevents it being used for heat. Firewood remains scarce and prohibitively expensive.

Pneumonia is widespread in the city, one ham reported.

Restoration of utilities to Sarajevo was supposedly a pre-condition to peace negotiations in Dayton.

[05] TEST FOR MOSTAR.

The Bosnian-Croat federation faces a "crucial test" in Mostar this Friday, the Boston Globe reports, when Muslim women, children, and men of non-military age are supposed to be given freedom of movement throughout the city. They are now confined to what has become a war-ravaged Muslim ghetto. By Jan. 20, Croat officials are supposed to allow all Muslim men free movement as well.

"We are praying," European Union spokesman Dragan Gasic told the Boston Globe. "We have had many documents signed here that have never been implemented." The EU was supposed to reunify Mostar more than a year ago, but the formerly ethnically mixed city remains divided. "In fact, politicians on the Croatian side admit they have not give up on `Greater Croatia,'" the Globe notes.

"My private wish is to live in the Republic of Croatia," Mile Puljic, deputy mayor on the Croat side of the city, freely admitted to the Globe. "We are frightened of the Muslims. There are too many of them."

[06] SERBS TO GAIN GROUND NEAR BANJA LUKA.

The Dayton accords also call for Croat forces to give up territory near Banja Luka won during a military offensive several months ago, granting Serbs control over a dam generating electricity for the city - the largest in Bosnia under Serb control.

Serb leaders in Banja Luka expressed support for the peace agreement.

More than half a million non-Serbs were murdered, imprisoned, or expelled from the Banja Luka There is still no word on the fate of thousands of Muslim men who "disappeared" when their families were expelled, despite promises by Serb leaders that the men would be accounted for.

[07] TOWNS TORCHED.

Bosnian Croat nationalist forces are systematically looting and burning Mrkonjic Grad and nearby Sipovo, slated to revert back to Serb control, BBC reporter Kate Adie told Reuters.

A small number of Bosnian Croats who had returned to their homes in Mrkonjic Grad after Serb soldiers were driven out have been told by Croatian militia that they must now leave their homes a second time, because of the Dayton agreement. A hundred thousand people lived there before the war.

[08] CLINTON SEEKS TROOP BACKING.

U.S. President Clinton has begun seeking Congressional and public backing for committing 20,000 troops to a NATO force that would implement the Dayton accords.

Opposition comes both from isolationists who believe American lives should only be risked when America's security is directly threatened; and from some Bosnia supporters irate that the Dayton deal will cement the ethnic partition of what has long been a multi-cultural republic. Bosnian government officials, however, have called for early implementation of the accord by NATO forces.

The Clinton administration argues that the security of Europe, the future of NATO, and our own values and consciences require that the U.S. participate in policing the deal it helped hammer out.

Clinton will give a nationally televised speech tonight (Monday) about sending troops to Bosnia.

Several members of Congress say that if the mission is approved, the U.S. must be prepared to accept risks -- and casualties. "We cannot ask our soldiers to be courageous if our politicians are not," Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska told ABC-TV.

[09] UN BASE LOOTED.

UN officials say about 200 Bosnian soldiers robbed a UN base in Velika Kladusa, taking food, fuel, and nine armored vehicles, AP reports. None of the Bangladeshi peacekeepers at the base were injured. UN Gen. Rupert Smith sent a protest to the Bosnian Army and government.

[10] BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: "A New United Bosnia, Or A Divided Bosnia?"

Independent Oslobodjenje (11/22) front-paged this assessment by Zija Dizdarevic, "It was a difficult task for Bosnian President Izetbegovic, the leader of Bosnian Muslims--who are the biggest victims of the aggression. The signature marks the beginning of the end of the present Bosnia-Herzegovina. It will be a lasting question as to whether the peace agreement provides possibilities to establish Bosnia as a united state in a new form, or is the division of Bosnia that they have signed....

"Possibly, (Milosevic) is satisfied because the signature enables the existence of a smaller Greater Serbia, extending over half the territory of the neighboring country. However, Milosevic recognized the sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and that is important. Guessing the thoughts of Tudjman...is not hard. He thinks the issue of Bosnia remains open.... What is there to say about the international peace mediators from Dayton? Much evil happened also because of them. They, especially the Americans, should now demonstrate their readiness to help achieve--as quickly as possible--the normalization of life. However, the most important thing is to turn to the future of Bosnian children."

[11] BANGLADESH: "Victory To The People Of Bosnia"

Pro-left Ajker Kagoj remarked (11/22), "Apparently, the Bosnian people have won; no matter if none of the leaders is a victor."

[12] TUNISIA: "Only A Fair Solution Will Last"

Independent, French-language Le Temps said (11/22), "Despite the official announcement made by the U.S. president, we will have to wait and see the real value of this agreement, barely concluded.... It is true that U.S. pressure contributed to the success of the negotiations, but there should have been more pressure on obtaining a just peace.... First reactions (to the agreement) point to international endorsement for a peace settlement. The implementation (of the agreement) on the ground will certainly add to the credibility and effectiveness of the Dayton accord."

[13] IRAN: "Rewarding The Serbs"

The official Tehran Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran radio held (11/22), "Under the current conditions the main stands of the international Contact Group come to light even more. They have no qualms about showing their concordance with the Serbs by granting more concessions and lifting the economic and political sanctions on Serbia. This further isolates the Muslims. The measures that have been taken by Western leaders to end the Bosnian crisis speak of the recognition of unequal equations and are a type of reward to the Serbs in that republic."

[14] SLOVENIA: "A Peace That Won't Work"

Left-of-center Republika front-paged this editorial by Miran Staric (11/22), "Blackmailing by the American peace mediators...has proven successful.... The Muslims and the Croats have strengthened an alliance which does not exist; the Serbs have agreed to co-existence with the Muslims and the Croats in a country which does not exist; the Americans will send forces to Bosnia to protect a peace which does not exist.... The borders drawn by Tudjman, Milosevic and Izetbegovic...will satisfy no one. They will become a lasting source of hatred, tinder for extremists, and the basis for new Balkan wars.... If the agreement does result in peace, the peace will be only temporary because the agreement...eliminates motives for new conflicts rather than the reasons which have caused (the war)."

"The News Of The Year"

The victors of the war, according to left-of-center, independent Vecer's commentary by Bojan Bauman (11/22), are "the Americans.... Even enemies as big as the leaders of the three warring sides in Bosnia had to bend under the world policeman's hand.... A solid basis has been formed in Dayton for replacing weapons with diplomatic talks.... It is largely owing to the Americans that the agreement is not a worthless piece of paper.... Yesterday's end to the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the news of the year. A good one!"

[15] BRITAIN: "A Victory Snatched From Jaws Of Defeat"

On BBC TV's Breakfast News (11/22), reporter Jeremy Cooke said from Dayton, "For the American-led negotiators, it was victory snatched from the jaws of defeat.... "The peace, if it sticks, has been the result of a diplomatic offensive lead by America's chief negotiator Richard Holbrooke."

"Biggest Foreign Policy Triumph Of Clinton Presidency"

The liberal Guardian's front-page lead said (11/22), "President Clinton announced the biggest foreign policy triumph--and the greatest political gamble--of his presidency yesterday, as he moved to plunge 60,000 NATO troops into the Balkans to enforce the historic but fragile Bosnia peace accord brokered, against the odds, by his administration."

[16] FRANCE: "U.S. As Sole Superpower"

Political analyst Alain Duhamel maintained on Europe One Radio (11/22), "Clinton scored a point, something which he needed at home.... Either the Europeans manage to come up with a common foreign policy, or the United States remains the only diplomatic superpower."

"It's A Pity Europe Had To Fade Away"

Charles Lambroschini authored the front-page editorial of conservative Le Figaro (11/22), "It is a pity that Europe has had to fade away before the United States. Jacques Chirac is the one who initiated renewed Western firmness. Alain Juppe, together with Klaus Kinkel, are those who had come up with the plan which served as a basis for the Dayton talks.... Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Old Continent has remained under a U.S. umbrella."

"Clinton's Biggest Diplomatic Success"

In the opinion of Stephane Marchand, in Washington for Le Figaro (11/22), "This is the biggest diplomatic success in Bill Clinton's presidency."

[17] GERMANY: "Acknowledge Clinton's Efforts; Thanks Americans"

Joachim Holtz said in a commentary on national ZDF-TV (11/21), "We must acknowledge President Clinton's efforts and thank the Americans. They forced the opponents to conclude an agreement with threats, persuasiveness, kicks and baits. But Europe failed.... The war criminals should not get off scot-free."

"Skepticism Is Appropriate"

Washington correspondent Ingolf Karnahl commented (11/21) on regional radio station Hessischer Rundfunk of Frankfurt, "Because coercion and not insight was the godfather of the agreement, skepticism is appropriate.... If this success, however, can be maintained...Clinton will be the great peacemaker, but he will also be the bogeyman if peace fails."

"A Peace Accord That Leaves Room For Continued Fighting"

Josef Joffe observed in an editorial in centrist Sueddeutsche Zeitung of Munich (11/22), "In comparison to the U.S.-led implementation force for Bosnia (IFOR), the U.S. monitoring force in the Sinai was only a church choir. In an election year, this IFOR must patrol a tactical swamp....

"This peace agreement leaves enough reasons to continue the fighting: a defenseless diaspora here and a vulnerable corridor there. "And what is even worse, the main victims of the war--the Muslims--have to pay the brunt of the bill, since peace means for them the loss of half their country, hundreds of thousand of dead and expelled people and the forced community with Croatia.... The United States and the Europeans, too, have now shouldered a burden which they will not be able to shake off that easily."

[18] ITALY: "The Seeds Of Another Balkan War?"

Paolo Garimberti's commentary in left-leaning, influential La Repubblica judged (11/22), "The peace signed yesterday at Dayton...will turn Bosnia into a condominium of quarrelsome co-proprietors, with an internal structure that contains the seeds of another Balkan war.... Instead of a stable formula to make the various peoples of Bosnia live together peacefully, the negotiations have produced a device to keep them divided under the surveillance of 60,000 armed NATO troops.... Clinton's speech yesterday...was emotionally very intense and politically worthy of a statesman who feels he has restored to his country the role of international leader and has ensured a perhaps insuperable advantage to his presidency in view of the '96 elections. "Clinton termed the 'pax americana' for Bosnia a 'just distribution of the land' contended for among former Yugoslavians. But this statement sounds hypocritical to the ears of the Bosnians, who feel betrayed by their American protectors. Richard Holbrooke, the American negotiator, has been nicknamed the 'Kissinger of the Balkans' for his diplomatic style, composed of sticks and carrots, honey and bile, passion and cynicism. In light of the results at Dayton, the comparison appears to be as appropriate as it is ominous."

"And America Saved Europe"

Under the headline above, Washington correspondent Vittorio Zucconi filed for centrist La Stampa (11/22), "Christopher, truly heroic in his physical effort of participating in two days of negotiations, after a quick visit to Japan...guaranteed that American troops would control the terrain and would shoot without hesitation anyone who attacked them or was tempted to provoke them....

"Clinton now needs congressional support as much as NATO needs U.S. leadership.... But let's thank God, as Clinton is asking us to do.... Even an unjust truce made of impossible territorial corridors...is better than a war."

[19] BELGIUM: "Accord Puts Clinton Back On Road Toward Re-Election"

Independent Catholic De Standaard and independent Catholic Het Nieuwsblad remarked (11/22), "The peace accord on Bosnia is Clinton's most important success in his first term.... The game of war and peace in the Balkans has made it clear that the absence of American leadership is a recipe for chaos. The United States is and remains this planet's single superpower and without Washington's support, European diplomats achieve success nowhere. After all, the latter were happy to pass the initiative on Bosnia to the Americans.... Strengthened by the peace accord, Clinton will again have to try to convince the Congress that sending 25,000 U.S. troops to Bosnia is in the country's national interest. Those troops will have to be the backbone of the international peace force in the former Yugoslavia. It is far from certain that the Republicans will readily approve Clinton's wishes."

[20] HUNGARY: "Long-Term NATO Presence In The Balkans"

Highest circulation Nepszabadsag observed (11/22), "The peace agreement in Dayton helped to establish something that should have been created five years ago by democratic negotiations: territorial autonomy.... Western powers have gradually seized a historic chance in Dayton: By implementing the peace accord, NATO will be able to secure its long-term presence and influence in this new geographic region. This was the most important issue at the negotiating tables in Dayton; the settlement of the real conflict was only of secondary importance."

[21] SWEDEN: "Pax Americana"

Conservative Svenska Dagbladet commented (11/22), "The peace process would never have begun had it not been for U.S. initiatives. Seen in this perspective, the peace agreement is an illustration of the fact that Europe is incapable of solving its own problems.

"There are many indications to the effect that the peace agreement is based on a delicate balance, a design that needs continuing support from the international community, particularly from the superpower that led the peace process, to ensure that it will not collapse.

"The question now is whether the Americans will remain interested in playing such an active role in the future. It did take quite some time before they became actively involved in the peace process. Once the Bosnian issue has been removed from the agenda, there is a risk of the Americans quickly withdrawing from the scene."

"Bad Agreement"

Liberal Dagens Nyheter remarked (11/22), "It has been said that a bad peace is better than war. Everyone can see that former Yugoslavia, regardless of what was said in Dayton, is approaching a bad agreement that will legalize a development that came about through plundering, mass murders, brutality and ethnic cleansing. What will happen if there is peace? Nobody really has the faintest notion, and there are no guarantees beyond what NATO can achieve for the time being."

[22] SPAIN: "Dayton's Peace"

Liberal-left El Pais commented (11/22), "Washington's uncontestable diplomatic success should not be overvalued. It is very probable that, at least, one of the contenders will harbor hopes and expectations to change the [agreed on] maps and positions in his favor and against his neighbor and enemy when he thinks the time is ripe and he feels strong enough to do it. However, Clinton now must be able to impose on Congress the presence of American troops on the ground. Otherwise the deal could be considered defunct already."

"Peace In The Balkans"

Conservative ABC held (11/22), "Clinton, exercising no other capacity but common sense, managed to halt a war unchained by Serbia...to kill at birth Bosnia-Herzegovina as an independent country. He has done so by using the language of force, the only discourse which the Serbian criminal aggressors could understand after the cowardly passivity of a Europe gagged by its own fears. The United States has taught Europe the great lesson that the aggressor only heeds bombs in order to come to the negotiating table.... If peace really comes, the world would have fortunately put an end to one of history's blackest episodes."

[23] SOUTH KOREA: "Still, A Long Way To Go For Peace"

Pro-business Joong-Ang Ilbo noted (11/22), "The United States had to use its influence to get an agreement in Dayton. What the parties agreed to, however, was incomplete; it will not be enough to bring peace back in the former Yugoslavia. A lot more effort will still have to be made before a true peace agreement can come about."

[24] PRLIC'S SIGNATURE - INVALID, SAYS ZUBAK

Mostar, Nov 25, 1995 (Press TWRA) - At today's press conference in Mostar, Kresimir Zubak explained the resignation he offered=20 to the post of the president of the B-H Federation. The agreement reached at the Wright Patterson is acceptable in its general part and ten annexes but unfavorable for Bosniaks and Croats in annex referring to the maps of the separation lines within its borders, particularly in Bosanska posavina. That was the reason for him and the member of the B-H presidency Ivo Komsic not to agree with the proposed peace plan. Jadranko Prlic (B-H vice-president) signed the Dayton agreement, on behalf of Federation, although it is only the president of Federation who authorized to do that, Zubak stresses. He mentioned that the fate of the part of Bosanska posavina attached to "Serb entity" should be decided by those who lived there before the war. If the Republic of B-H Assembly, Constitutional Assembly of the B-H Federation and the House of the representatives of "Herzeg Bosnia" accept the map of the interior separation of the B-H Union created at the talks in Ohio, the announced resignation to the post of the president of the B-H Federation will be irrevocable, president Zubak stresses.

In this week's program of Croatian TV, Croatian defence minister Gojko Susak said that the delegations of Croatia and B-H in Dayton demanded: either to stick to the map of the Contact group plan or a change of the ratio determined by the same plan between the Federation and the Serb entity ("Republika Srpska") - 51% : 49%. Finally, the Contact group map was not maintained but the 51% : 49% ratio was. /end/ A.S.=20

[25] DAY OF THE REPUBLIC OF B-H STATEHOOD

Sarajevo, Nov 25, 1995 (Press TWRA) - On the occasion of the B-H statehood day, a ceremonial meeting was held in Sarajevo. The meeting was attended by leading officials of Bosnian policy, culture and public life. In the speech delivered at the meeting a member of the B-H presidency and the vice-president of the B-H Federation Ejup Ganic said: " Our homeland Bosnia-Herzegovina has defended itself and survived both as a concept and a state. Today's holiday is the heritage of our fight against fascism but it also reminds us of our thousand-year-long statehood. Just finished Dayton talks have proved that the peace could be reached only if integral B-H is maintained. The time is on our side now. We will keep sustaining inviolable right for private property, develop our economy with a lot of promising potential. Particular attention will be paid to schooling and education and strengthening the army. We call our Serb fellow townsmen who did not take part in the atrocities to join us in the joint establishing of a free society."

During the ceremony the song "The only, only one," was played. The song was yesterday proclaimed the national anthem of Bosnia-Herzegovina by the presidency of the Republic at their yesterday's session. /end/ A.S.

[26] ALISPAHIC, JARNJAK AND UNUSAN IN VELIKA KLADUSA

Velika Kladusa, Nov 25, 1995 (Press TWRA) - Foreign ministers of B-H, Croatia and Turkey, Bakir Alispahic, Ivan Jarnjak and Teoman Unusan, respectively, visited today the town of Velika Kladusa, north of the Bihac region, and Kuplensko, a nearby settlement in Croatia where the refugees from that area - followers of the collaborationist F. Abdic are placed. Three ministers discussed chances for a number of the refugees who have not returned yet to V. Kladusa to go back without being forced to, but also without the talks with Abdic who tries to take advantage of the refugee crisis to strengthen his political influence in that part of B-H. To make the refugees in V. Kladusa feel secure, combined police forces of B-H, Croatian and Turkish police were engaged./end/=20

[27] CROATIAN OPPOSITION AGAINST THE EXCHANGE OF THE TERRITORIES

Dubrovnik, Nov 25, 1995 (Press TWRA) - Members of the opposition parties in the furthest southern, famous Croatia's town of Dubrovnik have taken action of collecting signatures and other=20 democratic actions to express their disapproval of the intention of president Tudjman to exchange territories and give the cape of Ostro, semi peninsula of Prevlaka and some villages in Konavle, to Montenegro in exchange for a part of Trebinje county placed within "Serb entity" in the neighbouring B-H, to be attached to Croatia. Tudjman holds such option acceptable as the part on the south of eastern Herzegovina is currently held by Croat army, in the mountainous area of the Dubrivnik hinterland from which the town was threatened and its defence is hard. The cape of Ostro and semi peninsula of Prevlaka are unpopulated but strategically significant for Montenegro (and "FR Yugoslavia) due to the=20 control of the access to the Boka Kotorska Bay and Tudjman finds such a pressure and tension with Belgrade not needed as he wants to normalize relations with it. Opposition parties stress that honesty of Croatian policy would be affected by the trade with territory of the neighbouring B-H and giving Croatian territory=20 - dignity of Croatian army. Besides, a dangerous precedent of violating the internationally recognized borders in southern Europe would be made. /end/ A.S.

[28] IRAN CRITICIZE THE PEACE PLAN FOR BOSNIA

Tehran, Nov 25, 1995 (Press TWRA) - Iranian president Hashemi A. Rafsanjani condemned the Dayton peace plan saying "such immature and strange division does not protect Muslim interests in B-H." Iranian president also announces his state as the first among a number of states to help the B-H development and reconstruction.

It is little likely for Iranian units to be allowed to take part in the IFOR's OPERATION in Bosnia as it was said that states which are not NATO members can be deployed only on condition that their system complies with western democratic formula and the USA would probably not include Iran in the group. /end/ A.S.

[29] DISPUTE BETWEEN SILAJDZIC AND SACIRBEY

Sarajevo, Nov 26, 1995 (Press TWRA) - Asked about the resignation offered by the head of B-H diplomacy Sacirbey, prime minister Silajdzic says:"Sacirbey offered resignation, to the president of govt. not to me being in accord with the procedure. Asked why he did that, Silajdzic said "you should ask Sacirbey about it."

Relationship Silajdzic-Sacirbey, the leading B-H diplomats from the time when B-H was internationally recognized and Greater Serbian aggression launched, has become bad from this summer when SDA (Party of Democratic Action) appointed Sacirbey as B-H foreign minister. Silajdzic is the SDA deputy chairman but has a dispute with most leading officials of the party. On the B-H TV, about then resignation of the prime minster Silajdzic (withdrawn on recommendation of A.Izetbegovic), Sacirbwey said: "Just imagine, Silajdzic criticized me saying that I cannot speak Bosnian well." Born in B-H and grown up abroad, Sacirbey was educated in English. He speaks Bosnian making occasional mistakes in grammar and accent. /end/ A.S.

[30] IFOR IN BOSNIA - SOON

Paris, Nov 26,1995 (Press TWRA) - French foreign minister Herve de Charette warned the troops from European states, particularly the French ones, they would not stay in Bosnia when the US troops withdrew."It is a simple rule we will stick to. We, Europeans and Americans will arrive at and leave Bosnia together, within the IFOR troops. The option for Washington to have its soldiers back home before the presidential elections and leave our troops deployed in B-H, is ruled out," says de Charette.

Washington - US defence secretary Perry announced first US soldiers in Bosnia in the middle of December. It can take months to deploy them. After that, US troops would stay 6 to 7 months.

Moscow - Russia demanded from NATO that each use of force during the IFOR operation to Bosnia be decided with the approval of Moscow which should be consulted before the operation.

Minister Kozirev rejects criticism of Russian public due to Russian reservation and not vetoing the UN Security Council Resolution lifting the arms embargo on the area of ex-Yugoslavia including B-H. Head of Serb diplomacy M. Milutinovic asked Russia on the phone not to stop lifting the embargo as the US ambassador to the UN would veto suspension of the sanctions against Belgrade. Russian media criticize warning that the lifting the embargo is permanent while sanctions are only suspended and can be reimposed.

The Hague - Dutch govt has announced 7O liaison specialists and 2O commandos next month as advance guard of total of 2,5OO Dutch within IFOR troops.

Ljubljana - Slovenian foreign minister Z. Thaler released that Slovenia was included in NATO's "Partnership for Peace" program ready to aid NATO operation in establishing peace to B-H although it would not, for history reasons, send its troops to=20 B-H. Slovenian will enable transit of the IFOR equipment and staff via Slovenia and its air space, says Thaler. /end/ A.S.

[31] INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL PLEASED WITH THE PEACE AGREEMENT

Den Haag, Nov 26, 1995 (Press TWRA) - International Criminal Tribunal for ex-Yugoslavia (ICTY) expresses its satisfaction over the Dayton agreement as it does not imply amnesty for the war criminals. ICTY says the peace agreement in the part related to the Tribunal is in accord with the Security Council resolutions.

US correspondent of Croatian independent daily "Novi List", V. Krsnik writes that three presidents in Dayton did not take the responsibility to unambiguously extradite the indicted, among whom S. Milosevic might appear. Croatian politician M. Mestrovic who lived in the USA for a long time, says the US administration has evidence for Milosevic's crimes but does not want to release it now since Milosevic is needed as a pragmatic shortcut on the way to peace. The USA will release the evidence if he becomes disobedient, Mate Mestrovic says.

The Amnesty International US branch warns that IFOR has task to arrest the indicted war criminals if they come across them but does not have to find and arrest them during the operation. ICTY does not have its own troops to find and arrest the suspects, so their fate depends on the authorities in Zagreb, Belgrade and Sarajevo. Belgrade and Zagreb, after the indictments against Serb and Croat political and military leaders, already announced they will not extradite them, as their Constitutions do not allow extradition of their citizens to other states' courts. Yet, ICTY is the international, not a court of some other state. /end/ A.S.

[32] KARADZIC THREATENS WITH WAR AGAINST SARAJEVO

Pale, Nov 26, 1995 (Press TWRA) - R. Karadzic has accepted the peace plan, unlike his close associate M. Krajisnik who he was imprisoned with, due to stealing in ex-Yugoslavia. Krajisnik regards the plan harmful for Serbs and Karadzic mainly acceptable but opposes to the solution to Sarajevo. Serb civilians, these days (women and children, used in the past few years to prevent humanitarian convoys from reaching eastern Bosnian enclaves) protested in western suburbia of Sarajevo, Serb taken at the outbreak od war, and the Dayton agreement plans it to be attached to Federation. "We will not give away Serb land" demonstrators. shouted. The plan foresees Serb withdrawal from Ilidza, Vogosca, Nedarici, Hadzici, Ilijas, Grbavica, while "Serb entity" would maintain Vrace, the Kasindol str., the Lukavica barracks and Mt. Trebevic's top from which they usually shelled Sarajevo.

Karadzic said for BBC that Sarajevo would be Beirut, and another war would start if Serb demand for renewal of talks about its division was not accepted. Karadzic said for WTN that many IFOR soldiers would be killed if the solution was enforced: "They cannot come here and determine our fate."

Washington - R. Holbrooke said for NBC that Serb demands for Sarajevo would not be considered at all. To journalist's claim that 18O,OOO Serb soldiers are deployed there, Holbrooke says: " Our intelligence services say that the number is three to four times as less and the IFOR soldiers will be additionally armed and resolute not to be jeopardized by highwaymen. /end/ A.S.