BOSNEWS digest 501 - 15/12/95

From: Nermin Zukic <[email protected]>

Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory

CONTENTS

[01] THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT AND ON THE GROUND IN THE BALKANS

The presidents of Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia today signed the Dayton accords in Paris. The day was marked by scattered fighting in Bosnia. Serbian forces launched several mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenades at sites in government-held Sarajevo. Bosnian Croat forces clashed in central Bosnia with what reportedly were a number of the estimated several hundred foreign Islamic volunteer fighters in Bosnia. These fighters are currently withdrawing from Bosnia in compliance with the Dayton accords, which require all foreign fighters, including volunteers fighting for Serbian forces, to leave Bosnia. Such volunteers, notably those from Russia and Greece, assisted Serbian forces in capturing the U.N.-declared "safe area" of Zepa this July.

[02] B-H FEDERATION ASSEMBLY ADOPTED DAYTON AGREEMENT

Sarajevo, Dec 13,1995 (Press TWRA) - After a long discussion the B-H Federation Constitutional Assembly adopted the General Agreement on peace from Dayton and President Zubak has been authorized to sign the agreement in the name of B-H Federation. The majority of representatives spoke about the peace plan specially the part which relates to giving away Bosanska Posavina to Serbian entity. Dayton's agreement has been adopted but in the conclusion the representatives expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that solutions from Contact Group's plan have not been respected when creating the final maps".

President of B-H Federation Zubak in his speech before the Assembly said that the main reason why he refused to initialize the agreement was Bosanska Posavina. Zubak emphasized that the proposed maps represent the violation of the basic rights of Bosniaks and Croats because they legalize the state created by aggression, specially in Posavina. In the interest of peace Zubak supported the adoption of agreement, but in the same time he demanded to be emphasized how unjust it is.

Prime Minister Silajdzic in his speech before the Assembly reproached Croatian representatives that they emphasize the problem of Posavina, and in the same time forget about Podrinje and other territories. "Bosanska Posavina did not become the part of Federation because our forces did not hold it and because we did not have the support of Croatia in the first place, US and EU", said Silajdzic and added that Milosevic, on several occasions, said that he reached the agreement with President Tudjman about the status of Posavina. "Lack of cooperation is the main reason why Posavina did not remain part of Federation. Without our internal conflicts, Posavina and East Bosnia today would be ours", emphasized Silajdzic.

In the same time, B-H Republic Parliament on its last night session decided that it retains the right to cancel the Dayton's peace agreement if its implementation prolongs unjustly. This was regulated by adoption of the Constitutional law on changes and amendments of B-H Republic Constitution. By this law the representatives have the right to proclaim the agreement invalidated if it is not implemented timely. In that case the B-H Constitution agreed in Dayton would also be invalidated and the republic parliament would take over legal authorities. Although some representatives demanded it, the deadline for implementation of the agreement has not been established. (end) S.K.

[03] IZETBEGOVIC - MILOSEVIC

Paris, Dec 13, 1995 (Press TWRA) - Though it was not announced, Bosnia's and Serbia's presidents, Alija Izetbegovic and Slobodan Milosevic, met today in Paris, AFP reported. Non-official sources claim the two presidents discussed the issue of Sarajevo, trying to avoid the mass-evacuation of Serb population, prepared by the Karadzic authorities. (end) A.S.

[04] SERB LEADER ANNOUNCES, "END OF WAR"

News Agency Reuters, reports that the Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has officially announced, the end of the war in Bosnian Serb held territory. According to the report, the status of Sarajevo which would fall under the control of the Croat-Muslim Federation in line with the Dayton Agreement, will be announced at a later date.