bosnet-digest V5 #75 / Thursday, 22 February 1996

From: Davor <[email protected]>

Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory

Subject:  bosnet-digest V5 #75 / Thursday, 22 February 1996

From:  Davor <[email protected]>

CONTENTS

[01] Ominous start For Mostar Reunification

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Plans to reunify Mostar got off to a foreboding start Tuesday when shots were fired in the air as Muslims ventured into the Croat sector of the divided city.

Around three hundred Muslims trudged through torrential rains Tuesday to cross the barriers that have cut them off from their Croat neighbors for three long years. But the promised freedom of movement was short-lived.

With the Croats resisting the plan so bitterly, freedom of movement in the city was stillborn, and that could damage Bosnia's Muslim-Croat Federation. First, Croat officers who were supposed to be part of a unified police patrol failed to make the noon deadline, showing up three hours later. The patrol, comprising Bosnian Croat, Bosnian Muslim, and multinational police force officers, was to have taken up positions in the central zone of the divided city.

Later, a scuffle broke out between Croats and Muslims about half an hour after the first main Croat checkpoint opened, witnesses told Reuters.

Three Muslim youths in a car passed through the checkpoint only to find themselves blocked by two Croat vehicles. The Muslims' car hit a tree, and as the youths got out and scrambled back to the checkpoint, one was caught and beaten. One of the Croats pulled out a pistol and fired two shots in the air.

The crowd of Muslims at the checkpoint, dripping wet in the rain as they waited to cross, hastily dispersed. NATO troops closed in quickly to prevent the incident from blowing up into a major tragedy.

Bosnian president Alija Izetbegovic told the government news agency he was dissatisfied with what happened in Mostar on Tuesday.

"The process has started, but very slowly," he said.

But U.S. State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns Tuesday insisted the news from Mostar was a "first step in normalizing" life in that divided city. But, he said the United States expects more trouble down the road in Mostar and Bosnia in general.

[02] Bosnian Serb Military To Review Suspension Of Ties With NATO

February 21, 1996 SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina

A decision on whether the Bosnian Serb military will resume ties with NATO may be forthcoming soon, possibly Wednesday, a senior Bosnian Serb military general said Tuesday. At a meeting between the commander of NATO ground forces in Bosnia, Lt. Gen. Michael Walker, and Bosnian Serb Maj. Gen. Zdravko Tolimir, Walker reprimanded Tolimir for failing to show up for a key meeting on Monday of leaders of Bosnia's formerly warring factions.

According to a NATO statement, Walker told Tolimir that failing to maintain contact with the NATO-led Implementation Force was a serious breach of the Dayton peace accords.

Tolimir replied he would have to await word from the Serb leadership and assembly, which meets Wednesday, before giving word on whether contacts could be resumed.

[03] Clinton -- Bosnia

February 20, 1996 WASHINGTON, United States

President Clinton issued a written statement saying he is instructing his foreign policy advisors to continue to press Balkan leaders to implement the terms of the Bosnia peace agreement, in his words, without delay. He also announced he is asking Congress to appropriate 820 million dollars to pay for the US peacekeeping mission in Bosnia, and help reconstruct civil society there.

The President admitted that peace in Bosnia will not take hold overnight, but he expressed satisfaction with developments in Bosnia since the peace agreement was signed in December. He noted that the cease-fire is holding, and that people are back on the streets of the capital, Sarajevo.

Later, Mr. Clinton reviewed the status of the NATO peacekeeping operation in Bosnia with the Secretary-General of the alliance, Javier Solana.

[04] UAE To Auction Gold Jewelry For Bosnian Muslims (ONASA)

February 15, 1996 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates will auction donated gold jewelry worth 1.5 million dirhams ($409,000) next month to raise funds for fellow Muslims in Bosnia, Reuters quoted the UAE Red Crescent Society as saying on Wednesday. Red Crescent board member Essa Khalf al-Mazroui told a news conference the charity expected to raise over two million dirhams ($545,000) by auctioning the more than 26 kilograms of gold on March 1.

The gold was donated in response to a call by UAE President Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan al-Nahayan to support Bosnian Muslims.

Last July the oil-rich UAE raised $43 million for Bosnian Muslims in a radio and television fund-raising blitz.

[05] Clinton -- Eid Al-Fitr

February 20, 1996 WASHINGTON, United States

President Clinton has issued a message of peace on the occasion of the Muslim holiday Eid Al- Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. In a taped message to Muslims around the world, he said Eid Al-Fitr is a time for rejoicing and celebration, as well as a time for reflection and rededication.

"On this occasion, let us rekindle our commitment to the cause of peace among all the peoples of the earth. If we are dedicated in our belief and constant in our labor, we can build a better future -- one of cooperation, understanding and compassion, for ourselves and for our children."

The President says the ideals that lie at the heart of Ramadan -- the values of family, community, and responsibility for the less fortunate - -- are universal ones. The celebration marking the Muslim holiday, the first such event hosted by the White House.

Among those attending the event was Victor Begg, president of the Muslim-American Alliance in Michigan, and member of the American Muslim Council of Washington.

"There is a lot of negative information out there, there is a lot of untruths, lies about Muslims out there. That hurts us more than just pure ignorance," he said.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opinions expressed/published on BosNews/BosNet-B do NOT necessarily always reflect the views of (all of the members of) Editorial Board, and/or moderators, nor any of their host institutions.

Murat Erkocevic <[email protected]>

Dzevat Omeragic <[email protected]>

Davor Wagner <[email protected]>

Nermin Zukic <[email protected]>

[06] News: Press TWRA

- IFOR: "WE GO ON WITH OR WITHOUT SERBS"

- ORUCEVIC OFFERED RESIGNATION, IZETBEGOVIC DECLINED IT

- MAP OF THE MOSTAR DISTRICT

- ANOTHER MASS GRAVE NEAR SANSKI MOST

- TUDJMAN REFUSED TO CONFIRM THE ELECTION OF JOZO RADOS

- COMBINED POLICE PATROL POSTPONED

- NATO/IFOR ON APPREHENSION OF THE WAR CRIMINALS

IFOR: "WE GO ON WITH OR WITHOUT SERBS" Sarajevo, Feb 2O, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Karadzic's gen. Zdravko Tolimir suspected of war crimes by Bosnian media, not among the ICTY indicted yet, did not come yesterday to the US carrier "George Washington" though he had confirmed his arrival some hours before the talks between gen. Delic and Budimir adm.=20 Leighton Smith on the carrier in the Adriatic. IFOR spokesman comments: "Republic of Srpska opposed to the Dayton accord and agreement in Rome and its leaders are trying to prevent people to B-H from enjoying the benefits of peace. Regardless of their conduct, NATO would continue with the Peace agreement implementation to B-H, with or without Serbs." /end/ A.S.

ORUCEVIC OFFERED RESIGNATION, IZETBEGOVIC DECLINED IT Mostar, Sarajevo, Feb 2O, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Mostar mayor Safet Orucevic offered his resignation to B-H president A. Izetbegovic. Orucevic reminds his resignation is not reaction to the Rome's decision but his personal view stressing if all to date accords are observed, Mostar will certainly be unified town, organized on European principles granting its residents a better future. President Izetbegovic rejected Orucevic's resignation. /end/ A.S.

MAP OF THE MOSTAR DISTRICT Split, Feb 2O, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Croatian daily "Slobodna Dalmacija whose publisher and editorial staff are close to the authorities of the so-called Herzeg Bosnia released today a map of the Mostar district. According to it, the district included Boulevard as a separation line, west of the Boulevard from north to south, unfinished gymnasium, the old hospital, the glass Bank and the First High School. East of the Boulevard the district includes the railway and bus station, on the eastern bank of the Neretva river Carinski and Tito's bridge, the Spanish Square and the Retired peoples' home ("Hotel Ero") on the east bank of the Neretva river. "Slobodna Dalmacija" writes that in a part of such district, Croat-controlled now, about 1OO to 15O people lived there. Croat politicians to Mostar Brajkovic and Puljic say the total population of the district is 2,OOO people. /end/ A.S.

ANOTHER MASS GRAVE NEAR SANSKI MOST Sanski Most, Feb 2O, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Members of the engineering IFOR unit found a grave with a number of civilian corpses under the bridge across the river Sana, the settlement of Vrhpolje, county of Sanski Most where 11 mass graves have been discovered so far. Civilians in Vrhpolje were killed late in May and early in June 1992. Investigative judge from Sanski Most, Adil Droganovic demanded from IFOR to stop all works on building a new bridge in Vrhpolje till ICTY's investigation and exhumation and Higher Public Prosecutors work is not done. /end/ A.S.

TUDJMAN REFUSED TO CONFIRM THE ELECTION OF JOZO RADOS Zagreb, Feb 2O, 1996 (Press TWRA) - Office of Croatia's president issued two-day-late announcement that president Tudjman refused=20 to confirm Jozo Rados as the Zagreb mayor and the Zagreb County's head. Of three deputy heads of Zagreb's County, Tudjman confirmed Bozidar Pankretic (Croatian Peasant Party, HSS, son of now most popular HSS member, Josip Pankretic), and Igor Dekanic (Croatian People's party, HNS) but refused to confirm Eduard Kunjko (member of Croatian Independent Democrat, HND, the party of dissidents and the former leading members of the ruling party HDZ).

Before Rados (vice-chairman of HSLS), Tudjman refused to confirm another HSLS member as the Zagreb Mayor, Goran Granic. Tudjman's Office refers to refusal of Rados as "ensuring regular functions of executive authorities of town and County of Zagreb.=20

Tudjman's refusal of the authorities take-over in Zagreb was the matter discussed last week between K. Kinkel with Croatian opposition when German vice-chancellor told that Tudjman had a "ridiculous" (as the chairman of HNS Cacic claims), i.e. "odd" (as other Croat opposition leaders claim) understanding of democracy. It is also the matter of correspondence between the seven vice-chairmen of the opposition coalition and Tudjman. After Tudjman's response to their letter, seven opposition leaders sent him another letter describing his reply as worrying for many reasons. Opposition rejects with indignation accusations of its doing all to win foreign circles over their main goal - to discredit, destabilize and replace democratically elected government. "You have the right not to confirm legally elected Zagreb mayor but have no right to accuse without arguments those who support democracy but do not agree with you in all respects. Do you think that foreign circles need our winning over them to find out what is going on?" is the message of opposition leaders to Croatian president. /end/ A.S. =20

COMBINED POLICE PATROL POSTPONED Mostar, Feb 2O, 1996 (Press TWRA) - When the joint Croat-BH-EU patrolling in Mostar was about to start, the WEU police spokesman announced postponement of the combined police patrols in Mostar. General freedom of movement is introduced for all Mostar residents and in the first half an hour about 3OO people passed from one to another part of the town. /end/ A.S.

NATO/IFOR ON APPREHENSION OF THE WAR CRIMINALS Sarajevo, Brussels, Feb 2O, 1996 (Press TWRA) - IFOR troops on the ground were delivered wanted circulars with so far collected photos of the 17 indicted of war crimes in ex-Yugoslavia and were authorized to apprehend them and hand over to ICTY if meet and recognize them. NATO secr. gen. Solana said most of the indicted of crimes against humanity should be arrested by the IFOR mandate expiry, late this year. /end/ A.S.=A0## CrossPoint v3.02 ##

Opinions expressed/published on BosNews/BosNet-B do NOT necessarily=20 always reflect the views of (all of the members of) Editorial Board,=20 and/or moderators, nor any of their host institutions.

Murat Erkocevic <[email protected]>

Dzevat Omeragic <[email protected]>

Davor Wagner <[email protected]>

Nermin Zukic <[email protected]>

[07] Izetbegovic In Hospital

Feb 22, 1996 SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic is in a hospital in Sarajevo after suffering heart trouble. The Government is considering whether an acting President should be named while Mr. Izetbegovic undergoes medical treatment. The 70-year-old Bosnian President was taken to the Kosevo hospital in Sarajevo Thursday.

A special medical team was formed to treat Mr. Izetbegovic and, according to the Government, to supervise his recovery. A member of the President's Democratic Action Party says Mr. Izetbegovic is in stable condition.

[08] Bosnian Serbs Resuming Contacts With NATO

Feb 22, 1996 SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Bosnian Serbs say they are resuming contacts with the NATO-led international peace force and with the Muslim- Croat Federation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Joint talks on implementing civil aspects of the Bosnian peace agreement have been scheduled for next week. There is no firm date yet for the resumption of joint military commission meetings.

NATO said late Wednesday that the Serbs were generally complying with the Bosnian peace agreement. That statement of compliance was expected to encourage the UN Security Council to lift international sanctions against the Serbs.

But, NATO is now having second thoughts because it is not sure the Serbs are really ready to resume high-level military talks. General William Carter of NATO said that US Admiral Leighton Smith, NATO's commander in Bosnia, "has gone forward in his assessment, asking that the sanctions not be suspended for the next 48 hours to allow both the Admiral and Lieutenant General Walker (NATO's ground force commander in Bosnia) time to assess whether or not we will have full compliance from the Bosnian Serbs as a result of the ongoing session of the General Assembly in Pale."

[09] Perry -- Bosnia

Feb 22, 1996 PENTAGON, United States

In Washington, Defense Secretary William Perry and NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana conferred on Bosnia. The Defense Chief said he hopes to see a reversal of the exodus of Serbs from areas of Sarajevo that are coming under Bosnian Governmnent control. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

"We would hope that more of Serbs will stay and indeed some of them apparently plan to stay. Because our hope is that over the months ahead Sarajevo will return once again to a multi-ethnic city living in peace."

Both Mr. Perry and the NATO chief, Mr. Solana, said the announcement from Pale that the Bosnian Serbs will restore contacts with NATO and the Bosnian Federation is a positive sign. But the Defense Secretary said NATO will wait a few days to see if the contacts actually materialize before recommending the lifting of UN sanctions against the Serbs.

[10] War Crimes Tribunal To Indict First Bosnian Muslims

Feb 21, 1996 PARIS, France

The War Crimes Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia will indict its first Bosnian Muslim suspects next month, the president of the U.N. court said Wednesday. Antonio Cassese told reporters that Muslim suspects would be indicted in a few weeks, but he did not say how many suspects would be charged and did not provide details about the atrocities.

From the start, the tribunal had said it also would examine allegations against Muslims. But its focus has been on alleged atrocities committed by the Serbs, and no Muslims have yet been indicted. Wednesday's announcement that Muslims definitely would be indicted was seen as an attempt to reassure the Bosnian Serbs that the tribunal won't overlook Muslim atrocities.

[11] Bosnia's Genocide Claim Against Serbia To Reopen

Feb 20, 1996 THE HAGUE, Netherlands

The International Court of Justice said on Tuesday it would reopen hearings on April 29 in Bosnia's three- year-old genocide case against Serbia. The U.N. court concluded a first phase of emergency hearings in the case in September, 1993, by ordering both sides to do everything in their power to prevent acts of genocide.

Bosnia's suit accused Serbia and Montenegro - the remnant of the old Yugoslav federal republic - of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention by arming and supporting rebel military and paramilitary groups in Bosnia. The case predated the establishment in May, 1993, of the U.N. tribunal for former Yugoslavia which has jurisdiction over individuals responsible for genocide and war crimes.

The court - the main judicial body of the United Nations - settles disputes between states in accordance with international law. Serbia contests the court's jurisdiction over the case and the April hearings will be confined to this issue as the court's jurisdiction must be established before it can consider the substance of a dispute.

Opinions expressed/published on BosNews/BosNet-B do NOT necessarily

always reflect the views of (all of the members of) Editorial Board,

and/or moderators, nor any of their host institutions.

Murat Erkocevic <[email protected]>

Dzevat Omeragic <[email protected]>

Davor Wagner <[email protected]>

Nermin Zukic <[email protected]>

[12] Symposium at Wellesley (Mass.) College, March 3-9

"CONFLICT AND CRISIS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA" A symposium to be held at Wellesley College (Mass.) March 3 - 9, 1996.

PROGRAM OF EVENTS

Monday, March 4

JOURNALIST'S PANEL (4:45, Science Center 277)

-Anthony Lewis, New York Times columnist

-Randolph Ryan, Boston Globe reporter

-Roy Gutman, Newsday reporter

-Moderator: Thomas Cushman, Wellesley College

Tuesday, March 5

PANEL ON GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING (4:45, Science Center 277)

-Stjepan Mestrovic, Profesor, Texas A&M University

-Philip Cohen, author and activist

-Srdja Propovic, human-rights lawyer

-Moderator: Thomas Cushman, Wellesley College

Wednesday, March 6

PANEL ON NATIONALISM (4:45, Science Center 277)

-Liah Greenfeld, Professor, Boston University

-Philip Kohl, Professor, Wellesley College

-Dzemal Sokolovic, Professor, University of Sarajevo

-Moderator: Thoman Cushman, Wellesley College

Thursday, March 7

FILM SHOWING AND DISCUSSION by German documentary filmmaker,

Sibylle Bassler (4:45, Science Center 277)

Title: RAPE AS A MEANS OF WARFARE

Friday, March 8

PANEL ON ACTIVISM (4:45, Science Center 277)

-Steven Walker, head of American Committee to save Bosnia

-Sheri Fink, head of Students Against Genocide

-Larry Rosenwald, Professor, Wellesley College

-Moderator: Thomas Cushman, Wellesley College

There will also be evening events and film shown on the following dates and times:

Tuesday, March 5

TALK BY DAVID RIEFF, Author of "Slaughterhouse: Bosnia and the Failure of the West" (7:30, Science Center 277)

Title: BOSNIA AFTER DAYTON: ARE PEACE AND JUSTICE RECONCILABLE?

Wednesday, March 6

TALK BY BRIAN HALL, journalist and author of "The Impossible Country" (7:30 Science Center 277).

Title: THE SERBS: IS TO UNDERSTAND TO FORGIVE?

THURSDAY, MARCH 7

TALK BY IVO BANAC, Professor, Yale University, (7:30, Science Center 277). Title: T.B.A.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3

Film "BOSNA!" (5:30 & 8 pm) at Collins Cinema Also shown on MONDAY, MARCH 4 AT 7 PM.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

Film "BEFORE THE RAIN" (7 pm) at Collins Cinema Also shown SATURDAY, MARCH 9 AT 4 PM AND 7 PM.

In addition, throughout the week of the symposium there will be a photo exhibit by Edward Serotta titled: "Survival in Sarajevo: How a Jewish Community Came to the Aid of Its City." The exhibit will be held at Jewett Arts Center Galleries.

----------------------------

This symposium at Wellesley College is sponsored by the Wilson Lecture Fund with additional support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Department of Sociology, Office of Equal Opportunity and Multicultural Affairs, and the Russian Area Studies Program.

For questions, contact [email protected] or Professor Thomas Cushman, Chair of the Sociology Department at Wellesley College: [email protected]

Opinions expressed/published on BosNews/BosNet-B do NOT necessarily always reflect the views of (all of the members of) Editorial Board, and/or moderators, nor any of their host institutions.

Murat Erkocevic <[email protected]>

Dzevat Omeragic <[email protected]>

Davor Wagner <[email protected]>

Nermin Zukic <[email protected]>