BosNet NEWS / Apr. 22, 1996

From: Nermin Zukic <[email protected]>

Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory

CONTENTS

[01] PARADE OF THE B-H ARMY FIFTH CORPS

In BIha5 today, a parade of the B-H army 5th Corps troops was held in the presence of Alija Izetbegovic. On that occasion Bosnian president said: " Struggle for Bosnia-Herzegovina has not ended. It continues. It will last as long as the whole of B-H is not free and democratic state." (end) A.S.

[02] KARADDIc AGAINST THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IFOR HQ TO BANJA LUKA

R. KaradWi5 is against the planned replacement of the IFOR British division HQ to Banja Luka late this month, released the NATO HQ. The British troops spokesman col. David Shaw said: "We do not care for KaradWi5' s opinion, we will go wherever we want to." (end) A.S.

[03] SILAJDZIC ON THE DIVISION OF BH

Former BH Prime Minister, Haris Silajdzic, paid visit to London where he held a press- conference and spoke about the attitude of his Party for BH towards the actual and possible future perspectives in Bosnia :" Differently to the internal, BH does not possess, de facto, external borders. The Dayton accord is not being implemented in a right sense. If the international community does not protect BH borders, a new war could become possible. For that reason, I requested U.K. State Secretary for the Commonwealth and foreign affairs, Malcolm Rifkind, that British government incites a diplomatic campaign in order to found basic principles needed for the protection of BH integrity. Sir Rifkind confirmed that, regardless of their recognition of FRY, respecting of human rights and the Dayton accord implementation remain as conditions for Belgrade access to the international finance institutions. BH must remain an undivided country within its internationally recognized borders, which have been recognized once again in Dayton. Croatian and Bosnia should mutually respect their sovereignty and integrity. It is not the case for the moment, for BH areas under HVO control are actually and "extended" Croatia. This could be seen through monetary policy, uniforms, flags and even to publicity, presenting Croatian President Tudjman. Last but not least is the fact that BH Croats have been appointed to the Croatian Parliament. (end) A.S.

[04] KOSCHNICK CRITICIZES KINKEL, FINANCIAL AFFAIR IN EUAM

Acting EU administrator for Mostar K. Metscher denied at the press conference that European revision court had discovered frauds and criminal deeds in work of EUAM and till recent administrator Koschnick. "Koschnick's work was positively estimated and criticism refers only to administrative mistakes caused by hard working conditions when EUAM started to work and is not connected personally with Koschnick," says Metscher. He added: "I regret the information of the EU revision leaking in the public. I am not surprised the information on mistakes at the begining of our mandate are released only 20 months after the EUAM mandate expiry. It is impossible to state the exact amount of the money in cash circulating at that time."

In the statement for the journalists at the Frankfurt airport and in the interview for Austrian "Die Presse" H. Koschnick said his work and efforts in EUAM lacked support of EU, primarily of his country Germany, Rome and otherwise. Koschnick claims that Bonn, particularly Kinkel inclines and supports Tudjman and Croats to Mostar due to establishment of many, particularly military cooperation with Croatia. Bonn and Zagreb are just discussing details on the arms forces cooperations, says Koschnick. (end) A.S.

[05] CASSADO - PRLIc

The new EU Administrator for Mostar R.P. Cassado met today with BH Republic Foreign Minister J. Prli5, reported our correspondent. On the meeting schedule were process of uniting of Mostar, present situation in the city and the new administrator's plans for the future work. "I wanted to come on the new Administrator's first working day in order to express the support of B-H central Government. The Government emphasizes the importance of Mostar project which is one of the basic pillars of Federation. We also talked about elections, tasks and deadlines, because only successfully implemented elections can bring us to establishing the constitutional order in BH", stated Minister Prli5 after the meeting. (end) S.K.

[06] CIVILIAN AUTHORITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTURBANCES

"IFOR fully understands and supports the refugee efforts to return to their homes, but we condemn cynical political manipulations with refugees which cause the riots like yesterdays civilian disturbances in Doboj, stated the IFOR spokesman in Sarajevo Simon Haselock. According to international police forces' report the yesterday's conflict in Doboj started when Serbian police on illegal check point stopped 2OO Bosniaks and demanded their identification cards and then started to searched them. "The responsibility for the return of refugees is on civilian authorities. The governments of both entities must prevent such happen again and secure the full freedom of movement on which the return of refugees depends", stated Haselock. (end) S.K.

[07] KARApIc AND MLADIc MUST BE ARRESTED

According to Interfax, Russia expressed the concern for the consequences which the arrest of Bosnian Serbs leaders could provoke. "Kara-i5 and Mladi5's arrest could provoke explosion among Bosnian Serbs and seriously threaten the peace process", stated anonymous Russian diplomat, but also added that "Kara-i5 and Mladi5 must be arrested and extradited to International Tribunal in The Hague disregarding the country they are arrested in". "Russia has no intention to offer them political asylum," emphasized this Russian diplomat.

The Hague - "They (Kara-i5 and Mladi5) now move only surrounded with at least sixty heavy armed body guards. When they are in public the additional members of security forces are usually hidden in the vicinity. But one day we will arrest them and then they will face the justice", stated the President of International Tribunal for war crimes A. Cassese. (end) S.K.

[08] 2% FOR WAR CRIMINALS DEFENSE

Presidential Council of so called "Herceg-Bosnia" issued a press release which says that "all employed on the territory of Herceg-Bosnia will extract 2% of April's payments for the defense of HVO officers accused by the International Tribunal for War Crimes in the Hague" and that the issues concerning "legal, moral and financial care will be officially arranged for them". "They are officers of regular army which defended its people and their destiny and qualifications of their work can not only be their personal problem", says the press release. (end) S.K.

[09] ARRESTMENT OF KARADZIC IMPOSSIBLE SO FARv

Each effort to arrest Bosnian SerbsF leader, Radovan Karadzic, would inevitably lead to bloodshed and for this reason each action leading to this aim is impossiblev, said Antonio Cassese, President of the International Tribunal for war crimes, adding that the same is with General Mladic. (end) S.K.

[10] IFOR CONFISCATED 57 SERBIAN MISSILE-LAUNCHERS

NATO soldiers confiscated 57 anti-aircraft missile-launchers from Serbs in B-H. The launchers were found at unauthorized place, near Doboj, during a routine heavy-weapons-control, IFOR spokesman said. The weapons will be destroyed, as the Serbs, being warned to move the arms to the location defined by IFOR, refused to comply with the demand. (end) A.S.

[11] SERBIA RELEASED NINE BOSNIAKS

FR Yugoslavia's authorities decided to release nine of 13 Bosniaks, planned to be freed last week, UNHCR spokesman said. He added the Belgrade government informed UNHCR that four Bosniaks would remain in prison, as they are under the investigation, as witnesses or accused for the war crimes. The group of 13 Bosniaks was expected to be freed along with more than 200 Bosniaks from Depa and Srebrenica, who spent six months in Serbia's concentration-camps. UNHCR warned Belgrade on consequences of their keeping jailed. (end) A.S.

[12] MAHATIR VISITED CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

Malaysia's state delegation, led by prime minister Mahatir Muhammad, arrived to Bosnia, and was received by A. Izetbegovi5 in presidential residence "Konak". The guests from Malaysia talked with representatives of the Bosnian economy and politics. Before that, Malaysia was with Croatia co-sponsor of this year's Zagreb spring fair. Croatia's public was presented Malaysian culture and culinary art. B-H, Croatia and Malaysia, agreed on bilateral & trilateral cooperation. (end) A.S.

[13] ALBANIANS AND EUROPARLIAMENT OPPOSED TO RECOGNITION OF FRY

Seven Albanian political parties - Albanian Christian Democrat Party, Socialdemocrat Party, Democratic National Party, UNIKOMB, Parliamentarian Party, Albanian People Party and Liberal Party, sent letter to chairwoman of the EU Ministers Council, Susana Agnelli, expressing deep concern and sorrow due to too early recognition of FRY by the EU member-states. Such recognition might provoke unpredictable situation, because it took place before solving the Kosovo issue. The parties say the Belgrade regime is awarded for alleged current cooperation, instead of being punished as aggressor and guilty for whole disaster in the former Yugoslavia. They ask the UN General Assembly not to accept FRY to its membership, i.e. to prevent marginalisation of the Kosovo problem. The similar letter will be sent to OSCE and representatives of 15 Embassies of the EU members. Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the most influential Albanian party in Kosovo, did not sign the letter, claiming it was too severe.

Strasbourg - the European Parliament described the EU member- states decision to recognize FRY as "too early". Establishment of diplomatic affairs between EU & Belgrade should wait the negotiations between Serb authorities & Albanian Kosovo representatives. Also was demanded of Brussels to initiate the international conference on Kosovo.

The European parliament expressed sorrow due to the fact that free movement was not yet established in the former Yugoslavia, people continued to be illegally jailed, while the war crimes suspects, such as R. KaradWi5 & R. Mladi5, keep their positions. (end) A.S.

[14] PORTILLO AND L. SMITH SATISFIED WITH THE SITUATION IN BH

British Secretary of defense, Michael Portillo stated during his visit to Sarajevo: "All information collected make us believe that all three sides are ready to fulfill their obligations concerning a withdrawal of soldiers to barracks and replacement of heavy weapons, in accordance with the peace accord dead-line (D + 120). However, few more days will be needed for the full estimation of the situation on the ground and a degree of the Dayton accord implementation, according to which all units exceeding in number (and, thus, prevented to be situated in barracks), should be demobilized.

Next important issue in BH are forthcoming elections, in which the role of NATO is of the extreme importance, for they will ensure required conditions". Portillo had talks with British General, Sir Michael Walker, Commander of IFOR ground forces. Afterwards, Portillo flied to Banja Luka, accompanied by Gen. Michael Jackson, IFOR Commander for Sector South-West, which has been the first civil flight to Banja Luka in last four years. IFOR Commander, American Admiral, Leighton Smith said: " I can not say the withdrawal, in accordance with D +120 decree, has been completed. What I can see is a clear intention for respecting of that decree but for its full implementation the time still be needed. We are very satisfied with what we can see at the moment". (end) A.S.

[15] FOUR COUNTRIES STILL AGREE ON SUCCESSION

On the meeting held between Macedonian, Croatian, Slovenian and BH group for the succession of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, held in Skopje, representatives of all four Governments repeated their common view point according to which all four countries should be, together with FRY, equal successors to former Yugoslavia, in all aspects of its legal and economic succession. They point out this is in accordance with the decision of the EU Arbitrary Commission (Badinter Commission) and corresponding UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions. Skopje, Ljubljana and Sarajevo have already exchanged mutual recognition with Belgrade and Zagreb has also improved its relations. However, all four countries hold consensus, opposite to Milosevic regime, who requests an exclusive right for his country to be a sole successor to ex-Yugoslavia. (end) A.S.

[16] ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS IN NOVI SAD

Nearly 10,000 people in Novi Sad yesterday took part in demonstrations against the Belgrade regime. Demonstrations started with incident - dozens of Milosevic' s Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) supporters tried to block the passage to demonstrators, police intervened separating the two sides when the SPS supporters dispersed. The protest continued without incidents in the presence of strong police forces regarded as the main support of Serbian regime, which did not intervene during the opposition protest. It has been the fourth protest organized in Serbia in the past two months by three main opposition parties ranging from nationalists to pacifists. Chairman of Serb Movement of Revival (SPO), Vuk Draskovic regarded as the main organizer of the demonstrations, addressed the meeting. "Situation in Serbia has never been worse," said Draskovic announcing the change of power at the December parliamentary elections. (end) A.S.

[17] THE "HARE KRISHNA" MEMBERS BEATEN UP IN SARAJEVO

Four members of the "Hare Krishna", movement two Britons, one Australian and Bosnian, were beaten up in Sarajevo in a 20-minute-fighting involving about 100 persons, writes the Sarajevo daily "Ve^ernje Novine". The injured Krishna followers were taken to the Ko\evo hospital. They arrived at Sarajevo to take part at this year's "Festival of India". The London theatre "Hare Krishna" arrived at Sarajevo for the same reason. (end) A.S.

[18] EASING THE TENSION IN WESTERN BOSNIA

IFOR informed on the stabilizing situation in western Bosnia where a conflict between two groups of demonstrators nearly broke out. About 400 Serbs gathered near Bosanska Otoka to start demonstrating. It was followed by a counter-demonstrations of some hundreds of Bosniaks trying to cross the bridge and clash with Serbs, the IFOR spokesman col. Max Marriner describes the incident. Neither Serbs nor Bosniaks who protested, put forward special demands, FOR states. When a danger of "meeting" of Bosniaks and Serbs arose, commander of the IFOR Czech unit ordered his soldiers to shoot in the air, above the heads of people on both river sides who dispersed. Later, during the night, about 1,000 Serbs arrived at the area demonstrating and the IFOR troops blocked the bridge. Serbs dispersed later. As it was a dangerous incident occurring at a critical area, the IFOR commander L. Smith estimated acting of the Czech troops as correct. A meeting was called at which IFOR and the International police would talk with the local authorities to try to avoid such incidents happen again. (end) A.S.

[19] REFERENDUM ON ELECTRIC POWER PLANT IN ISTRIA CANCELED

The County of Istria and its majority party IDS (Istrian Democratic Assembly) postponed the referendum in that Croatian region that should be held today for Istrians to decide on building electric power plant Plomin 2, which Croatian government plans to build but Istrians oppose. The decision on postponement was brought as Croatian government banned the referendum three days ago. IDS says they want to avoid the incidents. Minister of education Ljilja Vokic threatened the school headmasters with dismissal if they enable voting in school buildings and police was ready to exert pressure on 1554 members of voting board. IDS states that the government has duty to start the procedure on referendum before the Constitutional Court within 30 days. (end) A.S.

[20] SERBS ATTACKED BOSNIAK AND CROAT CIVILIANS

A large group of Bosniaks and Croats expelled from Doboj four years ago, tried today to visit their homes in that town. Serbs met and stoned them. Several persons were injured. NATO soldiers who escorted the refugees intervened and stopped the Serb attackers. The situation calmed down and Bosniak and Croat returned to their refuge homes to which they came in 1992. (end) A.S.

[21] LONDON CONSIDERS SUSPENSION OF FLIGHTS FOR DUBROVNIK

Croatian Foreign Ministry released that Vice-prime minister and foreign minister Mate Granic sent a note of protest to the British ambassador to Croatia, Gavin Hewitt as soon as he learnt on the decision of British ministry of transport of Apr 16, recommending the airlines to avoid Split and Dubrovnik. Croatian ambassador to London Ante +i^in hain also took the corresponding steps. London promised to reconsider its decision.

Commenting the British decision, the Zagreb daily "Vjesnik" wrote: "British plane carrying the prince Charles landed at the Dubrovnik airport early in February. Nobody mentioned the alleged insecurity of the Dubrovnik airport. It is interesting that the same ministry did not inform its own and the world airlines on insecurity of the Heathrow airport in London after insane IRA attack on that airport, even at the moment when recently IRA terminated the cease-fire launching terrorist attacks and increased the chances of another attacks on Heathrow."

The London decision is related to recent crash of the US government plane near Dubrovnik. Croatian weekly "Panorama" questioned the claim that Niko Jerkic, head of the technical maintenance of the Dubrovnik airport, committed suicide. The paper alleges various indications showing Jerkic was killed stating the data on the time of the US plane crash recorded by the flight control had been erased from the tape. It implies that Americans, from unknown reason, "assisted" in the plane crash and Jerkic's "suicide". The Belgrade weekly "Telegraf" claims the USA deliberately caused the accident. Prior to those speculations, some Croatian media claimed that Yugoslav military, which late in 1991 occupied the Dubrovnik airport took most of the needed technical equipment only a part of which was provided later so the airport is not secure enough for landing.

British defence secretary M. Portillo who talked with his Bosnian counterpart Vlado holjic described the situation on Croatian Adriatic coast as secure saying he would inform London on it and recommend the tourists to spend their holidays there. (end) A.S.

[22] GEN. pUKIC SERIOUSLY ILL AND SHORTLY FREE ?

The ICTY main prosecutor R. Goldstone proposed temporary withdrawal of the indictment against Serb gen. por-e pukic,61 whose health condition is progressively deteriorating. Unofficial information is that pukic suffers from pancreas cancer. During the visit to France, Goldstone said it would not be humane and fair to keep pukic improsoned in such conitions. He reminded that the ICTY regulations does not permit that. The Council of three judges is expected to consider tomorrow pukic's release.

pukic's Belgrade lawyer Toma Fila denies that his defendant is seriously ill but says the ICTY releases him due to the lack of evidence on his grave breaches of the international war & humanitary law which he was accused of. pukic is believed to be badly ill, likely to die soon. If his health condition is improved, ICTY holds the right to indict him again. (end) A.S.

[23] DISPUTE: AVRAMOVIC - FRY GOVERNMENT

Governor of the National Bank of Yugoslavia, Dragoslav Avramovic, praised by the Belgrade regime media in the past few years as the creator of "Serb economy miracle" (artificial curbing of inflation during the international sanctions ) is in conflict with the FR Yugoslav government on the issue of cooperation of Belgrade with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), i.e., recognition of FR Yugoslavia as the only successor of the late SFR of Yugoslavia, which the Belgarde authorities set as a precondition for joining IMF. Avramovic left the FRY government ssession before its end, telling the journalists: "The aim of the ssession was further negotiations with IMF in Paris, but they all insisted on the question why the government's negotiation platform was not accepted. They wanted to kill me as I talked there with the media representatives and wanted to know who in Paris slept with whom and had breakfast with. A close Milosevic's associate visited me recently so we agreed that we should forget all behind and look into the future. But what I experienced in federal government is a horror. I am disappointed. This state cannot be helped." On finishing the ssession, FRY government issued a short announcement condemning Avramovic of publicly releasing the confidential data of the Paris talks estimated as inflicting a great harm to the negotiating position of Yugoslavia." (end) A.S.

[24] VESELIN hLJIVAN+ANIN ON VUKOVAR

FR Yugoslav army col. Veselin hljivan^anin, Montenegrian, indicted by ICTY of war crimes commited in Vukovar late in 1991, lives and works in FR Yugoslavia whose authorities refuse to extradite him, comments in the media the indictment for death of 261 captured persons including many wounded. In the statements for the "Intervju" and "Vranjske novine" he gave his version of the events, in the way estimated by Croat media and anti-war movement in Serbia as extermely cynical. hljivan^anin says:

"We helped and did more for Croats than our people. The crimes were committed among the residents alone, as it is not the same if a neighbour destroys his neighbour's house, kills or slaughters. (...) I recognizes only the judgement of my people, not any other. If my people and my men who were there where I was, my superiors have the least doubt that I acted in such a bloodthirsty way, that we slaughtered, killed, shot, did something out of the regulations and law, then I am ready to be crucified in the centre of Belgrade. But, it is not the Hague that will try me. (...) When we took Mitnica, the ustasha's commander Damir Karaula was released and lives today in Croatia and if he is brave, he will confirm this - he said he wanted to surrender and he would list his soldiers that we asked for. We driove them from Vukovar to that Ov^ara. We did not have enough vehicles to drive them all together. We first wanted to evacuate women, children and old people to avoid the revenge of those who lost their fathers, grandfathers... So we came several times to take the captured that we detained at Ovcara. According to that list, there were 182, 182 of them, I do not know exactly. Everybody was perfectly safe: they all were taken to the prison in Sremska Mitrovica (...) Wherever the members of YPA and the volunteers and territorial defence units under our command, arrived - they acted as soldiers, with dignity and honour... As for children, women, old people and exhausted...if somebody finds any name that the soldiers, terriitorials and others disfigured, killed, expelled and that we did not enable everyone to go wherever they wanted to, I immediately agree to be hanged at Terazije."

"The Sunday Times" released the account of the Vukovar events written by John Swain early in the second half of November of 1991, when "Yugoslav army" and various para-military groups after 3-month-siege, entered the town singing "Slobo, send us some lettuce, there will be meat, we shall slaughter Croats." Swain used the diary of one of the Vukovar "liberators" whose identity was not revealed, but is known to ICTY. It speaks about the roles of some Serb-Montenegrian officers, among them Stanko Vujanovic and other three indicted by ICTY and sent out the international arrest warrant - hljivan^anin. Mile Mrk\i5 and Miroslav Radi5. Stanko Vujanovi5 commander the Vukovar "territorial defence unit" who after siezing it, complained he was missing the people to shoot Croats", so he had to engage "drunk volunteers who talk too much so that everybody will learn about that." hljivan^anin is responsible for a sadist massacre about 300 patients from the Vukovar hospital. He alone took part in their execution, "to try out my new gun." He holds lecturesat the Belgrade Military academy as a respectable officer coming to work every day from his big state-provided flat. Prior to that he spent two years in Montenegro where like in Serbia, greater Serbian extremists proposed hiom for a national hero. Recently his alcohol-caused illness progressed a lot. M. Mrk\ic for a " well done job" in Vukovar was promoted to the rank of general and last year year Milo\evic appointed him the commander of "Serb Krajina military". M. Radic who lives now in central Srbia (Kragujevac), boasted of thoroughness in "cleansing of Vukovar" where he was a commander of special units (subordinated to hljivan^anin). From the destroyed Croat houses in Vukovar, he looted a great number of paintings as he collects the picture frames .

In the Serb soldier's diary of Nov 21, 1991 writes: "While we were drinking this morning, a bearded gunman told me : 'We were killing them from seven last night to one after midnight. You should have heard them begging, crying, swearing they did not shoot at us." (end ) A.S.

[25] LIBERATION OF 11 SERB PRISONERS

11 Serb prisoners have been set on freedom in Sarajevo yesterday, among whom Col. Aleksa Krsmanovic, charged by BH authorities for war-crimes. He was assistant to general Djukic. They both were arrested on January 30 in Sarajevo and then extradited to the Hague Court. As the International Tribunal estimated the charges against Krsmanovic as insufficient he was sent back to Sarajevo while Gen. Djukic was retained in the Hague. After the liberation, all former prisoners, accompanied by M.Steiner, were driven to Pale. Serbian side has liberated two war- prisoners: Ibran Mustafic and Ivan Stjepanovic. (end) S.K.

[26] BABIC DISMISSED

Belgrade tPolitika expressv reported so-called Assembly of the tRepublic of Srpska Krajinav formally dismissed its tPrime Ministerv Milan Babic. This resolution was explained by the fact that Babic did not tdismiss Martic and Gen. Celeketicv. tInstead of having political and economical negotiations with Croatia, he requested unifying with the Republic of Srpska and two days before tOlujav (tStormv) action, he came to Belgrade and placed himself above the interest of the people in Krajinav, was the text of the explanation. He was also criticized for founding tso-called Serb national committee in Belgrade, offering to Serbs an unreal option of collective return, according to plan Z-4.v (end) S.K.

[27] SACRIFICIAL WETHER ARRIVED TO THE HARBOR OF PLOCE

10.400 sheep needed for Rijaset (Supreme Body) of the Islamic Community in BH arrived by ship tAl Faresv to the harbor of Ploce yesterday. tThe sheep will be divided to Muslim families in BH before the Greater Bairamv, E.Perenda, representative of Islamic community said. Resources needed for this import were provided by Arabic countries. Rumors that appeared in Ploce, claiming these sheep were imported in order to activate the mine-fields in BH are completely unfounded. The animals will be transported to Tuzla, Zenica, Bihac, Sarajevo, Travnik and Mostar. (end) M.S.