SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 3,2007) – The International Community's High Representative in Bosnia,Miroslav Lajcak, called on Bosnia's leaders yesterday to put in additional efforts in order to reach a police reform agreement as soon possible. That agreement should be in accordance with the European demands and should have the necessary political support,Lajcak said.
Lajcak stated that the deadline for police reform agreement passed and added that he has already agreed with the European Commissioner for Expansion Olli Rehn to expand the deadline and wait a couple of more days.Lajcak welcomed the efforts made and warned that the politicians should not give up half of the way.
“We know that Montenegro will sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement in the next few days and it looks like Serbia could initial its SAA in mid-October.There is still a chance for Bosnia not to be left behind,” Lajcak said in a press conference.
At the same time, he stated that there has not been any political agreement achieved on the police reform in accordance with the three EU principles.
Referring to the protocol signed by Haris Silajdzic,a member of the Bosnian Presidency, and Milorad Dodik, leader of the Serbians living in Bosnia, Lajcak welcomed the latest development: “What I am seeing is a new level of engagement by political leaders and this is certainly positive and encouraging,” he said.
Lajcak thanked all the participants who have been involved constructively in finding a solution, primarily the HDZ BiH and HDZ 1990 parties and the SDA party leader Sulejman Tihic.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
LAJCAK VISITED CROATIA
ZAGREB, Croatia (October 3,2007) – Croatia will fully support all the politicians in Bosnia in their efforts to come closer to the EU membership. This was stated by the Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, after a meeting with the International Community's High Representative in Bosnia,Miroslav Lajcak.
”We have several reasons to closely monitor the situation in Bosnia. The first reason is that we are neighbors and that Croats are a sovereign, constitutive and equal people in Bosnia. Secondly, Croatia is one of the signatories of the Dayton agreement and we are interested in Bosnia remaining the country of Croats as well”, Sanader said and added that Croatia will oppose every option which would make Croats lose the status of one of the constitutive peoples in Bosnia, for that could lead to emigration of Croats from Bosnia.
Sanader told the press he fully supported the efforts of the High Representative Miroslav Lajcak. “Efforts he makes are very important for the future of Bosnia,” senader said.
Sanader also added that the International Community has made the right move by nominating Miroslav Lajcak to the position of the High Representative to Bosnia.
”Mr. Lajcak is well-acquainted with this part of Europe. He knows the situation, history and all the political contexts”, the Croatian Prime Minister said and added that Croatia has been actively cooperating with the Bosnian state officials , the High Representative and with the Croat political parties in Bosnia.
”Croatian Government supports the Police Reform Protocol proposed by Miroslav Lajcak. We hope that everybody will accept it because it is a precondition for signing the SAA, which is the first step for Bosnia towards the EU membership”, Sanader said.
The International community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak told the press that he had spoken to the Croatian Prime Minister about the ways of making Bosnia a modern European country, which is already on the way to becoming a part of the European Union, as well as about “things Croatia can do as a country with a lot of positive experience and which has significantly progressed in the process”.
The two officials also talked about the need of creating conditions for all the three constitutive peoples in Bosnia to feel comfortable in Bosnia. They placed an emphasis on the position of Croatians living in Bosnia and the ways their position can be improved, for they are the smallest constitutive people in Bosnia, HINA agency reported.
”Croats in Bosnia need to feel good and they need to have a feeling that their voice is being heard. They need to have a feeling that their rights are protected”, the High Representative Lajcak said.
The Croatian Prime Minister Sanader also commented the Kresevo declaration and a possibility of federalization of Bosnia.
”I am of the opinion that the Declaration has some positive elements because it focuses on Bosnia as a multiethnic country. That is exceptionally important because there are many Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks all over Bosnia”, Sanader said and added that the Declaration is important because it focuses on a pro-European Bosnia.
”It is of the outmost importance that we have an authentic platform for negotiations on the future constitution of Bosnia. The platform is necessary because it will enable the country progress towards the EU integration. It is good that the Croat political parties came up with a platform which is legitimate and can be used as a base for further negotiations”, the High Representative Lajcak said.
Commenting the possibility of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "the RS" opening a foreign office in Zagreb, Sanader said: “it is certain that it cannot be and it will not be an embassy. The RS government is not the government of a sovereign country, and it can never become one”.
”It is an initiative we will consider from the international and legal aspect. It is a well-known fact that our municipalities have opened their residencies in Brussels, as well as tourist, trade and other similar residencies. Once we consider all the options, we will state our opinion on the matter”, Sanader said.
The International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak also met with the Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kolinda Grabar – Kitarovic.
”We have several reasons to closely monitor the situation in Bosnia. The first reason is that we are neighbors and that Croats are a sovereign, constitutive and equal people in Bosnia. Secondly, Croatia is one of the signatories of the Dayton agreement and we are interested in Bosnia remaining the country of Croats as well”, Sanader said and added that Croatia will oppose every option which would make Croats lose the status of one of the constitutive peoples in Bosnia, for that could lead to emigration of Croats from Bosnia.
Sanader told the press he fully supported the efforts of the High Representative Miroslav Lajcak. “Efforts he makes are very important for the future of Bosnia,” senader said.
Sanader also added that the International Community has made the right move by nominating Miroslav Lajcak to the position of the High Representative to Bosnia.
”Mr. Lajcak is well-acquainted with this part of Europe. He knows the situation, history and all the political contexts”, the Croatian Prime Minister said and added that Croatia has been actively cooperating with the Bosnian state officials , the High Representative and with the Croat political parties in Bosnia.
”Croatian Government supports the Police Reform Protocol proposed by Miroslav Lajcak. We hope that everybody will accept it because it is a precondition for signing the SAA, which is the first step for Bosnia towards the EU membership”, Sanader said.
The International community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak told the press that he had spoken to the Croatian Prime Minister about the ways of making Bosnia a modern European country, which is already on the way to becoming a part of the European Union, as well as about “things Croatia can do as a country with a lot of positive experience and which has significantly progressed in the process”.
The two officials also talked about the need of creating conditions for all the three constitutive peoples in Bosnia to feel comfortable in Bosnia. They placed an emphasis on the position of Croatians living in Bosnia and the ways their position can be improved, for they are the smallest constitutive people in Bosnia, HINA agency reported.
”Croats in Bosnia need to feel good and they need to have a feeling that their voice is being heard. They need to have a feeling that their rights are protected”, the High Representative Lajcak said.
The Croatian Prime Minister Sanader also commented the Kresevo declaration and a possibility of federalization of Bosnia.
”I am of the opinion that the Declaration has some positive elements because it focuses on Bosnia as a multiethnic country. That is exceptionally important because there are many Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks all over Bosnia”, Sanader said and added that the Declaration is important because it focuses on a pro-European Bosnia.
”It is of the outmost importance that we have an authentic platform for negotiations on the future constitution of Bosnia. The platform is necessary because it will enable the country progress towards the EU integration. It is good that the Croat political parties came up with a platform which is legitimate and can be used as a base for further negotiations”, the High Representative Lajcak said.
Commenting the possibility of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "the RS" opening a foreign office in Zagreb, Sanader said: “it is certain that it cannot be and it will not be an embassy. The RS government is not the government of a sovereign country, and it can never become one”.
”It is an initiative we will consider from the international and legal aspect. It is a well-known fact that our municipalities have opened their residencies in Brussels, as well as tourist, trade and other similar residencies. Once we consider all the options, we will state our opinion on the matter”, Sanader said.
The International Community's High Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajcak also met with the Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kolinda Grabar – Kitarovic.
LAJCAK ADDRESSED FBIH ENTITY PARLIAMENT
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 3,2007) - The International Community's High Representative in Bosnia,Miroslav Lajcak addressed the FBIH Entity Parliament yesterday.Here is his entire speech:
"Mr Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It was reported in the press last week that I was preparing two speeches ahead of my appearance here today – one to be delivered in the event that we secured a last-minute agreement on police reform and one to be delivered if no agreement was reached and if – as an inevitable consequence – Bosnia found itself falling far, far behind its neighbours on the road to European integration.
I only prepared one speech because there is only one possible agenda for Bosnia a – the European agenda, the agenda that is supported by the overwhelming majority of this country’s citizens, the agenda to which, again and again, you have claimed to be committed.
I will not dwell on the fact that a police reform agreement was not reached by the deadline. Yesterday I delivered my message saying that it will depend on the political party leaders whether the situation changes. It is clear to everyone what is at stake and what is required to achieve further progress in the process of European integration.
There is more work to be done before we can say that the issue of police reform is being addressed in line with the expectations of the European Union. But what I am seeing is a new level of engagement by politial leaders and this is certanly positive and encouraging. It has always been up to the politial leaders to find a solution and compromise. That is the European way of conducting politics.
I really want Bosnia to move forward on its European path and to suceed. That is why, when I spoke to EU Enlargement Commissioner Ollie Rehn about recent events, we agreed that, having in mind encouraging developments, the European Commission could wait a few more days. Now we, the European Union and the International Community, expect that Bosnia's leaders will do their best to come to an agreement as soon as possible - an agreement that will meet the EU requirements and will have the necessary political support.
Now is the time to leave behind the negative rhetoric and engage in constructive political dialogue in order to find a solution, which is closer than it seemed only a few days ago. It would be a pity to miss that opportunity!
This is why I wrote one speech, not two – because the European agenda remains the same: the steps that must be taken in order to deliver positive change in Bosnia remain the same.
These days I have spoken about the likely consequences of renouncing this country’s European future. I want to make clear today that these consequences are happening already.
Bosnia is falling behind. Isolation will happen slowly, the country will stagnate; economic growth will slow down, the opportunities to build prosperity will be fewer, which will for sure reflect on the political situation.
The path is the same. The agenda is the same; the reforms that have to be agreed and implemented are the same.
Mr Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Last week I spoke to the RSNA and the first thing I want to stress is that the order of my addresses is not symbolic in any way and no significance should be attributed to it. I have equal respect for the parliamentarians of both chambers.
When I spoke to the RSNA last week, and when I addressed the Bosnian Parliament several days before that, I called for an end to the megaphone polemics that have taken the place of normal politics in this country since spring last year. I pointed up the danger of generating fear through insensitivity, and I stressed that when you clear away the negative perceptions that surround a whole series of key issues you discover that there is actually a large measure of consensus on matters of substance.
The destructive dialogue must stop and it must stop now. It must be replaced by a direct, frank and constructive dialogue. This is the only way that we will be able to accomplish more in the coming year than was accomplished in the last year.
No one, I think, will argue that the political atmosphere which has prevailed since last spring has produced anything positive and constructive. Ratification of CEFTA and the enactment of the Higher Education Law by the State Parliament represent very modest achievements over eighteen months – eighteen months of parliamentary activity, whether in the State Parliament or in this assembly.
I do not believe that anyone in this parliament can argue that you have made progress.
Countries that seriously embraced their European agenda had to adopt and implement thousands of laws every year; they had to subordinate their activities to that process. Their political will was the same regardless of which party or coalition was in power. I know this from personal experience.
In all countries, it was the political elites that had to explain and persuade their citizens to support key reforms necessary for their own good and their European future. This challenge seems to be the opposite in Bosnia: it seems to me that it is the citizens here who have to persuade the politicians that it is integration that leads to overall progress.
Yesterday, upon an invitation of the leaders of Croatia, I paid a working visit to Zagreb. Neighbouring Croatia, which is the nearest to joining the European Union in this region, promised to help with the transfer of experience from the process they have been through. This shows clearly that your neighbours do not want Bosnia to be last on the road to the European Union.
You received a mandate from your electorate to make progress. While the easiest thing to do is to blame someone else, I want you to honestly ask yourselves: what have you personally contributed to make the lives of your citizens better, to generate progress?
Mr Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Last week, in my address to the RSNA representatives, I called them to explain, give arguments, persuade and communicate.
If I think that something I’m about to do might make some of my neighbours nervous than I go and talk to them first and allay their fears. That’s not enlightened statesmanship; it’s just common sense. It’s what millions of citizens do regularly in their daily lives.
Today, I make the same appeal to you.
Some of you may be inclined to protest that you have always done this. Believe me, I am not a stranger to the nuances of the Bosnian politics. I am very well aware that the communities in this country could teach a thing or two to the people of other countries, when it comes to inter-communal dialogue. But I am equally well aware – as is every person in this chamber – that the polemics of the last year have damaged the spirit of Bosnia’s peace settlement, even if politicians have been careful to keep within the letter of Dayton. The result has been a new wave of fear among the people and a hardening of positions among their leaders. If anyone here thinks this is a positive development, perhaps you would be so good as to explain exactly in what way it can be considered positive.
Dayton established and enshrined a sovereign, independent Bosnia and two entities in it, with clear specifications as to how the Constitution can be changed. This agreement has kept the peace for more than a decade and it will continue to keep the peace. The international community remains and will remain one hundred percent committed to this constitutional arrangement until a new one is agreed.
Those who question this agreement – whether calling for the dismantling of the entities on the one hand or the secession of the RS on the other – are wasting time.
If it were simply a matter of time-wasting that would be bad enough. But it what is worse than that – they are generating fear. This is why practically nothing has been achieved for more than a year.
This is why we failed to secure an agreement on police reform. This is why we are not about to initial a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
Let me be absolutely clear: when it comes to wasting time and generating fear, neither side has been blameless – not those who have denigrated the integrity of Bosnia, not those who have questioned the right of the entities to exist.
Well, the period of recklessness and intransigence that has delivered nothing can be brought to an end quickly if we shift the focus of public debate from pipe dreams to practical politics. If we do that, this time next year we may be partners with the European Union, together with the countries in the region.
Mr Speaker, ladies and gentlemen,
Last week in the RSNA, I had some very concrete messages for the RS entity, and today, I am going to mention some issues that are within the competency of the FBIH entity.
When you look at the FBIH entity one would be remiss to not specifically mention one example where many – but unfortunately not all – differences were overcome. It is the unification of the City of Mostar – which can be viewed as a microcosm of the FBIH entity itself.
While Mostar has its problems, it is nonetheless the only city in the FBIH entity where one people are not under domination of another.
The process of unification of the City – which has crept forward, but is still not complete – succeeded in its initial phases due to the direct involvement and commitment of key people.
However, that commitment to unification has on occasion been set aside by the parties who periodically seek to use Mostar and its citizens as tools for their political ambitions.
That war of words, increasing tensions, does nothing to help the people of Mostar.
The result is that rather than resolving their disputes through normal political dialogue, the parties turn to the OHR to decide for them – and then they criticize those decisions. At some point, the party leaders must assume full responsibility for the unification process.
Mostar today is a city on the rise, but despite the monumental efforts of the international community, with the support of the domestic authorities, it remains damaged, both physically and spiritually. I urge you to help the city recover fully, through supporting unification to the end and directing more funding towards its complete reconstruction.
The FBIH entity is still crucial to Mostar’s success, and I believe Mostar’s success is crucial to that of the Federation.
Education is often on the FBIH entity’s agenda and the adopted reforms are welcome, but they have largely remained on paper. Therefore the education sector continues to be an open wound in the Federation, a fact confirmed again at the beginning of this school year in a number of ethnical and religious incidents in a number of schools throughout the FBIH entity.
There has been little progress on the elaboration of new institutional structures and improved quality or equality of provision in fragmented, under-funded and, in more than one aspect, discriminatory educational system in Bosnia.
The underlying problem is that you have not found a way to keep party politics out of education and out of classrooms.
The general trend is not towards post-war reintegration, but towards maintenance of discrimination either through assimilation or division along “ethnic” lines. Although present across Bosnia, this trend is more obvious in the FBIH entity, and especially in those cantons where we still have the embarrassment of “two schools under one roof”. In Čapljina, for example, pupils of one primary school started the new school year with two-week delay due to a purely political dispute.
I am aware that cantons have the main responsibility for education, but the solution for these problems must be found at all levels of government.
The third important reform is certainly the reform of the public broadcasting system.
Allow me to be completely frank here: too much time was wasted on this reform too, solely on account of narrow political interests. The facts are as follows. The current Law on the Public Broadcasting System of Bosnia, which was adopted by this assembly at the end of 2005 and which fully reflects the EU principles pertinent to public broadcasters, guarantees equal rights with regard to representation of three official languages and programmes promoting the cultural heritage of all three constituent peoples. These issues have been at the core of fierce political debates during last several years, however the highest judicial authority of this country confirmed that the Law on Public Broadcasting System of Bosnia is not destructive for the vital national interests of the Croats, or any other people in Bosnia. This law is already in the implementation phase.
But this does not mean that I do not understand criticisms referring to the current situation within the public broadcasting system. I agree with most of these myself. However, we should focus on the resolution of the problem, not rejection of the system. The resolution of the problem means using the existing legal mechanisms and agreed-on rules and not the continuous refusal of solutions without proposing alternatives.
I am reminding you of the fact that the time in which different public broadcasting models were discussed has gone and that the model as defined in the Law on public broadcasting system of Bosnia has been assessed as the only financially tenable model, which at the same time satisfies cultural, traditional and other needs of peoples and others in Bosnia.
However, it is precisely obstructing the enactment of the FBIH entity legislation that allows for deviations from the solutions established under the law, which really represent a good basis for the creation of this system to the satisfaction of all citizens of Bosnia.
There is a task pending before your Parliament: and that’s harmonization of the proposed law on the public broadcasting service in the FBIH entity. A Joint Parliamentary Committee has been formed and its work has to be accelerated. There is no doubt that you will also bring this task, like all the previous tasks, to an end. Your constructive role in all reform processes that Bosnia has been undergoing is undisputable.
Therefore I would call on all those who have so far been disputing the implementation of the adopted regulations and preventing the adoption of the only remaining law in this area to re-examine their views with respect to this so as to make it possible to finalize this reform.
Allow me to make a specific note here. The FBIH entity cannot, and must not, be seen through the prism of Bosniak-Croat interests only.
Although many of you in this parliament have had no difficulty in identifying and bewailing numerous lapses in the other entity, you seem to assume that all is well in the FBIH entity when it comes to respecting the multi-ethnicity of this country, and the rights of all constituent peoples and ‘others’. It’s not really the case!
I welcome the fact that after the last elections all the seats reserved for Serb delegates in the FBIH Entity House of Peoples are filled.
I hope that this will bring a new quality to political life of the FBIH entity making it a truly multiethnic community where all the three constituent peoples and “Others” may pursue their cultural, linguistic, religious and all other rights.
By not insisting on this, you reinforce those who stand for making the other entity exclusively for the Serbs. May I remind you that all constituent peoples are constituent on the whole territory of Bosnia.
In terms of this, you have to emphasize the need for full respect for human rights as well as for decisions by those institutions in charge for the protection of these.
Still, the greatest challenge for the FBIH entity lies in the economy.
While industrial growth in the FBIH entity during the first seven months in 2007 grew by almost 13 percent there is a real risk that this year’s public finances in the FBIH entity, both at the entity and the cantonal levels, will come under severe pressure as a result of unfunded pre-electoral hikes.
The recent budget rebalance was necessitated by pre-election promises and subsequent salary increases. Untargeted subsidies erode the financial integrity of the government and do not help those who are most in need. A case in point is the regulation adopted by the FBIH Entity Government in August 2007 enabling all former the FBIH Entity Army members and members of the FBIH Entity Defense Ministry to retire with an average pension of 650 Bosnian Marks (471 US Dollars).
Some pre-election pledges are simply unsustainable and blaming the earlier composition of the Parliament makes little sense, as the same parties, more or less, remain in power and many of you here had delegates’ mandates in the previous composition as well.
Do not misunderstand me: a social safety net needs to be ensured for the most vulnerable category of the population. However, this does not entail providing handouts for the most effective pressure groups only.
It is unfortunate that the budget rebalance of 150 million Bosnian Marks (108,7 million US Dollars) entails only a relatively modest investment in infrastructure and development projects, while the bulk of funds will be directed to new social transfers and salaries, even though some public workers in the FBIH entity have average salaries comparable to the highest salaries in the country.
While pressure groups have managed to secure special treatment, there is a lack of funds for the most vulnerable people in society, and very little is left for investments into development and job creation. Without investment and economic growth it will not be possible or sustainable to ensure continuation of social programs or their increase.
Unemployment affects young people disproportionately. According to the Bosnian Labour Force Survey of 2006 around 62 percent of those aged between 15 and 24 are out of work. This is economically, socially and politically unsustainable. It is difficult to expect that young people will acquire relevant work habits and start contributing to the society only when they are 24 and over.
It’s not all negative. I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the successful effort of the FBIH Entity Parliament and Government to consider the Personal Income and Profit Tax laws; this should have a major positive impact on the business environment, it is a step forward towards the single economic space in Bosnia, which will in turn help boost job creation, the single most important task facing the authorities across the country at every level.
However, more radical steps need to be taken, and this also includes reviving the almost moribund privatisation programme that appears not to be for the benefit of the people who built these companies but for the benefit of political parties in power.
Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen,
You as parliamentarians have enormous power and responsibility. You are the people’s representatives and you must show that you are working in their interest and not in the interest of your political parties.
I will closely follow your work and will work together with you to make Bosnia more efficient and ready for its European future. This has to be our common task.
Thank you.",the International community's High Representative in Bosnia,Miroslav Lajcak,said in his address.
"Mr Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It was reported in the press last week that I was preparing two speeches ahead of my appearance here today – one to be delivered in the event that we secured a last-minute agreement on police reform and one to be delivered if no agreement was reached and if – as an inevitable consequence – Bosnia found itself falling far, far behind its neighbours on the road to European integration.
I only prepared one speech because there is only one possible agenda for Bosnia a – the European agenda, the agenda that is supported by the overwhelming majority of this country’s citizens, the agenda to which, again and again, you have claimed to be committed.
I will not dwell on the fact that a police reform agreement was not reached by the deadline. Yesterday I delivered my message saying that it will depend on the political party leaders whether the situation changes. It is clear to everyone what is at stake and what is required to achieve further progress in the process of European integration.
There is more work to be done before we can say that the issue of police reform is being addressed in line with the expectations of the European Union. But what I am seeing is a new level of engagement by politial leaders and this is certanly positive and encouraging. It has always been up to the politial leaders to find a solution and compromise. That is the European way of conducting politics.
I really want Bosnia to move forward on its European path and to suceed. That is why, when I spoke to EU Enlargement Commissioner Ollie Rehn about recent events, we agreed that, having in mind encouraging developments, the European Commission could wait a few more days. Now we, the European Union and the International Community, expect that Bosnia's leaders will do their best to come to an agreement as soon as possible - an agreement that will meet the EU requirements and will have the necessary political support.
Now is the time to leave behind the negative rhetoric and engage in constructive political dialogue in order to find a solution, which is closer than it seemed only a few days ago. It would be a pity to miss that opportunity!
This is why I wrote one speech, not two – because the European agenda remains the same: the steps that must be taken in order to deliver positive change in Bosnia remain the same.
These days I have spoken about the likely consequences of renouncing this country’s European future. I want to make clear today that these consequences are happening already.
Bosnia is falling behind. Isolation will happen slowly, the country will stagnate; economic growth will slow down, the opportunities to build prosperity will be fewer, which will for sure reflect on the political situation.
The path is the same. The agenda is the same; the reforms that have to be agreed and implemented are the same.
Mr Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Last week I spoke to the RSNA and the first thing I want to stress is that the order of my addresses is not symbolic in any way and no significance should be attributed to it. I have equal respect for the parliamentarians of both chambers.
When I spoke to the RSNA last week, and when I addressed the Bosnian Parliament several days before that, I called for an end to the megaphone polemics that have taken the place of normal politics in this country since spring last year. I pointed up the danger of generating fear through insensitivity, and I stressed that when you clear away the negative perceptions that surround a whole series of key issues you discover that there is actually a large measure of consensus on matters of substance.
The destructive dialogue must stop and it must stop now. It must be replaced by a direct, frank and constructive dialogue. This is the only way that we will be able to accomplish more in the coming year than was accomplished in the last year.
No one, I think, will argue that the political atmosphere which has prevailed since last spring has produced anything positive and constructive. Ratification of CEFTA and the enactment of the Higher Education Law by the State Parliament represent very modest achievements over eighteen months – eighteen months of parliamentary activity, whether in the State Parliament or in this assembly.
I do not believe that anyone in this parliament can argue that you have made progress.
Countries that seriously embraced their European agenda had to adopt and implement thousands of laws every year; they had to subordinate their activities to that process. Their political will was the same regardless of which party or coalition was in power. I know this from personal experience.
In all countries, it was the political elites that had to explain and persuade their citizens to support key reforms necessary for their own good and their European future. This challenge seems to be the opposite in Bosnia: it seems to me that it is the citizens here who have to persuade the politicians that it is integration that leads to overall progress.
Yesterday, upon an invitation of the leaders of Croatia, I paid a working visit to Zagreb. Neighbouring Croatia, which is the nearest to joining the European Union in this region, promised to help with the transfer of experience from the process they have been through. This shows clearly that your neighbours do not want Bosnia to be last on the road to the European Union.
You received a mandate from your electorate to make progress. While the easiest thing to do is to blame someone else, I want you to honestly ask yourselves: what have you personally contributed to make the lives of your citizens better, to generate progress?
Mr Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Last week, in my address to the RSNA representatives, I called them to explain, give arguments, persuade and communicate.
If I think that something I’m about to do might make some of my neighbours nervous than I go and talk to them first and allay their fears. That’s not enlightened statesmanship; it’s just common sense. It’s what millions of citizens do regularly in their daily lives.
Today, I make the same appeal to you.
Some of you may be inclined to protest that you have always done this. Believe me, I am not a stranger to the nuances of the Bosnian politics. I am very well aware that the communities in this country could teach a thing or two to the people of other countries, when it comes to inter-communal dialogue. But I am equally well aware – as is every person in this chamber – that the polemics of the last year have damaged the spirit of Bosnia’s peace settlement, even if politicians have been careful to keep within the letter of Dayton. The result has been a new wave of fear among the people and a hardening of positions among their leaders. If anyone here thinks this is a positive development, perhaps you would be so good as to explain exactly in what way it can be considered positive.
Dayton established and enshrined a sovereign, independent Bosnia and two entities in it, with clear specifications as to how the Constitution can be changed. This agreement has kept the peace for more than a decade and it will continue to keep the peace. The international community remains and will remain one hundred percent committed to this constitutional arrangement until a new one is agreed.
Those who question this agreement – whether calling for the dismantling of the entities on the one hand or the secession of the RS on the other – are wasting time.
If it were simply a matter of time-wasting that would be bad enough. But it what is worse than that – they are generating fear. This is why practically nothing has been achieved for more than a year.
This is why we failed to secure an agreement on police reform. This is why we are not about to initial a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
Let me be absolutely clear: when it comes to wasting time and generating fear, neither side has been blameless – not those who have denigrated the integrity of Bosnia, not those who have questioned the right of the entities to exist.
Well, the period of recklessness and intransigence that has delivered nothing can be brought to an end quickly if we shift the focus of public debate from pipe dreams to practical politics. If we do that, this time next year we may be partners with the European Union, together with the countries in the region.
Mr Speaker, ladies and gentlemen,
Last week in the RSNA, I had some very concrete messages for the RS entity, and today, I am going to mention some issues that are within the competency of the FBIH entity.
When you look at the FBIH entity one would be remiss to not specifically mention one example where many – but unfortunately not all – differences were overcome. It is the unification of the City of Mostar – which can be viewed as a microcosm of the FBIH entity itself.
While Mostar has its problems, it is nonetheless the only city in the FBIH entity where one people are not under domination of another.
The process of unification of the City – which has crept forward, but is still not complete – succeeded in its initial phases due to the direct involvement and commitment of key people.
However, that commitment to unification has on occasion been set aside by the parties who periodically seek to use Mostar and its citizens as tools for their political ambitions.
That war of words, increasing tensions, does nothing to help the people of Mostar.
The result is that rather than resolving their disputes through normal political dialogue, the parties turn to the OHR to decide for them – and then they criticize those decisions. At some point, the party leaders must assume full responsibility for the unification process.
Mostar today is a city on the rise, but despite the monumental efforts of the international community, with the support of the domestic authorities, it remains damaged, both physically and spiritually. I urge you to help the city recover fully, through supporting unification to the end and directing more funding towards its complete reconstruction.
The FBIH entity is still crucial to Mostar’s success, and I believe Mostar’s success is crucial to that of the Federation.
Education is often on the FBIH entity’s agenda and the adopted reforms are welcome, but they have largely remained on paper. Therefore the education sector continues to be an open wound in the Federation, a fact confirmed again at the beginning of this school year in a number of ethnical and religious incidents in a number of schools throughout the FBIH entity.
There has been little progress on the elaboration of new institutional structures and improved quality or equality of provision in fragmented, under-funded and, in more than one aspect, discriminatory educational system in Bosnia.
The underlying problem is that you have not found a way to keep party politics out of education and out of classrooms.
The general trend is not towards post-war reintegration, but towards maintenance of discrimination either through assimilation or division along “ethnic” lines. Although present across Bosnia, this trend is more obvious in the FBIH entity, and especially in those cantons where we still have the embarrassment of “two schools under one roof”. In Čapljina, for example, pupils of one primary school started the new school year with two-week delay due to a purely political dispute.
I am aware that cantons have the main responsibility for education, but the solution for these problems must be found at all levels of government.
The third important reform is certainly the reform of the public broadcasting system.
Allow me to be completely frank here: too much time was wasted on this reform too, solely on account of narrow political interests. The facts are as follows. The current Law on the Public Broadcasting System of Bosnia, which was adopted by this assembly at the end of 2005 and which fully reflects the EU principles pertinent to public broadcasters, guarantees equal rights with regard to representation of three official languages and programmes promoting the cultural heritage of all three constituent peoples. These issues have been at the core of fierce political debates during last several years, however the highest judicial authority of this country confirmed that the Law on Public Broadcasting System of Bosnia is not destructive for the vital national interests of the Croats, or any other people in Bosnia. This law is already in the implementation phase.
But this does not mean that I do not understand criticisms referring to the current situation within the public broadcasting system. I agree with most of these myself. However, we should focus on the resolution of the problem, not rejection of the system. The resolution of the problem means using the existing legal mechanisms and agreed-on rules and not the continuous refusal of solutions without proposing alternatives.
I am reminding you of the fact that the time in which different public broadcasting models were discussed has gone and that the model as defined in the Law on public broadcasting system of Bosnia has been assessed as the only financially tenable model, which at the same time satisfies cultural, traditional and other needs of peoples and others in Bosnia.
However, it is precisely obstructing the enactment of the FBIH entity legislation that allows for deviations from the solutions established under the law, which really represent a good basis for the creation of this system to the satisfaction of all citizens of Bosnia.
There is a task pending before your Parliament: and that’s harmonization of the proposed law on the public broadcasting service in the FBIH entity. A Joint Parliamentary Committee has been formed and its work has to be accelerated. There is no doubt that you will also bring this task, like all the previous tasks, to an end. Your constructive role in all reform processes that Bosnia has been undergoing is undisputable.
Therefore I would call on all those who have so far been disputing the implementation of the adopted regulations and preventing the adoption of the only remaining law in this area to re-examine their views with respect to this so as to make it possible to finalize this reform.
Allow me to make a specific note here. The FBIH entity cannot, and must not, be seen through the prism of Bosniak-Croat interests only.
Although many of you in this parliament have had no difficulty in identifying and bewailing numerous lapses in the other entity, you seem to assume that all is well in the FBIH entity when it comes to respecting the multi-ethnicity of this country, and the rights of all constituent peoples and ‘others’. It’s not really the case!
I welcome the fact that after the last elections all the seats reserved for Serb delegates in the FBIH Entity House of Peoples are filled.
I hope that this will bring a new quality to political life of the FBIH entity making it a truly multiethnic community where all the three constituent peoples and “Others” may pursue their cultural, linguistic, religious and all other rights.
By not insisting on this, you reinforce those who stand for making the other entity exclusively for the Serbs. May I remind you that all constituent peoples are constituent on the whole territory of Bosnia.
In terms of this, you have to emphasize the need for full respect for human rights as well as for decisions by those institutions in charge for the protection of these.
Still, the greatest challenge for the FBIH entity lies in the economy.
While industrial growth in the FBIH entity during the first seven months in 2007 grew by almost 13 percent there is a real risk that this year’s public finances in the FBIH entity, both at the entity and the cantonal levels, will come under severe pressure as a result of unfunded pre-electoral hikes.
The recent budget rebalance was necessitated by pre-election promises and subsequent salary increases. Untargeted subsidies erode the financial integrity of the government and do not help those who are most in need. A case in point is the regulation adopted by the FBIH Entity Government in August 2007 enabling all former the FBIH Entity Army members and members of the FBIH Entity Defense Ministry to retire with an average pension of 650 Bosnian Marks (471 US Dollars).
Some pre-election pledges are simply unsustainable and blaming the earlier composition of the Parliament makes little sense, as the same parties, more or less, remain in power and many of you here had delegates’ mandates in the previous composition as well.
Do not misunderstand me: a social safety net needs to be ensured for the most vulnerable category of the population. However, this does not entail providing handouts for the most effective pressure groups only.
It is unfortunate that the budget rebalance of 150 million Bosnian Marks (108,7 million US Dollars) entails only a relatively modest investment in infrastructure and development projects, while the bulk of funds will be directed to new social transfers and salaries, even though some public workers in the FBIH entity have average salaries comparable to the highest salaries in the country.
While pressure groups have managed to secure special treatment, there is a lack of funds for the most vulnerable people in society, and very little is left for investments into development and job creation. Without investment and economic growth it will not be possible or sustainable to ensure continuation of social programs or their increase.
Unemployment affects young people disproportionately. According to the Bosnian Labour Force Survey of 2006 around 62 percent of those aged between 15 and 24 are out of work. This is economically, socially and politically unsustainable. It is difficult to expect that young people will acquire relevant work habits and start contributing to the society only when they are 24 and over.
It’s not all negative. I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the successful effort of the FBIH Entity Parliament and Government to consider the Personal Income and Profit Tax laws; this should have a major positive impact on the business environment, it is a step forward towards the single economic space in Bosnia, which will in turn help boost job creation, the single most important task facing the authorities across the country at every level.
However, more radical steps need to be taken, and this also includes reviving the almost moribund privatisation programme that appears not to be for the benefit of the people who built these companies but for the benefit of political parties in power.
Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen,
You as parliamentarians have enormous power and responsibility. You are the people’s representatives and you must show that you are working in their interest and not in the interest of your political parties.
I will closely follow your work and will work together with you to make Bosnia more efficient and ready for its European future. This has to be our common task.
Thank you.",the International community's High Representative in Bosnia,Miroslav Lajcak,said in his address.
SILAJDZIC MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF SEVERAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 3,2007) – A Member of the Bosnian Presidency, Dr Haris Silajdžić, on request of several Bosnian non-governmental organizations, has organized a meeting with their representatives in the Bosnian Presidency building.
The main topic was the signed Protocol of Police Structure Reform in Bosnia. The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Associations: Women-Victims of War, the Movement of Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves’ Mothers, the Srebrenica Intellectual Club as well as the representatives of the soldier population from Vlasenica, Srebrenica and Zvornik.
The Delegation of the mentioned organizations gave their full support to Dr Silajdžić in his efforts to implement police structure reform in Bosnia. Besides the support, they decided that it must be spoken publicly about the genocide, as in domestic as well as in international circles, and that the Bosnian police must have multiethnic structure.
Dr Silajdžić clarified to those present the details of the signed Protocol, and they all agreed that it was the best solution achieved yet.
The main topic was the signed Protocol of Police Structure Reform in Bosnia. The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Associations: Women-Victims of War, the Movement of Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves’ Mothers, the Srebrenica Intellectual Club as well as the representatives of the soldier population from Vlasenica, Srebrenica and Zvornik.
The Delegation of the mentioned organizations gave their full support to Dr Silajdžić in his efforts to implement police structure reform in Bosnia. Besides the support, they decided that it must be spoken publicly about the genocide, as in domestic as well as in international circles, and that the Bosnian police must have multiethnic structure.
Dr Silajdžić clarified to those present the details of the signed Protocol, and they all agreed that it was the best solution achieved yet.
POLAND FINANCES A MINE DISPOSAL PROJECT IN BOSNIA
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 3,2007) – The Ambassador of Poland to Bosnia Andrzej Tyszkiewicz and the Head of the Bosnian Mine Disposal Centre Dusan Gavran officially marked the beginning of a mine disposal action in Rajlovac.
The total of 18.000 meters will be cleaned. Polish Government invested 50.000 Euros for the project.
Ambassador Tyszkiewicz stated that his country is aware of the danger mines pose, for many people were killed after the WW2 from the unexploded mines.
”That is why we are glad that we can help solve the situation in this small part of the country”, Ambassador said and added that Poland has also been helping solve the issues of redundant military personnel.
The Head of the Bosnian Mine Disposal Centre stated that this donation is of a special value, for only a year ago, no mine disposal fund existed in Bosnia. Money was paid through a Slovenian fund.
He emphasized that Ambassador Tyszkiewicz did not want to give any money in such a way. He wanted Bosnia to get the donation directly.
”We had to open an account at the Bosnian Central Bank. This is the first donation Bosnia has received for the purpose of mine disposal”, Gavran said.
The total of 18.000 meters will be cleaned. Polish Government invested 50.000 Euros for the project.
Ambassador Tyszkiewicz stated that his country is aware of the danger mines pose, for many people were killed after the WW2 from the unexploded mines.
”That is why we are glad that we can help solve the situation in this small part of the country”, Ambassador said and added that Poland has also been helping solve the issues of redundant military personnel.
The Head of the Bosnian Mine Disposal Centre stated that this donation is of a special value, for only a year ago, no mine disposal fund existed in Bosnia. Money was paid through a Slovenian fund.
He emphasized that Ambassador Tyszkiewicz did not want to give any money in such a way. He wanted Bosnia to get the donation directly.
”We had to open an account at the Bosnian Central Bank. This is the first donation Bosnia has received for the purpose of mine disposal”, Gavran said.
BOSNIAN STATE PLAN FOR REFOMING JUDICIAL SECTOR DEVELOPED
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 3,2007) – The Bosnian Ministry of Justice, Entity and Cantonal Ministries Of Justice and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) have prepared the Draft Strategy for the Reform of the Justice Sector in Bosnia, which includes a detailed plan for improving the overall Bosnian judicial system.
This is the first comprehensive action plan of reforms which foresees more than 60 concrete measures and activities on the development of a better, more responsible and efficient judicial sector in Bosnia.
The Plan was developed based on the analysis of the existing situation in the judicial sector, i.e. areas that will be given priority in the reform process in the next five years, including the judiciary, implementation of criminal sanctions, access to justice, support for economic development, establishment of efficient organisational structures and harmonisation of legislation with the EU.
Representatives of professional associations of judges and prosecutors, bar associations, associations of mediators and other non-governmental organisations also took part in the development of the Draft Strategy.
The British Department for International Development (DFID) provided technical support for the project.
The Draft Strategy will be made public and available on the Bosnian Ministry of Justice website (http://www.mpr.gov.ba) until October 21.
All Bosnian citizens and legal entities are invited to present their suggestions, comments and proposals, to take part in the process of public consultations and the development of the Bosnian judicial system, the Bosnian Ministry of Justice announced.
This is the first comprehensive action plan of reforms which foresees more than 60 concrete measures and activities on the development of a better, more responsible and efficient judicial sector in Bosnia.
The Plan was developed based on the analysis of the existing situation in the judicial sector, i.e. areas that will be given priority in the reform process in the next five years, including the judiciary, implementation of criminal sanctions, access to justice, support for economic development, establishment of efficient organisational structures and harmonisation of legislation with the EU.
Representatives of professional associations of judges and prosecutors, bar associations, associations of mediators and other non-governmental organisations also took part in the development of the Draft Strategy.
The British Department for International Development (DFID) provided technical support for the project.
The Draft Strategy will be made public and available on the Bosnian Ministry of Justice website (http://www.mpr.gov.ba) until October 21.
All Bosnian citizens and legal entities are invited to present their suggestions, comments and proposals, to take part in the process of public consultations and the development of the Bosnian judicial system, the Bosnian Ministry of Justice announced.
SUCCESSFUL COOPERATION BETWEEN USAID AND FBIH ENTITY GOVERNMENT
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 3,2007) – The FBiH Entity Government has achieved continued and successful cooperation with USAID, which represents a good basis and guarantee for the strengthening of our partnership, the FBiH Entity Prime Minister Nedzad Brankovic and the Head of the USAID’s Euro-Asian Bureau Douglas Menarchik concluded in Sarajevo. Director of USAID in Bosnia Jane Nandy also took part in the meeting.
Brankovic and Menarchik discussed the current political and economic situation in Bosnia in light of the ongoing and future projects of USAID.
Brankovic described as positive the fact that the projects of this agency have an integrating effect on Bosnia. This is also the case with the ongoing Enabling Labour Market Mobility (ELMO) project, which is in line with the commitment of the FBiH Entity Government to creating a single economic space in Bosnia.
According to Menarchik, Brankovic’s views and assessment of the current situation and the prospects for the development of Bosnia will help draft the USAID’s five-year economic program, which aims at support small and medium businesses, the development of democracy and governance, the FBiH Entity Government stated.
Brankovic and Menarchik discussed the current political and economic situation in Bosnia in light of the ongoing and future projects of USAID.
Brankovic described as positive the fact that the projects of this agency have an integrating effect on Bosnia. This is also the case with the ongoing Enabling Labour Market Mobility (ELMO) project, which is in line with the commitment of the FBiH Entity Government to creating a single economic space in Bosnia.
According to Menarchik, Brankovic’s views and assessment of the current situation and the prospects for the development of Bosnia will help draft the USAID’s five-year economic program, which aims at support small and medium businesses, the development of democracy and governance, the FBiH Entity Government stated.
EU CONTINUES TO SUPPORT BOSNIAN SYSTEM OF EXPERT EDUCATION AND TRAINING
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 3,2007) – The EU continues supporting the Bosnian authorities in the process of achieving progress and modernization of the Bosnian System of Expert Education and Training (VET).
A meeting was organized in Sarajevo for the purpose of discussing the reforms in VET system. The project known as the Copenhagen Process in Bosnia has entered its third stage. Representatives of local authorities and partners, as well as the European Commission to Bosnia discussed the project’s goals and significance.
The Copenhagen Declaration provides guidelines related to strengthening of the European dimension of the expert education and training system, and the personnel mobility.
Esma Hadzagic. Representative of the Bosnian Ministry of Civil Affairs, stated that the end of the third stage of the project will help complete the VET system reform in Bosnia and create presuppositions for it to develop in accordance with the EU standards.
The new phase of the project will deal with the issues of classification of jobs, teacher training, equipment purchase and making a better connection between the VET system, the higher education graduates and the labor market.
Aim of the project is to develop a national qualification frame and development of the new models of financing the VET. EU has so far been the prime donor of the project, since 1998. The Union provided 11 million EUR for the realization of the project.
Participants emphasized that significant results have been achieved. Some of them include modernization of the curriculum and other programs in about 60 per cent of the qualification schools.
Eight different branches were encompassed by the project. A significant number of mentors has been trained.The VET System development strategy has been sent to the Bosnian government for approval. The law on VET is currently in the parliamentary procedure.
A meeting was organized in Sarajevo for the purpose of discussing the reforms in VET system. The project known as the Copenhagen Process in Bosnia has entered its third stage. Representatives of local authorities and partners, as well as the European Commission to Bosnia discussed the project’s goals and significance.
The Copenhagen Declaration provides guidelines related to strengthening of the European dimension of the expert education and training system, and the personnel mobility.
Esma Hadzagic. Representative of the Bosnian Ministry of Civil Affairs, stated that the end of the third stage of the project will help complete the VET system reform in Bosnia and create presuppositions for it to develop in accordance with the EU standards.
The new phase of the project will deal with the issues of classification of jobs, teacher training, equipment purchase and making a better connection between the VET system, the higher education graduates and the labor market.
Aim of the project is to develop a national qualification frame and development of the new models of financing the VET. EU has so far been the prime donor of the project, since 1998. The Union provided 11 million EUR for the realization of the project.
Participants emphasized that significant results have been achieved. Some of them include modernization of the curriculum and other programs in about 60 per cent of the qualification schools.
Eight different branches were encompassed by the project. A significant number of mentors has been trained.The VET System development strategy has been sent to the Bosnian government for approval. The law on VET is currently in the parliamentary procedure.
TRIAL OF CROATIAN WAR CRIMINAL ZDRAVKO MIHALJEVIC BEFORE BOSNIAN STATE COURT POSTPONED
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 3,2007) – The Defence evidence presentation process at the trial of Croatian war criminal Zdravko Mihaljevic before the Bosnian State Court will not get underway until further notice.
The Trial Chamber sitting in the case of Zdravko Mihaljevic, charged with crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Kiseljak in 1993,during the Croatian aggression against Bosnia, has decided to postpone the continuation of the trial because Croatian war criminal has again failed to appear at the hearing.
This means that the Defence's evidence presentation process has also been postponed.The Bosnian State Court Police have not yet apprehended Croatian war criminal Zdravko Mihaljevic although a warrant was issued by the Trial Chamber because "a medical doctor determined that Mihaljevic is not capable of following the trial".
As indicated by his defence attorney, Croatian war criminal's health has deteriorated due to the hunger strike but he refuses to get medical assistance.
Attorney Dusko Tomic has "asked the Trial Chamber to issue an order for Mihaljevic to get medical treatment". He has also said that he is not going to attend the hearings without his client.
The indictment charges Croatian war criminal Mihaljevic with having participated in torture, forcible disappearance and murder of Bosnian civilians from Tulice village in Kiseljak municipality,during the Croatian aggression against Bosnia in the early 90's.
The trial of Croatian war criminal Zdravko Mihaljevic is due to continue on 8 October.
The Trial Chamber sitting in the case of Zdravko Mihaljevic, charged with crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Kiseljak in 1993,during the Croatian aggression against Bosnia, has decided to postpone the continuation of the trial because Croatian war criminal has again failed to appear at the hearing.
This means that the Defence's evidence presentation process has also been postponed.The Bosnian State Court Police have not yet apprehended Croatian war criminal Zdravko Mihaljevic although a warrant was issued by the Trial Chamber because "a medical doctor determined that Mihaljevic is not capable of following the trial".
As indicated by his defence attorney, Croatian war criminal's health has deteriorated due to the hunger strike but he refuses to get medical assistance.
Attorney Dusko Tomic has "asked the Trial Chamber to issue an order for Mihaljevic to get medical treatment". He has also said that he is not going to attend the hearings without his client.
The indictment charges Croatian war criminal Mihaljevic with having participated in torture, forcible disappearance and murder of Bosnian civilians from Tulice village in Kiseljak municipality,during the Croatian aggression against Bosnia in the early 90's.
The trial of Croatian war criminal Zdravko Mihaljevic is due to continue on 8 October.
TWO FOCA CONCENTRATION CAMP SURVIVORS TESTIFIED BEFORE BOSNIAN STATE COURT
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 3,2007) – Two more Foca concentration camp survivors recalled conditions in the concentration camp,run by the genocidal Serbian aggressor during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.
The Foca concentration camp survivors have testified before the Bosnian State Court, under additional protection measures, about the bad conditions in the concentraton camp.
The indictment alleges that Serbian war criminals Mitar Rasevic and Savo Todovic, participated in the establishment and continued implementation of "a system for maltreatment" of Bosnian civilians detained in the Foca concentration camp by the Serbian aggressor. These actions were carried out by many members of the Serbian aggressor's formations who entered the concentration camp with Rasevic's and Todovic's permission.
Witness stated that he still suffers severe physical and mental effects of the five-month detention in the Foca concentration camp – from 26 April to 31 October 1992.
"When I have been brought to the concentration camp I weighed 80 kilogrammes, and my weight was 39 kilogrammes when I was released," the concentration camp survivor said.
"There were times when we were so hungry that we could not walk across the room. They would cut one loaf of bread into 16 slices. Later on, they increased our portions, so we would cut one loaf of bread into 11 pieces," said the witness, who has testified from a separate room, with his image and voice blurred.
The defence attorneys and the indictees have noticed contradictions between the witness' statement given to ICTY investigators in The Hague in 1996 and his testimony before the Bosnian State Court.
In his statement given in 1996, the witness stated to have seen the following Serbian war criminals visiting Foca concentration camp: Dragan Zelenovic (after admitting guilt, he was sentenced by ICTY to 15 years imprisonment); Dragan Kunarac (sentenced to 28 years imprisonment for crimes committed in Foca) and Zoran Vukovic (sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for crimes committed in Foca).
He also claimed that they had beaten the Bosnian civilians detained in the concentration camp. Answering questions from defence attorney Slavisa Prodanovic, the witness has said that he heard that this was happening, but that he never saw these people.
In his statement of 1996 the witness said he had not seen Serbian war criminal Savo Todovic in the facility. In the courtroom, the witness has denied this, saying that he did see Todovic, through the window, in front of the concentration camp.
Second protected witness stated to have been brought to the concentration camp, on 24 May 1992, by the Serbian aggressor's soldiers. The witness stated to have been interrogated and beaten in "a dark room" on the first night in the concentration camp.
The witness further says that he was not beaten any more until 7 July 1992. However, the witness said that he could hear when other Bosnian civilians were beaten (to death) by the Serbian aggressor.
"The guards would take some people away after dinner. Those people never came back, but we could hear them being beaten. I shall not forget the screams for as long as I live," the witness has said adding that, "as far as he remembers", 16 or 18 Bosnian civilians were taken away in this manner by the genocidal Serbian aggressor.
The trial is due to continue on 9 October, when two more prosecution witnesses will be examined.
The Foca concentration camp survivors have testified before the Bosnian State Court, under additional protection measures, about the bad conditions in the concentraton camp.
The indictment alleges that Serbian war criminals Mitar Rasevic and Savo Todovic, participated in the establishment and continued implementation of "a system for maltreatment" of Bosnian civilians detained in the Foca concentration camp by the Serbian aggressor. These actions were carried out by many members of the Serbian aggressor's formations who entered the concentration camp with Rasevic's and Todovic's permission.
Witness stated that he still suffers severe physical and mental effects of the five-month detention in the Foca concentration camp – from 26 April to 31 October 1992.
"When I have been brought to the concentration camp I weighed 80 kilogrammes, and my weight was 39 kilogrammes when I was released," the concentration camp survivor said.
"There were times when we were so hungry that we could not walk across the room. They would cut one loaf of bread into 16 slices. Later on, they increased our portions, so we would cut one loaf of bread into 11 pieces," said the witness, who has testified from a separate room, with his image and voice blurred.
The defence attorneys and the indictees have noticed contradictions between the witness' statement given to ICTY investigators in The Hague in 1996 and his testimony before the Bosnian State Court.
In his statement given in 1996, the witness stated to have seen the following Serbian war criminals visiting Foca concentration camp: Dragan Zelenovic (after admitting guilt, he was sentenced by ICTY to 15 years imprisonment); Dragan Kunarac (sentenced to 28 years imprisonment for crimes committed in Foca) and Zoran Vukovic (sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for crimes committed in Foca).
He also claimed that they had beaten the Bosnian civilians detained in the concentration camp. Answering questions from defence attorney Slavisa Prodanovic, the witness has said that he heard that this was happening, but that he never saw these people.
In his statement of 1996 the witness said he had not seen Serbian war criminal Savo Todovic in the facility. In the courtroom, the witness has denied this, saying that he did see Todovic, through the window, in front of the concentration camp.
Second protected witness stated to have been brought to the concentration camp, on 24 May 1992, by the Serbian aggressor's soldiers. The witness stated to have been interrogated and beaten in "a dark room" on the first night in the concentration camp.
The witness further says that he was not beaten any more until 7 July 1992. However, the witness said that he could hear when other Bosnian civilians were beaten (to death) by the Serbian aggressor.
"The guards would take some people away after dinner. Those people never came back, but we could hear them being beaten. I shall not forget the screams for as long as I live," the witness has said adding that, "as far as he remembers", 16 or 18 Bosnian civilians were taken away in this manner by the genocidal Serbian aggressor.
The trial is due to continue on 9 October, when two more prosecution witnesses will be examined.
BOSNIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND OSCE MISSION TO BOSNIA OPENED TWO-DAY CONFERENCE ON OSCE CODE OF CONDUCT
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 3,2007) - The OSCE Code of Conduct Politico-Military Aspects of Security, which builds on and reinforces the principles of security laid out in the Helsinki Final Act, is the focus of a two-day conference that opened yesterday in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo under the joint sponsorship of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and the Bosnian Ministry of Defence.
During the conference experts from the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, and the OSCE Mission itself will present the different dimensions of the Code of Conduct and discuss with the participants those aspects of it reflected in the work of their own organisations.
In remarks to the opening session of the conference, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia, Douglas Davidson, explained that The Code of Conduct had a relatively simple but fundamentally important purpose: to provide guiding principles for the democratic political oversight of defence, security and intelligence in the countries of the OSCE. Civilian control of the military – and its related offshoots – constituted “one of the fundamental requirements for any successful, fully democratic system of governance,” Davidson said.
Between 1998 and 2003 the OSCE Mission to Bosnia had organised 19 such Code of Conduct seminars for the personnel of the Bosnian Army.
During the conference experts from the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, and the OSCE Mission itself will present the different dimensions of the Code of Conduct and discuss with the participants those aspects of it reflected in the work of their own organisations.
In remarks to the opening session of the conference, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia, Douglas Davidson, explained that The Code of Conduct had a relatively simple but fundamentally important purpose: to provide guiding principles for the democratic political oversight of defence, security and intelligence in the countries of the OSCE. Civilian control of the military – and its related offshoots – constituted “one of the fundamental requirements for any successful, fully democratic system of governance,” Davidson said.
Between 1998 and 2003 the OSCE Mission to Bosnia had organised 19 such Code of Conduct seminars for the personnel of the Bosnian Army.
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