SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL RADOVAN KARADZIC REFUSES TO ENTER GENOCIDE PLEA

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands (August 29,2008) - Former leader and creator of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" and one of the masterminds of the genocide against the Bosnian people,Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic has refused to enter a plea to to 11 charges of genocide and war crimes during his second appearance in front of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) today.

During a 24-minute hearing, Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic was told that he will be given the chance to air his claims that Nato and the US are trying to kill him at a special session of the UN's war crimes court on Sept 17.

"I will not plead in line with my standpoint as regards to this court," Serbian fascist said, refusing to plead guilty or not guilty.

Iain Bonomy, a Scottish UN judge who will be presiding over the rest of the trial proceedings, automatically entered a not guilty plea on Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic's behalf, in line with the court's rule.

"In that case I enter a plea of not guilty on your behalf," the judge said.

The 63-year-old Serbian war criminal continued to insist that he would represent himself over the 11 United Nations charges, but announced his intention of having a "team of associates" at a later date.


Genocide survivors,Bosnian women from the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica, watch the television broadcast of the appearance of former leader and creator of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" and one of the masterminds of the genocide against the Bosnian people committed during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia,Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic in the court room of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague,the Netherlands,August 29, 2008. Serbian fascist Radovan Karadzic refused to enter pleas for all of the 11 charges against him. The charges against Karadzic include two of genocide over the 43-month siege of the Bosnian capital Sarajevo and the 1995 mass murder of 10,000 Bosnian civilians in the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica.

Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic who evaded justice for over a decade before finally being arrested in July while living as a faith healer in Belgrade, denounced the court as part of a Western conspiracy to kill him.

Judge Bonomy informed Serbian fascist that he would have the chance to argue his allegations of United States murder plot against him at a "status conference" in 19 days' time.

The judge, called in to replace his Dutch predecessor after complaints of bias from Serbian war criminal.He sharply criticised UN prosecutors for delays after hearing that a planned review of the charges contained in an "operative indictment", first drafted over eight years ago, would not be finished until the end of September.

Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic is facing trial for genocide and other charges adding up to the most serious war crimes that have taken place on European soil since the Second World War.

UN prosecutors have indicted Serbian fascist Karadzic on 11 counts of offences including: genocide, complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity, extermination, violation of the customs of war, murder and the taking of hostages.

The accusations of genocide will focus on Mr Karadzic's pivotal role in the leadership of the Serbians living in Bosnia which orchestrated the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of up to 10,000 Bosnian civilians and the "death or forced departure" of Bosnian civilians from over 40 Bosnian towns,during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The Srebrenica massacre, Europe's worst atrocity since World War II, has been termed genocide by two United Nations tribunals : International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and The International Criminal Court (ICC).

Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic is also accused of war crimes following the shelling of the Bosnian capital Sarajevo where 12,000 Bosnian civilians (including 1600 children) were murdered by the genocidal Serbian aggressor.


The Face Of Evil - Former leader and creator of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" and one of the masterminds of the genocide against the Bosnian people,Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic sits in the court room of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague,the Netherlands,August 29, 2008. The UN's court has entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf to genocide and war crimes charges after he refused to file his own plea.
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SLOVENIAN WAR CRIMINAL FRANC KOS LINKED TO GENOCIDE IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 29,2008) - A Slovenian living in Bosnia under a false identity is suspected of having taken part in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide.The Bosnian State Prosecutor's Office in Sarajevo has demanded an investigation into 10 people suspected of participating in the massacre in the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica in which some 10,000 Bosnian civilians were mass murdered by the genocidal Serbian aggressor in July 1995,during the Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The Slovenian is named as Franc Kos and is said to have been mentioned in the minutes taken during testimonies by a number of witnesses before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Slovenian war criminal Franc Kos is described as the leader of a genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor's unit, and was known under the nicknames Slovenac or Zuco. The witnesses blamed him for participation in the murder of some 10,000 Bosnian civilians from Srebrenica.

The Srebrenica massacre, Europe's worst atrocity since World War II, has been termed genocide by two United Nations tribunals.

Police and prosecutors in the Slovenian town of Celje have confirmed that they investigated Kos’s involvement in the genocide in Bosnia.

He is currently living in the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS", under a false identity which has not been revealed.

Slovenian media reported that since he is not in Slovenia it is unlikely that he will be tried in Slovenia.
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SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL RADOVAN KARADZIC TO MAKE GENOCIDE PLEAS AT ICTY TODAY

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands (August 29,2008) - Former leader and creator of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" and one of the masterminds of the genocide against the Bosnian people,Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic’s arrested last month after 13 years on the run, is to be asked today to enter his pleas before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavi (ICTY) to charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.

His appearance is scheduled for 14:15 - 16:15 Central European Summer Time (CEST) today.Click here to watch it LIVE).

In pre-trial hearings at the international war crimes tribunal, Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic has called for the case against him to be dismissed, saying it will be impossible for him to receive a fair trial.

Should he refuse to enter a plea today, the court at The Hague will file not-guilty pleas for him.

Prosecutors are, however, looking at the possibility of changing the indictments against Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic, to see if they can be streamlined so proceedings against him move faster than they did against his former mentor, Serbian war criminal Slobodan Milosevic. He died of a heart attack in 2006 before a verdict in his genocide trial was reached.

One of Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic's legal team today said he wants to wait until prosecutors file a new indictment before entering a plea. But another of his legal advisers, Svetozar Vujacic, has said "there is also a possibility that Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic will plead not guilty to all 11 counts.

Today's hearing is a crucial step along the path to Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic's trial for masterminding the worst atrocities perpetrated by the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor during the 1992-95 Serbian aggression against Bosnia, which claimed the lives of an estimated 200,000 people.

Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic was arrested last month on a Belgrade bus, having escaped detention for 13 years. He had grown a bushy beard and had flowing white hair, and had been working as an alternative medicine practitioner using the name of "Dragan Dabic".

Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in 1995, for genocide, compliance in genocide and crimes against humanity,committed during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic has claimed in pre-trial statements that he cut a deal with the former American fascist Richard Holbrooke, which guaranteed he would not be prosecuted for war crimes if he disappeared from the public eye.


Former leader and creator of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS",Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic (C) stands in the court room of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at the start of his initial appearance in The Hague July 31, 2008. Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic faces a U.N. war crimes judge for the first time to answer charges of genocide for his actions during the 1992-95 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The ICTY is still looking for two other top Serbian war criminals, former commander of the genocidal paramilitary fascist formations of the Serbians living in Bosnia,Serbian war criminal Ratko Mladic and former leader of the Serbians living in Croatia,Serbian war criminal Goran Hadzic who are still hiding from justice.
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BOSNIA MARKS 13TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARKALE MASSACRE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 29,2008) - Today,Bosnia marks the 13th anniversary of a massacre, which prompted NATO's airstrikes and led to the end of the 1992-95 Serbian aggression against the country .Thousands of Bosnians are attending the ceremony held today in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo where a mortar shell fired from the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor's positions tore through a crowded market called "Markale" in downtown Sarajevo, killing 43 and injuring 84 Bosnian civilians on August 28,1995.

The massacre came two months after the genocidal Serbian fascist savages mass murdered some 10,000 Bosnian civilians in the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica.

In 1998 the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia indicted Serbian war criminal Stanislav Galić on the basis of individual responsibility on charges of murder, inhumane acts other than murder, cimes against humanity, unlawfully inflicting terror upon civilians, attacks on civilians and violations of the laws and customs of war. The indictment was sealed until Serbian war criminal Stanislav Galić was arrested on December 20, 1999.

Prosecutors introduced into evidence a report including the testimony of ammunition expert Berko Zečević.He reported that certain components of the projectile could only have been produced in one of two places, both of which were under the control of the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor. The court found Serbian war criminal Stanislav Galić guilty beyond reasonable doubt of all five mass killings prosecutors had charged him with, including Markale massacre.

On December 5, 2003 his trial ended in a conviction and a 20 year sentence for the shelling and sniping of Sarajevo. Serbian war criminal Stanislav Galić appealed the judgement and on November 30, 2006 his appeal was rejected and the appeals chamber extended his sentence from 20 years to life imprisonment.

On Friday former leader and creator of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" and one of the masterminds of the genocide against the Bosnian people,Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic will be asked to enter pleas on 11 counts of war crimes, including Genocide, at the U.N. war crimes tribunal in the Hague, the Netherlands.
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SILAJDZIC AND SUVALOV DISCUSSED RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AGAINST GEORGIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 29,2008) - The Bosnian President Haris Silajdžić met yesterday with the Russian Ambassador to Bosnia Constantin Suvalov.Ambassador Suvalov presented the attitude of his country in relation to Russia’s move to accept the independence of Abkhazia South Ossetia and delivered the statement of the Russian President Medvedev and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lavrov regarding this issue. As agreed, these statements were forwarded to the members of the Bosnian State Presidency.

President Silajdžić said he hoped that war in Georgia would not continue and he emphasised that the Bosnian citizens are very sensitive when it comes to protection of civilians, because during the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia,civilians were the main targets, which resulted with genocide against the Bosnian people.

Ambassador Suvalov also confirmed the prior statement from this cabinet that the Bosnian State Presidency has never approved of any sale of weapons to Georgia.
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DAVIDSON: LOCAL ELECTIONS WILL NOT BRING CHANGE IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 29,2008) - The outgoing Head of the OSCE Mission in Bosnia, Douglas Davidson,said yesterday that he believes that the upcoming local elections will not bring dramatic political changes in the country.

Leaving Bosnia after four years of service, Davidson presumes such a scenario, since he is convinced that in the voters’ minds “everything still starts from which nationality they belong to”.

“As long as everything starts from there, the same people will win the elections. However, this is not a matter up for discussion if that is what the voters want,” Davidson said.

However, theses days, he is a lot more interested in what will happen with the agreement between the SDA and HDZ, with regards to the nationally coloured problem of the school certificates in Stolac, and he is not convinced that this agreement will be implemented in the field on time.

You have witnessed that the pre-election campaign has started much sooner than it was formally planned- on September 5. Could this early start of the pre-election campaign be considered a manipulation of the election process?

DAVIDSON: The fact is that it is a trend that the election campaigns start sooner and sooner, however, I do not think that that is manipulation. When it comes to the administrative part of the elections, with the thought that people will know where to vote and whether their votes are correctly counted, it is all right. It is true that now everybody is starting to repair roads or similar… That is some form of manipulation, but it happens everywhere. It shows that some manipulations, if they are beneficial to citizens, can be good.

Generally speaking, what are your expectations for the upcoming elections?

DAVIDSON: I think that there will be no big changes at the local level. However, if the election results reflect the wish of the majority of the electorate, it is a democracy and no one has a right to criticize it in that case.

Why do you think that the ruling parties will win at the local elections, as well?

DAVIDSON: Because the majority of voters act in line with their national belonging. In some way, the Dayton Agreement determined this. Politics dominate in all spheres of your society, and almost everything depends on which party you belong to. I am fascinated with the fact that this is the condition for being appointed a school director or a manager of a museum. How can you then blame people for voting for a political party that they think will take care of them the best?! Voters should ask questions about the functioning of the system, what has been done with the reforms…Without that, I guess that the same people will get the majority of the votes, because the system here is functioning in that way.

How do you see the fact that the number of the so-called national minorities is a symbolic matter in the majority of the local communities?

DAVIDSON: The OSCE Human Rights Department supports the thesis based on ensuring more space for national minorities; however, our election advisors are convinced that that is applicable only in bigger centres. However, you can see for yourself that that the leaders of the six political parties can not even reach an agreement about the census. For example, if you ask our human rights offices, they will tell you that the census is needed for more reasons. Namely, Bosnia signed many documents which guarantee certain rights to national minorities. Nowadays no one knows who the minorities are or where they are. The census from 1991 does not exactly show the number of the minority population, as well as the number of three constitutive people.

Then you are against the new idea of the International Community that says “the census is needed, but without a declaration of national belonging”?

DAVIDSON: No, I am not against that, however, our human rights officers are against such a principle. I believe that there are certain values in the fact that we do not count people by their nationality. You have to know how many people live in the certain area; however, in this country it would be much better if less importance is dedicated to national belonging. Speaking long-term, there should be an aspiration to reach that point where there will not be divisions into three parts and that the best person is appointed for a job position, regardless of their nationality.

How do you see the accusations that you yourself are responsible for the problem of “two schools under one roof”, existing in Bosnia, and do you consider the fact that there are still 54 such schools as your failure?

DAVIDSON: Yes, I do. It is correct that the OHR and the OSCE were “pushing” this system, however, Croat NGOs that address such criticism, forget the very important fact- that the system was established only in schools were there were Croats and where Bosniaks had no access. That system was a temporary measure set in order to improve the return of refugees. The International Community was not the one who wanted separated schools, it was the people. We can support changing the legislation in that regard, and the High Representative can, for example, remove the minister of education, but if the people are still violating their laws and the local authorities do not want to sanction that, then there is nothing we can do about it.

Do you expect that the agreement of the leaders of the SDA and HDZ, regarding the diplomas in the Secondary School Stolac, will be implemented in the field?

DAVIDSON: It is better that they do it as soon as possible, because school should start next week. However, there is still confusion in regards with what did they agree about. As far as I understood, they will verify certificates, enroll children in school and form the commission that will solve this issue. However, if they did not do it over the weekend, and I did not see that that was the case, then I do not know how they are planning to do it on time? The problem of Covic and Tihic is that their representatives in that Canton have worked on a division of schools for all these years. This case is a sort of test to see if they will take the orders of their political leaders.
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VOLKSWAGEN PLANS TO OPEN NEW PLANTS IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 29,2008) - The FBIH Entity Prime Minister Nedzad Brankovic met yesterday with the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony – Christian Wulff. The FBIH Entity Finance Minister Bevanda, Energy Minister Heco, Trade Minister Radivojevic, Environment Minister Herceg and a delegation of Volkswagen were also attented the meeting that was mainly about strengthening the economic relations and cooperation between these Bosnian and German regions.

Brankovic informed the guests about investments in the energy sector, efforts to enhance the industry and plans for transport infrastructure development.Wulff underlined that new Volkswagen plants will be developed in Bosnia soon.
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SDA CONDEMNS SLOVENIA'S SUPPORT FOR GENOCIDAL SERBIAN FASCIST AGRESSOR'S PROJECTS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 27,2008) - The largest Bosnian political party - the Party of Democratic Action (Bosnian: Stranka Demokratske Akcije - SDA) stated that the recent meeting of the ministries of Slovenia and the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" in which they discussed about European integration and other Bosnian foreign policy issues outside the Bosnian state institutions is more than clear message to the entire Bosnian political public, and especially to the Bosnian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

SDA points out that the statement by the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, at the beginning of this year, that "Bosnia represents the threat to the Western Balkans stability" and that "its perspective is unclear", as well as that "it can not exist independently without international representatives", seemed like benevolent, but that, after diplomatically inapt meeting with the leader of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" Milorad Dodik, without the presence of the Bosnian Ambassador, “things should be obviously considered in the context in which the Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs implied that Slovenia will be strong advocate to Serbia”.

SDA also reminds on the meeting of the delegations of the Ministries for Internal Affairs of Slovenia and the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" in Otocec, near Novo Mesto,Slovenia.

"Having on mind the consequences of the Serbian-Croatian agreements on reorganizing of the mutual relations at the expense of Bosnia, the newest moves return us to the relations established in the first Yugoslavia where the destiny of these areas were determined by the Serbian-Croatian-Slovenian nationalisms at at the expense of Bosnia and all its citizens. The biggest victim of such tailoring processes in the ex Yugoslavia, Bosnia, will not be used as a bargaining chip of the unfinished nationalist projections of the first and second Yugoslavia, nor will its sovereign territory in the historical borders serve any more for fulfilling ambitions on someone’s big states, nor will its people reduced only to the religious dimension, it was said in the SDA announcement.

It is also pointed out that Bosnia will outlive the newest Slovenian fragmentations that take place monitored by the official authority through the affirmation of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" as the independent country, directed not only by some political representatives of the Serbians living in Bosnia, but also by the top Slovenian politicians and the scandalous, politically and privately, Natasa Vodusek, Slovenian Ambassador to Bosnia,SDA stated.
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A RAPE VICTIM TESTIFIED BEFORE BOSNIAN STATE COURT AT TRIAL OF SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL PREDRAG KUJUNDZIC

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 27,2008) - At the trial of Serbian war criminal Predrag Kujundzic before the Bosnian State Court,the Bosnian State Prosecutor examined today protected witness 2, a rape victim, with no presence of the public.

The Trial Chamber approved the Prosecution's motion, requesting the examination of protected witness 2 with no presence of the public.

The indictment states that Serbian war criminal Predrag Kujundzic was commander of a genocidal Serbian fascist paramilitary unit. He is charged with war crimes against Bosnian civilians,committed in the Doboj area,during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The indictment states that Serbian war criminal Predrag Kujundzic sexually abused protected witness 2 and kept her in slavery from June to December 1992, intimidating her by telling her that he would kill her mother and sister. The indictment further states that he imposed restrictions on the freedom of movement on witness 2, that he raped her and allowed other genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor's soldiers to rape her.

According to the indictment witness 2 was a minor at that time.

At the beginning of the hearing the Trial Chamber announced that Serbian war criminal Predrag Kujundzic filed a motion, asking for the disqualification of Trial Chamber Chairman Saban Maksumic, because he "distrusted his objectivity in this case" due to the fact that he was a judge with the Bosnian Military Court in Sarajevo in the course of the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The Bosnian State Court declined the motion.
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GENOCIDAL SERBIA TO OFFER FINACIAL AND LEGAL HELP TO SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL RADOVAN KARADZIC

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands (August 27,2008) - Genocidal Serbia will offer legal help to former leader and creator of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" and one of the masterminds of the genocide against the Bosnian people,Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic’s defence before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Belgrade’s envoy to the Netherlands announced.

Radoslav Stojanovic said that he would seek the tribunal’s permission to visit Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic at The Hague detention unit on September 7, adding he would ask Belgrade to provide all the documents necessary for the trial, if Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic thought the genocidal Serbian fascist government could facilitate his defence.

“I can ask him only if he needs any help from the government of Serbia on the preparation of documents, maybe some financial support," Stojanovic said in an interview.

"I do not want to see him, I do not want to talk to him, but if he wants to see me, I will see him," he added.

Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic have been indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for Genocide and war crimes committed during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.
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NEW EBRD PRESIDENT TO VISIT BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 27,2008) - On 1 September the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) President Thomas Mirow begins a three-day trip to the southeastern Europe, his first visit to the EBRD region as head of the Bank.

The visit underscores the increasing importance the EBRD attaches to strengthening policy dialogue with the countries in the region and supporting their further development.

"The EBRD welcomes the progress the region has made in implementing key reforms and the encouraging increase in cross-border cooperation and investment that have bolstered recent growth across the southeastern Europe," EBRD said in a press release.

"In Bosnia and the region, the Bank will continue to play a crucial role by investing alone and together with other foreign investors. Key targets for investment to support the development of the regional economies include transport and municipal infrastructure, energy, as well as the agribusiness and private sectors. The EBRD will continue to stimulate regional economic integration, to help make markets more competitive, to improve quality and to reduce the cost of services, which is key for integration into the broader European and global markets,"EBRD said.

During the visit to Bosnia, Mr Mirow will meet Bosnian senior government officials, business partners and international envoys. In the Bosnian capital Sarajevo,Mirow will sign a €3 million loan to the microcredit organization MI Bospo and a €6 million loan to a local agribusiness enterprise, Bimal.

The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in the southeastern Europe, having invested more than €4.9 billion in sectors including infrastructure, energy, the financial sector and the private corporate sector, especially small and medium size enterprises.

The Bank has to date invested €762 million in 69 projects in Bosnia.
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BOSNIAN WOMAN DIES OF HEART ATTACK AFTER IDENTIFYING SON'S REMAINS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 27,2008) - A Bosnian man who was murdered by the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor 16 years ago,during the Serbian aggression against Bosnia,will be buried next to his mother, who died of a heart attack when she learnt his remains had been identified.

Elvedin Hadzihasanovic was murdered in eastern Bosnia in 1992. He was 34 years old.His body was thrown into a mass grave where it lay unidentified until this summer.

However, forensics experts have used DNA testing to identify nearly 12,000 bodies discovered in mass graves in the former Yugoslavia.

For most families, the news of a positive identification brings a sense of release, but for the dead man's mother, Suhra Hadzihasanovic, it was all too much.

"Unfortunately my mother did not live long enough to bury him," said her other son, Enver. "Her heart simply could not endure it."

According to the Bosnian daily newspaper Dnevni Avaz, Elvedin's funeral was supposed to have taken place on Friday, but it has now been pushed back to next Tuesday to allow his mother to be interred as well.

The 1992-95 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia left some 200,000 Bosnian citizens dead. Former leader and creator of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" and one of the masterminds of the genocide against the Bosnian people,Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic.was finally captured in June and is facing a trial at The Hague.

Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic have been indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for Genocide and war crimes committed during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.
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PROMINENT KUWAITI BUSINESSMAN TO INVEST 250 MILLION BOSNIAN MARKS IN BIHAC

BIHAC, Bosnia (August 27,2008) - A presentation took place in the western Bosnian city of Bihac today, of an office and residential complex that Kuwaiti businessman Al Zamel is to build in the Luke area of the city.

A local official has given his formal consent to the urban plan for the project to Mr. Waleed M. Al Zamel, one of the owners. The one-of-a-kind project in Bosnia is estimated to be worth 250 million Bosnian Marks.

Novi Bihac (New Bihac) will consist of a residential area with 410 apartments, a ten-storey office building and a hotel with the same number of stories. A four-storey shopping centre will be on the area of 38,000 square metres. This is the biggest foreign investment so far in Bihac and the Una-Sana Canton.
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EIB LENDS 30 MILLION EUROS FOR WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 27,2008) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending 60 million Euros for implementation of the water and sanitation projects of municipalities and cantons in . This will help to improve the quality of life of the country’s citizens and meet Bosnia’s needs regarding future compliance with EU environmental legislation.

The EIB loan will finance an investment programme for the water and wastewater sector in 15 Bosnian towns that will result in an improvement and expansion of water supply and sewerage systems and the construction of wastewater treatment plants.

The EIB loan will cover up to 50% of the total costs of the planned projects that will be co-financed by the budgets of the FBIH entity and municipalities and cantons and the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession.

The remaining funds will be provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank, representing another example of the good coordination and cooperation among all three international financial institutions in the southeastern Europe.

At present, project preparation in a number of towns is already in progress, assisted by grants provided by the European Union under the Environmental Project Preparation Facility.

Some of the required feasibility studies have already been completed in cooperation between the municipal authorities and internationally experienced consultants, e.g. in Velika Kladusa, Orasje and Bosanski Petrovac, and more are to be undertaken in the course of 2008.

The EIB, the European Union’s Bank promoting EU objectives, has provided loans in Bosnia exceeding 760 million Euros since 2000, including the current loan. EIB lending in the country is on an upward trend. In 2007 alone, the Bank granted loans in Bosnia amounting to some 272 million Euros for various energy and road rehabilitation projects as well as the investments of small and medium-sized companies through indirect support via partner financing institutions operating in Bosnia.
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OSCAR WINNING HOLLYWOOD ACTOR KEVIN SPACEY CLOSE 14TH SARAJEVO FILM FESTIVAL

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (26 August,2008) - The Sarajevo Film Festival, which opened on August 15th, closed with a screening of "The Usual Suspects", starring US actor Kevin Spacey, who attended the festival.The Bosnian capital Sarajevo, which became "a vibrant city that never sleeps", hosted more than 100,000 visitors during the festival's nine days. It offered side events, concerts and performances in addition to 20 film screenings a day. Over 1,300 accredited guests and 650 journalists attended the festival.

The joint Croatia-Bosnia production "Buick Riviera" won Best Film and the FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) Prize at the 14th Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF). Goran Rusinovic, a Croatian, directed the film, based on a book by Miljenko Jergovic. Actors Leon Lucev and Slavko Stimac, who co-starred in the movie, shared the Best Actor award.

Finally, with an average mark of 4.78, "The Usual Suspects" won the Audience Award, surpassing the Bosnian documentary "The Seeker" by 0.02 points.


Two-time Oscar winning Hollywood actor and film director Kevin Spacey signs autographs at the Sarajevo Film Festival.


Two-time Oscar winning U.S. actor Kevin Spacey on the red carpet, at the 14th Sarajevo Film Festival, in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, Friday, Aug. 22, 2008. In honour of his arrival, the Festival organized a special screening of his cult movie The Usual Suspects by director Bryan Singer, the role in which he was awarded his first Academy Award. A total of 174 movies from more than 40 countries was presented within 12 programs during the nine-day long festival.


Two-time Oscar winning U.S. actor Kevin Spacey, left, and Mirsad Purivatra, right, the director of the Sarajevo Film Festival, on the red carpet, at the 14th Sarajevo Film Festival, in Bosnia's capital Sarajevo, Friday, Aug. 22, 2008.

Sarajevo Film Festival Director Mirsad Purivatra received the Chevalier de l'ordre des arts et des lettres, one of France's highest prizes for an outstanding contribution to spreading French culture or promoting global cultural heritage.
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FOUR NEW WITNESSES TESTIFIED BEFORE BOSNIAN STATE COURT AT TRIAL OF SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL NOVAK DJUKIC

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (26 August,2008) - Four new Prosecution witnesses have testified before the Bosnian State Court about May 25, 1995, when a mortar hit the Kapija area in Tuzla, where young Bosnian people used to gather, killing 71 and wounding more than 200 Bosnian civilians.

The Bosnian State Prosecution charges this crime upon Serbian war criminal Novak Djukic, former commander of a genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor's paramilitary unit (VRS).

The Prosecution considers that, on May 25, 1995 Serbian war criminal Novak Djukic ordered the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor's artillery squad, situated in Panjik village on mount Ozren, to shell the eastern Bosnian city of Tuzla, using 130mm cannons.

"I heard an explosion and I saw a lot of dust. A few seconds later we heard screams and cries for help. There was blood everywhere. People were saying all kinds of things, like 'do not leave us here, save us' and so on, " Nadir Huremovic said. As he was not injured on that day, he and his friend tried to help the wounded.

Witness Vildana Isic said that her two brothers were wounded on that day, but she was not injured. She said that she went to Gradina hospital by car, together with her brothers and a few other wounded Bosnian civilians. When they got there they received medical assistance.

"I had to step on my friends' body parts. When we arrived to the hospital, I found out that my boyfriend had been killed. A friend of mine, who was with me on that day, died ten days later," Isic said.

Witnesses Edin Altunbabic and Adnan Aliefendic were not wounded on May 25, 1995. As they said in the courtroom, they tried to help whoever they could after the mortar had hit the ground.

"I drove a few people to the hospital. I stayed there, helping others carry the wounded people to the hospital. I remember a truck, which drove many wounded people to the hospital. Most of them did not show any signs of life," Altunbabic said.

The trial of Serbian war criminal Novak Djukic is due to continue before the Bosnian State Court on September 2, 2008, when the Bosnian State Prosecutor will examine three more witnesses.
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BOSNIAN STATE COURT INDICTS SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL ZORAN TOMIC FOR GENOCIDE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (26 August,2008) - The Bosnian State Court confirmed yesterday the Indictment against a former member of the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor's formations on a charge of Genocide for taking part in the mass murder of up to 10,000 Bosnian civilians from the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica,during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The Indictment states that Serbian war criminal Zoran Tomic, intending to exterminate in part a group of Bosnians, as a member of the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor's formations, in the period from 10 July to 19 July 1995, participated in the forcible transfer of the Bosnian population from the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica with the aim to execute them.

On 12 July 1995, the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor's formations participated in the search of the Bosnian villages in the UN safe area of Srebrenica, in the vicinity of Potočari.

The Indictment also states that, on 13 July 1995,Serbian war criminal Zoran Tomic participated in the attacks in the area above Kamenica.

The Accused Tomić is alleged to have thus participated in the illegal detention of several thousand Bosnian civilians who were attempting to escape from the safe area and who were taken to warehouse of the Kravica Farming Cooperative where they were later mass murdered by the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor.

Serbian war criminal Zoran Tomic was arrested by the Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) in June 2008.
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"BUICK RIVIERA" WINS SARAJEVO FILM FESTIVAL

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 25,2008) - A film about one Bosnian and one Serbian immigrant to the United States was chosen on Saturday as the best movie at the 14th Sarajevo Film Festival.The jury, chaired by Turkish film director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, awarded "Buick Riviera" by Croatian film director Goran Rusinovic and based on a novel by Miljenko Jergovic with the 25,000 Euro (US$37,160) Heart of Sarajevo Award.

The film tells the story of a Bosnian and a Serbian who meet on a deserted road in the United States. They spend the next 24 hours together, engaging in a psychological game of mutual accusations which will change their lives for good, just like the war they had both fled.

"To receive this award is a great honor both for the crew and the festival itself," Rusinovic said.

"Buick Riviera" was selected from 10 films from Austria, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey which competed at the southeastern European largest film festival.

Leon Lucev and Slavko Stimac were chosen as best actors for their role in the film. The best actress award went to Ayca Damagaci for her role in "My Marlon and Brando" by Turkish director Huseyin Karabey.

The nine-day festival showed 174 films and documentaries. The Sarajevo Film Festival was launched near the end of the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia and grew into the biggest regional film festival and one of the top ten in Europe.

COMPETITION PROGRAMME – FEATURE FILM

Jury:

President of the Jury:
NURI BILGE CEYLAN, director, Turkey

Jury members:
HUGH HUDSON, director, UK
MARIJA ŠKARIČIĆ, actress, Croatia
MICHAEL WEBER, head of Match Factory, Germany
DEBORAH YOUNG, artistic director of Taormina Film Festival, USA/Italy

Heart of Sarajevo for Best Film:

BUICK RIVIERA
Director: Goran Rušinović
Croatia, Bosnia, Germany, USA

Main award of the Sarajevo Film Festival’s Competition Programme provided by Concil of Europe (25,000 €)

The Special Jury Award:

MARCH
Director: Handl Klaus
Austria

Financial award provided by Agnes B. (10,000 €)

Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actress:

AYCA DAMGACI
MY MARLON AND BRANDO
Turkey

Financial award provided by the International Airport Sarajevo (2,500 €)

Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actor:

LEON LUČEV
SLAVKO ŠTIMAC
BUICK RIVIERA
Croatia, Bosnia, Germany, USA
Financial award sponsored by DHL (2,500 €)

COMPETITION PROGRAMME – SHORT FILM

Jury:

JAY JEON, Pusan Film Festival selector, Korea
ŠEJLA KAMERIĆ, artist BiH
MICHAEL J. WERNER co-chairman Fortissimo Films, USA


Heart of Sarajevo for Best Film:

TOLERANTIA
Director: Ivan Ramadan
Bosnia

Financial award in the amount of 3,000 € provided by Sarajevo Film Festival

Special Jury Mentions:

THE WAKE
Director: Timur Makarević
Bosnia

I KNOW
Director: Jan Cvitkovič
Slovenia, Hungary

Two Special Jury Mentions in the amount of 1,000 € each is provided by Coca-Cola HBC Bosnia d.o.o Sarajevo (po 1.000 €)

Special Honorary Mention:

ERGO
Director: Geza M. Toth
Hungary


COMPETITION PROGRAMME – DOCUMENTARY FILM

Jury:

MICHAEL BELTRAMI, director, Germany
JORGE SÁNCHEZ, director of Guadalajara Film Festival, Mexico
DŽEMAL ŠABIĆ, director, Bosnia


Heart of Sarajevo for Best Documentary Film:

CORRIDOR #8
Director: Boris Despodov
Bulgaria

Financial award provided by The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (3.000 €)

Human Rights Award:

DIVORCE ALBANIAN STYLE
Director: Adela Peeva
Bulgaria


Special Mention:

FABULOUS FAIRIES
Director: Marko Jeftić
Serbia


Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award:

CAT VILLIERS, PRODUCER

Special Heart of Sarajevo Award for 2008 is granted by the Sarajevo Film Festival Board of Directors to producer Cat Villiers.The Award is offered in recognition of the recipient’s outstanding contribution to film art and support in development of the Sarajevo Film Festival.

Cat Villiers has produced such masterpieces of our region’s cinematography as Milcho Manchevski’s multiply awarded BEFORE THE RAIN and Danis Tanovic’s NO MAN’S LAND, a film that carried the 2002 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Through her work and continuous involvement with the Sarajevo Film Festival, she contributed to the visibility of South-Eastern European cinema and played an instrumental role in the development of strong ties between the British film industry and our region, helping to confirm the Sarajevo Film Festival as the main crossroads of international and regional cinema. As a Trustee of the Katrin Cartlidge Foundation, Cat Villiers has been one of the Festival’s key partners in making Sarajevo the Foundation’s home and shaping its work into a strong platform for new creative voices in cinema.

Past recipients of the Special Heart of Sarajevo Award: Marco Mueller (2005), Mike Leigh (2006), Gavrilo Grahovac (2006), Steve Buscemi (2007).
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BOSNIAN STATE PROSECUTOR APPEALS VERDICT AGAINST SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL ZELJKO LELEK

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 25,2008) - The Bosnian State Prosecutor filed appealed the first instance verdict against Serbian war criminal Zeljko Lelek, sentencing him to 13 years' imprisonment for war crimes committed during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

As per the announcement made by the Bosnian State Prosecution, the appeal referred to the acquitting part of the verdict and the duration of the sentence.

The Prosecution considers that "certain criminal procedure and criminal law provisions" have been violated, while "the factual status has been incorrectly determined".

The Bosnian State Court pronounced the first instance verdict on May 23 this year. It found Serbian war criminal Zeljko Lelek guilty, as member of the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor's formations, of having participated in the deportation, rape, sexual abuse and unlawful detention of Bosnian civilians from the Visegrad area during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

As stated in the verdict Serbian war criminal Zeljko Lelek was sentenced for having participated in taking away of Hasan Ahmetspahic and Nail Osmanbegovic from Crnca village, as well as rape of Zejneba Osmanbegovic.

Besides that he was found guilty of having raped two other Bosnian women in the course of June 1992. The two Bosnian women were detained by the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor in "Vilina vlas" spa, which was turned into a concentration camp during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

Serbian war criminal Zeljko Lelek was found guilty of unlawful detention of Bosnian civilians in the eastern Bosnian town of Visegrad. He was acquitted of the sub-charges that he tortured one of detained Bosnian civilians.

By the first instance verdict Serbian war criminal Zeljko Lelek was also acquitted of the charges that he participated in the taking away and murdering of a group of Bosnian civilians on the Drina river banks and the deportation of several Bosnian families from Visegrad.

The Prosecution's appeal has been forwarded to the Appellate Chamber of the Bosnian State Court.
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LEADERS OF SIX MOST INFLUENTIAL POLITICAL PARTIES IN BOSNIA HELD TALKS IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 25,2008) - Leaders of Bosnia's six most influential political parties met in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo on Saturday, to discuss a range of issues.Those included Bosnia's European integrations, constitutional reform, state-owned property status, and that of the Brčko District.

The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) leader Sulejman Tihić told reporters that "the talks had not resulted in major agreements".

A joint communiqué released after the meeting, and read by Tihić, said that that its participants decided to have Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Špirić submit information about "which SAA conditions were not met by Bosnia, and for what reason".

A proposal to conduct census in the country without ethnic criteria was not accepted, while there was also no breakthrough in on the state-owned property issue.Tihić said, all parties will send their legal opinions related to efforts to adopt a state property law.

Bosnia's top political representatives also failed to see eye to eye on adopting legislation that would outlaw genocide denial, but agreed that constitutional reform debate should continue after the local elections scheduled for October.
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VOTERS' LIST FOR OCTOBER ELECTIONS TO BE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 25,2008) - The Bosnian Central Electoral Register for the next local elections in October was finalized on August 21 at midnight, and the Bosnian Central Election Commission now has until August 28 to announce the number of voters per constituency/municipality.

It has been known so far that there are more than three million voters in the country, but an exact number is expected to be unveiled this week.

Bosnia will hold local elections on October 5th. Voters will elect new municipal councils and municipal mayors, as well as new Brcko and Banja Luka assemblies and a new city council in Mostar.

These will be the first elections in Bosnia in which representatives of national minorities will be elected to local assemblies.64 political parties and 183 independent candidates were certified to stand in the election.
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TIHIC AND HOSSEINI DISCUSSED COOPERATION BETWEEN BOSNIA AND IRAN

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 22,2008) - The President of the largest Bosnian political party - the Party of Democratic Action (Bosnian: Stranka Demokratske Akcije - SDA) Sulejman Tihic met with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Bosnia Ahmad Fard Hosseini yesterday.They discussed cooperation between the two friendly countries and exchanged their views on current political issues.

The two officials emphasized that cooperation between Bosnia and Iran was in the interest of all Bosnian and Iranian citizens.The meeting reviewed the existing level of cooperation and underlined the need for promoting robust ties as their existed tremendous scope of cooperation in various fields.

Ambassador Hosseini expressed his hope that Bosnian politicians would succeed in reaching a consensus and meet the conditions of the Stabilization and Assocation Agreement with the European Union.

Tihic thanked the Iranian people and leadership for their support and generous assistance to the Bosnian people during the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.
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UN WAR CRIMES COURT APPOINTS SCOTTISH JUDGE IAIN BONOMY TO PRESIDE OVER TRIAL OF SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL RADOVAN KARADZIC

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands (August 22,2008) - The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) appointed today Scottish judge Iain Bonomy to oversee preparations for the genocide trial of former leader and creator of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" and one of the masterminds of the genocide against the Bosnian people, committed during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia,Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic.

Bonomy's appointment comes after tribunal president Fausto Pocar reassigned the Dutch judge who led Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic's first appearance at the court.

On Aug. 15, Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic mailed a letter to Pocar accusing Orie of having an anti-Serbian bias and requesting that he be removed from the case.

Pocar said yesterday he had decided to change chambers for "trial management and case distribution needs".In a separate filing, he said Karadzic's letter had been submitted to him improperly, and so there was no need to address it, given the change.

Bonomy was a judge in the trial of Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic's former mentor Serbian war criminal Slobodan Milosevic. That case was aborted when Milosevic died of a heart attack in his U.N. cell in March 2006.

Bonomy and Karadzic will come face-to-face for the first time Aug. 29, when Serbian war criminal must enter pleas to 11 charges including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. If he refuses, the court automatically enters not guilty pleas.

Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic was arrested last month after 13 years on the run from justice.He is charged on the basis of individual criminal responsibility [Article 7(1) of the ICTY Statute] and superior criminal responsibility [Article 7(3)] with:

Genocide, complicity in genocide, extermination, murder, wilful killing (grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, violation of the laws or customs of war, genocide, crime against humanity, Articles 2-5), committed in the areas that include but are not limited to the municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina of Bijeljina, Bratunac, Bosanski Šamac, Brčko, Doboj, Foča, Ilijaš, Ključ, Kotor Varoš, Novi Grad, Prijedor, Rogatica, Sanski Most, Srebrenica, Višegrad, Vlasenica, Zavidovići and Zvornik, and the Srebrenica enclave.

Persecutions, deportation, inhumane acts, unlawfully inflicting terror upon civilians, taking of hostages (violations of the laws or customs of war, crimes against humanity, Articles 3 and 5). committed in the areas that include but are not limited to the municipalities of Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Bileća, Bosanska Krupa, Bosanski Novi, Bosanski Petrovac, Bosanski Šamac, Bratunac, Brčko, Čajniče, Čelinac, Doboj, Donji Vakuf, Foča, Gacko, Hadžići, Ilidža, Ilijaš, Jajce, Ključ, Kalinovik, Kotor Varoš, Nevesinje, Novi Grad, Novo Sarajevo, Pale, Prijedor, Prnjavor, Rogatica, Rudo, Sanski Most, Šekovići, Šipovo, Sokolac, Teslić, Trnovo, Višegrad, Vlasenica, Vogošća, Zavidovići, and Zvornik and the Srebrenica enclave,during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.
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TESTIMONY OF WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATOR MIRSAD TOKACA POSTPONED IN TRIAL OF SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL PREDRAG KUJUNDZIC

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 22,2008) - Following the Trial Chamber's intervention, the Bosnian State Prosecutor postponed yesterday the examination of witness Mirsad Tokaca.Due to the fact that the Bosnian State Prosecutor was not able to examine its witness in the manner requested by the Trial Chamber, it decided to postpone his examination. The new date will be set at a later stage.

Mirsad Tokaca, who introduced himself as "war crimes investigator", is president of the Research and Documentation Centre, RDC, from the Bosnian capital Sarajevo. This NGO was behind the project on "Population loss in Bosnia, 1991 to 1992".

The Prosecution invited him to testify at the trial of Serbian war criminal Predrag Kujundzic. The indictment states that Kujundzic was commander of a genocidal Serbian paramilitary unit. He is charged with war crimes against Bosnian civilians,committed in the Doboj area,during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The Defence objected Tokaca's examination in the first place, claiming that he could not be considered as a representative of some formal authority and adding that it was not clear how the RDC obtained the data that Tokaca was going to present in the courtroom.

The Trial Chamber rejected the Defence's objection, adding that it would treat the evidence "in the same way as all other pieces of evidence", after the completion of his examination.

The Prosecution tried to examine Tokaca by asking him about the broad context of the war and number of victims in Doboj area, but the Chamber intervened.

"The factual description contained in the indictment does not cover the entire area of Doboj municipality. It mentions specific locations and we therefore have to concentrate on concrete names and data," Trial Chamber Chairman Saban Maksumic said.

The database compiled by the RDC, on the basis of collected documents and research activities, contains names of individual persons and information about how those persons died during the course of the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The Chamber allowed the Prosecution to prepare the witness again and examine him in a different way, which will be adjusted to the Bosnian State Court's proposal.

The Chamber mentioned that protected Prosecution witness 14 refused to cooperate and receive the summons. It informed the Prosecution that it might issue an apprehension order, unless the Prosecution decided not to examine this witness at all.

The Chamber asked the Prosecution to provide it with the recent documents that would show whether protected witness 18 was capable of appearing in the courtroom. The Prosecution filed a motion, asking to read the witness' statement in the courtroom, as he was allegedly not able to appear before the court due to health reasons.

The trial of Serbian war criminal Predrag Kujundzic is due to continue before the Bosnian State Court on August 25,2008.
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BOSNIAN STATE PROSECUTOR COMPLETES EVIDENCE PRESENTATION AT TRIAL OF FOUR SERBIAN WAR CRIMINALS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 22,2008) - The Bosnian State Prosecutor presented material evidence yesterday thus completing its evidence presentation at the trial of Serbian war criminals Sreten Lazarevic, Dragan Stanojevic, Mile Markovic and Slobodan Ostojic.Earlier on the Prosecution examined all witnesses and asked for permission to present its material evidence at a later stage, when the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, provided it with endorsements and certificates related to the presented documents.

In the meantime the Defence started presenting evidence.

The Bosnian State Prosecutor charges Serbian war criminals Sreten Lazarevic, Dragan Stanojevic, Mile Markovic and Slobodan Ostojic, as members of the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor's formations, with having participated in the detention and torture of Bosnian civilians from the eastern Bosnian town of Zvornik,during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The indictment states that Sreten Lazarevic was the commander of a concentration camp in Zvornik, in which Bosnian civilians were held by the, while Serbian war criminals Dragan Stanojevic, Mile Markovic and Slobodan Ostojic were detention camp guards.

According to the indictment on several occasions, Serbian war criminal Dragan Stanojević, in the capacity of the concentration camp guard, enabled groups of the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor's soldiers to torture and abuse detained Bosnian civilians. The indictment states that in September 1992, Serbian war criminal Dragan Stanojević tortured one ninety year old detained Bosnian civilian.

The indictment further states that Serbian war criminal Mile Marković, in September 1992 in the building of DP Novi Izvor, together with another concentration camp guard, tortured one detained Bosnian civilian, beating him all over his body and forcing him to hold his arms in front of his face in order to prevent the blood from splashing around.

The indictment states that, in the summer of 1992, Serbian war criminal Slobodan Ostojić in the building of DP Novi Izvor, together with an unidentified group of concentration camp guards, tortured two detained Bosnian civilians, for an alleged suspicion that they attempted to escape from the concentration camp.

The documents, presented yesterday by the Bosnian State Prosecutor, mainly contain evidence of the existence of an armed conflict in the Zvornik area in the period covered by the indictment.

The Prosecution presented a list of members of the genocidal paramilitary formations of the Serbians living in Bosnia from Zvornik. The mentioned list contains the names of the four Serbian war criminals.

The trial of Serbian war criminals Sreten Lazarevic, Dragan Stanojevic, Mile Markovic and Slobodan Ostojic is due to continue before the Bosnian State Court on August 26, 2008.
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BOSNIA'S MONTHLY INFLATION DROPS TO 0.1%

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 22,2008) - Maida Hasanbegovic, Deputy Director of the Bosnian State Agency for Statistics said monthly inflation in July amounted to 0.1%.

Annual inflation in Bosnia in July amounted to 9.9%. At an annual level, the prices of transport increased most – as much as 19%, as well as food and non-alcoholic beverages – 15.8%. Annual inflation in eurozone in July amounted to 4%, while in the EU it was 4.4%. The highest inflation was registered in Latvia – 16.5% and the lowest one in the Netherlands – 3% and in Portugal – 3.1%,said the Bosnian State Agency for Statistics.

The prices of transport rose most – 1.3%, and the restaurants and hotels increased their prices 1.1%. The prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other energy derivatives were up 0.5%, the prices of furniture, house appliances and house maintenance as well as alcoholic beverages were up 0.4%, and the prices of tobacco and education rose 0.2%.

The price increase was largely influenced by 2%price increase of petrol and 3.2% town-transport. Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages in July fell slightly – 0.8%.
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SDA PRESIDENT SULEJMAN TIHIC INVITES BOSNIA'S RULING POLITICAL PARTIES TO A MEETING

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 21,2008) - The President of the largest Bosnian political party - the Party of Democratic Action (Bosnian: Stranka Demokratske Akcije - SDA) Sulejman Tihic called the heads of leading political parties in Bosnia to meet and discuss burning issues related to Bosnia’s obligations in the process of European integration on Saturday, August 23 in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo.

They will talk about the Bosnian state property and the status of the Brcko District, which are part of issues that need to be resolved as a precondition for the transition of the Office of the Internationa Community's High Representative in Bosnia (OHR) into the Office of the EU Special Representative (EUSR).
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REQUESTS OF ARCELOR MITTAL ZENICA WORKERS REJECTED

ZENICA, Bosnia (August 21,2008) - Negotiations of trade unions of Arcelor Mittal from the central Bosnian city of Zenica with the employer about the increase of wages were stopped due to the refusal of the owner of the company to increase the hourly wage to 3.2 Bosnian Marks.

The employer offered for hourly wages to increase by 6.7 percent and amount to 2.37 Bosnian Marks which workers refused and announced radical measures.

The trade union explained their request for the increase in wages by 50 percent, which was later reduced to 30 percent, with the increase of prices of basic foodstuffs in Bosnia and the fact that the company is making more and more money and even generated a profit of 64 million Bosnian Marks last year, while workers did not get anything.
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BOSNIAN FOREIGN TRADE DEFICIT AT 5,49 BILLION BOSNIAN MARKS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 21,2008) - Bosnia realized 635.4 million Bosnian Marks export and 1.501 billion Bosnian Marks worth import in July, reported in the Bosnian Agency for Statistics.

The import export ratio amounted to 42.3% in July. In the first seven month 2008, export was worth 3.984 billion Bosnian Marks or 17.4% more than in the same period in 2007, while import amounted to 9.479 billion Bosnian Marks or 23.2% more.

The import export ratio was 42%, while foreign trade deficit amounted to 5.494 billion Bosnian Marks.

Metals and metal products were most exported in this period, worth a total of 1.128 billion Bosnian Marks and making 28.3% of total Bosnian exports.
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SDP BROKE ELECTION RULES

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 21,2008) - Posters of the Bosnian Social Democratic Party (SDP) with photos of candidates of this party for the forthcoming local elections in Bosnia have appeared on the streets of the wedtern Bosnian city of Bihac on August 20. In that way that party has broken the rule of the Bosnian Central Electoral Commission because their election campaign started before the legaly set date.

The Bosnian Central Electoral Commission has already informed that the putting up of paid advertisements and posters cannot start before September 5th.The Bosnian Central Electoral Commission will determine whether rules were broken and what it would do after its next meeting.
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BOSNIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER SVEN ALKALAJ INVITED TO BOTH AMERICAN PRE-ELECTION CONVENTIONS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 21,2008) - The Bosnian Minister for Foreign Affairs Sven Alkalaj has been invited to the forthcoming pre-elections of the both candidates for the future President of the United States, Democrat Barrack Obama and the Republican John McCain, said Zlatan Burzic, advisor in Alkalaj’s cabinet.

The Democrats will hold their convention in Denver, from August 25th to 28th and the Republicans in Minneapolis, from September 1st to 4th.

"Minister Alkalaj will use the opportunities at the conventions to remind both presidential candidates that, Bosnia, regardless the outcome of the elections, expects the continuation of the US support that our country has had before," said Burzic.
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BULGARIA WINS 2-1 AGAINST BOSNIA

ZENICA, Bosnia (August 21,2008) - Tottenham Hotspurs’ unsettled striker Dimitar Berbatov struck a goal in each half to lead Bulgaria to a 1-2 victory against Bosnia at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica yesterday.

Dimitar Berbatov showed exactly why he is such hot property in this summer’s European transfer market when he notched up two goals to steer Bulgaria to a friendly win over Bosnia, as the two nations begin preparations for their respective World Cup qualifying campaigns.

Bulgaria took the lead in the 26th minute when Berbatov took advantage of some shocking defending by Bosnia’s Hajduk Split midfielder Senijad Ibricic, who literally passed the ball directly to the Bulgarian captain right infront of an empty net.

The visitors created the second goal on their own, though, when Martin Petrov’s cross was headed in by Berbatov in the 57th minute. But just two minutes later, the Bosnians managed to pull a goal back and immediately raised hopes of a comeback.

Ibricic atoned for his earlier error when he rose highest in a crowded penalty box to head the ball past Bulgarian goalkeeper Stoyan Kolev who had only just come on three minutes earlier . But the fightback never quite materialized as Bulgaria held on for a 1-2 win.


Video: Bosnia 1-2 Bulgaria (Highlights)

Bosnia's coach Miroslav Blazevic was understandably disappointed with his side when he said after the match that some of his players simply did not meet his expecatations.

The Golden Lilies face a tough qualifying section for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, as they are grouped together with the likes of Belgium, Turkey and European Champions, Spain, whom they will kick off their campaign against on the 6th of September.

Bulgaria meanwhile, will start their journey to South Africa against Montenegro on the same date and they will fancy their chances of qualifying in a very feasible group that also contains the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus, Georgia and defending world champions, Italy.

Bosnia: Goran Brasnic - Zlatan Muslimovic, Branimir Bajic (Mario Juric, 54, Darko Maletic, 86), Emir Spahic, Safet Nadarevic - Dzemal Berberovic, Senijad Ibricic (Said Huseinovic 73), Dario Damjanovic (Mario Bozic, 77), Branislav Krunic (Ivan Radeljic, 54) - Zvjezdan Misimovic, Miralem Pjanic

Bulgaria: Dimitar Ivankov (Stoyan Kolev, 56) - Alexander Tunchev (Valentin Iliev, 30), Lucio Wagner, Igor Tomasic (Ivan Ivanov, 66), Zahari Sirakov (Stanislav Manolev, 80) - Stanislav Angelov (Stanislav Genchev, 45) Stilian Petrov, Velizar Dimitrov, Martin Petrov - Dimitar Berbatov, Zdravko Lazarov (Dimitar Rangelov, 53)
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BOSNIAN STATE COURT POSTPONES TRIAL OF SERBIAN WAR CRIMINALS VINKO KONDIC,BOSKO LUKIC AND MARKO ADAMOVIC CHARGED WITH GENOCIDE

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 21,2008) - The trial before the Bosnian State Court of Serbian war criminals Vinko Kondic, Bosko Lukic and Marko Adamovic, charged with genocide and war crimes committed against Bosnian civilians in the Kljuc area,during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia,has been postponed yesterday because the indictees were not brought to the courtroom from the detention units.

The Trial Chamber has decided to postpone the previously announced status conference at the trial for Kljuc war crimes because the two indictees have not been brought from the Detention Unit in Doboj. The public was not informed why they had not been brought to the hearing.

The Chamber has rescheduled the status conference for Monday, August 25.

Serbian war criminals Vinko Kondic, Bosko Lukic and Marko Adamovic are charged with having participated in organising and abetting a group of people in the perpetration of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Kljuc municipality in 1992,during the Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The Defence of Serbian war criminals Bosko Lukic (1946) and Marko Adamovic (1940) filed a motion, requesting the transfer of their clients from the Doboj Correctional Facility to the Kula Facility, because they are "senior citizens", who become "distracted" by the long journey from the detention unit to the Bosnian State Court.

Dusko Panic, Defence attorney of Serbian war criminal Vinko Kondic, asked for his client to be transferred to Kula Facility because the Detention Unit of the Bosnian State Court, in which he is currently held, consists of "containers, in which there is not enough air". The Bosnian State Prosecution objected this proposal.

The Trial Chamber will render its decision at a later stage, after the Prosecution and Defence reply in writing.

Due to his bad health, Serbian war criminal Vinko Kondic was first transferred from Doboj Facility to Kula and, from there, he was transferred to the Detention Unit of the Bosnian State Court.
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BOSNIA CONTINUES WITH THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE CRANS MONTANA FORUM

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 20,2008) - According to the decision of Bosnian government, the Bosnian Foreign Investment and Promotion Agency (FIPA) is appointed to be a technical organizer of the next Crans Montana Forum (CMF).

Crans Montana Forum is one of the most authoritative world Forums, as well as a place and meeting point of key decision makers from EU and Golf countries, since 1989.

Dynamic preparations related to the Forum organization are underway in compliance with schedule. In spite of the vacation season, about hundred participates have already registered at the official page of Crans Montana Forum www.cmf.ch to participate this event, what presents an encouraging fact for its success.

The Crans Montana Forum is an International Organization created in 1986 whose importance and prestige are well-established.

CMF works for the promotion of international cooperation and contributes to global growth while ensuring a high level of stability, equity and security. The aim is also to foster the best practices and ensure a global dialogue.

The first Crans Montana Forum was dedicated to the political and economic reconstruction of the post Cold War Europe. Since this first event, the Forum has continued to contribute and create meeting opportunities for its participants.

FIPA has for the last two months responded to numerous inquires of sponsors interested in Crans Montana Forum.

In addition to this FIPA has held two special presentations in Sarajevo and Banja Luka for the most prominent companies in Bosnia and for investors explaining main goals and expectations of the Forum.

Currently FIPA together with CMF headquarter finalizing a preliminary program which will be published soon on the official FIPA website http://www.fipa.gov.ba/ as well as on the official website of the Crans Montana Forum (www.cmf.ch).

Crans Montana Forum will be held in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo in the period from 7th to 10th October 2008 in the Radon Plaza Hotel.

The three proposed topics to be discussed at the Forum are: Transport, European Integrations and Tourism.
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THE BOSNIAN FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER MET WITH THE DELEGATION OF THE JAPAN BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 20,2008) - The Bosnian Foreign Trade Minister Mladen Zirojevic met with the delegation of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo.

The Japanese delegation arrived to Bosnia with the intention to assess the request for the project of the cleaning of sulphur from thermal power plant (TE) Ugljevik," the Bosnian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations informed.

Minister Zirojevic emphasized the importance of the project and confirmed great interest of the Bosnian side for this project as well as pointed out that terms, which are being offered by this bank, were extremely favourable.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation, (JBIC), is a Japanese governmental financial aid institution created in October 1, 1999, through the merging of the Export-Import Bank of Japan (JEXIM) and the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund, Japan (OECF).

The bank's capital is totally Japanese, and its budget and operations are regulated by Japanese laws, namely, the JBIC law. Its main office is located in Tokyo, but the bank can maintain subsidiary offices overseas. The main purpose of the institution is to promote economical cooperation between Japan and other countries, by providing resources to foreign investments and by fostering international commerce. It also has a major role in promoting Japanese exports and imports, and the country's activities overseas.

The bank's presence can be seen both in developed and developing countries. It tries to contribute to the stability of the international financial order and to the promotion of sustainable development. It follows a policy of not competing with ordinary financial institutions. The bank is one of the instruments of Japan's official development assistance (ODA), which contributes to the execution of the country's foreign policy.

As it aims at sustainable development, JBIC is concerned about social and environmental issues, and requires Environmental Impact Assessment studies in order to provide funding to any project.
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TWO WITNESSES TESTIFIED TODAY BEFORE BOSNIAN STATE COURT AT TRIAL OF SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL MOMIR SAVIC

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 20,2008) - Two Prosecution witnesses, who testified today at the trial of Serbian war criminal Momir Savic, said before Bosnian State Court that he personally ordered the deportation of Bosnian civilians from Drinsko settlement in the eastern Bosnian town of Visegrad in May 1992,during the early stages of the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

"Momir Savic invited us to meet him in Drinsko. About 30 or 40 Bosnians gathered there. He told us that we would have to leave our village by 11 or 12, adding that he could not give any guarantee to us that we would not be murdered afterwards," witness Mirsad Hubic said.

The Bosnian State Prosecution charges Serbian fascist Momir Savic, as member of the genocidal paramilitary fascist formations of the Serbians living in Bosnia,(VRS), with having participated in the deportation, capture, examination, torture, murder and rape of people in the Visegrad area in 1992.

Witness Mirsad Hubic left Drinsko village, together with nine neighbours, and headed towards Visegrad. On their way they saw a vehicle, from which three genocidal Serbian aggressor's soldiers got out. They forced these Bosnian civilians stay there.

"They held us there for an hour and a half. They examined us. They shot my father in his legs, telling him that he was wearing ressurrectionists' boots," the witness said, adding that they eventually released them. After that they managed to reach the area controlled by the Bosnian Army.

Second Prosecution witness Almasa Hadzic left Drinsko in 1992. She said that she saw Serbian war criminal Momir Savic at the cemetery in Drinsko and then again in Visegrad. She claims that he was armed and uniformed both times.

"We were forced to leave Drinsko. We were then taken to the school building in Nova mahala in Visegrad. Momir Savic came there, looking for Guso family members," Hadzic recalled, adding that her husband and son had been taken away before the civilians arrived to Visegrad. However, she did not say what had happened to them.

The trial of Serbian war criminal Momir Savic is due to continue before the Bosnian State Court on August 25.
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TRIAL OF SERBIAN WAR CRIMINALS KRSTO SAVIC AND MILKO MUCIBABIC BEFORE BOSNIAN STATE COURT CLOSED TO PUBLIC

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 20,2008) - At the trial of Serbian war criminals Krsto Savic and Milko Mucibabic, two Prosecution witnesses were examined before the Bosnian State Court today with no presence of the public.

The Trial Chamber decided to exclude the public from this hearing. Its decision was announced at a closed session.

"The public was excluded during the testimony of these witnesses before the Hague Tribunal. They testified under pseudonyms," Trial Chamber Chairwoman Minka Kreho said prior to excluding the public from the further course of the hearing.

The Bosnian State Prosecution charges Serbian war criminals Krsto Savic and Milko Mucibabic with participating in the crimes against Bosnian civilians from the Nevesinje, Kalinovik, Bileca and Gacko areas in 1992,during the Serbian aggression against Bosnia.


Serbian war criminals Krsto Savic and Milko Mucibabic

The Bosnian State Prosecutor charges the two Serbian fascists with murder, rape, forcible resettlement, disappearances, demolition of property, detention, capture and physical and mental torture of Bosnian civilians.

The trial of Serbian war criminals Savic and Mucibabic started in May 2008. The two Serbian war criminals were arrested, as per a warrant issued by the Bosnian State Prosecution, in September 2007.

The trial is due to continue before the Bosnian State Court tomorrow,on August 21.
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GENOCIDAL SERBIA DEVELOPS FASCIST TOURISM

BELGRADE, Serbia (August 20,2008) - Until recently, a small Serbian fascist pub named the Mad House in the New Belgrade suburb of the city was known only to a few people, mainly residents of nearby concrete tower blocks. But that changed after one of its regulars, who happened to be one of the most wanted war criminals in Europe, was arrested last month.

The capture of former leader and creator of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia "RS" and one of the masterminds of the genocide against the Bosnian people, committed during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia,Serbian fascist Radovan Karadzic – who it is claimed often drank in the pub – has suddenly placed the Mad House in the spotlight.

These days, Serbian fascists flock to the bar, now included on a Belgrade sightseeing tour – called Following Karadzic’s Footsteps – which includes places where Serbian war criminal lived and socialised while he hid from justice under a false identity.

Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic was captured on July 21 in an undisclosed location in a Belgrade suburb. The accused, however, claims he was detained three days before, in a bus taking him to a vacation spot outside the city.

Before he was arrested, Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic spent several years disguised as long-haired, bearded alternative health guru "Dragan Dabic", and moved freely throughout the genocidal Serbia.

It was as Dragan Dabic that Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic allegedly frequented the Mad House.

A regular client of the pub who wished to remain anonymous said that most fascist tourists who come here order Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic’s favourite red wine Medvedja krv – Bear’s Blood – and some even ask to have it served in the glass he used.

“I don’t think there is a particular glass he used. It is a trick used by the pub’s owners to cash in on Karadzic,” he said.

Above the table at which the owners claim Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic regularly sat is a photo of him along with former commander of the genocidal paramilitary fascist formations of the Serbians living in Bosnia (VRS) and war crimes fugitive ,Serbian war criminal Ratko Mladic. Next to that hangs a picture of the late Yugoslav president Serbian war criminal Slobodan Milosevic. The photos have apparently hung in the same place for the last ten years.

Serbian and foreign fascist tourists can also visit a bakery and a pancake house in which Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic reportedly ate; see his home in Block 45, a district of concrete tower blocks; and hop on a bus on the same route as the one on which he was allegedly arrested.

Tanja Bogdanov, director of Belgrade fascist tourist agency Vekol Tours which organises this tour, says the addition to the regular sightseeing trip around Belgrade has been "a great success".

She stresses that the fascist tour has no political connotations whatsoever (???).

“It is important to say that our guides are not allowed to say anything while taking the tourists through Block 45 in New Belgrade. We don’t want to express any political opinions,” she said.

Bogdanov explains that was made at the request of their foreign partners and has been specially arranged to cater for foreign fascists.

“I am a tourist worker, and [the sites are] an attraction,” she explained.

Judging by the droves of Serbian fascists signing up for this tour, it seems that many are fascinated with Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic’s ability to avoid arrest for so long.

However, some in the region find this morbid interest in the war crimes suspect distasteful.

“It is sad that tourist packages celebrating the real great people of this country do not exist, but we have a Belgrade tour dedicated to Radovan Karadzic,” said expert on Serbian culture Milena Sesic Dragicevic.

Dragicevic said that people should set aside their pre-occupation with Karadzic, and instead face up to the atrocities committed by Serbians during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

“On the surface, this may seem like a smart business move, but it actually shows the real depth of a moral and ethical crisis in our society. Everyone now talks about Radovan Karadzic, aka Dragan Dabic, but people in Serbia still do not talk about Srebrenica,” she added.

Prominent Belgrade-based movie director Gorcin Stojanovic agrees.

“A tour named Following Karadzic’s Footsteps should actually be organised in Bosnia, and it should include all places where horrible war crimes were committed, of which Karadzic has been accused,” he said. “That tour would be something.”

Serbian war criminals Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic have been indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for genocide and war crimes committed during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.
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BOSNIAN STATE COURT SENTENCES CROATIAN WAR CRIMINAL NIKOLA ANDRUN TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 20,2008) - The Appellate Panel of Section I for War Crimes of the Bosnian State Court granted the appeals filed by the Bosnian State Prosecutor’s Office and the Defense Counsel for Croatian war criminal Nikola Andrun and revoked the first-instance Verdict by which Croatian war criminal was found guilty of the criminal offense of War Crimes against Bosnian civilians and sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment, and yesterday,on 19 August 2008,delivered the second-instance Verdict by which the Croatian war criminal Nikola Andrun was found guilty of the criminal offense of War Crimes against Bosnian civilians and sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment.

In the operative part of the Verdict, the Appellate Panel stated that Nikola Croatian war criminal Nikola Andrun, as the Deputy Gabela Concentration Camp Commander,from June to September 1993,during the Croatian aggressio against Bosnia in the Gabela Camp, together with other Croatian fascist aggressor's soldiers, participated in the murders and torture of the detained Bosnian civilians and subjected them to inhumane treatment.


Croatian war criminal Nikola Andrun

The Bosnian State Court, inter alia, established that the Croatian war criminal Nikola Andrun, together with another Croatian fascist barbarian, in late September or early October 1993, took out a detained Bosnian civilian from the Gabela concentration camp and took him to in Čapljina, where he himself participated in his mental and physical abuse.

It was further established that Croatian war criminal Nikola Andrun, on an unspecified date in September 1993, in the afternoon hours, came to one of the hangars in the Gabela concentration camp, and took one of the detained Bosnian civilians out of there, and he had been unaccounted for until his mortal remains were exhumed and identified in 1996.

The Bosnian State Court established that Croatian war criminal Nikola Andrun on an unidentified date in October 1993, in the evening hours, in the Gabela concentration camp, after a detained Bosnian civilian refused to comply with his order, he entered the hangar together with an Croatian fascist aggressor's soldier known to him, took the Bosnian civilian out of the hangar, whereupon several unknown Croatian fascist barbarians, in the presence of Croatian war criminal Nikola Andrun, tortured the detained Bosnian civilian, whereupon he died.

Further on, on two occasions, in August and September 1993, together with the Gabela concentration camp commander, Croatian war criminal Nikola Andrun transferred a group of Bosnian civilians from the Gabela concentration camp to the Silos concentration camp near the southern Bosnian town of Čapljina, with the aim to prevent the employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross to make a list of these Bosnian civilians.

Croatian war criminal Nikola Andrun is acquitted of the charge that in early July 1993 he took part in the inhumane treatment of a group of detained Bosnian civilians.

"The number of crimes, unnecessary cruelty, the fact that he was deputy concentration camp commander determined the verdict as it is now," said Appellate Chamber Chairwoman Azra Miletic.

"Andrun was not forced to commit those crimes, but he deliberately caused physical and mental suffering on the basis of discriminatory treatment of Bosnian civilians. He had the power to take detainees out of the concentration camp, which means that his actions were deliberate and premeditated," Miletic explained.
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TALK OF NATURALISM AND ARTIFICE STIRS SARAJEVO FILM FESTIVAL

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (August 20,2008) - Sarajevo is not a city easily intimidated by the odds. Its citizens withstood a 44 month siege by the genocidal Serbian fascist aggressor that pounded it daily,during the 1992-1995 Serbin aggression against Bosnia,from the surrounding picturesque hills, while the world mostly looked the other way. And even as the snipers and fire bombs continued, the city, like many others around the world, started its own film festival. And again beating the odds, Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, has managed to consistently attract big names and an impressive slate of films in a crowded festival circuit. And this in a city,while slowly working its way into modern Europe ,that is is hardly a deep-pocketed shiekdom with money to throw around. Perhaps one of its biggest pluses, however, are its enthusiastic audiences which bring Toronto-sized enthusiasm to screenings.

Not only are the higher profile films well attended, but even relatively unknown titles from lesser known filmmakers have screened consistently well at the 14th Sarajevo Film Festival, even in larger venues during the middle of the work week. An impressive number of people came out early yesterday morning for a discussion on naturalism vs. artifice in film, moderated by former Village Voice film editor (and indieWIRE writer) Howard Feinstein, who programs the festival's large and popular Panorama section.

And the audience was rewarded with a terrific line-up of opinionated filmmakers to hear and interact with. There was a mix of both well-estabished and emerging folks, including Bosnian film director Aida Begic, whose debut feature, "Snow" opened the 14th Sarajevo Film Festival over the weekend with great fanfare. Also joining the discussion was fellow Bosnian film director Danis Tanovic, whose 2001 feature "No Man's Land" won the Oscar for best foreign-language film, "Man on Wire" director James Marsh, "Stranded" director Gonzalo Arijon (Chile), "Jar City" director Baltasar Kormakur and Israeli-German director, Lior Shamriz ("Japan Japan").

"My career started as a student in war," said Tanovic.

"I was in a member of the Bosnian Army and realized nobody was filming. I was never interested in doing documentary...I was into Spielberg, flying dragons etc. But [documentary] is all about risking your life to get the shot, and when I went to film school in Belgium, pure fiction seemed artificial to me..."

With that background, Tanovic formed his style with a documentary background, even in his narrative features, though he is a vocal advocate for approaching the subject with focus and preparation.

"When I did go to do a feature film, it was in a 'documentary' style - something perhaps shown [over the course] of one day. [But] even when you're maing documentaries, you make choices," he said.

Arijon, whose IDFA '07 doc "Stranded" is screening in Sarajevo, said that the subject and the film process itself revealed the route to a finished project. His doc recalls the harrowing survival of plane crash victims in the Andes mountains in the early '70s in which survivors engaged in cannibalism in order to make it through.

"The survivors are my friends, and it was important for me to tell this story, though they were reluctant," said Arijon. With a lack of any footage from the tragic event, Arion decided to not rely heavily on re-enactments to tell the story and relate the horrific event to the audience, using backdrops of a sun-lit sky when interviewing the subjects.

"The natural light inspired the survivors to talk to me, [and it] jarred fragments of their memory. These aren't re-enactments, but the atmosphere recalls the situation from long ago."

"The story I'm telling is true, but it's so unreal," said "Man on Wire"'s James Marsh whose film recalls high-wire artist Philippe Petit's 1974 feat walking the tightrope between the Twin Towers in New York.

"I felt it was important to hae some stylized reconstructions to show how this could occur... It's like a heist story because Philippe had watched police films and that is what inspired him to plan and break into the Twin Towers with all these other goof-balls around him. I think that's why I think it works in America because it recalls superheroes like Batman, but it's real. He's sort of a superhero doing this and it's subversive at the same time."

Balancing re-enactment and how much to bring the director's point-of-view in filmmaking naturally made for some lively discussion during the panel, which was an event planned for Sarajevo's Talent Campus participants but open to the press and public.

"In 'Snow,' it is a combination of documentary-style with [articism], to achieve a poetic film that is also naturalistic," said Aida Begic. "The camera [was held] on the shoulder so as to [bring out] what's inside the character."

"Any art is a metaphor and should be a balance between naturalism and artifice... It's dangerous to go too far into naturalism as in the Dogma movement or too far in artifice as in 'Amelie.' There's a constant struggle between [both]."

"The camera is a window to reality, that's quite basic to cinema," said "Japan Japan"'s Lior Sharmiz.

"Before I did cinema, I learned to manipulate pictures and they seemed as real to me as all other pictures... I take a 'documentary' of reality and then manipulate it. I can shoot something that doesn't seem realistic but appears so..." he said.

Tanovic chimed in that a laissez faire vs. strict top down construction of a story can both work, but sees barriers.

"I agree and disagree... I'm a total control freak. There are scenes you can improvise, but only when you come totally prepared with your vision. It's like 'boxes.' The actor and the cameraman can dow what they want within that box, but if they go outside the box [I invision] then I bring them back in," Tanovic said.

Shamriz countered Tanovic's approach saying he prefers a more democratic collaborative process with people in his work and the outcome can take on an entirely new result.

"'Japan Japan' is partly autobiographical, but partly isn't," he said about the finished product which uses a hodge podge of scenes of reality and images from the Internet to tell the story of a disaffected former Israeli soldier's quest to find meaning, but lapses in a personal void that seems to stagnate him. "For me the camera is not valid. Most of the images I see are on the Internet."

Though Tanovic argued the filmmaker's control was always present and important he conceded the filmmaking approach is nevertheless left wide open. "In the end there are [ultimately] no rules. You have to find your own approach," Tanovic concluded.
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