CHARGES PRESSED AGAINST GENOCIDAL SERBIA FOR CREATING CONCENTRATION CAMPS

BELGRADE, Serbia (April 2,2008) – "Humanitarian Rights Fund from Belgrade initiated four judicial procedures against the state of Serbia, for compensating for 11 Bosnian citizens who were imprisoned in the Sljivovica and Mitrovo Polje concentration camps in Serbia," Sandra Orlovic, member of the Fund said.Assisted by the Belgrade Humanitarian Rights Fund, a group of Bosnians initiated judicial procedure because of the imprisonment, torture and humiliation of Bosnian civilians detained by the genocidal Serbian aggressor in the Sljivovica and Mitrovo Polje Concentration Camps.

The first charges were pressed in November and December 2007. The Fund called the state institutions in the genocidal Serbia to help the victims claim compensation through the repair programs for the victims on the basis of human rights breech. All the crimes were committed by members of the genocidal Serbian military and police.

”The Fund contacted the Bosnian Association of Concentration Camps Survivors and found out that there used to be two concentration camps on the territory of Serbia, formed as ‘refuge centres’ for Bosnian civilians, after the fall of Srebrenica and Zepa. However, the people had got everything but refuge. They were exposed to horrific maltreatment of Serbian army and police, primarily police which had safeguarded the sight”, Orlovic stated.

About 800 Bosnian civilians were imprisoned in these concentration camps in the genocidal Serbia.These Bosnian civilians were mostly from the eastern Bosnian town of Zepa. All of them had crossed the Drina River in August 1995 and were transported by the genocidal Serbian aggressor to the Sljivovica and Mitrovo Polje concentration camps. There, they had undergone a “terrible and brutal torture. There were several cases of murder, as well as sexual harassment, forced labour and starvation”.

In mid-August 1995, the prisoners were registered by the International Red Cross Committee (IRCC).

”In the past year, we interviewed about 60 concentration camps survivors. We initiated the court proceedings on behalf of those who had spent the time imprisoned over four months, or even more. Those people, in consequence, have serious physical and mental difficulties. This process will be a long and hard one, because Serbian authorities have legally limited the possibility of damage compensation and also because of the fact that those people have not officially been registered as victims. We are fighting and we hope that we will prove by the verdicts something that will, it seems to me, be a surprise for all – there had been concentration camps formed in the Serbian territory, in which Bosnians and Croatians were tortured”, Orlovic stated.
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LAJCAK: WITHOUT PROGRESS TOWARDS EU BOSNIA CANNOT EXPECT FURTHER VISA LIBERALISATION

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (April 2,2008) – Without progress in the process of European integration, Bosnia cannot expect further visa liberalisation or a waiver of the visa requirement for EU countries, the International Community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajčák said in a video message on the on the http://www.reci.ba website.

Answering a question on visa-free travel for the Bosnian citizens, Lajčák said that the issue of visa liberalisation was part and parcel of the EU integration process.

“We will either be part of the EU family with all its consequences, above all positive ones, including visa facilitation.Nobody in the EU will ease the visa regime for a country that refuses to follow the European path,"he said

“This means that, if your politicians are not capable of leading you towards the EU, then you should complain to all those who are not voting for EU laws. You cannot have the one without the other. We are either part of the EU family, or we are not”, Lajcak said in his message to the Bosnian citizens.

As part of the campaign on Bosnia’s European perpective, the International Community's High Representative and EU Special Representative in Bosnia Miroslav Lajčák will continue answering questions submitted by the Bosnian citizens through the http://www.reci.ba website.

Throughout the next two weeks, a new answer will be published every day.
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MEMBERS OF BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY MET WITH MEMBERS OF GERMAN PARLIAMENT

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (April 2,2008) – The President of the Bosnian State Presidency Haris Silajdzic and members of the Presidency Zeljko Komsic and Nebojsa Radmanovic had a meeting in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with representatives of the German Parliament. It has been announced that the visit will strengthen and promote bilateral relations between Bosnia and Germany.

”I am happy about your visit for there are many tasks awaiting for Bosnia. We will realize them easier with the help of our friends”, the Bosnian President Haris Silajdzic stated.

The President of the Germany-Bosnia parliamentary friendship group and Head of the German parliamentary delegation Rainer Stinner thanked that this parliamentary group is given a lot of attention.

He added that the very formation of this parliamentary group has caused a lot of positive reactions and interest in the German Parliament. It has been the first time that such a parliamentary group was formed. That answers the question of the level of importance Bosnia has in the German Parliament,Stinner said.

He also stated that out of 610 delegates, 40 of them are very well acquainted with the region. Some of the members are experts in the regional issues and have close ties with Bosnia.

Members of the delegation expressed hope that they will carry the good news from Bosnia and present them to their colleagues in Bundestag. He stated that Bosnia needs to be actively supported on the way to the EU membership.
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SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL MLADEN DRLJACA PLEADS NOT GUILTY

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (April 2,2008) – Serbian war criminal Mladen Drljaca pleaded not guilty yesterday to the two counts in the indictment, which was confirmed by the Bosnian State Court on March 21 this year.

"Honourable Court, I plead not guilty," he said twice to the preliminary hearing judge.

The Bosnian State Prosecutor charges Serbian war criminal Mladen Drljaca with crimes against humanity, crimes against civilians and prisoners of war.

The indictment alleges that, from early April to December 31, 1992 he was, inter alia, member of the genocidal Serbian aggressior's formations.The Prosecution considers that Serbian war criminal Mladen Drljaca participated, together with Serbian war criminals Radovan Karadzic, Momcilo Krajisnik, Vojislav Maksimovic, Gojko Klickovic and Jovan Ostojic, in a joint criminal enterprise with the aim of creating a fascist Serbian state on the Bosnian territory ,during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia,

Prosecutor Peter Alcock said he would like the indictments against Serbian war criminals Gojko Klickovic, Jovan Ostojic and Mladen Drljaca to be merged. The three Serbian war criminals are held under custody by the Bosnian authorities.

Serbian war criminal Momcilo Krajisnik is currently held in the detention unit in Scheveningen at the Hague. He is awaiting the announcement of the second instance verdict against him.

Serbian war criminal Vojislav Maksimovic was one of the co-founders of the main fascist political party of the Serbians living in Bosnia (SDS) and, during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia, was a member of the parliament of the genocidal Serbian creature in Bosnia (RS).
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BOSNIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER SVEN ALKALAJ VISITS FRANCE

PARIS, France (April 2,2008) – During his visit to France, the Bosnian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Alkalaj met yesterday with the French Ambassador Alain Le Roy in charge for the Mediterranean Union project.

Initiative for the foundation of this union was given by the French president Sarkozy and at the European Council session held in March this year.

Alkalaj informed Le Roy about Bosnia's interests in becoming a member of Mediterranean Union and to actively participate in its projects.

He gave the position of the Bosnian Presidency on Bosnia's readiness to support mentioned initiative and take part in activities of the Barcelona Process of the Mediterranean Union.

Le Roy informed Alkalaj that Bosnia can expect the invitation to participate at the meeting of the top officials which is planned for May 13 2008 in Paris. At this meeting 43 countries in total shall participate, that is 27 countries of the EU and countries of the Mediterranean.

He informed Alkalaj about the process and the way the Union shall be organized, the leaders’ meeting and possibilities of Bosnia's participation in different projects.

Attention of this Union shall be focused on the preservation of the Mediterranean Sea, water management, usage of solar energy, maritime routes, agriculture and fishery, and climate change.

It is planned to give support to development of small and medium enterprises, development of cooperation in the domain of civil security, setting up the student’ exchange programs and cooperation within the scientific community.

The Bosnian Minister of foreign affairs Sven Alkalaj also gave the presentation on the topic “The Road of Bosnia towards the EU Integrations” at the French Institute for International relations (IFRI).
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GREAT BRITAIN URGES MEMBERS OF BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT TO ENSURE BOSNIA'S PROGRESS TOWARDS EU MEMBERSHIP

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (April 2,2008) – Great Britain is supportive of Bosnia’s association to the EU and in that sense urges the Bosnian parliamentarians to make all the steps necessary in that direction, Head of the British parliamentary delegation , John Austin stated in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo. The delegation is in a several-day visit to Bosnia.

After meeting with members of the Bosnian Parliament at the Inter-Parliamentary Union and with members of the parliamentary houses’ collegiums heads, Austin stated that Bosnia will soon sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union and will move in an accelerated pace towards the EU membership.

He welcomed the progress Bosnia has made in certain sectors, especially in the sector of defence. He expressed optimism that some of the obstacles for signing of SAA, like the police reform, will be removed during the visit of the delegation.

Austin emphasized that, regardless of the difference in opinions of members of the British Parliament on the EU jurisdictions, there is a consensus that EU should include the entire territory of Europe and that Bosnia belongs there.

The British parliamentary delegation is in a return visit to Bosnia. They discussed at the meetings with their parliamentary colleagues further cooperation.

The Bosnia Parliament's House of Representatives Speaker Milorad Zivkovic stated after a meeting that it is expected that the cooperation will advance in the following period.

He added that “we have found some similarities related to the work of the two countries’ parliaments and in relations between the central and regional-level authorities”.
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