26 September 97, 23:00
STRONG>Sarajevo – At the regular press conference of IC representatives, the main Prosecutor of ICTY, Arbour, who is on a visit to Bosnia, said that ICTY will ask from the IC permanent support for ICTY work and its policy of secret indictments. Arbour added that this policy can stop the DPA obstruction, as shown this summer when two of the Serbs were arrested for war crimes. Arbour also said that it is outrageous that those who are responsible for the arrest of Karadzic have not yet accomplished their tasks. Arbour blamed the Government for Karadzic’s freedom, but said that it is good that IC troops are still in BiH. Arbour added that Karadzic’s possible escape to some other country is an absolutely unacceptable solution. She also expressed her dissatisfaction at the low level of co-operation from FRY and Croatia, regarding war criminal extradition.
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Germany – German Court convicted for life a Bosnian Serb, Nikola Jurgic, for crimes against Bosniak people. Jurgic had 30 accusations for murder, 11 for genocide, 36 for bodily assault, and 300 for kidnapping. Judge Kranz said that Jurgic had been found guilty on 11 indictments for genocide, for being a leader of “Death Squads” who were killing Bosniak population in 1992. It is the first time that Germany has convicted someone for genocide, who is not German.
2’30”
New York – At the UN HQ, a press conference of NATO and the Russian Permanent Council was held. It was said that NATO and Russia had a common view of BiH, and appealed to all for full implementation of the DPA, implementation of the election results and complete fulfilment of the Sintra agreements. In response to questions concerning NATO and Russian military co-operation, the Russian FA Minister, Primakov, said that BiH is the best example of that. NATO Secretary Gen. Solana said that the SFOR mission to BiH will not be changed and that SFOR’s main task is to create a safe environment, where others could do their jobs. Asked if there would be some specific actions taken, Solana said: “Look at me, I can’t answer youÖ” However, his answer about the safe environment may suggest that, after it has been created, NATO special forces may arrest war criminals if such a decision is taken. A high ranked NATO official, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that, if needed, SFOR might be used against provocative media, for the implementation of election results or in preparation for the forthcoming elections in RS.
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New York – Protocol regarding BiH and Israel co-operation was signed today by BiH FA Minister Prlic and his Israeli colleague, Levy. Prlic said that this diplomatic agreement represented a significant role for BiH in the Middle East, considering that BiH had very good relationships with almost all Arabic countries. Prlic said that, therefore, this was a chance for BiH to help in that region.
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New York – Croatian and German FA Ministers, Granic and Kinkel, held a meeting discussing, amongst other matters, the question of BiH. Kinkel had expressed some austere remarks regarding several Croat politicians from Mostar. Kinkel also asked for more effective co-operation from Croatia with ICTY.
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Strasbourg – At the European Council summit, BiH Federal Prime-Minister Bicakcic said that a huge step had been taken regarding BiH entry to European integration. He also said that all eight of the conditions for entering the council might be fulfilled by the end of the year. Bicakcic said that one of the main conditions had already been fulfilled, that regarding the work of the joint institutions, considering that RS representatives were also present in Strasbourg.
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Sarajevo – Federation President Soljic severely condemned the terrorist act at Dzudza-Dzafer’s Mosque in Tomislavgrad. Soljic said that the aim of such an act was to jeopardise the lives of both nations in Tomislavgrad and all BiH citizens.
The international ombudsmen from Livno came to the explosion site a few hours after the incident. At that time, Moslem religious authorities asked for protection from international representatives.
Many of political parties in BiH also condemned the terrorist act, asking for quick measures to be taken.
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Sarajevo – BiH President Izetbegovic’s advisor, Hajric, said that the elections in RS cannot be held without BiH Parliament approval, since RS is a part of BiH. Hajric disagreed with the suggestion that RS elections should be held according to the laws of RS. Hajric also said that BiH cannot accept those elections for another reason – the discrimination of the non-Serb population in RS. Hajric added that many of the people in RS who are not Serbs do not have the right to vote.
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Sarajevo – UN spokesman Ivanko presented a statement from UN Special Envoy, Eide, who said that RS President Plavsic and Prime Minister Klickovic confirmed their agreement with the UN document about police reconstruction in RS. This document is in accordance with Annex 11 of the DPA, where the three sides asked for UN to help in police reconstruction.
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Brcko – Brcko supervisor Farrand said that RS had released 27 ID’s for returnees in Brcko today. Farrand said that voters lists from Brcko are almost counted and that they are to be sent for verification to Sarajevo. Farrand refuted the claim that he had prohibited religious constructions, but expressed his concern that Serbs were building a church on the area where a Moslem majority lived before the war.
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Bosanska Gradiska – ICHR deputy, Klein, ceremoniously opened the bridge over the Sava river at the borderline between Croatia and BiH. Local authorities from Bosanska Gradiska and Stara Gradiska were also present. At the occasion, Klein said that this step in the establishment of communication between two countries represented only the beginning of IC actions, and that it would not be the last.
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