The Special American Envoy for former Yugoslavia, Robert Gelbard, stated today that the extension of authority for the High Representative for BiH, Carlos Westendorp, does not mean the establishment of a protectorate over BiH, but an instrument for the full implementation of the Peace Agreement. Gelbard stated that the High Representative received authority at the Bonn Conference to impose transitional but obligatory decisions, which would help the people in Bosnia to have a better life.
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The Greek newspaper “Elefterotipi” wrote that the extension of authority to the High Representative, Carlos Westendorp, at the Bonn Conference only complicated the situation in BiH and did not contribute to decreasing the tensions and creating conditions for the consistent implementation of DA, reports Srna. Westendorp’s statement that for now a protectorate over BiH is not impossible, Elefterotipi interprets as the real intention of the International Community two years after the signing of the DA. According to the newspaper, the Bonn Conference caused dissatisfaction on all three sides in BiH by imposing the question of Kosovo and Metohija on the agenda, it exceeds its basic conception, so that it would be respected. The Greek daily writes that the departure of the RS and FRY delegations from the Bonn Conference in protest would have difficult consequences for Serbs in RS.
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The Austrian Minister of Interior, Carl Schlegel, stated in his interview to Vienna newspaper that Austria does not plan to evict any of the remaining 9,000 refugees from BiH. He reminded that Austria accepted 95,000 refugees during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Out of that number 65,000 persons had been integrated, actually receiving work and accommodation permits, while others returned to Bosnia or moved to other countries. He promised decisively that there would not be any evictions.
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Serb authorities in Brcko have an additional 72hrs to appoint policemen for the new local police, it was announced from the Office of the International Supervisor, Robert Farrand. It was stressed in the final date for finalising the framework plan of the Brcko police is on Wednesday, the 17th December 97.
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A parliamentary session of the House of Representatives will take place in Sarajevo tomorrow, and it is expected to adopt the Law on citizenship and passports, which was agreed by the members of the BiH Presidency in Bonn.
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Yesterday’s signing of the document which enables interested citizens of RS and BiH Federation to have Yugoslav citizenship as well, gains more and more publicity in the public and among political leaders in RS. The President of the Serb Radical Party of RS, Nikola Popla{en, stated today in Banja Luka that the signed document on Yugoslav citizenship for all Serbs in BiH is an improvement in the situation so far. Commenting on the agreement on dual citizenship signed yesterday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia, Milan Milutinovic, and the member of the BiH Presidency, Momcilo Krajisnik, Poplasen stated in his interview to Srna that results would only be seen if, on a regular basis, Serbs from RS exercised their right from both states, daily and consistently. In other words, unless that is accomplished, it could all be considered as political marketing.
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Tomorrow at 15:00, the 7th meeting of the Town Parliament session will take place in Banja Luka. Will Banja Luka tomorrow have its mayor? Will he be elected after six unsuccessful attempts by the tired delegates and public pressure, or will everything become self-evident? In a desire to resolve the crisis in the Town Assembly and to prejudice a positive outcome to tomorrow’s session of the Assembly, we will have to wonder eventually: why have we waited for three months to have a mayor who compromised the Banja Luka Assembly. Banja Luka has lost time and patience, but what is most important; it has lost confidence in those elected. Is confidence in the Parliament endangered by political amateurism or consciously sacrificed as a warning to, as they say; “Banja Luka alienated democracy”? The answer may be in the words of the present Prime Minister of RS, Gojko Klickovic that the Town Assembly would not be constituted until February. Who is the one who was waiting for the results of the Republic Parliament and tested political strength on the back of the Town Assembly? The answer may be in yesterday’s question of the journalist from Srna Agency to the leader of the Socialist Party of RS, Zivko Radisic: “Why do you refuse co-operation with the national parties of RS, and make a coalition with the parties from the Federation of BiH?” The press conference took place after the meeting of the Socialists and Social Democrats of RS with party colleagues from the Federation of BiH, represented by Sejfudin Tokic. The answer Zivko Radisic gave was that the Socialists were not making any coalitions, would be suspicious if it was not so obvious, and if it did not come only one day after the cancelling of the Protocol on constituting the authorities in Banja Luka Town Assembly, which they signed on the 3rd December this year with the three local national parties. If we remember the way of voting in the Banja Luka Town Assembly, the Socialist’s calculation of votes of the delegates of all eleven parties, secret agreements, refusing public voting and not respecting the given word; today it is clear that the Banja Luka Town Parliament would be constituted soon after the elections if the Socialist Party of RS revealed its attitude: where and to whom it belongs. Just as they did yesterday inviting all left, progressive and the democratic orientated parties form RS and BiH Federation to a meeting. In that case, the Serb Party of Krajina and Posavina would not lose so much time explaining why is it necessary to form a coalition of national parties fighting against the return of self-government in the Parliament. That is why the signing of the Protocol with the national parties cannot be interpreted differently than flirting with national emotions which are always a good alibi to politicians for gaining confidence with voters, especially if it comes from the left party. In such inappropriate behavior, the results of the parliamentary elections have been waited for as the direction. They have been announced on the same day when the Socialist Party of RS announced the cancelling of the signed Protocol. No doubt, unfinished and obstructed work in the Town Assembly will be a good experience for all its actors for all that is ahead of the big Republic Parliament.
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The crisis that started at the beginning of this month at the Aircraft Centre “Orao” in Bijeljina still remains. The employees in this centre impatiently expect the constitution of the new Assembly and new Republic Parliament. Why? The collegium of the directors of the Aircraft Centre “Orao” in Bijeljina at today’s meeting did not accept the decision of the RS Government to transform the Centre from a military one into the main state company based in Serb Sarajevo, as well as the decision of the Government to dismiss the director of the Centre, Milan Prica, and appoint a new acting director, Vlastimir Krsmanovic. All 450 employees of the Centre resigned as a sign of support to the director, but they are coming to work. They all consider the decision of the Government illegal and unreasonable.
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