reactions inzko’s report is a simplified version of the ... · 11/15/2012  · svetlana cenic and...

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Daily e-newspaper N 2902 Sarajevo, November 15, 2012 Jurriaan Kraak, Dutch Ambassador: Reconciliation and healing wounds of the past is a necessary condition for moving forward. Government of the Netherlands strongly rejects denial of genocide as morally wrong, and obstructing the reconciliation process Zoran Milanovic, Croatian PM: I was using legitimate pressure on authori- ties in Bosnia and Republika Srpska, to caution them about the pollution emitted from the refinery in Bosanski Brod. The problem would be definite- ly resolved within two years Bozo Ljubic, HDZ 1990: The number one issue for us is the implementation of the Roadmap and the implementa- tion of the decision of Strasbourg court in the case of Sejdic and Finci. This is an opportunity to equalize the position of constitutive peoples REACTIONS Chairman of the BiH Presidency Nebojsa Radmanovic said that the six-month report the High Representative to BiH, Valentine Inzko, submitted to the UN Security Council on the situation in BiH was made of journalists’ reports and political speeches and that it paints a poor and false picture of BiH Inzko’s Report Is a Simplified Version of the Situation in Bosnia R admanovic said that it is not strange that Inzko composed such a poor report, given that he does not speak with elected officials in BiH, party leaders and citizens. "He and his associates closed off in their offices, write what they like, and this simply is not the picture of BiH," Radmanovic said in a meeting with journalists in Sarajevo. The international community itself is not responsible, but shares part of the responsi- bility with local political factors for the cur- rent situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said analyst with the International Crisis Group Srecko Latal, commenting on Inzko’s report. Latal said that Inzko’s report offers a simplified version of the situation in Bosnia because it did not cover some very important issues, and it is primarily the responsibility of the international community, that is the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the situation in the country. Entire world knew what High Representa- tive Valentin Inzko said in UN Security Council, only this is the first time a man hired by the international community said it before the world public, University Profes- sor Slavo Kukic told FENA. Kukic stated it has been clear in the last five years that Dodik and his political circle are doing everything to destroy BiH aiming at its dissolution. ’’Anyone who deals seriously with political analyses sees the reasons of intensifying of cooperation between Dodik and Covic, which is weakening of BiH as state with ambition to lead to its dissolution’’, Kukic said. The international community together with the OHR is definitely the main reason today’s politicians are in power, and everything that was stated in the Report of the High Represen- tative is a result of their work, said analyst Svetlana Cenic and added that, unfortunately, citizens are the ones that pay the ultimate price. "Why do we hear now these statements about returning six years into the past? What was the OHR doing in the last six years? Inzko says that it was a continuous policy of denial and blockade of BiH. Why this wasn’t reported in the last six years?" asks Cenic. She believes that the OHR did not want to respond, or to use the Bonn Powers because "the democrats chosen by the international community are currently at the top of BiH political scene." Change in BiH will happen, says Cenic, when the international community stops buying social peace in the country. "As soon as a problem arises, the international community offers money, and local politicians for the sake of their financial gain give promis- es and tell the international community anything they want to hear. Stop giving money and buy- ing fake peace. Stop, and let’s see how politi- cians will behave when they have to earn money in this economy," said Cenic. Svetlana Cenic

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  • Daily e-newspaper N° 2902 Sarajevo, November 15, 2012

    Jurriaan Kraak, Dutch Ambassador:Reconciliation and healing wounds ofthe past is a necessary condition formoving forward. Government of theNetherlands strongly rejects denial ofgenocide as morally wrong, andobstructing the reconciliation process

    Zoran Milanovic, Croatian PM: I wasusing legitimate pressure on authori-ties in Bosnia and Republika Srpska,to caution them about the pollutionemitted from the refinery in BosanskiBrod. The problem would be definite-ly resolved within two years

    Bozo Ljubic, HDZ 1990: The numberone issue for us is the implementationof the Roadmap and the implementa-tion of the decision of Strasbourgcourt in the case of Sejdic and Finci.This is an opportunity to equalize theposition of constitutive peoples

    REACTIONS

    Chairman of the BiH Presidency Nebojsa Radmanovic said that the six-month report the HighRepresentative to BiH, Valentine Inzko, submitted to the UN Security Council on the situation in BiH

    was made of journalists' reports and political speeches and that it paints a poor and false picture of BiH

    Inzko's Report Is a Simplified Version of the Situation in Bosnia

    Radmanovic said that it is notstrange that Inzko composed sucha poor report, given that he doesnot speak with elected officials in BiH,party leaders and citizens. "He and his associates closed off in theiroffices, write what they like, and this simplyis not the picture of BiH," Radmanovic saidin a meeting with journalists in Sarajevo. The international community itself is notresponsible, but shares part of the responsi-bility with local political factors for the cur-rent situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina,said analyst with the International CrisisGroup Srecko Latal, commenting on Inzko'sreport. Latal said that Inzko's report offers asimplified version of the situation in Bosniabecause it did not cover some very importantissues, and it is primarily the responsibility ofthe international community, that is the HighRepresentative in Bosnia and Herzegovina,for the situation in the country. Entire world knew what High Representa-tive Valentin Inzko said in UN SecurityCouncil, only this is the first time a man

    hired by the international community said itbefore the world public, University Profes-sor Slavo Kukic told FENA. Kukic stated it has been clear in the last fiveyears that Dodik and his political circle aredoing everything to destroy BiH aiming atits dissolution.

    ''Anyone who deals seriously with politicalanalyses sees the reasons of intensifying ofcooperation between Dodik and Covic, whichis weakening of BiH as state with ambition tolead to its dissolution'', Kukic said. The international community together with theOHR is definitely the main reason today'spoliticians are in power, and everything thatwas stated in the Report of the High Represen-

    tative is a result of their work, said analystSvetlana Cenic and added that, unfortunately,citizens are the ones that pay the ultimate price."Why do we hear now these statementsabout returning six years into the past? Whatwas the OHR doing in the last six years?Inzko says that it was a continuous policy ofdenial and blockade of BiH. Why this wasn'treported in the last six years?" asks Cenic. She believes that the OHR did not want torespond, or to use the Bonn Powers because"the democrats chosen by the internationalcommunity are currently at the top of BiHpolitical scene." Change in BiH will happen, says Cenic,when the international community stopsbuying social peace in the country. "As soon as a problem arises, the internationalcommunity offers money, and local politiciansfor the sake of their financial gain give promis-es and tell the international community anythingthey want to hear. Stop giving money and buy-ing fake peace. Stop, and let's see how politi-cians will behave when they have to earnmoney in this economy," said Cenic.

    Svetlana Cenic

  • 2Bosnia Dai ly, November 15, 2012

    INTERNATIONALS IN BOSNIA

    DUTCH AMBASSADOR JURRIAAN KRAAK VISITS SREBRENICA

    Ambassador of The Kingdom of The Netherlands in BiH, H.E. Mr Jurriaan Kraak visitedSrebrenica. His first official visit to this municipality started with laying a wrath and paying his

    respect to the victims of the 1995 genocide at the Memorial centre in Potocari

    Political Leaders Should Work on Common Priorities, Rather

    Than Engage in Politics That Divide

    After that, the ambassador met withthe mayor, Mr. Camil Durakovicand representatives of politicalparties of the Municipal Assembly. "I call upon all local leaders, as well asauthorities at entity and state level, to worktogether for the social and economic devel-opment of the region as a whole. I expectthat they will identify promising sectors forregional economic development that cancreate jobs for all citizens, and that they willallocate funds for investment in these sec-tors in the municipal budgets 2013 andbeyond", said ambassador Kraak. He urges politicians to also ensure thatsocially vulnerable groups from all sectionsof the populations receive targeted supportto enable them to participate in the region'sdevelopment. Ambassador underlined that"the Dutch government is willing to providecontinued substantial assistance, if localactors work together on common priorities,rather than engage in politics that divide". "Reconciliation and healing wounds of thepast is a necessary condition for moving for-ward. This is an especially difficult reality forSrebrenica, the site of the worst crime thathappened on European soil since World WarII. The experience of Srebrenica in July 1995is also a stain on the collective conscience ofthe international community. The scale, northe character of the atrocities can be denied:the massacre of over 8.000 people, mostlymen and boys, constitutes genocide. This hasbeen confirmed by the International Court ofJustice, by the ICTY and by the State Courtof BiH. The government of the Netherlandsstrongly rejects any denial of the genocide asmorally wrong, and obstructing the processof reconciliation and of justice being served",stressed ambassador Kraak. He also visited the OHR and OSCE officesand met with representatives of the civilsociety. At the office of UNDP he attendeda presentation of current programs in sup-port of the local population that is beingimplemented by this organization withfunding of the Dutch government. "My government invests 23 million USD inThe Srebrenica Regional Recovery Pro-

    gram in the period 2005-2014. This pro-gram is implemented through UNDP in themunicipalities of Srebrenica, Milici andBratunac, and aims at the socio-economicdevelopment of and sustainable returnprocess in these municipalities" mentionedambassador Kraak. Since 1995, the Government of the Nether-lands has invested 100 million Euros inbilateral support for reconstruction, rehabil-

    itation and reconciliation in BiH with a spe-cial emphasis on the Srebrenica region.Areas of support have included housing,rehabilitation of infrastructure, economicdevelopment and job generation, strength-ening local governance and civil society,identification of missing persons, prosecu-tion of war crimes, psycho-social supportfor survivors of the genocide, and support toyouth initiatives and local media.

    Bosnia and Herzegovina's work aimedat compliance with its OSCE and inter-national politico-military commitmentsdemonstrates the country's commitmentto contribute positively to security in theregion and beyond, said Adam Kobier-

    acki, the Director of the OSCE ConflictPrevention Center during a two-dayvisit to Sarajevo, which concluded yes-terday. Kobieracki met acting DefenseMinister of BiH Mirko Okolic, actingSecurity Minister of BiH Mladen Cavar,Justice Minister of BiH Barisa Colak,representatives of the BiH Foreign Min-istry, chairs of legislative assemblies inBiH, as well as representatives of theinternational community.In his meetings, Kobieracki stressed theimportance of reconciliation for the coun-try: "Reconciliation contributes to conflict

    prevention, conflict resolution, post-con-flict rehabilitation, and is vital for any soci-ety and country - particularly for such adiverse one as Bosnia and Herzegovina. Toachieve progress, all stakeholders mustenvision a future which is more tolerantand based on compromise and understand-ing, and make efforts to make it a reality."Kobieracki also addressed participants ofthe 5th Review Conference on Compli-ance with the OSCE/UN Security Com-mitments of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Theaim of the conference, which is organizedby the OSCE Mission to Bosnia andHerzegovina, is to assess progress on theimplementation and fulfillment of thecountry's politico-military commitmentsand to encourage constructive debateamong political leaders and experts."The OSCE, including through its Mis-sion to the country, supports Bosnia andHerzegovina's efforts to meet its securitycommitments to the benefit of its peopleand the OSCE community as a whole,"stated Kobieracki. He highlighted the successful and profes-sional contribution made by Bosnia andHerzegovina's Armed Forces to the com-pliance requirements, including throughthe Verification Center's activities, andencouraged discussion on how compli-ance can be advanced further, with theparticipation of all relevant institutions.

    OSCE Conflict Prevention CentreHead Commends Bosnia's Effortstowards Further Regional Security

    Brigadier Hajrudin Hubo, Head of the BiH AFVerification Center, and Adam Kobieracki,Director of the CPC

  • 3Bosnia Dai ly, November 15, 2012

    INTERNATIONALS IN BOSNIA

    Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces of BiH of BiH and the command element of the European Union discussed in MoD in Sarajevo the future of the EUFOR Department of

    training, demining, destruction of surplus weapons and civil-military cooperation

    Commander of EU Command Element Visit Defense Ministry

    The delegation of the host of the meet-ing was led by Deputy Minister ofDefense for Policy and Plans, MarinaPendes and the visiting delegation wasled by the commander of the commandelement of the EU, Lieutenant GeneralLeandro De Vincenti. The meeting was also attended by DeVincenti's close associates, and the com-mander of EUFOR in BiH, MajorGeneral Robert Brieger. De Vincent rated the visit as of specialfunction in learning about how theimplementation of agreed plans, andhow the new concept of EUFOR BiH

    corresponds to the AF BiH. Guests were especially interested in thefuture of EUFOR Department of Training. Pendes thanked the EUFOR Command onthe help and cooperation, adding that theMoD and AF BiH achieved exceptionaland intensive cooperation with the maincommand of EUFOR and that within theirjurisdiction they support the mission andmandate of EUFOR. "EUFOR makes a significant contribu-tion to the development of independentand self-sustaining training capacity ofAF BiH. This assistance, which is reflect-ed in the ability of developing AF BiH

    according to the requirements and stan-dards of NATO, will speed up BiH's pathto NATO membership," said Pendes.

    Access to family planning is an essentialhuman right that unlocks unprecedentedrewards for economic development, saysnew UNFPA report. Making voluntaryfamily planning available to everyone indeveloping countries would reduce costsfor maternal and newborn health care by$11.3 billion annually, according to TheState of World Population 2012, pub-lished by UNFPA, the United NationsPopulation Fund."Family planning has a positive multi-plier effect on development," saidUNFPA Executive Director Dr.Babatunde Osotimehin. "Not only does the ability for a couple tochoose when and how many children tohave help lift nations out of poverty, but itis also one of the most effective means ofempowering women. Women who usecontraception are generally healthier, bet-ter educated, more empowered in theirhouseholds and communities and moreeconomically productive. Women'sincreased labor-force participation boostsnations' economies."The State of World Population 2012says that governments, civil society,health providers and communities havethe responsibility to protect the right tofamily planning for women across the

    spectrum, including those who areyoung or unmarried.Investment in family planning would savelives by preventing unintended pregnan-cies and unsafe abortions. However,money is just one part of the solution. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Office ofthe United Nations Population Fund wel-comes the adoption of the Decision on theadoption of the policy of sexual and repro-ductive health in Bosnia and Herzegovinaby the Council of Ministers adopted inSeptember this year. Adopting policyincluding family planning and reproduc-tive health commodity security policies isan important step for improving health ofall citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina."Family planning is not a privilege, buta right. Yet, too many women - andmen - are denied this human right,"said Dr. Osotimehin."The pledge we made in July in Londonto increase access to family planning willimprove the lives of millions and willeach year help avert 200,000 maternaldeaths. As we approach the target date forachieving the Millennium DevelopmentGoals, I call on all leaders to build on thismomentum, close the funding gap, andmake voluntary family planning a devel-opment priority."

    Additional Investments in FamilyPlanning Would Save Developing

    Countries More than $11 Bln a Year

    President of the HDZ party Dragan Covictalked in Mostar with the US Ambassadorto BiH Patrick Moon about current situationin BiH and ways to solve the piled up prob-lems which block a normal functioning ofthe country. HDZ president said that he issatisfied that some processes have beenlaunched after months of institutional crisis. In that regard, he expressed satisfaction forpolitical dialogue and determining parlia-mentary majority whose members willmeet on 20 November in Mostar in orderto define the framework programs for jointactions in the following two years. Covic announced they would insist onmeeting the deadlines for certain chapters,concrete ways for applying the "Sejdicand Finci" verdict with respect to minori-ty rights and removing discrimination.Also, he said that one of the requirementswill be to agree upon measures for meet-ing the "MAP" conditions since "econom-ic progress of BiH is not possible withoutprogress on Euro-Atlantic path". At the meeting, they also talked about solv-ing the issue of City of Mostar and system-atic anti-corruption fight. They emphasizedthat stronger anti-corruption fights is alsonecessary for progress towards the EU. Ambassador Moon informed Covic onengagement of non-governmental organ-izations and representatives for expertcommunity in BiH for improvement ofreform process of the Federal Constitu-tion which is supported by the interna-tional community. They also talked ondifferent aspects of unblocking the Feder-al Government reconstruction processand HDZ president expressed worrysince the citizens feel the consequences ofthat, mostly the poor ones. US Ambassador said that the US wants tosee a functional Federal Government andhe encouraged the HDZ party to have apositive role in that process.

    US AmbassadorMeets with HDZ

    President in Mostar

  • !China urged all parties in Bosnia andHerzegovina to enhance political mutualtrust, promote national reconciliation,resolve differences through dialogue inorder to achieve greater progress in allareas. Wang Min, Chinese deputy perma-nent representative to the UN, made thecall when addressing an open meeting ofthe Security Council on the situation inBosnia. China respects the independence,sovereignty, national unity and territorialintegrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina aswell as the choice made by its people forthe future of their country, Wang said."We hope that all ethnicities in Bosniaand Herzegovina will proceed from thewellbeing and long-term interest of thecountry, adopt practical measures toenhance mutual political trust, promotenational reconciliation and resolve theirdifferences through dialogue, imple-ment comprehensively Dayton ParisPeace Accord, and work towardsgreater progress in all areas," he said.!Based on the Federal Budget Deci-sion for 2012, the Federal Governmentapproved to the Federal Ministry ofSpatial Planning 150.000 KM for solv-ing the accommodation problems ofRoma population. Federal Ministry forSpatial Planning is authorized to com-bine these funds with the funds of theBIH Ministry of Human Rights andRefugees about which they will sing amemorandum on understanding onimplementation of the Action Plan forsolving the Roma population accom-modation problems.

    HIGHLIGHTS

    Sefer Halilovic, former commander ofBiH Army, a retired general and the pres-ident of Bosnian-Herzegovinian PatrioticParty, BPS - a marginal party with a member-ship counting less than the population ofJavan rhinoceroses and Amur leopards - hadan appearance on TV1, and said that "ourpatience is running thin", warning MiloradDodik to stop with "shenanigans and provo-cations" for his own sake."If he angers us, we will deal with him quick-ly," said Halilovic.Unless his goal was to prove that a man canembarrass himself even with notoriouslyembarrassing Milorad Dodik, Halilovicrevealed the best kept secret in thispart of the world: thousands of sol-diers masked as workers and studentsgo to work and lectures every morn-ing, and then, trying not to be suspi-cious, they go to trainings toI don't know, woods I guess.Hundreds of tanks are hidden inthe Visoko pyramids. Instead ofsnow cannons, real cannons are installed onthe Vlasic mountain. Jokes aside, it's too much, even if it came froma retired man. True, as soon as he articulatedthe threat, Halilovic took it down a notch, andexplained what he meant to say. In a decisive,officer voice, he said that the parliament ofBiH Republic never ratified the Dayton PeaceAgreement, and that the Agreement was neverfully implemented - I guess if it was, then itwouldn't matter that the parliament never rati-fied it. He cited the results of 1992 independ-ence referendum, and, I guess in a moment ofdistraction, he informed the enemy about his,or ours, I don't know any more, most impor-tant move: restoration of Bosnian Republic.We all know very well - as Milosevic used tosay before he started with nonsense - BanjaLuka wakes up every morning hoping thatSarajevo won't remember that RBiH parlia-ment never ratified the Dayton Agreement.They pray to God that Bosniaks don't remem-ber the results of independence referendum.Dodik was seen on several occasions inchurches, lighting candles and praying to heav-ens that Bosnian Republic doesn't resurrect. There is no Bosnia and Herzegovina thatMilorad Dodik won't make worse, even if itwas organized according to his wishes. Thereis no need to prove that again. The problem is

    that there is nobody on the other side of theentity line that can do anything more thanonly detect the problem. Those who can't doanything are the loudest, and those who coulddo something prove silence is golden everytime they open their mouth. All high representatives in Bosnia had divinepowers, but they mostly didn't use them.Valentin Inzko is no exception. Also, he is notgoing to put an end to verbal stunts that voideach other. RS officials openly advocate dis-solution of the country, Inzko says, and addshe expects local solutions, based on dialogueand compromise. Or translated: High Repre-sentative expects the people who do their best

    to expedite Bosnia's shelf life toinvest more effort in making Bosniamore European, sort of speak. Heseriously insists that the problems ofa tired, poor, barely functional coun-

    try must be solved by the peo-ple who made it that way. Ever since he arrived andbought that scarf to support

    Bosnia's national football team, Inzkobehaved like an ambassador of a "friendly"country in Bosnia, always ready to expressdeepest concern for the situation, but quicklyadding that there won't be meddling in inter-nal relations, and that solution should comefrom dialogue of legitimate representatives,although the dumbest person on earth seesthat all internal and most of external problemsin Bosnia stem from the fact that legitimaterepresentatives can't have dialogue. Somedon't know how, others just don't want it.Every time Inzko speaks, it becomes lessclear why for God's sake Milorad Dodikwants OHR closed. Even Sefer Halilovicseems serious with such High Rep-resentative, and his BPS is Obama's adminis-tration compared to Inzko's office. Milorad Dodik shouldn't be underestimated -far from that - but he was overestimated,which is less his and more the credit of peoplein Sarajevo who make empty threats, likeHalilovic, or get a sudden urge in the middle ofa local crisis to tell Bosnian intellectuals thatthey took a jar of wonderful homemade ajvarto their mother in Austria, and they now go tosee a match. When the match is over, they willvoice deep concern and call for dialogue, sothat Halilovic doesn't have to sort things out.Which we know scares the hell out of Dodik.

    Opponents accordingto Dodik's Taste

    If he could have picked, Milorad Dodik couldn't find betteropponents than Sefer Halilovic and Valentin Inzko. The first

    one can't touch him; the latter one can, but won't

    Editor - in - ChiefAMRA ZIMICPublisherPOENTA d.o.o.Sarajevo, 4 Zmaja od Bosne StreetSenior EditorRASID KRUPALIJAEditorZDRAVKO LJUBASContributorKATHRYN HOFSTRAOffice AssistantMUSTAFA BAHTANOVICDTPMERSAD KIJAMETMarketingAJNA NUHANOVICGSM: 061 145 464Phone/Fax: 033 288 032, 033 288 035Web site: www.bosniadaily.co.baE-mail: [email protected]

    OPINION

    By Emir ImamovicRadio Sarajevo

  • 5Bosnia Dai ly, November 15, 2012

    Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said that he was using legitimate pressure on authoritiesin Bosnia and Republika Srpska, to caution them about the pollution emitted from the refinery

    in Bosanski Brod, adding that the problem would be definitely resolved within two years

    Pressure on Bosnia overPollution Legitimate: Croatian PM

    Milanovic added that the problem of therefinery has existed for quite sometime and that the refinery was undergoingmodernization and that it would be shutdown for two months for its overhauling.Additional gauging is to be conducted toestablish the true status of the pollution is andwhether there is any fault to be assigned tothe Croatian side, the Croatian PM said dur-ing Question Time.

    He stressed that the government disposed ofnegotiating instruments towards Bosnia as itwas in the interest of both countries to protectthemselves from pollution. He pointed out that the government could not actoutside its institutions with regard to neighboringcountries but it can apply legitimate pressure. "We are doing everything in our power andeverything the previous government did tooand what is realistically possible but we can-

    not resolve the matter overnight. The prob-lem is that BiH is not in the European Unionand that is why we sincerely hope that BiHand Serbia will adapt to European standardsas soon as possible", said Milanovic. Agriculture Minister Tihomir Jakovinaclaimed that Croatian citizens can be sure thatfood imported to Croatia from neighboringcountries, including BiH, are safe as veterinaryinspections are responsible and transparent.

    HDZ BiH, HDZ 1990 Leaders Agree on Positions before Meeting of the Six

    Leaders of the Croat Democratic Union(HDZ) 1990 Bozo Ljubic and HDZ BiH'sDragan Covic held a meeting in Mostarand agreed positions ahead of a six-partymeeting of leaders of the parliamentarymajority in Mostar, on November 20. Thehost of the meeting Bozo Ljubic said theyagreed positions on important points,especially when it comes to the imple-mentation of the road map. "The number one issue for us is the imple-

    mentation of the Roadmap and the resolu-tion of the decision of the court in Stras-bourg in the case of Sejdic and Finci. Thisis an opportunity to equalize the positionof constituent peoples, as it would not hap-pen again for one people to elect represen-tatives of other people," Ljubic said,adding that the reconstruction of the gov-ernment in the Federation of Bosnia andHerzegovina is also a very important issuefor the two parties.

    "Centralization is essentially usurping andis detrimental to the stability of Bosniaand Herzegovina. It is cynical to seek thedivision of Mostar, and to prohibit thesame thing at the state level," said Ljubic. Leader of the HDZ BiH Dragan Covicexpressed the opinion that the meeting of thesix in Mostar next week will be successful. "We have agreed on joint action. Goal wasto establish criteria that one people do notelect representatives of other people. We areconvinced that we will get support from allparties when it comes to reconstruction ofthe FBiH Government," said Covic. Asked how he sees the assessment of the sit-uation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, whichwas presented by High Representative inBiH Valentin Inzko in the UN SecurityCouncil, Covic thanked the High Represen-tative for pointing out at what the two par-ties have already indicated for years. "Inzko said what we have advocated formany years, and that is the constitutionalequality," said Covic and stressed that it istime to say stop to centralization. "We feel centralization for many years andit is unacceptable that anyone centralizescantonal jurisdiction on the federal level andin the absence of legitimate representativesof the Croat people," said Covic. Speaking about the judicial system in BiH,in relation to the agreement of the SocialDemocratic Party of BiH (SDP) and theAlliance of Independent Social Democrats(SNSD), and election of prosecutors, lead-ers of HDZ 1990 and HDZ BiH agreedabout the need of reconstruction of judicialsystem, especially in its prosecutorial part.

    BOSNIA NEWS

    Srecko Puntaric - Vecernji list

    WE SOLD FAMILYSILVER

    WE SOLD FAMILYGOLD

    WHATELSE

    IS THERE?

    THERE, BEAUTIFULFAMILY ALUMINUM!

  • 6Bosnia Dai ly, November 15, 2012

    VLAHOVIC TRIAL

    When the Trial Chamber entered the courtroom, the prosecutor, Behaija Krnjic, asked that the defendant Vlahovic be warned about his behavior in the courtroom

    Journalist Offended in Courtroom"As the trial draws to its end, there aremore and more incidents. TodayVlahovic cursed the mother of a journal-ist and witness in this case and I pleadwith you to warn him about such behav-ior in the courtroom," said Krnjic.The journalist of the Sarajevo basednewspaper "Oslobodjenje", EdinaKamenica, was called as a witness inorder to confirm the authenticity of hertexts about crimes at Grbavica. The pre-siding judge, Zoran Bozic, said that theTrial Chamber did not witness the event,but he warned the defendant that he hadto act appropriately in the courtroom."Whom did I curse? These are provoca-tions. If I said something to someone, letme leave," said Vlahovic.The Trial Chamber member, MiraSmajlovic, then warned Vlahovic that hewas disrespecting the court.Vlahovic is charged with murdering andtaking part in murder of more than 30 per-sons, as well as with abusing and robbing

    non-Serbs between May and August 1992on the territory of the Sarajevo neighbor-hoods of Grbavica, Vraca and Kovacici.

    Zoran Katanic from Ruma in Serbia, whoemployed Vlahovic as a security guard inhis tavern in the late summer of 1992,testified for the defense at this hearing."I sought someone from the outside anda friend of mine recommended Baticafrom Niksic and in the second half ofAugust in 1992 he started working forme," said Katanic.He said that the defendant's duty was tocome to the work every day, but that hefailed to show up on several occasions.The other witness, Zehra Zele, testifiedabout her father-in-law being takenaway from Grbavica and subsequentlykilled. She emphasized she was not aneyewitness to the murder, but that sheheard about it from her husband andmother-in-law."In June 1992, two men came and tookmy father-in-law together with two otherneighbours. I don't know who they were,nor which one of them killed my father-in-law later," said Zele.

    A State Prosecution witness confirms,while testifying before the State Court, thathe was in the attic of his house in Hrancavillage, Bratunac municipality on May 3,1992 and saw indictee Najdan Mladjenovicpointing to houses that his soldiers shouldset on fire that day."When I saw him from the attic,Mladjenovic was standing next to hishouse. He had a rifle, cap, uniform andwalkie-talkie. He pointed his finger tohouses that should be set on fire: my house,my brother-in-law's house and a couple ofothers. The soldiers spread around and setall of them on fire. Six houses were burntdown that day. It was all over in 20 min-utes," said State Prosecution witness SecanSalkic, former neighbour of indicteeNajdan Mladjenovic. As he said, when the soldiers enteredHranca village, all village residentswere outside their houses. Most of themwere hidden in the woods or surround-ing locations. He said that, after havingleft his wife and children at his relatives'

    in Cerovac village, he returned home tofeed his cattle."I first saw three tanks. They were fol-lowed by about 40 soldiers, who werecoming down the hill and entering the vil-lage. I got scared. I got very scared. WhenI saw the large number of soldiers, I ran tomy house, climbed up to the attic and hidin it. Looking between roof tiles, I couldsee Najdan's house, the soldiers andNajdan himself," Salkic explained. As he said, the attack on Hranca contin-ued until Mladjenovic issued an order tostop the fire and told his soldiers to goback to their positions. Mladjenovic is on trial, along with SavoZivkovic, for having committed crimesagainst humanity by unlawfully deprivingthe Bosniak civilian population of theirliberty, physically and mentally abusingthem and destructing their property withina widespread and systematic attack onHranca and Glogova villages, Bratunacmunicipality on May 3 and 9, 1992. The indictment alleges that Mladjenovic

    was Commander of the TerritorialDefense in Bratunac, while Zivkovicwas member of that unit. Witness Salkic said that he left Hrancavillage in the evening on that same dayand went to Cerovac village, where hisfamily was. He said that, six days laterCerovac and Glogova villages wereattacked as well, adding that he heardthat some houses were set on fire andpeople killed in Glogova."I did not know exactly what was goingon in that village, because Cerovci wasattacked that same day. I remember thatthe entire area, including Glogova vil-lage, was covered with smoke. All Icould think about was how to flee andsave my life," Salkic said.Salkic said that he had never metMladjenovic, whom he used to see andhad known his "whole life", again afterMay 3, adding that he did not knowindictee Savo Zivkovic at all. The trial is due to continue onNovember 27.

    LADJENOVIC ET AL

    Houses that Should Be Burnt

    Edina Kamenica

    BOSNIA NEWS

  • "A negative report submitted byValentin Inzko and the OHR will direct-ly affect the rare foreign investors whoare thinking about investing in BiH.After this report the only thing we haveleft are radical changes in the politicalleadership of the country. Only politicalstability can trigger foreign investmentand guarantee economic stability, Hasictold FENA.

    Hasic warned that in the last six or sevenyears, foreign investments that havebeen realized in BiH are minute com-pared to the degree of foreign investmentin neighboring countries. "Economic situation since 2008 to datein this country has been rapidly deterio-rating. On the other hand, poor businessclimate and business environment, inaddition to political instability drives

    away investors," explains Hasic. Views of the OHR presented by the HighRepresentative, experts say, will have adevastating impact on attracting foreigninvestment in BiH, which have been indecline since 2008.

    7Bosnia Dai ly, November 15, 2012

    ECONOMY

    FOREIGN TRADE CHAMBER ANALYST

    Macroeconomic analyst of the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber Duljko Hasic believes that the report of the High Representative before the UN Security Council

    clarified completely divided and fragmented economy space of Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Inzko's UN SC Report Will Have DevastatingImpact on Foreign Investment Climate

    At a meeting in Mostar, Federation BiHGovernment sent to parliamentary pro-cedure the Draft Law on Labor, whichis an integral new Federal law, since thecurrent Labor Law was passed in 1999and has been changed many times bynow, said the Office of Public Relationsof FBiH Government. In accordance with the conclusions of bothhouses of Parliament, a public debate wasmade on the Draft Law, so comments andsuggestions were given related to clear andprecise wording of certain provisions thatcontribute to the improvement of the textadopted and incorporated into the text ofthe Draft Law. In order to better protect young work-ers who are first employed as atrainee, a proposal was accepted thatthe employer and the intern may agreeto pay a higher amount than theamount stipulated in Article 32Paragraph 3 of the Law. They also accepted the suggestion toprovide the possibility of the trainingto work without employment ratherthan the concept of volunteer work,because of possible abuses. Otherwise, this legal project respectscommitments of a number of nationaland international documents regulat-ing the labor and employment, as wellas 68 ILO conventions which wereverified by our country, the EuropeanSocial Charter and the Law on GenderEquality in BiH, and were harmonizedwith the European principles and stan-dards of labor legislation.

    Federation'sGov't Drafts Law

    on Labor

    The GIZ Project "Fostering of local andregional economic development inBosnia and Herzegovina" in partnershipwith Prism Research Agency and theDirectorate for Economic PlanningCouncil of Ministers BiH has organized

    a conference yesterday in HotelSarajevo. The conference was organizedon the occasion of presenting the resultsof the second measurement of theBusiness and Consumer ConfidenceIndex in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At theconference GIZ together with its part-ners presented the brochure on theIndex. The brochure was developed as aresult of the cooperation and support ofthe IFO Institute from Munich, arenowned institute in economic researchin Germany. IFO Institute, in coopera-tion with the International Chamber ofCommerce based in Paris, publishes in aquarterly period the IFO WorldEconomic Climate Index for more than

    one hundred countries of the world. TheIndex is based on the World EconomicSurvey of Business and ConsumerConfidence Index. With the support ofGIZ, Bosnia and Herzegovina has beeninvolved in the World Economic Surveysince April 2012 through the IFOInstitute. Thus, the data for BiH hasbeen collected from the second quarterof 2012. Gernot Nerb, Senior Expertfrom the IFO Institute, as a main con-tributor to the Brochure attended theconference. In his statement, Nerbfocused on the benefits of the continuedmeasurement of the Index. He especial-ly highlighted the benefits decision-makers may obtain from the research aswell the benefits for macroeconomicanalysis and entrepreneurs. The mainobjective of the conference was to makerecommendations for local authoritieson state level. International donorsshould secure the needed political sup-port to guarantee that the research isconducted on a larger scale on a regularmonthly basis in Bosnia. The obtainedresults will help that in Bosnia the eco-nomic status can be better monitoredand economic policy can be planned incomparison with surrounding states.Currently, reliable economic statisticsare missing in Bosnia. Yet the researchpresents a chance to take part in eco-nomic renowned research.

    Conference on Second Measurement of Business and

    Consumer Confidence Index in Bosnia

  • 8Bosnia Dai ly, November 15, 2012

    REPORT

    High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council addressed a letter to Stefan Fuele, EU's enlargement commissioner,regarding the agreement of SDP and SNSD leaders, Zlatko Lagumdzija and Milorad Dodik

    Judges and Prosecutors Seek Helpfrom the International Community

    According to the agreement, pros-ecutors would be appointed byentity parliaments instead of theHJPC. A year ago, Fuele said that he sup-ports independence of judiciary inBosnia. That independence is under-mined by the agreement of two socialdemocratic parties. They clearly agreedto impose political influence on all judi-cial functions, and open the door forpolitical appointments of prosecutors.

    Devastating Consequences

    Reactions to the SDP-SNSD agreementin Bosnia keep coming. Besides mildreaction from several embassies, andrather vague message from HighRepresentative Valentin Inzko, HighJudicial and Prosecutorial Council need-ed to write to Stefan Fuele. The Councilsaid that the agreement of Lagumdzijaand Dodik will roll back the reformprocess in the judiciary, undermine inde-pendence of prosecutorial system inBosnia and impose political control on it.Milorad Novkovic, president of theCouncil, said the letter didn't rule out theneed to involve the international commu-nity in the process."We will soon send another letter to alladdresses from before, and we will askwhat was done about that."

    Meddzida Kreso, president of BiHCourt, also supported HJPC. She saysthat the SDP-SNSD agreement is aboutpolitical influence in judiciary.According to her, that is the purpose of anew draft law on courts in BiH, whichdidn't attract public attention because ofthe issue of prosecutors."The range of political influence there!That law, drafted by the Justice Ministry,will decimate the BiH Court when itcomes to its competences and the num-ber of staff. We won't be able to work infull capacity. Reducing of competencesrelates to removing article 7 of the law,which gives BiH Court full capacity toprotect the state's attributes. I, and mycolleagues from the Court, have warnedmister Mirel and institutions that followour work about devastating conse-quences of such law." Yet, SDP and SNSD don't agree that theywant to politically control judiciary.They claim that BiH judiciary is analienated power center, and that judgesand prosecutors care only about theirpositions and interests. Lidija Korac,member of SDP presidency, says: "Thisway of complaining to European institu-tions flies against democratic practiceand proves alienation of HJPC."

    SNSD vice president Igor Radojicic saysthat "it is obviously an attempt to protectpositions and interests, even if it meansturning against legislators, who actuallyappointed them and regulate their work."Amir Jaganjac, president of Federation'sSupreme Court, thinks it is not a strugglefor functions."I believe it is a struggle for democracy,for rule of law, in our opinion in the bestpossible way."Zelimir Baric, president of RepublikaSrpska's Supreme Court, says: "The pur-pose of that agreement is that politicsappoints chief prosecutor, who would beon a list of loyal people. I think it is anoutdated thing, and I believe it would bea setback to something we overcame along time ago."High Representative passed laws on for-mation of prosecution and court on thestate level ten years ago. Since then, mil-lions of Euros were invested to create anindependent and professional judiciary.Although reform of judiciary isn't over, ityielded some results, especially when itcomes to independent judiciary - some-thing Dodik and Lagumdzija will erasewith one strike.

    Skill to Generate Issues

    "The agreement of few political parties - Idon't see it as a contribution to Europeanintegrations, speeding up Bosnia'sEuropean path, or a contribution to thisstructured dialogue," says Adis Arapovicfrom the Center of Civil Initiatives."It can have negative consequences if theEU decided to intervene, which wouldmean another bad mark for Bosnia.Instead of news about problems solvedin Bosnia, it is unbelievable that we havenews about new problems in placesnobody expected. Political elite have thisunlimited skill to generate new issues,new problems - sometimes to hide realproblems, but basically to use the posi-tion and increase power of the elite onexpense of independence of many insti-tutions, in this case judicial ones."

    RFE/RL

  • 9Bosnia Dai ly, November 15, 2012

    FEATURE

    In the industrial district of Zenica, the number of tumors has increased alarmingly over the last ten years. The eyes are on local industries and especially the historic steel factory now privatized

    Dying of Pollution in Zenica

    The citizens of Zenica look at thearrival of autumn and winter withgreat concern. The town is locatedin a small, narrow valley - 14 kilometersfrom Janic to Vranduk, closed betweentwo mountains that are not spaced morethan 2 kilometers. As usual fromNovember to February, a toxic cloudforms over the city which traps all thesubstances rising from the chimneys ofsteel plants, other factories, and houses.Because of bizarre historical circum-stances, the city and the steel plant haveshared the valley for a long time. Afterthe Second World War, the Yugoslav gov-ernment, with the help of Russians, hadplans to build a new steel plant nearDoboj, but the Yugoslav-Russian clash in1948 changed the plans. The Yugoslavgovernment then decided to build theplant in Zenica, on the foundations of thepre-existing Austro-Hungarian complex.The factory was placed in the wrongplace from the beginning, in an area beat-en by the winds in a way that pollution isblown towards the city. Therefore, sincethe second half of the twentieth century,the workplace and the houses have beeninextricably joined under a poisonoushood. The population becomes painfullyaware of this when winter mists, pregnantwith all poisons, make the air so thickand heavy that it is not breathed, butrather swallowed.

    Increasing Cancer Rates

    In recent years, doctors and environmen-tal activists have strived to inform thepublic of the increase of malignant dis-eases in the territory of Zenica and theentire Zenica-Doboj canton. A 2011report on the population's health, con-ducted by the Cantonal Institute forPublic Health, reveals alarming statistics.In the period between 2002 and 2011,tumors have become the second leadingcause of death among residents with astriking 20%. According to the report,the number of cancer patients increasedfrom 892 persons in 2002 to 1,888 in2010 and 1,774 in 2011. If the number ofpatients had increased from 1063 to 1065from 2003 to 2004, from 2004 onwardsit has increased by the hundreds eachyear, and especially from 2007 onwards,

    i.e. since the full production of steel wasresumed by reactivating the old plantsthat had been turned off at the beginningof the war in 1992.The plant was sold twice, but the protec-tion of the environment has never been setas a priority. First, 50% ownership wassold to Kuwait's investment agency, butits announced investments for renewal ofproduction remained such. Then, theKuwaitis sold their share to the Indo-British company of Lakshmi NivasMittal, one of the richest people in theworld, who built most of his businessempire by buying former socialist steelfactories from transition governments thatwould sell them at any condition, as longas someone could rid them of the workers.So, Mittal bought the Zenica plant andpromised to invest about 80 million dol-lars - an entirely feasible effort for some-one who paid around 60 million dollarsfor his daughter's wedding and twice asmuch for a new house in London.Immediately after the acquisition, Mittalannounced the New York Stock Exchangethat the deal had earned him 80 milliondollars. After the Kuwaitis' final with-drawal, Mittal became the majority ownerof the plant, with the local governmentmaintaining a symbolic share.The ownership transfer contract did notinclude any obligation to invest in envi-ronmental protection. In fact, the newowner was even allowed to reactivate theold plants. Citizens and environmental-ists believe the very activation of theseold plants such as Koksara (dedicated tothe production of metallurgical coke)was the main cause of increased pollu-tion. ArcelorMittal Zenica prefers tohighlight the large investments made inthe modernization of production andgradual recovery from pollution.

    Politicians, Environmentalistsand Doctors

    Politicians, environmentalists, and doctorshave different opinions on the possiblecauses of increasing cancer cases inZenica. Sretko Radiiæ, of the SocialDemocrats (SDP), president of the canton-

    al assembly, questioned on the possibleinfluence of steel pollution on the deterio-ration of people's health, says that peopletend to see environmental accidents every-where: "We need to enforce rules andensure employers' compliance, but also tokeep the 3,000 jobs at the steel".Dr. Suad Sivic, director of the Institutefor Public Health of the Zenica-DobojCanton, told the Sarajevo weekly Dani hebelieves that Mittal is not the main cul-prit: "I believe the period of activity ofMittal has been too short to say it causedthe increased number of cancers, though

    it certainly contributes. But Mittal is notthe main culprit, which could instead bethe country's socio-economic situation". One possible explanation, he adds, couldbe the improvement in the healthcaresystem: "The population's increasingawareness may be the cause of the dis-covery of a larger number of diseases.People go to the doctor and requestexaminations more often, so we discovermore diseases than in the past. But itcould also be a real trend, because of allwe went through during the war andtoday's bad living conditions".Environmentalist Hasan Kreho, howev-er, has been collecting data on theincrease in cancers in Zenica-Doboj foryears. As an engineer, he has alwaysbeen convinced that restarting the fullproduction of steel had an effect on thepopulation's health. In 2008, he got thefirst data from a source (which remainsanonymous) who shared his concern forthe spread of cancerous diseases inZenica. Kreho believes that the maincause is that "since 2004, industrialplants were restarted without investing inprotecting people's health from harmfulemissions of pollutants"."I think the government wanted to beginproduction at all costs, for political as wellas personal motives and regardless of theconsequences on people's health. We

    By Esad HecimovicOsservatorio Balcani e Caucaso

  • 10Bosnia Dai ly, November 15, 2012

    know which matters in the technologicalprocesses of steel production can causecancerous diseases. Unannounced inspec-tions should check the internal measure-ments that all polluting industries wouldbe required to comply with. But without achange in the policy of the federal govern-ment, which holds an 8% share in theproperty of the plant, and the applicationof the law that regulates the behavior ofpolluters, nothing will improve in Zenica". Kreho urges "the Government of the BiHFederation to face the truth and makesure that citizens of Zenica do the same".

    Alarming Data on the State of Citizens' health

    Another cause for concern lies in thehigh mortality rate and speed of cancerpatients. According to the report by theCantonal Institute of Public Health, 50percent of patients died within a year:"The highest rate of deaths from malig-nant disease is in Breza, followed byZenica and Visoko". Obviously, the absolute number ofpatients and deaths is higher in Zenica,but the ratio between the number ofpatients and the total number of residentscreates confusion and clashes betweenanalysts, doctors, ecologists, andactivists. The report says that 1,012 newpatients were officially recorded in 2011.This figure includes 739 new patientsand others that had not been registered.This is definitely not the total number ofnew patients, since registration comesafter a given period from the diagnosis.680 patients were recorded with seriousmalignant diseases (excluding skin can-cer) and 739 with cases of skin cancer.Demographically, men (61.03%) out-numbered women (38.97%) and tumorsshowed a higher recurrence among peo-ple over 65 years old. The most frequentcancers include those of the trachea,bronchus, and lung (159), with menreporting a recurrence four times higherthan women; colo-rectal, breast, femalegenitals, and prostate cancers follow.Men are mostly affected by cancers ofthe trachea, bronchus and lung, colon,prostate, and stomach; women by tumorsof genitals, breast, trachea, bronchi andlungs, and colon."Among fatal cancers in 2011, the mostfrequent affected lungs and bronchi,stomach and large intestine, and liver. Ahigh number of preventable and curablecancers resulted in the death of thepatient (large intestine, breast, stomach,

    female genitals...). Among men, theleading cause of death was lung cancer,followed by the tumor in the stomachand prostate, liver, and brain, while themost common causes of death forwomen were breast, lung, and liver can-cer", emphasizes the Cantonal Institutefor Public Health.

    Tumors Are Now a Fact

    Minister of Health Senka Balorda recent-ly warned that the time has come to rec-ognize that malignant diseases areincreasing in the Canton of Zenica-Doboj.It speaks for itself - says the minister - thatlung cancer is the first malignant diseasein Zenica and Kakanj, traditional industri-al districts of this territory. Surgeon HarunDrljevic, cantonal deputy and Eko forum

    activist, has warned for years about therelationship between air pollution andincreased cancers. Earlier this yearDrljevic had already made it clear to jour-nalists from the newspaper Oslobodjenje:"I recently heard scary data, and namelyabout an increase of patients with lungcancer. There is no need for special evi-dence, proof was already provided by theWorld Health Organization Office inCopenhagen about the carcinogenicity ofsome pollutants that are released into theair and various substances such as ben-zene, benzopyrene, cadmium, and lead. Itis not a theory, it is a postulate".He continues: "With prolonged exposureto these pollutants, as is the case inZenica, an increase is normal in the num-ber of cancer of various organs, depend-ing on the specificities of pollutants.Namely, benzene causes problems atlungs and the urinary tract and interactswith human DNA, thus coming into con-tact with the fetus. Cadmium causes lungproblems, lead damages the central nerv-ous system, kidneys, liver... There is noneed to provide special evidence and saythat we are going to see an increase inthe number of malignant diseases in thelong term because of the phenomenon ofsedimentation. We already do".

    FEATURE

    The judge in the case of Mevlid Jasarevic,who attacked the US embassy in Saraje-vo, said the final words might be present-ed next month after the prosecution finish-es presenting its material evidence. Theprosecutor, Dubravko Campara, onNovember 12 presented several items ofmaterial evidence in the case of Jasarevic- who is charged alongside two otherswith organizing a terrorist attack on theUS embassy in Sarajevo on October 28,2011. The evidence comprised booksfound during raids on the northeastern vil-lage of Gornja Maoca, known as the cen-tre of the hard-line Muslim Wahhabi com-munity. Most are about issues of "jihad",or holy war, and about martyrdom, whichthe prosecutor added as contextual expla-nation for the attack.While the prosecutor charges Jasarevicand the other two as members of a terror-ist group, the defense, led by Senad Dupo-vac, denies charges of organized terrorism,describing the attack as the work of anindividual. The prosecutor also gave evi-dence concerning the locals in GornjaMaoca, describing their way of life, andnoting that of 78 persons from there, noone voted in the October elections, whichwas proven by data from the Central Elec-toral Commission. Describing the GornjaMaoca locals, he also said that accordingto the police in the nearby Brcko District,the locals do not bury their people accord-ing to state rules and use a forbidden loca-tion with no signs. The prosecutor said thatsuch evidence casts light on the views ofthe community towards Bosnia andHerzegovina, and also on the authority oftheir leader, Nusret Imamovic. Thedefense objected that most of the prosecu-tion evidence was about Gornja Maoca,not about the three defendants, Jasarevic,Emrah Fojnica and Munib Ahmetspahic,Jasarevic's alleged helpers. The defensesaid the presented evidence was irrelevantto the specific case and had nothing to dowith the defendants or with their charges.Jasarevic, 23, is charged with shooting 105bullets for some 50 minutes from an auto-matic rifle during which time he causedmaterial damage to the building andwounded a policeman.The defense admits that he shot at the USembassy but maintains that he never belongedto, or ran, an organized terrorist group.

    Prosecution PresentsEvidence in Embassy

    Attack Trial

    REPORT

  • 11Bosnia Dai ly, November 15, 2012

    REGION

    South East European Museums Network, which will enhance cross-border cooperation betweenthese cultural institutions, was established at a ministerial conference held in Skopje

    Museums Network in South East Europe Established

    The ministers of culture adopted ajoint statement, enabling theNetwork to foster cooperationamong national museums in South EastEurope, and to develop projects atregional and international levels. The event was co-organized by theMinistry of Culture of The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as thecurrent Chair-in-Office of the South-EastEuropean Cooperation Process(SEECP), the Regional CooperationCouncil Secretariat, and the RCC TaskForce on Culture and Society. Opening the event, Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska, the Minister of Culture of TheFormer Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, said that this event clearlyhighlights affirmation and respect fordifferent cultural expressions in allforms, management of cultural heritage,and strengthening of cultural tourism."We are actively concentrating our effortson the promotion of principle of under-standing and good neighbouring relationsbetween SEE countries along with the net-working of their institutions and entities inregional projects in different areas."

    The current status of the region's nation-al museums, as guardians of culture andheritage, models of their managementand existing partnerships were also dis-cussed at the meeting.

    The RCC Secretary General, HidoBiscevic, emphasized that museumswere best positioned to explain the pres-ent and portray the future by means ofpresenting specific objects and storiesinherited from the past."At the same time, as the museums in theregion also suffer cutbacks from govern-mental and social changes, they should

    form alliances and develop cross-bordercooperation and programmes. Preservingand further improving multi-cultural har-mony and inter-religious relations are ofa particular importance for the entire

    region, especially the WesternBalkans."The conference gathered min-isters of culture from SouthEast Europe, directors of nati-onal museums, as well as rep-resentative of the EuropeanCommission, the RCC TaskForce on Culture and Society,the United Nations Educat-ional, Scientific and CulturalOrganization (UNESCO), andInternational Council of Mu-seums (ICOM).

    Cooperation in the field of cultural her-itage in South East Europe has beenplaced high on the agenda of the RCCStrategy and Work Programme 2011-2013; therefore, the organization will con-tinue assisting relevant national institu-tions, among which museums play a spe-cial role, in developing closer links andconcrete forms of regional cooperation.

    Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's quar-terly report welcomes advances inSerbia-Kosovo talks and expresseshopes that it will lead to total normalisa-tion of relations and lasting peace,reports BIRN. In his regular quarterlyreport, UN Secretary General encour-aged Serbia and Kosovo to continuetheir EU-led dialogue and move aheadin applying existing agreements."I hail the assurances received fromBelgrade and Pristina regarding theirreadiness and devotion to continuing theirstrong engagement in the EU brokereddialogue and resolving disputed issues viapeaceful means and preserving their jointEuropean prospects," Ban Ki-moon said.The report is due to be reviewed by theSecurity Council on November 27.In the report, which covers July to

    October 2012, Ki-moon noted positiveefforts to implement agreementsreached through the dialogue held underEU auspices.EU-mediated talks in Brussels startedin March 2011, three years afterKosovo declared independence fromSerbia in 2008. Serbia has vowed never to recogniseKosovo as a state, but says it is open todeals that improve daily lives on bothsides of the [from Serbia's point of viewunrecognised] border.So far, the two sides have reached deals onfreedom of movement, university diplomas,regional representation and on trade. But notall the deals have been implemented.Over the past several months, the twosides have moved to overcome the obsta-cles that arose from different interpreta-

    tions of the agreements, the report said.The Kosovo and Serbia leaders, HashimThaci and Ivica Dacic, held two "his-toric meetings" in Brussels on October19 and November 7 to discuss relationsbetween the two countries. The UN chief said he was looking forwardto the continuation of the dialogue and hehopes that incentives will be created for thetwo sides to move towards total normalisa-tion of relations and lasting peace. Turning to the security situation, BanKi-moon described it as relatively calm,especially in the sometimes volatileSerb-run north of Kosovo.The northern part of Kosovo, which bor-ders Serbia, has experienced bouts of vio-lence. The local population does not recog-nise Kosovo's independence, or the ethnicAlbanian-led government in Pristina.

    UN Chief Hails Constructive Kosovo Talks

    Participants of the ministerial conference National Museumsin South East Europe - Status, Management andPartnerships, in Skopje

  • SarajevoToday: Rain. High 9C.Tonight: Low 5C.Friday: Fog. High close to 13C.

    Banja LukaToday: Rain. High 9C.Tonight: Low 6C.Friday: Cloudy. High close to 10C.

    TuzlaToday: Cloudy. High 8C.Tonight: Low 5C.Friday: Cloudy. High close to 11C.

    MostarToday: Rain. High 16C.Tonight: Low 11C.Friday: Partially cloudy. 19C.

    WEATHER OUTLOOK

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