European Forum

News update Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 - 9 September

In the run up to the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 3rd of October of this year, next to the newsflash, we will provide you with news from the country more frequently. This edition covers the period between 3 – 9 September.

1) SNSD suggests a division of BiH army due to Ramadan dinner
On 8 September secretary general of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) Rajko Vasic said that the festive Ramadan dinner in the military base Kozara for the Bosniac members of the armed forces, shows that the BiH army has became a religious military organization. Vasic reacted after a number of Serbian soldiers argued that their participation in the preparation of the festive dinner felt humiliating. Source: Radio Free Europe

2) Weapons cache unearthed
On 7 September a large cache of explosives and weapons believed to have been intended for “terrorist attacks” has been found by police in central Bosnia. One person was arrested after “large quantities of weapons, military equipment and explosives” were discovered near the central town of Bugojno, prosecutors from the Court of BiH said. “Judging by their appearance, there is reason to believe that the weapons and explosives seized were designated for criminal or terrorist acts,” the statement read. The arms were uncovered during an investigation into a June bomb attack on a police station in Bugojno which left one officer killed and several others injured. Several followers of Wahhabism, the strict interpretation of Islam, were arrested during a probe into the attack, in which a powerful improvised explosive device was used. Two men, suspected of being the ringleader and his aide, remain under detention. Source: BIRN

3) SDP election campaign kicks off in Zenica
On 6 September campaign of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) “State for the people” officially started in Zenica. In front of thousands of people SDP candidate for the member of BiH Presidency, Zeljko Komsic, and president of the SDP, Zlatko Lagumdzija were among the speakers. Komsic send a message to the neighbouring countries: “we wish you all the best and we want to be friends. We want to be good neighbours, regardless of the past and the evil that has been done to us. We will threat our neighbours as they threat us”, he said. Komšić also said that SDP is the only chance for BiH. According to him, the most important task of SDP after the elections will be to declare war to unemployment, injustice and corruption. In addressing the audience Lagumdzija said that the guns and cannons of the ’40 and ’90 are pencils and ballot boxes of today. He added that SDP want to unite the country as only a united state can work for the people, whilst a divide state leads to poverty and misery. Source: Website SDP

4) SNSD holds election rallies
Between 5 and 7 of September the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) held its election rallies in Kotor Varos, Celinac, Petrov and Prnjavor. In front of thousand of citizens the party presented its candidates and programme. Source: Website SNSD

5) Dodik: “SNSD politics is one of peace, not war”
On 5 September the leader of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) current prime minister of Republika Srpska (RS) and RS presidential candidate Milorad Dodik said that SNSD will continue its policies for a better and peaceful future: “SNSD politics is one of peace, not war”. In addition, he emphasised that in the past four years SNSD managed to restore confidence in RS. Despite the world economic crisis, we were able to preserve the economic power and the situation would be much worse without SNSD”, he said. SNSD candidate for the BiH presidency, Nebojsa Radmanovic, said that the SNSD loves RS and regardless of difficulties and challenges it will further develop RS. Source: Sarajevo-x.com

6) Ognjen Tadic: “RS for all citizens”
On 5 September Republika Srpska (RS) presidential candidate of the coalition “Together for Srpska” Ognjen Tadic said that he wants a RS for all citizens, a free, democratic, legal, economically viable and socially responsible state. Furthermore, at the Congress of Serbian Democratic Party of RS (SDS) Tadic urged Dodik to meet each other in a television debate in order to discuss the future of RS. Tadic expects that his coalition will secure victory at the elections and a better live for all citizens. Source: Sarajevo-x.com

7) Dodik and Serbian first deputy prime minister Dačić meet in Banja Luka
On 5 September Serbia’s first deputy prime minister, minister of internal affairs and leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) met with prime minister of Republika Srpska (RS) Milorad Dodik in Banja Luka. At the press conference after the meeting Dačić stated that the use of different standards for Kosovo and RS is “unacceptable”. “While it considers supporting Kosovo’s independence a perfectly normal thing, the international community strongly condemns every mention of a referendum for independence for RS,” Dačić said. Dodik said that RS will always follow the political views of Serbia when it comes to Kosovo. He reiterated that the Serbian BiH presidency representatives “will never allow BiH to recognize Kosovo”. Adil Osmanovic, the Bosniak vice president of RS, accused Dačić of “awakening the spirits of (Slobodan) Milosevic’s era” over his statements linking Bosnia with Kosovo. Source: Oslobodjenje

8) Bosnian Croatians not interested in elections
On 4 September a survey has shown that Croatians from BiH that flew to Croatia during and after the war in Bosnia are more interested in Croatian politics rather than the upcoming elections in BiH. President of Association of Croatian settlers Tomo Aračić confirmed the absolute lack of interest in the general elections: “We tried to inform the people on the situation in BiH and the elections, but I noticed a great indifference among Croatians from BiH, who are far more interested in political situation in Croatia and normalization of their life”. He added that time has passed since the war and a very small numbers of people are interested in returning to BiH. Vice Speaker of expelled Croats from the Republika Srpska Professor Berislav Andrijević argued that from a total of emigrants and displaced Croats from a third lives in Croatia, more than 150,000, of which a very small number has registered to vote. Source: Radio Slobodna Evropa

9) Karadzic trial could stretch into 2014
On 4 September judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) said that the trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic could take more than four years. The trial opened in October 2009 and was expected to end in December 2012. But a new evaluation of the proceedings so far suggests the trial could stretch into 2014 if the prosecutors and defence do not speed up cross-examinations. Judge O-Gon Kwon cited the unprecedented number of documents and witnesses in the case. Source: SETimes

10) Parties warned as election campaign begins
On 3 September BiH electoral commission has warned the country’s political parties they could face harsh sanctions if they abuse their general election campaigns by increasing ethnic tensions. Speaking at the launch of campaigning for the general elections on 3 October, commission president Irena Hadziabdic said parties and candidates who failed to respect their “legal obligation” could be excluded from the race. “I call on political parties and their candidates ... to refrain in their pre-election campaigns from anti-state and nationalist rhetoric, as well as from any inflammatory statements,” Hadziabdic said. The warning follows a sharp increase in the expression of separatist sentiments by Milorad Dodik, the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, in the days leading up to the official start of the election campaign. The full article can be red here. Source: BIRN

11) Turkey's President Gul: united BiH key to stability in Balkans
On 3 September Turkish President Abdullah Gul said during his visit to Sarajevo that "without permanent peace and security in Bosnia we cannot talk about peace and security in the Balkans and Europe.” He added that BiH should step up its efforts to meet the requirements for joining the EU and NATO. Reiterating Ankara’s support for the Euro-Atlantic integration of Balkan countries, he said a key objective of Turkish foreign policy is achieving “lasting peace, security and stability” in the region, as it is critical to spurring economic development. “We want to see this region become a heart of Europe ... a crossroads of important political and economic corridors,” Gul said. The full article can be red here.
Source: SETimes

12) Website of the Central Election Commission of BiH