TRANSCRIPT: Joint Press Conference


13 May 1999, 11.30 Hours
Coalition Press Information Center
Tito Barracks


Simon Haselock, OHR: Good morning everybody, I'm afraid you have another
session to put up with and also I'm afraid I've got quite a lot today, so
I'll try to be as brief as possible. Starting with the steering board, the
Peace Implementation Council steering board, which as you know met in
Brussels on Tuesday at the political director level to consider the current
events in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The agenda considered the general situation
and the current political situation in both Entities, and of course the
impact of the crisis in the FRY on the situation here and particularly in
the Republika Srpska. There's also discussion on the municipal elections,
of the timing of them, corruption, the donors conference -- of which more
later, on economic matters, the media, and refugee returns. And on the
refugee returns issue, there was renewed commitment by the steering board
to the plan that was presented in Madrid and regardless of the impact of
events in the FRY. So the commitment is still there to make a major drive
on refugee return over the summer period we're approaching now.


As far as the donors conference is concerned you already heard from the
World Bank that the date has now been set for the 20th and 21st of May and
that'll take place in Brussels. This should not however be seen as an
acceptance by the international community that the authorities of both
entities and in Bosnia-Herzegovina have met the conditions that were laid
down as conditions for the donor's conference taking place. Any pledges or
any money which is made available as a result of the donors conference will
be conditional on these original conditions being met and any other
conditions which the donors may lay down as a result of continuing
developments -- and there is … more on that in a moment.


Conditionalities will be very specific and very hard as a result of this
conference, particularly on refugee return. There will be a direct
attachment of the reconstruction aid to people's delivering on their
pledges as far as refugee return is concerned. Also in economic
reconstruction the whole question of the privatization system, the whole
question of the macro economic restructuring and also judicial reform and
police reform etceteras. Another important issue will be the discussion of
fiscal support to the Republika Srpska and I think it was announced on
Tuesday by the Deputy High Representative … that he'd met with ambassadors
and donors and finacial institutions based in Bosnia-Herzegovina to discuss
budget support for the RS.


Clearly the situation in the FRY has had a greater impact upon the economy
of the RS which is already behind that of that of the Federation,
particularly in terms of exports etceteras. The meeting was very
constructive and promising and there was agreement the international
community must assist the Republika Srpska in coping with the effects of
the crisis in the FRY. A number of countries have already made
considerable pledges. We are not going to announce what they are at the
moment because that's up to the countries concerned and others who were at
that meeting will consult with their governments. But again at the
steering board there was a further general commitment to produce
considerable fiscal budgetary support to the Republika Srbska and we're
satisfied with this commitment.


On the economic situation in general, as you know we are holding a briefing
in the OHR at 11:30 to discuss and to talk about the general economic
condition. And the idea of this briefing is to address the various points
which have been raised not least by the ICG report and other recent
discussion in the press concerning the economic situation and the need and
the difficulties of international investors in the country. Our position
is, the identification of the problem is relatively easy, but providing
the solution requires cooperation of all involved.


The need to reform the macro and micro economic structure is crucial and
we, as you know, have embarked upon this process already and anybody who
has read the Madrid Declaration will see that this program is fairly
rigorous and it needs to be worked on by the authorities here, not just the
international community. So the briefing will cover this issue in detail.
We will talk about what has been achieved and what we can realistically
expect to achieve in the forthcoming year or the rest of this year -- for
instance the disbandment of the payment bureaus, reform of the banking
system, privatization, the eradication of [inaudible] and organized crime
throughout the country, and alongside the necessity to reform the judicial
system to enable the new structure to work and be administered correctly.


I'm afraid another couple of points on the Federation Forum. We've already
told you what our view about the Federation Forum, and the end of it, is.
We deeply regret the failure of this meeting and we've already said where
responsibility lies. We're not going to give up on the goals or the
deadlines that we expected to have been agreed in the forum because, in the
context of what I've already said, they're extremely important to move the
process of economic reform in the Federation forward. Again, the Madrid
Declaration clearly states that Bosnia and Hercegovina must develop a
self-sustaining economy and stand on its own feet. And we know that is
because donor aid is going to begin to diminish and we are clearly unhappy
with the pace of economic transformation. Now following the debacle of the
end of the Federation Forum we are meeting at the moment with the Croat
side and we hope that there will be some better news on the declaration by
the end of the day.


Another issue was federation television. As far as the legislation is
concerned, despite the difficulties of … the forum itself ... the Prime
Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister have reached agreement on the
disputed articles in the law -- and this was long overdue. Therefore we
expect the government to forward this law to Parliament promptly, and any
further delay will be interpreted as a clear attempt at obstruction of the
law. And again we believe that failure to carry this compromise forward
will result in negative consequences for both sides.


International intervention as we have suggested is a possibility on this
issue will mean that the concessions won by both sides would be dropped and
a more rigid or rigorous solution will be enforced and implemented by the
international community -- which would be a shame. In addition the
international community would have to launch long delayed measures against
any public broadcaster and make sure that they are able to display
financial transparency, and make sure they're able to show editorial
independence and respect for all the constituent peoples of
Bosnia-Herzegovina. At the same time domestic and foreign experts have
begun discussions on the formation of a state-wide public broadcasting
corporation which would succeed the current ITV BiH.


We are slowly making progress on this front, and as I have said to you
before in this forum, foreign investors have expressed an interest in
investing in the transmission infrastructure company. And as you know the
Madrid Declaration calls for establishment of a federation broadcaster and
a country-wide or state corporation. There is a meeting of the commission
on public corporations on Monday which we expect both prime ministers of
both entities to attend.


Finally on Zepce. Yesterday you may recall we wanted to conclude the
so-called Zepce negotiations and sign an agreement that would end the
crisis in the area of Zepce as well as Maglaj and Zavidovici. We're
extremely disappointed that the SDA at the very last moment and at the
order of the very top of the party refused to sign the agreement. We
believe that the agreement that was hammered out in four and a half months
of intensive negotiation is a good one. It envisages the full integration
of XXXX in Canton Four … and among other things means that the municipality
would start to work through the ZPP in Sarajevo and stop working through
the ZAP in Mostar. And as you know that would mean new revenues for Canton
which would in return pay for the new multi-ethnic police corps, the
courts, and schools, etceteras. It also means integration of the cantonal
health care fund, and many other things.


If you recall, in return, the boundaries of the municipality will be
slightly changed in order to include a few Croat villages. However, the
administration would be staffed with Croats and Bosniacs on a fifty-fifty
basis. And there are many more details to the agreement which we don't
need to discuss now, but the important thing is that for the first time a
Croat municipality would be fully integrated into a Bosniac canton, and all
parallel structures would cease to exist. We don't understand the
objections of the SDA leadership, and we will try to convince them to sign
off on this model -- which has been excepted by the local SDA as well as
the Croat side, including the NHI and the HDZ. However, there won't be any
more negotiations and if we fail to reach an agreement the region will
certainly be ignored by donors in the future, based on the conditionality I
spoke about earlier.


And finally-finally, you will be aware that we are having a meeting with
Croat representatives in the Holiday Inn this afternoon at 1600. This is a
listening session from our point of view, to listen to what members of the
Croat community have got to say about the current situation in the
Federation. It does not include just the HDZ, the there's a much wider
span of Croat opinion. And we're … holding this meeting to listen to them
and we hope that there will be some constructive dialog. There will be a
press facility at the beginning of the meeting at 1600 and then there will
be a press conference at the end around about 1800, and we suggest you're
there at 5:30 ready for that press conference at the Holiday Inn. Thank you
very much!


LCdr Dave Scanlon, SFOR: Dobar dan from SFOR. We have a couple of items
today. First, we would like to announce an extension of Operation Harvest
1999, which was due to end on May 15th. SFOR considers this year's amnesty
program to be a major success. In recent weeks, we have seen a steady rise
in momentum as increasing amounts of ordnance are turned in or reported to
collection authorities. Consultations with the Entities have indicated
clear consensus that the amnesty program should be continued and SFOR is
now working with them to formalize the extension.


At this time, the intention is to see the program extended through the
summer. Once again, we ask the media to encourage the citizens of
Bosnia-Herzegovina to take advantage of the amnesty program and thereby
make an invaluable contribution to peace and reconciliation. Citizens are
reminded not to move explosives, mines, or unexploded ordnance - simply
report them to collection authorities. And when in doubt, call your
nearest military or police authorities for advice. Next week, we will give
an update on the consolidated statistics for Operation Harvest 1999 up to
May the 15th.


Next, SFOR would like to confirm that on Tuesday afternoon the RS
government submitted the appropriate paperwork for four general officer
appointments, and later the same day RS defense minister Milovanovic was
advised by SFOR that all of the appointments had been approved by General
Meigs, Commander SFOR. SFOR is satisfied these appointments meet the
standards of professionalism set out in the Instruction to Parties. By
adhering to such standards, the RS Army is well on the road to establishing
a highly professional and politically neutral officer corps.


Related as well to Tuesday's press statement, I would like to make a
clarification. I may have given the impression that it is the
tri-presidency which is responsible for general officer appointments. I
want to be clear that in accordance with the ITP it is the Entity ministers
of defense who are responsible for submitting nominations to Commander SFOR
for approval. In the case of the RS, Defense Minister Milovanovic is the
proper authority, and it is with him that SFOR has exchanged correspondence
with regard to this week's appointments, as well as with regard to the
appointments in March. That is all from SFOR.


Wendy Rappeport, UNHCR: Good Morning from the UNHCR. There are currently
1,164 Sandzakis and 3,083 Kosovar Albanians in collective accommodation in
Bosnia and Hercegovina. Additionally I have some copies of an update of
UNHCR's position on categories of persons from Bosnia and Hercegovina who
are in continual need of international protection. As the title states
this is an update on a human rights situation regarding refugees and
displaced persons in Bosnia and includes an overall assessment on the
current legal … administrative and social framework in Bosnia as well as
specific categories of refugees that continue to be in need of
international protection. We estimate that there are over 350,000 Bosnian
refugees still in need of a durable solution. Additionally I have a new
statistics package available outside. Thank you.


Tanya Domi, OSCE: Good afternoon for the OSCE. I have two announcements
today. We have a media advisory regarding a conference this weekend which
includes members of the local election commissions and election officers
from all over Bosnia and Hercegovina who have come together for the second
time to participate at a nationwide congress of election officials at the
Hotel Park in Vogosca. Several international experts have been invited to
discuss with the participants election-related issues such as the
development of non governmental organizations, electoral reform, civic
education in multi-ethnic societies, and the permanent election law
information campaign. The advisory has an agenda and a list of these
experts who represent five countries which include Latvia, Hungary, the
Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The press
has been invited to attend this important conference. Also today,
immediately following this press conference, General Bjorn Carlson, the
OSCE's deputy head of mission for regional stabilization, will brief the
press on the OSCE's mandate for military confidence building and security
measures in accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement. We invite all of
you to attend and remain. Thank you, that's all for OSCE.


Wendy Moore, UNMIBH: Hello again, I have two announcement for you … this
afternoon. As the commissioner mentioned, yesterday UNMIBH delivered to
the Canton Seven Minister of Interior a hundred-day agenda for action
outlining the next steps necessary to establish an integrated and
professional police force throughout Canton Seven. This plan was developed
as a result of findings of the UNIPTF during the recent three-month
probation of the Stolac police force. It is even more clear now that
deficiencies in Stolac stem directly from and are sustained by continuing
the failure of the cantonal authorities to put in place a positive and
effective program of integration for all cantonal institutions. During the
next hundred days the cantonal Ministry of Interior is required to, among
other things … remove the Ministry of Defense office from the Stolac police
building, within thirty days -- the co-location impedes the creation of an
independent and professional police force; they must establish a fully
integrated chain of command by eliminating duplicate positions and ensuring
the chain of command only includes positions with clear and distinctly
described responsibilities; implement personnel changes as requested by the
UNIPTF special response team; prepare a phased plan to demobilize surplus
police officers in Canton Seven; remove all military weapons from Canton
Seven police officers; fly the Federation flag and remove all inappropriate
political symbols on police premises; and review the structure and
performance of the remaining twelve police administrations in the canton.


The issuing of the hundred-day agenda for action is the latest of a series
of efforts by UNMIBH to improve the security situation in Stolac, where the
local police failed to prevent and solve a high number of returnee related
crimes. However, further progress in Stolac and the whole of Canton Seven
will depend on measures taken by the cantonal Ministry of Interior with the
active support of the cantonal government. There is a copy of this
statement on the tables outside for you.


And, finally a media advisory. Tomorrow the special representative of the
Secretary General, Elizabeth Rehn, will travel to Banja Luka. This is a
follow up meeting, a follow up visit … to an earlier visit to an earlier
visit in late March to assess the general atmosphere following the
beginning of NATO action in FRY. She'll meet with Presidency member Zivko
Radisic and the acting RS prime minister, Milorad Dodik. A focal point of
her visit will be a trip to the Banja Luka police academy for a tour and a
meeting with the Minister Interior, Sredoje Novic. She will also meet with
the forum of Serb intellectuals and an NGO called United Women. They are
active in promoting women's human rights and raising awareness of domestic
violence issues. That's all I have thank you.


Simon Haselock, OHR: Questions?


Aida Zerkez, AP: For SFOR, are these the same people promoted by Poplasen
the other day, or different people?


LCdr Dave Scanlon, SFOR: I can't give you a hundred per cent confirmation
of that. I believe they are … you would have to ask the VRS, but I believe
they are, yes.


Aida Zerkez, AP: I'm asking whether the four guys that you declared null
and void, so you knew who they are…?


LCdr Dave Scanlon, SFOR: Let's not go off on that tangent again, please! On
Monday, we had a private citizen in the RS who claimed to be making
promotions and appointments on behalf of the RS government. That doesn't
happen -- that's not the appropriate process, he has no authority to do
that. And that is the only thing we spoke out on, on Tuesday. We were
well aware that the RS government was planning to make appointments this
week. We were waiting for paperwork. We said on Tuesday that we were
satisfied the last time around the appropriate process was followed and we
said ... we expected the process would be properly followed again -- and it
was. And, indeed, on Tuesday afternoon they came forward with the proper
paperwork. So, as far as we're concerned the RS government has handled
this in the appropriate way in accordance with the ITP. And we consider
Monday's events to be a separate issue completely. And the only reason we
spoke out was because SFOR would be remiss if it didn't clarify a situation
where a private citizen was claiming to have the authority to make
appointments and promotions within the Army of the RS. That's all there is
to it.


Aida Cerkez, AP: I was just asking if the actors were the same?


LCdr Dave Scanlon, SFOR: In that case, I know we keep getting back to that
-- people want names from us. And, once again, it is our policy to let the
armies make their own announcements. We don't want to get into that game.
If we see contradictions reported in the media because of misinformation,
we will come out and clarify where we feel that will help, but otherwise we
leave it to the VRS or the other entity armies and governments to make
their own announcements in terms of who they've appointed and so on.


Nancy Torner, UPI: Two questions. One on that issue. So … going back to
the announcement the other day, I guess what I'm interested in is did he
know the names of the officers who were going to be put forward ahead of
time as a private citizen and if he did, why? Now shouldn't that be a
concern of SFOR if the military is still dealing with Poplasen and he has
inside information.


LCdr Dave Scanlon, SFOR: You'll have to ask the RS Minister of Defense who
he consults, whom he talks to, you'll have to ask the head of the...


Simon Haselock, OHR: May I come in here. This is a sort of argument which
we can sort of tie ourselves in knots about. We all know that Mr. Poplasen
continues to parade around Banja Luca pretending that he is a president
like some … prince. He is not. And we also know that he is well known in
Banja Luka and he therefore obviously has some contacts with the military.
I am sure he probably knew and he thought, 'Ah ha, this is going to be a
very nice little scam for me to play as far as the international community
is concerned!' It's a scam, he has no authority .


Promoting people at cocktail parties is not normal military experience as
far as I am concerned. And the reality is as far as SFOR is concerned is
that the Minister of Defense put forward the paperwork in the appropriate
way and it went through the right process, and Poplasen as a private
citizen trying to make mischief jumped on the band wagon.


LCdr Dave Scanlon, SFOR: Just to carry on very briefly to what Simon says …
let's put on a positive light on this, and that is that we are seeing good
cooperation from the RS Army, the RS government. We have good
relationships with, and ongoing consultations with, the head of the Army
and the head of the government in the RS. This is ... there's nothing
negative going on here -- with the exception of one private citizen.


Nancy Torner, UPI: Something that came up in the previous press conference
… an area called Tiskovac where apparently there are Croat uniform police
officers on Bosnia and Hercegovina territory, and we were told at that
press conference it not, basically not an IPTF issue, it's a political
issue and we should ask OHR. So I guess I'm asking you why are they on the
territory and what can be done about it.


Simon Haselock, OHR: Well in the specific I'm afraid you've got me at a
loss because you have me at a loss because I haven't heard the specific,
but I mean the principle is right, we have spoken to the government of
Croatia on the basis of the whole Martin Brod border issue. As far as I am
aware there is a complete agreement that no policemen or forces from
Croatia should be on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. And if they
are they shouldn't be there. And that is our position. And if they are, I
will get back and check and find out what we are doing or have done about
it. The reality is, if they are inside Bosnia-Herzegovina they are
abrogating the territory of this country and they shouldn't be there.


Aida Cerkez, AP: Just one little clarification -- so there will be a
donor's conference, because the other day we heard it's jeopardized, the
decision is it will take place but, but they will be strong and very hard
conditions…


Simon Haselock, OHR: The point is that there is a process -- and I'm not
trying to get away from this -- the fact remains that if you wanted to get
money available if you do not have a donors conference where people can
make that pledge early on you'll never have the money. So the decision's
been taken to hold a donor's conference at the end of May regardless of the
fact that it is clear that the authorities have not met most of the
conditions which have been laid down. That means that the international
community can decide how much money is available and it can hold it if you
like in a bank account and they can then decide whether it's going to
disperse it when they have fulfilled their obligations. So the money will
be there but whether that it is disbursed or not depends upon
conditionality, and conditionality will actually be further tightened and
not just on the basis on the conditions which were laid down before the
donor's conference but also on very specific commitments. The donor
community and the steering board was quite clear on this, are sick and
tired of you know the sort of open-handed mentality that … we get money
here and don't have to deliver anything in return, and so there will be
much stricter apportioning of the conditionality to the delivery of this
money. Not least of which of in the Republika Srpska for instance --
although we are very keen to provide fiscal support for the Republika
Srpska, and we clearly wish to make sure the economy doesn't suffer from
what is happening next door. We are only prepared to disburse that money
to a government that we can work with and so it's conditional upon there
being a government in place in the Republika Srpska that we can do business
with.


Aida Cerkez, AP: Is the decision of Mr. Covic irreversible before the
donor's conference, do you hope that…


Simon Haselock, OHR: No, I think that as a result of today's meetings
reason and common sense may ….


Aida Cerkez, AP: So you expect this meeting to produce something…


Simon Haselock, OHR: Yes I do.


Ranko Mavrak, HINA: So, Simon, from the legal point of view Poplasen is
kind of parallel political structure ... but it seems to me he still have a
major influence on the situation in the Republika Srpska because what I
have seen on TV was that the ceremony when he was promoting these generals
or whatever, Petro Djokic was standing next to him, Minister of Defense,
General Talic was there, so it was not very much private party. But I
would like to have your opinion on it, and the second part of question is,
Westendorp met with Saravic yesterday in Lucavic and no statements were
given after that. Did they discuss that particular event and is there any
chance that Saravic finally might take position of president of the RS.


Simon Haselock, OHR: In answer to your first question … I still think this
is visual semantics in the sense that, first thing, there is no parallel
structure. A parallel structure implies that he has power and is doing
things. The president of the Republika Srpska is a vacant position. Now
he may have influence behind the scenes through people he knows, but
there's nothing unusual about this. I mean Margaret Thatcher turns up at
government receptions and she's the ex-prime minister of the United Kingdom
doesn't necessarily mean there is a parallel structure in place. With
Poplasen turning up alongside other people doesn't necessarily mean that he
is not a private citizen as far as we are concerned. The reality is that he
is not the president. The reality is that he is wielding no legal influence
and he clearly may have some private influence with individuals as he would
do if he were a private citizen.


The fact remains that this was an invalid act by him and the process which
has already been explained to us by SFOR went through the correct
procedures. And they have since confirmed or whatever said the same people
... Poplasen can, as I say, pose around Republika Srpska in the
presidential car and sit behind the presidential chair as much as he likes,
but he is not the president, he will not be recognized as such, and there
is clear evidence in the Republika Srpska that he is not wielding any real
authority or power. This sort of thing is a cosmetic exercise and nothing
else. Now as far as the High Representative's meeting with Saravic is
concerned, I'm not entirely sure of the substance of that meeting as yet.
And whether … Vice President Saravic will ascend to the throne, so to
speak, remains to be seen. And I think that there are encouraging signs
that he may do so.


Nancy Torner, UPI: Just one thought I had, is Poplasen collecting a salary...


Simon Haselock, OHR: Is he collecting a salary. I've no idea, I hope not.
I don't know. [Inaudible exchange.] Again, it could be considered a
pension if he is … We can fence on this issue for as long as we like. It
is very easy to say we saw him next to Djokic or he was at this place or
he was at a cocktail party. I mean we can talk about this all day. In
reality he is not recognized by the international community. He's
essentially not being recognized now by the government of Republika Srpska
-- I think a week or so ago they … Djokic made a specific statement that he
didn't not recognize Poplasen himself as the president, he accepted the
fact that he had been dismissed. There is no evidence that he is having
any direct effect on the legislative process. He is essentially being
isolated. That is a reality.


Simon Haselock, OHR: No more ... thank you very much.



END




*Press Conference Transcripts from 1 January to 30 November, 1996 can be found at
www.nato.int/ifor/trans/trans.htm
*Press Conference Transcripts from 2 December, 1996 to present date can be found at
www.nato.int/sfor/trans/trans.htm