by Husein ORAHOVAC
During the war in BH, Mauzer commanded the special unit of the Army of the Republic of Srpska (VRS), named "Panthers". That unit was very active in the ethnic cleansing project. The murder of a person who used fascist fighting methods can hardly cause shock even of those who "suffer" from a surplus of humanism.
Well, it can in Radisic. That would not be a problem if he were not in charge, among other, of acting politically in a way that would result in "the truth and reconciliation" and strengthening of the common institutions of BH. His sorrow for Mauzer reveals, or perhaps only confirms, that the Serb member of the Presidency is not a person with whom it is possible to achieve the mentioned goals.
Of course, no one expected that Radisic would "applaud" Mauzer's murder. If for no other reason, than because at this moment the political atmosphere in the Republic of Srpska (RS) is mostly such that support for murderers of Ljubisa Savic at the same time implies support for one's own political retirement.
However, it was even less expected from Radisic to with his outrage because of Mauzer's murder encourage those forces in RS that do not care at all about the truth and reconciliation and the strengthening of the common institutions.
With his statement, the Serb member of the BH Presidency "blew in the sails" of those political forces in RS that the international community has been trying to "tame" for more than four years. That was a politically irresponsible move and a rather damaging one for the future of the Bosnian State.
interivew by Fahrudin DJAPO
At the beginning of the interview Izetbegovic yet again expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the last Saturday's accident near Kakanj.
AVAZ: Mr. President, let me first ask you whether you are tired of recent intensive, almost dramatic political events in the leadership of the SDA? There are rumors about the worsening of your health?
IZETBEGOVIC: As far as my health is concerned, it is the same: one day fine, next one bad, something like that. I am tired, there is no need to hide that...
I do not. There are no "alliances" as you referred to it. I nominated both of them for a seat in the Presidency.
Although in a recent interview you rejected the claim that the SDA leadership has shifted towards the right, it hasn't really been explained why Hilmo Neimarlija and Halid Genjac, together with Ganic who received a no confidence vote, were eliminated from the top leadership of the Party.
I have already said somewhere that I would have been happier if Genjac, Neimarlija and Dzaferovic were elected to the Presidency. All three of them lost by very few votes. They lost because of only one reason: they were very active in the party and made a lot of enemies. Therefore, there is no turn towards the right of left. The reasons are much more mundane.
On several occasions you criticized the work of the Government and the Federation Prime Minister. Why haven't you personally taken a stand in connection with the tendered resignation by Edhem Bicakcic? He submitted the resignation to you, didn't he?
I did criticize, but did not ask for a resignation. Taking into account all the circumstances and difficulties, Bicakcic is still the best man for the job of Prime Minister.
Hasan Muratovic and Safet Orucevic have been mentioned in the circle of potential Bicakcic's heirs in the office of Prime Minister, of course under condition that his resignation is accepted. Why did these two influential Federation politicians reject an offer to become the Federation Prime Minister?
Muratovic was a candidate, while Orucevic was not, at least as far as the Federation Prime Minister is concerned. The function of the Federation Prime Minister is definitely currently the most difficult job in the state administration. Everyone is trying to avoid it. Bosnia has been seriously wounded. There are so many problems and so few possibilities, while the criticism knows no bounds.
Orucevic has recently spoken on several occasions about the reasons behind his decision. That's what he wrote to me as well. There is no reason not to believe him and seek other motives.
Can you comment on Orucevic's statement that it is difficult for him to defend in Mostar the party that supports Meho Obradovic? You yourself have criticized actions of the director of the Electrical Utility Company of BH. However, he is still on the same position.
Obradovic has no function within the SDA. It cannot be said that the party supports him. He is appointed and dismissed by the Governing Board of the Electrical Utility Company. The SDA cannot determine who is to be blamed for the flood in Mostar. That is to be done by a state commission. As far as I am concerned, I have taken a stand regarding Meho Obradovic.
How did you experience Ejup Ganic's determined rejection to resign as a Federation BH Prime Minister?
Ganic is convinced that he did well and that the vote in the Chief Council was unjust. Of course, it remains to be asked whether it is more important what we think about ourselves, or what others think about us.
A voter who voted against the SDA did that because he was dissatisfied with what his municipal authorities did or did not do. His objections could have been justified or not but, in my opinion, had to do with local authorities rather than with the Party.
Have you discussed with the president of the Party for BH, Haris Silajdizc, possible coalitions on the municipal level, especially in the municipalities in the Sarajevo Canton? Have the negotiations achieved any results so far?
I talked with Haris, but not about local coalitions. Both my and his party have formed teams that will make decisions based on the local conditions in any particular municipality, taking in consideration views of the local party leadership. There are some general rules; the SDA will not form a coalition with the SDS in the Republic of Srpska (RS), nor with the SDP in the Federation. An exception could be made in mixed cantons. I am referring to Mostar and Travnik. There, all combinations are possible.
Wolfgang Petritsch has criticized the work of the BH Presidency in front of the U.N. Security Council. At the same time, certain political parties are demanding that early election for the BH Presidency be called this fall. What do you think about these demands?
Someone is playing a game with the BH Presidency. They are making it harder for us to make decisions, and then we are accused for a lack of efficiency. They make decisions on our behalf and then we are held responsible. I do not have anything against holding elections for the BH Presidency this fall. It would be good to check what the people think.
Would you run in that case?
I would not.
Yes, I've read that interview and was surprised. I think that it is an obvious logical error. Grebo said that two and two are five. The conclusion is totally different; by placing their signatures on a peace agreement in Dayton, Tudman and Milosevic admitted that their countries were involved in the war and that, therefore, the conflict had an international character. I think that that is the only logical conclusion. Why does Grebo view the admission of aggression on BH by two neighboring states as a legalization of a civil war? I really do not understand that.
Something has obviously happened in the Bosniak spirit. We are a young nation. We still haven't forged our spirit in historical clashes through which nations go through and thereby mature. We do not have enough national self-awareness and pride. We easily loose orientation. But, that will pass and we shall be a strong nation. Before that, we shall wonder and search for a path. That cannot be avoided and I am not a pessimist. The interests of Bosnia and the Bosniak nation are identical and the project of Bosnia, as you can see, in spite of all difficulties is going forward. Although the progress toward that goal is slow, the direction is correct.
We did not draw a parallel. That was simply a practical approach. We do not see these two parties as identical, although the SDP has made the same parallel with the SDA from the start. That is highly unprincipled. We have nothing in common with the SDS, but the SDP does. Most of them, in both parties, were once in the same party. From conversations I know for sure that some people in Sarajevo, who in spirit belong to the SDS, voted for the SDP. Because of that I think that we are further away from the SDS than they are. Or, to be more specific - they are closer to the SDS.