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Bildt: Beginning of End for Karadzic Karadzic Reportedly Hands Over Presidency in Prelude to Withdrawal from Public Life
By Kurt Schork
"We believe this is the beginning of the end of the influence of Dr Karadzic on the political scene," Bildt spokesman Colm Murphy said. "Mr Bildt is continuing to ensure that this sidelining of Dr Karadzic is ratified and
consummated."
Bildt's carefully hedged confidence was greeted with scepticism by some political sources in Pale, the Bosnian Serb government seat, and in Belgrade. But the state-controlled Yugoslav media, including the main daily Politika which is a mouthpiece for Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, reported Karadzic had quit after leading Bosnian Serbs through a four-year struggle against Bosnian independence.
Tanjug news agency said he had handed the presidency over to hardline Vice-President Biljana Plavsic although this was not contained in Karadzic's official statement. The flurry over his future arose from his appointment of Plavsic to deputise for him "in contacts with the international community and other delegated activities."
Belgrade political analyst Ranko Petkovic said it was not clear whether Karadzic acted under article 87 of the constitution, which would make his delegation of powers to Plavsic permanent, or article 80 which would allow him to recover them later. Karadzic's previous delegate was Prime Minister Rajko Kasagic, dismissed for getting too close to Bildt, and replaced by hardliner Gojko Klickovic who promised a much tougher approach to the peace process.
Even if Karadzic does take a lower profile, there was no hint that he would be surrendered to The Hague and the outcome of Bildt's struggle to overturn Kasagic's dismissal was a clear strengthening of the hardliners in Pale. Plavsic was chosen in preference to the more moderate Vice-President Nikola Koljevic and the all but unanimous vote in parliament for Klickovic showed the hardliners' ascendancy.
The international community's obsession with Karadzic has obscured the reality that he is essentially a symbol of Bosnian Serb power. His departure would not necessarily change policies in Pale, where other hardliners are just as determined to wreck elections due in September to create democratic inter-ethnic institutions in Bosnia.
Krajisnik, an experienced politician and nationalist, has always been at least as influential in shaping the Bosnian Serb drive for separatism and determination to undermine the peace agreement. He ranks higher than Plavsic in the Pale pecking order. Karadzic has mostly kept out of sight since implementation of the treaty began in December but the Bosnian Serb position is that he remained in control of the government. Bildt called his sacking of Kasagic an attempted coup against the agreement.
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SARAJEVO, May 19 (Reuters) — Bosnian mediator Carl Bildt believed on Sunday he had secured the "beginning of the end" of Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic although hardliners around him have significantly tightened their grip on power. Aides of the International High Representative told Reuterss that Bildt was promised by Bosnian Serb parliament president Momcilo Krajisnik that Karadzic, a wanted war criminal, would "step out of public life and will not be seen or heard."
Bildt's office acknowledged that Karadzic's statement, which made no mention of resignation, was unclear and said he was seeking clarification. He consulted Milosevic and spent the early hours of Sunday in Pale discussing its meaning with Bosnian Serb leaders. "Bildt is seeking written, constitutional clarification and confirmation," an aide said. "We are unclear about the formalities. We hope to say more later in the day."
Berserkistan, May 19 · Karadzic the Gambler Plays Desperate Game of Survival
Berserkistan, May 18 · Bosnian Serb Parliament Elects New Hardline PM
Berserkistan, May 18 · New Bosnian Serb PM Sets Go-Slow Policy on Dayton
Berserkistan, May 18 · Karadzic Outflanks Bildt Over Prime Minister's Firing
Berserkistan, May 18 · Karadzic Names New Prime Minister to Replace Moderate Kasagic
Berserkistan, May 18 · Karadzic's Actions Intensify U.S. Sanctions Threats
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