 |
Bosnia’s Government May Boycott Elections
‘It is beyond the dignity of the Bosnian people to vote as long as Karadzic is head of (the SDS).’
—Bosnian Prime Minister Hasan Muratovic
Moreover, if other countries fail to force Karadzic from power, Bosnia will take action on its own, Prime Minister Hasan Muratovic vowed. The international community considers the Sept. 14 Bosnian elections crucial to sustaining the peace initiated by last year’s U.S.-brokered peace accords.
But a diplomatic split has opened over how far to go in pushing Karadzic from power. Muratovic said Bosnia’s government would boycott the elections if Karadzic -- accused of crimes against humanity and genocide -- continues to lead the Serbian Democratic Party. The SDP is the main party in the Bosnian Serb-controlled half of Bosnia. "It is beyond the dignity of the Bosnian people to vote as long as Karadzic is head" of that party, said Muratovic, who is prime minister of the federal state, composed of the Bosnian Serb territory and a federation of Muslims and Croats.
He called the NATO-led peace force’s reluctance to arrest Karadzic and his indicted military commander a "circus." If Karadzic is not arrested by the time the force departs in December "we will have to take action on our own," Muratovic said.
Pressed for details, he said: "It doesn’t need any special crossing of the border. I can tell you every six hours where Karadzic is." All it would take, he said, was "blocking two roads" into Karadzic’s stronghold in the village of Pale, 11 miles east of Sarajevo. It was not clear how serious Muratovic’s threats were. Asked if such a move would endanger the peace process, he scoffed: "Dangerous? Dangerous for Dr. Karadzic."
Muratovic said he backed the stance of U.S. Ambassador Robert Frowick, leader of the international effort to organize the elections through the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Frowick, apparently with U.S. government support, has given the party until early next week to remove Karadzic or be barred from competing in the elections at all. 'Frowick is on a good track," Muratovic said.
In contrast, Carl Bildt, a former Swedish prime minister who leads the international civilian effort on Bosnia, has said he considers Karadzic’s position as party leader a private one -- even though it allows him to wield decisive influence in Bosnian Serb territory. 'Bildt has made a mistake, and it is not his first one," Muratovic said bluntly.
He called for sanctions against Serbia, saying that ultimately President Slobodan Milosevic could control Karadzic. "Milosevic is commander of the whole parade," he said.
|
SARAJEVO, July 12 (AP) -- Bosnia’s government will boycott the country’s elections if Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic remains chief of his political party, the prime minister warned Friday.
Berserkistan, July 12 · Bosnia’s Ruling Party said Responsible for Attack on Siladjzic
Berserkistan, July 10 · Frowick Discusses SDS Election Ban with Serbia’s Milosevic
Berserkistan, July 8 · OSCE Says Karadic’s Party Could be Barred from Elections
Berserkistan, July 8 · Call to Bar SDS in Elections Catches Sarajevo by Surprise
Berserkistan is the world news service of
Pacific Interactive Media Corp.
EMail Berserkistan
©1995-1996, All Rights Reserved