When President and Challenger Agree to
Keep Bosnia Democratic, Opposition Howls
(SARAJEVO, April 3—AP) The ailing president and his expected challenger pledged Wednesday to keep Bosnia united and democratic. But the surprise move statement, apparently aimed at stemming the country’s disintegration, seemed only to increase division. Although former Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic said the declaration was not intended as a tool of domestic politics, it angered opponents of President Alija Izetbegovic who had hoped to rally around Silajdzic. Izetbegovic and Silajdzic were the Muslim-led government’s key politicians during the war, but Silajdzic, concerned about growing Muslim nationalism, edged away from Izetbegovic and resigned as prime minister in January.
Silajdzic is believed to have strong support from Western governments and Bosnian intellectuals, and had been widely viewed as Izetbegovic’s strongest challenger in elections set for mid-September. The elections will choose the head of the central government that will determine foreign and trade policy for the two sectors of Bosnia&3151;one governed by Bosnian Serbs and one by a Muslim-Croat federation. Main opposition parties objected that they had no input into Wednesday’s declaration and refused to sign.
Squabbles Foreshadow Elections
The maneuvering was a sign of the political infighting likely to dominate Sarajevo politics as Bosnia heads for elections later this year under the Dayton peace agreement. It could affect Bosnia’s stability and the likelihood that peace will take hold.Izetbegovic, 70, made his first public appearance since he was hospitalized with cardiac problems in February to announce the declaration. Silajdzic, who resigned as prime minister in January and quit the president’s ruling Muslim Party of Democratic Action, was at his side.
Warning to International Commuinity
The declaration, which is to be sent to President Clinton and international bodies, warned that the international community must keep its part of the Dayton accords that brought a shaky peace to Bosnia after almost four years of war. In it, the men insist that war criminals must be pursued, refugees allowed to return home and huge amounts of aid for reconstruction given if genuine peace is to take hold. Otherwise, the declaration said, nationalists who sought from the outset to divide Bosnia-Herzegovina will triumph."We are warning the world that the division of Bosnia-Herzegovina would not only mean unhappiness for our country and its people. It would bring lasting instability in the Balkans and jeopardize peace in Europe," the text said. Although 21 civic and political groups signed the declaration, the five main opposition parties in Bosnia’s parliament refused. The main Croatian nationalist party also declined to sign. Ivan Vidovic, Sarajevo head of the Croatian Democratic Union, said the declaration was intended to ensure Muslim domination.
That was a further indication of how difficult it is to breathe life into the Muslim-Croat federation that covers half of Bosnia. A Serb entity controls the other half. Opposition parties were not able to discuss the text, but received a virtual ultimatum to sign it, complained Sejfudin Tokic, deputy head of the Social Democratic Union, or former Communist party.
Berserkistan is a world news service of Michael Linder Productions, Inc.
©1995-1996, All Rights Reserved
