SITUATION IN BOSNIA
Regular contributor of the Sarajevo weekly Svijet and Split weekly Feral Tribune, Gojko Beric, writes in the August 4, 1997, issue of Feral Tribune on the current developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The dramatization of the situation in Bosnia - the strategy on which Bill Clinton decided on so that he could force the authorities here to fullfill the obligations undertaken in Dayton - was continued with an unexpected strike from London. Brittish foreign minister Robin Cook accused Bosnia and Herzegovina leaders for misappropriation of millions of dollars of international aid inteded for the rebuiliding of the war ravaged country . cook presented this accusation in an interview to the Sunday Times, a few days ahead of his visit to Bosnia. He did not say which amount is in question, but in an additional comment, the London paper says that the sum in question is 150 million dollars, of which one fifth disappeared in Republika Srpska.Uncovering the affair, the English did not spare any of the national leaders, but it was clear to everybody that the main strike was directed towards Bosniak authorities. Alija Izetbegovic reacted unusually quickly, ordering urgent investigation, of which he informed the public a few hours before Robin Cook arrived in Sarajevo. This was a good tactical move, because Brittish accusations had to be dampened early. A certain effect was achieved: minister Cook has somewhat softened his accusations in Sarajevo, and was not so specific as in the mentioned interview. Of course, he did not givce up on the essence of the matter, and he supported I(zetbegovics decision to form an international commission which will investigate the case.
Izetbegovic?s reaction uncovers certain surprise and anger, as if he hears about the crime, corruption and robbery in Sarajevo for the first time. He announced arrest and trial of all for who it is eventually established that they are implicated in corruption, but he looked for the witches, first of all, among the foreigners, stating that we have proof that some foriegners are leading their own personal special warfare against the Bosnian leadership so that they could support their own thesis that there was no aggression going on here, but a civil war. He threatened those with expulsion from Bosnia. At the press conference he adressed the British minister in a somewhat naive manner: I plead Mr Cook to present the names of the persons who have transferred the money to their private accounts abroad. Of coursem, the guest did not do that.
As a man of supreme political and moral authority, garnered also on private personal humbleness, Izetbegovic had many reasons to deny or confirm similar accusations much earlier, sent to the Sarajevo address, but has probably thought that this would have much more damaging than healing effect for the already frail state. This was a poor estimate. It will be hard to calm down the clamor even at home, let alone in the international community. Sejfudin Tokic, who is presiding over the alternative ministerial council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been already warning for months that this government is a concoction of chavinists and mafia, but nobody from the ruling top reacted to thid accusation. In the public statement of this council after the uncovering of the corruption affair, it is spoken of crime and corruption of unthought of proportions, in which part of state institutions are also implicated, as well as the top leaderships of the national parties. The same or similar was stated by other key opposition parties - LBO and SDP.
Specific names are only mentioned in Sarajevo gossip. Every somewhat informed Sarajevan has his own list of main war profiteers and corruptionists, but the fact that the continuous mention of some known mnames was not enough to initiate civil consciousness and confront the rule of crime. It is awaited that this job is done by somebody else. There is no problem when Republika Srpska or the self-proclaimed Herceg Bosnia are named as the kingdoms of corruption and crime, but when ones own terrain is described, these words are thought to be too strong. But, this war has shown that in affairs of pillaging and crime the Bosniaks are no less talented thatn Serbs or Croats. And why would they be ?
Of course, a question is raised what has motivated the experienced Brittish diplomatic service to come out to the public at this moment with the statement that the ruling national elites in Bosnia are corrupt without exception ? No matter how much money is key to everything in the West, before and after it is always politics. Ot cannot be excluded that the West is counting upon this possibility: by compromising all of the three national regimes, of which Serb and Croat are particularly nationalistic, it is paving the way towards their democratic change. But such an outcome is not yet to be seen, and a lot of time will pass until national parties will lose the power they have now.
Still, the connection between this affair and Dayton is obvious. The civil part of the peace agreement, which in itself costs a lot of money, is evolving unusually slow. Confronted with this fact, the US is already showing signs of nervousness. What is to be done in the 11 months that are left in the SOR mandate ? It is possible that Washington and London have decided to divide their roles in Bosnia in the current time shortage: the Americans will deal with hunting down the war criminals, while Brittish will take care of the corruption in the top of the ruling elites. The sense of the latter could have a deeper political meaning. That is, if the deal with the Dayton agreement falls through., the West could say: They have been butchering each other in Bosnia for four years as half-animals, while we sent them food, and then, piles of money which they robbed! This could be quite enough for the Western governments to quiet down their own public, because after that, nobody would care about Bosnia anymore.
The corruption affair which was just raised by the Brittish could bring some of top Bosnian leaders into trouble. It turns the water towards the mills which are being prepared in the case that the West decides to run put of Bosnia and leave it to its paper Dayton existence. If it turns out that half of Cooks accusations are true, rthis mill will start to operate with full force.
Source: Split weekly Feral Tribune, August 4, 1997
back to index
Monitor Index | War Zone | MediaFilter