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'Miloshevic in Prison, but the Order he Set up with Genocide Still Functions' |
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Tuesday, 22 November 2005By Celil Sagir
Published: Monday, November 21, 2005
zaman.com
Former Bosnia Herzegovina Prime Minister Haris Sladzich harshly criticized the international community for overlooking the order set up with the Dayton Agreement in Bosnia.
Sladzich taking part in the negotiations of the 1995 Dayton Agreement, of which one of the key architects was Richard Holbroke, said, "Slobodan told Zaman about the discussions and developments concerning the Dayton Agreement, which has started to be discussed in Washington nowadays with a hope of change.
"The Dayton Agreement is an agreement made under pressure. Genocide had taken place in Bosnia and everybody was ready for peace. Though it was not fair, everybody had to accept the agreement. At that time, peace was needed rather than justice," Sladzich said and gave the following answer to the question "Why has it been under discussion for 10 years?": "Because, it is hard to change it. There are some who do not want to make concessions from the gains they obtained with force. It is not natural that Bosnia is divided into two structures. This is something the Belgrade regime did using force and conducting genocide. That regime's head Slobodan Miloshevic is now in prison in Hague. But, his project is still alive."
No need for Geneva Agreement
Haris Sladzich noted the international community must not accept the construction of half of Bosnia with blood and added "this situation is against the nation's will in terms of democracy, too. Because, two third of the people do not accept such an agreement." The former Prime Minister said the Dayton Agreement is a case violating all international agreements and added "If somebody is conducting genocide and establishing a structure upon this, this means there is no need for the Geneva Genocide Agreement."
Upon being asked, "Who was subject to the most pressure in Dayton?" Sladzich answered, "It was too late for a pressure," and continued as follows: "The pressure on us started in September 1991. UN put a weapon embargo and deprived us of defending ourselves. Then they gave Milosevic enough time to realize things he wanted to do. In other words, the Dayton Agreement was not signed in Dayton, it was signed a long time ago. The agreements are the result of the things done in the battle field."
American Intervention Works for Serbians
Reminding of the interpretations that the US Intervention actually worked for the advantage of the Serbian side, Sladzich said, "It is true to some point. For one thing, it was late when the intervention was done. It is also true they wanted to make peace. This is because everyone was tired and it eventually became a problem for the western societies. That is why they decided to keep peace; however, they did this unfairly at the expense of splitting the country. It is also true the intervention was done at a time when our army began to obtain positive results."
As long as the entities remain in Bosnia, there will be no progress in the country, spoke Haris Sladzich in relation to the present structure of Bosnia. "We do not want entities; we want natural magnet centered regions. We want to have the principle of citizenship. Croatians accept the regional approach. Serbians are, however, against it," Sladzich said adding the attitude of the Serbians is normal. "They would not, of course, admit to the annihilation of those entities. They are a State within the State, and with a 30 percent population, they have control over 49 percent of the Bosnian lands. Serbians do not also want to have an affirmative approach to the principle of citizenship. This is an anti-European approach.
In so far as entities exist, problems will remain unsettled
Both the US and the European Union (EU) will act in support of the transformation in Bosnia, said the former Bosnian prime minister:
"In so far as the entities remain to be the same, modifications will not be anything but some make-up changes. For this reason, we ought not to be content with minor alterations. This is the last chance. We will not have a further chance of asking for reformation. Ten years have passed since the Dayton accords. We had to agree to it at the time; we do not, however, accept it any more, we should say."
The international community was subject to Sladzich's criticism for leading up to the current structure: "We need the pressure of the international community. They have played a role in this [formation of the current structure]. They intervened in the war in Bosnia; however, they took sides with the attackers. They did not allow us to defend us. They did, however, allow Serbians a period of over three years to do whatever they like. I also know that problems in the Balkans will be solved within the framework of the EU and through respect for the limits. The EU, however, cannot admit the application of Bosnia for membership under these circumstances. If the EU agrees to it, it will violate its own principles. It is not possible to accept an entity based on genocide."
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Tuesday, 22 November 2005
zaman
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