INTERVIEW: MIRKO PEJANOVIC, PRESIDENT OF THE SERB

CIVIC COUNCIL

IN THE FEDERATION, SERBS ARE JUST SLIGHTLY MORE JEOPARDIZED THAN THE OTHERS

AIM, SARAJEVO, April 10, 1995 There are two direct reasons for our choice to talk to Dr Mirko Pejanovic, President of the Serb Civic Council (SGV) and member of the Presidency of B&H. The first is convening of the Second Assembly of the citizens of Serb nationality, and the second is the existence of extremely polarized views on the engagement and activities of the Council. Karadzic's regime from Pale, which is quite understandable, calls them traitors of the Serb people and denies them the right to represent and act in the name of the Serbs, the leading political parties condemn them for being irresolute in settling accounts with Karadzic's fascist regime, and a certain number of Serbs who are living on the territory controlled by legal Bosnia-Herzegovina authorities bear them a grudge for not taking sufficient care of them, their rights and interests. The first question we put to Dr Pejanovic, therefore, refers to his assessment of the activities of the Council between two sessions of the Assembly of citizens of Serb nationality.

• We have done a lot, but not as much as the time, developments and the problems this country is facing require from us, the greatest problem being interruption of the war. The Council dealt with issues of satisfying religious needs of the people, humanitarian issues, renewal of Serb cultural societies "Prosveta", and protection of human rights in general. Of course, there are the political activities concerning the draft amendment addressed to the Assembly referring to the position of the Serbs in the Federation - we initiated talks about it again. We are waiting for a better opportunity and better situation in the Federation to renew the discussion in the parliament concerning this issue, and finally we were engaged in everything that referred to participation in the peace process.

* And yet, do you think you would pass if the citizens of Serb nationality who are living in the Federation were to judge your work?

• Only the citizens could say that. What I have heard in the field, in Zenica, Tuzla, Mostar and Sarajevo, the assessment of the work of the SGV is favourable. I repeat, a lot has been done, but there are a lot of obligations ahead of us and we must work more.

* To be specific, have you been sufficiently engaged in protecting their interests?

• That was our engagement from the beginning in all the issues we dealt with - issues of the protection of human rights, humanitarian issues, political situation and prospects, participation in joint administrative agencies, the issue of the position in the Federation, issues of peace and religious freedoms which is a specific problem of B&H.

* The amendment adopted by the Assembly of citizens of Serb nationality prescribing that the Serbs be treated in the Constitution of the B&H Federation as a constituent nation was not adopted by the Republican parliament. They are now in the category of "others". Does this classify them as second-rate citizens?

• If it is observed only through the national prism, yes, it does. But, we were not satisfied with it, nor are political sponsors of the Federation, the leading powers such as the USA, Germany, and so on. They all understand this problem and believe that a better solution for it should be found. I think that the Assembly of the SGV articulated this problem best by submitting the amendment, but when it will be possible to adopt the amendment in full is a different matter. We must be precise and say that it was neither adopted nor rjected by the Repubican Assembly, but by a statement it was directed to await the global peace solution for Bosnia & Herzegovina. We have now renewed the demand with a new idea to have the amendment adopted, but to make its implementation or effectuation a transitional solution. Therefore, a transitional solution which awaits the global solution for Bosnia & Herzegovina, but this transitional solution provides that the Serbs recognize their political prospects in the Federation which they are hardly able to see now, and second, to maintain the principle that a member of any nation has the status of a constituent and equal nation in any part of the territory of B&H. That is how the Federation will certainly get supporters among the Serb nation.

* Due to the fact that they are not members of a constituent nation on the territory of the Federation, are the rights to work, housing, travel and other human rights of the Serbs more threatened?

• The war has brought about th situation in which fundamental human rights are crushed. Even the right to life has been crushed, and there are individual instances of violation of human rights every day. I am talking of suffering caused especially to the Boshniak people and generally suffering of the civilians in the space of Bosnia & Herzegovina. But, when speaking of the Serbs in the Federation, I think there are no instances of their rights being violated more because they are not a constituent nation. I believe that their rights are violated just as much as those of other citizens, perhaps just slightly more because of the prevailing general atmosphere of distrust or guilt which is imposed on us because of the great evil done by the regime from Pale. The specific instances one can mention are as follows - it is more difficult for the Serbs to get passports, permits to travel, they are left without jobs more easily...

* There is also removing from office.

• Yes, this is something that is happening in Sarajevo more than anywhere else. For instance, nothing of the kind is happening in Tuzla, nor in Zenica lately. There are three municipalitie in the Republic where the Serbs are not mobilized by the army, but on the contrary, they are freed of the obligation to serve in the Army. Therefore, situation differs, but concerning people being discharged from duties, we have publicly protested, one cannot say that the Council did not have internal talks, delegation talks and even public protests. This is not a matter of a struggle for posts of a an office or two more, but it is a matter of our strategic objective to preserve multinational composition of all joint public institutions as a precondition for defending multinational Bosnia & Herzegovina, that is, the Bosnia & Herzegovina such as the world accepts.

* The SVG has given itself the task to be a participant in peace processes in B&H. You have not succeeded in it, the Serbs are still represented by Karadzic's regime in peace negotiations.

• This is a question which can be put to the international community. We have defined this question clearly and precisely saying that noone has the right to represent all citizens of Serb nationality, especially not a party such as the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) which is the originator of interethnic hatred, conflict, ethnic cleansing, persecution and genocide of Boshniaks and Croats, and not only them but the Serbs as well who are living on the territories held by B&H authorities. The Assembly of the SGV pleaded with the international factors that the will of the citizens who are living in the space of the Federation in the negotiating process be represented by the SGV. We have made considerable progress in that sense. Ten centres of European political power received a delegation of the SGV and our stances were presented to them, we have an invitation from the USA administration, and as you know our delegation visited Belgrade in the past few days. All that proves that SGV is a participant in the peace process, but that it is not an equal subject in the process. We hope that this too will follow in the peace process which will continue, because those who wish to have peace in Bosnia must take into consideration those citizens and their forces which are in favour of a peaceful solution.

* You have mentioned the visit of the SGV delegation to Serbia and Montenegro. You assess the visit as successful, although they were neither received by Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade, nor by Momir Bulatovic in Podgorica?

• On the basis of everything they had the opportunity to do and what they have done. In numerous contacts, the delegation stated political viewpoints of the SGV which were attentively heard out and taken into consideration in all the talks. I would like to underline the talk of the delegation with the Chairman of the Assembly of Serbia. I am underlining it because the Chairman himself, Mr Dragan Tomic, told the delegation that he was speaking in the capacity of the Chairman of the Assembly, but also in the capacity of the deputy of the President of the Republic of Serbia, which means that he needed to transmit to them their joint opinion.

* As you have said, the most important mission, the journey to the USA is awaiting you. What can be expected of this visit?

• We expect to have stances of the Assembly of Citizens of Serb nationality directly presented to the leading world power which has the leading influence in the international community, and also to present our main documents: the Declaration on Peace and Constitution of B&H, and the Declaration on Human Rights. We wish to have the option born by the SGV heard out and taken into consideration, and to have further pressure on Belgrade exerted on its basis, and via Belgrade on Pale, in order to achieve acceptance of the Contact Group Peace Plan. Of course, one could expect a step further in international recognition and affirmation of the SGV in accomplishment of peace and defence of integrity of B&H.

* In its activities, the SGV did not manage to penetrate into the regions controlled by Karadzic's regime. Nevertheless, do you at least have information what is the atmosphere among people there like?

• I have some knowledge, but not information. According to my knowledge the majority of ordinary people on that territory hopes for and wishes peace. An antiwar atmosphere prevails, mothers do not wish to send their sons to death any more, people are tired of watching their own misery, mothers and widows in mourning. But, unfortunately, they are in no position to decide about it, the group of leaders in Pale makes decisions, because it controls the army and the police, it has complete power and holds the media. That is where all those who are working on the issue of peace in B&H must help the ordinary man to sober up, to see that the choice of war is in fact further toppling over into an abyss and death, and even extermination not only of the Serb but of all the nations which live here, because there is less of all of us here after three years. Cutting of wings of Karadzic's regime could be most successful if it were done from Belgrade and by the Belgrade authorities, especially by Milosevic, but by the international community as well, with all that it holds in its hands. But, I am afraid that what many serious analysts speak about is coming to light - that the leadership has sunk deep into the war, into war crimes, deep into violence, and practically lost the touch for normal communication with the world. After all, they did get themselves into complete isolation, so that it is difficult to achieve any solution with them.

* They do not care about the people, but only about themselves?

• Yes. Obviously, the formula of considering the people will have to be separated from considering the leadership here.

* A question for you as the member of the Presidency of the Republic B&H. April 30 is getting closer and with it the expiry of the increasingly bloody ceasefire. What can we expect after that, are we closer to peace or to an even bloodier conflict?

• I am one of those who would always give more chances to peace and possibilities of further talks and negotiations. I have carefully listened to what people had to say when I was in Tuzla and Zenica, they all wish and hope that a half-step could be made, a continuation of this, although unstable, ceasefire, but this does not mean that occupation and freezing of the status quo are recognized. World community and Belgrade could then do more to exert pressure on Karadzic, that is, to force Karadzic to accept the Peace Plan.

* Is this your personal stance, or the stance of the Presidency?

• In the sense of accomplishment of a peace solution, it is a joint stance, but in the sense of giving it some more time and waiting for this solution, there are somewhat different views and certain impatience. There are nuances, but in the first sense that I mentioned, we have a general view. This means - to give peace a chance, as we have given it by adopting the Peace Plan, as we have given it by abandoning the demand for lifting the embargo on arms imports and as we have given it by obeying the ceasefire. And after all, our strategy is peace and peace alone.

MLADEN PAUNOVIC