"JOINT ACTION" IN MOSTAR

functioning

What is Slowing Down Constitution of the Federation

AIM Sarajevo, August 10, 1996

Signing of the agreement on "joint action" in Mostar just apparently created the impression in public that strained relations between the ruling Party of Democratic Action (SDA) and the Croat democratic Community (HDZ) are relieved, that is, that they are readiy to become cooperative and to actually cooperate in overcoming the existing problems in the Federation, but also in discharging duties assumed in former agreements intended to make the Federation come to life.

The unsuccessful meeting of the Forum of the Federation in Sarajevo speaks in favour of this. It was held under the auspices of Assistant American Secretary of State for Europe and Canada and envoy for the Balkans, John Cornbloom. The agreement concerning the offered plan for full establishment of power of the Federation, which includes the declaration on political obligation, including time limits and an annex, was not approved by the partners who share power.

The American mediators have obviously reached out for a new agreement which should for who knows which time in a row compel the power-holders to carry out the obligations assumed by former agreements and time limits which have expired a long time ago. Little is known in public about the text of the new agreement whose signing is expected to take place this weekend, especially on the instruments which America intends to use to force the federal partners to become obedient. Indeed, this time, little time is left for the partners in power to finally and completely establish power of the Federation. Especially since September elections are drawing near and thereby the deadline for establishment of power on the level of the state of B&H, and success of this job depends greatly on constitution of the Federation.

What is in fact slowing down constitution of the Federation?

Starting from the mentioned Forum of the Federation and declarations given after its meeting by Ejup Ganic and Hasan Muratovic, the existence of "Herzeg-Bosna" is obviously still the stumbling block between the federal partners, that is, as it was persented to the public, the impossibility to force the Croat partner to sign immediate abolishment of "Herzeg-Bosna". "We were not given the exact date, and we had expected it", said Vice-President of the Federation and member of the Presidency of the Republic of B&H, Ejup Ganic to the journalists.

As concerning the declaration of the President of the Federation, Kresimir Zubak, on the outcome of the mentioned meeting, it was short and along the lines of the following: "why don't you ask Ganic and Muratovic, that is where the problems are". Dropping the hot potato into the other federal partner's lap continued before the eyes of the public, and just as so many times before, the journalists will probably be blamed for all possible misunderstandings.

Something similar was done by President Zubak, which is very interesting, at a press conference organized just before the session of the Forum of the Federation. His aim was, as he said, not to accuse the partner in power, but to inform the public about certain essential facts. On the occasion, while speaking about abolishment of "Herzeg-Bosna" for who knows which time in a row, Zubak pointed out to the need of parallel transfer of power - of certain functions - from the Republic to the Federation. As the reason for two-year long controversies Zubak cited variances concerning which functions of the Republic should be transferred to the Federation. He did not fail to say not only that their political partner had not transferred its authorities, but that it had even expanded its own. As an example, he claimed that since the Dayton accords on constitution of the Federation which they referred to, the Republican parliament had adopted 26 laws which encroached upon the competences of the Federation.

And while Zubak did his best to justify in public political stances of his HDZ and, as he said, to dispel the false illusion created by a political, diplomatic and media campaign about "Herzeg-Bosna" as the key problem for establishment of the power of the Federation, none of the representatives of the SDA in the authorities cared to mention the obligation of transferring functions of the Republic to the Federation, that is, obligations which according to the constitution of federal authorities the Bosniac partner had. This fact in itself catches attention in view of the statement made by Cornbloom that the Bosniac party was the one which had more complaints against the offered agreement. Nevertheless, judging by other statements, they mostly can be brought down to abolishment of "Herzeg-Bosna".

Without undermining the significance of transfer of authorities of "Herzeg-Bosna" to the Federation, nor operation of the Republic in the transitional period, one still cannot disregard the fact that the Bosniac partner has not done its part of the duties prescribed by the Dayton accords. However, by policy of spite quite certainly cannot bear fruit. American mediators will probably have this in mind while seeking solution and they will offer another compromising agreement. And how the partners will read and interpret it - it is just another, although deja vu issue.

M. MICEVSKA