Bosnia-Erzegovina (italiano / english)
1. IRAQ: BOSNIA, PRONTA PARTECIPARE FORZA DI PACE
(ANSA 7/11/2003)
Bosnian soldiers in Iraq, Serbian in Afghanistan
(Tanjug 19/11/2003)
2. SFOR: AVVICENDAMENTO NATO-UE SARA' DECISO IN VERTICE 2004
(ANSA 27/11/2003)
3. Workers' struggles in Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Goran Markovic, President of the Main Board of the Workers' Communist
Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ashdown and Hays warn Rerpublika Srpska to withdraw decision on pension
and salaries increase
4. Explosion at Bosnian Serb government headquarters
(AFP 16/11/2003)
=== 1 ===
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/bosnia/20031107194832748451.html
IRAQ: BOSNIA, PRONTA PARTECIPARE FORZA DI PACE
(ANSA) - SARAJEVO, 7 NOV - La Bosnia Erzegovina e' pronta a prendersi
le sue responsabilita' internazionali attraverso la partecipazione di
soldati bosniaci alla forza di stabilizzazione in Iraq. Lo ha
dichiarato oggi a Sarajevo la presidenza collegiale bosniaca, in un
comunicato diffuso al termine dell' incontro con il numero tre del
Dipartimento di Stato americano, il sottosegretario per gli affari
politici Marc Grossman.
Gli esperti militari bosniaci prepareranno entro dieci giorni una
proposta sull'ulteriore presenza delle forze internazionali in Bosnia,
ma anche dei soldati bosniaci nelle missioni di pace in altri Paesi.
Con Grossman, i tre esponenti della presidenza collegiale, il
croato Dragan Covic, il serbo Borislav Paravac e il musulmano Sulejman
Tihic, hanno discusso il futuro della Forza di stabilizzazione della
Nato in Bosnia (Sfor) alla luce delle proposte di sostituirla con una
forza di pace europea.
I tre presidenti hanno dichiarato che per la Bosnia e' importante
che le truppe Usa restino presenti nel Paese, nell'interesse del
rafforzamento della stabilita' e della pace nella regione, mentre
Grossman ha salutato l'avviata riforma per unificare le forze armate
bosniache sotto un unico comando, che e' la condizione prima per
l'adesione al Partenariato per la pace della Nato.
La presidenza collegiale ha oggi ufficialmente invitato il
presidente degli Stati uniti George Bush a visitare Sarajevo. Nella
lettera d'invito, secondo quanto ha dichiarato Tihic citato
dall'agenzia Fena, la presidenza collegiale ha espresso il desiderio
che le truppe americane rimangano in Bosnia fino alla fine del mandato
della Sfor, offrendo agli Usa anche altre forme di collaborazione
militare.
''Abbiamo espresso la nostra disponibilita' - ha detto Tihic - a
ospitare basi militari americane sul territorio bosniaco''. ''Riteniamo
- ha aggiunto - che contribuirebbero alla stabilita' della regione e
anche all'ingresso della Bosnia nella Nato''.
Dopo una serie di incontri a Bruxelles, all'Unione Europea e alla
Nato, sulla questione dei Balcani, Grossman sta facendo un giro delle
capitali della regione. Ha gia' visitato Belgrado e il capoluogo del
Kosovo, Pristina, e dopo Sarajevo si rechera' a in Macedonia e in
Albania.
La Nato e' in Bosnia dal dicembre del 1995 per far applicare
l'accordo di pace di Dayton che ha messo fine alla guerra (1992- 95).
Dopo gli iniziali 60.000 uomini, la Sfor oggi ne conta 12.000 e se ne
prevede una riduzione del 50 per cento per l'anno prossimo. Gia' l'anno
scorso, al vertice Ue di Copenhagen i capi di stato e di governo
dell'Unione avevano dichiarato di essere disposti a condurre
un'operazione militare in Bosnia a seguito della Sfor. La data
dell'avvicendamento potrebbe essere gia' la fine del 2004. Le autorita'
bosniache hanno ripetutamente auspicato che comunque continui la
presenza militare Usa nel paese, che potrebbe essere mantenuta, secondo
fonti americane a Sarajevo, anche in base ad accordi bilaterali tra i
due paesi.(ANSA).
COR*VD 07-NOV-03 19:12 NNNN 07/11/2003 19:48
---
http://www.tanjug.co.yu/
Tanjug - November 20, 2003
Bosnian soldiers in Iraq, Serbian in Afghanistan
13:32 BERLIN , Nov 19 (Tanjug) - An engagement of 60
Bosnian soldiers in Iraq seems almost certain, while
Serbia and Montenegro is thinking of sending 1,000
troops to Afghanistan, who would be under direct U.S.
command, Germany's Tages Zeitung writes on Wednesday.
Germany's daily writes that former members of the
recently dissolved special operations unit are to go
to Afghanistan, assessing that this could be
disputable in the home political scene, because
killers of former Serbian premier Zoran Djindjic used
to be part of these units [?]. As for its foreign
policy, Serbia and Montenegro would play a role in
NATO that would make its integration into the alliance
easier.
=== 2 ===
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/bosnia/20031127174932769288.html
BOSNIA: AVVICENDAMENTO NATO-UE SARA' DECISO IN VERTICE 2004
(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, 27 NOV - Il previsto avvicendamento fra Nato e Ue
nella conduzione della missione di pace in Bosnia sara' deciso molto
probabilmente al vertice di Istanbul del giugno prossimo. Lo hanno
previsto oggi autorevoli fonti dell' Alleanza Atlantica a Bruxelles.
Gia' all'incontro dei ministri della Difesa della Nato di lunedi'
e martedi' prossimo, hanno confermato le fonti, verra' decisa
formalmente la riduzione da 12.000 a circa 7.000 del numero degli
uomini impegnati nella missione di pace Sfor.(ANSA). CAL/TER
27/11/2003 17:49
=== 3 ===
> Workers' struggles in Bosnia and Herzegovina
> http://www.marxist.com/Europe/bosnia_struggles_1103.html
Workers' struggles in Bosnia and Herzegovina
We have received this report from Goran Markovic, President of the Main
Board of the Workers' Communist Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina and are
happy to publish it. It highlights the reawakening of the workers in
Bosnia and Herzegovina after the terrible war that tore this country
apart. The interesting thing is that workers on both sides of the
divide are struggling for the same things.
There have been many workers' and pensioners' struggles in the past few
months in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The trade union leadership have not
announced the exact figures, but it is likely there have been several
hundred strikes, rallies and demonstrations all over the country. Most
important of these were the struggles of the medical care workers in
Banja Luka (whose strike lasted for three months!) and the strike of
100 workers in Bihac, who went on strike from October 2002, including
two months of hunger strike.
The medical care workers demanded regular payment of their salaries and
a change in the management, while the workers in Bihac (North-Western
part of the country) demanded the annulment of the privatisation of
their enterprise (bought and then destroyed by a capitalist from
Slovenia, in cooperation with one of the leaders of the Muslim Party of
Democratic Action).
The strike of 4,000 metal workers in Zenica was also very important.
During the winter of 2002 a few hundred workers went on strike in
Sarajevo, blocking government buildings. They were supported by the
workers from Tuzla and other cities.
The chemical industry workers have been on strike in Tuzla
(North-Eastern part of Bosnia) several times. They demanded higher
salaries, an increase in production and criminal prosecution of the
managers charged with corruption. These protests involved around 4,000
workers, with road blockades and clashes with the police (sent against
the workers by the “social democratic” government of the canton).
The pensioners' protests were about getting higher pensions (the
average pension is about 60 euros) and for resignation of the
governments [of both cantons].
Unfortunately, there are no real trade unions and pensioners'
associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is only the leadership,
without any genuine rank and file participation. The workers involved
in the trade unions don't have any practical activity. They don't know
even what the plans for struggles are. They have no means of
influencing the elections of their leaders or their daily work.
The number of strikes of the industrial workers is small. Most strikes
are organized at factory level. A strike is possible in those
enterprises where the working conditions are the worst and where it is
possible to organize a good trade union leadership. Communication
between these trade unionist rank and file activists and those at the
top of the unions is very bad. The central trade union leadership does
not enjoy the support and confidence of the workers. That is because in
many cases the union leaders have advised their members not to go on
strike or have even refused to give them support and help during their
strikes. The trade union bureaucracies have a strong grip on the
unions. The number of union members has gone down as a result of this
and some new independent trade unions have been created. We proposed
creation of the Union of Unemployed Workers and Workers from Small and
Medium Size Enterprises because these workers have no rights and about
40% of the workforce is employed in the informal sector of the economy.
The trade union leaders don't have a clear picture of what they should
do. They limit themselves to demanding basic things, like the regular
payment of salaries, but there is no overall strategy of struggle and
the workers don't know how to fight and what for. The union leaders
have not come up with a coherent economic and social programme.
The union bureaucracy justifies this by saying that the trade unions
are not political organizations and they should not propose anything
that is above the basic demands for a better life. That is why the
workers don't know how this better life could be achieved.
The two governments come up with the argument that there is not enough
money and that the IMF demands budget cuts in answer to all the demands
of the trade unions.
On the other hand, the trade union leaders don't have any idea of where
the money for social needs could be found. They just demand the
enacting of a social program but, in the words of the two governments,
this is impossible in the near future. The trade unions do not an
economic programme because the union leaders think it is not their job
to propose one. The union leaders place their hopes in privatisation
and foreign investment. That is a total myth because only 3,000 jobs
have been created with EU aid for small and medium sized enterprises,
and only 10,000 jobs have been created over seven years thanks to
USAID's credits. That is nothing in comparison with the job losses that
have been implemented since the war, with the rate of unemployment
continuously growing from 36 to 40%.
Some trade unions have understood where the real problem lies and they
proposed more radical and advanced demands. For example, the
independent trade union of one enterprise in Banja Luka demanded that
the government block the privatisation of the state owned capital and
hand over the company to union on management. This trade union also
developed a complete programme of economic renewal of their enterprise.
The workers of a few enterprises demanded the annulment of
privatisation for reasons of illegality. Their demands were successful
in all those cases where they were determined in their action, although
even the former social democratic government were not ready to
intervene.
At this stage there haven't been demands for annulment of the overall
process of privatisation. Although the working class has no confidence
that any positive results will come out of this process, the workers
think it is impossible to stop it right now. That's why the workers
react only in those flagrant cases of illegality and where they are
strong enough to oppose it.
Unfortunately, the Workers' Communist Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina
is the only social organization (considering all political parties,
trade unions and non-governmental organization) that is opposed to the
very process of privatisation. That is why the working class still does
not have a clear picture of what will happen once the process of
privatisation has been completed, although they have very clear
misgivings about it.
There have been pensioners' protests lately in both parts of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The pensioners were very resolved in their intention to
force the two governments to starting solving their problems. Massive
protests were held in Sarajevo and in Banja Luka with the attempt of
the pensioners to enter the governments' buildings. There were some
clashes with the police forces as well. Unfortunately, the pensioners'
associations did not have a clear programme of what to do. They called
on the pensioners to assemble in every city but without a joint coming
together and gathering in the two capitals – Sarajevo and Banja Luka.
In that way the pensioners' meetings were less massive than they could
have been. It was also the case that these associations simply limited
themselves to demanding higher pensions without explaining how to
achieve this goal. The pensioners' leaders are not interesting in
discussing economic problems and they don't have any idea of how to
secure the permanent payment of pensions, and even more so they do not
know how to achieve an increase.
In our opinion, all these events are positive. They show the readiness
of those socially jeopardized layers to struggle. It is not surprising
that they don't yet have a wider sense for the more general social
problems. Those are people who have never been in struggle for their
rights. These are people in their 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s who have not
had the experience of the class struggle. Then there is also the
question that they don't even have a trade union organization that is
capable of mobilizing them in the every day struggles, not to mention
the more general struggle for more long term aims.
These people didn't get a chance to struggle for their rights during
the period of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and now they
are only taking the first steps in organizing themselves. Also, there
is the problem that their living standards are so low that they can
only think of how to survive day to day. Indeed, Bosnia and Herzegovina
is one of the poorest countries in Europe. We understand that demands
for bread are at the centre of attention today. Socialism still cannot
be seen as the workers' immediate demand, although we are trying to
connect their day-to-day struggles with this aim.
November 2003.
---
Subj: NATO contra pensioners in Bosnia
Date: 11/12/03 12:16:06 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Kilibarda78
To: Petokraka78
RS pensions and salaries
Ashdown and Hays warn RS to withdraw decision on pension and salaries
increase
RTRS, BHTV 1, CRHB, FTV, Glas Srpske cover page story Pensions
backwards!’, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg. 3, ‘I will call for
responsibility for brining BiH at collapse’, Vecernji List front
‘Republika Srpska financially crushes BiH’, pg 4 ‘BiH will pay for
decisions of Mikerevic’s Government’, Blic p 13 ‘Difficult consequences
threat’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Mikerevic must withdraw decision on
increased pensions’ - At the press conference held on Tuesday, the High
Representative Paddy Ashdown stated that unless RS cancels its decision
on increase of salaries for civil servants and pensions, BH would
become the first country that has breached stand-by arrangement with
IMF. He also reiterated that because of this decision the IMF would not
grant 17 million US dollars worth of credits to BiH. ‘This decisions
represents a 'lethal' danger for financial stability and the European
future of BiH, since the RS has not the funds it pledged at its
disposal’ - stated Ashdown explaining that breach of the agreement with
IMF would lead to the situation where, without IMF’s approval, no
country in the world would invest in BiH. The existing ones would
withdraw their investment leaving BiH without international financial
assistance. He also added RS does not have resources, but would only
transfer the money from taxpayers to the state official deceiving the
public. Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays stated this
was the most cynical case he has ever encountered ‘It is cynical to
promise something to people knowing that it would not be possible to
honour it in two months… They count from some means out of succession
process but that can be only short-term solution.’ Ashdown called
competent RS authorities to withdraw decision by Saturday and to make
proposal for redistribution, according to which increase would take
place in some future time. In the case this does not happen, Ashdown
stated that they will be forced to take certain measure, but he did not
want to precisely say which. All this could, according to Ashdown,
leave BiH without hundreds of millions of dollars of international aid
and investments, and it would be very hard to re-establish cooperation
with the IMF.
Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Ashdown: That is lethal decision’, pg 2 ‘Dragan
Mikerevic given deadline till Saturday, otherwise penalties will
follow’ – Asked why he did not reacted the same way when
Parliamentarians increased their salaries, Paddy Ashdown commented
those ‘did not breach international agreements and threaten to the
future of this country. In my opinion that decision was not wise, but
the one that RS Government wants to apply is lethal.’ Donald Hays added
that BiH needed ‘208 million KM to implement set reforms, which cannot
be done without the assistance of the international community.’
Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Ashdown threatened Mikerevic’ / ‘FBIH will also
suffer consiquences’ – Ashdown added that in case RS Government
proceeds with the decisions and carries out the increased payments,
citizens of FBiH will also suffer the consequences of the decision by
Mikerevic and RS authorities, wondering whether RS ‘think they have
gold mines or oil fields.’ High Representative was strong in his
message to pensioners: ‘They deceive you, they lie and make you fools.
They do not have money for those increases.’
Mikerevic: RS will proceed with a decision on increase
BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg. 3, ‘I will call for
responsibility for brining BiH at collapse’ - RS Prime Minister Dragan
Mikerevic stated that RS Government will not give up on its decisions
to increase the lowest labour wages and pensions. In his statement made
on Tuesday in Banja Luka, Mikerevic said he hoped to prove that RS
Government has resources for this, adding that he is disappointed with
the international officials saying the decisions opposes stand-by
arrangement. He also rejected possibility to reconsider the decision
and announced these additional expenditures would be covered by better
tax collection and internal reserves. Prime Ministers added he would
proceed with the decisions willing to take a risk to be dismissed.
Mikerevic also said the international community does not give evidences
as to how stand-by arrangement could be violated by such increase of
minimal salaries.
NN editorial by Hays on RS Gov’t decision
Nezavisne Novine pg. 7 ‘Yellow brick road’ editorial by Donald Hays– In
the editorial, PDHR Donald Hays comments on the Republika Srpska
Government decision regarding salary and pension increase. He warns the
public that there are just pure promises of Government, which it will
not be able to accomplish. Accordingly, the promises are also
illusions. PDHR further warns Republika Srpska public of the fact that
in order to be able to regularly pay out increased pensions and
salaries, Government will have to find the way to increase budget
inflows. And this is the most likely to be achieved through collection
of increased taxes. He expressed readiness of international community
to provide assistance to Government to find the way for gradual
increases of pensions and salaries, which would equate with the level
of savings and economic potential.
October pensions not all increased
RTRS - Distribution of October pensions in Republika Srpska has
commenced on Tuesday, however not all pensioners received an increase.
RS Pension Fund stated that increase is not certain for the next 2
months, adding that if the collection of all contributions and taxes is
not increased for 5-6%, there will be no increase of pensions. Dnevni
Avaz [pg 2 ‘Payment started yesterday’] reported on the beginning of
pension dissemination.
Ian Cliff meets Mikerevic
Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Increases cause headaches’, Oslobodjenje pg 6
‘Solutions for increased pensions and salaries are being looked for’ -
In the talks with RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic held on Tuesday,
UK Ambassador to BiH Ian Cliff raised concerns about the problems that
could be caused with the stand-by arrangement due to decisions of the
RS Government on boosting of salaries and pensions. In presenting of
arguments in support of the RS Government’s decisions, Mikerevic
stressed that they would not jeopardise macroeconomic stability.
Mikerevic also indicated the fact that the level of public expenditures
in the RS is below 50 percent of the National Product, while on BiH
State level it is estimated at 65 percent. Mikerevic said there are
manners for resolving these problems and that talks are currently in
progress with international financial institutions. Mikerevic and Cliff
also talked about reforms in progress, and UK Ambassador commended the
results achieved in the domain of the defence system, indirect taxation
and public administration.
FBiH Pensioners on RS decision
Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Let RS be responsible, not the entire country’ –
President of the FBiH Pensioners Association Jozo Ljiljanic stated for
DA that pensioners of FBiH would not accept consequences following the
RS decision on increase. ‘We do not accept that, because if we have
respected all international financial institutions why to bear
consequences… FBiH pensioners sympathize with RS pensioners… Our
pensions are also low, and we keep asking from the government to find a
way to pay three overdue pensions and not to be prevented by IMF. The
local authorities must be more courageous in this regard, and be
responsible towards most vulnerable category of population.’ - stated
Ljiljanic.
=== 4 ===
AFP, November 16, 2003
Explosion at Bosnian Serb government headquarters
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Hercegovina, (AFP) - A grenade blast Saturday
damaged the government headquarters of the Bosnian Serb-led Republika
Srpska in the city of Banja Luka, officials said.
No one was hurt in the early morning explosion, which blew out several
windows and wrecked the building's facade, Republika Srpska spokesman
Zlatko Juric told AFP.
Police have launched a search for the attack's perpetrator.
Eight years after the end of the war in Bosnia, many Bosnians still
possess illegal arms despite efforts to collect them.
Postwar Bosnia has two semi-independent entities -- the Serb-run
Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation.
The entities, linked with weak central institutions, have separate
parliaments, governments, police and army forces.
1. IRAQ: BOSNIA, PRONTA PARTECIPARE FORZA DI PACE
(ANSA 7/11/2003)
Bosnian soldiers in Iraq, Serbian in Afghanistan
(Tanjug 19/11/2003)
2. SFOR: AVVICENDAMENTO NATO-UE SARA' DECISO IN VERTICE 2004
(ANSA 27/11/2003)
3. Workers' struggles in Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Goran Markovic, President of the Main Board of the Workers' Communist
Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ashdown and Hays warn Rerpublika Srpska to withdraw decision on pension
and salaries increase
4. Explosion at Bosnian Serb government headquarters
(AFP 16/11/2003)
=== 1 ===
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/bosnia/20031107194832748451.html
IRAQ: BOSNIA, PRONTA PARTECIPARE FORZA DI PACE
(ANSA) - SARAJEVO, 7 NOV - La Bosnia Erzegovina e' pronta a prendersi
le sue responsabilita' internazionali attraverso la partecipazione di
soldati bosniaci alla forza di stabilizzazione in Iraq. Lo ha
dichiarato oggi a Sarajevo la presidenza collegiale bosniaca, in un
comunicato diffuso al termine dell' incontro con il numero tre del
Dipartimento di Stato americano, il sottosegretario per gli affari
politici Marc Grossman.
Gli esperti militari bosniaci prepareranno entro dieci giorni una
proposta sull'ulteriore presenza delle forze internazionali in Bosnia,
ma anche dei soldati bosniaci nelle missioni di pace in altri Paesi.
Con Grossman, i tre esponenti della presidenza collegiale, il
croato Dragan Covic, il serbo Borislav Paravac e il musulmano Sulejman
Tihic, hanno discusso il futuro della Forza di stabilizzazione della
Nato in Bosnia (Sfor) alla luce delle proposte di sostituirla con una
forza di pace europea.
I tre presidenti hanno dichiarato che per la Bosnia e' importante
che le truppe Usa restino presenti nel Paese, nell'interesse del
rafforzamento della stabilita' e della pace nella regione, mentre
Grossman ha salutato l'avviata riforma per unificare le forze armate
bosniache sotto un unico comando, che e' la condizione prima per
l'adesione al Partenariato per la pace della Nato.
La presidenza collegiale ha oggi ufficialmente invitato il
presidente degli Stati uniti George Bush a visitare Sarajevo. Nella
lettera d'invito, secondo quanto ha dichiarato Tihic citato
dall'agenzia Fena, la presidenza collegiale ha espresso il desiderio
che le truppe americane rimangano in Bosnia fino alla fine del mandato
della Sfor, offrendo agli Usa anche altre forme di collaborazione
militare.
''Abbiamo espresso la nostra disponibilita' - ha detto Tihic - a
ospitare basi militari americane sul territorio bosniaco''. ''Riteniamo
- ha aggiunto - che contribuirebbero alla stabilita' della regione e
anche all'ingresso della Bosnia nella Nato''.
Dopo una serie di incontri a Bruxelles, all'Unione Europea e alla
Nato, sulla questione dei Balcani, Grossman sta facendo un giro delle
capitali della regione. Ha gia' visitato Belgrado e il capoluogo del
Kosovo, Pristina, e dopo Sarajevo si rechera' a in Macedonia e in
Albania.
La Nato e' in Bosnia dal dicembre del 1995 per far applicare
l'accordo di pace di Dayton che ha messo fine alla guerra (1992- 95).
Dopo gli iniziali 60.000 uomini, la Sfor oggi ne conta 12.000 e se ne
prevede una riduzione del 50 per cento per l'anno prossimo. Gia' l'anno
scorso, al vertice Ue di Copenhagen i capi di stato e di governo
dell'Unione avevano dichiarato di essere disposti a condurre
un'operazione militare in Bosnia a seguito della Sfor. La data
dell'avvicendamento potrebbe essere gia' la fine del 2004. Le autorita'
bosniache hanno ripetutamente auspicato che comunque continui la
presenza militare Usa nel paese, che potrebbe essere mantenuta, secondo
fonti americane a Sarajevo, anche in base ad accordi bilaterali tra i
due paesi.(ANSA).
COR*VD 07-NOV-03 19:12 NNNN 07/11/2003 19:48
---
http://www.tanjug.co.yu/
Tanjug - November 20, 2003
Bosnian soldiers in Iraq, Serbian in Afghanistan
13:32 BERLIN , Nov 19 (Tanjug) - An engagement of 60
Bosnian soldiers in Iraq seems almost certain, while
Serbia and Montenegro is thinking of sending 1,000
troops to Afghanistan, who would be under direct U.S.
command, Germany's Tages Zeitung writes on Wednesday.
Germany's daily writes that former members of the
recently dissolved special operations unit are to go
to Afghanistan, assessing that this could be
disputable in the home political scene, because
killers of former Serbian premier Zoran Djindjic used
to be part of these units [?]. As for its foreign
policy, Serbia and Montenegro would play a role in
NATO that would make its integration into the alliance
easier.
=== 2 ===
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/bosnia/20031127174932769288.html
BOSNIA: AVVICENDAMENTO NATO-UE SARA' DECISO IN VERTICE 2004
(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, 27 NOV - Il previsto avvicendamento fra Nato e Ue
nella conduzione della missione di pace in Bosnia sara' deciso molto
probabilmente al vertice di Istanbul del giugno prossimo. Lo hanno
previsto oggi autorevoli fonti dell' Alleanza Atlantica a Bruxelles.
Gia' all'incontro dei ministri della Difesa della Nato di lunedi'
e martedi' prossimo, hanno confermato le fonti, verra' decisa
formalmente la riduzione da 12.000 a circa 7.000 del numero degli
uomini impegnati nella missione di pace Sfor.(ANSA). CAL/TER
27/11/2003 17:49
=== 3 ===
> Workers' struggles in Bosnia and Herzegovina
> http://www.marxist.com/Europe/bosnia_struggles_1103.html
Workers' struggles in Bosnia and Herzegovina
We have received this report from Goran Markovic, President of the Main
Board of the Workers' Communist Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina and are
happy to publish it. It highlights the reawakening of the workers in
Bosnia and Herzegovina after the terrible war that tore this country
apart. The interesting thing is that workers on both sides of the
divide are struggling for the same things.
There have been many workers' and pensioners' struggles in the past few
months in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The trade union leadership have not
announced the exact figures, but it is likely there have been several
hundred strikes, rallies and demonstrations all over the country. Most
important of these were the struggles of the medical care workers in
Banja Luka (whose strike lasted for three months!) and the strike of
100 workers in Bihac, who went on strike from October 2002, including
two months of hunger strike.
The medical care workers demanded regular payment of their salaries and
a change in the management, while the workers in Bihac (North-Western
part of the country) demanded the annulment of the privatisation of
their enterprise (bought and then destroyed by a capitalist from
Slovenia, in cooperation with one of the leaders of the Muslim Party of
Democratic Action).
The strike of 4,000 metal workers in Zenica was also very important.
During the winter of 2002 a few hundred workers went on strike in
Sarajevo, blocking government buildings. They were supported by the
workers from Tuzla and other cities.
The chemical industry workers have been on strike in Tuzla
(North-Eastern part of Bosnia) several times. They demanded higher
salaries, an increase in production and criminal prosecution of the
managers charged with corruption. These protests involved around 4,000
workers, with road blockades and clashes with the police (sent against
the workers by the “social democratic” government of the canton).
The pensioners' protests were about getting higher pensions (the
average pension is about 60 euros) and for resignation of the
governments [of both cantons].
Unfortunately, there are no real trade unions and pensioners'
associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is only the leadership,
without any genuine rank and file participation. The workers involved
in the trade unions don't have any practical activity. They don't know
even what the plans for struggles are. They have no means of
influencing the elections of their leaders or their daily work.
The number of strikes of the industrial workers is small. Most strikes
are organized at factory level. A strike is possible in those
enterprises where the working conditions are the worst and where it is
possible to organize a good trade union leadership. Communication
between these trade unionist rank and file activists and those at the
top of the unions is very bad. The central trade union leadership does
not enjoy the support and confidence of the workers. That is because in
many cases the union leaders have advised their members not to go on
strike or have even refused to give them support and help during their
strikes. The trade union bureaucracies have a strong grip on the
unions. The number of union members has gone down as a result of this
and some new independent trade unions have been created. We proposed
creation of the Union of Unemployed Workers and Workers from Small and
Medium Size Enterprises because these workers have no rights and about
40% of the workforce is employed in the informal sector of the economy.
The trade union leaders don't have a clear picture of what they should
do. They limit themselves to demanding basic things, like the regular
payment of salaries, but there is no overall strategy of struggle and
the workers don't know how to fight and what for. The union leaders
have not come up with a coherent economic and social programme.
The union bureaucracy justifies this by saying that the trade unions
are not political organizations and they should not propose anything
that is above the basic demands for a better life. That is why the
workers don't know how this better life could be achieved.
The two governments come up with the argument that there is not enough
money and that the IMF demands budget cuts in answer to all the demands
of the trade unions.
On the other hand, the trade union leaders don't have any idea of where
the money for social needs could be found. They just demand the
enacting of a social program but, in the words of the two governments,
this is impossible in the near future. The trade unions do not an
economic programme because the union leaders think it is not their job
to propose one. The union leaders place their hopes in privatisation
and foreign investment. That is a total myth because only 3,000 jobs
have been created with EU aid for small and medium sized enterprises,
and only 10,000 jobs have been created over seven years thanks to
USAID's credits. That is nothing in comparison with the job losses that
have been implemented since the war, with the rate of unemployment
continuously growing from 36 to 40%.
Some trade unions have understood where the real problem lies and they
proposed more radical and advanced demands. For example, the
independent trade union of one enterprise in Banja Luka demanded that
the government block the privatisation of the state owned capital and
hand over the company to union on management. This trade union also
developed a complete programme of economic renewal of their enterprise.
The workers of a few enterprises demanded the annulment of
privatisation for reasons of illegality. Their demands were successful
in all those cases where they were determined in their action, although
even the former social democratic government were not ready to
intervene.
At this stage there haven't been demands for annulment of the overall
process of privatisation. Although the working class has no confidence
that any positive results will come out of this process, the workers
think it is impossible to stop it right now. That's why the workers
react only in those flagrant cases of illegality and where they are
strong enough to oppose it.
Unfortunately, the Workers' Communist Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina
is the only social organization (considering all political parties,
trade unions and non-governmental organization) that is opposed to the
very process of privatisation. That is why the working class still does
not have a clear picture of what will happen once the process of
privatisation has been completed, although they have very clear
misgivings about it.
There have been pensioners' protests lately in both parts of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The pensioners were very resolved in their intention to
force the two governments to starting solving their problems. Massive
protests were held in Sarajevo and in Banja Luka with the attempt of
the pensioners to enter the governments' buildings. There were some
clashes with the police forces as well. Unfortunately, the pensioners'
associations did not have a clear programme of what to do. They called
on the pensioners to assemble in every city but without a joint coming
together and gathering in the two capitals – Sarajevo and Banja Luka.
In that way the pensioners' meetings were less massive than they could
have been. It was also the case that these associations simply limited
themselves to demanding higher pensions without explaining how to
achieve this goal. The pensioners' leaders are not interesting in
discussing economic problems and they don't have any idea of how to
secure the permanent payment of pensions, and even more so they do not
know how to achieve an increase.
In our opinion, all these events are positive. They show the readiness
of those socially jeopardized layers to struggle. It is not surprising
that they don't yet have a wider sense for the more general social
problems. Those are people who have never been in struggle for their
rights. These are people in their 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s who have not
had the experience of the class struggle. Then there is also the
question that they don't even have a trade union organization that is
capable of mobilizing them in the every day struggles, not to mention
the more general struggle for more long term aims.
These people didn't get a chance to struggle for their rights during
the period of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and now they
are only taking the first steps in organizing themselves. Also, there
is the problem that their living standards are so low that they can
only think of how to survive day to day. Indeed, Bosnia and Herzegovina
is one of the poorest countries in Europe. We understand that demands
for bread are at the centre of attention today. Socialism still cannot
be seen as the workers' immediate demand, although we are trying to
connect their day-to-day struggles with this aim.
November 2003.
---
Subj: NATO contra pensioners in Bosnia
Date: 11/12/03 12:16:06 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Kilibarda78
To: Petokraka78
RS pensions and salaries
Ashdown and Hays warn RS to withdraw decision on pension and salaries
increase
RTRS, BHTV 1, CRHB, FTV, Glas Srpske cover page story Pensions
backwards!’, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg. 3, ‘I will call for
responsibility for brining BiH at collapse’, Vecernji List front
‘Republika Srpska financially crushes BiH’, pg 4 ‘BiH will pay for
decisions of Mikerevic’s Government’, Blic p 13 ‘Difficult consequences
threat’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Mikerevic must withdraw decision on
increased pensions’ - At the press conference held on Tuesday, the High
Representative Paddy Ashdown stated that unless RS cancels its decision
on increase of salaries for civil servants and pensions, BH would
become the first country that has breached stand-by arrangement with
IMF. He also reiterated that because of this decision the IMF would not
grant 17 million US dollars worth of credits to BiH. ‘This decisions
represents a 'lethal' danger for financial stability and the European
future of BiH, since the RS has not the funds it pledged at its
disposal’ - stated Ashdown explaining that breach of the agreement with
IMF would lead to the situation where, without IMF’s approval, no
country in the world would invest in BiH. The existing ones would
withdraw their investment leaving BiH without international financial
assistance. He also added RS does not have resources, but would only
transfer the money from taxpayers to the state official deceiving the
public. Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays stated this
was the most cynical case he has ever encountered ‘It is cynical to
promise something to people knowing that it would not be possible to
honour it in two months… They count from some means out of succession
process but that can be only short-term solution.’ Ashdown called
competent RS authorities to withdraw decision by Saturday and to make
proposal for redistribution, according to which increase would take
place in some future time. In the case this does not happen, Ashdown
stated that they will be forced to take certain measure, but he did not
want to precisely say which. All this could, according to Ashdown,
leave BiH without hundreds of millions of dollars of international aid
and investments, and it would be very hard to re-establish cooperation
with the IMF.
Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Ashdown: That is lethal decision’, pg 2 ‘Dragan
Mikerevic given deadline till Saturday, otherwise penalties will
follow’ – Asked why he did not reacted the same way when
Parliamentarians increased their salaries, Paddy Ashdown commented
those ‘did not breach international agreements and threaten to the
future of this country. In my opinion that decision was not wise, but
the one that RS Government wants to apply is lethal.’ Donald Hays added
that BiH needed ‘208 million KM to implement set reforms, which cannot
be done without the assistance of the international community.’
Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Ashdown threatened Mikerevic’ / ‘FBIH will also
suffer consiquences’ – Ashdown added that in case RS Government
proceeds with the decisions and carries out the increased payments,
citizens of FBiH will also suffer the consequences of the decision by
Mikerevic and RS authorities, wondering whether RS ‘think they have
gold mines or oil fields.’ High Representative was strong in his
message to pensioners: ‘They deceive you, they lie and make you fools.
They do not have money for those increases.’
Mikerevic: RS will proceed with a decision on increase
BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg. 3, ‘I will call for
responsibility for brining BiH at collapse’ - RS Prime Minister Dragan
Mikerevic stated that RS Government will not give up on its decisions
to increase the lowest labour wages and pensions. In his statement made
on Tuesday in Banja Luka, Mikerevic said he hoped to prove that RS
Government has resources for this, adding that he is disappointed with
the international officials saying the decisions opposes stand-by
arrangement. He also rejected possibility to reconsider the decision
and announced these additional expenditures would be covered by better
tax collection and internal reserves. Prime Ministers added he would
proceed with the decisions willing to take a risk to be dismissed.
Mikerevic also said the international community does not give evidences
as to how stand-by arrangement could be violated by such increase of
minimal salaries.
NN editorial by Hays on RS Gov’t decision
Nezavisne Novine pg. 7 ‘Yellow brick road’ editorial by Donald Hays– In
the editorial, PDHR Donald Hays comments on the Republika Srpska
Government decision regarding salary and pension increase. He warns the
public that there are just pure promises of Government, which it will
not be able to accomplish. Accordingly, the promises are also
illusions. PDHR further warns Republika Srpska public of the fact that
in order to be able to regularly pay out increased pensions and
salaries, Government will have to find the way to increase budget
inflows. And this is the most likely to be achieved through collection
of increased taxes. He expressed readiness of international community
to provide assistance to Government to find the way for gradual
increases of pensions and salaries, which would equate with the level
of savings and economic potential.
October pensions not all increased
RTRS - Distribution of October pensions in Republika Srpska has
commenced on Tuesday, however not all pensioners received an increase.
RS Pension Fund stated that increase is not certain for the next 2
months, adding that if the collection of all contributions and taxes is
not increased for 5-6%, there will be no increase of pensions. Dnevni
Avaz [pg 2 ‘Payment started yesterday’] reported on the beginning of
pension dissemination.
Ian Cliff meets Mikerevic
Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Increases cause headaches’, Oslobodjenje pg 6
‘Solutions for increased pensions and salaries are being looked for’ -
In the talks with RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic held on Tuesday,
UK Ambassador to BiH Ian Cliff raised concerns about the problems that
could be caused with the stand-by arrangement due to decisions of the
RS Government on boosting of salaries and pensions. In presenting of
arguments in support of the RS Government’s decisions, Mikerevic
stressed that they would not jeopardise macroeconomic stability.
Mikerevic also indicated the fact that the level of public expenditures
in the RS is below 50 percent of the National Product, while on BiH
State level it is estimated at 65 percent. Mikerevic said there are
manners for resolving these problems and that talks are currently in
progress with international financial institutions. Mikerevic and Cliff
also talked about reforms in progress, and UK Ambassador commended the
results achieved in the domain of the defence system, indirect taxation
and public administration.
FBiH Pensioners on RS decision
Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Let RS be responsible, not the entire country’ –
President of the FBiH Pensioners Association Jozo Ljiljanic stated for
DA that pensioners of FBiH would not accept consequences following the
RS decision on increase. ‘We do not accept that, because if we have
respected all international financial institutions why to bear
consequences… FBiH pensioners sympathize with RS pensioners… Our
pensions are also low, and we keep asking from the government to find a
way to pay three overdue pensions and not to be prevented by IMF. The
local authorities must be more courageous in this regard, and be
responsible towards most vulnerable category of population.’ - stated
Ljiljanic.
=== 4 ===
AFP, November 16, 2003
Explosion at Bosnian Serb government headquarters
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Hercegovina, (AFP) - A grenade blast Saturday
damaged the government headquarters of the Bosnian Serb-led Republika
Srpska in the city of Banja Luka, officials said.
No one was hurt in the early morning explosion, which blew out several
windows and wrecked the building's facade, Republika Srpska spokesman
Zlatko Juric told AFP.
Police have launched a search for the attack's perpetrator.
Eight years after the end of the war in Bosnia, many Bosnians still
possess illegal arms despite efforts to collect them.
Postwar Bosnia has two semi-independent entities -- the Serb-run
Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation.
The entities, linked with weak central institutions, have separate
parliaments, governments, police and army forces.