Bosna i Herzegovina

For the first time in 16 years, agencies that supervise the work of government agencies, will be appointed by party cadres. Consequently, the central election commission, the anti corruption agency and the audit and procurement review body of BiH will, in addition to other agencies, under the “paw of the ruling party”. The general auditor of BiH, Milenko Šego noted that no other state in the world allows for their party to appoint their own staff of auditors. All states, assured Šego, abide by the laws of the audit by which no auditors should be members of the party. According to an article published by Radio Slobodna Evropa, after having won the election based on the promise to put the people front and center, the Socialdemokratska Partija Bosne i Herzegovine (SDP) rendered the people secondary. When asked about the recent developments, SDP vice president Damir Hadžić stated that “now, people that are very qualified and have clear perspectives for their future will have the chance to compete for jobs adding that political leanings are equally important”.

Amendments to the constitution of the Islamic Community of BiH discussed by the Constitutional Commission prevent the current reis ul ulema Mustafa Cerić to stand for reelection. In the past months, rumors held that Ceirić was to serve in his post for live. With the Commission’s decision, however, these rumors were dispelled. Jusuf Zahiragić, president of the Constitutional Commission, confirmed the above statement by which “a large number” of amendments have been adopted. However, Zahiragić did not specify the exact nature of the amendments adopted. As reported in the Sarajevo newspaper Dnevni avaza, Zahiragić rejected claims by which one amendment stipulated that the reis ul ulema who was not reelected would continue his service in “specific offices” – to be decided upon by the Islamic community – until the persons retirement. The amendments that were made public stipulate, among other things, that the person standing for office must not be younger than 40, and no older than 60 years of age. Mustafa Cerić will celebrate his 60^th birthday this year. A possible candidate for the post is Muamer Zukorlić who is said to enjoy full support of Mustafa Zerić.

The World Bank’s executive committee approved a new strategy regarding BiH’s and the Banks partnership for the coming four years. According to Slobodna Evropa, a number of projects are to be realized with financial support coming from the World Bank. However, BiH did not yet take advantage of funds it was hitherto given while nevertheless paying penalty interests on the loans. At any rate, says head of the World Bank for Bosnia Anabela Abreu, BiH might be more receptive with plans for new projects in the picture. Abreu who is originally form Portugal warned BiH’s government and its citizens that the coming year would bare many challenges while reforms must be undertaken. She cited the example of her home-country Portugal that might be hit by the financial crisis comparing it to that of Greece’s ongoing crisis. Planned are, among others, irrigation projects, land registration, overhauling the navigation system of the Sava while additional funds are planned to help with Small and Medium Business (SME’s) enterprises – an important aggregator for job creation.

Reis ul ulama Mustafa Cerić criticized the Zahumsko-Herzegovinian bishop Gregori on the basis of insulting remarks against Cerić. He further criticized the Serbian Orthodox Church due to her interference in the internal affairs of the Islamic religious community. Bishop Grigori had earlier criticized Cerić who compared Croatia’s president Ivo Josipović and Serbian president Boris Tadić to Franjo Tuđman and Slobodan Milošević respectively. Following Cerić’s remarks, bishop Grigori countered that Josipović and Tadić were the most peaceful men that presided over the area in the past 100 years. Grigori stated that Cerić’s remarks exceeded every human, cultural and religious realm while Cerić himself acted as if BiH was his private property. The Islamic Community of BiH (IZ) meanwhile condemned the comments Grigori has brought forward against Cerić and likewise criticized the Serbian Orthodox Church for her meddling in the affairs of the Islamic IZ. The IZ further questioned patriarch Irinej’s arrival to Banja Luka were he consecrated the 9^th of January – the date of the establishment of RS – and the date on which genocide against Bosniaks transgressed. What message, questioned the IZ, was sent to Bosniaks with this action, and why is the Serbian Orthodox Church silent regarding the aggression the Serbian state performed against the Islamic community of BiH?

Alžira Nuredin Gaci, originally from Algeria, has been deported from BiH upon having been declared a threat to the national security of BiH. Kurir reports that Gaci has fougt in the war durig the 1990’s before fleeing to Italy following the war. Gaci was also deported from Italy together with Frendi Omar who was also pronounced a threat to the national security of BiH. Later on, the two were once again located in BiH where both of them worked illegally. Omar was sent back to Algeria in January of 2011 while he was forbidden to reenter BiH for three years. Omar nevertheless came back in September of 2011 and was seen in the area of Čajniča. Relevant authorities are once again working on the deportation of Omar. Gaci came back in 2010 and worked in the Immigration Center in the south of Sarajevo. Gaci overstayed his visa and exhausted all possibilities of staying legally in BiH upon which he was deported to Algeria – he was forbidden to return to BiH for the duration of five years.

The diaspora community of BiH sent 1,3 billion Euros to Bosnia in the first nine months of 2011 which is more than was sent during the same period the previous year. However, the amount is much less compared to the “pre-crisis” years. According to the director of the economic institute “Bijeljine” Aleksa Milojević, the trend of reduced remittances is due to the migration of entire families as opposed to the past whereby only a few members of the family migrated to foreign countries. Consequently, these people have nobody from within their close family to send money to. In addition, families who migrate, more often integrate completely into their new homes and no longer buy land and properties in their country of origin. To be sure, remittances almost certainly never went into the realization of projects. Instead, this money was used for the consumption of foreign products. Thus, the money essentially returned to the state from which it was sent. This situation is likely to remain the same should the economy of BiH not be strengthened in the future.

“BiH: Prisušuje pomoć dijaspore”. Vesti Online. accessed January 17, 2012. http://www.vesti-online.com/Vesti/Ex-Yu/195160?BiH-Presusuje-pomoc-dijaspore

“BiH deportovala dvojicu alžirskih mudžahedina”. Kurir. accessed January 17, 2012. http://www.kurir-info.rs/crna-hronika/bih-deportovala-dvojicu-alzirskih-mudzahedina-172062.php

“Cerić: Ko podržava svetosavizaciju pola BiH” Politika Online. accessed January 16, 2012. www.politika.rs/vesti/najnovije-vesti/Ceric-Ko-podrzava-svetosavizaciju-pola-BiH.lt.html

“BiH treba učiti na greškama Grčke”. Radio Slobodna Evropa. accessed January 17, 2012.http://www.slobodnaevropa.org/content/anabela_abreu_pred_bih_puno_ekonomskih_izazova/24453566.html

“Cerić nema pravo na reizbor”. FOCUS. Accessed January 14, 2012. http://focusnewsinfo.wordpress.com/2012/01/14/ceric-nema-pravo-na-reizbor/

“Novi presedan: Vlas će nadzirati partijski kadrovi”. Radio Slobodna Evropa. accessed January 13, 2012. http://www.slobodnaevropa.org/content/vlast_ce_nadzirati_partijski_kadrovi/24451124.html

Sandžak

Upon Edhema Čamdžić’s refusal to accept the Medal of Honor by the president of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, the Mufti of Sandžak Muamer Zukorlić pronounced his enthusiasm regarding Čamdžić’s decision. Zukorlić issued a statement on the Islamic Community of Serbia’s website that his act is the most honorable a mufti could perform under such difficult circumstances and in an area where genocide occurred. Zukorlić explained that Muslim residents of Sandžak understood especially well why this honor was to be given to Čamdžić as it served to disrupt and divide the ulema adding that this was done “according to a Belgrade recipe”. Belgrade, explains, Zukorlić, seeks to divide the ulema among those who allegedly wish to collaborate and those who do not by which Belgrade could have upheld Čamdžić as an example should the Banja Luka Mufti have accepted the medal. Serbia’s aggression that started to be directed toward the Islamic Community four years ago, said Zukorlić, was only the beginning and was aimed at fracturing the Islamic Community of BiH. This is why Zukrolić thanked Čamdžić in the name of the Islamic Community of Sandžak and Serbia and expressed his full support regarding the realization of rights for Muslims in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska.

President of the Bosniak National Council (BNV) Esad Džudžević reminded the Serbian government that the 60-day period, in which Bosniak Muslims of Sandžak should have received full rights, has come to an end. In statement released by the media, the BNV announced that it would hold a special meeting in which was to be decided how to internationalize and find a solution to the problem so as to protect the rights of Bosniaks guaranteed to them under the constitution.

According to Sandžak Live, the city of Novi Pazar is home to the youngest population of Europe. 49% percent of the city’s population is 29 years of age and younger as Džemaludin Paučinac who heads the City Office of the Young in Sandžak announced. The opening up of the Office for the Young as well as the Youth Center are both helping young people of Novi Pazar in gaining a better perspective while the young will provide the city with important creative input, said Paučinac. The centers offer training for the unemployed so as to become more attractive for the job market while other activities, including educational functions for the prevention of aids and excursions to foreign countries are planned.

After initial plans to build a highway from SJenica to Tutin or from Novi Pazar to Sjenica, Serbia’s minister for infrastructure Milutin Mrkonjić of Serbia’s Socialist Party (SP) announced that the project will not be realized. Originally, the construction of the highway was planned to be realized with the financial help from Turkey who allegedly loaned Serbia 30 million Euros for the project. Mrkonjić denied allegations by which Turkey withdrew funds for the project due to delays in the production thereof. Instead, said the minister, there were never any set plans for the construction of the highway and that Turkey was to pay for it. Turkish aid was simply to serve as an aid to the project while experts now estimate that it would be better if Serbia covered all expenses herself. This is contrary to reports released in 2009 according to which Tadić and Turkish president Abdulha Gul planned the realization of constructing highways that were to connect the towns of Tutin, Sjenica, Novi Pazar, Prijepolje, Novi Varoš and Proboj. The day was heralded as historic regarding the cooperation between Turkey and Serbia. Back then, Sandžak Press reports, it was stated that there would be no proper development if Sandžak remained disconnected from the rest of the country. Forwarding back to the future, Mrkonjić argued that the construction of a highway to and through Sandžak was not necessary. However, a couple of days later, minster of labour and social politics Rasim LJajić announced that the project might nevertheless be financed by Turkey. There were initial problems as funds for the first 51 kilometers from Beograd to Ljiga could not be secured while the three (not specified) Turkish construction companies asked for too much money regarding the price for the construction. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan offered another bid upon which Turkey lowered its price. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan will now pay for the first 51 kilometers for the highway due to a favorable 15-year loan at an interest rate of three percent. Meanwhile, so LJajić, it is possible that Turkey will construct the road over Pešter. The minister also recalled the renovation of the railway that will connect Raška to Novi Pazar – a project for which the Czek Republic indicated its interest. Also, there are plans for the implementation of charter flights between Kraljevo and Lađevcim. LJajić believes that without a proper infrastructure, nobody will show interest in investing in Sandžak which is why the realization of infrastructural projects remains important.

Ljajić announced that announced that Novi Pazar was to open free trade zones. The overall economic development will thus be strengthened while the inflow of foreign investment will be more attractive. Opening a free trade zone, said Ljajić, is the first step in aiding with the areas economic recovery.

“Carinski referat u Novom Pazaru postao ispostava”. Beta. accessed January 20, 2012. http://www.naslovni.net/2012-01-20/beta/carinski-referat-u-novom-pazaru-postao-ispostava/3113148

“Autoput kroz Sandžak, možda, ipak, grade Turci. Radio Televizija Vojvodine. Accessed January 20, 2012. http://rtv.rs/sr_lat/ekonomija/autoput-kroz-sandzak-mozda-ipak-grade-turci_295837.html

“SP Mrkonjić: Sandžaku putevi nisu ni potrebni”. Sandžakpress. Accessed January 20, 2012. http://sandzakpress.net/autoput-tamou-sandzaku-nije-ni-potreban-bdz

“Novi Pazar namlađi grad u Evropi”. Sandžaklive. Accessed January 20, 2012. http://sandzaklive.rs/index.php/world-news/war/16685-novi-pazar-najmlai-grad-u-evropi

“Džudžević: Internacionalizacija problema Sandžaka”. Radio Televizija Vojvodine. Accessed January 16, 2012. http://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/dzudzevic:-internacionalizacija-problema-sandzaka_294883.html

“Zukorlić ponosan na Čamdžića”. B92. Accessed January 14, 2012. http://www.b92.net.info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2012&mm=01&dd=14&nav_category=167&nav_id=573809

Republika Srpska

In Banja Luka, Božidar Stanišljević was transferred from the prison in Sarajevo to the detention facility near Banja Luka as was announced by the prison’s director Pero Dunjić. Earlier this week, Stanišljević (69) was suspected to have planned a terrorist attack at the ceremony held in Banja Luka for the 20^th year celebration of RS. Allegedly, Stanišljević confessed to have brought a bag to the festivities in which the police found automatic weapons with silencers, three kilos of plastic explosives, four bombs and a shotgun with 330 rounds of ammunition. According to the RS police, the lives of 1,000 people could have been jeopardized with the amount of ammunition carried by Stanišljević. The statement recalled the letter Džudžević had sent to president Boris Tadić, prime minister Mirko Cvetković and the parliamentary speaker Slavica Đukić Dejanović in which he demanded the unblocking of rights for Bosniaks resident in Sandžak.

“Osumnjičeni za terorizam pebačen iz sarajevskog u banjalučkui zatvor”. Blic. Accessed January 17, 2012. http://www.blic.rs?Vesti?Hronika/301847?Osumnjiceni-za-terorizam-prebacen-iz-sarajevskog-u-banjalucki-zatvor