Bosna i Herzegovina

The online newspaper Vesti Online reported that after the Dayton Agreement of 1995, leaders in the West – specifically those from the U.S., Great Britain and France – thought that BiH would grow to become a stable, multiethnic and democratic state after having lead the state with a “strong hand” toward that goal. However, the West’s attitudes toward the Western Balkans, as Vesti reports, does not differ from other “outside powers” that dominated the region before for centuries. Since then, the West has dictated how governments and people in the Balkans ought to behave if they wish to be seen as a modern, progressive and forward-looking people. If people in the Balkans did not behave the way Westerners saw fit, local leaders were blamed. In the years immediately following the Dayton Agreements, plans unfolded as envisioned by the West while difficulties soon started to stunt significant progress. Leaders in the Balkans were blamed for the halting development as they were seen to reject the “intelligent and profound policies recommended by the U.S., Great Britain and France”. In reality, according to the report published by Vesti, the governmental experiment of BiH never really functioned the way it was envisioned by the West. “The idea” of BiH never received much support neither from the society nor from the politicians who were supposed to lead this new entity. The differences among the ethnicities have become too vast, broken apart and unnatural so as to be united under one governmental umbrella. As a result, BiH’s existence remains to be a fiction that is solely upheld due to the Wests pressure and the inability and/or unwillingness of BiH politicians to dissolve BiH into its constituent parts. As such, BiH consists of perhaps two, or two and one half states. The official, though weak leadership is located in Sarajevo while the true sovereignty lies in BiH’s federation of Republike Srbske and the Croatian community. The two communities’ strength relative to Sarajevo is also the reason why the government could survive for so long without the official existence of a ministerial council. The reality is that the official institution has no significant influence over the lives of BiH’s citizens. On one side there is strong identification of Serbs, political and economical, with Republika Srpska while the Federation of BiH is torn with disputes among “Muslims (Bosniaks) and Croats while it is institutionally weak. Perhaps, Vesti further states, the lesson learned in the Balkans is that the Balkans need not to follow suit to the West. This is a lesson not yet learned by Bosniaks, but neither by Belgrade. However, there is also no need for hostility, to the contrary. Further relations, however, ought to be based on mutual respect and not on weakness and submission. Policies taken in the future must reflect the desires and wishes of the local population as well as the ability to “say no” to the West if need be. In all, there appear to be two options, either; BiH will stay together for the coming years whereby the weak leadership would remain in Sarajevo. Republika Srpska, then, would assume greater responsibility thus further alienating itself from the federation and perhaps the West will grow uninterested with BiH with the coming of new administrations. The other variant is that BiH will disintegrate more formally which depends on the growing strength of the remaining entities should BiH collapse.

Džemaludin Latić, professor of Islamic studies at the University in Sarajevo has, according to Sandžak live, come to the center of attention. The reason for this is the publication of a text in which he talks about Serbia’s aggressive effort of equalizing the role of aggressor and victim in BiH, the late Alija Izetbegović and the need to implement the Sharia in the IZ of BiH. At the outset of the interview, Latić was asked about the current situation of BiH as well as to Republika Srpska’s efforts of increasing the persecution of those involved during the war in Bosnia – especially the “legendary army commander of the Fifth Corps Atif Dudaković”. These are the years, said Latić, that will determine the outcome of BiH as an independent and sovereign state while the long campaign against those who uphold the importance of BiH’s sovereignty serves the purpose of erasing the genocide against Bosniaks and hide the aggression BiH has experienced. The campaign, according to Latić is conducted in silent but has in mind to destroy the legal sovereignty of BiH given that RS as well as the HDZ coalitions seek to establish laws beneficial to them. BiH, should this continue, will seize to exist. The laws in question regard questions of state property and governmental aid the clearest evidence of which, as Latić stated, is the ejection of Bosniaks and Croats from the land registries of RS – a policy conducted by Dodik. Latić further quoted Miro Lazović who in the past stated, “you (the West) intervened when there was a need to introduce and maintain an embargo on defense weaponry then proceeded by creating this Frankenstein-like state. Now it is time to intervene again so as to resolve the current situation based on international law”. Latić also lamented the Democratic Action Party’s (SDA) ineffectiveness and stated that Alija Izetbegović, either under intense pressure or a senile state due to old age, destroyed the party by putting Sulejman Tihić in charge of SDA. Tihić, as Latić stated is a communist prosecutor and most importantly, a man who roots/has rooted for the establishment of a greater Serbia. The interview soon turned to the question about who is responsible for the distribution of the tekfir ideology in BiH. Latić answered to this question that he knows who is not (italics added) responsible for the distribution of the Wahhabi ideology in BiH. Our friend and brother, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a state established upon the values of the Qur’an and the Hadith, who itself is fighting against terrorism and those who call themselves Wahhabis, is not at fault. Asked about the Turkish role and political involvement of the Turkish state in the Balkans, Latić explained that Turkish involvement “is a blessing in disguise and one that must be accepted and used”. Regarding as to how the Sharia law would be implemented as well as if such an endeavor is feasible; Latić explained that Bosniaks never had the chance to elect their religious representatives. This, explains Latić, has always been decided by the regime under which Bosniaks lived at the time. This, however, is not consistent under the Sharia’s electoral law that stipulates “unlimited and active voting rights for all Muslims according to Qur’anic values and procedures”.

Among the proposals to be considered by the new council of ministers of BiH will be the proposal regarding the de-radicalization of groups that pose a security threat as was announced by minister for security Sadik Ahmetović. The document, so the minister, has been in preparation before while the attack on the U.S. embassy sped up the development thereof. Ahmetović stated that he had warned those who sought to use the problem of Wahhabism and Salafism for political purposes following the attack. Doing so, the minister added, would obstruct the identification of those people that pose a potential terrorist threat. The problem is that there is no precedent according to which BiH officials could act to resolve the problem on the ground. His proposal, so Ahmetović, would change these circumstances.

Mevlid Jašarević, while waiting for his indictment, requested better prison conditions. Radio Televizija Srbije (RTS) reported that Jašarević’s lawyer Senad Dupovac, meanwhile, traveled to Gornja Maoča and Austria so as to be better prepared to defend his client. Jašarević is currently held at the central prison in Sarajevo from where he asked to be transferred to the court prison of Sarajevo because of favorable prison conditions. Jašarević, however, stated that he does not recognize the court due to its artificial creation while the court is worth nothing in the eyes of Allah.

“Jašarević traži bolje uslove”. RTS. Accessed January 11, 2012. http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/11/Region?1024902/Jašarević+traž+bolje+uslove.html

“BiH se sprema za deradikalizaciju vehabija”. Radio Televizija Vojvodine. Accessed January 9, 2012. http://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/region/bih-se-sprema-za-deradikalizaciju-vehabija_293704.html

“Latić – Novopazaarski mešihat je legalni sastavni dio IZ BiH”. Sandžaklive.rs. accessed January 16, 12. http://www.sandzaklive.rs/business-and-finance/company-finances/4293-lati-novopazarski-meihat-je-legalni-sastavni-dio-iz-bih.html

“Možda se BiH razbije na dve tri države”. Vesti Online. accessed January 7, 2011. http://www.vesti-online.com/Vesti/Ex-YU/192918/Mozda-se-BiH-razbije-na-dvetri-drzave

Republika Srpska

Mufti Čamdžić declined to receive a medal of honor that was awarded to him by president Milorad Dodik of Republika Srpska (RS). While the Mufti of RS was pleased that his efforts in bringing about peace and reconciliation were to be honored, he could not receive the medal as long as his congregation – Muslim Bosniaks – lived as second-class citizens, jobs in state run institutions were not equally divided among the population and people were free of fear in their houses and mosques while necessary steps would be taken so that people could return, and stay in their homes. With his rejection, the Mufti seeks to send a signal to the authorities of Banja Luka and the international community that Muslim Bosniaks are not satisfied with their situation in regards to their human rights.

Islamic organization across Bosnia i Herzegovina released a statement according to which January 9^th should be declared a day of genocide in Bosnia, and not marked as a day on which Republica Srpska was established. Referring to the statutes of the international criminal court of The Hague, Islamic Organizations of BiH believe that the month of January ought to be declared as “days of truth” in remembrance of the genocide that was committed by the state institution of RS. Marking the day with celebrations, as Blic reported, would just reopen wounds. As announced on the official website of BiH’s Islamic Rijaset, the Young Muslims propose to hold nationwide book presentations, exhibitions, roundtables, panel discussions and lectures so as to talk about genocide.

“Islamske organizacije u BiH protiv obeležavanja Dana RS”. Blic Online. accessed January 6, 2011. www.blic.rs/Vesti/Republika-Srpska/300071/Islamske-organizacije-u-BiH-protiv-obelezavanja-Dana-RS

“Ljudska prava ispred ordenja”. e-novine.com. accessed January 7, 2012. www.e-novine.com/region/region-bosna/56534-Ljudska-prava-ispred-ordenja.html

Sandžak

Muamer Zukorlić, chief Mufti of Serbia’s Islamic Community (IZ) seeks to establish an organization to be called the World Congress of Bosniaks (SBK). Zukorlić wishes to unite all Bosniaks under this umbrella organization to be represented with a seat at the United Nations (UN). He bases his proposal on the Jewish Congress and the people of Israel who, after the holocaust, received nation/statehood and subsequently a seat in the General Assembly. The close associate of Zukorlić Samir Tandir stated that BiH is not able to help Bosniaks resident in Sandžak while they are threatened and discriminated against. Therefore, said Tandir, additional measures must be taken – one of which is the creation of the SBK. The idea regarding the establishment of the SBK was received negatively in Belgrade where the question prevails whether a religious community is able to gain a seat at the UN. Sociologist Đorđević stated that only entities such as states – governments – can gain seats at the UN while religious communities can not, adding that while Israel does in fact have a seat at the UN, Jewish communities of Serbia, Albania and France do not. In Đorđević’s view, Zukorlić’s action is carried out in view of autonomy for Sandžak. Autonomy, according to the Sociologist, cannot be based on one faith and/or nationality only as there are other peoples that live in the area. Đorđević believes that the only accomplishment brought about with such measure will be the destabilization of Sandžak and thus the greater region. Rasim Ljajić, minister of labour and social policy, meanwhile found the idea amusing stating that “it would be best if Zukorlić sought to become Secretary General, a proposal that is equivalent to his (Zukorlić’s) own”. Belgrade’s Mufti Muhamed Jusufspahić who is known to be a critique of Zukorlić simply stated that it is a struggle for the national question of Bosniaks while Aida Ćorović, head of the Urban In NGO, stated that the idea was part of the pre-election campaign.

After Adem Zilkić’s recent proposal for Muamer Zukorlić and Zilkić to retire from the IZ and Zukorlić’s refusal to follow suit, Zilkić now states that Zukorlić is involved in criminal activities on the basis of which he could be charged should he leave office. Zilkić stated in an interview with Pravda that Zukorlić’s post protects him from “certain lawsuits related to crime”. Zilkić demented that Serbia’s Islamic community is an artificial creation. Instaed, Zilkić said, the Islamic community of Serbia has existed continuously since 1886 adding that it is Zukorlić’s Islamic community that is the true artificial creation and not based on the legal statues of the Serbian state. Answering the question as to the main problem of the IZ, Zilkić answered that there are two communities, one that was established lawfully and functions within legal boundaries while the other community operates in a grey zone. Zilkić argued that Zukorlić uses the IZ so as to promote his own interests adding that Zukorlić would not be able to “do what he does” where he not operating within this grey zone. Zilkić further assumed that Zukolrić’s main support came from Mustafa Cerić as well as from the former government. This is made evident, so Zilkić, in all of Zukolić’s unlawful actions while nobody seems to persecute him on the basis of those. Zilkić, however, did not specify which actions he was talking about nor did he mention any names associated regarding Zukorlić’s associates that are allegedly tied to Serbia’s former government. Asked if Zukorlić is not being scrutinized by the government on the basis of the governments need to secure votes from the Bosniak community, Zilkić stated that this is not the case as Zukorlić never made any political attempts. Zilkić’s involvement with the Bosniak National Council, Zilkić added, was more due to the indifference of the two other political options Bosniaks faced – the SDA and SDP. Further questions regarded the mediation process in which Turkey holds a diplomatic role – no significant progress, however, has been achieved at the time the interview was conducted while no direct contact with Turkey has been established yet regarding the mediation process. While politicians and religious leaders take active roles regarding the unification process of the IZ – or lack thereof – believers are not part of the bigger picture. According to Zilkić, without the influence of political and national factors, a solution could be found more easily.

The Turkish association “Forum” and the local government of Novi Pazar, Sandžak, are organizing the fair “Balkan Textiles 2012”. The Turkish ministry for economics is sponsoring this event that is held for the first time. There will be about 40 Turkish textile manufacturers at the fair in addition to local producers of textile, footwear and furniture. The local government foresees this fair to be the largest of its kind in the Balkans to which all textile production companies from Serbia and other regions are welcome. The goal of this fair is the establishment of business connections while getting to know one another. The local government of Novi Pazar has signed a five-year contract with Forum, located in Istanbul, according to which the fair will be held in Novi Pazar for the near future.

“Magnet za investore”. Dnevni List Danas. accessed January 10, 2012. http://www.danas.rs/dansasrs/srbija/htonika/magnet_za_investore_.73.html?news_id=231704

“Adem Zilkić: Zukorlić je umešan u kriminal”. Sandžaklive.rs. accessed January 9, 2012. http://www.sandzaklive.rs/business-and-finance/evonomy/4409-adem-zilki-zukorli-je-emean-u-kriminal.html

“Zukrolić traži stolicu u UN”. BalkanexpressRB. Accessed January 7, 2012. http://balkanexpress.co.rs/?page_id=8866