BOSNIA NEWS

WASHINGTON,USA – US Congressman Chris Smith addressed the US Congress on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica.

Congressman Smith said that the world is taking a break this weak to remember and think about the horrific acts of brutality, bestial cruelty and mass killings committed in Srebrenica only 12 years ago and that he too joined a prominent group of leaders and survivors in paying respects to the brave Bosnians who suffered and died – the victims of genocide. The sombre ceremony was led by leader of the Bosnian Islamic community Reisu-l-ulema Mustafa ef. Ceric, Smith said, an inspiring man who serves God and who is internationally known as a man of peace and incredible compassion. Smith said that he also saw a member of the Bosnian Presidency Haris Silajdzic at the ceremony, a Bosnian leader whom he knows and deeply respects since the early 1990s.

“Through the darkness of the Balkan wars Dr. Silajdzic was a powerful, determined, reasonable and a dynamic voice of peace, human rights, rule of law and responsibility for genocide”, Smith said.

Congressman Smith explained to the US Congress that in his speech at the commemoration in Srebrenica he tried to tell Bosnian friends that the Americans and other people of good will throughout the world are again extending their deepest condolences and respects to the mothers and surviving relatives who have suffered indescribable sorrow and loss, which time will never heal.

“The international community needs to again make a commitment that it will once and for all arrest and bring to justice all those who committed these horrific crimes, including Mladic and Karadzic. Justice is a vital condition for sustainable reconciliation”. Smith said.

He said that no matter how long it takes, we must never get tired or discouraged in the search for justice. Reconstruction and further consolidation of democracy in Bosnia need to be based on systematic reforms, including police reform.

“Lessons learned from successful initiatives in Northern Ireland could probably be applied here. When we look back it is almost incredible that genocide in Srebrenica took place”, Smith said.

Smith stressed that future historians will have a hard time in understanding how a UN “safe area”, protected by a large number of UN peacekeepers and superior NATO air force, could capitulate under the raging evil which has led to one of the most gruesome acts in human history.

Smith that the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia did “rule beyond any reasonable doubt that genocide was committed in Srebrenica”.

Smith said that the verdict of the International Court of Justice raises the question: What are the consequences? He reminded the Congress of the Resolution he tabled and which the US Congress adopted almost unanimously.

The Resolution has clearly and unconditionally condemned genocide in Srebrenica and it underlines in one of its parts that “all persons indicted by the ICTY need to be arrested and handed over to the Hague without any further delay and that all countries need to fulfil their obligations through full cooperation with the ICTY”.

Smith concluded that the perpetrators of genocide would prefer if the crime was forgotten.

“But this is something we can never do. Never”, Smith said.

SARAJEVO,Bosnia – The Bosnian Presidency accepted at the 19th regular session held in Sarajevo participation in the informal meeting of heads of state and government on climate change in New York on September 24.

The Bosnian Presidency also gave approval for the appointment of Mubarak Kleefiek Khaled al-Hajri as the Qatari Ambassador to Bosnia. The Bosnian Presidency also adopted the decision on accepting the Agreement between Bosnia and Russia on terms for mutual travel by the citizens of Bosnia and Russia.

It also accepted the initiative of the Italian government for Bosnia to be the co-sponsor of the Resolution on a universal moratorium on the execution and the abolition of death penalty.

The Bosnian Presidency also accepted the report on the participation of members of the Bosnian Armed Forces, the Bosnian police and state officials in peace support operations between September 1 2006 and February 28 2007.

Also,the Bosnian Presidency accepted the report on the implementation of the Budget of the Bosnian State Institutions and International Obligations for 2006 and the report on the implementation of the Budget of the Bosnian State Institutions and International Obligations for the first quarter of 2007.

The Bosnian Presidency also adopted the decision on accepting the agreement and appointing the signatory for the loan agreement between Bosnia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the project of building a sewer system in the eastern Bosnian town of Bijeljina, as well as the loan agreement between Bosnia and EBRD for the project of reconstructing roads.

The Bosnian Presidency also accepted agreements between Bosnia and the International Association for Development (IDA) – additional financing for the “Project of Urban Infrastructure and Providing Services” and air traffic between the Bosnian government and the Qatari government.

The Bosnian Presidency also adopted decisions on accepting the document Agenda Plus on the development of e-society in Southeast Europe between 2007 and 2011, starting the negotiating process on reaching the Memorandum of Understanding between the Bosnian government and the Canadian government on the Canadian Project for Youth and Health in Southeast Europe, as well as the Canadian Project in Primary Health Care in Southeast Europe, the Bosnian Presidency stated.

TUZLA,Bosnia – A Pakistani delegation headed by Major General Qasim Qureish, the personal envoy of the Pakistani President and former commander of the Pakistani UNPROFOR Battalion in Bosnia, visited Tuzla.

During talks with Cantonal Prime Minister Enes Mujic the Pakistani delegation expressed gratitude for everything the Tuzla Canton has done for the Pakistani peacekeepers, as well as the people of Pakistan. They also discussed the possibility of building a joint structure in Tuzla that would symbolise friendship between Bosnia and Pakistan.

The Pakistani delegation also visited the Tuzla University’s Clinical Centre. They thanked Bosnian doctors who after the devastating earthquake in Pakistan jumped to the assistance of people in the affected areas.

General Qureish presented to Tuzla Mayor Jasmin Imamovic the symbol of the Pakistani Battalion, which served as part of the UN during the 1992-1995 Serbian,Montenegrin and Croatian aggressions against Bosnia.

The Pakistani delegation also laid flowers at the monument to Pakistani soldiers in Tuzla, as well as at the memorial to the young people of Tuzla killed by the genocidal Serbian aggressor in the Kapija massacre in 1995.

SARAJEVO,Bosnia – Members of the US Centre or Disease Control (CDC) team met in Sarajevo with Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Health Secretary Jasmika Slijepcevc-Hasic and Head of the Cantonal Public Health Bureau’s Epidemiological Service Snjezana Balta.

They discussed control and diagnostics of brucellosis, Q-fever and salmonella, placing the emphasis on the recent case of salmonella poisoning of 690 Sarajevo citizens in the “Pomodorino” restaurant.

Members of the US CDC team praised the quick and efficient response of the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Health, the Epidemiological Service of the Public Health Bureau and the relevant clinics in this case of salmonella poisoning in May and stressed that this epidemic was put under control in a short period of time. They also recommended closer cooperation between the Canton, the FBIH entity and the Bosnian State on resolving the issue of the import and control of food, which is one of the basic conditions for preventing these diseases.

At the request by the Bosnian Council of Ministers Chairman Nikola Spiric, the US CDC team, headed by medical epidemiologist Dr. Ali Khan, will spend two weeks in Bosnia. During this time they should inspect laboratory diagnostic capacities in the veterinary and health sectors and provide technical assistance to laboratories. US experts are also expected to provide all other forms of support to relevant veterinary and health institutions in Bosnia.