Transcript of the International Agencies’ Joint Press Conference

OHR, Mario Brkić
OSCE,Elmira
Bayrasli
EUFOR, John Tolan
NATO, Derek
Chappell

 


OHR


Implementing reforms expands the capacity of the
authorities to offer better public services


The OHR Economic Newsletter for the second quarter of 2005 is published
today. As you know, many of the current macroeconomic indicators for BiH are
positive. Exports are rising faster than imports, GDP growth is well above five
percent, and investment is increasing. None of this gives grounds for
complacency. Although poverty is declining, the fact that 18 percent of BiH
citizens are still living below the poverty line is unacceptable.


The economic turnaround means that reforms are starting to deliver – which
means that the authorities have to redouble their efforts to implement
reforms.


As PDHR Larry Butler points out in his Introduction to the Newsletter, “The
law establishing the BiH Phytosanitary Agency was passed around two years ago,
but the Agency is not expected to have operating premises until the end of this
summer. Implementing reforms expands the capacity of the authorities to offer
better public services. This applies across the board. When the Competition Law
is enacted, the Competition Council can start effectively to prohibit activities
that are anticompetitive. When the Consumer Protection Law is enacted, the BiH
Consumer Protection Ombudsman can start acting as a powerful advocate for
product safety. When the Law establishing a Market Surveillance Agency is
implemented, the Agency can start to ensure that, for example, toddlers in this
country are not playing with toys that have been made with toxic chemicals. When
the Director of the BiH Standardization Agency has been appointed, the Agency
will be better able to help BiH companies implement European product safety and
quality standards. When the BiH Statistics Agency has adequate capacity, it can
begin to deliver the sort of credible and up-to-date statistics that attract
investment and help create jobs.


“The clear message is this: getting laws onto the statute books does nothing
for this country or its people. Laws have to be implemented.”


I’ve brought along copies of the Newsletter.



OSCE


The OSCE Mission
to
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
on the removal of Minister
Lovrinovic


Last week, the High Representative removed Minister Nikola Lovrinovic from
his position as Education Minister of

Canton

6.  This was an
unfortunate but necessary measure in order to ensure

Bosnia and Herzegovina

’s rule of law, and move ahead with
its commitments to education reform, which include ending the politicization and
segregation of the system. 


Minister Lovrinovic’s refusal to carry out his obligations to implement
higher level legislation, as well as see through those international commitments
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leadership willingly undertook, in order to improve the
quality of their children’s education system is disappointing, at best. 


The OSCE Mission to

Bosnia and
Herzegovina

reiterates its support for the
education reform process and applauds all those officials, parents, teachers who
have worked together for an education system that benefits all of BiH’s
children. 


 


EUFOR


No statement.


 


NATO


No statement.


 


RTQs


Dušan Stojaković, Večernje Novosti:


I would like to know what stage have you reached with Aleksandar Karadžić?
For you Mr. Chapell.


Derek Chappell, NATO:


I think you’re well aware of our intention to detain Mr. Mladić and Mr.
Karadžić, and to assist the local authorities in every endeavor to locate and
arrest them.  I was at Srebrenica this weekend; you heard the speeches from
all of the VIP’s who were present.  There was a consistent theme from every
representative of the international community: that it is obscene that these two
men are still at large, ten years on from this horrific event.  NATO is
committed to working with our partners here in

Bosnia and Herzegovina

and to using every resource and
every effort we have to bring these people to custody and to present them to

the Hague

.  It’s in the
interest of justice and that’s what we’re here for.


Amra Hadžiosmanović, AFP:


Derek, did you receive specific information regarding Saša Karadžić before
you decided to arrest him, since you were very well aware that he is the son of
Radovan Karadžić for the past thirty-two years?


Derek Chappell, NATO:


When we detain someone, when we do an operation, we do it on the basis of
practical, real evidence.  These are not fishing expeditions.  We act
when there are grounds to justify an operation.  When we acted against Saša
Karadžić last week, we did so on the basis of new information and
GeneralShookhas outlined some of that in the interviews he has given at the
press conference last Thursday.  Part of that was due to the operation we
had previously done at his house, but there is new information, which gave us
strong grounds to believe that he had information vital to our
investigation.  Now he is detained, he is detained lawfully and he will
stay in custody for as long as it takes for us to conclude this
investigation.  He is being held with due regard to his well-being and his
safety.  I’ve had calls almost every day since Thursday asking about the
conditions under which he’s kept and I want to reiterate, we are respecting all
humanitarian law, the ICRC have been notified, he’s being well treated, but make
no mistake he is in custody because he is suspected of a serious criminal
offense and he will remain in custody as long as it takes for us to conclude
that investigation.  Again, we are not above the law, we are here to
enforce the rule of law, and everything we do with regards to Mr. Karadžić is
compliant with all applicable law.


Milan Stojić, Radio
Republica Srpska:


A father is usually more attached to his daughter.  Do you also intend
to bring her into custody?


Derek Chappell, NATO:


Well clearly we are not going to talk about what operations we might
undertake in the future, but we reserve the right to take action against any
person that we believe is harboring Mr. Karadžić or might have information about
his support network or his whereabouts.  So that should serve to put anyone
on notice that we reserve the right to act when the evidence gives us the
grounds to do so, but we will not discuss possibilities, we will not speculate,
we will not discuss our plans.


Bernard Milošević, SRNA:


Will NATO press any charges against Aleksandar Karadžić?


Derek Chappell, NATO:


Mr. Karadžić has only been in custody, he’s only been detained for about five
days.  This is a complex case.  It’s far too early to talk about
charges; it’s far too early to talk about release dates.  It’s an intensive
investigation and he will stay as our guest for as long as it takes and I think
it’s far too early to speculate on charges or any possible outcome from this
detention.


Mersiha Novalić, Radio 202:


I would like to know, Mr. Tadić said, two or three days or even right before
he left for Srebrenica, that Ratko Mladić should be arrested in several days and
that they have trustworthy, actually reliable information about his
whereabouts.  I would like to know whether NATO possesses this
information?  Thank you.


Derek Chappell, NATO:


If Mr. Tadić has that kind of direct information as to his whereabouts, then
we would expect the relevant authorities in his country to act immediately to
apprehend those people or that person.  It’s in everybody’s interest. 
But, that is a matter for the country, which he represents.  It’s not for
NATO to speculate or to comment on information from an independent country.

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