OHR

RS Government Has Accepted Srebrenica Commission Figures on Number of
Victims

A recent statement by RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic has gained widespread
coverage. In an interview the Prime Minister stated that the RS government had
not published the figure of 8,000 victims at the Srebrenica Massacre. It is
important to make clear that the RS Government has accepted the figure given by
the Srebrenica Commission.

The Srebrenica Commission was established in order to investigate the fate
and whereabouts of those who went missing in Srebrenica during the period of the
10 to 19 July 1995, as the RS was ordered by the Human Righst Chamber. It was
hoped its findings would also bring an end to manipulation of the number of
those killed and missing that has been evident in recent years.

The Srebrenica Commission’s report provided details of the planned and
deliberate liquidation of between 7000 and 8000 Bosniaks at the hands of the RS
Army/Bosnian Serb Army.

In a special session convened on

28 October 2004 , the RS government
adopted the Srebrenica Commission’s Report in its entirety. With the adoption of
the Report, the RS government recognized its responsibility for the massacre of
between 7000 and 8000 Bosniaks.

Furthermore, the RS government issued a formal apology to the survivors of
Srebrenica for the tragedy they suffered.

It is distressing that Mr Bukejlovic does not know the Conclusions made by
his own government The question whether list have been published or not are
largely irrelevant in this respect.

Mr Bukejlovic’s statements on this are completely out of tune with all other
statements made by Serb leaders. He seems not have understood that the era of
denial is over and that this country is looking towards the future. Only the
most discreditable take refuge from the truth by denying what happened.

Police Reform is About Meeting European Standards

The High Representative commends RS President Dragan Cavic on the comments he
has made in regard to cooperation with the ICTY. Mr Cavic, as you know, noted
that Karadzic must surrender or be arrested.

President Cavic is also reported in this morning’s press to have expressed
confidence that the RS and the Federation can reach a compromise on police
reform issues that have still to be resolved. As you know, a settlement has to
be reached by September if BiH is to launch the Stabilisation and Association
process with the European Union before the end of the year. However, while Mr
Cavic’s confidence that a settlement can be reached is encouraging, it is
important to stress that the issue does not revolve around inter-Entity
compromise. It boils down to BiH meeting European criteria. These
criteria are straightforward.  BiH must have a a police service where all
legislative and budgetary competencies are vested at State Level, where police
areas are drawn up on the grounds of functionality, and where there is no
inappropriate political interference in policing.

High Representative to Visit Foca

Finally, I would draw your attention to two visits taking place this week.
Later today the High Representative and his wife Jane will drive to Foca. They
will stay overnight with returnees, and spend time tomorrow working on a farm in
the Foca area.

PDHR to Visit Travnik

In addition, the Principal Deputy High Representative Larry Butler will be in
Travnik tomorrow. Asmong other meetings, Ambassador Butler will be briefed by
businesspeople from the Travnik area on the challenges they face in starting new
companies and expanding existing companies so that they can create jobs. There
will be a media opportunity at the close of this meeting and I have brought
along a media advisory with the details.

OSCE

OSCE marks 30th anniversary of
HelsinkiAct

Thirty years ago, after nearly two years of negotiations, the heads of state
and government of 35 nations assembled at the Conference on Security and
Co-operation (CSCE) in Helsinki and
signed a document intended to promote peace, respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms, and stability throughout what was then a divided
Europe . 

On this occasion, the OSCE Mission to

Bosnia and Herzegovina

would like to draw attention to
and commemorate the significance of the Helsinki Final Act signed on

1 August 1975 , for this document was to
have a strong and lasting effect, often in unexpected ways, on the future course
of European security.  It was, as former Czech President Vaclav Havel
noted, where the “power of the powerless” was strengthened. 

Indeed, the Helsinki Final Act gave Havel and the peoples of

Europe a greater capacity to hold their leaders
accountable to they commitments they made.  The Act would not just be “a
piece of paper that could be waved around but did not have to be
enforced.”    The Act inspired citizens to communicate with one
another, to participate in political life, and to contribute to change — change
that radically altered the political, geographical, economic, and social
dynamics of Cold War Europe. 

There is no question that the Helsinki Final Act played an essential role in
breaking down the barriers of mistrust between East and West.  Today it
continues to build confidence among neighbors and nations, to promote democratic
principles and human rights norms and standards with countries, and to strength
peace and security throughout the region.  It is also this same Final Act
that  provides the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina with its firm
grounding and as well as with the basis for its work in seeking to bring the
same positive results to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Journalism Training For Education Reporting

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and
Herzegovina and the Reuters Foundation are
organizing journalism workshops scheduled to take place later this month in
Sarajevo, Mostar and
Banja
Luka. The specific aim of the
workshop is to improve coverage of education issues. The courses will offer
unique presentations, discussions and practical writing exercises on the
important topic of education and reform. Candidates who successfully complete
the program will be awarded a Reuters Foundation certificate. The OSCE Mission
to BiH and Reuters Foundation are offering scholarships to all qualified
participants that will cover tuition, transportation, hotel and meals. All
journalists that cover education issues or have an interest in education are
invited to apply. A working knowledge of English (written and spoken) is
important to successfully completing the program. The deadline for all
applicants is 10 August 2005. All applications should be sent via e-mail to
josh.laport@osce.org or by fax which
number is 033-442-479. For more information please go to
www.oscebih.org .

EUPM

No statement.

EUFOR

No statement.

NATO

No statement.

ICTY

Good morning to you all on behalf of the ICTY.

There is one new development related to the transfer of cases to national
courts. The Tribunal’s Office of the Prosecutor filed on 28 July a Request for
referral of the case against Ivica Rajić, also known as Viktor Andrić, to the
authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina .

Ivica Rajić is alleged to be responsible for crimes committed in Vareš and
Stupni Do on
23 October 1993 , including murder, inhuman treatment, unlawful confinement of
civilians and extensive destruction not justified by military necessity.

According to the indictment, HVO forces under Rajić’s command arrested more
than 250 Muslim men in Vareš, regardless of their civilian or military status,
who were detained in horrible conditions and physically abused. The attack on
Stupni Do is alleged to have resulted in the deaths of at least 37 Muslim men,
women and children, as well as sexual assault on women.

According to the indictment, no HVO commander or soldier was ever punished or
disciplined for the crimes committed in Vareš or Stupni Do. Ivica Rajić is
charged with Grave Breaches of the Geneva Conventions and Violations of the Laws
and Customs of War.

In total the Office of the Prosecutor has to date requested the referral of
cases against 14 persons charged with crimes committed in

Bosnia and Herzegovina
.  The ICTY Referral Bench has
already ruled that one case, that of Dragomir Milošević, would remain in

The Hague
due to the gravity of the
alleged crimes and level of responsibility of the accused.

The Referral Bench has also decided that cases against eight accused (Željko
Mejakić, Momčilo Gruban, Dušan Fuštar and Dusko Knežević; Savo Todović and Mitar
Rašević; Radovan Stanković; Gojko Janković), charged with crimes committed in
Prijedor and Foča, would be referred to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but those
decisions are not final yet.

Three accused suggested for referral to

Bosnia

and

Herzegovina

(

Milan

and Sredoje Lukić, Dragan
Zelenović) are still at large, and two requests (Paško Ljubičić, Ivica Rajić)
have only been filed recently.

That is all from the ICTY today, thank you for your attention.

RTQs

Journalist 1:

Question for NATO and OHR. Do you have any contacts with Ljiljana Karadžic
after the statement last week.

OHR:

From OHR’s point of view, you know that it is not our operational
responsibility. The High Representative has made it clear what the implications
of  surrender or arrest o Karadžic would be.

NATO:

On behalf of NATO. As indicated in our press release last week, we welcome
the appeal that Ljiljana Karadžić made. Obviously, the apprehension of Radovan
Karadžić is in the best interest not only for the family but for all of BiH. We
had no further contact. We watched the appeal, as everybody did on the
television. We were impressed with the heart felt personal nature of her appeal
but it was her appeal and we have no contact.

Admir Mujanović, SAN:

For Mr. Kevin Sullivan. Will OHR finally do something in regard with Rector
of Istočno Sarajevo University, Radomir Lukić? He was removed from the position
last year but still is a rector. I know that some requests were addressed to
Ministry of Education but nothing happened.

OHR:

That’s a matter which will be dealt with, which is being looking to as we
speak and when we have an announcement to make we will make it.

Journalist 3:

Question for NATO, EUFOR and ICTY. Do you have any contact with any of
individuals which may be in some kind of contact with Radovan Karadžić, any
approaches, any signals, anything that may indicate that this plea would result
in an action on his part?

NATO:

On behalf of NATO. We have had no response from that appeal. We can only hope
that if Mr. Karadžić heard that appeal, and we are quite certain that he did
giving the amount of coverage received, that he will respond to that appeal that
is come from his family, from his wife. I think the effect of that appeal is to
totally isolate him. I think it really brings into focus the fact that there are
very few people that support Mr. Karadžić now. It really is time for him to face
justice and for BiH to move on. We had no further contact.

ICTY:

No, I have no such information and in any case the ICTY would not comment on
any operational matters related to fugitives. The ICTY does not have the
possibility or mandate to arrest any fugitives and we constantly remind those
who do have the responsibility and possibility to contribute to the arrest of
fugitives that they should do their utmost to that goal.

Sanja Banković, FTV:

Question for OHR. How do you comment slow speed of reforms and the fact that
State Border Service still does not have key official?

OHR:

The speed of reforms probably can never be fast enough. In principle, the
institutions exist with which to address issues such as the appointment of the
Director of SBS and we want to see those institutions functioning
properly.