Thursday, July 20, 2006

Serbian president accused of meddling in Bosnia's internal affairs

Text of report by Bosnia-Hercegovina Federation News Agency FENA

Sarajevo, 20 July: Sejfudin Tokic, speaking for the SDU B-H [Social Democrat Union of Bosnia-Hercegovina] and on behalf of the Patriotic Bloc, has issued the following statement for the public in reaction to statements by Serbian leaders in connection with the status of Kosovo and the future of Bosnia-Hercegovina:

"Serbian President Boris Tadic's expose in Brussels which threatens that the possible independence of Kosovo could destabilize the situation in Bosnia-Hercegovina is a flagrant example of interference in the internal affairs of Bosnia-Hercegovina and warrants an immediate response from the State Presidency and Foreign Ministry of our country.

"The permanently passive way in which Presidency chairman [Sulejman] Tihic, [Council of Ministers chairman Adnan] Terzic and [Foreign Minister Mladen] Ivanic observe how politicians from Serbia openly link the status of Kosovo to the future of Bosnia-Hercegovina has encouraged nationalist structures in Serbia and the [Bosnian] Serb Republic to increasingly openly challenge the sovereignty of Bosnia-Hercegovina.

"All serious indicators point to the conclusion that Kosovo's independence is a reality which will happen in the coming months as a logical end result of the Belgrade regime's enduring chauvinistic and criminal policy and its attitude towards the Albanian population. Tadic and [Premier Vojislav] Kostunica are aware of this and they already know what the final status of Kosovo will be.

"That is why their statements forecasting trouble in Bosnia-Hercegovina in the event of Kosovo's independence require a sharp protest from the state of Bosnia-Hercegovina, as they represent an attempt to apply in practice the policy of the war criminals Milosevic and Karadzic towards Bosnia-Hercegovina".

Source: Federation News Agency, Sarajevo, in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 0936 gmt 20 Jul 06

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