Reconciliation in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Events: U.S. Institute of Peace

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Reconciliation in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Public Event

Date
Friday, July 24, 1998

Implementation of Dayton Peace Accords

While improvements in governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina are visible, progress has been slower than expected. Zubak placed part of the responsibility for slow progress on the existing governing structures, and accepted personal responsibility since he had been a member of the HDZ and the collective presidency. The government needs new political powers for faster implementation of the Dayton agreements and to speed the process of political pluralization.

Sven Alkalaj

Integration and Reconciliation

Zubak stressed the need to speed up normalization of relations among the nationalities and reconstruction. Increased cooperation and communication among all nationalities is vital. New political initiatives are necessary for these goals, and leaders must offer a political conception for democratic development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The consciousness of the need for new political concepts and more cooperation is present among all citizens of all nationalities, said Zubak, which shows that Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the right road for further implementation. These central issues now have equal or greater importance on the political agenda as the exclusively nationalist issues that had been dominant in the past.

The results of the September 1998 elections will reveal whether or not the forces for change have gained support over nationalist parties. The elections will determine whether new political parties will have a dominant role in the government.

President Kresimir Zubak

"The Hardest Test"

Zubak characterized the return of refugees to their homes as "the hardest test" for the governing structures. Despite the fact they have been displaced for so long, the refugees' will to go home remains strong. The constitutions of the entities should be adjusted to grant each national group the status of constituent nation in the entity in which they are not the majority. He called on the Office of the High Representative to use his power to dismiss officials who resist returns.

A lack of coordination and strategy among the numerous organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina has impeded the international community's assistance in implementing civilian reconstruction and assisting in refugee return. Zubak suggested that the international community could help speed up refugee returns by putting specific areas under SFOR control and declaring them "zones of return." These zones would be re-incorporated into the entities only with the completed return of refugees. He suggested that this process could be gradual, addressing many areas in succession, not all at once.

Zubak remarked on the success of the Train and Equip program in Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting in particular that two armies that had previously fought against each other had been integrated. If Republika Srpska is prepared to meet the necessary conditions, this program should be expanded there.

President Zubak responds to a question through his translator.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Zubak highlighted the need for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was approved recently by the presidents of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since part of the conflict was caused by different views of the history of the region, agreement on a single, shared past (good and bad) is essential for future peace. They look to the U.S. Institute of Peace to help them as they establish and institutionalize this process.

Relations with Croatia

In response to a question, Zubak claimed that contrary to common belief, the HDZ in Bosnia and Herzegovina never received directions from Zagreb to obstruct implementation. The HDZ in Bosnia and Herzegovina has lost credibility, and Zubak does not think their broad media efforts will deliver enough voters to win the election. He emphasized that during the war Bosnian Croats had leaned heavily on Croatia, where they found strong family ties and a sense of national identity as well as material ties like support for war wounded. Bosnian Croats reacted strongly to Serb attacks against Vukovar and Dubrovnik. Peace is weakening Bosnian Croat ties to Croatia and the Croats of Bosnia are developing independent views, though they hope the relationship between Bosnia and Croatia will remain strong. There are good geopolitical reasons for Zagreb and Sarajevo to stay on good terms and pursue mutual interests.

HDZ and the New Croatian Initiative

Daniel Serwer

Dominant, indigenous forces in the HDZ had slowed the implementation process. Zubak recently formed a new party, New Croatian Initiative, when he found that the HDZ could not democratize. Although the campaign is still in the preparation phase, involving mostly round table discussions, Zubak pointed out the excellent popular participation at party rallies. The campaign begins officially on August 15, 1998. Their greatest problem is lack of media coverage on Croatian television. Many Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina watch the state-run Croatian television, which only covers the HDZ.

In response to a question on how Zubak's party will work to improve the position of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zubak noted that over 50 percent of the voters are women. His party has formed a women's caucus charged with creating a political platform on women's issues, which the party as a whole will adopt.

Joint Institutions

If re-elected to the joint presidency this September, Zubak pledged to work for the firmer establishment of joint institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Almost none of these institutions—such as the presidency and parliament—are totally constructed. Zubak pointed out that as yet none have the same offices or meet regularly in the same place. Therefore, his first goal would be to establish a central district in Sarajevo for such joint services and meetings.