Rule of law yet to take root - Bosnia Presidency chairman

There is no surprise that rule of law has not taken root in BiH when you have people like Oric being acquitted of any crime based on the prosecutions witness and its overall preparation of the case. The fact is that both the Court and prosecution office are controlled by Izetbegovic and until this is changed nothing will improve. In fact it will be the cause of an early destruction of BiH. However, this is something the US likes. It needs conflict to remain relevant in Europe so it stokes fires like Oric and the proposal to appoint Gotovina as PM.

I do find it so amusing that the leader of the Croats has aligned himself with Serbs when the Croats in Croatia hate Serbs. I have said it many times, the Croats are a crazy people who for the fist half of the day hate themselves and the other half they hate the world.

(sj, 17 October 2017 10:32)

Indeed its interesting in at least the political difference in stance for the Croats. Seems that Covic may be thinking ahead of what the Croats ought to do if RS decides to split from BiH. Likewise given the way in which BiH operates, its somewhat natural that hey would take the Serbs' side, since both appear to be minor 'partners' in a tri-group state.

On the other-hand in Croatia, nothing like some fear mongering to spice up a slow news day :)

(aaa, 17 October 2017 18:13)

It is simple for RS to hold a referendum and break away since the borders have already been agreed to in the Dayton Agreement, but the Croat entity will have a very difficult time in trying to follow in RS’s footsteps since it’s part of the Federation and there is no official agreement on boundaries between the Bosniaks and Croats. The Croats are telling themselves that they can break away, but it’s going to be near impossible.

They think if they stick to the Serbs they will achieve something. On the other hand, the Serbs are only using the Croats against Izetbegovic.

BiH has been doomed since the war broke out in the 1990s and its survival has been hanging by a thread.

Croatia itself is disappearing into nothingness – no investment at all and the population is leaving Croatia. This year its been 2,000 to 3,000 per month of young and well qualified people.

No one dares invest in Croatia from the EU lest they be called supporters of fascism so the Croat government uses fear mongering to try and patch over the poor economy and falling living standards. If it wasn’t for EU funds, Croatia would be in ruins by now.

As it happens, there is a very good rule of law system embedded in Bosnia but a system is only as good as those who participate in it. It would help if retrospective action were taken to remove law degrees and other legal qualifications from those who were simply given them based on connections, but the whole region works on the basis of who knows who.
(ned taylor, 18 October 2017 17:21)
============================
That's exactly what Serbs were worried about when Bosnia declared independence. Izetbegovic (Muslim) rule and a second class life for non Muslims. No justice for them either.
It's all being proven now. Same in Croatia. Croatian war criminals are free and considered heroes as are Bosnian.
So when people have had enough and the country goes to Hell in a handbasket again who will be blamed?
Serbs, that's who.
Do you really expect people to tolerate such injustice? We are constantly reminded how Srebrenica was a genocide and Serbs have to pay and never stop paying but here is a chance to bring justice to Serbian victims and not taken.
I know you'll never see this side but it's there. If the law fails the people, people will take the law into their own hands.
So far only the Serbs have been punished.

(sj, 18 October 2017 09:36)

Indeed its a shambolic situation. Yes the situation with RS breaking away is much easier than for the Croats, although there is still the possibility that other external parties may intervene - of course we need to wait and see, nothing is certain. I think the difficulty in investing and setting up business in Croatia (as well as several other countries in the Balkans) may be the main reason - i doubt they would let supposed fascist sympathy get in the way of profit. But ultimately its EU funding and tourism keeping them afloat

How is the root of law supposed to take place when you have two presidents who are more worried about How to join Serbia and Croatia instead of unifying a country
=========================
That has nothing to do with the judiciary. Politics and Judiciary are supposed to stay out of each other's way unless new legislation is being passed.
That judge had a job to do and rule according to law not according to religion. How the country is running politically has nothing to do with a court trusted to render a verdict.

How is the root of law supposed to take place when you have two presidents who are more worried about How to join Serbia and Croatia instead of unifying a country. These people are the reason the country take 1 step forward and 10 steps back. It's time to get rid of these old folks who are constantly causing rifts and divisions between the people. They do these things not for the good of the populous but as a way for them to stay in power and collect corrupt cash.

It must stick in the throat of many ordinary Bosnians to be lectured about the rule of law by one of the country's biggest con men. He was removed from office for abuse of power and position in 2005 and has been in and out of court more times than Oric himself. At one point he was sentenced to five years in prison but this was overturned because of the "incompetence of the court". Until people like Covic, Dodik and Izetbegovic are consigned to the political scrapheap there is no chance for Bosnia to move forward. One assumes that they are already lining up relatives to step into the breach when they decide to call it a day.

Until people like Covic, Dodik and Izetbegovic are consigned to the political scrapheap there is no chance for Bosnia to move forward. One assumes that they are already lining up relatives to step into the breach when they decide to call it a day.
(ned taylor, 18 October 2017 10:29)
-----------------------
You're the sort of person who shoots the messenger.
Regardless of what you think of him, IS HE WRONG? Can you address the message here not the messenger.

Peggy: The point that I am making in my comment is that politics and the judicial systems in the Balkans are not separated in such a way as to make the latter work effectively. In the RS Dodik rules the roost and controls everything. In the Federation Bosniak and Croat politicians, including Mr Covic, try to do likewise. The system of nepotism and patronage across the former Jugoslavija is a disease but there is little chance of it ending. Covic is crying crocodile tears here and saying what he thinks is expected of him in his position as rotating head of the Presidency, not what he really believes. The more fuss that is made of war crimes trials the more that corruption and organised crime continue in the background unhindered.

As it happens, there is a very good rule of law system embedded in Bosnia but a system is only as good as those who participate in it. It would help if retrospective action were taken to remove law degrees and other legal qualifications from those who were simply given them based on connections, but the whole region works on the basis of who knows who.

There is no surprise that rule of law has not taken root in BiH when you have people like Oric being acquitted of any crime based on the prosecutions witness and its overall preparation of the case. The fact is that both the Court and prosecution office are controlled by Izetbegovic and until this is changed nothing will improve. In fact it will be the cause of an early destruction of BiH. However, this is something the US likes. It needs conflict to remain relevant in Europe so it stokes fires like Oric and the proposal to appoint Gotovina as PM.

I do find it so amusing that the leader of the Croats has aligned himself with Serbs when the Croats in Croatia hate Serbs. I have said it many times, the Croats are a crazy people who for the fist half of the day hate themselves and the other half they hate the world.

(aaa, 17 October 2017 18:13)

It is simple for RS to hold a referendum and break away since the borders have already been agreed to in the Dayton Agreement, but the Croat entity will have a very difficult time in trying to follow in RS’s footsteps since it’s part of the Federation and there is no official agreement on boundaries between the Bosniaks and Croats. The Croats are telling themselves that they can break away, but it’s going to be near impossible.

They think if they stick to the Serbs they will achieve something. On the other hand, the Serbs are only using the Croats against Izetbegovic.

BiH has been doomed since the war broke out in the 1990s and its survival has been hanging by a thread.

Croatia itself is disappearing into nothingness – no investment at all and the population is leaving Croatia. This year its been 2,000 to 3,000 per month of young and well qualified people.

No one dares invest in Croatia from the EU lest they be called supporters of fascism so the Croat government uses fear mongering to try and patch over the poor economy and falling living standards. If it wasn’t for EU funds, Croatia would be in ruins by now.

(sj, 17 October 2017 10:32)

Indeed its interesting in at least the political difference in stance for the Croats. Seems that Covic may be thinking ahead of what the Croats ought to do if RS decides to split from BiH. Likewise given the way in which BiH operates, its somewhat natural that hey would take the Serbs' side, since both appear to be minor 'partners' in a tri-group state.

On the other-hand in Croatia, nothing like some fear mongering to spice up a slow news day :)

How is the root of law supposed to take place when you have two presidents who are more worried about How to join Serbia and Croatia instead of unifying a country. These people are the reason the country take 1 step forward and 10 steps back. It's time to get rid of these old folks who are constantly causing rifts and divisions between the people. They do these things not for the good of the populous but as a way for them to stay in power and collect corrupt cash.

It must stick in the throat of many ordinary Bosnians to be lectured about the rule of law by one of the country's biggest con men. He was removed from office for abuse of power and position in 2005 and has been in and out of court more times than Oric himself. At one point he was sentenced to five years in prison but this was overturned because of the "incompetence of the court". Until people like Covic, Dodik and Izetbegovic are consigned to the political scrapheap there is no chance for Bosnia to move forward. One assumes that they are already lining up relatives to step into the breach when they decide to call it a day.

Until people like Covic, Dodik and Izetbegovic are consigned to the political scrapheap there is no chance for Bosnia to move forward. One assumes that they are already lining up relatives to step into the breach when they decide to call it a day.
(ned taylor, 18 October 2017 10:29)
-----------------------
You're the sort of person who shoots the messenger.
Regardless of what you think of him, IS HE WRONG? Can you address the message here not the messenger.

How is the root of law supposed to take place when you have two presidents who are more worried about How to join Serbia and Croatia instead of unifying a country
=========================
That has nothing to do with the judiciary. Politics and Judiciary are supposed to stay out of each other's way unless new legislation is being passed.
That judge had a job to do and rule according to law not according to religion. How the country is running politically has nothing to do with a court trusted to render a verdict.

Peggy: The point that I am making in my comment is that politics and the judicial systems in the Balkans are not separated in such a way as to make the latter work effectively. In the RS Dodik rules the roost and controls everything. In the Federation Bosniak and Croat politicians, including Mr Covic, try to do likewise. The system of nepotism and patronage across the former Jugoslavija is a disease but there is little chance of it ending. Covic is crying crocodile tears here and saying what he thinks is expected of him in his position as rotating head of the Presidency, not what he really believes. The more fuss that is made of war crimes trials the more that corruption and organised crime continue in the background unhindered.

As it happens, there is a very good rule of law system embedded in Bosnia but a system is only as good as those who participate in it. It would help if retrospective action were taken to remove law degrees and other legal qualifications from those who were simply given them based on connections, but the whole region works on the basis of who knows who.

As it happens, there is a very good rule of law system embedded in Bosnia but a system is only as good as those who participate in it. It would help if retrospective action were taken to remove law degrees and other legal qualifications from those who were simply given them based on connections, but the whole region works on the basis of who knows who.
(ned taylor, 18 October 2017 17:21)
============================
That's exactly what Serbs were worried about when Bosnia declared independence. Izetbegovic (Muslim) rule and a second class life for non Muslims. No justice for them either.
It's all being proven now. Same in Croatia. Croatian war criminals are free and considered heroes as are Bosnian.
So when people have had enough and the country goes to Hell in a handbasket again who will be blamed?
Serbs, that's who.
Do you really expect people to tolerate such injustice? We are constantly reminded how Srebrenica was a genocide and Serbs have to pay and never stop paying but here is a chance to bring justice to Serbian victims and not taken.
I know you'll never see this side but it's there. If the law fails the people, people will take the law into their own hands.
So far only the Serbs have been punished.

(sj, 18 October 2017 09:36)

Indeed its a shambolic situation. Yes the situation with RS breaking away is much easier than for the Croats, although there is still the possibility that other external parties may intervene - of course we need to wait and see, nothing is certain. I think the difficulty in investing and setting up business in Croatia (as well as several other countries in the Balkans) may be the main reason - i doubt they would let supposed fascist sympathy get in the way of profit. But ultimately its EU funding and tourism keeping them afloat