FOCUS Information Agency - When Haris Silajdzic (photo), chairman of the collective Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), visits the Serbian capital Belgrade on Tuesday, no red carpet, no national anthems and almost none of the protocol that typical awaits a visiting dignitary will be evident, Xinhua informed.Silajdzic, at the request of Serbian President Boris Tadic, is paying an "unofficial working visit" to Belgrade. Despite the invitation, Silajdzic was unable to get an endorsement for his visit from the Bosnian Serb member of the collective presidency, claiming Silajdzic does not represent the interests of all the nations of BiH. As such, he could not visit Belgrade in an official capacity.
Nonetheless, according to Predrag Simic, professor of international relations, the unofficial nature of the visit would not necessarily negate any document or agreement signed or reached by Tadic and Silajdzic. The scope of the discussion would, however, be focused on current issues rather than addressing long-term questions.
In advance of the visit, Silajdzic said he wanted to address " open questions" pertaining to succession of BiH from Yugoslavia, the property rights of BiH companies in Serbia, and the controversial imprisonment of Ilija Jurisic, sentenced to 12 years for attacking the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) convoy withdrawing from Tuzla, BiH in May 1992.
This will be Silajdzic's first visit to Belgrade in 18 years.
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