Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on May 16
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| ICTY President visiting BiH | ICTY President Pocar visits | RS NA to resume 34th session |
| EC to take decision of BUL, ROM | FBiH HoR in session | Attack against Serbs in Kosovo |
| | RSNA in session | |
TV news broadcast on May 15
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Anniversary of Bleiberg tragedy | EU on constitutional changes in BiH | Cro-BiH experts on Peljesac bridge |
| Jovic on Travnik tragedy | Radmanovic on const.changes in BiH | Construction of |
| Cadjo on poss. Assassinat. of Dodik | Cadjo on preparation of assassinat. | EU on constitutional changes in BiH |
| RS MoI carries vehicle control in BL | Cavic on preparation of assassination | Impact of const.changes to elections |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| EU Ministers on BIH Constitution | SIPA on mail of Spanish Embassy | EU on BiH, |
| Tihic: negotiations to be continued | EU Ministers on BiH Constitution | Preparation of assassinat. of RS PM |
| YIA issues booklet on vot. at elect. | Electoral Comm. on Oct. elections | Pocar had meeting with Tihic |
| Kulenovic on YIA’s booklet | EU Ministers on | 14 years since “ |
| Oslobodjenje | Constitutional changes are possible before elections, but not likely to be implemented |
| Dnevni Avaz | [RS PM Dodik] I am not afraid of assassination, I’ve been threatened for years |
| Dnevni List | Schilling sent message: Do not wage ‘war’ over media?! (HR met Inter-Rel. Council) |
| Vecernji List | RS wants to drain Herzegovina (possible fatal consequences of project Upper Horizons) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Our port Neum better than Ploce (On construction of Corridor 5-C by Association of Independent Intellectuals ‘Circle 99’ held on Sunday) |
| Nezavisne Novine | Firms owe BAM 1 billion |
| Glas Srpske | “Sooty steam locomotive” resurrected (railway Vardiste-Dobrun opened) |
| EuroBlic | I am threatened over clash with crime |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related topics |
Constitutional/police reforms/ | |
| EU Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers urges BiH authorities to adopt constitutional amendments; Solana doesn’t expect new talks before elections, but does expect debate to continue
| BHT1 – EU Council of Foreign Affairs’ Ministers on Monday urged BiH authorities to adopt the amendments to BiH Constitution in order to create functional state structures for BiH citizens. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Javier Solana stated that BiH politicians have failed to adopt the constitutional changes with only few lacking votes. He said that he doesn’t expect any new talks on constitutional changes to be held before the elections, but he expects the debate on this issue to continue after the elections. He stressed that the constitutional changes should bring more effective and flexible government institutions to BiH, and would improve the relations between the EU and BiH. Solana and EU Council of Foreign Affairs will launch an initiative to start the process of closure of OHR and strengthen the position of EUSR. This process will start with consultations with Peace Implementation Council, HR and BiH authorities. PINK- EU Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers expressed disappointment regarding failure to pass the constitutional amendments in BiH House of Representatives. EU Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers stated that EU is prepared to strengthen its engagement in BiH due to expected closure of the OHR but under condition that sufficient improvement is achieved. RTRS – EU Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers also urged |
| RS officials: negotiations on constitutional changes cannot continue before elections
| EuroBlic pgRS2 ‘Cavic: Nothing before elections’ by N. Breberina and R. Radosavljevic – RS President Dragan Cavic says he holds no information on new meeting, adding: “I will listen to message SDA President Sulejman Tihic brought from the USA, but only those who had already taken part in those can decide on continuation of talks. The talks failed over absence of two votes from F BiH and we stop on this. Everything else has no logic, and I do not believe it is possible to organise new round of talks on constitutional changes before elections.” PDP President Mladen Ivanic is of the view it is senseless to resume talks at this moment since elections were scheduled. HDZ Spokesperson Miso Relota has stated that leaders of political parties that signed the agreement will meet in the upcoming days and discuss this issue, adding: “Although elections were scheduled, there is still space to implement this procedure, since it is of extreme importance for BiH.” Jozo Krizanovic from |
| Tihic: constitutional amendments should be returned to BiH Parliament by end of May | Hayat – BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic is 95% sure that the next round of the negotiations on amendments to the Constitution will be continued within next few weeks. PINK – Tihic said on Sunday that the constitutional amendments should be returned to BiH Parliament by the end of May adding that political will of all actors in this historic process is necessary. |
| If constitutional changes are agreed, new Election Law has to be passed for elections to be conducted in accordance with the changes; Helsinki Board warns that this is not best solution so short before elections
| BHT1 – If BiH authorities adopt the constitutional changes by the end of May, as SDA leader Sulejman Tihic announced, October elections would probably be conducted in accordance with these changes. BiH Central Election Commission (BiH |
| Reactions to possible continuation of const. changes; SDA Ceman: It is not very likely, but with great political will it would be possible; HDZ 1990 Raguz: Informal talks should be continued, and radical changes should be done after elections
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Constitutional changes are possible before elections, but not likely to be implemented’ by Alda Omeragic – Commenting announcement of SDA leader Sulejman Tihic that if constitutional changes are adopted by end of May, the October elections will probably be conducted in accordance with these changes, SDA deputy in BiH HoR Mirsad Ceman said: “It is not very likely, but with great political will it would be possible.” Ceman explained there are no obstacles for anyone to submit amendments to the BiH Constitution into parliamentary procedure, adding that it would take one or two months, even less, because part of the Parliamentary Commissions and public debate are already done. |
| SBiH, Zilic and Avdic would vote against the same package again
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘SBiH, Zilic and Avdic would vote against the same package again’ – Independent deputy to BiH HoR Mehmed Zilic, who earlier voted against amendments to the BiH Constitution, said: “Whenever they are in the Parliament, by end of this month or in five years, I will not change mind on these amendments that were already rejected.” Independent MP Sead Avdic has similar stance: “Of course that I would be against such amendments. But I am not against finding new model, acceptable for all. We can do it in additional talks.” Croat Caucus Member in BiH HoR Filip Andric confirmed that his caucus would once again reject the amendments, explaining that he is not sure why would anyone push the package of the amendments that was already rejected. SBiH’s Beriz Belkic stated the party would again oppose the same package of the constitutional changes. Inset ‘No pressures’ – Both Avdic and Zilic confirmed that there were no pressures to accept constitutional changes. |
| Still uncertain whether talks on constitutional changes will resume
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘HDZ 1990 and S BiH play the old way’ by M.Cubro – The Party for BiH (Beriz Belkic) and HDZ 1990 (Martin Raguz) Monday confirmed to daily these two parties will not alter their stances regarding continuation of talks on constitutional changes, i.e. they would not support new initiative for acceptance of the same amendments. Chair of Constitutional and Legal Affairs Commission of BiH Parliament Mirsad Ceman explained that one of possible solutions is to forward the identical amendments to parliament procedure. Daily reports referring to unofficial information that the upcoming few days would see intensive consultations of parliamentary parties’ leaders and international community in order to ensure 28 votes of MP’s to make two thirds majority for adoption of amendments. |
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| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Citizens support constitutional changes’ by S.Gojkovic – The latest research carried out in April by |
| EC’s Maroevic: It is important BiH knows what resources it has at its disposal
| Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Statistics data important for negotiations’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – According to the EC spokesman in BiH, Frane Maroevic, the EU is a trade zone and BiH, when it enters the phase of membership negotiations, will have to know what resources it has at its disposal, therefore statistics data on resources are of great importance since they represent the base for negotiations with the EU. According to the Director of BiH Statistics Agency, Zdenko Milinovic, the Agency is trying to establish itself as a professional and impartial organization, however the problem is that the Agency works with 50% of minimum staff requirements, and on top of that, the Agency lacks financial and logistics support. |
| EC officials for DA: possibility for
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Police cannot remain at the entity level’ by Sead Numanovic, Brussles– During the talks with BiH reporters, EC officials in Brussels emphasized that police in BiH cannot remain at entity level and it must be in accordance with the EC principles. It was explained that statement of Head Department for BiH and Albania EU Enlargement Directorate Dirk Lange [when he said that RS Interior Ministry doesn’t have to be abolished] was wrongly interpreted. Anonymous EC officials stated that there are some concerns regarding stoppage in reforms, not just police but also PBS and ICTY cooperation and if there is no progress there is chance for |
| CoM Chair Terzic: NO to police reform is NO to
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘NO to police reform means postponing of the European path’ by E.Sarac– BiH CoM Chair Adnan Terzic says that there was nothing disputable in decision to establish the Police Reform Directorate, since it was done based on the Agreement on police reform, supported by Parliaments of both entities and of state. Terzic underlined that if BiH chose to say “no” to police reform at this moment, it would mean that there is nothing of |
| FBiH MoI: joint statement supports single police and is signed by five Cantonal Interior Ministers and me
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Support to single police’ by E.S.– FBiH and five Cantonal Interior Ministers issued a joint statement support ing the establishment of single police, in accordance with three EC’s principles. “Joint statement on support to the model, according to which the police in BiH would be united, de-politicized and established at the state level, along with budget and legislation and functional police regions would be sent to the OHR, EUPM and Police Reform Directorate Steering Board” said for DA, FBiH MoI Mevludin Halilovic. |
| EU would ask BiH to shorten the list of protected products | Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘EU would ask BiH to shorten list of protected products’ by T.Lazovic– According to source in BiH negotiating team on |
RS PM target of assassination plot – comments | |
| Intensified security activities in
| RTRS – RS Interior Ministry is intensifying security measures due to alleged preparation of assassination of RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik. It was confirmed that Serbian Interior Ministry informed Dodik about activities of a group, which had been hired to murder him. Serbian MoI reported that two polices work on this issue. Dodik said that information of Serbian MoI should not be underestimated adding that these are not the only information in this regard. “It is true that information come from the relevant sources. Several weeks ago, we also got written warning from OSA, SIPA, etc. No one confirms this 100% but they warn”, said Dodik. RS MoI works on the field but there have been no arrests yet. Stanislav Cadjo, RS Minister of Interior couldn’t give any information due to operative work. Serbian Security and Information Agency [BIA] traced phone calls that indicated that assassination of RS PM is being prepared. Unofficially, Magda’s Group was preparing assassination. This group committed many murders in North of Vojvodina and |
| RS PM Dodik: I am not afraid of assassination, I’ve been threatened for years
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 4 ‘I am not afraid of assassination, I’ve been threatened for years’ by N.Diklic – Commenting allegations that an assassination is being prepared on him, RS PM Milorad Dodik stated: “I am not afraid of threats that are addressed to me… I’ve been living under such pressures for years… we all get used to it. I believe in security I have, if RS MoI says that it is not sufficient, I have nothing against reinforcements.” He confirmed that Serbian Interior Minister Dragan Jocic warned him on possible threat of assassination, adding that it was much earlier than last Friday, as media announced. Explaining possible causes for such threats, Dodik said he believes it is because RS NA adopted laws on audit of privatisation and on establishment of special prosecution. Asked to comment DA’s information, Dodik did not deny that he received some threats from former Head of Public Security Center [ |
| RS President Cavic on threats against RS PM: It is part of public life | Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Cavic: Threats are serious, but I am not endangered’, by gk – RS President Dragan Cavic said he takes any sort of threat seriously, adding that threats are a part of being engaged in public life. He also noted he did not feel endangered. |
| DA: OSA informed RS PM Dodik about alleged assassination preparation in April
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘OSA informed Dodik about alleged assassination preparation in April’ by E.Sarac – Daily learns that alleged threat of assassination of RS PM Milorad Dodik was not issued three or four days ago but at the beginning of April 2006. Daily carries that Dodik confirmed for Radio Free Europe that both OSA and SIPA warned him of possible threat couple weeks ago. DA learns that OSA directly warned RS PM, avoiding RS Interior Ministry, providing him with names of people that are preparing his assassination, adding that all of them are very well known in RS underground. Author speculates that Dodik possibly did not believe OSA information and that he wanted to check it with Serbian MoI and Serbian Security and Intelligence Agency . |
| Osl. op-ed: Dodik and his ministers are not going to be stooped in reforms process by any threats
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Assassination and reform’ by Orijana Vukovic – Commenting media allegations on an undergoing preparation for assassination of RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik editorial reads that Dodik and his ministers will not be stooped in the reforms process by any threats, adding that “legal noose is getting tightened against privatisation-criminalisation.” Author concludes: “The noose is also getting tightened against necks of those that are getting into pre-elections campaign and open fight against Dodik’s SNSD, rating of which is getting higher every day.” |
Political developments/economy | |
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| BHT1 By Mirela Cosic – Croatian Minister of Maritime Affairs, Tourism, Traffic and Development Bozidar Kalmeta visited BiH on Monday along with an expert team. Croatian team met BiH expert team to discuss the construction of bridge between Peljesac peninsula and Croatian mainland. Both sides agreed that bridge must not block BiH’s access to open sea and Croatian side came with two proposals – either to construct a 42 metres high bridge or to construct a bridge with movable central part. For BiH side, the second option is more acceptable. BiH Minister of Transport and Communications Branko Dokic stated that BiH expert team would present its opinion after it receives official proposals of Croatian side in written. BiH expert Mehmed Bublin said that any bridge with foundation pillars in sea would prevent free access of large ships to the Neum area. |
| Schwarz-Schilling: sustainable peace and stability demand engagement of all factors of civil society and religious communities
| BHT1, PINK – High Representative Christian Schwarz- Schilling attended on Monday the session of BiH Inter-Religious Council. He called all religious leaders to try to build mutual trust and to consider their own mistakes rather than blame other religious groups for their own mistakes. “We should all work together in order to bring citizens of this country and its different communities towards the EU. If there are any disputes among them, religious leaders should discuss them personally and not through media”, said HR |
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| PINK – BiH Minister of Finance, RS Minister of Finance, FBiH Minister of Finance and BiH Council of Ministers Chair met Finance Minister of German Province Baden Württemberg Gerhard Stratthaus. This |
| DA op-ed: IC does not want to play leading role in solving local issues
| Dnevni Avaz op-ed pg 3 ‘Taking over responsibility’ by Adi Hadziarapovic – Commenting the statement of International Crisis Group [ICG] for Balkans Special Representative James Lyon who said that issue of BiH is ancient history for International Community [IC] (see OHR BiH Media Round-up, May 15), editorial reads that it is only one of the direct warnings for BiH politicians to take over the responsibility for leading the country. Author notes that one of the clearest examples of ignoring “indolent behaviour” of local authorities by the IC representatives was non-interference with allocation of VAT incomes. This way, stresses editorial, state and entity officials were forced to make agreement on their own. |
| VL: Project ‘Upper Horizons’ would turn
| Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘RS wants to drain Herzegovina’ and pg 4 ‘Experts in struggle against salty desert’ by M. Sutalo carries that a dramatic warning of |
| SD: ‘Circle 99’ interested in Corridor Vc but not in highway Banja Luka-Okucani
| Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pg 13 ‘Our port Neum better than Ploce’ by Z. Tulic comments on the Corridor 5-C discussion at a session of the Association of Independent Intellectuals ‘Circle 99’ (see OHR BiH Media Round-up May 15, 2006) who agreed that the highway should end in the port of Neum, rather than in port of Ploce. The author objects partiality of the participants of the discussion and ironically concludes that it is interesting that none of these experts is interested in construction of the highway |
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| RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘ |
| PDP Milojevic: RS parties should make joint list in FbiH
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘RS parties should make joint list in FBiH’ not signed – BiH House of Peoples Co-Chair Goran Milojevic [PDP] invited all the RS political parties that intend to register for elections in FBiH to discuss the need of joint lists. Milojevic said that this would allow Serbs in FBiH to elect their representatives that would protect their interests the best possible way. |
| GS op-ed commending RS leading officials for being united at political scene
| Glas Srpske op-ed pg 2 ‘A Bosnian mix’ by Nenad Kecmanovic – The author notes that the prior problem in this part of the Balkans is to identify the way how to bring BiH to the surface and make it survive, while the main trouble of IC is that it keeps going in circles using proven bad solutions. In this context, OHR is undertaking measures in continuity regarding reforms, aimed at saving the state of BiH. On separate issue of political scene in RS, he expresses his view that the personnel solution with Dragan Cavcic as RS President Milorad Dodik as RS PM and Mladen Ivanic as Serb representative at joint institutions is a good solution, since these three officials are, without any doubt, enjoying biggest authority in RS. According to him, the most important thing is that their silent agreement is evading pre-election crisis, i.e. election vacuum in functioning of power, stressing that the pressures aimed against RS regarding reforms have actually united them in defending RS. |
| SD op-ed on October elections: ‘We are electing fake Messiahs’
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 13 mentioned on cover ‘We are electing fake Messiahs’ by R. Dodig comments on the October elections and the author believes that nothing would change since SDA, HDZ and |
| RS NA to convene today and discuss information on effects of decisions on transfer of RS powers onto BiH | Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Today about transfer of powers’ by N.N., Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Effects of decision on transfer of powers’ not signed – The RS NA is today expected to hold session and discuss Report on effect of decisions regarding of transfer of powers from RS onto BiH. The agenda also includes discussion on Information regarding actions RS MoI conducted upon reports of RS Chief Audit Office on public sector in RS. |
| Firms in RS owe over BAM 1 billion
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Firms owe BAM 1 billion’, pg 3 ‘Tax payers in RS owe BAM 1 billion in taxes’ by ‘Tax payers in RS owe BAM 1 billion in taxes’ by M.Kusmuk – Daily learns from source close to RS Tax Administration that the total debt towards the budget based on unpaid taxes in RS exceeds BAM 1 billion, the sum which equals with the total budget of RS for 2006. The sources stressed that this debt concluded with debts of taxpayers on |
War crimes/judiciary/BiH lawsuit vs. SiCG | |
| ICTY President Pocar: judiciary and security reform necessary for improvement of cooperation with ICTY
| RTRS – ICTY President Fausto Pocar met BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic on Monday in |
| SiCG legal representative Stojanovic announces ICJ to decide on suit in June
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Stojanovic certain that the Court in The Hague would declare as incompetent’ by Srna, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Decision on authority of Court possibly in June’ by |
| RS CoP failed to agree on VNI filed regarding BH suit against SiCG
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘No agreement on the BiH lawsuit against |
| Announced exhumation of late BiH Army colonel Palic was not conducted
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Announced exhumation of Palic was not conducted’ by E.K. – Article carries that although previously announced for Monday, exhumation of late BiH Army colonel Avdo Palic was not conducted. Milan Dupor, Head of the RS Government’s Commission for finding missing Palic’s body, could not explain why the exhumation did not take place. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘RS authorities still did not find body of Avdo Palic’ by Se.M. – Article comments that deadline for finding Palic’s body, set by OHR, has passed as many times before. Head of FBiH Commission for Missing Persons Amor Masovic noted: “Palic was murdered and buried somewhere in Han-Pijesak region. But, it is like searching needle in a haystack. It is possible to determine micro location in which body is buried. But there are no answers on that from RS.” |
| President of BiH Court Kreso:
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘BiH Court ready for all cases’ by ri – President of the BiH Court Meddzida Kreso stated that the BiH Court has shown that it is capable to deal with most complicated cases from the areas of war crimes and the organized crime. She added that recent transferring of the Mejakic and others case substantiates this claim. Asked about the Ante Jelavic case (Jelavic was charged with illegal financial transactions through Hercegovacka Banka), Kreso said that this case has not been completed yet (the Appeals Council considers appeals from both sides) and for this reason she cannot comment on the case. |
| Organization Board adopted agenda for 11th memorial ceremony in Srebrenica
| BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Funeral of about 500 identified victims’ by S.Rozajac, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘About 500 victims would be buried in Potocari on 11 July’ by Fena, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Funeral of another 500 victims’ by HINA, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Funeral of another 500 victims’ by h.– Organization Board for 11th memorial ceremony victims of Srebrenica genocide adopted the agenda of this year’s memorial ceremony. Central event will be the funeral of 500 victims. The anniversary of Srebrenica genocide will be marked with a special session of BiH Parliament Assembly in Potocari, “March of Salvation” and visits of many officials. |