Speculation on Mladic arrest stir confusion in media, public |
| Serbian Govt denies Mladic is arrested | RTRS by Draga Grubic [from Belgrade] – Head of Press Office of the Serbian Government Srdjan Djuric denied media speculations that Ratko Mladic was arrested on Tuesday. Serbian MoI Spokesperson Dragana Kajganic stressed that on Tuesday evening the Ministry have not carried out any kind of activities that could lead to the apprehension of this most wanted ICTY indictee. Regarding the information that Serbian Government convened an extraordinary session for Tuesday evening, RTRS correspondent from Belgrade says that Government’s press office denied this media speculations as well. Reporter also noticed that Tuesday, 20 February, was the day that chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte defined as the deadline for his extradition to The Hague. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘Belgrade denied Mladic’s arrest’ by R.I. – Official Belgrade denied it stating this kind of news is “manipulation aimed against efforts of Serbian Government to arrest war crimes indictees”. BHT1, PINK, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Mladic located, arrest is next’ by E.Sarac, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Mladic has not been arrested yet, it is being negotiated on his surrender’ by T. Tagirov, EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Mladic surrounded’ by BLIC team, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘Kostunica approved apprehension of Mladic’ by S.Karic/J.Sarac, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Mladic is not arrested’, Vjesnik cover pg splash and pg 72 ‘Ratko Mladic arrested?’ by B. Al-Pinto Brkic – also reported. |
| NATO “has no information” on Mladic was arrest and transfer to Tuzla Eagle base; journalist wait in front of the base | BHT 1 – NATO Press Officer in Brussels Simone de Manso stated for BHT1 that NATO doesn’t have any official information on Ratko Mladic’s arrest, or any action aimed to locate him. PINK – Spokesperson of the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo Dwight Mood was unable to confirm whether Mladic was arrested or not. According to TV Pink, at the time of the special news broadcast (21,00 hrs) several dozens of journalists and newspaper photographers were waiting in front of the ‘Eagle’ base near Tuzla, for which some media speculated was the place where Mladic was transferred. Hayat– Live report in front of the EUFOR ‘Eagle’ base in Tuzla. Reporter said journalists were not allowed to take pictures while all speculations that Ratko Mladic has been transferred to the base were denied. However, Hayat reporter stresses that helicopter traffic within the base is intense and that choppers are taking off every minute or so. Dnevni List cover pg splash ‘Ratko Mladic arrested’ and pg 3 ‘Mladic arrested?!’ by A. Beus. |
| ICTY Chief Prosecutor Del Ponte denies Mladic was arrested | Dnevni Avaz cover splash and pg 2 ‘Mladic located, apprehension follows’ by E. Sarac, Inset ‘Hague Tribunal: That is media blow-up’- ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte officially denied the news on arrest of Ratko Mladic. “We officially deny the news on Mladic’s arrest,” said Del Ponte. Spokesperson of ICTY Florence Hartmann stated that according to the Hague Tribunal’s information, arrest action was not even in the progress and she added all this was just ‘media blow-up’. RTRS, PINK, FTV, BHT1 late news, Dnevni List cover pg splash ‘Ratko Mladic arrested’ and pg 3 ‘Mladic arrested?!’ by A. Beus– also carried. |
| Speculations on Ratko Mladic’s arrest stirs great confusion among media, public | BHT1 by Vesna Simic [from Belgrade]– The speculations on alleged apprehension and transfer of Ratko Mladic to the Hague have stirred both great confusion among media and public on Tuesday afternoon. In the late afternoon, Serbian news agency BETA reported Mladic was arrested in Serbia, which was further carried out by agencies in the region and worldwide. BHT 1 late news reported Tanjug news agency was the first one to release the information, as well as Bijeljina-based TV station ‘BN’. According to SRNA news agency from BiH, the operation of Mladic’s arrest started on Tuesday in Serbia. Belgrade TV station B92 reported that Mladic had been arrested on Tuesday morning and transferred to the EUFOR base in Tuzla, BiH in the afternoon, for further transfer to the Hague. The Associated Press published that according to unnamed highly raking Serbian security official, Mladic has been located, and the negotiations on his surrender were ongoing. Official Belgrade denied the speculations twice. However, media further reported that Serbian Government scheduled an extraordinary session for 20:30 on Tuesday, which – according to journalists – indicated that something was going on. PINK – It also carried that unnamed high-ranked RS Ministry of Interior official stated for news agency SRNA that RS MoI cannot confirm the information that Mladic has been arrested; he added that, since RS and Serbian police structures cooperate very closely – especially when it comes to search for the persons indicted for war crimes – it is almost impossible that RS MoI would not be informed about such important operation. Former, also unnamed, high ranked RS Army officer stated for news agency SRNA that he personally does not believe that Mladic would be arrested alive.At 21hrs, PINK TV reports that it seems that the speculation was not correct, including the info on his possible transfer to Tuzla. NOTE: By the time late news were to be broadcast, all stations have reported that it seems that the speculations were incorrect and some concluded that nobody can certainly confirm who was the first to release the information. Hayat, FTV, RHB, Vjesnik cover pg splash and pg 72 ‘Ratko Mladic arrested?’ by B. Al-Pinto Brkic– carried similar reports. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘Belgrade denied Mladic’s arrest’ by R.I., Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Mladic located, arrest is next’ by E.Sarac, Vecernji List cover pg splash and pg 22 ‘Mladic arrested’ not signed, Dnevni List cover pg splash ‘Ratko Mladic arrested’ and pg 3 ‘Mladic arrested?!’ by A. Beus – All report Tanjug was the first to report on arrest adding it was first published by ‘BN’ TV. |
| DA: High ranking official says this time, the information on arrest effort was correct; NN, DA: Stankovic issued arrest warrant at 13.30 Tue, was approved by Kostunica | Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Mladic located, arrest is next’ by E.Sarac – Daily learns from well informed source that the SCG Defence Minister Zoran Stankovic signed arrest warrant for Ratko Mladic on Tuesday at 13.30, adding that the police was looking for him in area of mountain Cer which is a location for rocket base and military hunting grounds, and under strict surveillance. DA source says that the information on Mladic hunt was correct and that this time something was really going on [without stating what exactly, or speculation on possible outcome]. EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Mladic surrounded’ by BLIC team – Daily also speculates referring to well-informed sources not linked with each other that Ratko Mladic has been located and negotiations on his surrender are ongoing – otherwise, he would be apprehended. Blic also carries that Mladic was located at Cer mountain, 100 km west from Belgrade at the border with BiH. Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘Kostunica approved apprehension of Mladic’ by S.Karic/J.Sarac – NN carries that Vojislav Kostunica, SCGPM and Zoran Stankovic SiCG Defence Minister, at 13:30 hrs Tuesday issued warrant arrest after Mladic. Vecernje Novosti cover pg splash ‘Encirclement around Mladic’, pg 13 ‘Mladic’s date expired’ by A.M. – says all political preparations for arrest of Mladic have completed. |
| Int press prominently cover speculations on Mladic arrest: Arrest more likely to happen, net closes on Mladic, Serbians – even nationalists – growing tired of former national hero | News on Ratko Mladic’salleged arrest were regularly reported by CNN, Sky News, Euronews, etc.throughout the day on Tuesday all stressing that information was still unconfirmed. HTVand NOVATV stations in Croatia organized special news broadcasts, and German TV stations broadcast archive footage of Mladic. Print media also widely published the story, among others International Herald Tribune, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Der Spiegel, Die Stern, Die Presse, etc. In its top story of the day, BBCclaims three key changes have made the arrest of either Radovan Karadzic or Mladic more likely: “The Serbian government has changed its attitude and is now co-operating with The Hague tribunal; IC has taken a series of coordinated steps to clamp down on the support networks allegedly protecting the two; A video showing killings of Srebrenica captives shocked many Serbs who, up until now, had simply not believed a massacre had taken place in Srebrenica in 1995. Serb public opinion has begun to change. And in the background all along has been the irrepressible figure of… Carla Del Ponte.” Guardian’s article [“After 10 years, net closes on genocide suspect”] also suggests that net around Mladic is closing down. It carries the “well-placed international source” that the negotiations with Mladic on his surrender were going on [New York Times claims the same]. Independent’s correspondents from Belgrade [article was featured as cover splash story] also suggest that “net closes” Mladic and stresses there is new willingness in Serbia to have him arrested. Telegraph [“Ten years on and Mladic is left with nowhere to hide”]agrees with the later, and adds: “The nationalists who once worshipped the truculent leader of the Bosnian Serb army have started to grow tired of their hero… Ordinary Serbs are also turning against him. A recent poll showed 57 per cent favoured extraditing Mladic to The Hague.” London Times reports of the alleged negotiations with Mladic on surrender, adding that this was being done “by a group of politicians, clerics and military officers — all Serb, with no outside interference.” The reported Mladic’s arrest and alleged extradition to the Tribunal was welcomed as good news for Serbia by the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, and Frankfurter Allegmeine Zeitung bring feature on Mladic [focusing on background, especially his role in Srebrenica events] as cover splash story. Both Frankfurter Rundschau and Austrian Kurier report on the cases, stressing the confusion it raised. Die Zeit’scover splash story focuses on statement by SCG Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic that Mladic’s arrest is in interest of Serbia. |
Avian flue confirmed in BiH |
| BiH health authorities put down poultry in territory of discovery of infected swans | PINK – The massive culling of the poultry within a three-kilometre radius from the infected area started on Tuesday in twelve villages in Jajce surroundings, out of which ten are located in the FBiH and two in the RS. Sarajevo Veterinary Faculty confirmed on Monday that two swans from Pliva lake were infected with the avian flu virus. The samples of their tissue was sent to the EU laboratory in Weybridge for additional analysis and final confirmation. Chief RS Veterinary Inspector Zoran Djeric confirmed for TV Pink that about 4,500 pieces of poultry will be shot dead, and buried in a hole already been dug up in a village Milja near Jajce. All the vehicles leaving this area have to be disinfected; nevertheless, representatives of RS Veterinary Office once again emphasized that citizens have no reason to worry. RHB, BHT1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Culling of poultry in infected area started’, mentioned on cover ‘Four teams culled poultry’ by I Ganibegovic and Z. Perisic, Oslobodjenje ‘All poultry in radius around the lake, removed’ mentioned on cover by S. Sehercehajic, Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Poultry flies to barrels’ by S.Dakic, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Putting down of poultry starts’ by R.Segrt/M.Zlatovic, Vecernje Novosti pg 17 ‘Avian flue “ate” chickens’ by Slobodan Dakic, Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pg 13 ‘Jajce: Euthanasia of poultry’ by M. Zlatovic, Vecernji List pgs 2 and 3, mentioned on cover ‘5000 pieces of poultry killed’ by B. Stevandic, D. Moconja, Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Poultry destroyed’ by A. Beus – also reported. |
| RS authorities to supply 4000 dosages of ‘Tamiflu’ | RTRS– The RS Crisis Headquarters, in charge of preparing the plan for the protection from the avian flu virus, asked the RS Government to urgently approve funds for the purchase of medicines and equipment necessary for the avian flu virus to be discovered on time. RS Minister of Health and Social Welfare Ivo Komljenovic approved the import of 4,000 dosages of ‘Tamiflu’ medicine, the only known medicine used for therapy of avian influenza, but it will not be possible to buy this medicine in pharmacies until this ministry decide so. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Import of 4. 000 dosages of medicine Tamuiflu approved’ by O.V.; ‘To provide compensation to poultry breeders’; ‘No danger for now’ by V.J. , Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘RS approved import of Tami flue’ – also reported. |
| BiH Farmers warn about damages due to avian flue | RHB– The Chair of the BiH Farmers Association Ranko Bakic said that along with having poultry infected with avian influenza put down, entity authorities should provide means for compensation of the damage made to the owners of the poultry. |
Constitutional changes |
| SNSD, SDS, PDP hold joint press conference on const. changes; Cavic: final solution must be equally “good and bad” for all peoples in BiH | RTRS- At the joint press conference held in Banja Luka on Tuesday, the SDS President Dragan Cavic, SNSD leader Milorad Dodik and PDP President Mladen Ivanic rejected speculations the agreement on the constitutional changes would be damaging for the RS. Leaders of three strongest political parties in the RS emphasized that the framework agreement on const. changes reached in Sarajevo on Sunday was acceptable for all three peoples: it includes tripartite BiH Presidency with rotation every 16months, and entity vote in BiH House of Representatives. “One [Presidency] member would be elected from RS, and two from FBiH… After that the Parliament, on basis of votes number or some other criteria, would decide who would be the first President of the Presidency,” explained Dodik. Three officials, expressing satisfaction with the talks, underlined such outcome of the ‘hardest part’ of talks on this issue legalized and strengthened the RS status in the new constitutional organisation of BiH. “The final solution must be both equally good and… “bad” for all sides for those negotiations to be successful. There is no other way… one satisfied and one dissatisfied side would mean failure of the entire project”, stated Cavic. “I think that this is a compromise… parties from RS have assured changes on a state level, but they have also preserved the basic values of entity which they – we – represent. And I think that it is a fair compromise; whoever thought that he could come out as a winner has made a big mistake”, concluded Ivanic. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘We will lose nothing’ Inset ‘Competences’ by Z. Markovic – Dodik has stated it was confirmed on Sunday that, formally, defense, security, judiciary and prosecutor’s offices should become competences of BiH. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ivanic: Changes of the Constitution would repair BiH image’ by N. Diklic – Dodik complemented the role of the International Community, stressing that there were not pressures to impose the solutions. Oslobodjenje pg 4-5 ‘Agreement on constitutional changes by end of the week’ by O. Vukovic – Noting the final solution still hasn’t yet been reached, officials added the negotiations have entered the final phase, where few of bilateral talks remain to be completed. Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Leaders agreed on survival of entities’, by Tanja Dragic – The author comments the agreement of the parties to keep the entity vote in the BiH HoR as ‘the survival of entities’. RHB, PINK, BHT1, FTV, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘We will lose nothing’ by Z. Markovic, EuroBlic pg RS3, announced on cover ‘Finale in seven days’ by Nedeljka Breberina, Vecernje novosti pg 4 ‘President rotates?’ by Sl. Pesevic, Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Agreement possible by the end of the week’ by V. Popovic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 21 ‘Serbs are for compromise’, by F– also covered the press conference. |
| HDZ and SDA leaders meet in Mostar; Covic says direct election of Presidency members unacceptable | RHB – On Tuesday, HDZ Chair Dragan Covic met with SDA Chair Sulejman Tihic in Mostar for Tihic to brief Covic on the outcome of the meeting between leaders of five BiH political parties held on Sunday. On the BiH Parliament, Tihic and Covic agreed that reducing a number of representatives at the entity levels would reduce administration. As for the agreement on the BiH Presidency, Covic pointed out that direct way of electing BiH Presidency members through two existing entities was unacceptable and stressed HDZ stance was the members should be appointed indirectly. Tihic and Covic agreed that all political parties, which were engaged in the talks in BiH, should participate in agreement on the new BiH Constitution. Tihic said he was going to meet HNZ and SBiH in next two days to discuss the talks, adding he accepts them to accept the proposed solutions. Officials also agreed that law regulating the work of the FBiH Government has to be adopted. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Election of Presidency members still disputable for HDZ’, mentioned on cover by F.Vele – Covic and Tihic confirmed to DA that agreement on const. changes could be reached on Monday or Tuesday, not by the end of the week as previously announced. Inset ‘Abolishment of FBiH and RS’ – Asked about stance of FBiH parties toward internal organization of BiH, Tihic said: “FBiH Parties are unanimous that FBiH, along with the RS, should be abolished ASAP”. Dnevni List pg 5 ‘HDZ against entity voting’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘FBiH and RS should be abolished’ by Z. Kresic – Tihic also agreed with the Covic’s stand that the agreement on const. changes should be signed in case that there are guarantees for continuation of the talks on the middle authority level after the October elections. BHT1, EuroBlic pg RS3, announced on cover ‘Finale in seven days’ by Nedeljka Breberina Inset ‘HDZ: we will condition our signature’ – Both carry HDZ Spokesman Miso Relota as saying that HDZ would accept the agreement only if it guarantees discussion on mid-level of authority immediately following the elections in October. PINK, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘SDA and HDZ asking for larger authorities for the state’ by A. Omeragic, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘HDZ opposes to direct election of BH president and vice presidents’, announced on cover ‘HDZ opposes to direct election of president of BiH’ by M.Cubro, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘No agreement without us’ not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 21 ‘Mostar: Tihic visited Covic’ not signed – covered. |
| SDU, BOSS, SBiH object secrecy of constitutional talks, demand ‘drastic changes’ | Hayat – Representatives of FBiH political parties which did not take part in the latest talks on the constitutional changes held on Sunday in the residency of the US Ambassador to BiH [SBiH, SDU and BOSS], gathered on Tuesday in front of the BiH Joint Institutions building. They have protested against the agreed changes and the secrecy of the talks. “All of this happens at the time when verdict in case of BiH-SCG lawsuit is about to be reached, which could have serious legal consequences, at time when verdict in Slobodan Milosevic’s case is about to be reached, in period when Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are to be arrested”, told SBiH leader Haris Silajdzic to gathered media and several citizens. “Every time BiH structure was discussed behind the closed doors, BiH and its citizens suffered”, said SDU leader Sejfudin Tokic. “We want to bring the talks back to the BiH institutions, since here we are obviously faced with private agreements between political leaders,” said BOSS leader Mirnes Ajanovic. PINK – “We have gathered here to say that we are for the constitutional changes, but radical constitutional changes. We don’t want to use the right on constitutional changes by talking about changes that only further strengthen present situation. We want transparent negotiations in BiH Parliament,” Silajdzic underlined. Hayat – SBiH announced that they are not going to sign the agreement on constitutional changes. BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Talks behind closed doors are deceive and betrayal of BiH interests’ by E. Sarac, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘SDA and HDZ asking for larger authorities for the state’ by A. Omeragic, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Talks should be run at Parliament’ by M.C., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Cheat and betrayal’, EuroBlic pg RS3, announced on cover ‘Finale in seven days’ by Nedeljka Breberina Inset ‘Accusations from Sarajevo’,Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Sejfudin Tokic: This is deception’, by D. P. Mandic– also reported |
| HNZ: Entity vote in BiH HoR unacceptable; HSS criticizes the talks lead without Croat people | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Entity voting unacceptable’ by A.M.– HNZ leader Milenko Brkic stated that he would meet with SDA leader Sulejman Tihic to consult on changes, but stressed that it is not likely that they would accept preserving of entity voting in BiH House of Representatives. Brkic sees this as attempt of RS parties to protect territory, as well as national interest, stressing that he is surprised that FBiH parties accepted this. RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Future of Croats in hands of HDZ’- HSS also criticized the manner the last talks on constitutional changes were lead, because they were lead without representatives of Croat people. |
| British Ambassador Rycroft on constitutional changes: I believe that an agreement can be reached in couple of days | Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘I expect agreement in couple of days’, mentioned on cover ‘Next opportunity is 2010’ by Sead Numanovic – Speaking of talks on constitutional changes in an interview for DA, British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said: “Negotiations of political leaders on changing the BiH Constitution are heading the right direction. Process participants are aware that significant progress has been made, but to reach an agreement there is still much to be done. (…) I am convinced that the outcome will be positive.” Asked to comment deadlines, Rycroft said that he would not talk about that, expressing his hope that an agreement would be reached very soon: “I believe that an agreement can be reached in couple of days.” Rycroft stressed that this is just the first step, announcing the next one would start after October elections. Rycroft concluded that if BiH politicians miss this opportunity, the next one would be in 2010. |
| VL interview with US Ambassador McElhaney: Third entity cannot be created/Existence of RS is not conditioned by Kosovo status | Vecernji List pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘Croats cannot create third entity’ by Z. Jurilj carries an interview with US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney. Asked as to what the US Administration thinks about the demands for creation of the third, Croat entity, McElhaney says: ‘I believe that the third entity cannot be created…We support creation as less authority levels as possible and not creation of the entities.’ Asked as to what extent the thesis that existence of the RS as an entity is conditioned by the status of Kosovo is grounded, McElhaney stated: ‘The status of Kosovo is not related to the political situation in BiH in any way. I remind that BiH is an independent state with all attributes of the state no matter what they are like.’ |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on constitutional changes: Talks are at the end. Hard work is ahead | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘At the end’ op-ed by Senka Kurtovic – Commenting announcements by party leaders that the agreement in the talks on constitutional changes is near, editorial reads that it sounds cheap if the only change we know about is Presidency in rotation. Author comments that we can be optimists thank to the fact that SBiH “joined by couple or more mainly non-significant and parties with no influence”. Editorial concludes: “Talks are at the end. Hard work is ahead.” |
| NN op-ed: distribution of seats and constitutional changes cause headaches to politicians | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Personnel policy’ by Natasa Krsman – Opening the article with the observation that it is evident this year will also be marked with personnel distributions and party agreements, the author highlights the fact that along with the personnel policy, the issue of constitutional changes causes headaches to political leaders as well. On this she concludes by saying that “the protection of the national interest will again come to distribution of functions in somewhat differently structured state”. |
| SD op-ed: Constitutional changes agreed upon btwn Bosniaks and Serbs only/Stronger pressures for RS’ secession have been expected | Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 ‘Covic and Halilovic’s mouth shut up’ by Z. Tulic learns that absence of HDZ, HNZ and SBiH negotiators at the meeting on constitutional changes held on Sunday was arranged in advance by SDA and RS parties. SD says that the reason for such arrangement is the intention to get consent of the RS parties first and consent of the Croat side on the same issue would be demanded these days. SD concludes that it turns out that all this time the Croat side had a walk-on role without an attempt to impose some solution, if it had any. The article concludes that it turns out that constitutional changes were agreed between Serbs and Bosniaks only and this means even bigger inter-entity division for the future of BiH and stronger pressures from the RS for secession of this entity have been expected. |
Judicial and other war crimes issues, investigations |
| PB ES embezzlement suspects, Mandic and others, plead not guilty | RTRS – Before the BiH Court, Mirko Sarovic, Momcilo Mandic, Milovan Bjelica and Milorad Govedarica pleaded not guilty on all counts of the indictment which holds them responsible for organized crime, abuse of office and other criminal activities. They are indicted for embezzlement of millions KM from ‘Privredna Bank’ East Sarajevo [PB ES] owned by Momcilo Mandic, through fictitious companies ‘Spekta’ and ‘Matres’ in 1998. Mandic is also indicted for providing financial help to indicted war criminal Radovan Karadzic, but his attorney Zarko Bulic claims that Prosecutor’s Office has absolutely no evidences to support this claim. The Court of BiH confirmed the indictment against Sarovic, Mandic, Bjelica and Govedarica on February 7. All four indictees must remain in custody until the end of the trial, which is scheduled to begin in two-months time. RHB, PINK, BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Mandic, Sarovic, Govedarica and Bjelica to be tried soon’ by A.S., Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Mandic and others pleaded not guilty’ by Aj.D., Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Lukic in ICTY prison’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Milan Lukic placed in prison Scheveningen’ By Sense, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Sarovic, Mandic, Govedarica and Bjelica pleaded not guilty’ by A.Durbo, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘We are not guilty to all charges’ by Erna Macki – carried reports. |
| ICTY indictee Lukic arrives to the Hague following extradition from Argentina | BHT1 – Milan Lukic, indicted by the ICTY for the crimes committed against Bosniaks in Visegrad area, was extradited on Monday to The Hague from Argentina. Lukic, 38, was arrested in Buenos Aires last August after being on the run for more than seven years. He is also wanted in Serbia, where he was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison for torturing and murdering 16 Muslim civilians whom they abducted from a bus traveling from Serbia to Bosnia in 1992. RHB, PINK, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Lukic in The Hague detention’ by BETA, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Lukic arrived in the Tribunal’s detention’, by NINA– also reported. |
| Scorpio Unit member pleads guiltyto war crimes charges | BHT1– Member of Serbian ‘Scorpion’ Unit Pero Petrasevic, who is indicted along with other three members of the unit for murder of Srebrenica civilians in village Trnovo in 1995, admitted before the Belgrade War Crime Chamber that he had participated in the murders. Hayat, PINK, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Petrasevic admitted participation in shooting near Trnovo’ by B.B., Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Commander of Scorpions ordered murder of six men from Srebrenica’ by Agencies, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Medic ordered murders’ by Divna Vidakovic, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Trials to Skorpioni continued’, by NINA – also reported. |
| Bosniak member to BiH Presidency: SiCG should prove it is not guilty for aggression before the Court | Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Prove you are not guilty’ by Dusan Stojakovic – In a half-page interview to daily, Sulejman Tihic, Bosniak member to BiH Presidency, speaks of BiH suit against SiCG, relations between the two states and the past war. On the suit, Tihic says that trial on this will not disturb good neighbourhood relations between the two states, but instead would bring the truth about developments in BiH, noting “If SICG claims there was no aggression, it should prove it at Court.” He denies journalist claim (which referred to foreign intelligence information) thatthere had been around 10 thousand mujahedeens in BiH during the war, adding: “According to current data, there are 600 to 700 persons of Afro-Asian origin, and around 200 of them stayed in BiH. And now data on their citizenship is being examined.” He says it is not possible to file suit against Croatia akin to suit against SiCG, noting Croatian side in BiH would place veto on such initiative. He reiterates that nothing in BiH should be named after any of the three peoples, referring to RS name. |
| SIPA submitted report on recent action in RAK to BiH Prosecution/Unofficial information say that SIPA was investigating purchase of business premises for RAK | Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘SIPA submitted report on recent action in RAK’ by T. Lazovic learns that SIPA handed over to the BiH Prosecution the report on its recent action in RAK, which was carried out according to the BiH Prosecution’s order. According to DA unofficial information, the Prosecution’s order that was shown during the SIPA’s recent action, said that they were investigating purchase of the premises for RAK. The audit report on RAK’s financial operations says that RAK purchased office premises for 4 millions KM and this amount does not correspond to the Study on extra funds’ expenditure in which 2,6 millions KM were envisaged for this purpose. People from RAK say that this Study is their internal document and there is no any obligation that it should be respected. |
Other political issues |
| SDS leader Cavic calls on all SDS -supported ministers in CoM to resign; announces Paravac and he would not step down from their positions | RTRS – SDS President Dragan Cavic called on BiH Minister of Defence Nikola Radovanovic, Minister of Justice Slobodan Kovac, and deputy ministers Dragan Mektic and Slobodan Ecimovic to step down from their posts in the BiH Council of Ministers, because SDS decided to go into opposition on both entity and state level. Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Call for Radovanovic, Kovac, Mektic and Ecimovic to resign’ by O.V. – Cavic said that if the ministers in question want to do otherwise, they should tell so to the public, adding that SDS would not be as some parties “who had more ministers, than representatives”. Cavic also stated that BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac would not resign, since he inherited the position from Mirko Sarovic who was elected for that position directly by citizens. Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Crisis at sight in Council of Ministers?’, by D. Pusic – An anonymous source close to the BiH CoM, who believes there will be no crisis in the BiH CoM, however the source reckons one should wait for further developments. RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Sale of interests’ by Z. M., EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘It will be merry all the way until elections’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘SDS: we will unmask PDP; PDP: SDS was wasting RS’s interests’ by V, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘It will be merry all the way until elections’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Paravac stays’ by Z. M, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘SDS: we will unmask PDP; PDP: SDS was wasting RS’s interests’ by V. P.– SDS claims that the opposition role would help this party to ‘unmask the fake greatness of leaders and so-called reformers from PDP’. PDP responded they have ended the cooperation with SDS accusing party of protecting their own interests. PINK, BHT1, Hayat, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘It will be merry all the way until elections’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘SDS personnel must leave Council of Ministers’ by V. Popovic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Paravac stays’ by Z. M., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Paravac stays’ by Z. M, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘It will be merry all the way until elections’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘SDS personnel must leave Council of Ministers’ by V. Popovic,– reported on Cavic’s call to ministers in CoM. |
| BiH HoP adopts the 2006 budget | RTRS – On Tuesday, the BiH House of Peoples passed the state budget proposal for 2006 in amount of approx. KM 954 million, where approx KM 667 million is foreseen for financing of institutions and rest for servicing of foreign debt. FBiH Finance Minister Ljerka Maric stated that majority of the budget would be financed from Indirect Taxation Administration [KM566 million], as well as from finances from the succession, CIPS project and profits of the Central Bank. Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘State budget goes to harmonizing’- Considering that BiH HoP passed the budget for 2006 in different text then the HoR did, two text would have to go into the procedure to harmonize them. RHB, PINK, BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘State budget goes to harmonisation’ by A.Terzic, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Budget of BAM 955 million adopted’ by M.C. – Also covered. |
| BiH CoM defines Agreement with Holy See | FTV – At the session held on Tuesday, the BiH Council of Ministers adopted the draft of agreement on extradition of suspects with Iran. BiH CoM also adopted the draft of bilateral agreement with Vatican. The agreement with Vatican foresees return of nationalised property to the Catholic Church within next 10 years. BiH is also obliged to pay compensation for the property that can’t be returned. BiH CoM adopted the draft law on concessions, which should enable easier procedure for foreign investments. Hayat– The proposal will be sent to the Parliament for enactment. “This document is of extreme importance because it is going to create more suitable ambient for domestic and foreign investments”, said Niko Grubesic, from BiH Justice Ministry. RHB, PINK, BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘In 10 years nationalized property would be returned to Cathlic Church’, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Contract forwarded to Presidency’ by D.S., Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Church to repossess property that was taken away from it’ by D. P. Mandic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Return of property to Church in next 10 years’ by D.J. , Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Church to repossess property that was taken away from it’ by D. P. – also reported. |
| DL op-ed: SDA President Tihic and BiH CoM Chairman Terzic agreed truce due to October elections | Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Tihic pardoned Terzic’ by R. Dautefendic carries that at the SDA Presidency session held on Monday SDA President Sulejman Tihic publicly ‘pardoned’ Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic and the author believes that they agreed truce since it is not wise to pull down the BiH CoM few months before the elections. The editorial says that Tihic was trying to pull down Terzic afraid that due to his reputation Terzic might take over the Tihic’s leading position in SDA and according to the author for this reason Tihic had to justify to HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling recently and he promised that he would not pull down Terzic any longer since he would bring the negotiations on SAA with the EU in question in this way. |
| SDA President Tihic, HDZ President Covic called on MPs to adopt proposal of Law on Distribution of Incomes proposed by FBiH Government leaders | Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Representatives and support to proposal’ – SDA President Sulejman Tihic and HDZ President Dragan Covic agreed that FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic and his Deputies Dragan Vrankic and Gavrilo Grahovac should agree the proposal of the Law on Distribution of Incomes that MPs in the FBiH Parliament, whose both Houses would have an emergency session on Thursday, would adopt. They also called on MPs to adopt the proposal of the law that FBiH Government leaders would propose. Tihic also said that it not understandable that MPs from SDA did not support the FBiH Government’s proposal. |
| Three experts from Zagreb claim it is highly likely Old Bridge was not destroyed by HVO tank, but explosive device set off from east bank of Neretva river | Nacional, front pg splash and pgs 26-33 ‘Experts claim: HVO did not destroy bridge’, by Zeljko Rogoscic – The Zagreb-based ‘P.I.P. Pavicic’ and ‘Oktavijan’ publishers will soon publish a book for which they claim could shed a new light destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar in November 1993. The main part of the book was prepared by three experts from Zagreb who concluded based on video records it is highly likely that the OldBridge was not destroyed by an HVO tank, but by an explosive device detonated/triggered by someone on the east bank of the Neretva river, at the time controlled by the BiH Army. The story from Nacional was also picked up by Oslobodjenje, pg 4 ‘Who destroyed OldBridge?’, by D. Zadravec, Vecernji List, pgs 16-17 ‘English were behind destruction of OldBridge!?’, by Zvonimir Despot, Dnevni Avaz, pg 10 ‘Palata: The only truth is that shells destroyed the OldBridge’, by F. V. |
