Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 22 December
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) |
| Anniv. of Krizancevo Selo war crime |
| Const. changes talks interrupted |
| BiH CoM’s session |
TV news broadcast on 21 December
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Jovic on BHT and PBS | Tihic on constitutional changes | Law on VAT to be changed? |
| Const. talks continued in | EU SR on Coppola | Talks on constitutional changes |
| FBIH HoR in session | Malaysian Govt on Vc corridor | New conflict within HDZ |
| Coppola member of police Direct. | BiH HoR in session | “Scorpions” trial continues |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Malaysian Govt on Vc corridor | No changes of Law on VAT | Paravac on Jovic’s DA stand |
| Constitutional changes talks | Bread prices in RS increasing | Const. talks continued in |
| | Impact of VAT on agriculture | OHR on RS Government re audits |
| FBiH HoR in session | FBiH HoR adopts 2006 Budget | Issue of B. Brod “Oil Refinery” |
| Oslobodjenje | Proposal for exemption of printing firms from VAT withdrawn |
| Dnevni Avaz | To fish usury in troubled waters |
| Dnevni List | HDZ’s parliamentarians forming new party? |
| Vecernji List | Killed himself after his son died (family tragedy near Sokolac) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Director of police in swamp of crime |
| Glas Srpske | Nobody is giving up (constitutional reform talks) |
| Nezavisne Novine | Tihic: BiH will get president |
| Blic | |
| Vecernje Novosti | |
|
| Economic/Social Affairs |
| DA on VAT: Usury hunt after fish in troubled waters has commenced in BiH
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘To fish usury in troubled waters’, ‘Hunting fish in troubled waters already commenced’ by Sead Numanovic – The author criticizes the fact that the usury merchants have already increased the prices of goods prior to VAT introduction, with an aim to wait for VAT prepared. He highlights that the citizens seem to be keeping silent about, without doing anything and accept their destiny, without reporting on users in troubled waters. In regard to this, he stresses that associations for protection of consumers rights are also keeping silent, which makes them, along with citizens, accomplice in their own theft! The author concludes by saying it is high time an end were put to this and associations, citizens and inspections start penalize offenders. |
| BiH HoR rejected differentiated VAT rate
| |
| Dailies: Terzic wants to exempt publishing from VAT,
| Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Terzic exempts books and print media from VAT!’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 7 ‘Postponing of application of VAT would be catastrophic’, by D. Pasic – According to the Chairman of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, the BiH CoM will not withdraw its proposal of changes to the Law on VAT, which should exempt the books, brochures, magazines, publications and newspapers from VAT. The statement came even after the statement by the Chairman of ITA’s Steering Board, Joly Dixon, who noted that any last minute changes to the Law on VAT could have serious consequences for the economy and social programmes. Both papers also report from Wednesday’s session of BiH HoR related to VAT. |
| Osl.: It has been waited for opinions of entity Ministries of Finances on exempting of printing industry from VAT
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘VAT at agenda on December 28?’ by Az. K. carries that FBiH Minister of Finances Dragan Vrankic agrees that dailies, magazines and books were exempted from the VAT, however, he refuses that printing paper be exempted as well and he submitted this opinion to President of the ITA Steering Board (ITA SB) Joly Dixon. Osl. says that judging by the things that Vrankic said his opinion is not IN accordance with the BiH Council of Ministers’ stand on this issue since they demand that printing paper was exempted from the VAT as well. The article says that a part of members of the ITA SB have already expressed their opinion on this BiH CoM’s proposal and Vrankic and RS Minister of Finances Svetlana Cenic should give their opinion on this proposal on December 21. |
| DA on VAT: How to prevent malversation and price increase
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Merchants are raising prices, inspection is waiting for 1st January’ by Z.Persic – Daily features a story about price increases in BiH, trying to identify means for preventing malversation and grand wave of price increase. Author notes merchants are hunting fish in troubled waters already, carrying statement of the Head of the Trade Inspection ion Sarajevo Canton, Midhat Pasic, saying that Inspection can start checking on prices of milk,. Bread, flour, oil and other groceries as of 1st January. According to Bojan Zec Filipovic, Spokesperson of the BiH COM Chair, Adnan Terzic is not in charge for control of prices, stressing that entities authorities have powers over teams in charge of price controls. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘RS Government to form team of experts today’ by N.D. – Boris Gaspar, RS Minister of Trade and Tourism, Wednesday confirmed to DA that today’s (Thursday’s) session of the RS Government should also appoint members of the team of experts in charge of controls of price increase after VAT introduction. He also said that RS already has mechanism that should prevent social blow on consumers and regulate price increase as of 1st January. |
| FBiH Minister Bozic: VAT should improve situation in agriculture
| Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘VAT will improve not destroy agriculture’ – Only ten days before the introduction of VAT, it is still not clear how this new tax is going to affect the domestic agriculture production. Currently, local producers are in much worse position that the importing competition. The subventions for agriculture are very low. According to officials, VAT should stimulate export and discourage import, which would put local producers in a better position. One the other hand, many people fear that the introduction of VAT might lead to even higher prices of domestic products. FBIH Minister for Agriculture Marinko Bozic stated that the Ministry is going to monitor the implementation of VAT in the first six months, and than analyze the actual situation. He however emphasized that VAT shluld improve the situation in this sector. Deputy Minister Ahmed Duranovic stated that the agriculture sector needs more support in order to change the present negative situation. |
| SBS and ITA to tighten control of BiH borders
| Pink, FTV, Sarajevo dailies, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Enhanced control of borders because of introduction of VAT’, by ra – BiH Council of Ministers Chairman, Adnan Terzic,and BiH Security Minister, Barisa Colak,held a meeting in Sarajevo on Wednesday with State Border Service Director, Vinko Dumancic,and BiH Indirect Taxation Administration Director, Kemal Causevic. The meeting was held on the occasion of the introduction of VAT and the importance of efficient and full control of the BiH borders in order to prevent the smuggling of products that were exempt from taxes so far. The Indirect Taxation Administration and the State Border Service signed an agreement that will ensure tighter control of border crossings. |
| FBiH HoR adopted 2006 Budget
| |
| Ministers Vellu and Dokic presented form of future cooperation between the two states
| Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, announced on cover ‘Malaysian experts coming in January’ by L.S., Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Malaysia offers to BiH consulting services’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Malaysia would officially work on Corridor Vc’ by E. Mackic, Vecernji List pg 7 ‘Malaysians draft their own Feasibility Study’ by E. Medunjanin – The BiH Minister of Transport and Communication, Wednesday held a press conference at which he, joint with the Malaysian Minister of Labour, Samy Vellu, presented the form of future cooperation between the two states on the project “5C Corridor”. Malysia will take part in identifying response to questions like “how to finance the highway construction” in the following manner: its experts would work out a detailed financial report on the project. Velu said that |
| Malaysia interested in development projects in BiH
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Possibility for investment in BiH’ by NINA – During the meeting with a FBiH Government delegation led by FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, the Malaysian Minister of State Works, Samy Vellu, stated that Malaysia was interested and willing to participate in implementation of the development projects in BiH. |
| PDHR Butler meets with RS PM Bukejlovic: OHR not satisfied with RS Govt’s actions in resolving the situation re RS Elektroprivreda, Srpske Sume
| Pink, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Punishments for corruption at Srpske Sume, RS Elektroprivreda’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Government achieved progress in reforms’ not signed, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘New cutting of directors’ by Mirna Soja, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Report on sanctions by the end of 2005’ by S. Gojkovic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Srpska on the right path’ by G. Dakic – Principal Deputy High Representative, Lawrence Butler, during his visit to Banja Luka Wednesday, said that OHR was not satisfied with actions taken by the RS Government in solving the situation in “RS Elektroprivreda” and “Srpske sume”. According to PDHR, audit report have reported on the losses of these two companies and identified persons responsible for irregularities but no one was processed. RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic stated that RS Government will ensure that responsible persons are processed, adding: “I will also request the report from RS MoI and RS Ministry of Justice, explaining why no action was taken against persons identified in the audit report.” |
| DL: US prevented abolishment of FBiH Financial Police, HDZ’s senior officials subjected to investigations
| Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Financial police continues working’, by Zvonimir Jukic – DL learns from sources close to the US Embassy to BiH that the |
|
| Political Developments/Reforms |
| Talks on constitutional reform continued: Agreement not reached on organization of the Presidency
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Agreement not reached on organization of the Presidency’ A. Malagic – Leaders of the eight BiH political parties on Wednesday failed to reach agreement on the future organization/structure and functioning of the BiH Presidency. Following 14-hour talks, leaders of Party for BiH, |
| VL: Tihic supports Covic in re-tailoring of internal BiH borders
| Vecernji List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Tihic supports Covic in re-tailoring of entity borders’, by Zoran Kresic – VL notes that the SDA President, Sulejman Tihic, supported the HDZ President, Dragan Covic’s, initiative that the talks of the eight political parties do not end in small changes to the Constitution, but instead to ”start with drawing of new maps”. “I completely support him in the proposal he presented in the continuation of talks of the eight political parties”, said Tihic. Although the article does not specifically say that Covic proposed drawing of new BiH internal borders during meetings on constitutional changes, VL refers to its article from yesterday (see OHR Media Round-up for details) suggesting that Covic did exactly that. |
|
| Danas, pgs 22-25 ‘We will crush HDZ’s monopoly in 2006’, by Sandra Pekic – carries an interview with the President of |
| German Ambassador to BiH: BiH politicians should not be restricted with time
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ’10 years is a realistic deadline for admission into EU’ by Sead Turcalo – In an interview to daily, Arne Freicher von Kietlitz, the German Ambassador to BiH, says that the so far talks on the constitutional changes are modest, noting that since nothing has happened in this field for years, talks are assessed as extremely positive, adding: “BiH politicians should not be placed under time conditioning.” He says there is no specific constitutional model that would be applied in BiH, adding that need for some solutions may surface during |
| NN int with Deputy Swiss Ambassador Chassot: BiH citizens must determine what kind of a state they want
| Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘BiH citizens must determine what kind of a state they want’ by D. Risojevic – In a page-long interview to NN, Deputy Swiss Ambassador to BiH Didier Chassot commented on the ten panel-discussions on future of constitutional organization of BiH, which were organized by Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency, and he stated he is very satisfied with results of the discussions. He noted that the aim of the discussions was not to discuss a specific drafts or procedures but the aim was to discuss three important issues: BiH taking all appropriate measures, including constitutional measures, to continue with its integrations to European institutions, to have more efficient state structures and to have a complete equality of all citizens. The main goal, according to Chassot, was to encourage a debate and help citizens realize this matter concerns them and to make them understand it is their right to demand for changes from their political representatives. |
| Zec-Filipovic: Agreement on borders between BiH and
| Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Veliki and Mali Skolj will belong to BiH’, by Anja Vrebac – The spokesman for BiH CoM, Bojan Zec Filipovic, confirmed for DL that the Agreement on state borders between BiH and Croatia would be ratified soon. On the other hand, DL also reminds that the Croatian PM, Ivo Sanader, recently stated that the Agreement on borders, which was signed by Franjo Tudjman and Alija Izetbegovic in 1999, ‘was not completely just’. |
| Jovic: BHT 1 should be for all peoples in BIH
| |
| Paravac accuses Jovic of self-willed appearance in public
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Paravac accuses Jovic of self-willed appearance’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Personal stances’ not signed – BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac accused BiH Presidency Chairman Ivo Miro Jovic he had presented his personal stances, not stances of BiH Presidency, with regard to the Dayton Agreement at a solemn session of Parliamentary assembly. Namely, Jovic stated BiH, as multi-national state must be organized in accordance with the principle of equality, which means ‘solutions in accordance with the principle: three peoples – two entities are not acceptable’. |
| Coppola new member of Steering Board of Police Directorate
| |
| SNSD would launch initiative for removal of RS Government
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘SNSD would launch initiative for removal of RS Government’ by Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘SNSD considering formation of a new government’ also covered the issue. |
| NN: Signatures for removal of the Government were being collected; PDP and SDA would support SNSD if it launched initiative for removal of RS Government
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Signatures for removal of the Government were being collected’ by V. Popovic – carries statement of SNSD’s Krstan Simic, and also carries an unofficial information saying SNSD delegates at RS NA were collecting signatures for removal of RS Government at RS NA session held on Wednesday, although no person wanted to officially confirm this information. The article also carries statements of PDP’s Veselin Poljasevic and SDA’s Tarik Sadovic, both saying they would support an initiative for removal of RS PM Pero Bukejlovic’s Cabinet in case SNSD launched such an initiative. EuroBlic pg RS2, announced on cover ‘SNSD is overthrowing the Government’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – carries a similar report. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Signatures for removal’ not signed – also carries Simic’s statement. |
| Serb Caucus rejected initiative of Bosniak and Croat Caucuses re protection of VNI
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Serb caucus rejected the initiative of Croats and Bosniaks’ by Onasa, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Agreement is possible’ by M. Mi. – Serb Caucus at RS Council of Peoples on Thursday rejected the initiative of Bosniak and Croat Caucuses for launching the protection of their vital national interests with regard to the Criminal Code, misdemeanor sanctions and Fund for development and employment. Chairperson of Serb Caucus Desanka Radjevic said they voted against the initiative because they think the Constitution, Law on Territorial Organization and similar laws already ensured constitutionality of all peoples and it was unnecessary to incorporate an article underlining this in every law that is adopted. |
| Osl: ‘HDZ representatives together against HDZ leadership’
| Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘HDZ representatives together against party leadership’ by A.O. – After the current HDZ leadership rejected appeals of Bozo Ljubic, Martin Raguz and Josip Merdzo to the decision on their expelling from the party 16 HDZ representatives from the state and FBiH Parliaments formed the Coordination on Wednesday that demands annulling of the aforementioned decision as well as an emergency session of the HDZ Central Board at which inter-party problems as well as a change of the BiH Constitution should be discussed. The representatives also announced that they would take clear stands on strategic national and state interests, especially the Constitution reform, education, economic and welfare issues etc. Commenting on this situation HDZ spokesperson Miso Relota stated that the decision on expelling of 3 HDZ members is grounded in the Statute. He added that the goal of the whole issue is to weaken the HDZ position during the negotiations on the constitutional changes. |
| Comments on establishment of ‘Parliamentary coordination of HDZ’
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 4 ‘HDZ’s parliamentarians forming new party?’, by Anja Vrebac – DL wonders whether the HDZ MPs who established the ‘Parliamentary coordination of HDZ’ will form a new party, however according to Bozo Ljubic, he is not considering forming a new party at the moment. Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16, mentioned on front ‘Disobedience against Covic’, by V. Vegar – argues that the HDZ MPs have in reality and formally shown disobedience towards the current HDZ leadership and confirmed the earlier positions about irregular election of Dragan Covic for the party president, thus siding with Ljubic. Vecernji List, pg 6 ‘Parliamentary coordination of HDZ BiH formed’, by ra – It is also worth noting that VL dedicated very little space to the story, failing to report that the HDZ MPs are against the removal of Ljubic, Merdzo and Raguz. |
|
| Crime/Judiciary/Legal Proceedings |
| Osl.: ‘Mladic is stopping negotiations with EU’
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4 and 5 ‘Mladic is stopping negotiations with EU’ by B. Boskov carries that Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus stated on Tuesday that negotiations with the EU have become very questionable since EU representatives reminded SCiG officials that cooperation with the ICTY is necessary for continuation of these negotiations. Osl. says: ‘If it is true that the official Belgrade does not know as to where Ratko Mladic is hiding then it is hard to predict as to how they would get out of the trap that they got into partly due to their own mistakes since they were maneuvering and prolonging meeting of their obligations towards the ICTY, that they could have done more promptly.’ |
| VL:
| Vecernji List, pgs 12-13, mentioned on front ‘Mladic for Kosovo’, by Zdenko Jurilj -According to VL’s ‘reliable sources’, the Serbian intelligence, with the help of their Russian colleagues, have located movements of Ratko Mladic, after an attempt to move Mladic from Serbia to Russia had failed. VL also writes that talks about Mladic’s surrender have been going on for months already, and according to VL’s source from the ‘intelligence structures’, Mladic will not surrender himself by end of 2005, instead he will turn himself in early 2006 when the future status of Kosovo will be discussed. According to VL, the Mladic surrender will be the key manoeuvre of the |
| Osl. on letter that SDHR Ney sent to Bukejlovic regarding Palic’s case
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Rumors on negotiations with Mladic are getting closer to truth’ by E. Kamenica again carries parts of the letter that Senior Deputy High Representative Martin Ney allegedly sent to RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic regarding the case of Zepa wartime Commander Avdo Palic (see yesterday’s OHR BiH Media Round-up). Osl. reminds that the letter mentions the statements that RS officers Dragomir Pecanac and Radomir Furtula gave with regard to Palic’s disappearance and the article wonders as to how these two have become available since they have been on the list of ICTY fugitives for years. Osl. inset ‘Expectations’ carries that SDHR Ney expects from Bukejlovic to implement by the end of December 2005 a decision of the Human Rights Commission from September 7 this year whose goal is to reveal Palic’s destiny. |
| NN: Karadzic is a member of Society of RS Doctors of Medicine; RS Minister Komljenovic: I will look into this matter
| Nezavisne novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Karadzic is a member of Society of RS Doctors of Medicine’ by G. Maunaga – Hague indictee Radovan Karadzic, together with his wife Ljiljana and daughter Sonja, is a member of Society of RS Doctors of Medicine and this is the reason why Hague investigators have recently visited the Society. The Chairman of Society, Dr. Dusko Vasic, said the Society held a session upon the visit of Hague investigators, but he refused to give more details or say whether Karadzic’s membership would be annulled. RS Minister of Labor Ivo Komljenovic claims he did not know about this and added he would look into this matter. |
| Scorpions trial continues
| BHT, FTV, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Scorpions were under command of RS Army’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘It was demanded that the tape showing execution be exempted from the file’ by Divna Vidakovic – Indictee Pero Petrasevic, one of members of “Scorpions” unit, refused to plead on his guilt until Court Council decides on the suggestion of defense lawyer to exempt the tape showing execution of Srebrenica Muslims from the file. The lawyer has made such a suggestion because ‘not the whole truth can be seen’ from the tape. Inset ‘Indictment hides the truth’ – Investigation – documentation center from |
|
| Hayat Lejla Gutlic – Work of BiH Court and its departments could be brought into question due to lack of means. Namely, |
| SD: Halilovic’s criminal report against Miletic ‘collecting dust’
| Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pgs 16-17 ‘Director of police in swamp of crime’, by Milo Jukic – SD reminds that the FBiH Interior Minister, Mevludin Halilovic, filed with the Cantonal Prosecution in Sarajevo a criminal report against the FBiH Police Administration Director, Zlatko Miletic, charging him with abuse of office/authority. Namely, Halilovic is charging Miletic of overspending because the FBiH MoI authorized Miletic to purchase vehicles in amount of 150.000 KMs, however Miletic made a contract with ‘Hypo Alpe Adria leasing’ worth 1,4 million KMs. SD goes on to say that the criminal report “has been collecting dust” and according to SD, the rumours are that no proceedings have been initiated by the Prosecution because Miletic is good friends with the State Prosecutor, Marinko Jurcevic, and Chief of FBiH Financial Police, Zufer Dervisevic, who are all allegedly a service for the |