TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| CoM adopts changes to VAT law | Consultative meeting on VAT | Terzic, Hadzipasic on VAT |
| HKDU Chair arrested | BiH CC overruled Tihic’s appeal | |
| EUFOR action | Position of Policemen | 11 demands of old foreign savers |
| Dodik for Reuters | Int. Day of Disabled Persons | Davidovic on |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| BiH CC overruled Tihic’s appeal | Old lady killed in Gornji Vakuf | Davidovic on |
| Davidovic on official opening of | EU Police Trade Union in BiH | BIH CC declines Tihic’s request |
| Bukejlovic on police reform | FBiH police work in heavy conditions | Old foreign currency savers |
| EC Police Union assist in reform | Raiffeisen vehicle robbery update | Feature on town Petrovo |
| Oslobodjenje | The authorities announced monitoring of factories and shops |
| Dnevni Avaz | Continuation of |
| Dnevni List | The arrest was orchestrated and politically motivated |
| Vecernji List | Death in Trebizat [report on a car accident] |
| Nezavisne Novine | 300.000 invalids in BiH are endangered [report on the International Day of Disabled Persons] |
| |
| BiH chief negotiator Davidovic: first round of negotiations on
| BHT1, TV Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘First round of talks with EU in mid January’ by Srna – BiH Chief Negotiator Igor Davidovic said that first round of negotiations with EU on Stabilisation and Association Agreement will be held between January 15 and 20, 2006. BiH negotiating team, which will include entities representatives, will work in eight working groups. Davidovic expects the negotiations on FTV – There is no reasonable doubt that RS Government will be pushed out from the negotiations process, said Davidovic. |
| RS PM Bukejlovic: police reform implementation deadline will be shorter than 5 years
| BHT1, TV Hayat, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Bukejlovic: Reform in less than five years’ by f, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Deadline for police reform shorter than five years’ by Agencies, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Less than five years for police reform’ not signed – RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic is of opinion that police reform implementation deadline will be shorter than five years. Bukejlovic said that BiH Council of Ministers is responsible for coming up with the decision on forming Police Reform Directorate. |
| Hays to hold discussions with heads of political parties next week, focus on details re parliament and Presidency
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Continuation of Washington in Sarajevo’ and pg 5 ‘All participants of negotiations want next BiH Government to be established on basis on changes’ by Lana Sinanovic – The coordinator of American Institute for Peace Donald Hays has stated that he expects he would next week continue discussion with heads of political parties on issues they have not agreed upon. ‘We will discuss details with regard to the Parliament and BiH Presidency. I will stay in BiH for seven days and in that time I will start working with parliamentary commissions in order for them to be prepared for development of amendments’, Hays stated. He said all participants of negotiations have expressed their wish to prepare the first phase of reforms in order for the next BiH Government to be established in line with these changes. He said he expects the amendments to be forwarded to the parliamentary procedure in January. |
| CESP will closely monitor police reform in BiH
| FTV, TV Pink, BHT1, TV Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘CESP will closely monitor reform in BiH’ by Fena, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Politicians are speculating with number of policemen’ by N. I. – The Council of European Syndicates of Police [CESP] delegation has officially visited BiH. CESP Secretary General Gerard Grenerom stressed that in order to fulfil European criteria social issues must not be forgotten. CESp claims that their colleagues in BiH cannot be victims of the reform that will surely reduce the number of employed police officers. CESP supports the police reform but also promises to provide help to their colleagues. FBiH Police Trade Union President Hamdo Melez said that none of the police officers should stay unemployed; some of them will be transferred to State Border Service and SIPA. Melez said they have demanded embargo on employing other than police officers in SBS and SIPA, and some privileges in police officers retirement process. FBiH Police Trade Union insists on police certification revision, demanding decertified police officers to be brought back to service. Melez said this would bring lot of confidence to police officers on the streets. |
| Russian Ambassador Schuvalov: | Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘Evolution and consensus’ by Konstantin Schuvalov, Russian Ambassador to BiH – the author says, despite to many critics, there are many reasons to say DPA was a very successful project and he said he is satisfied Russia greatly contributed in establishing peace in BiH. He also expressed support to initiatives for introducing changes to BiH Constitution. |
| William Montgomery: 2006 is crucial for the region
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Crucial 2006’ by William Montgomery – Former American diplomat William Montgomery points out three crucial issues of American and EU interest in the region – Kosovo status, revision of DPA and arresting of Hague indictees, and he adds that the intention of IC in BiH is to strengthen competences of the central authorities and reduce competences of the entities. He also thinks the mentioned problems would stir up nationalistic feelings in the region. He noted that the IC had brought itself to a dead-end street by persistent statements that membership at EU and NATO depends on arresting war criminals. ‘This lies on wrong assumptions that leaders of Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia either know where the Hague indictees are hiding or, if they really wish to arrest them, can put all means and efforts to find them. After more than 10 years of following these topics, I am not sure this is the situation. If this is not the case, what kind of an encouragement would any political leader have, knowing that the path towards Euro-Atlantic integrations would remain blocked over reasons beyond their control?’, Montogomery says. |
| SDA’s Ceman: a team of experts to develop constitutional amendments will be established next week | Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Team of experts will be established as well’ by L. S. – SDA Presidency member Mirsad Ceman confirmed a team of experts will be established at the beginning of the next week, after the negotiations continue, and the team will be tasked with developing amendments on all issues on which an agreement is reached. ‘Representatives of BiH Parliament and CoM will be appointed members of the team’, Ceman stated. |
Other political issues | |
| Grude elections: HKDU Chair Miro Grabovac arrested due to physical attack on policemen
| BHT1 late news update – HDZ’s Viktor Maric won Grude municipality elections with 60% of votes in his favour. Dnevni List cover pg splash ‘The arrest was orchestrated and politically motivated’ and pg 2 ‘Milic: Titan’s arrest was orchestrated and politically motivated’ by Anja Vrebec, Vecernji List pg 2, announced on cover ‘Miro Grabovac was arrested in Titanic’ by Dalibor Ravic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Titan was arrested over the attack on policemen’ announced on cover ‘Chairman of HDU of BiH attacked policemen’ by R. Cengic, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘General Miro Grabovac Titan attacked policemen’ by F. V., Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, announced on cover ‘Was he detained over cursing of the police or because of elections?’ by E. Kamenica – also reported. |
|
| |
| Petar Djokic re-elected to the position of SNSD’s Dodik call on forming of a coalition with
| RTRS, BHT1, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Dodik invited the socialists to jointly run elections’ by D. Bo., Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Djokic was elected president’ by Srna, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Dodik called on the socialists to help him in preserving RS’ by Srna – SP RS has held its 4th congress on Saturday in Banja Luka. Petar Djokic was re-elected as party Chair. SP RS has also decided to abolish the RS from its name since they act in entire BIH area. Djokic stated that SP RS would work on improvement of economy in BiH and development programs. SNSD Chair Milorad Dodik was present at the congress as a guest. Dodik stated that SNSD might form a coalition with SP RS in 2006. “SNSD will reach an agreement with SP RS and DNS on that for sure”, stated Dodik. |
| RS parties comment on political crisis in RS
| BHT1 Zoran Sarenac –DNS requested from RS NA representatives to present their stance on confidence to the RS Government. Vecernji List pg 3 ‘ |
| PDP’s Antonic: greatest achievement of RS Govt is the fact it even existed; SDA’s Jamakosmanovic: accusations against RS Govt are nothing new; | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Antonic: This RS Government’s greatest achievement was the fact it even existed’ by S. Skuletic – Upon the latest OHR warning saying RS Government is obstructing BiH’s European path, PDP’s Gavrilo Antonic stated it is obvious RS Government is not implementing reform laws and said PDP does not want to be a part of those who are obstructing BiH. SDA Deputy President Sead Jamakosmanovic says there is nothing new with regard to the latest accusations against RS Government, adding that previous warnings gave no result. SNSD’s Nikola Spiric says the main reason for such a situation is non-existence of individuals in executing authorities. |
| SDU Gorazde appeals to Silajdzic to return to the head of the party
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Mister Silajdzjic, time is serious’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘They ask from Silajdzic to return to the head of the party’ by Fena – Delegates of the Election Assembly of SDU party from Gorazde on Saturday sent an official appeal to the founder of this party, Haris Silajdzic, to return to the head of the party, because of seriousness of time BiH is passing through and because of overall political relations in the country and world. |
| Halilovic and Dokic: BiH authorities must react to Peljesac bridge issue, borders and
| TV Hayat By Senad Hadzifejzovic– Guests of tonight’s “Face to Face” were BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic and BiH Minister of Transport and Communications Branko Dokic. They talked about current issues that BiH has with |
| Geo-political professor Busatlija claims Small and Big Skoi islands belong to BiH
| TV Hayat By Senka Hadzovic – Introducing this report, Editor comments that disputable two islands (Small and Big Skoj) are 10 kilometres of sea space, stressing that if Croatia is claiming them then there has to something valuable about them, which means that by taking these two islands Croatia would prevent any idea for building of a port in Neum. Reporter brings comments of Geopolitical Professor Ibrahim Busatljia who stressed that these territories belong to BiH and Reporter explained that these borders were established by the agreement signed in 1999 by Presidents Alija Izetbegovic and Franjo Tudjman, and six years later representatives of Croatian Parliament refused to ratify it, claiming that Croatia would gifted them to BiH. |
| TV Hayat appeals to the State to register its property, return what was stolen, sold or leased | TV Hayat By Nevzeta Skrijelj – Introducing this report, Editor stressed that they want to force the State to register its property, to return what was stolen, sold and leased. Report brings two stories, on military property in Lukavica (where State Prison should be build) and on Terminal Dretelj, which are proves of absurd and crime. |
| TV Hayat: diplomatic scandal in Mostar on the occasion of visit of Slovakian President
| TV Hayat By Alija Behram – Story features on “diplomatic scandal” which happened in Mostar, during the visit of Slovakian President, when Branimir Kacic, officer of Mostar City Protocol, said that: “It was much damaged during the war and at the end it has fallen from consequences of the war”. The reporter comments that this has crossed the line and caused resentment of Mostar citizens, who saw this as yet another attempt to hide the history and the fact that artillery of HVO has destroyed the Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Embitterment over the statement on the |
| F BiH PM Hadzipasic: we will demand prices of electricity in F BiH not to be increased | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘F BiH Government will demand for prices of electricity not to be increased’ by A. Dzonlic – F BiH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic has stated that the F BiH Government will forward a request to Elektroprivreda and FERK not to increase prices of electricity in F BiH, because this move would not have been economically grounded. |
Economy/old foreign currency savings | |
| CoM Chairman Terzic and F BiH PM Hadzipasic met F BiH and Cantonal representatives, discussed activities with regard to VAT implementation
| TV Pink, BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘The authorities announced visits to factories and shops’ by H. A., Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Operative teams will control prices’ announced on cover ‘Rigorous controls of prices to follow’ by R. Cengic, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Terzic: to introduce drastic penalties for groundless increase in prices’, announced on cover ‘Drastic penalties for groundless increases in prices’ by A. Malagic – During the second consultative meeting, Chairman of Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic and FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic have met with FBiH and Cantonal representatives to discuss the continuance of activities in implementation of social programs, with regard to VAT implementation. A special accent was put on the establishment of a team for monitoring of prices, which should prevent traders to abuse VAT to gain extra-profit. CoM stated from that on next Saturday Terzic should meet with RS Prime Minister, representatives and Heads of Municipalities. BHT1 Sanita Lisica-Biberovic – Social programs have not yet be prepared, comments the reporter adding that there is less than a month left till the VAT introduction starts. FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic said there is a possibility that there will be no money for social help if budgets are not adopted by the end of the year. FTV – reports on the meeting and says representatives of FBiH Ministry of Social Policy presented social program worth 25 million KM. Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘The authorities announced visits to factories and shops’ by H. A. – also reports a special attention will be paid to social policy and activation of mechanisms for protection of population. F BiH earmarked approximately 25 million KM from the next year’s budget for this purpose, RS earmarked 20 million KM, while Brcko District should earmark approximately 5 million KM. |
| Old foreign currency savers demand single law regulating the matter to be adopted, demand payment of savings in next 5 years
| FTV, BHT1, RTRS, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Payment of savings in five years’ by B. S., Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘They demand for single law on payment of foreign currencies’ by D. B., Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘They demand for payment latest in five years’ by Fena, Oslobodjenje pg 6, announced on cover ‘Single law, payment in five years’ by O. Vukovic– Old foreign currency savers association President Svetozar Nisic expressed his satisfaction with the decision of BiH Constitutional Court that has ordered BiH Council of Ministers to adopt the law on old foreign savings at the state level in three months period. Old foreign currency savers also demand their savings to be proclaimed the state’s public debt and paid in five-year period, starting from March 2006. |
Miscellaneous | |
| Prijedor Bosniaks announce bringing a lawsuit against Municipality and RS | Oslobodjenje pg 8, announced on cover ‘Collective lawsuit against the Municipality and RS’ by B. Kahrimanovic – Prijedor Bosniaks launched an initiative for petition signing to bring a lawsuit against Prijedor Municipality and RS because of the fact returnees in this town are deprived of their rights, and because of material and immaterial damage caused to them during the war. |
| 29 small hydropower plants will be constructed near Konjic
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ’29 small hydropower plants will be constructed near Konjic’ by M. C. – A concession was granted to “Elektroprivreda” Konjic to construct 29 small hydropower plants in Neretvica and Kalinovacka Ljuta basins. Elektroprivreda BiH will realize this project in cooperation with Turbo institute from |