OHR BiH Media Round-up, 11/10/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

Main hearing in Covic case today

RS MoI again searches for Zupljanin

McNair on Jelavic’s case

FBiH HOR adopts rebalance budget

Jovic wants UNESCO help for educ.

World news

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

BIH Court on Jelavic

Action of RS Police and EUFOR

WN: 40,000 killed in earthquake

Franciscans ask Del Ponte’s apology

Brcko Prosecution on war crimes

Tihic’s telegram of condolence

RS MoI searches Zupljanin’s house

Trial of Zeljko Tasovac

Police searches Zupljanin’s house

FBIH Government session

FBiH Gov. passed police agreement

Momcilo Krajisnik’s case

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

World News

Parent’s Council protest in Zepce

Schefer welcomes reforms in BIH

HR explains police agreement

Feature on increase of prices in BiH

RS MoI searches Zupljanin’s house

Update to Jelavic case

Problems with milk production

War crimes processing in Brcko

Street names in Sarajevo

Invalids discontented with law

Lukic still not dismissed

Oslobodjenje

HR Ashdown on police reform: In five years BiH will have only one police minister

Dnevni Avaz

Prosecutor McNair: Jelavic case will not be transferred to Croatia

Dnevni List

Owners of LT Gospodarska bank, the Matkovic brothers, arrested

Vecernji List

Minister V. Skare-Ozbolt: Ante Jelavic cannot be extradited

Slobodna Dalmacija

Battle for Germany at Marakana (football World Cup qualifier)

Glas Srpske

Searches in three locations

Nezavisne Novine

Either census or blockade of budget

Blic

Panic is unnecessary, yet caution is needed [bird-flu issue]

Vecernje Novosti

Features Serbia related headlines

Srpski Nacional

Features Serbia related headlines

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

RS MoI: Search for Zupljanin underway

BH Radio 1 – RS Police this morning conducted the search of five residential buildings in the village of Zupljani near Kotor Varos in an effort to arrest ICTY suspect Stojan Zupljanin. The police has not arrested anybody, but confiscated several computers and documentation.  EUFOR was also present.

EU’s Solana: EC to assess BiH feasibility study requirements fulfilment as soon as police reform agreement is adopted

BH Radio 1 – Spokesperson for the EU High Representative Javier Solana, Kritisna Gallach,expressed hope BiH would be able to open the talks on the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU by the end of year. She added that as soon as police reform agreement is official adopted at the BiH level, the EC would than assess whether all Feasibility Study conditions have been met.

FBiH HoR adopts 2005 Budget re-balance

BH Radio 1 Ljiljana Radl – FBiH House of Representatives adopted the proposal for budget rebalance for this year, but without Government’s amendment which delays the implementation of the law on civil victims of the war from 1 July to 1 October this year. This will mean that additional 16 million KM will be used for these benefits. The FBiH HoR will also hold the extraordinary session in the afternoon to discuss the Agreement on police reform, endorsed by the Government last night. 

Political Developments/Reforms

HR Ashdown: In five years BiH will have only one police minister

Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 6 ‘In five years there will be just one Interior Minister in BIH’ by A. Omeragic – The HR Paddy Ashdown stresses in an interview to daily it is of crucial importance for the Federal and BiH Parliaments to adopt the Agreement on police reform by the end of this week. Asked whether he expects any problems with the adoption, especially having in mind that the SDA delegates in the RSNA did not endorse it, Ashdown did not want to be specific adding nothing is over until everything is over. “I am aware of the certain doze of concern, as text of the agreement is not concrete enough, but there are guarantees that the reform will be successful. The EC and US will act as the control power which will ensure respect of the three principles. If that doesn’t happen we will ensure appropriate sanctions are undertaken… The goal is clear: single police structure at the state level with state powers. That means that until the end of reform implementation [five years] there will be no more police ministers at the lower levels and police regions will be established based on technical, not political criteria. And they will cross inter-entity border line where necessary,” says Ashdown noting that this could be a case especially in Sarajevo , area between Foca and Gorazde and Bijeljina and Tuzla .

TV Hayat – Speaking for NTV Hayat, High Representative Paddy Ashdown wanted to cease/deny all speculations on police agreement passed by RSNA, confirming that police will definitely be organized on the State level, that police regions will cross entities’ lines and that heavy sanctions will be imposed against those who try to obstruct the implementation. HR stressed that strong presence of international police will supervise the implementation of the agreement and that so will be done by Americans. HR doesn’t believe that RS will return to old policy of obstructionism.

EU’s Solana on start of SAA talks with BiH

BHT Elvir Bucalo – At the regular session of EU Committee for Politics and Security, participants discussed the latest developments in BiH. “At the end of the day solution has been found, and it will give the possibility for the beginning of negotiations with BiH. That is god news for everybody: for us, for BiH and all its citizens and state structures”, stated EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana. EU is ready to start the negotiations with BiH by the end of the year, as soon as the procedure of adopting the police reform agreement in all Parliaments is completed, and the law on Public Broadcasting System is adopted. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Scheffer and Solana welcomed reforms’ by G. G., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Large fish must go to the Hague’ by Beta also carried Solana’s statement.

FBiH Government adopted the agreement on police reform

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘FBiH Government sent the agreement to the Parliament’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘FBiH Government adopted the agreement on police reform’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Federation of BiH Government supports unified police’ by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 10 ‘Government adopted agreement on police restructuring’ by F – FBIH Government adopted the agreement on police restructuring in BIH at a session held on in Sarajevo Monday. The Government sent the agreement, which has already been adopted by RS National Assembly and BiH Council of Ministers, to FBIH Parliament for further procedure.

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Unknown date of the adoption of the Agreement’ by R. Cengic also covered the issue.

RSNA Speaker Stojicic: Agreement on police reform confirmed three EU principles

Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Agreement on police reform confirmed three EU principles’ – In an interview with the Banja Luka-based ATV, RSNA Speaker Dusan Stojicic said that the agreement on police reform proposed by RS President Dragan Cavic and adopted by RS parliament had confirmed three EU principles.

EC endorses Agreement on police reform, urges parliaments to adopt it without changes

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Agreement on police reform endorsed’ by S.N. – DA learns that the European Commission supported the Agreement on the police reform adopted by the RSNA last week. The letter sent to the BiH Council of Ministers Chair, Adnan Terzic, the EU Enlargement Commission, Olli Rehn, stresses that the English version of the Agreement meets all 3 EC principles. “To enable the EU to open negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement, I very much hope this agreement will be supported by the CoM and FBiH Parliament immediately, and then by the BiH Parliament,” reads that letter which also underlines that these institutions must endorse the Agreement without any changes. The Head of EC delegations in BiH, Michael Humphreys, welcomed the session of the BiH CoM on Friday at which Ministers adopted the agreement on police.

VL on police reform proposal: Document does not speak about details

Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘RS can be police region’, by Milan Sutalo – Commenting on the proposal of police reform, which was adopted by the RSNA, BiH CoM and now the FBIH Government, Sutalo says the document, apart from accepting the 3 EC’s principles, does not speak much about other details. Namely, notices the author, it does not specifically state that the RS cannot be one police area, however it does say that the police reform agreement must adhere to constitutions of the RS and BIH, which can be used by Banja Luka (RS authorities) when drawing of police areas maps starts to take place.

SCG Ambassador Vukicevic: Brussels showed interest for this region did not disappear

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Brussels showed interest for this region did not disappear’by A.M. – SCG Ambassador to BiH, Stanimir Vukicevic, told press conference on Monday that openings SAA talks with SCG was a significant event not only for his country, but entire region. “As for BiH, I think that the positive signals from Brussels towards Belgrade and Zagreb are very significant for BiH too… [Now] it is lucky that BiH de-blocked this process and that it expects to open talks in near future,” says Vukicevic. Asked whether the green light for SCG changed the RSNA’s stance on police reform, Vukicevic said: “Not directly, as there were no direct contacts between Belgrade and Banja Luka on that issue… But, even the fact that SCG received such signal perhaps influence the public in BiH, including RS.”

EC’s Humphreys welcomes BiH CoM decision to adopt police reform agreement, urges FBiH Government, parliaments to do the same

Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Document adopted under the European principles’ – Head of EC Mission in BiH Michael Humphries has welcomed the decision of BiH Council of Ministers to accept the agreement on police reconstruction already adopted by RSNA. Humphreys urged FBiH Government, FBiH and BiH Parliaments to do the same.

British Ambassador Rycroft: Police areas will cross inter-entity border

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Police areas will cross inter-entity border’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Crossing of inter-entity boundaries is possible’ by Agencies – The Ambassador of Great Britain in BiH, Matthew Rycroft, on Monday stated that crossing inter-entity boundaries would be possible in case the Directorate in charge of the implementation of police reform assesses it is necessary for certain regions to cross boundaries due to technical police reasons.

RS PM Bukejlovic: Let’s save what can be saved

Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Let’s save what can be saved’ by Dubravka Vujanovic – Daily carries an interview with Pero Bukejlovic, RS Premier, who speaks of police reform consequences, Dragan Cavic’s mistakes and survival of entity. Daily notes that RS Premier was against adoption of the police reform proposal last week presented by Cavic. Bukejlovic says Agreement bears an enormous danger RS will not be capable of opposing attempts of OHR regarding IEBL crossing and introduction of unified police structures. He claims that prior to adoption of this concept, RS Government has received some positive signals from Brussels indicating Government’s proposal was possible (which guaranteed existence of RS MoI within BiH police force and separate budget). He claims that RS Government was not informed of parallel talks with international officials on police reform – otherwise, RS Government would have attempted to take part in that process. He doubts implementation process would last five years, but instead we should not be surprised if solutions are reached by October next year. On relations with Cavic, Bukejlovic says SDS is going through hard times, without providing question to journalists’ question whether the issue of Cavic’ responsibility should be raised before SDS Presidency. He says he will not tender resignation.

SRS leader Mihajlica: Bukejlovic left without SDS support

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘SRS leader Mihajlica: Bukejlovic left without SDS support’, FENA – President of the Serb Radical Party (SRS) Milanko Mihajlica on Monday said that the leaderships of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) and the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) have gotten closer in regard to their stands on many issues and that SDS does not support the Government of Pero Bukejlovic. Mihajlica said that the similarity in stands of SDS and SNSD has been visible over the past months, and that SDS practically does not support the Government of Pero Bukejlovic, which consists of 90 percent of this party’s members, and that it seeks answers to the key questions from SNSD. 

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Agreement is unclear’ by D. Mo. Carried SRS’s Milanko Mihajlica’s statement re police reform. The article also reads Mihajlica noted SRS is not satisfied with the work of CoM.

DA: Cavic under KOS’ attack?

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘KOS attacks Cavic?’, mentioned on cover, by E. Sarac – DA learns from the sources close to the international intelligence that the SDS/ RS President Dragan Cavic in the past year has been under attack of the KOS, the ex Yugoslav counter-intelligence service which was supposedly shot down however is still active. DA says tat former military and intelligence officials of the former Yugoslav People’s Army [JNA] are involved with KOS today, and they are ready to stop the police reform in BiH with an aim to stop its progress towards the Europe. This would not only leave BIH behind SCG, but it would also open space for possible exchange of the territories of Kosovo and RS, reads the article. It speculates that Dragan Cavic has been mixing with these plans by making deals with the IC, which has started the plan to intimidate him. Twice he was in the focus of these attacks, says DA – first time when he was fixed up with the story that RS MoI Dragan Matijasevic ordered police to wiretap him [Cavic], and second when again Matijasevic ordered his security to be followed around. Article speculates that Matijasevic is part of this network, as well as Dragan Andan and a number of other officials, unofficially about 20 of them in total at the high level positions. 

SDHR Ney visits Mostar

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘More dynamic dialogue between citizens and authorities’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 10 ‘Ney: To pass ‘Mostar Platform’ ‘ by M. Landeka – Senior Deputy High Representative Martin Ney talked in Mostar on Monday with representatives of non-government organizations from the area of Mostar and Herzegovina about finding the way on the ground of which the OHR can help in establishing of more dynamic dialogue and partnership between the authority and non-government sector. After the meeting Ney stated that it was proposed to pass the so-called Mostar Platform, which represents a forum that will gather 10 non-government organizations, representatives of the Mostar City Administration, Mostar City Council and business sector. Also reported by Dnevni List pg 13 ‘Authority and non-government organizations together in Mostar Platform’ by S. Bjelica, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Ney visited Mostar’ not signed, Nezavisne novine pg 8 ‘Mostar platform soon’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Let citizens’ voice be heard as well’ not signed. 

Meeting of Croat political parties: New BiH Constitution necessary

FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘New BiH Constitution necessary’, Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘New constitution for true rights for Croats’, by Vlatko Ivankovic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 10 ‘Constitution should ensure equality of Croats’, by M. Landeka, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Ready for new Constitution’ inset ‘Covic’ by Srna – report from 5^th meeting of Croat parties, which was held in Mostar on Monday in organization of the HDZ. (NB: dailies do not list participants) According to a written statement issued after the meeting, participants agreed that in order to make sure that the Croats become equal to other two peoples in BiH, a new constitution ought to be enacted in a parliamentary procedure, through consensus of all three peoples and with a help of the IC. Participants also noted that the dis-empowering of the cantons and turning of the FBIH into a pure Bosniak entity is ongoing, therefore there need to be steps that will prevent that.

HDZ’s Covic meets with OSCE’s Davidson: HDZ advocates for adoption of new state Constitution

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘HDZ advocates for adoption of new state Constitution’, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘HDZ wants changes to Election Law’, by I. G., Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Covic: HDZ for new BiH Constitution’, by V. I. – President of HDZ BiH, Dragan Covic, met with the OSCE Chief of Mission to BiH, Douglas Davidson, at the HDZ HQ in Mostar on Monday. They discussed, among other issues, the political and economic situation and necessity to carry out constitutional changes in BiH. With regards to the latter, Covic stressed that the HDZ will advocate for a new BIH Constitution that must be enacted in the parliamentary procedure with the help of IC, and which should be enacted by general elections in 2006. Covic also pointed out to the need for changes to the BiH Election Law.

NHI leader Zubak: Croats should not give up on third federal unit

Vecernji List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘We must not reject establishment of Croat federal unit’, by Miroslav Vasilj – Carries an interview with the NHI leader, Kresimir Zubak, who took part in the abovementioned meeting. Questioned whether the Croats should abandon the idea of having the third entity in case the RS stays in place, Zubak says that the idea of a Croat federal unit must not be rejected. Zubak also notes that it will be hard to expect from the US to scrap the DPA and abolish the RS because they sponsored the DPA. He also says that there needs to be a new constitution in place because the current BiH cannot function on present foundations.

SDA, SDS, HDZ reactions to HR statement: Parties must go through reforms

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Novakovic: Parties must go through reforms until next elections’ by A. Malagic – Commenting the statement the HR Paddy Ashdown gave in an interview to DA on Saturday, in which he said that the nationalistic parties will disappear unless they go through reforms, the SDS Main Board member Momcilo Novakovic says that reforms are necessary and unavoidable. “If these parties fail to do so, than they will stay at the right wing which will mean their inability to take part in authorities regardless to the election result. We would not be the first country where this happened… just remember case with Austria,” comments Novakovic adding he believes that Ashdown’s warning is related to the deadline, i.e. urges changes by the next elections. “These parties are missing a single concept when it comes to functioning of the authorities. This is what party’s reforms must achieve,” concludes Novakovic. SDA Vice President, Sead Jamakovic, says it was unfair for the HR to include SDA in his remark: “At the latest Convention, SDA was honored by presence of the European People’s Party and nobody called it nationalistic… There is a lot to do, but I think we are on the right path.” Martin Raguz, a member of HDZ Presidency, comments that HDZ is in different situation than others as HDZ also has an observer status in the EPP. However, he adds there is certainly lot more that is to be done. Commenting HR’s remark that the correspondence HDZ has with EPP around Dragan Covic’s election is an opportunity for new beginning for HDZ, Raguz responds: “We have to respect decision of such powerful political group and… I think that HDZ will be tested in this case. I still cannot say that the response is positive, but we’ll see. Anticlimax is to follow.”

Serb delegates at HoR supported SNSD’s initiative: either census or blockade of budget adoption

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Either census or blockade of budget’ and pg 3 ‘Census is pre-requisite for the adoption of budget’ by V. Popovic – Serb delegates at BiH HoR supported the initiative of SNSD not to vote for the adoption of 2006 budget unless the budget earmarks funds for financing of census in BiH. The following parties will support the initiative: SDS, PDP, SPRS, Democratic Forum and SRS “Dr. Vojislav Seselj”. SPRS’s Tihomir Gligoric and Mirko Blagojevic from SRS “Dr. Vojislav Seselj” accused SDA of opposing to census because it manipulates with the number of war victims. Deputy Chairman of BiH HoR Sefik Dzaferovic warned Serb delegates they will bear consequences should they block the adoption of budget.

Organised Crime/War Crimes/PfP

Prosecutor McNair: Jelavic case will not be transferred to Croatia

BHT, Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Jelavic case would not be ceded to Croatia’ and pg 2 ‘We shall not cede ‘Hercegovacka Banka’ case to anyone’ by S.T. – Prosecutor John McNair stated that there is no any possibility to cede any part of the Ante Jelavic case to the Croatian judiciary. He added that the cases for which verdicts have been passed could not be ceded to other countries. McNair also said that the BiH Prosecution does not have any official information that Jelavic is in Croatia. Spokesperson of the BiH Court Refik Hodzic also confirmed this information.

Croatian Justice Minister Skare-Ozbolt: Jelavic will not be extradited

FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Skare-Ozbolt: Jelavic will not be extradited’, Vecernji List, front pg splash and pg 5 ‘Jelavic cannot be extradited’, by Zoran Kresic – According to the Croatian Justice Minister, Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, she has not received anything related to Ante Jelavic, no international arrest warrant, or arrest or extradition warrant from BiH. Explaining the legal proceedings, the Minister says Jelavic cannot be extradited in case he has the Croatian citizenship, adding that BiH can ask that Jelavic serves the prison sentence in Croatia when the verdict become fully valid.

Oslobodjenje: Croatian police not searching for Jelavic

Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Croatian police does not look after Ante Jelavic’ by A. Nezirovic carries spokesperson of the Croatian Ministry of Interior Zlatko Mehun as saying that there are no any new information with regard to the Ante Jelavic case and this means that in spite of announcements Jelavic has not turned himself in to the Croatian authorities. Mehun also said that Croatia does not carry out criminal persecution of other countries over its citizens. He explained that the Croatian MoI reacts according to the decisions passed by the Croatian Ministry of Justice.

SIPA: Jelavic is still on the run

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Jelavic still on the run’ by M. R. – SIPA on Monday confirmed it still searches for former Chairman of BiH HDZ and former BiH Presidency member Ante Jelavic. ‘We do not have any official information. We do not want to comment on allegations saying Jelavic is in Croatia’, SIPA said.

BiH Court Chairwoman Kreso sends letter to Ashdown: To increase number of local judges in department for organized crime

RHB, BHT, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘To increase number of local judges in department for organized crime’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Decreasing the number of international judges’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Large number of foreign judges leave state court’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Reduce number of international judges’ by vr, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Establishment of 2^nd Department of BiH Court at the beginning of 2006’ by Agencies, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Less foreign judges’ by N. Zelenovic – BIH Court Chair Medzida Kreso sent a letter to HR Paddy Ashdown suggesting a gradual decrease of number of international judges in organised crime department of BIH Court. Kreso thanked HR for his continuous support to BIH Court and reminded him of transition strategy of department 1 for war crimes that has been coordinated with OHR. According to that strategy Court councils should now consist of 2 local and 1 international judges.

RS MoI raided house of war crimes indictee Stojan Zupljanin

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Police seized equipment, documentation’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Failed search for Zupljanin’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘MoI: Search after The Hague indictees’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘EUFOR failed to find Stojan Zupljanin’ by B. Stevandic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 21 ‘Failed search after Zupljanin’ by A. Macanovic – The RS MoI units on Monday raided house of war crime indictee Stojan Zupljanin in Banja Luka. RS MoI spokesperson Radovan Pejic confirmed that apart from this action the RS police also search a flat in Celinac and gas station in Moslovari.

Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Searches in three locations’ by E. G. S. – Search for Hague indictee Stojan Zupljanin continued, RS police and EUFOR searched Zupljanin’s house in Banja Luka, a firm of his sons in Kotor Varos and houses of Dane and Milofinka Ristic in Celinac. RS Police Spokesperson Radovan Pejic stated no person was arrested, yet some computers and documents were confiscated.

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘House and gas-station of Stojan Zupljanin were searched’, announced on cover ‘Search for Stojan Zupljanin continues’ by R. Segrt – also reports on the search.

RS MoI: Karadzic and Mladic are not in RS

RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Karadzic and Mladic are not in RS’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Searches in three locations’ by E. G. S. inset ‘Karadzic and Mladic’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Karadzic and Mladic are not in RS’ by R. S.  – RS MoI spokesperson Radovan Pejic stated in Banja Luka on Monday that, according to all available information, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are not hiding in RS.  He added that RS Police would arrest them if they receive information on their whereabouts.

NATO Commander Weber meets with BiH Foreign Minister Ivanic: Cooperation with the Hague a main condition for PfP

RHB, Pink, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Cooperation with the Hague a main condition for PfP’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘War crime indictees are obstacle to BiH progress’, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Arrest of war criminals is important for stability of region’, by NINA – NATO BIH Commander Louis Weber met with BIH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic. They concluded that the arrest of ICTY indictees is of the outmost importance for stability in the region. Weber and Ivanic also spoke about current political and economical situation in BIH as well as reforms that are ongoing in BIH.

NATO SG Scheffer: It is of great importance that RS fully cooperates with The Hague

BHT, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘It is of great importance that RS fully cooperates with The Hague’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Scheffer and Solana welcomed reforms’ by G. G., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Large fish must go to the Hague’ by Beta – NATO General Secretary Jaap De Hoop Schefer welcomed defence and police reforms in BIH. He however warned that there would be no positive news for BIH particularly with regard to BiH’s admission to PfP until Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic are extradited to ICTY.

SD announces trials to ‘Covic and others’, lists other alleged illegalities

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16-17 ‘Connection with Lijanovici is judicial noose for Covic’, by Zlatko Tulic – Announces the beginning of trials to Dragan Covic and others scheduled for today (Tuesday) at the BiH Court. The article retells charges against the suspects, stressing that when it comes to Covic, that the BiH Prosecution is charging him with exemption of the ‘Lijanovici’ company from paying tax duties and that Covic had secured the company a privileged position on the BiH market. Slobodna Dalmacija, pgs 16-17, mentioned on front ‘State damaged for 47 million KMs?’, by Tomislav Zoric – retells charges against Covic as in the article above, reminding of a statement by prosecutor John McNair from October last year when he stated that Covic is a suspect in several other investigations. In light of that statement, SD lists cases in which Covic is allegedly involved, namely ‘Eronet’ case (illegal transfer of shares), ‘Soko’ (illegal privatization), ‘Mondo’, ‘Croat self-rule’, ‘Hercegovacka bank’ and allegations according to which he and Edhem Bicakcic (former FBIH PM) illegally allocated 11 million KMs from budget reserves in 2000.

VL: OHR, HR Ashdown influence proceedings against ‘Covic and others’

Vecernji List, pgs 4-5 ‘Processes against Croats’, by Zoran Kresic – The author comments on the start of proceedings against Dragan Covic saying that the proceedings are affected by the verdict in the Jelavic case. Kresic notes that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, removed Covic as soon as the indictment got confirmed, “sentencing him before the verdict was passed”, by which the HR seriously affected the future proceedings. Moreover, Kresic notes that the HR was not as diligent in the ‘Dokic’ case, by which Ashdown did not want to cause new ‘quakes’ in the RS, to which he (Ashdown) gave in regarding the police regions. Finally, VL says there are many other examples of the OHR interfering into this case. Namely, VL says OHR’s ‘experts’ were tapping the indictees’ mobile phones and downloading SMS messages from them, whilst Ashdown’s legal advisors, such as Eric Larsson, suddenly became a prosecutor in the case.

Economic/Social Issues

BiH HoR body rejects SDP-proposed amendments to VAT law

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘A single 17-precent VAT rate remains’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘VAT on bread as well’ by M. Cubro – The BiH HoR Commission for Budget and Finances rejected the SDP proposed amendment to the VAT law, which means that a single VAT rate of 17 percent is to be in effect. 

100 000 signatures supporting SDP’s proposal of changes to Law on VAT

Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Change of Law on VAT certain’ not signed reports that SDP has gathered over 100 000 signatures of BiH citizens as a support to proposals of the law on changes and amendments to the Law on VAT and the Law on Excise Tax that SDP representatives forwarded to the parliamentary procedure. Sarajevo media, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 inset ‘BiH SDP : 100.000 signatures for changes to VAT Law’ also covered the issue.

Vc corridor: Three thirds of the highway are profitable

BHT, Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Three thirds of the highway are financially profitable/construction will be covered by profit’, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 10 ‘6.2 billion KMs for 337 kilometres’, by Z. Rerig, Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Start of building of highway in one year’, by Erna Mackic – BiH Minister for Traffic and Communications, Branko Dokic, stated at a press conference held in Sarajevo on Monday that the process of making of arrangements for Corridor Vc should be completed towards end of next year, when BiH will have a clearer picture who and how will be building the Corridor Vc. Dokic noted that the price of the project is estimated at 6,2 billion KMs.

Education

University professor Lukic case

RTRS Sladjana Jasarevic – Although the deadline set by OHR for dismissal of Radomir Lukic from the position of dean at Eastern Sarajevo Law faculty expired on Monday the dismissal hasn’t occurred. Lukic stated that he will continue to perform his job whilst RS Government repeated that OHR’s decision must be obeyed. OHR Spokesman Mario Brkic stated that OHR holds RS Ministry of Education responsible for implementation of their decision.  Chancellor of EasternSarajevoUniversity Mitar Novakovic stated that the Law faculty is not a political institution and therefore Lukic should not be dismissed. Jovan Bunjavcevic from Eastern Sarajevo University student organisation feels that OHR’s decision is disturbing the autonomy of the University. Bunjavcevic also stated that students will file a lawsuit against RS Government for insisting on Lukic’s dismissal since according to them they are violating the law. RS Government has announced appropriate measures if OHR’s decision is not implemented.

Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Radomir Lukic was not removed’ by G. Maunaga – Daily reports on a statement of East Sarajevo University Rector, Mitar Novakovic, qualifying RS Government’ decision on Radomir Lukic as political interference and severe violation of University’s autonomy. He added: “RS Government has no authority over appointments and removals at Universities. This job is to be performed by Law Faculty Council.” Daily also carries a statement of Ljiljana Radetic, OHR Spokesperson, saying: “OHR is encouraged with the reaction of the RS Government However what we want is evidence of the implementations where prime responsibility for this still rests with RS Ministry of Education.” According to inset ‘Support of students to Lukic’, EastSarajevoUniversity students have been signing petition for few days now opposing to removal of Lukic. Students have also announced bringing charges against RS Government and its Premier Pero Bukejlovic for slander if he once again repeats his stance “that students are being manipulated with in this case.”.

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Faculty is not a firm’ by Z.Domazet – reports on Monday’s meeting between Mitar Novakovic and Faculty Deans, University Council and students, which concluded that neither RS Government or HR Paddy Ashdown can interfere in field of specialization and science.

EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Deadline expired, Council’s decision awaited for’, announced on cover ‘University defending Lukic’ by Mirna Soja – also carries Novakovic’s statement, reports on Monday’s meeting of Rector’s Office and statement by Radetic. Daily notes that according to Radetic, OHR should today announce new details related to “Lukic case”.

NN op-ed on Lukic

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Lukic’s fight’ by Aleksandar Sekulic – Writing about the issue of Radomir Lukic, the author reminds of Lukic’s biography, which, inter alia, reads he was one of favorites of Radovan Karadzic, also member of RS delegation whenever it was to hold some talks, his secure residence in Belgrade, and akin. Sekulic underlines that this Serb of interest does not hold back from placing conditions now as he was doing in the past.

Jovic at UNESCO General Conference: UNESCO should play more important role in education area

Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Assistance in reconstruction of 3 religious facilities promised’ not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Jovic: Cultural differences should be preserved’ by Z. Zekic – Chairman of the BiH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic addressed on Monday attendants of a plenary part of the 33^rd UNESCO General Conference in Paris. Jovic reminded that the UNESCO considerably contributed to improving the situation in many domains in BiH, however, he also stressed that the UNESCO should play a more important role in the education process. Sarajevo media also covered the issue.