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| Eronet shares | Security issues next | Eronet shares | Snow in BiH |
| Threats in Mostar | CRO gov. on HVO soldiers | Como’s trial | Cavic on RS |
| A minister passes OHR test | New ICTY indictments | Presidency got ‘Orao’ rep. | OHR to finalise the vetting |
| Milan Milutinovic | UN inspectors in Iraq |
| SFOR on raid of ‘St. John’ |
| Oslobodjenje | Instead of FBiH, Eronet granted to Grude municipality; RS Day marked in a smaller entity – state is nothing but a letter on a paper; The tender open for property care – as of today, it will be easier for veterans to get their properties back |
| Dnevni Avaz | The snow blocked the entire BiH; Tihic – each form of extremism is a blow to the state; A tender open for veterans’ loans; Mandic paying Karadzic’s insurance?; Below Tito’s villas secret hallways; |
| Dnevni List | Croatian government on rights of Croat war victims from BiH – Croat victims from BiH become BiH’s concern: IMF approved payment of overdue pensions; Barisa Colak – new Federation government in two weeks |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Slavo Kukic accuses Toby Robinson of being in service of colonists – Deutsche Telekom gets the license for mobile phones without a single mark; Beneficiaries in Herceg Bosna Canton revolted – Christmas bonus only to government officials |
| Glas Srpski | Blizzard in the RS – the winter shows its face; Agricultural production: arable land choked with weeds |
| Nezavisne Novine | The winter shows its real face – snowstorm in Bosnia; Candidates for BiH Council of Ministers still being checked – SDS candidate Mirko Mijatovic disputable for OHR; Affairs – Minister Bukejlovic works against ‘Birac’ Company |
| FRY Nacional | Arrest of General Mladic failed; Milutinovic peacefully to the Hague; Momcilo Trajkovic: Djindjic’s statement on a new Dayton brave move |
| Blic | 11th anniversary of RS celebrated; Djeric head of Ministry of Interior Affairs?; Frederiksen: Police must protect returnees; Prosper: The RS authorities must find Karadzic |
Economic Affairs | |
| Eronet
| Oslobodjenje pg. 1 and 3, Avaz pg. 11 ‘Mehmedic requested holding of an extraordinary FBiH government session’ – reactions to the decision by Toby Robinson to sell certain Eronet shares to the Grude municipality. “This proves that BiH is going towards three-parts division,” stated Besim Mehmedic, FBiH Urbanism and Communication Minister. He said the FBiH government, but also the CoM, had to declare their positions on the problem and find the way to return both Eronet and HPT Mostar under the state ownership. If not, Mehmedic predicts that state will not be able to influence the telecommunications and the revenues from this sector would go to Croatia. (Croatian Telecom is the biggest share holder in Eronet and since 4,48 % of the Eronet capital has been transferred to the municipality ownership the company has automatically gained right to receiving GSM license without a tender being issued and with a symbolical payment). Resad Zutic, Director of the FBiH Privatisation Agency, is shocked with the decision. He explained that Agency reps met with Robinson last summer, explained laws to her and gave her evidence on the state ownership over 51% of Eronet. After the latest decision by Robinson, the Federation will have to request the ownership rights before the court. Bozo Knezevic, Eronet Administration President, stated that they requested the third license from the CRA, and that the CRA decided to open the procedure. The CRA Director, David Betts, supported Eronet’s request and wrote on Thursday to the CoM Chair Adnan Terzic asking the CoM for an approval for the sale. Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 1 and 13 – carries a statement by Chair of the HPT Mostar’s Supervision Board, Slavo Kukic, that the sale of Eronet shares to the Grude municipality is a classic example of plunder of State-owned property and colonial enslavement of BiH. Kukic reiterates his previous stance that the whole scheme is aimed at making way for the Croatian Telekom and its shareholder Deutsche Telekom to buy ‘Eronet’ and have a cheap access to the BiH market. |
| Agency for Economic Development of Sarajevo | Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘A model for connecting businesses’ – HR Paddy Ashdown visited on Thursday the Sarajevo Economic Development Agency (SERDA) offices and underlined the importance that the economic development agencies play in the regeneration of BiH. He met SERDA Director Omer Vatric, Deputy Director Sreten Tesanovic and the presidents of the SERDA Steering Board, Beriz Belkic and Predrag Lasica. “The new authorities should do exactly what SERDA does – remove obstacles for the business, construction of new communication and relations between business subjects and all activities for the well-being for the local population,” said Ashdown. He also added that SERDA was the model for the rest of the country. |
Political Affairs | |
| Sarovic on Djnidjic’s statement
| Avaz pg. 4 ‘It would not be good to create new Dayton’ – a reaction by Mirko Sarovic, the Presidency Chair, to the recent statement by Zoran Djindjic. He stated that it would not be good to create new Dayton, and that Serbian PM Djindjic was of the same opinion. According to Sarovic, Balkan is a very dangerous place to change borders. His message was that the existing borders should be respected both in BiH and in Yugoslavia, which includes Kosovo. |
| Commentary in Oslobodjenje
| Oslobodjenje pg. 2 commentary by Hamza Baksic ‘Balkan cavern’ – tackles the issue of Djnidjic’s statement. Baksic thinks that only those who do not know what took place in this country ten years ago will fail to recognise in Djnidjic’s statement inclusion of the war option. “Always and everywhere the option is included in calculation of stories about the change of borders. Serbian PM is actually taking the discussion back to the beginning – ethnic borders ensured through ethnic cleansing.” |
| ‘Orao’ affair | Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Presidency BiH – received a short version of the RS report on ‘Orao’, Avaz pg. 2 ‘BiH Presidency received a report on ‘Orao’ affair on only 26 pages’, Nezavisne Novine pg. 3 ‘BiH Presidency receives Orao report’, Dnevni List pg. 2 ‘BiH Presidency received the report on Orao affair’ – the Presidency members received yesterday the ‘Orao’ report, but a short version on only 26 pages. The presidency SG, Srdjan Arnaut, confirmed the report they received had only 26 pages. Same short version of the report has been forwarded to the Military Committee. |
| ‘Am Sped’ | Glas Srpski on pg. 2 further reported a statement by Cabinet of the RS President, Dragan Cavic, that the report on the violation of the UN embargo by Orao institute from Bijeljina was based of facts and evidence. Thus, the statements given by Milorad Dodik, Ostoja Barasin and Manojlo Milovanovic were incorrect as they commented on something they have not seen nor read. Apart from a detailed answer to all three, Cavic recalls that his constitutional obligation is to tell the truth which can be proved, no matter whether Dodik, Milovanovic and Barasin like it or not and that he will continue to do so in future, in the interest of the RS. |
| | Avaz pg. 3 ‘Suspended Jelic and Curak used company cars and mobile phones’ – despite the fact that deputy Finance Minister, Sefika Hafizovic, suspended her assistants for treasury and legal affairs, Krunoslav Jelic and Tihomir Curak, the case was never concluded. Due to passivity of the government, which never made a final decision on the appeals by the above named two, Jelic and Curak were receiving salaries even though they had not been working. Also, until recently, both suspended officials were using ministry’s cars and mobile phones. According to Avaz, their cases were stagnating because Behmen and Curak are connected through the party membership in the SDP. Both have good positions within the party. |
| Interview with Tihic | Avaz pg. 5 ‘Extremists amongst Bosniaks have no right to play with the state’ – a one-page interview with Sulejman Tihic, Bosniak Presidency member and the SDA President. The key issue throughout the interview was extremism amongst Bosniaks. Asked about Kostajnica murders, Tihic replied that he and his party condemned the murders, but also the abuse of the crime for political purposes by those who did nothing to punish criminals from their people committed against other peoples. As for the returnees’ security, Tihic said that they had to ensure peace amongst returnees in areas where Bosniaks were majority. “We are all witnesses to the fact that out of 100 attacks, 90 of them are against Bosniaks. However, the remaining 10 are louder and more dangerous from those 90.” |
| Ravnogorski Chetnick Movement – SRS | Avaz pg. 5 ‘Ognjen Tadic in Linc requested money for the Ravnagorski Chetnick Movement’ – Ognjen Tadic, SRS SG, was recently in Linc (Austria0, for a secret meeting with a smaller number of Serb businessmen working in that country. Tadic, who is also close associate of Vojislav Seselj and Nikola Poplasen, requested from businessmen financial and personnel support for the training and activities of the Movement in BiH. |
| HDZ requesting Bubalo’s resignation | Avaz pg. 8 ‘A resignation by Emir Bubalo requested’ – the HDZ Konjic requested yesterday from the Konjic municipality Head, Emir Bubalo, to submit his resignation. They also requested the abolishing of the illegally set up camp in Falan Hill and allowing the return of Croats to Kostajnica and Falan Hill. The requests were outlined during a session of the HDZ Konjic yesterday. They further concluded that the Konjic authorities had not done much to ensure security for non-Bosniaks in the city. |
| FBiH HoR session | Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘The regular session only on January 21’, Avaz pg. 2 ‘The Party of Pensioner nominated Dusanka Pecanac’ – the Party for Pensioner sent an official request to the FBiH HoR for the nomination of their member, Dusanka Pecanac, for the second Vice-President of the FBiH HoR. The nomination will be discussed at the HoR session scheduled for 21 of January. |
| CoM establishment | Nezavisne Novine pg. 2, Glas Srpski pg. 3 ‘CoM – an SDS candidate disputable for OHR’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 1 and 15 – by late afternoon yesterday, the Chairman of the BiH CoM, Andan Terzic, did not receive OHR’s answer whether all five candidates for ministerial positions had passed the vetting procedure. In a statement given to Nezavisne Novine yesterday, Terzic confirmed that he was waiting the OHR’s answer and emphasised that there was a chance that one of the candidates might not be accepted, given the fact that the entire procedure lasted so long. The daily has learnt that the disputable candidate is SDS’s candidate for Justice Minister, Mirko Mijatovic, who most presumably would not be accepted by the OHR. The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, promised yesterday that the OHR would complete the vetting procedure within the envisaged deadline. “The vetting of the candidates is still ongoing. The whole thing is connected to raising of standards during the appointment of new ministers. The aim is to appoint people who have not been compromised. We hope that the vetting will be finished soon but we cannot establish the exact date,” said OHR Spokesperson, Oleg Milisic. He added that the HR believed that the appointment of new ministers was of crucial importance for functioning of the state, which required detailed attention. |
| DL editorial | Dnevni List pg. 2 by Miroslav Landeka ‘Paddy Ashdown introduces prima note (the first/initial note) principle’ – reads that the fact that the OHR has to give its consent for each candidate proposed for the BiH Council of Ministers additionally slows down the whole process of forming of the Council. The editorial also says that the SDP and HDZ did not hide their displeasure over such behavior of the OHR, and that the SDP was especially harsh in its stand. The editorial says that such SDP reaction is not a surprise because any well-intentioned person can make a conclusion that the International Community does not want to undertake the responsibility. “Many people were warning earlier that a full protectorate should have been established at the beginning of the IC’s mandate because it is obvious that the current way of the IC’s work has not given too many positive results,” concludes Landeka. |
| OHR on ministers on HNK | According to ONASA, HR Paddy Ashdown wrote on Wednesday to Speaker of the West Herzegovina Canton (HNK), Zoran Vuksic. He wrote that appropriate procedures had been completed by various organizations and that nothing had come to light in the course of this process, which would prevent the nominees for the ministers of education, justice and interior from being considered for the posts. “The High Representative underlined in his letter that the reviewing procedures were by necessity general in nature, and that his letter should not be taken as implying political or other support for the individuals concerned,” OHR Spokesperson Oleg Milisic told a news briefing. |
| RS government | The RS PM Designate, Dragan Mikerevic, stated that the SBiH insisted on getting the Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Persons. Even though the SBiH is ready to support the new RS government, Mikerevic says that the SBiH request will be discussed. Previously, Mikerevic offered the position of the Justice Minister to the SBiH. “If the SBiH does not support the RS government, it is only logical that they will not participate in division of power. If the SBiH does not support the Government, the Ministry for Refugees and DPs will be allocated to the PDP.” The SDA is also interested in the Ministry for Refugees and DPs. According to Mikerevic, the SDA can count on two or three posts in the government. The PM designate is willing to offer the following Ministries to SDA – the ministries of justice, industry and technology and economic relations with abroad. According to Mikerevic, SDA’s requests for the ministries of finance and interior are not realistic. As for the SDS, Mikerevic intends to offer the following three ministries to this party – ministries of education, economy and labour and for war veterans. The ministries of health and finance will be allocated to PDP, plus according to the daily, the ministry of interior. Mikerevic confirmed that PDP’s Zoran Djeric was one of the candidates for the interior minister. The President of SPRS, Petar Djokic, stated that his party would not extend its support to the new RS government if SDS and PDP keep co-operating with the SDA. “If Mikerevic is ready to exclude the SDA, we may support the government. It seems however, that the PM designate is not ready to break the SDS, SDA and PDP coalition. That is absolutely unacceptable. The SDA is a lethal combination for RS,” said Djokic. |
| Reactions to Lozancic’s statement | Nezavisne Novine pg. 6 ‘OHR neutral, politicians divided’’ – reactions to a statement by HDZ Vice President, Niko Lozancic, about the abolishment of the entities. OHR Spokesman, Oleg Milisic, said that the abolishment of the entities, advocated by the Vice President of HDZ was an issue that required a decision of the BiH constituent peoples, not the OHR decision. Vice President of the HDZ Croatia, Andrija Hebrang, announced recently that his party would request the revision of the Dayton Agreement and the establishment of a third entity, with Croat majority. Chairman of the SBiH Presidency, Safet Halilovic, says that his party supports the HDZ idea. “We are glad that within the ongoing reform processes this issue is coming to the agenda.” SDA Vice President, Elmir Jahic, sees Lozancic’s initiative as acceptable. “I am familiar with HDZ’s ideas on the strengthening of BiH and functional state. They have said many times that if the entities were not functional, they should be abolished.” The SDS and PDP see the request for abolishment of entities as unacceptable, and have the same view on HDZ Croatia initiative for establishment of the third entity. SDS Spokesman, Dusan Stojicic, says that the Dayton Agreement has no alternative. “Everything not outlined by the Dayton Agreement is anti-constitutional, ultimately problematic and opens not only problems within BiH but also in South-Eastern Europe.” He added that HDZ ideas were not realistic. The RS Prime Minister designate and high PDP official, Dragan Mikerevic, believes that the statements on the change of internal structure of BiH undermines good neighbourly relations between BiH and Croatia and do not contribute to the stabilisation of BiH. “Individual wishes cannot change the existing structure and functioning of BiH,” said Mikerevic. |
| Further reactions to Djindjic’s statement | Blic pg. 2 – BiH Ambassador to Yugoslavia, Zeljko Komsic, told SRNA that the problem of Kosovo was not tied to the situation in BiH and added that the latest statement of Serbian PM Zoran Djindjic showed that ‘some concepts, which we would like to leave behind, were still present’. Komsic said that Djindjic wanted to ‘threaten and blackmail’ the international community, tying problems in his country with the problems in the neighbouring country. He added that Djindjic’s statement was not a surprise, because ‘that was an old story from Belgrade political circles’. Avaz pg. 10 ‘Djindjic’s attempt to re-vitalise great Serbia concept’ – yesterday’s SDU press conference. Sejfudin Tokic, the party Main Board Acting President, said that Djindjic’a statement, as well as previous statements by Kostunica, was attempts to re-vitalise the great Serbia concept. “I think that such statement are synchronised with the official entering of the SDS to the government, and an attempt to reduce the importance of the issue of arresting war criminals like Karadzic and Mladic,” said Tokic. Nacional pg. 5 – Milan Paunovic, Professor of International Law at a Belgrade University, said that a reaction by the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Zoran Djindjic’s statement was an international incident. According to Paunovic, it is expected that the FRY Ministry of Foreign Affairs would react. Otherwise, it will just indirectly confirm the accusations directed to Djindjic. Paunovic emphasised that such a political outwitting would not jeopardise the power of DPA, because the IC insisted on that, but ‘during the history borders have been changed in spite of agreements’. Vecernje Novosti pg. 2 – the entire Voice of America program was dedicated to Djindjic’s statement. Comment by the US Administration was that ‘it reminded them of Vojislav Kostunica’s views’. Vecernje Novosti pg. 2 – according to Peter Layotta, Professor at Pennsylvania’s War College, the Kosovo independence would destabilise southern Balkans. In his statement to Voice of America, Layotta said that events in one Balkan country might influence other neighbouring countries. He thinks that Kosovo will not survive as an independent state. |
| Dnevni List editorial | Dnevni List pg. 4 by Pejo Gasparevic ‘Game of darkness and light’ – an editorial dealing with Djindjic’s statement. The editorial reads that Djindjic gave this statement at the time when the forming of the authority, consisting of three national parties, was taking place in BiH. “At least to one of these national parties, that is, to the SDS, the entity (the RS) is more important than BiH. This shows that Djindjic’s statement supports a stand of such forces.” The editorial also says that the aforementioned statement also coincides with the time when Greece, in which Orthodox population dominates, takes over presiding over the European Union and at the time when the US military intervention against Iraq is being widely announced. |
| Attempted arrest of Mladic? | Nacional pg. 3, Vecernje Novosti pg. 11 ‘Attempted arrest of Mladic’ – according to new Valjevo’s weekly ‘Rec Nedelje’, on the night between 30 and 31 December 2002, unknown persons tried to arrest former RS Army Chief Ratko Mladic in the Valjevo area. Valjevo police denies it, while sources from Valjevo claim it’s well known that Mladic very often visits Valjevo area where he has many supporters. They say that during that night machine-guns were heard from a place where attempted arrest took place. |
| OHR rejected Bakir Izetbegovic | Slobodna Bosna magazine on pg. 15 in MINI MARKET column tell of a drama during the election of the Sarajevo Canton PM. The SDA nominated Bakir Izetbegovic, and even HR Ashdown apparently promised while visiting an old friend Alija that there would be no problems with the election of Izetbegovic Junior. The OHR Anti-Corruption Team however had documents that were not in Izetbegovic Junior’s favor, and the post went to an HDZ member – Denis Zvizdic. The magazine is also questioning Zvizdic’s appointment. Apparently Zvizdic was elected by the Assembly President, Meliha Alic, and Vice-President, Miro Lazovic. According to the legal procedures, an assembly president and two vice-presidents should elect cantonal PM, but current Sarajevo Canton only has one vice-president. |
| Third entity | Slobodna Bosna pg. 12 ‘Bishop Peric asks Vrbosic to support third entity’ by S.M – Mostar-Duvno Bishop, Ratko Peric, following the Christmas mass, invited a few selected guests to his residence including the Croatian Ambassador to BiH, Josip Vrbosic, and Croatian Consul in Mostar, Ratko Maricic. Apparently, Bishop Peric started talking about the inevitability of creating a third entity, as the only just solution for the Croat people in BiH. His guests from Croatia told him that the government they represented would not support such political solution. The alleged resolute reaction by the Croatian diplomats left the Bishop and other guests, mostly HDZ leaders, speechless, so the remainder of the night went ahead without any political issues being talked about. |
International Community | |
| HR Ashdown and Frederiksen
| Avaz pg. 2 ‘The EUPM Commissioner will continue having strong authorities’ – HR Ashdown and EUPM Commissioner Sven Frederiksen announced to meet today with the senior police officials from the entire BiH. OHR Spokesperson, Julian Braithwaite, stated that the aim of the meeting was to ensure the professional police work. If that does not happen, the Commissioner will have the power to recommend to HR to remove from duty all police chiefs who are failing to control their police officers. He also added that Ashdown, as well as the EUPM Commissioner, hoped such measures would not have to be taken very often. |
| Commentary in Avaz | ‘Comment of the Day’ column by Sead Numanovic ‘The resistance of the police to corruption’. The article basically is triggered by yesterday’s announcement that HR Ashdown and Commission Frederiksen would hold a meeting today with the BioH police chiefs. According to Numanoivic, the police professionalism and its resistance to corruption is crucial. |
| EUPM ceremony | Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘Ceremony on January 15’ – Oleg Milisic, OHR Spokesperson, yesterday announced that an official ceremony to mark the beginning of the EUPM’s work would take place on January 15. EU HR for Security and Foreign Politics, Javier Solana, Greek Foreign Minister, George Papandreu and HR Ashdown will attend the ceremony. |
| OHR on Powel | Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Still without an official request for the removal’ – Following a request by Bosniak returnees from Srebrenica for the removal of the OHR Head in Srebrenica, Charlie Powel, the OHR stated they would need an official request by Srebrenica authorities to consider such action. Oleg Milisic, OHR Spokesperson, stated that official requests were taken very seriously and if they get it they would seriously consider it. |
| Ashdown in DANI magazine | DANI magazine ‘Bosanski Barometar’ column on pg. 6. The magazine graded Ashdown’s lack of reaction in the case of sacked Sarajevo policemen with three black dots, meaning a catastrophic move. It opens by saying that HR Ashdown realised that he should not get too excited during rare demonstrations by BiH citizens triggered by non-comprehensive and not acceptable decisions by IC reps. “While on one hand he has been advocating the strengthening of state institutions and reform of judiciary, Ashdown on the other hand treats the court verdict in favour of the Sarajevo policemen as if it was written on a toilet paper,” reads the article. The conclusion is that unless he changes ‘disgustingly capricious’ decision of the IPTF Commissioner Frederiksen, the hope remains that journalists who follow Ashdown’s press conferences from now on will not miss a chance to ask him of the policemen’s destiny. Article abrasive and includes very insulting words. |
| Wheeler’s reaction in SB magazine | Slobodna Bosna magazine on pg. 40 carried a reaction by Mark Wheeler to a recent article in the magazine entitled ‘Ashdown threw out his countryman Wheeler from the ICG from the FTV studio’. Wheeler explained that he was in advance informed that HR Ashdown would not be able to attend the entire show due to other engagements. Also, HR Ashdown apologised to Wheeler for not being able to stay the entire show, and therefore the recent claims of some sort of dispute between the two have no grounds. |
Judiciary Affairs | |
| Mini Hague | Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Looking for solutions for Sarajevo mini-Hague’, Avaz pg. 2 ‘Legal experts should establish whether war criminals could be tried in BiH’ – Claude Jorda, President of the ICTY and SDHR Bernard Fassier will chair sessions of experts between 13 and 15 January to discuss the way of trying war criminals in BiH. Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte will attend the meetings. OHR Spokesperson, Julian Braithwaite, stated that the aim of this important gathering was to establish how much time it would take to establish relevant structures, to see how many cases could appear before the local courts in the context of war crime and how much it would all cost. In February, another meeting will be held where the solution would be finalised about the process. |
Crime Affairs | |
| Conference on organised crime
| Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘MoI, tax and customs officers against crime’ – on a conference held yesterday between the Federation tax, customs and police officers. They agreed to jointly fight organised crime. Ramo Maslesa, FBiH Minister of Interior, Zelimir Rebac, Director of Customs Administration and Mithat Arifovic, Director of Tax Administration, attended the conference. |
| Mandic financing Karadzic’s security? | Avaz pg. 3 ‘Momcilo Mandic financing security of war criminal Radovan Karadzic’ – IC officials, investigating customs and tax abuses and connections with financing activities of war criminals still at large, identified businessman Momcilo Mandic as one of the leading people in organised crime. Mandic, according to Avaz’s anonymous senior IC rep, heads an organisation that evades tax and customs paying. Part of that money, accordi9ng to the source, goes to financing Karadzic’s security. The source also claims that Mandic is at the top of an organised crime web stretches to a political leadership in Banja Luka and Belgrade. |
Police Affairs | |
| Kostajnica murders | Both Slobodna Bosna and DANI (cover page story) magazine carried several articles related to the recent Kostajnica murders. Entitled ‘I shot only at men and women, I did not want to kill children’. SB carried excerpts from Muamer Topalovic’s confession. He said that the initial idea of doing something against Croats came to his mind few months back while he was praying in a mosque. “I wanted to do something to scare them. But I had no intention of killing anyone,” said Topalovic. Yet, according to DANI, his uncle Rasim, Muamer did not seem to regret his actions. Muamer stated that he was surprised he did not explode before. |