OHR BIH Media Round-up, 11/12/2005 – Office of the High Representative

TV news broadcast onDecember 10, 2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)	TV PINK (18,00 hrs)	BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)
Gotovina in ICTY	Gotovina extradited to The Hague	Gotovina arrived to ICTY detention
Police searches Luka Karadzic house	Protests in Zadar	Regional News
Regional news	Mesic on protests in Zadar	Regional News
Regional news	Karadzic brother’s house searched	Regional News

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)	FTV (19,30 hrs)	RTRS (19,30 hrs)
World News	Gotovina arrived to ICTY detention	Gotovina in ICTY
Gotovina extradited to The Hague	Last days on freedom – Gotovina	Regional news
Hays on constitutional changes talks	Regional News	Arbour on ICTY indictees
Samaranch, honorary Ambassador	Regional News	Talks on constitutional changes

Oslobodjenje	Hays on constitutional changes: Entities remain, cantons disappear!
Dnevni Avaz	Hays’ precise warning
Dnevni List	Bosko Siljegovic, SDS Vice President, for DL: Serbs will not accept Washington statement
Vecernji List	Gotovina: I will endure everything
Nezavisne Novine	General Louis Weber: There is support to terrorism in BiH

Gotovina update/War Crimes issues
Gotovina transferred to The Hague	RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, pg 10, mentioned on front ‘Gotovina arrived to detention unit in ICTY’, by Darjan Zadravec, Dnevni Avaz, pg 17, mentioned on front ‘Gotovina in The Hague’, not signed, Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Gotovina will defend himself from outside?!’, by Ivana Roic, Vecernji List, pgs 2-3 ‘Gotovina arrived to Scheveningen’, by Stojan de Prato, Nezavisne Novine, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Gotovina transferred to The Hague’, by P. K. – Croatian general Ante Gotovina has arrived to The Hague. ICTY has officially confirmed Gotovina’s arrival. He is scheduled to appear in front of ICTY on Monday to enter plea when his 5-member defence team is due to arrive as well.
Croat(ian) war veterans announce protests in Split , Livno	RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, pg 10 ‘Protests with Ustasha hats’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Gotovina will get support on Riva, no protests against government’, by Dragan Miljus,Nezavisne Novine, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Gotovina transferred to The Hague’, by P. K.– Croatian war veteran associations announce that support protest due to Gotovina’s arrest will be held in Split on Sunday. Busses with veterans from all over Croatia are scheduled to arrive to Split. Dnevni Avaz, pg 16 ‘Two protest rallies in Livno’, by Al. K. – announces that two protests will be organized in Livno today (Sunday).
Croatian media speculate: Gotovina on pre-trial release	BHT, Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Gotovina will defend himself from outside?!’, by Ivana Roic, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘He will wait for trials outside?’, by Silvana Perica – Croatian media published a speculation that ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte has allegedly sent a letter to the Government of Croatia informing them that Ante Gotovina will be enabled to wait for his trial outside, but this information wasn’t confirmed.
ICTY on Gotovina arrest	FTV – By Zinaida Hamidovic– After the arrest of General Ante Gotovina, ICTY will increase efforts regarding arrest of remaining ICTY fugitives. “Now we have to focus on remaining fugitives, first of all on Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. It is high time for them to be captured and transferred so that we could end our mandate successfully”- said ICTY Spokesperson Jim Landale.
Former Chief ICTY Prosecutor Arbour sys NATO has not done enough to arrest Karadzic and Mladic	RTRS – Report by Stela Jungic – Former ICTY Prosecutor Louise Arbour indirectly accused NATO that it hasn’t done enough when it comes to arrest of Radovan Karadzic. She also stated that she didn’t think that Karadzic as well as Ratko Mladic would still be at large. (also in Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Did NATO do enough to arrest Karadzic and Mladic’, by Tanjug
Ouse of Radovan Karadzic’s brother searched	FTV, RHB, Pink, BHT, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, back pg ‘Luka Karadzic’s house searched’, by Onasa, Dnevni List, pg 17 ‘House of brother of Radovan Karadzic searched’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 10 ‘Luka Karadzic’s house searched’, by BS, Nezavisne Novine, pg 3 ‘Another raid of Karadzic’s house’, by B92– Montenegrin Police on Friday conducted a search of house of Luka Karadzic, brother of Radovan Karadzic, at the order coming from of State Chief Prosecutor. According to Montenegrin media, Police has also searched the house of Luka’s son Dragan. Police allegedly confiscated a mobile phone and telephone cards for mobile phones.
SCG’s Ljajic doubts more PIFWCs will be arrested by December 15	RHB, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, pg 3 ‘There will be no new extraditions to The Hague by December 15, by Fena, Nezavisne Novine, pg 3 ‘I do not expect arrest of Mladic by December 15’, by agencies– SCG Minister for human and minority rights Rasim Ljajic has stated that there was small chance that any of remaining ICTY indictees is to be extradited to the ICTY by 15^th December. He added that SCG authorities are doing everything in their power to find Mladic.

Constitutional reform talks/Political developments

Constitutional reforms talks: Hays says certain stands will be taken against parties that do not participate in talks, comments by Tihic, Jovic

FTV – By Aleksandar Markovic– After meetings with representatives of BiH political parties, representative of the U.S. Institute for Peace, Donald Hays, presented some details, explaining that precondition for opening of the process, to which all parties agreed, is to pass only what is agreed by consensus, adding that in this phase the issue of entities weren’t discussed. Hays said that the state has to be more efficient and has to work for benefit of its citizens, where Dayton is an obstacle, stressing that it is important to reach consensus of political parties and to remove the main misunderstanding in political logic of comprehending of the state. “RS political representatives would like the state built on a federal system, they would like the state to get its legitimacy from entities”- said Hays, adding that other parties would like lower levels to get their legitimacy from the state, which is a fundamental difference. Hays explained that difficulties are still on the issue of Presidency, election of representative for BiH House of Peoples and strengthening of Prime Minister’s role and his election. “For the Presidency, this is an area that has high degree of consensus regarding the duties of the Presidency”- said Hays, adding that there is no consensus on whether that should be President with four year mandate or President with two Vice- Presidents. Parties have reached the consensus on the issue of vital national interest and on the fact that state has to be more efficient and stronger in passing of decisions for the whole country. Hays explained that this project is strongly endorsed by USA and EU. “I brief both the EU and the U.S. Ambassador on everything I do and I am assured that every time I report to Washington Mr Burns gets that report”- said Hays. Hays announced that next meeting on constitutional changes will be held on December 15^th and 16^th and he expect everyone to come. “If a party decides not to come to this event I think it is very clear that they do not intend to live up to their commitments that they made in Washington”- said Hays.

BHT – By Marina Boskovic– Donald Hays warned that he expected all parties to attend the meeting, stressing that certain stands will be taken toward those who don’t show up. Hays expects that submitted proposals of parties will enable them to find a middle solution for different stances, to which Reporter stressed that members of BiH Presidency will departure for Paris on Monday carrying their opposite stances, to the ceremony on signing of the DPA, where PIC meeting will be held as well. “I expect that France as well, as an important EU country will give support to the started changes to BiH constitutional establishment; probably in line with the statement we have signed, in line with the statement of the US Under-Secretary Burns and EU Commissioner Rehn, who made it clear what they expect and that is one President, Government instead of the CoM with the Prime- Minister, functional Parliament and authorities that every normal state has” said Sulejman Tihic, member of BiH Presidency. “There is no good solution if only one side is for it. Good solution is if we comprehend that in these negotiations we have to search for possible and what will suit everyone”- said Chairman of BiH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic. Reporter stressed that RS parties are still strongly against one President, adding that so far, parties have agreed only on vital national interest and on the fact that state has to be more efficient. (Pink Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Continuation of negotiations excludes entities’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine, pg 3 ‘Continuation of talks towards end of week’, by R. Rs – carry Hays announcing continuation of talks, Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Hays’ precise warning’, by S. Turcalo, Vecernji List, pg 10 ‘Hays threatening parties that intend to boycott’, by Dejan Jazvic – carry Hays’ statement about continuation of talks and stands that will be taken against those who do not attend

Hays: Changes discussed at the moment are not facelift, however they will not turn BiH into unified country

Oslobodjenje, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Entities remain, cantons disappear!’, by A. Omeragic – According to Donald Hays, the changes that are being discussed at the moment are more than just a facelift, as some people say. However, he stresses that the changes will not turn BiH from a divided into a unified country, not at this phase at least. Hays also remembers that earlier the HDZ President, Dragan Covic, and FBIH PM, Ahmet Hadzipasic, stated that the number of cantons (in FBiH) should be reduced to three, however nothing has happened about it. Regarding the issue of existence of entities, Hays says the matter is for BiH politicians, revealing that even the SDA President, Sulejman Tihic, has agreed that “the issue of entities should not be raised at this phase”. (NB: the article does not specifically mentions the abolishment of cantons)

DL: Siljegovic ( SDS) says parties from RS will not accept Washington agreement

Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Serbs will not accept Washington statement’, by Anja Vrebac – According to DL, SDS Vice President, Bosko Siljegovic, confirmed for DL that parties from RS would not accept the Washington statement. Siljegovic is quoted as saying: “I think that RS parties have already agreed to enough changes to the Constitution in order to enable better functioning of the Presidency, Parliament and Council of Ministers. However, all proposals coming from the FBiH related to shutting down of the RS will not be supported by parties from the RS”. He also says that the Serbs will not accept the Washington statement because they are not obliged to accept the agreement between the Bosniaks and Croats.

Tihic confirms he will attend next meeting, reiterates SDA’s position

FTV – Member of BiH Presidency and SDA President, Sulejman Tihic, said that he, as the SDA President, would attend the meeting on constitutional changes scheduled for December 15^th and 16^th. Tihic stressed that SDA would not abandon its demands for BiH to has one President, Government with Prime Minister, functional Parliament and authorities that every normal state has. We can’t go below that, said Tihic. RTRS –Tihic repeated that proposed changes are of cosmetic nature only. Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘SDP in block with parties from RS’, not signed – Tihic commented that participants of the constitutional reforms talks are (on one side) those who advocate cosmetic changes, such as the SDP and parties from the RS, and (on other side) those who advocate establishing of more efficient state like the SDA does. (also covered by Oslobodjenje, pg 3 ‘Minimum of constitutional changes’, not signed,Nezavisne Novine, pg 3 ‘SDA will not give up its positions’, by R. Rakic

Mihajlica: Constitution should not be changed at expense of RS

RTRS – SRS (Serb Radical Party) feels that Dayton Agreement should not be changed but implemented. SRS Chair Milanko Mihajlica stressed that BIH Constitution should not be changed at RS expense.

Hayat’s ‘Face to Face’ on election of Seada Palavric for BiH Constitutional Court judge, opinion poll

Hayat – Senad Hadzifejzovic – Guests of Face to Face were Amila Alikadic-Husovic, an SDA MP in FBiH House of Representatives and Zukan Helez, an SDP MP in FBiH House of Representative. They discussed appointment of Seada Palavic as BiH Constitutional Court judge. Helez claimed that the whole issue presented a deal between HDZ and SDA; namely he claims that two deals were made between SDA and HDZ. The first one when SDA supported HDZ’s proposal in terms of Energopetrol, namely Helez says that SDA sold Energopetrol to Croatia. The second deal between SDA and HDZ is the one when Ivo Miro Jovic was appointed as BiH Presidency member and when 7 SDA members voted in favour of Jovic. Helez also says that SDA appointed person (reffering to Jovic) who supports the idea of having the third entity established, only to gain a position with high salary. Helez adds that beside this, Palavric does not meet the necessary criteria for being appointed as the judge; namely a nominee has to have high moral qualities and has to be a prominent lawyer. Helez claims that Palavric has never seen a courtroom. In terms of moral integrity, Helez says that Palavric was one of the main ‘actors’ in the coup d’etat scandal. On the other hand, Alikadic-Husovic denies all the statements Helez gave, claims that Palavric meets all the necessary criteria and that she is the best person for the position. Helez claims that Palavric was elected only for being SDA member. Alikadic-Husovic denies all the allegations and says that procedure was legal and fair. Helez says that the huge mistake has been made and that the situation can be solved in three ways; either for Seada Palavric to resign, or the High Representative Paddy Ashdown to remedy the decision or for SDA members to realize that this was a huge mistake and to make it right.

Hayat – Question: Do you support appointment of Seada Palavric as BiH Constitutional Court judge?

Yes – 2158

No – 4462

Opinions of citizens differ a lot. Some of them said that there was no reason for Palavric not to be appointed as BiH Constitutional Court judge, since they believe that she performs her duties professionally. Others said that Palavric was not the right person for the position, that she got her degree during the war.

Cavic, Dodik, Antonic (PDP) on Police Reform Directorate

BHT – By Boris Gagic– Establishment of the Directorate for police reform in BiH has provoked different reactions in the RS, being that some consider the appointment of a foreign expert to the (Directorate’s) Steering Board as in accordance with the agreement, while other consider this to be a violation of the agreement. Being that RS President Dragan Cavic has insisted on this, foreign expert with right to vote and appointed by official Brussels will participate in work of the Directorate. Cavic said that he didn’t see this as a disputable issue, being that no one in RS is disputing the three principles of the EC. “Agreement on police reform is referring to the conditions given by the EC and it is logical for representative of the EC to be in composition of the Steering Board of the Directorate”– said Cavic. Being that opposite to the Defence Reform Commission, foreigner in the Directorate will have a right to vote, opposition is criticizing Cavic’s decision and demands from the BiH Council of Ministers to change the decision. “I do not accept such a Directorate for police reform and it doesn’t respond to the basics of the agreement”- said SNSD President Milorad Dodik, adding that agreement doesn’t say that foreigners have to be in it. Official Brussels has greeted the establishment of the Directorate, reminding that this reform is a priority for BiH’s European way.

Nezavisne Novine, pg 2 ‘Expecting interpretation from authorities in Banja Luka’, by P. K. – The executive director of PDP, Gavrilo Antonic, says the relevant authorities in Banja Luka have to asses whether the decision to form the Police Reform Directorate abides by the agreement on police reform. “PDP expects that the relevant institutions confirm or challenge the changes carried out in the composition of the Directorate”, said Antonic.

Ivanic doubts SDS and SNSD would form coalition

Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘One should resign if parliamentary majority is not secured’, by M. Z. – Leader of PDP, Mladen Ivanic, stated for Avaz that he doubted that the SDS and SNSD would form a new coalition, however, according to Ivanic, there is a possibility that Milorad Dodik becomes a Prime Minister designate.

Gneral Weber on terrorist threat in BiH, BIH joining NATO/PfP

Nezavisne Novine, front pg splash and pgs 8-9 ‘General Louis Weber: There is support to terrorism in BiH’, by Almedin Sisic – carries a lengthy interview with commander of NATO HQ in BiH, Brigadier-General, Louis Weber, in which he, according to NN, confirms that there are persons and groups in BiH that are linked to terrorism, however the general could not talk about anti-terrorist activities NATO is conducting in BiH. He explains: “There are terrorist activities in BiH, it could be seen in the media. NATO is aware of it and we are following it. The impression in the IC is that when a terrorist attack does take place and when we roll the film back, a trace quite often goes through BiH too”. General Weber also comments on possibility of BiH joining NATO or Partnership for Peace, saying it is not possible for BiH join any of the two organization with Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic being at large.

Drewienkiewicz: BiH could join NATO in 2008 but it will not be easy

Dnevni Avaz, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘BiH can join NATO in 2008’, by S. Numanovic – carries an interview with a British Major-General John Drewienkiewicz, who has a vast experience about the Balkans’ related issues and who was the OSCE Mission to BiH’s military advisor. Asked whether BiH, if the issue of arrest of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic was set aside, could join NATO in 2008, Drewienkiewicz says it is perfectly possible, however in order to achieve that, BiH has to make maximum effort and reach NATO standards that are not cost-free.

DL: HR Ashdown’s decisions on military property detrimental to FBiH MoD

Dnevni List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Ashdown destroys military property of FBiH’, by Mensud Zorlak – argues that the defence reform process is most painful for the FBiH MoD, owing to ‘unjust’ decisions of the HR Paddy Ashdown, according to which the FBiH MoD could not sell the military property. FBiH Defence Minister, Miroslav Nikolic, comments that the FBiH MoD does not need many facilities however they were not able to dispose of them.

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Ashdown’s different standards’, by Mensud Zorlak – The author argues in yhe op-ed that the ‘outgoing’ High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, made several mistakes during his mandate in BiH, one of which is to remove political leaders without explanations and subsequently pardon them. Zorlak minds the HR for applying different standards, namely for allowing the RS to sell former Yugoslav army’s property, whilst forbidding the same to the FBiH, which resulted in property decaying.

Miscellaneous

Pink feature of old foreign currency savings

Pink – Ljubisa Davidovic – BiH Constitutional Court tasked the BiH Council of Ministers to come up with draft law on old foreign currency savings within three months. BiH and Diaspora Old Foreign Currency Savers Associations believe that the issue would be solved by enactment of the law. The Association states that it would insist on having the savings start being paid out as of the second half of 2006 and that the whole process should be over in 5 years. The Chair of the Association Svetozar Nisic says that the right to private property is being violated and that the Constitutional Courts has confirmed it. Nisic adds that the Association is not going to accept any other solution but to have their savings paid out within 5 years. Nisic says that if the BiH CoM does not accept their terms, old foreign currency savers are going to conduct more radical measures.

Gotovina update/War Crimes issues

Constitutional reform talks/Political developments

Miscellaneous