OHR BiH Media Round-up, 12/11/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

BIH constitutional changes

BiH leading parties to meet

Domestic violence increase in BiH

Guardian on BIH Constitution

UNDP’s public opinion poll

Meeting on constitutional changes

HDZ announcement

Ivanic on Brussels meeting

Youth on constitutional changes

SBC Government session

Round table on VAT held in Sarajevo

Corridor 5c route issue

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

BiH politicians on BiH constitution

Sarabon workers on strike

BIH constitutional changes

Seminar in Neum

Terrorist case in Australia

Del Ponte in Sarajevo

Round table on VAT held in Sarajevo

Meeting on constitutional changes

UNDP public opinion poll

Feature story on Ragib Langic

Srebrenica case in Dutch court

European bank approves loan

Oslobodjenje

Premier Terzic announces two VAT rates

Dnevni Avaz

Redman’s plan for Vc Corridor

Dnevni List

Bozo Ljubic: Zagreb wants HDZ BiH to be their partner and not delinquent

Vecernji List

Croatia related headlines

Nezavisne Novine

Story on disputed purchase of 95 medical vehicles

Glas Srpske

Story on Banjla Luka transit road

Political Developments/Reforms

BiH political leaders gathered in Brussels to discuss constitutional reform

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Politicians will sign nothing in Brussels’, Vecernji List pg 21, mentioned on cover ‘Bosniaks for new BiH Constitution, Croats and Serbs against’, pgs. 2-3 ‘Brussels making/designing BiH’ Zoran Kresic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘They should sign statement on constitutional changes’ – Leaders of eight BiH leading political parties (SDA, SDS, HDZ, SNSD, SDP, PDP, SBiH and HNZ) departed on Friday to Brussels for two days long meeting on new BiH Constitution draft, reports BHT. According to the US plan, BiH would be structured as centralized, parliamentary democracy, with one president, premier and Parliament. “Comparing to period of only few months ago, today we have a realistic preconditions for constitutional changes,” said SDA President Sulejman Tihic. Leading politicians from RS accepts increase in number of delegates in the parliament, but if the way of voting remains the same. “We believe that presidency should continue to exist, and if there is a consensus, it is possible to have one member of the Presidency as President in a 16 months mandate, but if there is a written operating procedure on who and how do what,” said SNSD representative Nebojsa Radmanovic, adding that this would be a compromise and that his party believes that is the right solution. “We support the idea of enlarging the Council of Ministers (CoM) with certain number of new ministries, but to have the number that can be divided by three, with current ten, that means two new ministries, we will see which one that would be,” stated PDP President, Mladen Ivanic, adding that his party don’t support the idea f transforming of the CoM into BiH Government. Two entity structure of BiH is not acceptable to HDZ and that will be this party’s position presented at the meeting in Brussels , reports BHT. Finla phase of these talks should be held in Washington on anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. UK daily Guardian reports that the new Constitution draft could be in Parliamentary procedure in BiHn in March 2006.

RHB – SNSD President Milorad Dodik stated before departing for Brussels that BIH needs to be organised as a federal state with 2 federation units, RS and FBIH. He added that SNSD will not change its positions when it comes to changes to BIH Constitution.

Hayat – SDS leader Dragan Cavic pointed out that BiH’s functioning at joint institutions level, namely BiH Presidency, BiH CoM and BiH Parliamentary Assembly, should be improved.

RTRS – Jozo Krizanovic from SDP stressed that SDP is in favour of one President in place of the current Presidency.

Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘BiH organised as a de-centralised republic’ – SDA BiH President at its latest session adopted a platform for talks on change of BiH Constitution. According to the document, BiH should be organised as a de-centralized state on the principle of regions and in accordance to the European standards.

Nezavisne Novine pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘They should sign statement on constitutional changes’ – Party for BiH leader Safet Halilovic told NN he had received from US Embassy a draft statement that should be signed by BiH political leaders in Brussels. By statement, the political leaders would oblige themselves to carry out constitutional reforms that will create pre-conditions for BiH accession to EU and NATO.

BiH Foreign Minister/PDP leader Ivanic on terrorism/constitutional changes

Pink – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic said that on Friday in Banja Luka that there were no information on police action during which 17 persons, suspected of terrorism, have been arrested in Australia, including alleged BiH citizen. Ivanic pointed out that issue of terrorism was an important one, and added that recently, every issue related with fight against terrorism was referred to as political one. “I think that it is of great importance to have the BiH law on citizenship revised”, said Ivanic. In terms of talks on constitutional changes which are to take place on November 12^th and 13^th, in Brussels, Ivanic said that he hoped that there would be no pressures, since the BiH Constitution could be changed only by consensus. “We expect a normal atmosphere, but I have to be honest here…in case of any pressures, I am not going to sign a thing, even if it is to be my last political decision”, said Ivanic. In terms of nomination of Chief BiH Negotiator in Stabilization and Association Agreement talks, Ivanic believes that the whole process had private background.

Young enthusiasts from whole over the BiH propose their version of the State Constitution

BHT – Group of young enthusiasts from all over the BiH presented on Friday their proposal of new BiH Constitution. BHT didn’t give any more details about this group.  Featured young activists underlined that they can agree about anything. Their proposal is based on five regions, one president and premier with more authorities. UK Ambassador attended the presentation.

British Guardian generally accepted stand on necessity of constitutional changes in BiH

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘There will be no talks between Brussels and Sarajevo before/without agreement on non-ethnic constitution’, FENA – Ten years since the Dayton Accords signing, it is generally recognized that the constitution in BiH is out of date and that the high representative’s powers need to be cut, said the Friday edition of the London Guardian.  The newspaper says that Europe ought to play a stronger role in promoting constitutional changes in BiH. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, says the Guardian, has been looking for ways of making Britain‘s EU Presidency more impressive. Blair does not want it to be bogged down in the European budget reform. Putting the finishing touches to peace in Bosnia might be the alternative idea. At the Paris celebrations of Dayton, or the final summit of his EU presidency in Brussels, he could promote a more dynamic strategy for the EU in the Balkans, says the Guardian. Talks on EU-Bosnia links would not proceed until Bosnia‘s leaders moved towards agreement on a non-ethnic constitution to be ratified by the time the high representative’s office is abolished. Also, the EU should insist on a pause in the negotiations with Belgrade until the government and parliament in Serbia renounce any aspiration for Republika Srpska to join Serbia. The Guardian says that BiH is still a long way from stability as the unreconstructed national forces are still powerful in RS as well in Belgrade.

Interviews with nominee for Chief Negotiator with EU Igor Davidovic

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Chief Negotiator will nevertheless head the team as well’ – In an interview with the daily, candidate for the Chief BiH Negotiator in upcoming talks on SAA with EU Igor Davidovic says he expects BiH CoM to confirm his appointment adding that he enjoys wide support by political parties throughout BiH. Davidovic believes that the establishment of full cooperation with ICTY including apprehension/surrender of the most wanted war crime indictees Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic represents the main obstacle on BiH’s road to EU. 

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Platform for talks prepared’ – Davidovic said that he had already prepared a platform for SAA talks with EU and he would offer it to CoM if his nomination is confirmed.

HDZ BiH expect clear support from Croatia

RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Ill-intentioned tone in place of partnership’, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Sanader is misinformed’ – HDZ announced that it expected a clear support from Croatia in the moment when HDZ is making a strong contribution to establishment of democratic BIH. HDZ BIH stressed that its influence is trying to be diminished as well as political position of Croats in BIH. HDZ also stressed that the 9^th assembly of HDZ BIH that was concluded on 4^th of July was done so at the pleasure of most HDZ members. The leadership of HDZ BH, with president Dragan Covic at the helm, on Friday expressed dissatisfaction with a statement in which Croatian Prime Minister and Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader Ivo Sanader said Covic was unfit for his post because he had decided to oust three prominent party officials, Bozo Ljubic, Martin Raguz and Josip Merdzo. The HDZ BH said in today’s press release that such statements were ill-intentioned and that they discredited the legal and legitimate party leadership. The party said it was surprised by the fact that attempts to destabilise the political position of Bosnian Croats through orchestrated and imposed divisions existed also in Croatia . Dnevni Avaz pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Sanader’s’ statements immature, ill-intentioned’ carried Covic’s statement for the daily on the issue.  

DL interview with Bozo Ljubic: Zagreb wants HDZ BiH to be their partner and not delinquent

Dnevni List cover page, pg 3 ‘Zagreb wants HDZ BiH to be their partner and not delinquent’ – In an interview with the daily, Bozo Ljubic, the counter-candidate to Dragan Covic in run for the HDZ BiH President at the latest party’s Convention, said that the HDZ BiH has been facing problems due to wrong leadership/mistakes in managing the party for years now. He insists that Covic was elected irregularly and that a new Convention should be convened. He expressed his confidence this would happen. Ljubic also said the reconciliation between the two main factions inside HDZ was possible but only on principled and conceptual grounds. Finally, Ljubic believes that the HDZ BiH should resolve its problems by its own without inappropriate interference of Zagreb .  

UNDP poll: More than 60 percent of citizens consider political situation in BiH bad

Pink, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Crimes sanctioning wanted by 84 percent of citizens’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘More than a fourth of BiH citizens believe new conflicts are possible’, Vecernji List pg 7 ‘Fear of new war’ – More than ¼of BiH citizens believe that if international troops are to leave BiH, new conflicts could occur in BiH, as UN Development Program’s survey showed. More than 60 % of RS and FBiH citizens find the political situation in BiH bad; while 65 % agree that war crime indictees have to be prosecuted.

Economic/Social Affairs

Bechtel plan for Vc Corridor construction

Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 2 ‘Redman’s plan for Vc Corridor’ – Heads of US Company Bechtel are to meet with representatives of US Export-Import (Exim) Bank on November 16 to discuss provision of funds for Vc Corridor construction through BiH. This meeting should be introduction to BiH CoM Chair Adnan Terzic’s visit to US and talks with Exim representatives on November 21.  

University professors say Corridor 5v should end in Neum

BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Declaration on eastern side of the highway’  – Fifty university professors created new proposal of Corridor 5c route through BiH, pointing out that Corridor shouldn’t end in Ploce in Croatia but in Neum. They claim they have signed support of all delegates from parties participating in the parliaments, except of HDZ delegates. These experts consider that ending Corridor 5c in Neum is in State’s interest, because of economy and tourism development in eastern Herzegovina . Croatian Consul in Mostar Ratko Maricic underlines that starting and ending point of Corridor 5c are defined previously, signed at the international level, and there is only space for some small changes.

Round table on positive VAT effects held in Sarajevo

Pink, BHT, Hauyat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 11 ‘Premier Terzic announces two VAT rates’, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 – Law on VAT is to start being implemented as of January 2006. Positive side of the law is the fact that single economic area is going to be established. BiH citizens are worried for the fact that prices in BiH are going to be increased, but as BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic said at the round table entitled ‘Positive effects of VAT Law’, held in Sarajevo on Friday, they should trust the Government, since after having single VAT taxation rate introduced, two taxations rate are to follow. Terzic also said that event thought the BiH Council of Ministers was in charge of social politics, the BiH CoM was trying to create a mechanism with entity Governments which would return to the social endangered citizens and pensioners what they are to lose due to the VAT. “There is no way for zero taxation rate to be introduced, it will at least be 5 % rate and the second taxation rate will be over 17 %.”, said Terzic. Vice Chair of BiH Foreign-Trade Chamber Petar Milanovic said that VAT could do no damage, a state could only have benefit. BiH Indirect Taxation Administration is ready to start implementing VAT as of this day, as the ITA Director Kemal Causevic said. All 11 laws have been adopted; sufficient number of inspectors has been employed, etc

RS Trade Union organizes conference on privatization of state capital

Pink, BHT, RTRS – So far, privatization process in BiH is said to be completely unsuccessful, since, according to European Development Bank data, out of 27 states in transition, BiH is among the 5 states with the worst results. This has been said during the first Trade Union conference on privatization of state capital, organized by the RS Trade Union and held on Friday in Banja Luka . The conference concluded that, although planned, privatization process had not been ended by 2000 and there was no sign of the end. It was said that instead to prevent collapse in economy, privatization resulted in almost unredeemable damage and great unemployment. The RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic addressed the conference and said that privatization faced great problems, but that he hoped that the situation would improve. Bukejlovic also said that in 2006, the RS Government planned to purchase 20 strategic companies. The conference sent a clear message to the RS Government; if the situation is not to be improved, Trade Union is to react.

Construction of Peljesac bridge in Croatia to prevent BiH access to international nautical routes

BHT Tomislav Djuric – Croatia commenced with construction of the bridge that would connect peninsula Peljesac with the land. That bridge will forever disable BiH to access international nautical routes. Even though BiH have no a fleet, large ships were sailing into Neum’s port. After construction of new bridge of height of 35 meters is finished in 2008, that won’t be possible anymore. BiH right to access to international nautical routes is protected by the international convention on sea rights. That is the only official position that was send by BiH authorities to authorities in Croatia . This country’s Government claims that they construct the birth on their territory. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘We will request for international arbitration if necessary’ carries statement by BiH Transport and Communications Minister Branko Dokic, who said that BiH would not hesitate to ask for international arbitration to resolve the dispute over the Peljesac bridge if necessary. Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Construction of Port of Neum to be BiH’s response to Peljesac bridge’ also covered the issue indicating that a fresh dispute between the two countries is possibly being created.

BiH PBSs, Telecoms made preliminary agreement on collection of RTV tax

BHT, RTRS – Representatives of OHR, European Commission office, BIH Ministry of Transport and Communications, RS Telecom, HT Mostar, BIH Telecom and public RTV service on Friday negotiated at CRA a contract on payment of RTV tax. It was agreed that a contract will be considered next week by which payment of RTV tax will be the task of 3 Telecom companies. RTRS Director Dragan Davidovic stated that public emitters might finally become self sustainable after this contract is implemented. Director of BHT1 Drago Maric stated that this contract means more income for all 3 public emitters in BIH. Implementation of the new contract is expected in December. RTV tax will be included in the telephone bill and those who avoid paying it will have their telephones cut off. Signing of the contract is scheduled for next Friday.

Case of Radomir Lukic is resolved as far as RS Government is concerned

RTRS – As far as RS Government is concerned the case of Radomir Lukic dean of Eastern Sarajevo Law faculty is resolved. Measures taken by the Government are disabling Lukic to perform his function. RS Government stressed that it is up to the parents and students to evaluate the consequences of those measures.

Crime/Legal Proceedings

Remains of 230 victims exhumed from mass grave in Snagovo near Zvornik

BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘230 bodies exhumed’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 – Exhumations from the Snagovo mass grave near Zvornik ended on Friday, resulting in the excavation of 230 skeletal remains of Muslim civilian victims. Head of the Tuzla team of the BiH Federation Commission for missing persons Murat Hurtic said one driver’s license, several blind-folds, and a few shells were found in the grave. The remains have been transferred to the Commemorative Center in Tuzla for further analysis. Hurtic said the victims are most likely civilians from Srebrenica, which were originally buried in a primary mass grave in Grbavci not far from Zvornik.

SDHR Ney visited ICMP facility in Tuzla

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Identification more difficult due to replacement of victims’ remains’ – After a visit to ICMP Identification Center in Tuzla on Thursday, Senior Deputy High Representative Martin Ney said that the process of identification of Srebrenica victims was more difficult due to a large number of victims and the fact criminals had been significantly damaged bodies removing them to secondary mass graves.