Political Developments/Constitutional Reform |
| BiH political leaders at odds over constitution reform as Brussels talks start | RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Non- agreeable positions’, Dnevni List cover page, pg 3 ‘Consensus on non-rotating president?’, Vecernji List cover page, pg 2 ‘Croats request for territorial/regional organisation, Serbs against such the solution’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 3 ‘Olli Rehn: There will be no abolishment of entities’, HINA, FENA – Representatives of BiH’s three peoples expressed different views on future changes to the country’s constitution in Brussels on Saturday. The leader of the Croat Democratic Union of Bosnia-Hercegovina (HDZ BH), Dragan Covic, said he opposed “cosmetic changes to the Constitution of Bosnia-Hercegovina, because so far they have always been to the detriment of the Croat people”. Covic opposed the country’s being composed of two entities, Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia-Hercegovina, saying that Croats in the Federation were second-class citizens. He was speaking to reporters in Brussels, where the European Commission and the US Institute for Peace organized a three-day conference on constitutional changes in Bosnia-Hercegovina. The president of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS), Dragan Cavic, said that the survival of Republika Srpska was “a basic condition” which must not be questioned. “Everything can be changed, except for the fact that three constituent peoples live in Bosnia-Hercegovina, and this must be identified in the constitutional order,” Cavic said. The leader of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Sulejman Tihic, supported the strengthening of central bodies of authority. The leaders of eight political parties from Bosnia-Hercegovina were acquainted with a summary of draft constitutional changes proposed by the US Institute for Peace. The summary does not envisage changes to the country’s administrative and territorial set-up, but it envisages changes to the role of the state presidency, the government and the parliament. The institute proposes replacing the current three-man state presidency with one president who would be elected by the parliament, or electing one president with two vice-presidents, who would rotate every 16 months. It also proposes erasing the provision, which says that the Presidency of Bosnia-Hercegovina is composed of one Bosniak, one Croat and one Serb. As regards the country’s government, the institute proposes introducing the posts of prime minister and two deputy prime ministers. The task force which made the draft constitutional changes could not reach agreement on whether to keep the existing name of the country’s government – the Council of Ministers – or rename it government. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Division in two entities unacceptable’ carried HDZ leader Covic’s statement. |
| EU Enlargement Commissioner Rehn says consensus emerging for new Bosnian constitution | Pink, RTRS, AFP, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 3 ‘Two Entities in an efficient, central(ised) state’, Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Clear messages delivered to the leaders’, pg 2 ‘US, EU in favor of one President of the State’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Constitutional revolution’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 3 ‘Olli Rehn: There will be no abolishment of entities’ – EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said Saturday that a clear consensus was emerging among Bosnian leaders in favour of revising the divided country’s constitution, 10 years after the Balkan wars ended. Rehn spoke at a meeting of leaders of the ex-Yugoslav republic’s main political parties with officials from the European Union and United States in Brussels this weekend in a bid to reach a consensus on the reforms. He called for a “functional multi-ethnic state to serve its citizens better and facilitate European integration,” according to an official statement. Rehn said the European bloc would be looking for a “strong and solid partner” when it launched negotiations on a stabilisation and association accord with Bosnia . Rehn also stated that BiH need Constitutional evolution not revolution, stressing that there is no way for Entities to be abolished being that functional state is a necessity. Rhen said that they are participating in these meeting because they want to cooperate with BiH, being that they want this country included into Euro-Atlantic integrations. |
| SDS’ Cavic, SNSD’s Dodik, PDP’s Ivanic, SDA’s Tihic, HDZ’s Relota, SPRS’s Dodik, Party for BiH’s Halilovic on Brussels ’ talks | RTRS – SDS Chair Dragan Cavic stated over the telephone that the discussion started on the issue of one BIH President and added that agreement on that issue was not made. “It seems that representatives of Croat and Bosniak parties are trying to use this as an opportunity for discussion on thorough change of Dayton Agreement which is unacceptable for representatives of parties from RS”, stated Cavic. SNSD Chair Milorad Dodik also feels that one BIH President is not acceptable but agrees to diminishment of authorities of BIH Presidency. PDP Chair Mladen Ivanic stated that it is clear that huge changes will not occur and added that they are trying to agree on the appointment of members of BIH Presidency as recommended by Venice Commission. SDA Chair Sulejman Tihic stated that Bosniak parties from FBIH have different opinions to RS parties. “I am in favour of one President appointed by BIH Parliament who would have reduced authorities”, stated Tihic. HDZ BIH spokesman Miso Relota stated that HDZ feels that internal order of BIH needs to be changed before any discussions on BIH Presidency. Reporter comments that those who are not in Brussels are very interested to know what BIH parties will agree upon. SP RS Chair Petar Djokic who is not participating in the discussion stated that citizens are those who have to decide on constitutional changes. Discussion in Brussels continues on Sunday. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Internal arrangement not subject to discussion’ carried Dodik’s statement, in which he said the talks were being held in a correct atmosphere and that the internationals were participating just as observers. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Halilovic: First day not promising’ – Party for BiH leader Safet Halilovic said that nothing could essentially be achieved only by the cosmetic changes to the Constitution. |
| SDP leader Lagumdzija disappointed with start of Brussels talks | Hayat Senad Hadzifejzovic– President of SDP Zlatko Lagumdzija is one of BiH Parties’ leaders who attend the meeting in Brussels where discussion will be about BiH Constitution and he reported directly from Brussels speaking about the atmosphere there. Asked what this meeting is about- Lagumdzija said that that he arrived to the second half of the meeting on Saturday, since he has attended the General Assembly of Madrid’s Club, because of which he was bit disappointed by the stances of BiH politicians, stressing that there is no statehood behaviour among them. “Unfortunately I haven’t seen preparedness in sufficient number of people here, to act in statehood manner…they are fighting for some overcame positions of theirs, like they are living in some, I don’t know which, work, like they don’t understand that country is not in good shape, that Europe is moving on…and I honestly hope that tomorrow and day after tomorrow the atmosphere will change, but the problem aren’t foreigners, problem are people who came from BiH”- said Lagumdzija. Asked about the statement of EU Enlargement Commissioner Ollie Rhen (evolution not revolution) and doe that mean that there will be no larger changes- Lagumdzija said that it wasn’t imagined that changes are to be large…”Changes that, regarding the 10th anniversary of Dayton on the assembly planned in Washington, if we move from the dead spot here, will make some changes, changes that first of all would enable State of BiH, in fact BiH authorities to have more capacity and possibility to manage the State and to negotiate with the EU on how we can sooner become the country close to Croatia…There is no word here about number of Entities or Cantons, this is about weather there is strength among us to come to a Government or CoM (call it as you want), but that in its capacity it is a normal BiH Government. This is about the fact that we have to have a normal BiH Government which can manage this country, meaning for the State to have more authorities that it can negotiate with the Europe; on the other side that we have a PM who can answer for what he does, that we have a reformed, more functional Parliament, not Parliament established in the measure of three Ministers and at the end to have one President who would be more of a protocol person”- said Lagumdzija, adding that he is not too optimistic that politicians will have capacity for this. Asked about texts in The Guardian- Lagumdzija said that this gathers all the things he said and that he, himself advocates for. “That is what the stance of the IC is here, but the IC has no intention to impose that. IC will try to see, in these ten days, weather there is a capacity among BiH politicians, to get to the consensus and show that they are statesmen…if there isn’t there is no other option but to wait for next year and leaving of this garniture of people, even if I am swept away; people who are able to lead the country by the Constitution they changed in these ten days should come or completely new people should come”- said Lagumdzija. Lagumdzija said that he hopes that this initiative will not end in Brussels, because of it does it can end only with a failure, stressing that he hopes that this will qualify them for the gathering in Washington. Asked if any coordination exist among BiH politicians or any kind of joined platform- Lagumdzija said that there are different kinds of agreements, but what is evident is that: “Mladen Ivanic and Dragan Cavic are in good agreement and I am not surprised by two of them, but I am surprised by them individually. Two of them have no political future if something doesn’t come out of this, if they aren’t participants of changes. Hardly that they have political future with changes, but I fear that Ivanic absolutely doesn’t understand what is happening around him- I see that in these three years as BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs he learned nothing from the World”- said Lagumdzija. Asked if there is any agreement between him and Sulejman Tihic– Lagumdzija didn’t comment much, but said that much more of statehood behaviour will be necessary, stressing that it seems that statesmen will awaken only in Washington . |
| Mesic stated that Dayton Peace Agreement needs to be improved | RHB, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘BiH cannot be divided’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 – Croatian President Stjepan Mesic stated that Dayton Peace Agreement needs to be improved. Mesic stressed that Dayton Agreement failed to establish all state mechanisms. He added that changes to the Dayton Agreement need to break illusions that entities will become states. |
| Czech PM offers assistance to BiH on its road to EU | Pink, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘BiH opening doors to Czech investors’, Dnevni Avaz ‘Czech Republic wants to play important role in the Western Balkans’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘BiH ready for Czech investors’, Vecernji List pg 3, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 – Prime Minister of Czech Republic Jiri Paroubek said that Czech wants to have important political and economic role in the Balkan, with goal to support BiH and other countries in the region on their road to Europe. PM Paroubek met in Sarajevo on Saturday with the Chairman of the CoM Adnan Terzic and they both agreed that bilateral relation among these countries are good, but need to be improved/better defined. “Today when BiH has political consensus that wants to become member of the EU and NATO, I don’t see a better partner then the Czech Government to share with us experiences and challenges that stand before us”, said Terzic, adding that BiH is prepared to open its doors to Czech investors and to accept their experiences in processes of transition, restitution and association with the EU. PM Paroubek said that Czech Government is prepared to organize a seminar where Czech Government could present its experiences to members of BiH Government and where BiH representatives could present investment opportunities. |
| BiH Presidency Chair Jovic meets with Czech PM Paroubek | RHB, Pink, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Full support to BiH on its road to Europe’, Dnevni Avaz ‘Czech Republic wants to play important role in the Western Balkans’ – BIH Presidency President Ivo Miro Jovic met with Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek on Saturday. Czech PM stressed that Czech Republic is supporting BIH on its way towards the EU and offered help of Czech experts and negotiators. Jovic thanked Paroubek for all the help BIH received in the past and will receive in the future as well. |
| At Round table in Srebrenica attendants ask for special political and economical status of the town | BHT Samir Kahrovic, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Dayton did not legalize genocide in BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Declaration on necessary change to the Constition adopted’, Nezavsine Novine pg 3 – At the Round Table in Srebrenica on the topic “Has Dayton Peace Agreement legalised the Genocide in Srebrenica?” attendants signed a joint declaration asking for the special political and economical status for Srebrenica. Omer Ibrahimagic professor from Sarajevo stated that DPA hasn’t legalised the genocide in Srebrenica. On the other hand, Sadik Ahmetovic, President of Srebrenica Municipal Assembly, argues that DAP has legalised the genocide in Srebrenica what has to be changed. Janja Bec professor of International Studies on Genocide stated that ICTY possesses 7 million pages long evidence on genocide in Srebrenica. Reporter stated that the joint declaration will be sent to the national authorities, EU, UN and USA Government. |
| US Ambassador McElhaney says young people in BiH must be more pro-active | BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Young people must take over leadership in creation of better future’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘McElhaney: The time has come for young people to become leaders’, Nezavsine Novine pg 2 – At the conference “Youth in BIH, create your future”, US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney, encouraged youth to be more pro-active adding that this kind of gathering can help them to create better future. He invited BiH young people to take the chance and become leaders of BiH’s democratic metamorphosis, stressing that young people should say where they see their country in ten years and U.S. Government will help them to achieve that. |
