09/16/2005

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 16/9/2005

Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 16 September

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Lukic on the way toThe Hague

Dixon on VAT

Belgrade mtg on Kosovo

TV news broadcast on 15 September

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

BiH CoM, HoP in session

BiH CoM in session

BIH Serbs arrested in Phoenix, USA

Terzic on police reform talks failure

Podzic on defence reform

Terzic on police reform

Bukejlovic on police reform failure

RS PM on police reform

SiCG on Terzic’s accusations

HNZ on police reform talks failure

Galyak on police reform in BiH

HR on Paravac’s payment to SDS

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

HR on failed police reform talks

20 BiH citizens arrested in USA

BiH CoM in session

Terzic on failed police reform talks

HR on Paravac’s payment for SDS

Weber talks with general Sifet Podzic

BiH politicians on police reform

Excavation in Liplje near Zvornik

EU on police reform

BiH associations on police reform

Del Ponte on Mladic’s arrestment

BiH HoP in session

 

Oslobodjenje

BiH lost chance to start talks with EU – EC’ Daviddi

Dnevni Avaz

Ashdown takes aim at Paravac?

Dnevni List

20 Bosnian Serbs arrested in Phoenix

Vecernji List

Basel – Siroki Birjeg 5:0 : It could not have been better with 10 players

Slobodna Dalmacija

MoI is wiretapping citizens illegally

Glas Srpske

Bosniaks “tipped them off”

Nezavisne Novine

Separate entrances for Croats and Bosniaks

Blic

13 Serbs from BiH arrested in USA

Vecernje Novosti

Features Serbia related topics

Srpski Nacional

Features Serbia related topics

 

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

Sredoje Lukic left for The Hague

 

 

RS Radio, SRNASredoje Lukic, indicted by the ICTY for war crimes committed in Visegrad, left today for the Hague, reports SRNA’s correspondent. Lukic left the BanjalukaAirport at 11:00 accompanied by RS police minister Darko Matijasevic. Lukic surrendered to the RS authorities on September 13, and the ICTY prosecution announced that Lukic was hiding in Russia.

NATO raids Mladic bodyguard’s home in Vojkovici near Sarajevo

 

RS Radio, FENA – NATO carried out an investigation operation in the home of Mladjen Kenjic in Vojkovici near Sarajevo this morning. Kenjic was a member of the team providing personal security for war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic and is believed to be a member of Mladic’s support network. The investigation was conducted in order to obtain additional information on the support for Mladic and possibly shed light on his whereabouts. The local police have been notified of the operation but did not take part in the investigation, the NATO command said.

 

Political Developments/Reforms

HR Ashdown requests BiH Presidency member Paravac to explain illegal payments

 

 

 

 

 

Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 2 ‘Ashdown takes aim at Paravac?’ S.N., Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Paravac made secret payment at account of SDS Doboj’ by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 11 ‘SDS does not respect HR’s decisions’ by B. Kristo, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Ashdown demands explanation for financial transactions of SDS’ by P.K., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Illegal payments’ by N.Z., EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘OHR: Paravac’ secret payments on SDS account’, announced on cover ‘Paravac secretly paid BAM 2.100 on SDS account’ by M.S.– On September 5, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown asked BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac to explain illegal financial transactions made by SDS in Doboj. Ashdown explained that such illegal activities violated HR’s decision brought on June 30, 2004 , which foresaw blocking of all SDS’ bank accounts. The High Representative asked Serb Member of the BIH Presidency to submit the explanation by the end of the working day on Thursday on his decision to secretly make a payment in the amount of 2100 KM to Doboj SDS. Ashdown considers that the payment is illegal since OHR issued the decision that the payments exceeding 150 KM must go through the joint account approved by OHR.

DNS’ Kalabic: OHR has already started punishing us

 

Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Kalabic: They have already started punishing us’, by E. S. – Reports that the Principal Deputy High Representative, Larry Butler, did not arrive to Banja Luka day before yesterday to meet with the Speaker of the RSNA and heads of caucuses, the meeting that he had initiated last week. OHR spokeswoman, Sanela Tunovic, says the visit was cancelled because of procedural reasons and a new one will be organized very soon. However, the head of DNS caucus in the RSNA, Drago Kalabic, claims that he was informed by the RSNA that Butler demonstratively cancelled the meeting, without stating a reason”. “They have already started punishing us because of the decision we voted on in the parliament. Cancellation of the meeting with Butler is a first measure of those that are to follow”, says Kalabic.

Oslobodjenje interview with EC’s Daviddi on BiH joining Euro-Atlantic integration

 

Oslobodjenje, front pg splash and pg 2 ‘BiH lost chance to start talks with EU’, by Az. Kalamujic – In an interview with Oslobodjenje, the Deputy Chief of EC delegation to BiH, Renzo Daviddi, refused to comment on the claim by the Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, that Serbia and Montenegro is holding BiH hostage via the RS because of which the EU should not be starting the SAA talks with SCG on October 5. Daviddi reminds that the Feasibility Study clearly shows the 16 tasks BiH has to improve at, including the police reform. Daviddi goes on to say that it is clear that BiH will not be able to sign the SAA agreement this year, underlining that the 3 EU principles regarding the police reform are not negotiable. Daviddi was also asked to comment on various information regarding the start of the SAA talks, since one could hear at the last RSNA session that BiH would not get a chance before 2007, whilst Terzic stated that the EC would approve the start of negotiations as soon as the police reform is agreed upon, however Daviddi did not give an exact answer, since he said it was hard to predict when BiH will make a considerable progress good enough for start of the SAA talks.

EU Solana’s spokesperson: EU prepared to resume police reform talks but only on basis of three main principles

 

Pink, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘RSNA decision is disappointing’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Gallack: EU is ready to re-new talks’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Decision for concern’ – EU is always ready to resume talks on police reform in BiH if it is in line with three EU principles, stated Cristina Gallach,spokesperson of the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana. The decision of RS National Assembly (RS NA) to reject the police reform proposal of the BiH Council of Ministers is disappointing, says Gallach.

Terzic blames official Belgrade for failure of police reform talks, SRS Mihajlica says Terzic should resign

 

BHT Damir Simic – Following the RS National Assembly’s decision to reject the police reform proposal, BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic claims that the BIH is Belgrade’s hostage. Terzic also calls EC to reconsider their relation to Serbia and not to allow the start of the negotiations on Stabilization and Association Agreement on 5th October. “I am convinced that Belgrade politics holds BIH through RS on the point for BIH not to sign any agreement with EU until the issue of Kosovo is resolved. Therefore, EU must understand this and end supporting the special relation between Belgrade and RS” said Terzic. On the other hand RS political parties harshly condemn Terzic’s accusations. Head of SRS RS Milenko Mihajlica stated that due to Terzic’s “deceptive and unfair attitude toward RS citizens during the police reform negotiations, he deserves for RS political representatives to instigate the demand for his resignation”. RS Government firmly denies all claims that SiCG Government in any way influenced RS NA’s decision on police reform proposal. On the other hand experts claim that Kosovo is the source of the instability of the region. Reporter noted that many Serbian politicians tied the future of Kosovo to the future of BIH, namely RS. Sociologist Ivan Siljakovic stated that the Kosovo has been administratively separated adding that only political and emotional side regarding Kosovo issue is left although even this situation is rather clear. Reporter concluded that experts find rather difficult to predict the resolution of Kosovo issue especially its possible consequences on BiH.

RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Radicals demand removals’ by V.P., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Pressure never seen before’ by D.Mo., EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Radicals ask removal of Terzic’ also carried Mihajlica’s statement.

Serbia denies its influence on RS NA’s decision on police reform proposal

 

BHT Vesna Simic – Serbian Government firmly denies all claims, issued by BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic, that it in any way influenced RS National Assembly’s decision on police reform proposal. They denied accusation that Serbian politicians tie the future of Kosovo to the future of BIH, namely RS. From the Office of Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica was stated that police reform was BIH’s internal issue. They added that the accusations on their influence were the futile attempts of Sarajevo politicians to transfer their responsibility for a blockade in BIH. DSS Leader Dusan Prorokovic stated that politically Kosovo and BiH should not be connected but technically they should be connected since the solutions applied on RS Serbia would like to apply on Kosovo. From the Office of President of Serbia Boris Tadic was stated that Serbia supported the reforms in BiH adding that no one has explained them yet why it is so important for BiH to have one police.

Nezavisne Novine pgs 4-5, announced on cover ‘Solution to crisis is in Sarajevo’ by V.Popovic also carries denials by Serbian officials, politicians that they influenced on RSNA police refom-related decision.

Delegation of 11 RS NGOs visits Serbia

 

Nezavisne Novine pgs 4-5, announced on cover ‘Solution to crisis is in Sarajevo’ by V.Popovic Tomislav Nikolic, Deputy President of the SRS, who Thursday received delegation of 11 NGO’s from RS, led by Slavko Jovicic, stated that the meeting agreed the SRS should call for Serbian Parliament session, which should disucss problems placed before the RS following demands for abolishment of police.

Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘They hide guilt with accusations’ by D.Radeka, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘They mixed everything together’ by E.G.S.carries comments of Radujko, Simic.

Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘Why is Serbia keeping silent’ by R.O. Slavko Jovicic, who is leading delegation of 11 NGO’s from RS visiting Serbia, stated Serbia is a guarantee of DA and it should stop destruction of RS institutions. (Dvevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Jovicic yesterday asked for support in Belgrade’)

TV Hayat: Reactions by some BiH politicians to failure of police reform talks

 

TV Hayat – Report broadcasts opinion and reactions of BiH politicians on failed police reform talks. “The International Community has to define who decides on BiH’s future and whether BiH is still going to be hostage of certain political structures and games. We are absolutely disappointed with the RS National Assembly’s decision and this is an extremely dangerous step, which leads one step back instead of forward”, said SDA representative in BiH House of Peoples Hasan Cengic. “I will reject accusations directed towards PDP, being its member, especially due to the fact that PDP did not take part in recent police reform talks…PDP did not support so called ‘Bjelasnica’ agreement, proposed by the Chair of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic”, said PDP representative in BiH HoP Goran Milojevic. “Thanks to certain persons, who do not understand integration processes, we are still standing at one place”, said BiH Deputy Minister of Human Rights Ivica Marinovic. “We will join Europe as new authorities, ready to adopt reforms and accept European principles, take over. The situation is now worse than it used to be”, said SDP representative in BiH HoP Selim Beslagic.

NNint. with HR Ashdown: Bukejlovic and SDS are utmost culprits

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Bukejlovic and SDS are biggest culprits’’ by D.Raduski/A.Sekulic – In a page-interview to NN, Paddy Ashdown, HR to BiH, reiterates that SDS is an utmost culprit for rejection of the Proposed agreement on police reform grounded on 3 EU principles. In a phone-statement to daily from London, Ashdown said that rejection of EU principles by the RS NA is a bad fact for BiH and with catastrophic consequences for the RS. He adds that solution to reform rests with SDS, noting that nothing will happen until RS, i.e. SDS acknowledges Europe will not change its principles. He also adds that Pero Bukejlovic, RS Premier, also shares the responsibility for the failure. He does not want to comment on ICG recommendation that the work of SDS should be banned.

RS PM Bukejlovic rejects CoM Chair Terzic’s accusations: All participants in police reform talks should be held responsible

 

RHB, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘All participants in talks should be held responsible’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘All three parties responsible for failure’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Bukejlovic: Terzic is responsible too’, Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘No innocent’ by M.D. – RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic denied accusations from the BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) Chair, Adnan Terzic, alleging that the RS authorities are responsible for the failure of the police reform talks. Bukejlovic believes that responsibility lies with all the parties and that the CoM’s Chair cannot be released from responsibility. The RS Government expects Terzic to explain his statement that the IC must use every mechanism to ensure that the majority of BiH citizens are not held hostage by a minority, stands in a press release issued by Bukejlovic’s Cabinet.
Pink – During his meeting with Finland Ambassador to BiH, RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic said that the RS Government was willing to participate in police reform talks, in line with EC principles and BiH and RS Constitutions.

RSNA Speaker Stojicic expects talks on police reform to continue

 

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Talks on police reform will be resumed’, FENA – RS National Assembly Speaker Dusan Stojicic said late on Wednesday that he expects talks on police reform in BiH to continue, but without exclusion and dictated positions. “We insist on the RS keeping the authority over public security because every other approach will be devastating from the standpoint of political stability in the RS and BiH”, Stojicic told RTRS. He said that conclusions from the special session of the RS National Assembly on police reform have shown “consistency in the approach that will create conditions for the RS Government to come up with a proposal that it will be able to support”. Commenting on the possibility of sanctions against the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) because of the rejection of the BiH Council of Ministers’ proposal on police reform before the RSNA, Stojicic said that there is no reason why the strongest political party in the RS and the key factor of institutional stability of that entity should come under sanctions.

PDP blames Ashdown and Terzic for failure of police reform talks

 

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Ashdown and Terzic culprits for failure of talks’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Ashdown and Terzic are responsible’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘We are not responsible’, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘SDS: It is possible without principles as well’ – The PDP released a press statement Thursday, claiming that Paddy Ashdown, HR to BiH, and Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, are the main culprits for the failure of police reform talks. The statement reads: “Ashdown and Terzic were strongest advocators of the failed model of police reform. On the other side, they had offered nothing new during talks, which might have led to consensus.”. This party also rejects accusations PDP is also responsible for failure of police talks, noting that not a single official of PDP police reform talks after Vlasic.

SDU: SDS is blocking reforms

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘SDS is blockading reforms’ – The leadership of the SDU of BiH warns that apart from incompetent and incapable political top, the BiH is also faced with orchestrated and hypocritical policy of one part of the European political circles and Serb nationalistic circles in Serbia and RS.”

NN op-ed’s: German Ambassador to BiH lobbying for police reform; Slavo Kukic on rejection of police reform talks; Zugic critical of SDS

 

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Police reform in BiH is inevitable’ by Arne Frajer von Kitlitz – Lobbying for police reform, the German Ambassador to BiH stresses that police reform, in the form shaped by the EU, is not a sacrifice for the RS, but instead a major gain for the entire state, including RS citizens. He notes that the argument the police reforms is aimed at further disassembling of RS is irrelevant and hence unacceptable in comparison with the above purpose.

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘New New cubes on the board of continuity’ by Slavo Kukic – Writing about rejection of police agreement, the author is critical of the RS NA, but also of the BiH CoM, but IC, including HR as well, adding that it was almost impossible to believe that EC offer would be rejected. He adds that rejection of EU ticket/pass speaks of the level of deformity of the existing political gang with mortgages of the past (ideas on big states, myth-mania, etc). He concludes by saying that the latest developments represent new cubes on the board of ethnic continuity.

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Media lynch of SDS’ by Nedeljko Zugic – The author is extremely critical of SDS, referring to its as gravedigger of the Serb people in BiH (and wider region), which fulfilled one prophecy: “Time will come when the living would envy the dead.”, because the living people hardly put up with unbearable circumstances.

GS: Comments on calls for change of DA

 

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Sale of political mist’ by Z.Markovic – Following latest statements of Paddy Ashdown and Adnan Terzic regarding change of Dayton, daily brings statements of Gostimir Popovic, political analyst from RS (saying that pair without coxswain from Sarajevo does everything that seems not to be its job. The problem is that they want to blame BiH Constitution and DA for all their failures.), Momcilo Novakovic from SDS (saying that Ashdown and Terzic share views, which differ from the views of Venice Commission), Vinko Radovanovic from PDP (saying that Dayton Agreement is a framework, within which all processes need to be run).

DL op-ed: DPA helps RS representatives to obstruct reforms

 

Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Complete failure’ by N. Bise comments on the police reform issue and the author says: ‘Every time when Serb politicians believe that survival of the RS is being brought in question, as it was the case with the police reform, then it is being resorted to the Dayton Peace Agreement, which guarantees survival of this entity. However, when the Dayton obligations of the RS are in question then everything is being done to obstruct them…After total failure of our state, which would literally remain isolated, it is quite clear that the RS was created for suppressing of BiH.’ 

HNZ is disappointed with the international community’s reaction to police reform talks failure 

 

RHB – HNZ is disappointed with the international community’s reaction to the RS National Assembly decision and majority of Serb politicians’ position on rejection of European standards and police reform. This party underlines that RS politicians’ decision in not surprise. On another side, persistence with which certain powerful representatives of the international community allows the space for delays and making of catastrophic decisions, decisions which results in destruction and isolation of the whole BiH, is unacceptable, considers this party.

HSS on constitutional reform and police reform talks failure

 

RHB – HSS Presidency adopted standing on constitutional reform in BiH, which will be offered to relevant authorities and public very soon, announces this party. According to HSS, they have adopted those standings due to fact that Dayton Peace Agreement is imposed Constitution, non-functional and it represent a significant obstacle to democratic and economic progress in BiH.

HSS also expressed great concern with Serb politicians’ rejection of police reform in accordance with European standards, what deepens the crisis in the country. HSS considers that the international community have no power or willingness to solve the BiH problem instantly. This party wonders will the international community let BiH citizens to be constant Serbs’ hostages, quotes RHB.

Vjesnik op-eds: BiH needs new Constitution

 

Vjesnik pg 13 ‘Belgrade stopped BiH’ by A. Zornija comments on the police reform issue and the author notes that it is especially interesting that High Representative Paddy Ashdown and Chairman of the BiH CoM Adnan Terzic mentioned the official Belgrade as being also responsible for the RS decision on the this issue. The author also says that Ashdown announced sanctions since collapse of the police reforms is an indicator of his personal failure. The author concludes the editorial by saying that it turns out once again that the RS constitutional mechanisms from the Dayton Peace Agreement are actually the biggest obstacle for long-term stabilization of BiH.

Vjesnik pg 15 ‘BiH on crossroad’ by M. Barisic also carries an editorial on the police reform, BiH political situation with a stress on necessity of constitutional changes in BiH. The author says that ‘since BiH is under protectorate of the International Community, the reply to the issue of the BiH organization would mainly depend on those who ‘were taking care’ the most of BiH in the pervious period’.

British Minister for Europe Alexander to visit BiH

 

Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘British Minister for Europe to visit BiH today’, FENA – The new British Minister for Europe, Douglas Alexander, will visit BiH on Friday. He will meet with members of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic and Borislav Paravac, BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic, BiH Directorate for European Integration Director Osman Topcagic and BiH Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Anton Rill. Alexander will visit BiH as part of his tour of the region and will discuss with BiH officials the European path of BiH and get informed about the current political situation in the country.

British Amb Alexander article in Avaz on future of the Balkans

 

Dnevni Avaz, pg 9 ‘Countries in the region must implement painful reforms’, mentioned on front ‘Alexander: Road to membership is not easy’ – carries an article signed by the UK Minister for Europe, Douglas Alexander, in which he talks about the future of the Balkans countries with regards to their status in the Euro-Atlantic integration. Minister Alexander, among other issues, says that all countries in the region must meet the same political and economic criteria that apply to all candidates for membership in the EU. “Cooperation with the ICTY is, although one of those pre-requisites, the most important one. Of course, progress in the area of minorities, such as the protection of rights of minorities, good administration, fight against organized crime and return of refugees, are also important”, writes Alexander.

BiH Presidency Chairman Jovic addresses UN General Assembly

 

Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘BiH path to Europe has no alternative’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘BiH should become a factor of stability in the Balkans’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Dayton should be changed’ by A.Sekulic,ONASA – BiH Presidency Chairman Ivo Miro Jovic said Thursday evening at the 60th session of the UN General Assembly in New York that BiH backs United Nations and that the country is set to take duties and tasks in order to strengthen the Organization in this key moment of its existence, the BiH Presidency said. “I’m coming from a small, but brave and proud country. We are a country which is further considered a post-conflict society, we are still searching for war criminals and healing wounds from the tragic war and are still searching a way to create conditions for reconciliation and building a better future,” Jovic said. He added that BiH is in a year when marking the 10th anniversary since signing the Dayton Accords, which ended the war but a rightful peace was not born. “Rightful peace means equality of all nations and citizens, which is not the case now. One country, two entities and three nations is Dayton’s non-functional structure which we opted to change and adjust to our conditions, by an agreement of all three nations, in order to create a self-sustainable political system,” said Jovic. “Despite complex political and constitutional structure, BiH nations are decisive to improve the Dayton constitution by an agreement and take over the power of the Office of the High Representative, as well as enable highest standards of human and civil rights on the principles of European practice, including the right of Croats, Bosniaks and Serbs, as three constitutive nations, on media and education system in their own languages,” he added. “Our assignment and intention is to take all duties from the Millennium Development Goals – stability, development, good governing, including fulfilment of all taken international legal duties. We fully believe that we belong to the European family and we are putting efforts to be engaged in Euroatlantic integrations,” Jovic concluded.

Pink, RTRS announced the speech.

BiH HoP takes PBS Law off the agenda

 

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘More than a half points taken off the agenda’, Dnevni Avaz pg 10, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Law on RTV system was not placed on agenda’ by N. Bise, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Vital interest of Croats in BiH was not on agenda’ by E. Medunjanin, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘No debate on PBS’ by R.C., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Screen still unclear’ by N.Z. – BiH House of Peoples (HoP) didn’t vote at Thursday’s session on draft law on PBS, in accordance with the BiH Constitutional Court decision, which states that this law is not harmful for Croat national interests. As HoP’s Chair Velimir Jukic explained, the PBS law wasn’t on the agenda of this session because all pre-conditions in terms of legal procedure weren’t fulfilled, since the Court’s decision isn’t yet published in the official gazette. Next HoP’s session is scheduled for the beginning of October.

SDHR Ney requests for immediate vote on PBS Law

RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Appeal on HDZ to accept BiH Constitutional Court’s decision’, FENA“Striking the PBS System Law from the agenda of the BiH House of Peoples today further delays the introduction of this important legislation and creates an additional obstacle in the reform process of BiH on the way to Europe,” Senior Deputy High Representative Martin Ney said today, commenting on the HoP’s decision not to discuss this Law until the BiH Constitutional Court’s Decision is formally published in the Official Gazette. The request to remove this legislation originated with the HDZ. “The BiH Constitutional Court‘s ruling clearly states that this legislation in no way undermines the rights and interests of Croats in BiH,” said Ambassador Ney. “This is delay for the sake of delay to legislation that is a Feasibility Study requirement,” he added. “The possibilities to discuss or amend the PBS System Law have been exhausted. I call upon the HDZ to recognise a valid Decision of the BiH Constitutional Court, and return this legislation to the session of the House of Peoples and immediately make a vote on this Law possible.” The PBS System Law is the framework Law which will determine the fundamental principles for the PBS Service Laws, at Entity and state level, meaning the number of channels, programming principles, management and finances, OHR said in a press release issued on Thursday. 

CoM accepts defence legislation, law on pardons

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘No pardons for genocide, war crime, crimes against humanity’, Oslobodjenje pg 4, 5,Dnevni List pg 4 ‘There is no pardon for genocide’ by E. Mackic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘BiH Presidency only on pardon’ by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 11 ‘Proposal of law on defence defined’ by Z. Rerig, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Proposed Law on defence passed’ by N.Krsman, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Parliament calling for line first’ by V.Bugarin – BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) accepted on Thursday’s session the draft laws on defence, conscription and granting of pardon. Draft law on defence regulates single defence system and unified command chain. It is also decided that December 1 will be marked as BiH Armed Forces Day.  Draft law on granting pardon would give the BiH Presidency power to grant amnesty in criminal cases where sentences were passed by the BiH Court or any other court to which it transferred a case. The law stipulates that amnesty cannot be granted in cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

FBiH Parliament: Decision on transfer of defense authorities harmonized

FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Decision on transfer of defense authorities harmonized’ – The joint commission of both Houses of FBiH Parliament harmonized the text of the decision on transfer of defence authorities from FBiH to BiH state level. FBiH Prime Minister has been authorized to sign the act on transfer of authorities.

NATO’s Weber meets with BiH Army’s Podzic

RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Army for proud is being created’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Application of Law on defence reform begins as of New Year’ by N. Bise  – NATO Commander in BiH Louis Weber met with Chief of joint BiH HQ, general Sifet Podzic in Sarajevo on Thursday. Podzic expressed hope that BiH Parliament will adopt law on defence next month and that its implementation is going to be completed successfully. He reminded that the Entities’ armies and Ministries of Defence will cease to exist/be abolished on January 1, 2006 .

Dnevni Avaz pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Defense reform has still not completed’ – In an interview with the daily, NATO SA HQ Commander Weber reiterated that NATO priorities in BiH include the successful completion of defense reform and bringing of all war crime indictees to justice.

J. Boro did not pass vetting procedure for position of CBC Education Minister

 

FTV, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Josip Boro did not pass OHR’s vetting procedure’ by I. Glibusic – Prime Minister of the Central Bosnia Cantonal Government Salko Selman received the letter from the OHR which says that a candidate for position of the CBC Education Minister, Josip Boro, did not pass the OHR’s vetting procedure. A source close to the CBC Government says that it has been suspected that Boro was not a proper candidate because of the lawsuit, which says that he did not return the official car and because of the report of the FBiH Financial Police according to which Boro caused financial damage to a company from Kiseljak at the time when he was a President of the Steering board in this company.  DL carries President of the CBC HDZ Board Anto Spajic who claims that they do not know anything about results the OHR’s vetting procedure but that they will look for another person for the position of the Cantonal Education Minister. Spajic also complained that the OHR was supposed to complete the vetting procedure in 10 days, however, the procedure was prolonged and it became suspicious why this happened. Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Josip Boro not suitable candidate for Minister’ by dja, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 11 ‘Appointment of Josip Boro unacceptable to Ashdown’ by Z. Cilic also report that Boro did not pass the vetting procedure.

OHR on vetting procedure for CBC Education Minister

 

Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Responsibility of Cantonal Government’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Josip Boro not suitable candidate for Minister’ by dja carry OHR spokesperson Mario Brkic as saying that the OHR never comments on the vetting procedure ad added that the OHR is aware that numerous problems in the education area in the CBC demand urgent solutions and he added: ‘However, local authorities, that should resolve these problems, are responsible for this issue. For this reason we expect from the Cantonal Government to offer high-quality solutions no matter whether it is about political or personnel solutions.’ 

Two schools under one roof in Vitez

 

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘Separate entrances for Croats and Bosniaks’ by M.Rener – Daily reports that existence of two schools in Vitez located at the facility, which used to be only one school before the war, and physical is aimed at maintenance of what war has created in the area.

Feral op-ed on measures to prevent segregation in schools

 

Feral pgs 26 and 27 ‘Giving facelift to monster’ by I. Lovrenovic negatively comments on segregation in BiH schools and the author reminds of the things he said on the same issue two years ago: ‘When international representatives demand and expect from local officials to give up the evil called segregation over night they are doing a good thing, however, in order to succeed in this they have to meet 2 pre-requisites. The first one is to take over their part of responsibility for creating a monstrous political system, which produces segregation. The second prerequisite is that implementation of reforms finally starts from the very foundations of the political system since only they can make this crucial step. Until this happens there is a fear that the real effect of the reforms would not be anything more but giving a facelift to a monster.’  

 

Economic/Social Issues

Owners of nationalized apartments, property against proposed legislation

 

 

 

 

Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘Nationalized property must be return to owners’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Minister Mehmedagic should submit resignation’ by M. Zorlak – Association for Protection of Private Property and several nongovernmental and religious institutions oppose to any change in law on return, allocation and purchase of apartments. Changes to the law have been proposed by FBiH Government and they are to be considered by the Parliament. According to the proposal, owners of the nationalized apartments are losing possibility to return their property in so called natural form. The aim of the Association is to prevent re-nationalization of private property, namely property of cultural and religious communities. Unless the private property is to be returned to their initial owners, these associations will turn to the Court in Strasbourg .

 

War Crimes/Organised Crime/Legal Proceedings

Carla Del Ponte hopes Mladic will be in The Hague before October 5

 

Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Mladic will be in The Hague before October 5’ – ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte stated that she hopes that Belgrade is going to keep its promise and transfer Ratko Mladic to Hague by October 5th. In her statement for B92 TV channel, Del Ponte said that during her visit to Belgrade on September 29, she will discuss the arrestment of Mladic and other war crimes indictees. She said that, when it comes to cooperation with Belgrade, several indictees had been transferred to Hague on bases of volunteer surrender. However, the most responsible ones are still at large, especially Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, but also many others whose transfer to Hague has been promised by Serbian authorities.

13 Bosnian Serbs arrested in Phoenix

 

Dnevni List cover pg and pg 3 ’20 Bosnian Serbs arrested in Phoenix’ by A. Beus, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘FBI reveals Serb soldiers among refugees who immigrated to USA’ by B. Stevandic, D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 10 ‘USA: 13 Bosnian Serbs accused because of false information’ by H, Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Bosniaks “tipped them off” by S.R.T., EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Serbs from BiH arrested in USA’, RSpg 1 ‘They lied they were not in battle because of visa and residence’ by SRNA,Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘They lied they were not in RS Army’ by D.Risojevic  dailies report on apprehension of 13 Serbs in Phoenix, Arizona under suspicion they have falsified their US entry visas and failed to provide true  information in visa application. This was confirmed by FBI Spokesperson in Arizona, Deborah McCarley. The detainees may be tried to prison sentence of 15 years max.

Feral brings names of people who allegedly help Gotovina

 

Feral pgs 4 and 5 ‘General’s Siroki Brijeg’ by I. Djikic says that Croatian intelligence services carry out an operation in BiH where OSA is collecting for them information about financial operations of few power wielders and rich men mostly from Herzegovina that have been suspected of providing financial assistance to ICTY fugitive Anto Gotovina. According to the Feral information coming from Croatian and BiH intelligence sources, the information about retired HVO Generals Stanko Sopta Baja and Zlatan Mijo Jelic were demanded, as well as information about a rich car dealer from Posusje, Ferdo Basic, former member of HVO Special Police Units Slaven Petricevic, owner of bet shops Dinko Slezak Dika and two Bosniak businismen, Damir Fazlic and Hasan Cengic. Feral says that it is hard to connect Fazlic and Cengic with Gotovina but they are being brought in connection with Hrvoje Petrac, a controversial Croatian businessman who has been arrested recently and who has been suspected of helping Gotovina. Feral also says that BiH intelligence agents do not have either time or mechanisms to reveal details about financial operations of aforementioned persons however, this is not the goal of the operation anyway. According to the article the goal is to present to Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte a false picture about Croatian efforts to arrest Gotovina, but the weekly believes that del Ponte will not fall for it.    

Chief FBiH Prosecutor warned police not to demand wiretapping of BiH citizens from ‘BiH Telekom’

 

Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash ‘MoI is wiretapping citizens illegally’ and pg 19 ‘Telekom swamped with demands for wiretapping’ by M. Jukic – These days Chief Federation of BiH Prosecutor Zdravko Knezevic has warned in a written form the FBiH Ministry of Interior and Director of the Federation of BiH Police Administration Zlatko Miletic that they finally must stop with years long practice of wiretapping BiH citizens that has been taking place without any legal ground. SD says that this reaction took place after leading people of ‘BH Telekom’ had addressed the Prosecution complaining that they had been swamped with the demands for wiretapping that come from the police on a daily basis. ‘BH Telekom’ also stated that an order from judicial bodies does not stand behind these demands. In his letter Knezevic also underlined the fact that this way of work is contrary to domestic laws and European Convention on Human Rights.   

DL: Is HNC Prosecution under pressure of criminal lobbies?

 

Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Covic avoided trial for ‘Soko’ case!?’ by DL investigative team – A source close to the Herzegovina-Neretva Cantonal Prosecution revealed that suspects in the cases ‘Soko’, ‘Mondo’ and ‘Eronet’ are exerting pressure on the judiciary in order to make these processes invalid on the ground of statute of limitations. DL also says that although almost 6 months passed after the Special Department for Organized Crime and Corruption with the BiH Prosecution ceded the investigations on the aforementioned cases to the Mostar Prosecution none investigation has been put in the official procedure but they are being kept in drawers due to the pressure of the suspects. According to the article, the goal of the suspects is that these cases expire by limitation.  DL also says that Dragan Covic, Edhem Bicakcic, Ivana Bacak, Valentin Coric, Miroslav Prce etc. are among these suspects.