Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 17 January
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| No progress in const. changes talks | No agreement on const. changes | Talks in SA: no agreement reached |
| D. McElhaney to hold pc | Potests of M. Steel employees | McElchany scheduled press conf. |
| BiH HoR on discuss. on Law on VAT | ZeDoCanton- trade inspectors’ work | Solana in |
TV news broadcast on 16 January
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Croatian PM to visit BiH | Const. changes talks resume in SA | Strike of decertified policemen |
| Fuel prices increased in | House of Rep. regarding budget | Talks on constitutional changes |
| Talks on constitutional reforms | De-certified policemen in strike in SA | Puljic meets Sanader |
| Jurisic on constitutional changes | Trial to M. Seselj, war crime indictee | BIH HoR session |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Decertified police officers’ protest | Police action in Bugojno | Const. changes talks resume in SA |
| Persons with special needs’ problems | BIH HoR session | House of Rep. did not adopt budget |
| Talks on constitutional reforms | Talks on constitutional changes | De-certified policemen in strike in SA |
| Financing of BiH institutions | Police reform Directorate | Milorad Vukovic 30 years in prison |
| Oslobodjenje | Undersecretary Burns called BiH leaders again |
| Dnevni Avaz | [Durakovic] It’s early for political retirement, I’ll go over to SDU |
| Dnevni List | Croatian police arrested Ivan Azinovic in |
| Vecernji List | |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | ‘Ustashas, we will kill you’ (Croat journalists threatened by Islamic radicals) |
| Nezavisne Novine | BiH without budget |
| Glas Srpske | One killed his sister with an axe [report on murder near Prnjavor] |
| EuroBlic | Corruption swamped Faculties |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Talks on constitutional changes end without agreement
| BH Radio 1 By Vanja Ilicic – Early this morning, at |
| RTRS: Agreement failed over rotation, voting by entities
| RTRS – According to reporter, participants of talks split on two major issues on which international mediators insisted, and those are: rotation principle at the BiH Presidency and entity’s principle of voting. RS representatives regarded it as unacceptable that president of the state should be elected directly through voting of all peoples, opposing to insistence of political parties from FBiH regarding abolishment of entity’s principle of voting. |
| Cardinal Puljic: | RTRS, |
| Obhodjas steps down from office | FENA – Bosansko-podrinjski Canton PM, Salko Obhodjas, has decided to step down from the office at the request of the OHR. He underline he could not understand how he was cleared by the OHR to become the Cantonal PM in the first place, since according to him, the OHR said in September 2004 that there was no violation of the BiH Election Law (on his part). |
Talks on constitutional changes | |
| Talks on constitutional changes: rotation in tripartite Presidency, method of electing HoP, voting in HoR not yet agreed
| RTRS – On the second day of the negotiations on the constitutional changes, which has gathered the leaders of eight political parties, the package was offered to the participants which contained the agreement on method of electing the members of BiH Presidency, election of deputies in the House of Peoples and voting in the House of Representatives. Some extent of the agreement has been reached when it comes to Presidency [tripartite Presidency consisting of a President and two Vice Presidents] and BiH Parliament. However, participants still have not reached an agreement on rotation in Presidency, whether to maintain voting by entity in HoR and the method of electing HoP. While |
| Daily: Burns calls participants; IC pressures Tihic to abandon demand for abolishment of voting by entity in HoR, Dodik/Cavic to abandon rotation
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 6 ‘Undersecretary Burns called BiH leaders again’ by A.O. – After the failure to reach an agreement in talks on constitutional changes US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns called SDA leader Sulejman Tihic, |
| Halilovic, Lagudmzija sceptic about talks
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Solutions in a package’ by D.Muminovic, – Safet Halilovic, President of the SBiH, said: “There are some proposals, but whenever talks got stuck on one point, everything previously agreed is abandoned in need. The flow of talks mainly resembles Sunday’s talks. If we reached an agreement, the talk with foreigners was to follow. However, there is no progress for the time being.” EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Still no significant approaching of stances’, Vecernje Novosti pg 7 ‘Presidency on table’ by D.S. – Dailies carry statements of politicians during Monday’s break of talks (Cavic, Ivanic, Tihic, Dodik). Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Party leaders seeking the solution entire day’ by A.Malagic – Commenting the talks, the |
| VL: Confirmation of
| Vecernji List, pgs 2-3 ‘Confirmation of Dayton for assimilation of Croats?’, by Zoran Kresic – According to Kresic, the most important effect of a possible confirmation of constitutional changes in relation to the BiH Parliament, Presidency and BiH CoM is that the Dayton Constitution of BiH would be confirmed, which would mean that the politicians would either make ‘a historic move or mistake’ depending whether they are representatives of Bosniak, Serb of Croat people. VL notes that the ratification of the Dayton Constitution means that the Serb would once and for all cement the division of BiH into two entities and preserve the RS, the Bosniaks would be forced to create ‘their own’ state in the FBiH, whilst the Croats would be destined to assimilation. Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 21 ‘Covic getting ever closer to Dodik’, by Zlatko Tulic – carries an outdated report on Sunday talks |
| Lagumdzija: Kosovo status and constitutional changes in BiH are not related at all
| EuroBlic RSpg 2 inset ‘Status of Kosovo is not related with constitutional changes’ – Commenting on speculations according to which the constitutional changes in BiH are brought in relation with the resolvement of Kosovo status, Zlatko Lagumdzija, |
| Warning for RS representatives
| RTRS, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Self-determination to secession’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Radicals want secession’ by F , Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘We are not a party’ by D.M.– RS Veterans’ Association sent a message to the RS participants warning that constitutional changes should not damage the RS stressing that the will of RS peoples should be respected. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘To secession’ by D.Mo. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘To build up right to self-determination in Constitution’ – Serb Radical Party asked RS Representatives to demand for constitutional decree by which people would get right for self-determination. |
| Puljic meets Sanader:
| BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Dayton hasn’t done anything for Croats’, mentioned on cover, not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Croat don’t demand privileges but full equality’, Dnevni List pg 3 Puljic requests from Sanader to help BiH Croats’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘New approach to Constitution brings Croats in second plan’ not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 2 ‘Cardinal Puljic: Dayton did nothing for Catholics’ by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Croats want equality of three peoples’ – Puljic: new approach to BiH Constitution puts Croats in second plan.- Cardinal Vinko Puljic met with Croatian PM Ivo Sanader in Zagreb. Puljic stated that new approach to BIH Constitution would put Croats in BIH in a second plan. He also stated that Croats want equality and added that they are expecting Croatia to help them in that. |
| Jurisic expresses concern with const. changes talks
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| Tihic, Lagumdzija, Halilovic on recent Boyle’s statement that Hays’ reforms prepare RS to join
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘It is not possible that BiH would be compensation for Kosovo’ – In regard to recent statement by former BiH legal representative in the lawsuit against Serbia-Montenegro, the U.S. International Law Professor Francis Boyle that the main aim of reforms of former PDHR Donald Hays was to make the RS consolidated and prepare its way to join Serbia, SDA leader Sulejman Tihic said for Fena that it is not possible for any solutions in BiH to be on track of some sort of compensation for Kosovo. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Tihic: Negotiations in BiH are not connected with Kosovo’ by A.M. – Commenting Bolye’s statement, |
| DL op-ed: Constitutional talks will end up in cosmetic changes
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Cementing of division of BiH’, by Ivica Glibusic – Commenting on the constitutional reforms talks, Glibusic argues the talks will most likely result in cosmetic changes that will not bring BiH closer to the EU, quite the contrary. To back his claim up, Glibusic argues that the RS representatives do not even allow that talks tackle issues such as abolishment of entities or change of name of entities, which in reality will mean that BiH will keep on fighting with huge administration and interests of entities that are slowing down the process of enactment of laws and implementation of reforms that would lead BiH closer to Euro-Atlantic integration. |
| RS politicians and lawyers: either election of new Government or dismissal of RS NA
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Either election of the new Government or dismissal of the parliament’ by V. Popovic – Representatives of RS political parties and lawyers believe there are only two ways to overcome RS political crisis – either to establish a new Government or dismiss RS NA and organize early elections. They believe the key to a solution is in hands of RS President Dragan Cavic, whose constitutional obligation is to preserve functioning of RS institutions. Lawyer Miroslav Mikes and Professor of Constitutional Law Zeljko Marjanic explained the constitutional procedure that needs to be followed in such situations. SNSD’s Milorad Dodik, PDP’s Veselin Poljasevic, SDA’s Sefket Hafizovic and Sadik Ahmetovic believe RS President is responsible for such a situation, while SNSD’s Igor Radojicic thinks the solution is election of a new Government. |
| Durakovic announces going over to SDU
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘It’s too early for political retirement, I’ll go over to SDU’ by Husein Orahovac – Interview given to DA is focused on the future political career of Nijaz Durakovic, SBiH representative to the BiH House of Representatives. In brief, he explains his political view of talks on constitutional changes, stressing that IC has taken the stance which is allowing too much compromise for the RS. Durakovic expressed his fear that the talks would finally result with the solution worse even than the Dayton Peace Agreement. |
| Tihic: PMs resignations destabilize situation in Cantons; SDA: OHR’s arrogant behaviour politically motivated
| FTV magazine ’60 Minuta’ byAmarildo Gutic – Zenica-Doboj Canton (ZDC) Prime Minister, Nedzad Polic submitted resignation after ZeDo Cantonal Assembly official, Zoran Markovic, asked him to resign. In September 2005, the BiH Election Commission issued information stating that Polic and Prime Minister of Bosnia-Podrinje Canton, Salko Obhodjas, were both violating the Election Law as neither PM should have appeared on the election lists because both had been sanctioned by the provisional election commission. Polic submitted his resignation before being replaced by Paddy Ashdown. On 12 January, OHR sent a letter to the SDA leader Sulejman Tihic stating that Polic should resign, or SDA could face sanctions at next elections. It also suggested the same for “This isn’t good, it destabilizes situation in Cantons several months before elections… we are talking about successful Prime Ministers”, said Tihic. On being asked what he was going to do after resignation, Polic said that he was most probably going to return to the company he used to work before being appointed as the Prime Minister. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Arrogant behaviour towards party’ by E.Aganovic – SDA also issued a statement in which they call OHR’s demand “shameful and and against all the codes and conventions on human rights”. SDA says that ZDC and |
| Lozancic: there are no divisions within the HDZ
| FTV ‘60 minuta’ current affairs program by Bakir Hadziomerovic – Speaking about rifts within HDZ, FBiH President Niko Lozancic ddid not want to comment the incident which took place during the last session of the HDZ Main Board involving Martin Raguz who was physically removed from the session, but strongly underlined that divisions within HDZ do not exist. Lozancic stressed that all speculations on allegedly irregular election of HDZ leader, Dragan Covic, have been fabricated by several dissatisfied HDZ members. However, he rejected any possibility for them to establish their own party, stressing that there is only few of them. |
| Davidovic: Key document in talks
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Davidovic: Key document in talks on association’ – On Wednesday, the BiH Presidency would discuss the platform of BiH team for negotiations with EU on Stabilisation and Association Agreement [ |
| Oslob.: there is no space for fear of Bosniak supremacy in Bih | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Citizen and/or nation’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – Referring to statements of President of RS Academy for Science and Art Rajko Kuzmanovic and Croat writer Ivan Lovrenovic who fear of Bosniak supremacy in BiH, editorial says that there is no basis for such fear, and therefore citizen and not people must be basis for state constitution. Editorial claims that even if there would be such unique Bosniak policy, such thing as Bosniak supremacy over other BiH peoples could not be carried out, neither by force nor by parliamentary procedure, adding that besides that there are no international will for such thing to happen. |
Economic issues, budgets | |
| BiH HoR rejects budget proposal; most objections against BiH MoD’s budget
| RTRS by Branka Kusmuk– The proposed budget of the BiH institutions for 2006 in amount of 954,6 millions KM was not adopted at the session of the BiH House of Representatives held on Monday. HoR delegates decided to return proposal to the BiH Commission for finance and budget, after the majority of the delegates have requested the amendments to the budget to be adopted. The Commission is expected to complete its work by January 30, and subsequently to report to the HoR. “I think that we do not have much space for budget correction, and I think these 15 days are taken for some political arrangement… I think that we will have budget by the end of January,” said Adnan Tezic, BiH CoM. SDA was supportive of budget adoption. However, SDA did not justify its opinion by adequate distribution of resources but rather with opinion that budget adopting is condition for continuation of reforms. Proposals of Law on changes and amendments of Law on VAT also did not get support of Representatives to be discussed urgently. FTV – The most of objections refer to the budget of the BiH Defence Ministry which is 278 million KM. Minister Nikola Radovanovic stated that this Ministry starts 2006 with 13 070 staff members and added that 2070 of them would loose their income in 3 months. Beriz Belkic from SBIH reminded that failure to pass the state budget would slow down functioning of institutions. |
| BiH HoR rejects amendments to LAW on VAT; Spiric demands
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘VAT for press, books and publishing remains’ by H.O- S.T., Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Exemption on publishing from VAT in urgent procedure rejected – BiH House of Representatives also rejected the proposal of Council of Ministers to discuss the amendments to the Law on VAT foreseeing exemption of publishing sector in an urgent procedure. Same thing happened to the proposal by the |
| Hayat feature on the BiH institutions’ budget
| Hayat by Snjezana Mulic– Commenting the proposed budget and in light of the negotiations on the constitutional changes, Hayat brings that it is a well-known fact that BiH institutions are spending enormous amounts of money, which is not a surprise considering the fact that almost everything in this country is multiplied by three. More than 70 experts and advisors serve three BiH Presidency members, and they are all financed from the state budget. The budget of tripartite BiH Presidency was almost six million KM in 2005, which means that they spent only one million less than the whole BiH Parliamentary Assembly, two times more than BiH Ministry of Defence and almost ten times more than State Attorney’s Office. “The state would be much more functional with only one president, it is clear if only we take a look at all the other countries in the world, and the way they are functioning… plus, large amount of money would be saved, especially in administration”, stated Osman Brka, SDA’s representative in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly. But the representatives from the RS have completely different opinion: “It is clear that BiH Presidency has to have three members, since BiH is composed of three constitutional peoples… We should save money in some other places: first of all, we should stamp out crime and corruption”, stated |
| NN op-ed: RS delegates claim state institutions are squandering funds, but they forget to mention entities failed to reduce administration expenses
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Budget’ by Mirza Cubro – The author refers to yesterday’s discussion on the state budget and comments that the fact the state would be controlling military, intelligence and security apparatus seriously bothers radical |
| Lozancic: FBiH Parliament is directly responsible for failure to pass the budget
| FTV ‘60 minuta’ current affairs program by Bakir Hadziomerovic– In interview for magazine, FBiH President Niko Lozancic spoke about FBiH Government’s failure to persuade FBiH parliament to pass the budget for 2006. Lozancic warned that both FBiH Government and the FBiH Parliament are to face consequences if the budget is not adopted by the end of January. Lozancic added that in that case it would be impossible to implement laws passed by the Parliament in 2005, especially those referring to benefits for disabled war veterans, disabled persons, pensioners, etc. FBiH President added that stated that FBiH Government has done it share of the job, stressing that he hold FBiH Parliament responsible for failure to pass the budget. |
| BiH Transparency International survey: corruption swamped Faculties | EuroBlic cover pg splash and pg RS1 ‘Corruption swamped Faculties’ by Mirna Soja – BiH Transparency International has conducted a survey on the sample of 800 students of Sarajevo and Banja Luka Faculties and the results showed more than 90% of students confirmed corruption had become an integral part of functioning of Faculties. A member of RS Association of Science and Education Workers, Radojka Prastalo, says the results are not exaggerated but these show the true situation at Faculties. |
Police, defence issues | |
| Decertified police officers commence with hunger strike, meet HR
| BHT1 – Decertified policemen have commenced a hunger strike outside of OHR building demanding an urgent audit of decertification process. Decertified police officers also met with the High Representative Paddy Ashdown, who told them they should ask form the local authorities and UN to help them. BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Mirsad Kebo promised that he would visit UN together with representatives of decertified policemen in order to ask for audit of decertification process. “Council of Ministers and myself completely support the demands of decertified policemen since UN violated human rights in this case”, stated Kebo. Decertified policemen will continue the strike until their demands are met. RTRS– Adnan Terzic, Chair of BiH CoM promised to start the initiative on decertification audit as recommended by the Venice Commission on audit of the process carried out in the BiH by the UN International Police Task Force. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Demand of decertified policemen is legitimate’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Only UN can solve problem’ –HR Paddy Ashdown explained decertified policemen that authorized body to approve and launch the revision of the IPTF decisions is UN Security Council, and not the OHR or the BiH judiciary. |
| Decertified police officers to file charges against biH authorities
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Policemen decided to wait for Schwarz-Schilling in front of OHR’, mentioned on cover, by Az.Kalamujic – Inset, ‘Criminal charges against Tihic, Paravac, Covic, Terzic and Kebo’ – Representatives of decertified policemen announced that they will raise criminal charges against BiH Presidency members from 2002 Sulejman Tihic, Borislav Paravac and Dragan Covic and against BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic and and BiH Minister for Human Rights Mirsad Kebo. President of FBiH decertified policemen association Ramo Sulic stated that criminal charges against certain politicians would be filed on basis of misuse of power. |
| Kebo announces providing help, RS decertified police seeks assistance from OHR
| BHT1 late news – Guests of late news were BIH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Mirsad Kebo and representative of decertified policemen Ramo Suljic. Kebo stressed that he would provide help for decertified police officers and ask for an audit of decertification process, also stating that the CoM would hold the extraordinary session dedicated to these issues on Tuesday. He added that CoM Chair Adnan Terzic is away at the moment, owing to which reason the session might be postponed until Thursday. RTRS late news – Zoran Bijelic, Chair of RS Association of decertified police officers said that meeting with HR Paddy Ashdown did not bring any improvements and that OHR is equally responsible as IPTF, although HR denies that. Bijelic deems that OHR should solve issue of decertified police officers. Bijelic believes that it should be BiH CoM, rather than Associations of decertified police officers in RS and FBiH, to officially ask for an audit on decertification from UN Security Council. Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Support’ by M.M. – Ranka Misic, President of the RS Trade Union, expressed support to Monday’s protest of the decertified police officers, assessing it is necessary to form a commission tasked with revision of all decisions on desertification. |
| Dzihanovic objects method of appointing
| Hayat– FBiH Vice President Sahbaz Dzihanovic demands from FBiH Government to review the election process of members of the BiH Police Reform Directorate. Dzihanovic thinks that the most important criteria – field of specialisation and knowledge – have been completely overlooked during the appointment of members of this Directorate. Dzihanovic also criticises members of BiH Negotiating team with EU on Stabilisation and Association Agreement [ |
| Minister Radovanovic on defence reform process: process goes according to law and expected dynamics
| Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Transition of defence flows in expected dynamics’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – carries an interview with the BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, who notes that the process of transition of duties and authorities from the entity MoDs onto the BiH MoD in being done in accordance with the law (on defence) and in expected dynamics, however Radovanovic notes the problem is that the corresponding law was enacted on December 28 and the original plan was to have the law in place in early October. Asked about the surplus staff in the defence structures, Radovanovic notes the number of surplus staff is not determined yet, the number that will depend on the future rulebook on systematisation and organization of the BiH MoD, which should be enacted in the next 40 days. Radovanovic also reiterated that the amount of 278 million KMs is not enough to carry out all activities as set out in the law on defence. |
| OHR, NATO HQ Sarajevo expressed concern over Tihic’s statements re presence of BiH Defense Ministry officials at RS Day reception
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘NATO criticized Tihic’ by D. R. – NATO HQ Sarajevo expressed its concern over recent statements of member of the BiH Presidency and SDA President Sulejman Tihic, with regard to attendance of BiH Defense Ministry officials at the reception organized on the occasion of RS Day. The singular, personal criticism is not in line with the spirit of the Law on Defense developed under the auspices of the NATO-led Defence Reform Commission. As such, the comments can only serve to cause damage to defense reform implementation, the integrity of the Armed Forces of BiH and BiH’s prospects for becoming a credible candidate for NATO’s Partnership for Peace. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Radovanovic, Podzic and Dzoic have full support from NATO’ not signed. Inset, ‘OHR: Disappointment by SDA politicising’ – OHR supporter NATO’s statement. |
| DA op-ed: Recent arrest of Abazovic is argument in favour of forming single police in BiH
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Grotesqueness of BiH police system’ op-ed by Edina Sarac – Referring to recent arrest of war criminal suspect Dragomir Abazovic in Rogatica area, editorial comments that this clear argument in favor of establishing single police force in BiH. Author said that recent incident has demonstrated “grotesqueness” of current BiH police system, adding that cooperation between 12 different Ministries of Interior depends only on good will. Editorial suggests that SIPA should be the organization with temporary task to set up central database of warrants, while the police reform is ongoing. |
War crimes, crime and investigations | |
| DL learns: Ivan Azinovic arrested in
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 7 ‘Croatian police arrested Ivan Azinovic in Zagreb’, by M. Batarello – DL learns from ‘sources close to police’ (NB: does not specify which police) that the Croatian police arrested Ivan Azinovic, one of suspects in the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case who is on the run, in Zagreb on Monday. DL connects the arrest to earlier announcements of the Croatian State Prosecution that it would raise indictments Azinovic, Ivan Medic and Ljubo Cesic Rojs over illegal re-routing of Croatian state money that was being sent to BiH as help to the BiH Croats, and earlier visit of the Croatian Deputy State Prosecutor, Lazo Pajic, to Sarajevo when prosecutor John McNair handed over documentation on the case to Pajic. Inset ‘MoI without comment’ carries a press officer of the Croatian Interior Ministry, Emina Lisic, who could not confirm the news “because our police did not arrest a person under name of Ivan Azinovic”. |
| SD on threats against FTV journalists Bagaric: Croat journalists in
| Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 18 ‘Ustashas, we will kill you’, by Tomislav Zoric – Commenting on the recent threats against that the FTV journalist, Sanja Bagaric, was exposed to, the author says this is not an isolated case, noting that similar threats were made against other Croat journalists/correspondents in Sarajevo, namely journalists of ‘Vjesnik’, ‘Slobodna Dalmacija’ and ‘Vecernji List’. According to Zoric, the Bosniak media has openly sided with ‘criminal-political’ groups, since the way they reported about the ‘Bagaric’ case was in fact calling on the lynch against the Croat journalists in Sarajevo, who had the courage to write about issues that are not to liking of ‘some Avazs and their political mentors’, namely about religious fanatics, intolerance against Croats etc. |
| VL: BiH Prosecution launches investigation against former Croatian senior officials
| Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘The Hague investigation against Croatian Prime Ministers’, and pg 8 ‘Former Croatian PMs accused of crimes’, by Dejan Jazvic – VL got a confirmation from the BiH Prosecution that the said Prosecution started an investigation against a big number of former military and state officials of Croatia, including former Croatian Prime Ministers Franjo Greguric, Hrvoje Sarinic and Nikica Valentic, who are suspected of being responsible for crimes against the BiH Serbs committed in the ‘Lora’ camp (military harbour near Split) and in Herzegovina area. VL notes it is obvious that the RS institutions are standing behind the accusations, since they were sent to the Prosecution by the Trebinje Public Security Centre. |
| Blic: active officer of Guard Brigade was authorized to withdraw Mladic’s pensions | EuroBlic pg 2, announced on cover ‘Colonel of the guard was withdrawing Mladic’s pension’ by Tanja Nikolic Djakovic – An anonymous source confirmed for EuroBlic that an active officer of the Guard Brigade had been authorized to withdraw from the bank account pensions of Ratko Mladic until November last year. |
| Oslobodjenje: Karadzic/Mladic in ICTY in March?
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Extended mandate’ op-ed by Mirko Sagolj – Commenting the fact Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are still at large; author says that their arrest depends on amount of money they are asking for to give in, adding that Mladic demands €7.5 million. Editorial states that after couple of deadlines failed to be fulfilled, the latest information is that IC sets March 2006 as the new deadline for arresting Karadzic and Mladic, alleging that the two of them will be deported to |
| ISN Security Watch: British anti-terrorism investigators arriving to | Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘They are investigating link between those arrested in BiH with attacks in London’ by D. Raduski and D. Muminovic – Swiss agency ISN Security Watch reported it was told by a source from BiH Prosecutor’s Office that British anti-terrorism investigators would arrive to Sarajevo on January 19 in order to investigate Bosnian link with bomb attacks in London in July this year. The investigators are interested in four British of Afro-Asian origins, who have resided in BiH. Prosecutor Ahmed Halebic told NN BiH Prosecutor’s Office knew nothing about the arrival of British investigators. On the other hand, a source close to the investigation told NN there is a possibility a link existed between the attack in |