TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Jovic address UN General Assembly | NATO’s action in Vojkovici | RS rejects to sign memorandum. |
| SIPA arrest money launderers | Lukic leaves for | Douglas Alexander visited BiH |
| Science Symposium in Blidinje | Douglas Alexander in visit to BiH | No sanctions against RS? |
| BiH HoR in session | RS rejects to sign memorandum | Paravac answered to HR’s request |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| NATO raid in house of M. Kenjic | RS rejects to sign a memorandum | Jovic address UN General Assembly |
| Lukic transferred to Hague | IFIMES, ICG on HR’s decisions | Sredoje Lukic extradited to the ICTY |
| Indictment against Paunovic raised | HR on Paravac | NATO’s search in Vojkovici |
| Douglas Alexander visited BiH | HDZ on failed police reform talks | Prosper on Ratko Mladic |
| Oslobodjenje | Oslobodjenje’s source from RS MoI claim: Captain Dragan was killing in Zvornik area |
| Dnevni Avaz | Group that ‘laundered’ 20 million KMs arrested |
| Dnevni List | Lijanovici damaged for 300.000 Kunas (meat products stolen in |
| Vecernji List | FBiH Prime Minister: This is biggest scientific event in BiH (Blidinje symposium) |
| Nezavisne Novine | Schoolbag weighing at 5 kilos |
Reforms, Political Developments | |
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| RTRS – Vesna Stakic – There are still chances for BiH to start negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement by the end of 2005 if BiH politicians show more willingness, especially when it comes to police reform and cooperation with the ICTY, says British Minister of State for BHT – Alexander rejected speculations on EU having different standards for admittance of different countries. He explained that the application of each county is considered individually (visit was also covered by RHB, Pink, Hayat, Oslobodjenje, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘There is chance for talks with EU by end of year’, by M. K. S., Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘There are still chances to start talks with EU by end of year’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Talks with EU by end of year’, by E. M., Nezavisne Novine, pg 4 ‘Negotiations start when you meet requirements’, by R. Cengic) |
| Avaz: Cavic doing everything to secure support to EC principles in RSNA
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘Can Dragan Cavic secure parliamentary majority for Bjelasnica plan?’, by E. Sarac – Argues that the RS and SDS President, Dragan Cavic, is not giving up the ‘secret diplomacy’ in order to secure another chance to the RS and to himself regarding the police reform. Avaz learns from sources close to the SDS that Cavic, during the meeting with British Minister Douglas Alexander, tried to convince the Minister that he could be able to secure the parliamentary majority for the agreement proposed at Mt. Bjelasnica, which abides by the 3 EC principles. Furthermore, sources say that Cavic is doing everything to keep the promise he has given to HR Paddy Ashdown at Vlasic in April that would lobby with the RSNA MPs to agree to the 3 EC principles. |
| Terzic on his accusations against official
| Hayat – Commenting his accusations against official Belgrade regarding the influence on decision of RSNA to reject the proposal of agreement on police reform and chances for new negotiations, Chair of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stated that the negotiations could continue, but only when the spirits settle down. According to him, |
| Oslobodjenje interview: Terzic on police reform, different policies of European countries
| Oslobodjenje, pg 28 ‘Our chance for Europe is not wasted’, by Senka Kurtovic – carries a page-long interview with the Chairman of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, in which he mostly talks about impacts of failure in police reform talks. Answering to the journalist’s remark that BiH has lost chance to get the green light for SAA talks this year, Terzic says the opportunity is not completely wasted, however in order to achieve the result, the RS has to change its position regarding the 3 EC principles in the next 10 days or so. Terzic argues the opportunity is there, however he is not optimistic about the end result. Terzic also says he has information that European countries do not have the same position regarding reforms/start of SAA talks. “We have an absolute consent of the EC. However, |
| Terzic in Avaz: I’m ready to send Ivanic to hold talks with RS authorities about police reform
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Terzic offering mandate to Ivanic to talk about police reform in RS’, by S. N. – Reports that Chairman of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, is prepared to send a delegation of the BiH CoM as early as Monday to Banja Luka in order to hold talks with the RS authorities about the police reform. Commenting on the PDP’s position, which blames him (Terzic) for the failure of police talks, Terzic says he is ready to appoint Mladen Ivanic, Branko Dokic and Zoran Tesanovic to represent the BiH CoM so “they could amend what Terzic broke”. |
| HR Ashdown on police reform
| RTRS – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown believes that SDS is an utmost culprit for rejection of the proposed agreement on police reform grounded on 3 EU principles. Serbs in RS are now completely isolated. There are no free visas regime, no new investments and there is no a chance for them to follow Serbs from |
| Labus: HR Ashdown cannot accuse | RTRS, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Ashdown cannot blame Belgrade for his failure’, by Srna – Serbian Government says to the High Representative Paddy Ashdown that he cannot accuse Belgrade for failure of police reform in BiH. Serbian Deputy PM Miroljub Labus says that this is the issue of relations in BiH and that |
| Osmanovic expects HR Ashdown to impose sanctions against Bukejlovic and Matijasevic
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 5, mentioned of front ‘Ashdown should remove Bukejlovic and Matijasevic’, by Edina Sarac – Carries an interview with Vice President of RS, Adil Osmanovic, who says it is no surprise the RSNA voted the way it did regarding the policed reform. He goes on to say that the RS institutions will keep obstructing, therefore he expects from the HR, Paddy Ashdown, to act against the most responsible persons. When asked who the persons are, Osmanovic lists the RS PM, Pero Bukejlovic, RS Interior Minister, Darko Matijasevic and MPs in the RSNA that voted against the police reform. |
| HDZ on failure of police reform talks
| RTRS, FTV, Oslobodjenje, pg 2 ‘On constitutional changes in 2 months’, not signed, Dnevni Avaz, g 8 ‘Big damage to BiH and its citizens’, by Srna, Vcernji List, pg 4 ‘Failures in police reform cause damage to BiH’, by M. Ivesa – Failed police reform talks will make great damage to BiH and its citizens, states HDZ BiH. HDZ leadership adds that in next two months the party is going to come out with clear stances on future BiH constitutional organization. |
| BHT’s reporter from
| BHT – Elvir Bucalo – There are still no announcements on possible sanctions against RS because of rejection of police reform. EU Commissioner for Enlargement’s Spokeswoman Christina Naj (spelling?) says the EU doesn’t want to give comment on possible sanctions against RS, but she emphasized that the three principles for police reform must be respected. There are speculations that EU is waiting for Javier Solana to consider this issue. Nicholas White from International Crisis Group for Balkans stated that there obviously must be changes of BiH Constitution. He emphasized that constitutional changes must come from BiH itself, wondering if one party should be allowed to block the whole reform process. Reporter commented that media representatives in |
| RHB commentary on police reform
| RHB – Ivica Simunovic – It is normal for any sovereign and organized country to find solutions for all of the country’s internal problems on its own, without asking outsiders to help, says RHB Editor Ivica Simunovic in RHB regular weekly commentary. According to his words, BiH is not such a country and expectations that the international community and the High Representative will solve all of the issues in making important decisions are not strange. He says that all political players in BiH count on the HR in promoting their proposals. In relation from SDS, which accepts only those decisions that don’t change anything important, and SDA, which want constitutional changes, the HR had to arbitrate in order to reach compromise. Simunovic believes that the police reform negotiations show that things have reached the limits. SDA wants to undermine RS with the police law, while the SDS and all other parties in this Entity absolutely reject that. In such position, there is no much that the HR can do, comments Simunovic. Existence of the High Representative in BiH only creates a false hope and delays beginning of the real dialogue in BiH. The HR is, in a way, alibi to all sides, to the international community in order to impose not so European solutions in the Europe, to SDA in order to form a citizens’ entity in multi-national FBiH, to SDS in order to stick to the Dayton Agreement and to Croats to blame him because they didn’t accomplish more. (Please note that in the last part Simunovic wasn’t so clear what he wants to say.) |
| VL on possible measures against SDS and PDP
| Vecernji List, pg 20 ‘Republika Srpska target of new sanctions’, by Dejan Jazvic – Speculating about new, possible measures that the HR, Paddy Ashdown, could apply against political structures from the RS, the author argues that the financial control of the ruling parties in the RS has been upped, mentioning the Paravac transferring the money case. On top of it, VL says the PDP too will be left without its sources of financing, since it is a public secret that the PDP holds key positions in wealthy public companies such as the ‘Elektroprivreda’ and ‘Telekom’ in the RS. |
| NN op-ed on police reform:
| Nezavisne Novine, pg 7 ‘Police on hold’, by Dragan Risojevic – carries an op-ed commenting the course of police reform. Risojevic argues that the rejection by the RSNA means two things: |
| HR Ashdown to Paravac on illegal transfer to SDS, comment by Cavic; DL: Ashdown to remove Paravac?
| RHB, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Paravac answers to Ashdown’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine, pg 6 ‘Ashdown considering measures towards Paravac’, by V. Popovic – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown,responded on Friday to a letter sent by BiH Presidency member, Borislav Paravac,on 15 September 2005, explaining the circumstances in which Paravac violated the HR’s Decision of 30 June 2004. This decision blocked all SDS bank accounts, and required any financial transaction by the SDS in excess of 150 KM to be conducted through a single authorised bank account. In his letter, Mr Paravac emphasized that he knows he is not above the law. Ashdown in his response notes that Paravac has acknowledged the seriousness of the matter. According to the OHR statement, the HR will now be considering the matter further. RTRS – Carries HR’s response as well as comment by RS President, Dragan Cavic: “It is interesting that this issue is opened now as if it was unfamiliar earlier”. Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Paravac sent money for social cases via SDS’, by S. N. – Avaz learns from an anonymous source that Paravac, in his response to HR Ashdown, stated that the money was not intended for the local SDS, instead it was used to support socially deprived people. Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Ashdown removes Borislav Paravac?’, by N. Bise – Reports that “according to unofficial information that could be heard during recess during session of the state Parliament, the High Representative will most likely remove a member of BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac.” DL notes that the MPs in the state Parliament believe that the removal is a likely option, although nobody wanted to go on the record. According to DL’s knowledge, HR Ashdown will have the Peace Implementation Board Steering Board’s support, and DL’s source says the real reason is not the money Paravac transferred to the SDS Doboj, but the rejection of the police reform by the SDS and RSNA. |
| IFIMES disagrees with the HR’s decisions
| FTV – Blazica Kristo – Reporter comments that instead of having RS authorities sanctioned due to failed police reform talks, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown treats them like pupils who forgot to do their homework and introduces BiH citizens to a story on 2,000 KM illegally spent. Reporter adds that BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac should face sanctions for illegally spent money or for bringing BiH 5 years backwards, or else it suits the HR. Namely, Paravac paid 2,100 KM to SDS’ account, by which he violated the HR’s decision on having all SDS’ accounts blocked. Reporter asks why the HR is even ‘writing letters’ to those who violated his decisions. International Institute for |
| Avaz: Secret meeting on defence reform btw Bukejlovic and Serb MPs in BiH Parliament
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 8 ‘State taking over only the military property that was saved by Army of RBIH?’, by E. Sarac – Avaz learns from well informed sources that the RS PM, Pero Bukejlovic, RS Defence and Interior Ministers, Milovan Stankovic and Darko Matijasevic respectively, held a secret meeting with Serb MPs in the BiH Parliament two days ago at Lukavica in order to talk about the defence reform. Apparently, they made amendments to the Proposal of law on defence of BiH and law on BiH armed forces, which they want to build in the laws at any cost. The aim of the amendments is to legalize the military property in the RS, which has already been allocated to different institutions and individuals in the past period. |
| BiH HoR in session, adopt annual security platform, amendments to law on excise tax, BiH CoM tasked to solve ‘
| RHB, Oslobodjenje, pg 6 ‘Platform on security-intelligence policy adopted’, by A. Terzic, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘OSA without main guidelines’, by Dejan Jazvic – The BiH House of Representatives (HoR) on Friday accepted the Annual Platform on the security-intelligence policy (for 2005). The Platform is a planning and directing document for the BiH Council of Ministers, BiH Presidency and the BiH Parliamentary Assembly to direct the working of the BiH Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA). The Platform’s priority is on gathering and processing information on whereabouts of people wanted by the ICTY and networks that support them RHB, Pink – Representatives have adopted on Friday in the urgent procedure the Law amending the Law on Excises in BiH and the Law amending the Law on Sales Tax of Products and Services. According to the amendments, entity Ministries are allowed to continue printing excises, by FTV, Oslobodjenje, pg 8 ‘Representatives want comprehensive solutions’, by A. T.– BiH House of Representatives has not adopted resolution on BiH institutions’ relation towards appointment and mandate of new International Community High Representative for BiH. Resolution has been initiated by SDP representatives and it foresees that the BiH CoM and BiH Parliament be engaged in talks about appointment of the new High Representative and his mandate. FTV, Oslobodjenje, pg 4 ‘Solve status BiH citizens at Guantanamo’, not signed – The HoR has adopted conclusion of HoR representative Mladen Potocnik, which tasks BiH Council of Ministers to solve the issue of so called ‘Algerian Group’. |
| OSCE, OHR on education in Central Bosnia Canton
| RHB, Pink – The OSCE Mission to BiH and OHR are concerned that no solution has been found yet for students in Central Bosnia Canton that would ensure their uninterrupted education in the canton’s schools. The OSCE and OHR reminds the Cantonal authorities that until the appointment of the new Minister of Education takes place, the Cantonal government remains responsible for ensuring implementation of the education laws, as well as fulfilling the commitments BiH undertook upon joining the Council of Europe. |
| Prozor/Rama: Council of parents call on pupils to boycott classes
| FTV – Council of Parents in primary school ‘Marko Marulic’ in Prozor called on pupils not to attend classes at Monday. Namely, the Council has recently asked for decision on establishment of new school ‘Alija Isakovic’ in the same building to be annulled. The school informed that there would be classes on Monday and that it was up to parents whether they were going to send their children to school. |
| Memorandum on cooperation and support for establishment of state system in charge of monitoring of environment in BiH not signed because RS minister failed to show up
| BHT – Lejla Redzovic Medosevic – Memorandum on cooperation and support for establishment of state system in charge of monitoring of environment in BiH was not been signed in |
| RS CoP delegates have not reached consensus on any of amendments issued to 5 laws
| Pink, BHT, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, pg 8 ‘Disputable are July 11 and January 9’, by O. Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Salkic: It would be good if July 11 was marked in RS too’, by Fena – RS Council of Peoples’ delegates have not reached consensus on any of amendments issued on 5 laws, due to what they are going to be send to harmonization to joint RS National Assembly and Council of Peoples Commission. These are amendments to the Law on holidays, Law on territorial organization, Law on inspections, Law on protection of civil victims of the war and the Law on university. Majority of discussions focused on amendments to Law on RS holidays, since Bosniak and Croat delegates supported the idea of having the Day of the Republic celebrated on November 21 instead of January 9. The Chair of Bosniak Caucus to RS CoP Ramiz Salkic asked for July 11 to be declared as the day of all victims in BiH, since on that day the greatest genocide in the |
War Crimes | |
| Lukic transferred to
| RHB, Pink, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, pg 3 ‘Sredoje Lukic left for The Hague’, by O. V., Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Sredoje Lukic extradited to The Hague’, by Fena, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Lukic transferred to The Hague’, by NINA, Nezavisne Novine, pg 2 mentioned on front ‘Sredoje Lukic in The Hague’, by R. Segrt – An ICTY indictee Sredoje Lukic, charged with violation of customs of war and crimes against humanity, committed against Muslims in Visegrad in 1992, left for The Hague on Friday. Lukic recently surrendered to the RS authorities. Even thought RS authorities did not want to reveal where Lukic was hiding, the ICTY informed that he was in |
| NATO raids house of suspected Mladic’s aide
| FTV, RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, Oslobodjenje, pg 2 ‘House of Mladic bodyguard searched’, by A. Prlenda, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘House of Mladjen Kenjic, former Ratko Mladic’s bodyguard, raided’, by S. Skuletic, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Mladjen Kenjic’s house searched’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine, pg 2’NATO takes away documents’, mentioned on front ‘NATO troops searched house of Mladic’s bodyguard’, by D. Muminovic – In a place called Vojkovici, in Eastern Sarajevo, NATO searched house of Mladjen Kenjic, suspected of supporting war crime indictee Ratko Mladic on Friday. “The reason for this operation at this time is that we had strong evidences which made us believe that Kenjic is supporting Mladic. The aim of the operation was to search the house in order to find any evidences which could help in finding others who are supporting Mladic”, said NATO Spokesperson Derek Chappell. Chappell added that a number of documents was seized. |
| | Hayat, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Indictment against Paunovic confirmed’, by ra – BiH Court confirmed the indictment against Dragoje Paunovic, who is accused of war crimes against Bosniaks in Rogatica. |
| Islamic community of Mostar claims damages for destroyed mosques
| Hayat, Dnevni List, pg 13 ’45 million KMs request for destruction of mosques’, by Sanja Bjelica – Islamic Community Mostar filed lawsuit against RS, FBiH and BiH state, demanding compensation for mosques and other property destroyed during the war, in period 1992-1995. As Islamic Community Mostar Spokesman Hasan Eminovic explained the destroyed buildings were not military facilities, and they were destroyed with the aim to destroy all cultural and religious premises of Muslims. Islamic Community Mostar demands compensation for 65 religious buildings and 15 apartments in amount of 45 million KM. |
| Oslobodjenje: Captain Dragan took part in crimes in Zvornik area in 1992 | Oslobodjenje, front pg splash and pg 2 ‘Captain Dragan was killing in Zvornik area’, by A. Avdic – The daily learns from a source in the RS MoI that Dragan Vasiljkovic, better known as Captain Dragan, was in charge of para-military from Serbia, which committed war crimes against Bosniaks of Zvornik in May and June 1992. The source says Vasiljkovic commanded the operation in a |
Judicial Affairs, Investigations | |
| Widespread operation against money laundry in BiH
| RTRS, RHB, Nezavisne Novine, pg 2 ’19,4 million KMs ‘laundered’’, by A.D. – SIPA announced that police in entire BiH is carrying out an action aimed at arresting persons suspected of money laundering. SIPA also announced that 5 persons have already been arrested, of which 2 are foreign citizens. SIPA believes that those persons are responsible for laundering of 19.4 million KM. BiH Prosecutor’s Office announced that members of the BiH State Border Service (SBS) have arrested Esad Klopic while he was trying to run away to |
| EPRS files lawsuit against Chief RS Auditor Ceko
| BHT, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz, pg 8 ‘Elektroprivreda RS sues Bosko Ceko’, by Srna, Nezavisne Novine, pg 2 ‘Lawsuit against Ceko’, by Srna – “Elektroprivreda RS” has filed lawsuit against RS Chief Auditor Bosko Ceko for destroying the image and honour of this company, demanding compensation of 1 million KM. |
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| Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Mandic in denention for two more months’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine, pg 9 ‘Mandic in detention until November 15’, by D. Mu. – BiH Court decided to extend the detention of Momcilo Mandic for two more months. Mandic is suspected of being involved in organized crime regarding operating of “Privredna bank” in |
| Continuation of trials to Dodik
| RTRS – Sinisa Mihailovic – 7 defence witnesses testified in the continuation of the trial to former RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik and Minister of Finance Novak Kondic on Friday. Witnesses have confirmed that the Government of Milorad Dodik solved housing issues in accordance with the law, stated defence attorney Krstan Simic. |
| Update to Kotorsko issue | Hayat – Feature by ATV – Next Sunday, settlement of Serb refugees from Vozuca in Kotorsko near Doboj should be torn down. In 2000, RTRS – Stela Jungic – Displaced Serbs, representatives of local community Kotorsko, warned that the demolition of the house of Gavrilo Mocic represents pressure on Serb refugees to leave Kotorsko. The demolition of Mocic house, who is a father of fallen soldier of RS Army, is scheduled for Tuesday, September 20. Serbs from Kotorsko say for RTRS that they have all necessary documentation for construction of their houses. They say that police keep them under permanent surveillance. The decision on demolition of Mocic’s hojuse was not delivered to him. He was informed about that in the Public Security Centre in Doboj. Gavrilo says he has nowhere else to go. |
Economy | |
| ITA’s | RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, pg 4 ‘Minimun increase of prices because of VAT’, by N. Krsman – Chairman of Indirect Taxation Administration Steering Board Jolly Dixon stated that transfer from the tax on turnover of goods to VAT represents major reform for BiH. He stated that all categories of population would benefit from that. According to Dickson, VAT will provide increasing of employment and investments. He also claims that all raise of prices, especially bread products, will be kept at minimum level. |
Miscellaneous | |
| Symposium at Blidinje
| RHB, BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje, pg 4 ‘’Blidinje 2005’ symposium opened’, by Fena, Dnevni List, pg 4, mentioned on front ‘Tourist expansion of Blidinje park of nature’, by Ivana Rozic, Vecernji List, front p splash ‘FBiH Prime Minister: This is biggest scientific event in BiH’ and pgs 2-3 ‘Blidinje will be national park’, by Velimir Begic, Tomislav Kvesic – FBiH President, Niko Lozancic, opened at Blidinje on Friday the First International Science Symposium. On this occasion Lozancic stated that this gathering is important for environment protection. Participants were also addressed by Dragan Covic, as the president of the Organizing Board of this event. He expressed his belief that this gathering will contribute to the tourism development and protection of the natural park Blidinje. |
| VL visits alleged Al Qaeda training camp at Gornja Maoca | Vecernji List, pgs 54 and 55 ‘Vahhabi: Croat(ian)s should be exterminated’, mentioned on front ‘Croat(ian)s will feel Allah’s power’, by Hassan Haidar Diab – Carries a lengthy report from the |