OHR BiH Media Round-up, 19/5/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Croat parties on const. Changes

Mtg. Between EU and BiH

Mtg on progress in Feasibility Study

Vuleta on refugee status

HR’s interview to Vecernji List

Serb killed near Obrovac

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Meeting of Croat political parties

Cavic on police reform talks

BH Steel – Mittal Steel Zenica

Reactions to police reform negot.

BiH Presidency in session

Moratinos on Andan’s allegation

BIH HoP in session

BiH HoP in session

PBS directors on new public RTV law

BIH Court press conference

BiH-France defence agreement

BiH politicians on HR’s work

NTV Hayat  (19,00 hrs)

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

BiH Presidency in session

BiH politicians on HR’s work

McElhaney on RS

BiH-Spain agreements

HR on transformation of his role

Cavic on police reform

HR on police reform talks

PBS directors on new public RTV law

HR on police reform

Cavic on police reform talks

ICTY to transf. Stankovic case to BiH

Moratinos in Sarajevo

Oslobodjenje

To limit powers of new HR

Dnevni Avaz

RS must understand that it is not state

Dnevni List

Life saved (story on successful surgery performed at Mostar Clinic)

Vecernji List

Sanader wants to conquer HDZ BiH

Slobodna Dalmacija

Office of High Representative to be shut down

Glas Srpske

Two paths, both difficult

Nezavisne Novine

Investment 70 million € worth

Blic

Srpske Poste got new system against burglaries

Vecernje Novosti

Features Serbia related headlines

Srpski Nacional

Features Serbia related headlines

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

Consultative Task Force meeting takes place in Sarajevo

RHB, RS Radio – The 6^th meeting of the EU-BiH Consultative Task Force takes place in Sarajevo today and it is dedicated to an overview of the BiH’s progress in soma areas of the Feasibility Study.

Police Reform/EC Delegation Visit to BiH

Avaz interview with HR P. Ashdown (HR on police reform)

Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘RS must understand that it is not state’ and pg 5 ‘RS must understand that it is entity and not state’ by E. Sarac carries an interview with high Representative Paddy Ashdown. Commenting on the interruption of the talks on the police reform, the HR says that, perhaps, now it is time for a break in the whole process since some space should be given to the RSNA if we want to get the final solution. According to the HR, the RSNA knows what it should do. The HR also said: ‘Implementation of this reform is much harder for the RS than for the Federation of BiH. Some politicians deliberately tried to convince citizens that this is about abolishment of the RS, and that is not true.’ The HR also stated that he cannot impose the police reform for political and legal reasons and he added: ‘So if I do not have the powers to impose the reform than I do not have powers to removes those who oppose the reform either. The HR will not resolve their problems for them. They would have to resolve them by themselves.‘

VL interview with HR Ashdown on police reform: RS on road to isolation

Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘RS is going the road that leads towards isolation’, mentioned on front ‘Ashdown: Republika Srpska obstructs Federation of BiH’, by Dejan Jazvic – Carries an interview with the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, in which he comments on the state of the police reform in BiH. Asked as to what was going to happen now after the police talks have failed and whether it was true that the RS was facing isolation, HR Ashdown says: “If the authorities in the RS put themselves in position that they are the only obstacle to the progress in the whole region, it will be a dangerous situation. One can say it is a road that leads towards isolation”.

HR interview with NN: Nationalistic parties cannot lead BiH to EU

Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Nationalistic parties cannot lead BiH to European Union’ by M. Cubro – in this page-long interview to NN, High Representative Paddy Ashdown has stated nationalistic parties cannot lead BiH to EU and he added Bih cannot enter EU unless it eliminates nationalism. He expressed his opinion that the current Bih authorities cannot lead BiH trough the door to EU, i.e. these cannot end the journey to EU. ‘It [the journey] cannot be completed without decent opposition parties. Several strong opposition parties are needed because this journey to EU cannot be completed unless the country eliminates nationalism’, HR Ashdown said. HR also commented on police reform, role of RS politicians in it and consequences Bih can expect if it fails to implement police reform.

HR Ashdown with Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos: HR comments on police reform

Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Waiting for positive move by Serb politicians’, not signed – After talking to the Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, whilst answering a journalist’s question what he would do with the RS politicians who are guilty for the interruption of police talks, said that he would do “nothing”. “The issues we are talking about surpass the Dayton agreement and it is clear that I cannot impose them”, said Ashdown, adding that a positive move from the RS is being awaited, explaining that Europe will not change its principles. “As far as I know the RS NA will on Monday have a special session during which it will discuss the police reform”, said HR Ashdown.

Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 17 ‘Office of High Representative to be shut down’, by D. Pasic – Carries HR Ashdown as commenting on the Monday’s session of RSNA. The HR hopes that the RS authorities would be able to overcome “this difficult time”. “If it happens, we will be able to make progress and BiH will be able to get across the historic threshold on its way to Europe”, said HR Ashdown.

DL op-ed on Moratinos’ meeting with HR: Commending HR Ashdown is bad joke

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Commending Ashdown’, by Marko Karacic – Commenting on the visit of the Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos’, visit to Sarajevo, during which he commended the work of the High Representative, the author, in an ironic tone, says it is pity Moratinos did not specify what the HR has done. “Perhaps he commended Paddy for arrest of war criminals, because of ‘success’ in police reform or perhaps for unifying the fire-fighters in Mostar?”, says the author, noting that all the commendations are a bad joke.

Cavic says it would be extremely difficult to make a decision on police reform

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Accession to EU requires change of Dayton’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘RSNA has May 30 as a deadline’, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Non-adoption of EU principles leads RS into isolation’, by B, Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Two paths, both difficult’ by G. D., Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Decision on police reform rests upon RS Assembly’ by V. Popovic, EuroBlic pg RS1 ‘Police before the parliament, consequences are known to everyone’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, insets ‘There can be no forcible changes of authorities’ and ‘Five plus five plus one’, Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘They offered 5+5+1 formula’ by M. Labus and S. Pesevic – RS President, Dragan Cavic said that it was going to be extremely difficult to bring decision on police reform since it was a political issue by which part of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which stipulated entities’ authorities, was going to be changed. Cavic said that EU’s and International Community’s stances were clear and that they found the solution which came out as the result of Vlasic meeting unacceptable. “Admittance to EU means change in the Dayton Peace Agreement, namely the part which stipulates political entities’ authorities and political parties in RS have to decide whether they are ready to swallow such a big piece”, said Cavic. Cavic added that RS National Assembly had to hold the session, by May 30. “Decision has to be reached. Each decision will determine relations toward RS and BiH political ambient. The burden of the decision has to be presented to the public and all those chosen by the people will have to take a stance on it”, added Cavic. On being asked to comment protest held in Banjaluka on Tuesday, Cavic said that there was no need for October 5 to take place in RS, since RS authority was no violent but democratic. All political parties, which believe that the current Government does not deserve confidence should start initiative in RSNA for its replacement, according to Cavic.

SDP blames Ashdown, OHR for police reform failure

Oslobodjenje ‘OHR to be held co-responsible for the failure’, SRNA – The BiH SDP general secretary, Svetozar Pudaric, said on Wednesday that High Representative Paddy Ashdown and OHR are jointly responsible for the collapse of the police reforms. Pudaric stressed that Ashdown and OHR cannot be excluded from their share of the responsibility for the collapse of the police reforms and the consequences, which will arise from this. “The collapse of the police reforms is a reflection of the ruling parties’ real attitude towards reforms in BiH, as for them reforms mean changing as much as possible on paper, while in reality preserving the existing situation,” Pudaric maintains.

NN op-ed: HR should not have cooperated with Cavic

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Cyprus syndrome’ by Pero Simic – The author claims many have warned HR Ashdown not to cooperate with Dragan Cavic and he says the HR will now have to accept the consequences of this cooperation. He says he is actually pleased with this development of the situation because HR, among all smart people from RS, had chosen Cavic to lead the country to Europe .

RS political parties and NGOs: RS citizens must not be hostages of SDS’s and PDP’s politics

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘RS citizens must not be hostages of SDS and PDP’ by V. P. – Representatives of certain political parties and NGOs from RS thinks RS citizens must not be hostages of wrong politics led by Dragan Cavic and Mladen Ivanic. Apart from carrying the statement of SDP Secretary General Svetozar Pudaric, the article carries statement of the Head of RS Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Branko Todorovic, who says RS authorities must accept the responsibility for possible isolation of RS, while the President of Alternative Government of BiH, Dragoljub Stojanov, says the failure of political parties to reach an agreement was a proof of inability of ruling parties to reach a consensus and their aspirations to destabilize country in order to fulfill goals they have set at the beginning of ’90-es.

NN public opinion survey on police reform

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Survey’ – carries reactions of several RS citizens who all agree ruling parties from RS should bear the responsibility for failure of police reform talks and they think the most responsible person is SDS leader Dragan Cavic.

SD op-ed on police reform: Imposition of Constitution is the solution

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Imposition of Constitution – the only solution’, by Marin Erceg – Comments on the failure of police talks by saying that the Serb politicians rejected the proposal, which resulted in sobering up of the naïve ones. “Serbs care more about the RS, no matter what it is like, more than the imaginary and distant Europe. Even Belgrade is closer”, says Erceg. As a remedy, Erceg says, since the three peoples will not be able to reach an agreement, a new Constitution, which would incorporate European standards, should be imposed, even if it requires a protectorate in BiH. As a result, collective rights of all peoples would be protected, including the Croats’ right to information in their own language.

Director for Balkans with the US Institute for Peace: Door of Europe would not be opened forever for BiH

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Door of Europe would not be opened forever’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Police reform in BiH would last for years’ by VOA – In an interview given to Voice of AmericaDirector for Balkans with the US Institute for Peace in Washington Daniel Server commented on the interruption of the police reform talks and chances that BiH stands for further integration to European institutions. He said: ‘People in BiH should not think that the door of Europe would be opened forever. Europe is dedicated to Balkans, however, at the same time there is great pressure within Europe to close some of the doors. For this reason, I would not waste my time if I was you.’ Server also said that political leaders in BiH avoid to pass decisions and take over responsibility and this worked well in the previous period since the High Representative was doing their job. Server added: ‘I believe that these days are behind us since the HR cannot do as much as he did in the past. He does not have any longer political support of Western Europe and USA for doing it.’

EU Delegation to visit BiH today

EuroBlic pg RS2, announced on cover ‘Travel, Europe’ by Nedeljka Breberina and Rajna Radosavljevic – The Directorate for European Integrations of BiH believes BiH will not get a recommendation for the start of ASA today. Despite to the fact BiH had fulfilled a majority of obligations, the Directorate says the failure of police reform negotiations would be crucial for a negative assessment. The Spokesperson of the Directorate for European Integrations, Emir Hadzikadunic, says after the meeting of EU representatives and BiH representatives, which will be held in Sarajevo today, it should be known when BiH would get another chance for negotiations. EC Delegation Spokesman Frane Maroevic also thinks BiH would be complimented for progress made in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and adoption of PBS Law, however the failed police reform would pose an obstacle for the start of negotiations.

McElhaney: There would be no negotiations for EU without police reform

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘There would be no negotiations for EU without police reform’ by Agencies – US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney has stated in Tuzla that he was worried over the failure of police reform talks and he said the international community would not exert any additional pressure since it was the responsibility of domestic politicians to adjust BiH structure to European standards. According to the Ambassador, this is a pre-requisite without which a signal for negotiations on accession to EU would not be given.

French Embassy in BiH: To implement police reform in accordance with EC standards

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘To implement police reform in accordance with EC standards’ by L.S. – Reacting against some media speculation the French Embassy in BiH issued a press release which says: ‘France believes that BiH belongs to EU. In order to achieve this goal finally France wants that negotiations on SAA start as soon as possible, during this year if possible. For this reason it is important that the police reform is implemented in accordance with EC principles.’ DA says that French Ambassador to BiH Hanry Zipper de Fabiani confirmed this statement in an interview given to this daily which would be published on Friday (tomorrow).

Political Developments/Statements

BiH Parliament Commission discusses on institution of HR in BiH

RHB, BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4 and 5 ‘To limit powers of new HR’ by S. Sehercehajic, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Instead of HR EU Special Representative in BiH’ not signed, Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘OHR ‘numbs’ BiH institutions’, by Eldina Medunjanin, EuroBlic pg RS2, announced on cover ‘Partner – yes, protector – no’ by D. S., inset ‘Ashdown: A special representative of EU instead of OHR’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘BiH needs a special representative of EU’ by M. C.-The Commission for Foreign Affairs of the BiH House of Representatives held a public discussion on Wednesday about the relation of state institutions towards a mandate of the High Representative and most participants of the discussion agreed that the institution of the HR should be transformed in the position of the EU Special Representative for BiH. President of the aforementioned Commission Martin Raguz stated that the current role of the HR in BiH is incompatible with the BiH membership in the Council of Europe and future membership in the EU. Osl. quotes SDP President Zlatko Lagumdzija as saying that the HR should be deprived of the Bonn’s powers since they were given to him because of slow implementation of reforms in the post-war period and sanctioning of those who wanted secession from BiH, however, according to Lagumdzija, there is no fear of such processes any longer. Lagumdzija added that, obviously, there are double standards when removal of the officials is in question since Nikola Grabovac was removed after the Prosecutor announced that he would launch the investigation about the abuse of the position, while Dragan Covic was removed after the investigation went through 4 phases. BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic stated that the OHR would not become the Special EU Representative’s Office by November this year since there is no a unique stand on this issue within the International Community. DA also says that although invited representatives of all Caucuses, the BiH Council of Ministers etc. did not come at the discussion.

Ashdown on discussion of BiH Parliament Commission

Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Ashdown: International Community also deals with this issue’ carries High Representative Paddy Ashdown as saying that the time has come for transfer from the position of the High Representative to the position of the EU Special Representative in BiH. He stated that he will speak about it on Monday in London with colleagues from the International Community. RHB also says that the HR stressed that the transfer cannot occur until BiH signs the Association and Stabilisation Agreement.

FTV, Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 17 ‘Office of High Representative to be shut down’, by D. Pasic – HR announces his trip to London , talks with IC on introducing EUSR.

Spanish Foreign Minister visits BiH

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS – Members of BIH Presidency met with Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos (SP) on Wednesday. They spoke on improving the bilateral cooperation between 2 countries especially in the area of education and economy. Moratinos also met with BIH Security Minister Barisa Colak. They signed a contract on implementation of support project to SIPA. The project will strengthen financial-intelligence department in SIPA. Spanish Government will donate 600 000 Euros for this project. Moratinos met with BIH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic. They signed an agreement on visa abolishment for holders of diplomatic and official passports. They agreed that activities on police reform should be continued since it is one of conditions for membership in EU. Moratinos is also scheduled to visit Mostar.

Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Madrid terrorists did not train in BiH’, not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9 ‘No evidence that Madrid terrorists were trained in BiH’, by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Visas for diplomats were abolished’ by A. Sisic also covered the visit.

BiH Presidency held regular session in full composition, Ivo Miro Jovic took an oath

FTV, Pink, BHT, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Dragan Andan should leave the office as soon as possible’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Andan should be remove3d by the international community’, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Ivo Miro Jovic assumes office’, by eme, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘Ivo Miro Jovic takes oath’, by D. Pasic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Ivo Miro Jovic took the oath’ by A. Sisic, FENA – The new Croat member of BiH Presidency, Ivo Miro Jovic, on Wednesday gave the Solemn Declaration so that this State institution held a session in full composition after a longer period of time.  Several decisions were issued, among which the Decision on consenting with the appointments of the ambassadors of Poland, the Democratic Republic of Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Estonia, Iran and Greece to BiH. BiH Presidency also adopted the Decision on launching the procedure for concluding the Agreement on conditions and benefits for persons working abroad within the Project Support for the main audit institutions between the BiH Council of Ministers and the Government of Sweden. Although expected, the Presidency did not formally debate the matter of incidents at the barracks in Manjaca and Bileca, because the Presidency members could not agree on the text of conclusions in preparations for the session. “There are different proposals of conclusions on which we were unable to reach consensus, so that this matter will be discussed at the next session”, said BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic. Representatives of the international community have requested from the State Presidency to consider the Report and proposed measures of the RS Defense Ministry, and to take appropriate measures. When asked whether the Presidency considered the latest statements of RS Police Director Dragomir Andan, Tihic said that this matter is not under the Presidency’s jurisdiction. However, Tihic presented his personal stand that Andan’s statements both before and after the appointment were politically colored and unprofessional and it is about time for him to step down or be removed by the RS authorities or the international community”. The Presidency has also debated the Decision on procedure of appointing ambassadors and other BiH representatives abroad, and due to certain remarks this decision will be debated again. BiH Presidency adopted the Annual and Financial reports of the BiH Central Bank for 2004, as well as the Working Report of the BiH Agency for Deposit Insurance for 2004 and the Financial Plan for 2005. In conclusion, BiH Presidency debated the Report of BiH Defense Minister Nikola Radovanovic on deploying a de-mining unit to Iraq and issued the relevant operational decisions. It is expected that this unit will be deployed to Iraq on June 1.

Spanish foreign minister says no link between Bosnia and Madrid attack

BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘No indications Madrid attacks were being prepared in BiH’, mentioned on cover ‘Everything indicates Andan’s claims not correct’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘BiH has no links with terrorism in Spain’, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Madrid terrorists did not train in BiH’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Moratinos: Checking is ongoing’, by Dejan Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9 ‘No evidence that Madrid terrorists were trained in BiH’, by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Persons from BiH have not participated in the attack in Madrid’ by A. S., SRNA – Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Angel Moratinos said in Sarajevo on Wednesday that Spain was checking information weather the Madrid terrorist attack had been prepared in BH, but that all contacts so far had shown that this was not true. “We heard this recently and our embassy established contacts with police services. This information is currently being checked but it appears that there are no indications that this is true,” Moratinos told journalists after talks with BH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic. In reply to a journalist’s question on whether Al-Qa’idah cells existed in BiH, Ivanic said that official bodies did not have such information. “BiH bodies are carefully checking information that some people who are considered to be international terrorists were possibly in Bosnia during the war and in this respect we are cooperating with intelligence services of other countries,” Ivanic said adding that BiH “can stand only behind what has been confirmed”.

Oslobodjenje: Carty to submit report on Andan and Milteic’s statements to HR soon

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Ashdown expects opinion on Andan and Miletic’ by Az. K. – According to a source from the International Community EUPM Commissioner Kevin Carty would soon submit the report to High Representative Paddy Ashdown about statements given by RS Police Director Dragomir Andan and FBiH Police Director Zlatko Miletic. Osl. Also learns that in this report Carty would warn the HR that the police commissioners should be engaged in operative activities and not in giving political statements. Osl. also says that it can be noticed that the HR and US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney showed interest for Andan’s behaviour after the failure of the talks on the police reform although the Andan’s case took place about 10 days ago.

BiH HoP adopted amendments to laws on SIPA, VAT

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Deadline for appointment of SIPA Director extended’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Deadline for appointment of SIPA Director was extended’ by Agencies – BIH House of Peoples adopted the draft law on competition at a session held on Wednesday. This law will strengthen unique economic space. The law also enable establishment of competition council that should provide equal and transparent market appearance. HoP adopted amendments to the law on civil service in BIH institutions. It also adopted amendments to the law on SIPA, which prolonged the mandate of SIPA Director and his deputies for 2 months. Amendments to the law on VAT were also adopted. Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Appointment of SIPA director in two months’, not signed also reported on the session.

BiH Security Minister Colak on SIPA director appointment

Dnevni List, pg 8, mentioned on front ‘Terzic cannot remove Colak’, by Marko Karacic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Colak: Terzic’s threats with removals are ridiculous’ by M. CubroBiH Security Minister Barisa Colak has assessed threats of CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic, who has stated he would remove Colak unless he appoints SIPA officials by Monday, as ridiculous. ‘This country lacks talks, negotiations, harmonization. Had we respected past agreements, we would have had new SIPA officials a long time ago’, Colak said. BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic claims Terzic had done nothing to try to harmonize stances with regard to appointments of SIPA officials. He says Terzic was transferring the responsibility on to the BiH Presidency while hiding behind a certain agreement of political parties on distribution of functions.

VL: Sanader trying to discipline HDZ BiH

Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Sanader wants to conquer HDZ BiH’ and pg 11 ‘Ivo Sanader wants to discipline HDZ BiH’, by Zoran Kresic – According to VL, the Croatian Prime Minister and President of HDZ of Croatia, Ivo Sanader, has decided to get involved into the internal party elections within the HDZ BiH by supporting the “opposition” in the HDZ BiH, which is unhappy with the current leadership, namely Barisa Colak and Dragan Covic. According to an anonymous source, several HDZ BiH officials, including a candidate for new HDZ BiH President Bozo Ljubic, met with officials of HDZ of Croatia in Zagreb on Friday during which Zagreb supported the policy that Ljubic advocates, however it was stressed that there would be no interference into the outcome of the forthcoming congress of HDZ BiH. On the other hand, another source says that Sanader has appointed his party colleague Luka Bebic as a man who will be “coordinating” the work with the sister party from Mostar. VL also alleges that Sanader was on the phone to Colak, which was triggered by the nomination of Ivo Miro Jovic for the Croat member of BiH Presidency, and Sanader impudently asked Colak “who is that Jovic”, stressing that the nomination could not have been done without Zagreb’s knowledge. This information was confirmed by an HDZ official.

Croat political parties met in Mostar, HDZ and HNZ not participated

RHB, BHT, Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Raguz: Apartheid in Sarajevo’, by Nermin Bise – Senior officials of several Croat parties (HSS, HDU, Croat Christian Democrats, HKDU, HSP Djapic-Jurisic, NHI and Hrvatski pravaski blok) and Croat associations (DAR, HKD Napredak and HNV) met in Mostar last night (Wednesday) to discuss issues pertaining to constitutional changes, organization of BiH and jurisdiction of legislative, executive and judicial authorities. Representatives of HDZ and HNZ did not turn up. Among other conclusions, the parties noted that the BiH Presidency with three members is not the way to go to the EU, and the parties advocate for a strong and decentralized BiH, in which the authorities are transferred from the entity onto the state.

London Institute for Political Studies developed proposal on new reorganization of former Yugoslavia territory

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘New Versailles and Yugoslavia’ by Tanjug – London Institute for Political Studies has developed a proposal on new, radical, reorganization of the territory of former Yugoslavia and sent it to EU, USA, China, Russia and countries in the region. The proposal foresees “exchange” of territory (for example: Serbs would get Vukovar and RS, Croats would get western Herzegovina, including Mostar, SiCG, Sandzak and Muslim part of BiH would form a new confederation etc.).

30,000 signatures for separation of RS from BiH were collected

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Signatures pouring in’ by S. Mi. – the article reports “Zajedno do Istine” Association has so far collected approximately 30,000 signatures for signing out the referendum for separation of RS from BiH.

Economic/Social Issues

Mittal Steel Zenica improves production facilities

BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘A project that restarts entire BiH economy’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘New beginning in Zenica Steelworks’, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 15 ‘Investment 70 million € worth’ by A. Mujkic – About 1500 employees of Zenica’s BH Steel, newly named as Mittal Steel Zenica, will start to work thanks to investment amounting 60 millions USD for the new furnace. New furnace in “Mital Steel Zenica” will contribute to improving the situation in BiH economy a lot. “Increasing of total production in FBiH and BiH, strengthening of investing works as well as the activation of another facilities will enable great number of steel-production facilities in BiH to work”, said FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic. About 3000 of persons have been employed in “Mital Steel Zenica”, but thanks to the newly opened section, this company is about to employ many people. “We estimate that we will need about 1500 young people to start to work and we will solve that in the next two years”, said  “Mital Steel Zenica” General Director, Seid Kapetanovic. According to the experts’ estimates, this company will produce about 800.000 tons of steel annually. 

PBS

PBS managers, journalists in BiH critical of draft PBS Law

BHT Sanita Lisica – PBS Board of Directors disagree with law on public RTV system, which BiH House of Representatives (HoR) adopted on Tuesday. According to PBS directors, the professionals from PBS should have been consulted during the process of finalization of this law. According to this law, the PBS will have broadcasting centres in Mostar, Sarajevo and Banja Luka where program will be broadcasted in 3 languages. BiH House of Peoples will take a stance on this law after receiving the report from competent commission, said BiH reporter. The amendment to law on PBS, which foresees existence of three centres, was proposed by the OHR. Latter on it was coordinated with the European Commission and BiH Council of Ministers. By this law the International Community has made concessions to Croats, claims Association “BH Journalist”. “It is not the first time that the International Community supports what suits to them”, said Borka Rudic, representative of the Association “BH Journalists”. Association of Croat Journalists feels that the constitutional rights of Croat people have been violated by this law. FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘New Law is step back’ by Srna also covered the issue.

BiH HoP did not discuss PBS Law on Wednesday

RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘PBS Law to be discussed some other time’, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘House of Peoples postpones decision on Law on RTV system’, by F, FENA – The BiH House of Peoples did not discuss the drfat Law on Public RTV System BiH at a session in Sarajevo on Wednesday. This law was not put on the agenda, because it did not pass the commission phase that commenced today, was explained. The draft PBS Law, which was adopted by the BiH House of Representatives on Tuesday, is a Feasibility Study requirement.

OHR welcomes adoption of PBS Law

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘OHR welcomes adoption of Law on public RTV service in BiH’, by Z. Zekic, ‘Dnevni List, pg 15 ‘High Representative at cherry fair’, not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Another pre-condition for association with Europe’ – Carries an OHR spokeswoman, Sanela Tunovic , as saying that the OHR is welcoming the adoption of the Law on RTV service in the BiH House of Representative. Tunovic noted that the EC clearly let know that the said law was one of pre-requisites for signing of the SAA.