Headlines in Print Media |
Dnevni Avaz: Mirnes Ajanovic – Some parliamentarians are selling themselves for 20,000 KM
Jutarnje Novine: Edhem Biber, the president of the BiH Independent Trade Unions Association – One can expect little from the authorities which do not respect laws
Dnevni List: Who is being visited by the Head of the BiH Islamic Community in the Sarajevo Central Prison – BiH shadow government in the Sarajevo Central Prison!
Vecernji List: Incident at the game between Celik and Borac – Funs from Banja Luka yelled Karadzic’s name while making disorder in the Zenica streets
Glas Srpski: Investigation into the crimes committed against Serbs in the Federal Sarajevo – Kazani defended by silence
Nezavisne Novine: Incident following the football game between Borac and Celik in Zenica – Bus transporting the funs from Banja Luka stoned
Euro Blic: Pensioners do not want pensions via banks
Incident following Saturday’s soccer game in Zenica |
Nezavisne Novine (p 3)reports that during a football match played on Saturday afternoon in Zenica, between Zenica Club Celik and Banja Luka Club Borac, some ten fans of Banja Luka Club who were shouting nationalistic slogans were removed from the stadium. According to some unofficial information, two Borac fans were injured, but it is not known whether they were injured in conflict with Zenica fans or with the police. According to the release issued by the Zenica – Doboj Canton Ministry of Interior, one of Borac fans had a T-shirt with the picture of former leader of Bosnian Serbs, Radovan Karadzic.
Vecernji List (page 3 and front page, by Faruk Vele) says that a poor organization of the match contributed to this incident and Police was not able to calm down the situation. According to the newspaper, it is surprising that, so far, the Zenica Police has arrested only one person with regard to this incident. One of the fans stated: ‘ We have been at many stadiums and we have not been received anywhere as in Herzegovina, however, we did not expect this in Zenica. What can irritate more people from Zenica and refugees from the RS than a picture of Radovan Karadzic and songs dedicated to him?’
Developments in the Federation |
Ljiljan carries an article (by Enes Ratkusic) about the process of return to Herzegovina. The article praises the efforts that Fatima Leho, who was the Governor of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton in 1998, Vujadin Berberovic, the President of a local Association of Serb Returnees, Safet Orucevic, a former Mayor, Zeljko Zlomislic and Rasim Kadic, a former Minister for Refugees, exerted in order to make possible return to this area. The article says that Alliance keeps repeating that more have been done regarding the process of return during the last 15 months than during all previous years. Ratkusic says that he is the most surprised at the fact that until recently none reacted against the current situation regarding the process of return. Ljiljan says that OHR is also concerned and they ask as to where 6 million Marks disappeared. After open questions about 450 houses in the HNC, Mijat Tuka, the Deputy Minister for Social Affairs, ‘following the logic, that some Federation Ministers use, stated that he does not know anything about it’. The article says that it would be naïve to trust Tuka when he gives such statement because the public knew about this project and OHR, UNHCR and other organizations were informed about it. Liljan says that money did not disappear but it was re-directed to some other direction and only Tuka could do it. Ibrahim Rahimic, an assistant of the Cantonal Minister for Construction, stated that only people who joined the Bosnian Patriot Party received some construction material and he adds: ‘The Office of the Federation Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Persons is a parallel state institution, not only because of the fact that they coordinated their activities with parties’ interests, but because of the fact that they do nothing.’ Liljan also says that all institutions including OHR and European Commission reduced the number of their own projects because they were counting on the Ministry’s project. Liljan says that the question arises whether Sefer Halilovic got a Deputy because of his narcissism or it is about a blackmail. Also, prior to the establishment of the Office for Refugees and Displaced Persons, all other levels at Municipal levels were abolished and even a logical connection with competent Cantonal Ministry was cut off when the realization of the process of return is in question although Halil Tule, a Deputy Minister for Social Affairs of the HNC, is the Alliance’s man since he is a member of Party for BiH.
“The financing of the BiH lawsuit against Yugoslavia, although disputed by the Republika Srpska, will be secured at all costs, either from the federation budget or from BiH patriots,” said BiH Federation President Safet Halilovic in an interview with FENA while speaking about topical issues in the Federation and BiH, particularly those which generated controversial interpretations and were labelled “affairs” by the public. (Dnevni Avaz, p 2, Jutarnje Novine, p 7)
The BiH Federation Government has sent to OHR draft amendments to the housing law foreseeing that the officers of the former JNA (Yugoslav People’s Army), who continued serving for the armed forces of the other states and who got new apartments there, do not have right to repossess their abandoned apartments in the BiH Federation, Dnevni Avaz learns (p 3).
Jutarnji List (page 4), Vjesnik (page 10), Vecernji List (page 3) and Slobodna Dalmacija (page 4) carry information published in yesterday’s issue of Dnevni List saying that on Thursday night a few unidentified persons cut off the Central Cross erected in Drvar as a memory on fallen HVO defenders. The local Police and IPTF confirmed that this incident took place. VL deals with the same issue and mentions numerous incidents that have taken place lately in Drvar (a Catholic Church was surrounded by Serb national flags, a local Catholic priest was threatened etc.) Drazen Mamic, an author of the VL article, says: ‘You do not have to be especially sharp to realize that policy of Serb leaders in Drvar stand behind these incidents.’
With regard to the Pogorelica case and a process against Bakir Alispahic, a former Minister of Interior, Vecernji List (page 2, by Dejan Jazvic) carries that Alija Izetbegovic, an honorary President of SDA and Reis Mustafa Ceric supported an appeal for a pre-trial release of the persons, charged with the involvement in the Pogorelica case. Unlike two of them, leaders of some other political parties demand extension of a bill of indictment issued against Bakir Alispahic. Bosniak Patriot Party reminded a public that Sefer Halilovic, its President, filed criminal charges against Alispahic because of an assassination attempt on Halilovic, when Halilovic’s wife and her brother were killed. The same was done by Kerim Lucarevic from BiH People’s Party, who also accused Alispahic for the assassination attempt.
Dnevni List (page 5, by Anes Hindic) carries editorial about Reisu-l-ulema Mustafa Ceric’s support and visit to the inhabitants of Sarajevo Central Prison, but also about his attack on weekly magazine “Slobodna Bosna”. The article reminds that back in 1998 “Slobodna Bosna” published truth about people Ceric visited in prison. At that time Nijaz Durakovic, one of the three member of commission which investigated crimes of Bakir Alibabic and others, reported by Munir Alibabic in 1994, stated that the commission discovered so many criminal acts that dozens of police officials should have been sent to prison. Author of the editorial says: “The Sarajevo Central prison is truly a ‘Shadow Cabinet’, and in it sit corrupted persons and politically suitable officials.“
Dnevni List (page 2) also carries editorial signed by Ljiljana Petricevic about visit of head of Islamic Community in BiH reisu-l-ulema Mustafa Ceric to persons indicted for terrorist activities in “Pogorelica” case in Sarajevo Central Prison. “… We are witnesses that lately reisu-l-ulema does not show in public as head of Islamic Community but rather as a politician. Therefore we should ask ourselves, was that visit on spiritual and religious level or was it on political level. And why now, in this pre-election period? What message is he sending to public?” The author speculates that such eventual visit of Cardinal Vinko Puljic to persons indicted in “Leutar” case would have been marked as tendentious and planned to show to public that those people are innocent.
Vecernji List (page 4, by G.K.) carries an article which reminds of a fact that the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton got its budget not that long ago and says that it is almost certain that there will be a budget deficit for 2002 amounting to some 20 million KMs. The papers say that the most senior officials in Mostar accuse the Federation Government for the situation i.e. for re-routing of a part of tax revenues into the Federation budget in the same time warning that the financial aid promised by Sarajevo never happened, the aid that other cantons received. The author predicts that the predicament will lead to cutting of costs of public institutions and salaries of public servants and reminds that teachers that work in accordance to Bosniak curriculum have already announced a general strike if their demands (payment of outstanding salaries, allowances and contributions) are not met.
Bond assesses that BiH might accede the Partnership for Peace in a year, pension reform in BiH, accession to WTO, woman’s rights |
“We need serious reforms in the sector of pension funds and the BiH Presidency will therefore engage in launching them,” the BiH Presidency Chairman, Beriz Belkic, told Dnevni Avaz (p 3, announced on the front page: “The only resolution is a single pension fund at the state level”)
Pensioners of the RS are hoping for a better tomorrow – the issue of merging the entities’ PIOs into one PIO is to be discussed at today’s meeting of the BiH Presidency, OHR and entities’ PIO’s. Right now the minimal pension in the RS is 80 KM, and in the Federation 140 KM. The Association of Federation pensioners will support the idea of merging if average pension is 190 KM. (Vecernje Novosti p 13, FRY Nacional p 11)
Slobodna Dalmacija (page 11, by E. Felic) reminds of a fact that a procedure of BiH trying to become a member of World Trade Organisation (WTO) started years three years when in July 1999 BiH was granted status of a observer in the organisation. The daily carries a BiH Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Seadeta Feric, as saying that BiH has spent those three years in harmonising its law on customs tariffs to international rules which was finally achieved in July and August this year. Feric adds that the next step in the process is to submit a memorandum on joining the WTO and stresses that a plan of activities, which would see changes to the domestic legislation in the area of economic relations with foreign countries, was created so BiH could secure a full membership in the WTO by the end of next year. “Our plan is ambitious but it can be achieved if a domestic and foreign support is secured. When it comes to foreign support, we expect a support from the European Union as one of our most important trading partners and from the US as one of the most important members of the WTO”, says Fericandadds that the BiH Foreign Ministry should provide technical support and lobby for the cause.
Vecernji List (front and page 3, by Zoran Kresic) carries a story which allegedly cites a report by Freedom House according to which BiH does not observe women’s rights. The same report reads that BiH could be in a group of 20 countries that treat women badly, the reason behind not classifying BiH (together with likes of Afghanistan, Iraq, North Korea and others) is the instability that BiH has suffered in the last ten years. The report goes on to say/warns that women in BiH do not hold leading offices within the state, companies and institutions.
War crime trials |
Dnevni List (page 5) carries article about work of Cantonal Prosecution Office in Travnik. In the past six months 45 case-files were reported against 212 persons. Currently the office works on 250 case-files that resulted with investigation requests and bringing charges against 1,300 persons. The article adds that Travnik Prosecution Office delivered 60 cases against 984 persons to ICTY in The Hague. The article says that the ICTY returned opinion for 40 persons who are marked as ‘A’ category, i.e. where there is enough evidence to start process for serious violation of international humanitarian law. The article says that domestic courts should lead procedures in these cases, but the problem is lack of prosecutors.
RS-related news |
The High Representative’s decision on additions and changes of the RS Law on urban planning, according to which, when it comes to the restoration and reconstruction of the monuments, the licensing regime is not to be applied any more, will cause a series of bad consequences. The above was stated to Glas Srpski (p 4)by the RS Minister for Urbanism, Nedjo Djuric. According to Djuric, the RS Ministry for Urbanism never objected the reconstruction of monuments but it required necessary documentation, including the license. According to Djuric, the experts from the RS Ministry have on several occasions tried to explain OHR Banja Luka that licensing regime is a necessity. The daily quotes Djuric as saying: “Not for a moment that they accepted to discuss the issue from professional point of view. Instead, they used the power of political pressure.”
Pre-elections campaign: how to make it a fair game? |
The SNSD issued a press release accusing Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic of acting as “an owner of RS” in last two year, which is proved by the privatisation of companies and banks that have been sold for next to nothing and Ivanic’s statement that he will resign if he does not receive support at the election. The SNSD thinks that in this way Ivanic blackmails the electorate. The SNSD says that Ivanic will not be able to resign, because his mandate will expire on 5th October, and it is needless to misguide the voters in that way. (FRY Nacional p 11)
SRS candidate for RS President Radislav Kanjeric said in Gornja Bukovica near Bijeljina on Saturday that RS citizens had no influence on their authorities. “State officials have become completely detached from the people and have left them to the will of a bunch of criminals who truly rule the RS”, said Kanjeric. He warned that this is extremely dangerous for the RS which has become a victim of crime and corruption organised and conducted by the SDS. (Vecernje Novosti p 13)
Slobodna Dalmacija (page 13, by Rudolf Mustapic) carries an interview with Mladen Ivankovic-Lijanovic, the President of People’s Party Working for Prosperity. In an introduction to the interview, SD carries that this party has issued two press releases. The first press release reacts against a homily that Friar Vlatko Kozina gave at Siroki Brijeg, condemning the fact that a pulpit is being used for promotion of one political option. However, the second one welcomes a critical word of Friar Kozina and his advocating of positive changes. Asked to comment on the information, that media published, and which says that Friar Kozina accused Lijanovici for Communist stands, Mladen Ivankovic stated that this thesis was taken out of context of the sermon. Ivankovic added: “If I was very critical then I could name the main host of the celebration in Siroki Brijeg, Guardian Friar Zdenko Karacic, who was sending special regards to the HDZ leadership from the altar. I think it is not a place and time for such moves.”
Relations between former Yugoslav republics |
Dnevni List (page 4) brings editorial signed by Ivica Glibusic with regard to essay that Muhamed Filipovic wrote for ‘Oslobodjenje’ daily on role and position of late Croatian president Franjo Tudjman. “Today in BiH, significant number of scholars is inclining to launch unchecked and untrue stories which are founded in ideologically coloured partiality. That is specially visible in ‘Oslobodjenje’ where scientific and political work of dr. Tudjman is being targeted and clearly (depending on needs and orders) analysed by academician Muhamed Filipovic.” The author says that academician Filipovic joined campaign against Tudjman, that was led since Tudjman died. Filipovic paid honour to Tudjman for unveiling the truth about concentration camp Jasenovac in the Second World War, and scientifically proofing that information constructed in Belgrade about 700,000 killed Serbs was a lie and Serbian deceit. However, the author says that Filipovic should be ashamed and apologise to Croats because he wrote that ‘what Ustashas did was the same thing that neo-Ustasha and neo-Chetniks did fifty years later, but this time towards Muslims.’
Headlines in Electronic Media |
- EC promises around one billion euro for countries hit by floods
- BiH Presidency to discuss economic reforms, defense reforms
- BiH could be accepted to Partnership for Peace in one year, says U.S. Ambassador Clifford Bond
- Topic: BiH’s preparations for accession to EU could last six years.
FTV 1 (1930)
- Sarajevo Canton Court receives request for processing of former Post Bank director Enver Ibragic, suspected of illegal affairs
- Topic: Return to Visegrad
- Serbia’s refugee problem will be resolved with Croatia and Bosnia by the end of the year, the Serbian commissioner for refugees said today
RTRS (1930)
- RS citizens can apply for housing credits starting from Monday (2.30)
- Topic: Adoption of law on protection of deposits created conditions for formation of an agency for protection of deposits (2.0)