Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 2 November
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| BiH Presidency visits BiH judiciary | An int. drug dealer arrested in SA | HR’s interview to Guardian |
| Terrorist suspect is Turkish | HR on | Annan appoints Ahtisari |
| | World news | Weather cloudy |
TV news broadcast on 1 November
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| All Saints Day marked in BiH | OHR, EC, OSCE letter to Bukejlovic | |
| All Saints Day in Mostar/Sarajevo | EC on Law on PBS System | Andan on ICTY cases |
| All Saints Day marked in | Alexander Boshkov visits BiH | Kostic,Milosevic,Simovic interrogated |
| All Saints Day marked in Posusje | 3 war crime suspects arrested | Memorial centre in K. Stijene |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Remains of victims brought to BiH | Kostic,Milosevic,Simovic interrogated | Terrorism connection BiH-Denmark |
| 3 war crime suspects arrested | 12 body remains exhumed in SiCG | Nay: RS Gov. lacks co-operating |
| Feature on victims from Brcko | Regional News | RS officials on chief negotiator |
| Andan on ICTY cases | | HR on DPA changes |
| Oslobodjenje | Turk Abdulkadir Cesur suspected of planning the assault |
| Dnevni Avaz | Mufti Ceric: Moral practice is needed to those at authorities [Eid message] |
| Dnevni List | Thousands of candles for solus of dearest ones |
| Vecernji List | HVO attacking |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Pyramid of Visoko is low fantasy |
| Nezavisne Novine | They build monument at Koricani rocks |
| Glas Srpske | Neither corps or coffin (about corps missing from grave in Gorazde) |
| EuroBlic | Everyone in |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related topics |
| Oslobodjenje | Turk Abdulkadir Cesur suspected of planning the assault |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Ashdown to Guardian: It’s time BiH split with DPA | BH Radio 1, RTRS – HR Paddy Ashdown has stated he would leave position at the end of year, stressing it is time for BiH to split with Dayton Agreement and try to become a modern European state. RTRS carries an extensive report with extracts from interview. |
| An international drug dealer arrested in | BH Radio 1 – SIPA in cooperation with German police and prosecution arrested in Sarajevo a person suspected of involvement in heroine trafficking in a few European countries. The suspect of |
BiH preparations for opening | |
| Cavic:
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Support to candidate other parties will support’ by V.Popovic – Dragan Cavic, RS President, Tuesday stated that the |
| SDHR Ney: ‘Quality is criterion for selection of chief negotiator’
| Hayat, RTRS, |
| Comments on negotiating team: RS parties reject two different people at the head of BiH negotiating team; Tihic says talks went in wrong direction; Jovic: Croat should lead negotiations
| Hayat by ATV Banja Luka – Hayat comments that the issue of appointment of BiH’s negotiation team for |
| VL: Croats have three candidates for negotiators with EU
| Vecernji List, pg 6, mentioned on front ‘Croat candidates are D. Krsticevic, L. Topic and A. Rill’, by Tomislav Kvesic – Writing about possible candidates for BiH negotiators with the EU, VL notes that following the SDHR Martin Ney’s statement that the main criteria for selection of the negotiator must be the quality, the BiH Croats started speculating about possible candidates from the Croat ranks. According to VL, serious candidates who would meet Ney’s criteria are Daria Krsticevic, the BiH Ambassador to |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on chief negotiator: Only professional, not political criteria, for selection | Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘Negotiator’ by Senka Kurtovic – Writing about ongoing talks/sessions regarding selection of BiH chief negotiator and BiH negotiating team, the author expresses hope that BiH experts, who are to be elected to run |
| IC presents Bukejlovic list of issues where RS Govt shows lack of cooperation
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| BiH CoM session on | |
| Bulgarian chief negotiator shares experience with BiH experts
| PINK, FTV, Hayat, Oslobodjenje, pg 6 ‘Bulgarian experience in negotiations with EU’, by M. K. S., Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Each country in transition must face with crisis’ by D. P. Mandic – Chief of Bulgarian negotiation team for negotiations with EU on Stabilisation and Association Agreement, Alexander Boshkov, visited Sarajevo on Tuesday. In a conference organised by Centre for Inter-Discipline Post-Graduate Studies and “Open Society – Soros”, Boshkov presented Bulgarian experiences in process of association with the EU. Boshkov emphasized that government must consider the tasks set by EU rather than about results of next elections. He emphasized that the negotiators must have unique stance. He recommended that BiH negotiators need to create clear plans and negotiation strategy, adding that BiH had to accept the EU rules, not to try to create its own. Boshkov furthermore says that it is important to establish positive cooperation with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. |
| Austrian Foreign Minister Plasnick: ‘I view EU incomplete without Balkans states’ | Dnevni Avaz pg 9, announced on cover ‘I view EU incomplete without Balkans states’ by Sead Turcalo – In an interview to daily, Ursula Plasnick, Austrian Foreign Minister,stated that one of priorities of Austria during its chairing over EU would be to bring western Balkans states closer to EU. She announces holding of a special Balkans conference on 10 and 11 March in |
Other political issues | |
| SDHR on Lukic case: Bukejlovic showed readiness to solve it; All Lukic’s exams held after 10 Oct. will be annulled
| RTRS Sinisa Mihailovic – SDHR Martin Ney told press conference in |
| Students on OHR claims regarding Lukic: Absurd arguments
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Absurd arguments’ – The Executive Board of Students Organisation of Banja Luka University stressed that OHR arguments on Lukic case are absurd, noting in a press statement that: “Nobody has a right to suspend knowledge of students of Law Faculty in East Sarajevo. If there is any sort of criminal or legal culpability of Professor Lukic, he should bear it and students and public should be informed of it.” |
| Cavic: Name of Pecelj’s successor by the end of this week
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Name of Pecelj’s successor by the end of the week’ by V. P. – |
| Ashdown visits Foca: Situation better than three years ago, but still a lot to be solved; BiH cannot join EU with current constitution
| BHT 1 by Armela Subasic – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown visited Foca on Tuesday, where he met with the Head of Foca Municipality Zdravko Krsmanovic. Ashdown pointed out that situation in Foca was better than three years ago, but still great number of issues had to be solved: “This municipality was known for obstructions and bad relations between Serbs and Bosniaks, but a lot has been changed. Relations between Serbs and Bosniaks are good now, but still not perfect”, said Ashdown. “There is no future without tolerance, dialogue and without functional and efficient state and responsible authorities”, said Krsmanovic. Hayat – Ashdown told press conference in Foca that with present Constitution, association with the EU is difficult and impossible. He emphasized that the changes of BiH Constitution have already started with police restructuring and defence reform, reform of judiciary system and adoption of Law on VAT. Ashdown said that changes are necessary, but they cant’ be imposed, adding that all changes must be result of consensus of all BiH peoples. FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, pg 5 ‘Citizens have to feel the progress!’, by E. A., Dnevni Avaz, pg 3 ‘This is time when one looks into future, not past’, by Al. Bajramovic, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘HR’s meeting with displaced Serbs and visit to mosques’ by E.M.,Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9 ‘Paddy Ashdown visiting Foca’, by Fena, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Ashdown commends local authorities’ by E.D., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Constitution is not to be imposed’ by D.Todorovic – |
| Jukic on Law on PBS service: I believe that we shall address
| Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Croats to go before Constitutional Court again’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 9 ‘Croats outvoted again’, by Zlatko Tulic – Commenting on the fact that the Law on public RTV service was adopted in the BiH House of Peoples, Co-Chairman of the BiH HoP Velimir Jukic stated that this law has been adopted without a single Croat vote and he added: ‘We have been outvoted again and I believe that we shall demand from the BiH Constitutional Court to judge constitutionality of certain provisions of this law.’ According to Jukic another problem is an ethnic structure of employees in RTV services to the detriment of the Croat people and for this reason they would also demand judging constitutionality of the moves made by the managements of these media outlets. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Croat delegates seek help from |
| EC welcomes adoption of PBS law
| PINK, Dnevni Avaz, pg 10 ‘Adoption of Law on Public RTV service welcomed’, by Onasa, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 ‘It is entities’ move now’, by D. Pasic – The EC Delegation has welcomed the adoption of the Public Broadcasting Service law by the BiH Parliamentary assembly. “This means that all the necessary state-level legislation is adopted. Reform of Public Broadcasting has been an outstanding priority for BiH institutions since the EU Roadmap in March 2000,” reads the statement. |
| Org. Board for opening road Ravno-Cepikuce, Croatian Parliament, HDZ spokesperson on alleged incident with Ivo Miro Jovic in Ravno
| Dnevni List pg 5 ‘There was no disrespecting of Jovic’ by NINA – The Organizational Board in charge of the ceremony which marked opening the road Ravno-Cepikuce reacted against ‘untruths stated in public with regard to this event’ and especially against the statements given by Chairman of the BiH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic (he claimed that his speech was excluded from the protocol). The reaction says that the whole ceremony went according to the protocol and that the Chairman of the BiH Presidency was not invited at the ceremony but he appeared as a member of the HDZ delegation. Also reported by Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Jovic stretched between two HDZ’s fires’, by Zoran Kresic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘Jovic was not invited to Ravno’, by Zlatko Tulic. VL and SD also carries that a competent service of the Croatian Parliament issued a press release saying that there was no incident. VL carries HDZ Spokesperson Miso Relota who claims that the protocol was changed under pressure in order to humiliate Jovic. |
| VN on Bishop Conference: speculations exist that initiative derives from Croatian delegate, Zdravko Tomac or
| Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘Neither four cantons nor abolishment of RS’ by D. Stojakovic – reiterates conclusions of the Bishop Conference and carries reaction of US Ambassador Douglas McElhaney [see OHR BiH Media Round-up, November 1]. Inset ‘From |
| Zagreb TV station int with Ljubic: Venice Commission recommendations harmful to Croats
| OTV [Zagreb based local TV] ‘Dangerous liaisons’ by Tihomir Dujmovic – In an interview to OTV, HDZ BiH official, Bozo Ljubic, talked about the possible changes to the DPA stating that it is clear that BiH based on Dayton is not only unjust but dysfunctional state and as such is not capable for any kind of integration (European, Euro-Atlantic) He added that the recommendations of the Venice Commission [which on 1 April 2005 recommended the authorities of Cantons in FBiH should be decreased or cantons all together repealed], Ljubic commented that they are not satisfying for Croats because they tend to abolish all the mechanisms that ensure ethnic equality. As for the comments of Commission members that the existence of RS can be questioned in a decade or two, Ljubic says that Croats can not wait that long. Illustrating with the examples the unfair status of Croats in BiH, Ljubic mentioned the situation with Law on PBS, decision-making processes in parliaments of both entities and problems in Education. He concludes by saying that the current HDZ leadership lacks credibility. |
| VL on const. changes: By dismantling of Cantons in BiH Croats might come in even more difficult position
| Vecernji List pgs 2 and 3 ‘Dismantling of Cantons in BiH’ by Z. Kresic says that judging by the ‘tasks’ that representatives of BiH political parties accomplish within the US Institute for Peace and by the announcements of diplomats, representatives of the political parties would get soon a proposal on the constitutional and legal re-organization of BiH, ‘whose only more considerable move refers on abolishment of the Cantons and survival of 2 entities’. VL goes on to say: ‘On the ground of such solution Croats would be brought in even more difficult position than in 2002 when constitutional provisions about alleged constituency, were imposed, while actually the division of BiH on the Serb and Bosniak entities was defined.’ VL concludes that cosmetic changes have been offered to the political parties at the moment. VL also carries that a recommendation of the Venetian Commission, among the other things, says that the most radical reform option would be the abolishment of the Cantons and the situation similar to the one in the RS would be created in this way. |
| VL op-ed supporting organization of BiH in 3 Federal units
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Delusions about third entity’ by M. Sutalo carries that according to some Croat intellectuals, politicians etc. by the establishment of the third entity the Croat enclaves the Central Bosnia and Posavina would stay out of the Croat Federal unit in BiH and for this reason the third entity does not serve the interest of the Croat people. The author says that this is not the reason because of which Croats would give up BiH organized in 3 Federal units and that the problem emerges only if we do not view entities as an integral part of the state. The author concludes: ‘BiH with 3 Federal units would be an ideal state in which citizens would have their civic and national sovereignty and which would be a home for all peoples equally.’ |
| SD op-ed: Third entity only way for survival and equality of Croat
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘American pie without Croat entity’ by S. Jurkic carries that US Ambassdor to BiH Douglas McElhaney stated that he does not know the way for establishment of the third entity and the author asks the US Ambassdor whether he knows some other way that would make possible equality and survival of Croats in BiH. The author says that the Croat people believe that the third entity is the only way for their survival and equality. |
| Association of electronic media strongly object CoM’s decision transferring money from
| Hayat Elma Kazagic – The decision of BIH Council of Ministers to transfer 1,1 million KM from bank account of Communications regulatory Agency ( |
| BHT 1 Posteno govoreci on financing PBS
| BHT 1 ‘Frankly speaking’ current affairs magazine by Duska Jurisic – The programme dedicated to financing public broadcasting service gathered a number of experts and officials responsible in the field, including the representatives of the telecom operators who collect the RTV taxes. On the latter, all three broadcasters in the system – BHT1, FTV and RTRS – encounter problems [only 53% of TV owners pay taxes]. In |
| NN op-ed doubts religious leaders could cooperate
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Faith and atheism’ by Dragan Risojevic – Commenting on latest meeting of leaders of three religious community (Bishop Jefrem, Mufti Camdzic and Bishop Komarica) and Martin New, SDHR, in Banja Luka, the author notes that only looking at the picture showing four of them in one room makes you observe the three religious leaders, with sad looks in their eyes looking nowhere, are still unprepared for full cooperation and re-establishment of tolerance. The author stresses only Bishop Komarica could serve as a positive example to the other two in showing cooperation does not necessarily represent such a hard decision. |
| Novi Reporter op-ed critical of IC officials | Novi Reporter op-ed pg 6 ‘Utopia’ by I.G. – Writing about constitutional changes in BiH, the author sarcastically comments on involvement of Donald Hays, Richard Holbrooke and Paddy Ashdown in the process, alleging their ideal BiH would resemble Utopia without RS and Serbs in it. He also alleges HR Ashdown is chief lobbyist for Bosniak proposals/initiatives in BiH. |
War crimes | |
| Prosecutor confirms three suspects for war crimes in Brcko arrested in Bijeljina
| FTV, |
| RS MoI Collegium held session: All war crime idnictees in
| RTRSby Milica Djuricevic – RS Police Director Dragomir Andan stated he believes that the RS police would meet its obligations towards the ICTY adding all war crime suspects from RS still at large would be prosecuted by the end of the year. Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and Stojan Zupljanin are the remaining names on the ICTY list of indicted war crime suspects from RS, and capturing them would be the most important task of RS police in the next period. Andan said: “All operational indicators indicate that we are on a good path and that all persons from the ICTY warrants would be prosecuted by the end of the year”. Andan announced that RS police would very soon submit couple of large cases to RS judiciary, providing no further details. Commenting on the report on nine-month work of RS police, RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic said security situation in RS is satisfying, adding that things can be improved in terms of financial conditions, announcing new acquisitions. He added that the cooperation with ICTY is a priority for the RS MoI. Andan also underlined the police will have to work very hard to fulfil all RS Chief Auditor Bosko Ceko set as primary objectives. Andan announced that RS police would very soon submit couple of large cases to RS judiciary, giving no further specifications. BHT1, Hayat, EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Everyone in the Hague by 2006’, RSpg 3 ‘Everyone in the Hague by the end of the year’ by M. Dj., Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Andan: indictees in the Hague by the end of the year’ by S. Ca., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Hague remains the priority’ by S. Puhal – also report. |
| BiH takes over from
| RTRS, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje, pg 3 ‘Mortal remains of six Bosniaks taken over’, by Fena, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Bodies of six BiH citizens taken over from |
| Heads of Travnik, Knezevo municipalities agree to built memorial for war crimes victims at Koricanske stijene
| BHT1, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘They build monument at Koricani rocks’ by D.Risojevic/A.Sisic – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic and Heads of Travnik and Knezevo Municipalities Tahir Lenda and Boro Skeljic agreed on establishment of joint commission on creation of memorial centre at Koricani Rocks, where 200 Bosniaks from Prijedor region were murdered and thrown into abyss on 21 August 1992. Tihic assessed that the meeting took place upon initiative of Knezevo Municipality Head, representing “a concrete step of people from RS who disassociate from crimes committed during the war”. |
Security/ police/ defence/ judiciary | |
| Oslobodjenje: Turk Abdulkadir Cesur suspected of planning the assault
| Oslobodjenje cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘Turk Abdulkadir Cesur suspected of planning the assault’ by A.O. – One of detainees at BiH Court, whom F BiH Police Administration has recently arrested in Sarajevo on suspicion of planning terrorist action is Turk Abdulkadir Cesur, who is currently at 3-day detention. State Prosecution running investigation on this does not want to disclose any details. Mehmed Ceribasic, legal representative of Cesur, did not want to disclose any information either as to who his client is and how he came to BiH. |
| Danish police arrests one suspect possibility linked with 3 arrested in BiH | RTRS – Danish police have arrested one person connected with group of Muslims arrested last week in |
| Terzic announces establishment of Police Directorate next week
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Establishing of a Directorate for police next week’ by M. Cubro – BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic on Tuesday confirmed that CoM should establish a directorate for the implementation of police reform next week. He explained that the task of this body would be to prepare needed legislative acts and monitor the implementation of police reform. The Spokesperson of EC Delegation to BiH, Frane Maroevic, said the establishing of the directorate is one of important parts of implementation of police reform agreement, noting: “This is one of the things, delay of which might bring to withdrawal of the consent on the start of the negotiations. We hope and believe this will not happen’.” |
| Gregorian: ‘Nobody from EU and
| Dnevni Avaz pg 10, announced on cover ‘Nobody from EU and USA black list is yet under investigation’ by I.Sinanovic – In a statement to daily, Raffi Gregorian, Co-Chairperson of Defence Reform Commission, says that state and entities’ authorities in BiH have not as yet launched a single investigation against persons, whom OHR, EU or USA Government marked as being suspected of supporting war crime indictees. On this, he adds this might be main obstacle to seeing BiH admitted into PfP. On defence reform, Gregorian notes that the proposed budget for 2006 amounts to BAM 350 million, noting that this proposal is for BAM 50 million smaller than last year. According to inset ‘Concerned over information from F BiH and RS’, Gregorian expresses concern over information that F BiH and RS are trying to transfer ownership over some property onto civilian institutions, noting this does not comply with laws (which are to be put into effect). |
| Becirbasic on military facilities: many to be left to entities
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Many military barracks to be left to entities’ by M.C. – Enese Becirbasic, BiH Deputy Defene Minister, stated that military barracks and facilities, that BiH Armed Forces will not be using, will be handed to entities’ authorities, who are to decide for what purpose those facilities will be used. He announced Defence Ministry is compiling a list of facilities. |
| DL: J. McNair leaves BiH in one month/DL praising his work
| Dnevni List pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Prosecutor John McNair leaves in one month’ by M. Zorlak carries that Prosecutor John McNair leaves BiH in one month since his mandate expires at that time. DL says that his departure would be the biggest strike at the BiH Prosecution and the BiH judiciary in general since he is the only foreign judge who managed to bring one serious court case to its end. DL also carries a source close to the |