TV news broadcast on 20 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Croat TV channel in BIH | RS NA to hold session | Transplantation issue in BiH |
| EU mission chiefs on police reform | Conference in | Drowning in Mostar |
| RS NA special session | Conference to be held in | EU Heads in BiH on BiH future |
| Culture regional forum | Aid for 30 BiH municipalities | RS politicians on police reform |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Issue of Vlasic’s stenographs | EU Chiefs on police reforms | EU mission chiefs on police reform |
| OSCE to monitor war crime trials | OHR’s report | RS NA special session |
| Feature story on Stankovic | SDP’s request | RS POW’s letter to HR |
| 10th Srebrenica genocide anniversary | RS NA to hold session | Defence Reform Com. meeting |
| Oslobodjenje | Criminals will be tried in SiCG and |
| Dnevni Avaz | |
| Vecernji List | |
| Nezavisne Novine | A human embryo cloned |
| Glas Srpske | When the life is a hobby (story of self-taught inventor for Laktasi) |
NOTE: Dnevni List was not delivered to
Police / defence reform | |
| NN interview with Solana
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Decision on path towards EU is in the hands of RS politicians’ by A.Sekulic – In a half-page interview to NN, Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policies, says that RS NA must decide whether it would implement police reform, which would open the door to EU. He notes that RS politicians should decide whether they is ready to meet standards |
| DA interview with Osman Topcagic: The door to
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ’The door to Europe still wide open’ by Edina Sarac – In an interview to daily, Osman Topcagic, Director of the Directorate for European Integration, says that BiH has never been requested to fully implement 16 requirements from Feasibility Study (EC set on 18 November 2003), but instead to make a significant progress. He ntoes he would go to RS NA session to explain the importance of police reform, if he were called to do so. He stresses there is no new deadline set, but sintead the door to Europe is still wide open,i.e. at the moment police reform and PBS Law are accepted, we can sit at the table again. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on BiH and
| Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘BiH and Europe’ by Daniel Omeragic – The author is writing about failure of BiH to get a EU green light for SAA talks, noting that the so far examples of imposed solutions (like defence reform) proved to have a bad outcome. He adds: “Events at Manjaca and Bileca and failure of police reform talks have strongly slammed this policy. As long as DA is in effect – DA that has stopped the war, but also tied hands for reforms – BiH will be far away from reforms.” |
| NN op-ed on police
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘A collective signature’ by Anton Kasipovic – The author wonders into reason why politicians agreed at Vlasic on police reform for the benefit of BiH people or their own benefits, stressing that the signature to police reform implementation will have to be placed once, since Europe and the entire world will not give up on their demands for sure. |
| Reactions of parties on failure of BiH to get a green light to SAA talks
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Crash of false reformers’ by A.Sisic/V.Popovic – Daily brings reactions of parties on failure of BiH to get a green light to SAA talks. The opposition parties’ officials (Zlatko Lagudmzija and Nikola Spiric) accuse the current authority for this failure. Lagumdzija calls on ruling parties to withdraw from authority. Sefik Dzaferovic from SDA says he is not surprised with the negative assessment, expressing hope IC will clearly identify the culprits and penalise them. Pero Pavlovic from HDZ did not want to bid with the names of culprits, although, as he says, their names are known. Milanko Antasevic from PDP is of the view that the EC report is too harsh and negative for BiH. |
| OHR: RS NA will have opportunity to move forward process of police reform
| Glas Srpske pg2 ‘Price of failure is to high’ by N.Z.,FTV – The OHR stated that decision by the European Commission’s Consultative Task Force not to give a green light to the launch of Stabilization and Association negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina is a disappointing but expected result, having in mind failure of negotiations on police reform. Police reform cannot be imposed by the High Representative and RSNA delegates will have a unique opportunity to push progress forward in police reform at the coming session, stands in OHR’s statement. |
| Chief of EU missions in | BH TV 1, RHB, RTRS – The Heads of Mission of the European Union in Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Police reform a priority’ by Agencies |
| Issue of Vlasic’s stenographs
| NTV HAYAT – On request of RS President, Dragan Cavic, RS NA is going to discuss on police reform on its extraordinary session, which is to be held on May 30. According to ATV (Banjaluka TV station) and its source, Vlasic’s stenographic records differ from talks which have been held in Konak. DNS representative, Drago Kalabic claims that Vlasic’s stenographs were presented at Konak. The Chair of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic presented them, only because of PDP Chair, Mladen Ivanic. “It is true that Vlasic’s stenographs were presented in Konak, namely the part in which a RS political party representative was asked whether he said that inter-entities’ lines should not be passed a lot, with stress on a lot, and that is when different interpretations occurred”, said Kalabic. Ivanic said that he did not deny that certain RS politicians were faced with pressures, by using Vlasic’s stenographs. He said that things were taken out of context. “I, as a participant of the meetings, am familiar with what has been said, and there is a tape to confirm it”, said Cavic. According to ATV source, stenographs are going to present a huge problem. International Community and FBiH politicians can find a lot of “ammunition” in them. The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown invited RS politicians to Konak, in |
| RS NA is the only one which is to bring the final decision on police reform, claims RS President, Dragan Cavic
| TV PINK – RS President, Dragan Cavic claims that RS National Assembly is the only one which is to decide whether BiH police reform is going to be accepted in line with three European Commission’s principles or the police is still going to be within entities’ frames. RS National Assembly should hold its extraordinary session, dedicated to police reform, on May 30, in Banjaluka. According to some political parties’ representatives, the session is not going to bring any changes. SDS representative, Borislav Bojic said that it was possible to carry out the police reform by respecting BiH and RS Constitutions at the same time, namely, police regions should no go over entities’ lines. “This issue is a BiH’s interior issue, and my opinion is that it should be solved within BiH. I think that FBiH and RS should have more efficient talks”, said Bojic. DNS representative, Drago Kalabic said that there was no reason why RS Parliament should hold the session, since RS NA’s and RS Government’s stances were clear. SRS representative, Milanko Mihajlica agrees with Kalabic, and adds that there is no political will for any other solution. “I do not except anything spectacular from RS NA session”, said Mihajlica. SDP BiH representatives say that the three national parties cannot reach agreement regarding any question, including police reform as well. “We are sure that the agreement cannot be reached. There is possibility for a compromise to be reached, but it will probably damage BiH and its two entities”, said SDP representative, Zekerijah Osmic. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Again about police’ by G.Dakic – daily carries statements of Mihajlica, Bojic, Kalabic and Osmic. |
| No optimism in BiH that necessary reforms will be implemented soon
| BH TV 1 – There is no optimism in BiH that necessary reforms will be implemented soon, after door to the EU are once again closed to BiH, reports BHT. Featured BiH citizens expressed belief that BiH won’t become EU member soon. Remained key conditions set by the European Commission for BiH are police reform and adoption of the law on PBS. Certain opinions that BiH should be awarded for the progress that has been made, especially in establishment of new institutions, some sees as contra-productive. “I believe that is very important to implement those reforms and fulfil conditions set by the EU primarily because of ourselves,” said member of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic. “I think that time has come when BiH Presidency, BiH Council of Ministers, should come out before the Parliament in order to evaluate situation in which we are, to see who is responsible,” said SDP representative, Zlatko Lagumdzija, and added that then program on necessary steps in order to improve situation can be made. RTRS – DS RS has the same opinion. Milan Lazic from SRS Vojislav Seselj stated that RS President Dragan Cavic by avoiding journalist questions in his recent announcement has shown that he has no arguments to cover the transfer of competence of RS police to BIH level. |
| SDS Banja Luka Board: No to police reform with IEBL crossings
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Police reform is unacceptable’ by Agencies, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Nothing beyond entity boundaries!’ by FENA, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Constitution is framework’ by D.T. – The Banja Luka Board of SDS on Friday released a press statement, concluding police reform, stepping out from Dayton Agreement, cannot be accepted, since it would result ins erious consequences for the other institutions in RS. |
| RHB brings a weekly commentary from Simunovic, this time about police reform negotiations and law on public RTV system
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Penalties do not help’ by M.S. – The Democratic Party (DS) Chair Board member, Dusko Djuric, assessed in Bijeljina Friday that DS hopes that HR Paddy Ashdown would stick to his promise nobody will be penalised over failure in police reform, since the measures would have a counter-effect. RHB – HB brings a weekly commentary from Simunovic, this time about police reform negotiations and law on public RTV system. He says that Serb representatives concluded that police reform negates RS which they will not accept. On the other hand Croat representatives will not accept the law on public RTV system. Simunovic stresses that politicians from RS including RS President Dragan Cavic do not care that BIH hasn’t singed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement since they only care for RS. He adds that on the other hand adoption of law on public RTV system in this form might cause severe conflicts between Croat parties whilst Bosniaks are in favour of both issues. According to Simunovic Bosniak positions reflect the positions of international community which does not stop them to erase international contracts like the one on free trade with |
| RS NA to hold special session on 30 May
| RTRS, RHB, FTV – Special session of RS National Assembly which will discuss police reform in BIH will be held on 30th of May in Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘On 30 May about police reform’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘RS Parliament session on 30 May’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘RS NA will have to discuss police reform on 30 May’, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘RS on police on 30 May’ by bs – also report. |
| DRC prepared proposal on new uniform of BiH armed forces
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘BiH soldiers will be wearing camouflage uniforms like American’ by I.S., Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘New procedures for swearing-in ceremony requested’ by M.Rener, BH TV 1, RTRS, – BiH Defence Reform Commission (DRC) prepared proposal on new uniform for BiH armed forces. Proposed uniform is very similar to NATO uniforms. BiH Council of Ministers, BiH Parliament and BiH Presidency must vote on proposed solutions for new uniforms. It is also proposed during DRC session on Friday that BiH armed forces should have reserve forces consisting of 5000 soldiers. Recruiting and serving of military service was not subject of this meeting, reports BHT. BiH Minister of Defence, Nikola Radovanovic, announced creation of the law on military service that should regulate military discipline. |
| Leakey met with the heads of the seven BiH law enforcement agencies in BiH
| BH TV 1, FTV – EUFOR Commander General David Leakey met with the heads of the seven BiH law enforcement agencies in RTRS – EUFOR spokesman Frank Konkbern (SP) stated that organised crime is suffocating BIH and is disabling BIH to enter the EU. Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘A joint action against organised crime’ by A.P., Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Budget will be filled with reduction of smuggling in oil and illegal logging’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Organised crime is suffocating BiH’ by R.Cengic – also report. |
| EU CoM on Monday to discuss EUFOR work | Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Analysis of EUFOR Mission on Monday’ – Daily learns from sources at EU Council of Ministers that Monday session of this body will not disucss Balkans affairs in general, but instead only analysis of military mission of EUFOR in Bosnia. |
Other political issues | |
| Chair of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic meets with
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘America will be assisting BiH in any regard’ by Sead Numanovic, NTV HAYAT, FTV– The Chair of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic has met with U.S.A Political Issues State Secretary, Nicholas Burns. Burns said that U.S President, George Bush’s administration was to get seriously involved in unsolved Balkan issues. “I think that the Balkans become extremely relevant area, as Ambassador Burns got a job in State Department. We knew that the Balkan would be the focus of U.S foreign politics again, since the future of the Balkan depends on U.S Government’s dedication to it”, said Terzic. “I am looking forward to visiting Sarajevo, and to inform BiH officials that U.S have renewed energy and efforts to help BiH citizens to implement the Dayton Agreement. We want to see BiH in NATO and we think that BiH has its future in European institutions”, said Burns. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘New support to BiH’ – Terzic also met with Anny Kreger, IMF Deputy Director, and George Voinovic, Senator. The meeting with IMF official concluded that so far cooperation is very good. The issue of Fiscal Council importance was a focus. |
| Terzic: Doyle’s information are false
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Terzic: Doyle is sending false information’ by S.N. – According to the author Terzic and Maric tried to persuade IMF officials that IMF is getting from its official in BiH, Peter Doyle. AT the meeting with Reza McGregor, Doyle’s Chief, Terzic said that IMF demands (such as introduction of rule that entity ministers should give assent to BiH budget) are not in line with Constitution and are untenable. |
| Sulejman Tihic warns of unprincipled conduct of SDA members
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘SDA Presidency will change disputable lists’, announced on cover ‘SDA top will change disputable lists’ by Az.Kalamujic – Sulejman Tihic, SDA President, announced that the lists of candidates from SDA |
| SDP BiH says BiH Presidency and BiH CoM need to give accountings for their actions | Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘To stop return to the past’, FTV – SDP BiH Presidency stated that BiH Presidency and BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) have to give accountings for their actions in order to evaluate situation, establish responsibility for successes and failures as well as to define concrete future steps. Persons responsible for slowing down BiH progress in joining EU have to withdraw from their positions, believed SDP. |
| HSP United’ initiative for organising a referendum on establishment of Croat TV in BIH | RHB – HSP United started an initiative for organising a referendum on establishment of Croat TV in BIH. TV would be financed by Croats in BIH. HSP BIH feels that the law on public RTV system satisfied only regional principle thus bringing the Croats into undermining position.
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War crimes | |
| Comment on del Ponte’s statement that war crime suspects should be tried in SiCG/RH after all
| Oslobodjenje cover pg splash ‘Criminals will be tried in SiCG and Republic of Croatia?’ and pgs 4-5 ‘Owing to extradition problems, trials to criminals will be held in SiCG and RH?’ by Alda Omeragic – Commenting on the latest statement of Carla del Ponte, ICTY Chief Prosecugor (that was crime suspects may be tried in the state they live or left, but are still its citizens), Edita Pejovic, Public Affairs Officer at the BiH Registry Office, says: “We are not surprised with the statement, because it is the simplest solution, because many citizens of BiH have a citizenship of some other state. However, we still support the idea that those indicted are tried in the state, where crimes were committed. That is the only manner in which the victims can feel justice has been met.” Meddzida Kreso, BiH Court President, reminded at the beginning of this year that BiH has a proble with the neighbouring states, regarding extradition of war crime suspects. Owing to this reason, she offered the solution that BiH, SiCG and Croatia should sign the agreement on extradition of war crime suspects. However, this idea has not been realised as yet. Slobodan Kovac, BiH Justice Minister, expressed hope this issue will be discussed at the upcoming meeting of justice ministers of the three states (to be held next month at |
| Discussion on Srebrenica 10 years after was held within European literary meetings in
| RHB – Disucssion on Srebrenica 10 years after was held within European literary meetings in NTV HAYAT – Hartman said that the victims had been betrayed, since some war crime indictees still had not been arrested. She said that the 10th anniversary of Srebrenica genocide was approaching, and that the most responsible ones, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic were still free, and added that that was the reason why Del Ponte was not going to attend marking of the anniversary, which is to take place in Potocari. Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Mladic and Karadzic must be arrested before 11 July’ bvy M.Lingo |
| Srebrenica Task Force expecting data from RS MOI by 31 May
| Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘RS MoI data by 31 May’, announced on cover ‘Truth is approaching’ by S.R. – Jovan Spajic, Srebrenica Task Force Chairman, told the daily Friday that he expects RS MOI would deliver a detailed data on Srebrenica events from July 1995. He also noted that RS MoI promised data will be handed by this date, expressing doubt RS MoD would be able to provide all the relevant information by this date, since their job is more complex. |
| U.S.A support Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte’s work | NTV HAYAT, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘It may be the case that Army is protecting Mladic, and Banja Luka authorities are protecting Karadzic’ by VoA– According to U.S.A Political Issue Secretary, Nicholas Burns, U.S.A support Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte’s work and her requests to International Community to help in arresting Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, before marking of 10th anniversary of Srebrenica genocide. Burns said that the U.S Government did not believe in statements |
Miscellaneous | |
| Paravac expects Mostar’s Old bridge to be included in the list of the World’s heritage at the next UNESCO session | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Old Bridge deserves to be a part of cultural heritage of the world’, BH TV 1, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Paravac expects Old Bridge on UNESCO list’ by Agencies – BiH Presidency Chair, Borislav Paravac, expects that the Old bridge in Mostar will be included in the list of the World’s heritage at the next session of the UNESCO’s Committee for Cultural Heritage. |
| International conference on BIH named “10 years after | RHB – International conference on BIH named 10 years after TV PINK, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Criminals to be arrested before Srebrenica tragedy anniversay’ by M.K.S. |
| 30 Chiefs of BiH Municipalities signed agreements with BiH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees
| TV PINK, BH TV 1, NTV HAYAT, FTV, RTRS – 30 Chiefs of BiH Municipalities in which there are joint projects on reconstruction and return being carried out, have signed in Sarajevo, agreements with BiH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, by which they are given the right to receive financial and technical aid, which is of extreme importance for their work. “There is also personnel aid being offered, namely financing of necessary personnel in 17 municipalities in which the projects are being carried out”, said BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees, Mirsad Kebo. The aid will be extremely welcomed by undeveloped municipalities with great number of returnees. Another 10 municipalities are going to be involved in the second phase of the project, and these are going to be related with implementation of loans, given by the Development Bank of Council of Europe. |
| Hajriz Becirovic will be the F BiH Minister for Veterans? | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Hajriz Becirovic will be the F BiH Minister for Veterans?’, announced on cover ‘Becirovic to replace Nadarevic’ by Az.B. – DA has learnt from the sources close to SDA that Hajriz Becirovic may replace Ibrahim Nadarevic on the position of the F BiH Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. |
| RS POW Association sent a letter to HR Paddy Ashdown
| Glas Srpske pg5 ‘Not much work, but much injustice’ by G.Klepic, RTRS – RS POW Association sent a letter to HR Paddy Ashdown. In the letter it states that his recent statement where he said that only 3000 people participated in the protests of 11 NGO’s has proven that he cannot be trusted. Association stated that all media including the FBIH ones published that around 20 000 people gathered at the protests. |
| “Telekom Srpske” under privatisation
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘The privatisation of “Telekom Srpske” commences’ by R.Segrt – Svetlana Cenic, RS Minister of Finance, on Friday stated that the opening of five offers for the selection of financial advisor marks the first big step in the privatisation process of “Telekom Srpske”. |
| No one is interested in filing appeal to
| NTV HAYAT – |
| Feature story on Ambassador to
| NTV HAYAT – Report features BiH Ambassador to |
| Stolac crosses, update
| NTV HAYAT – Former Principal Deputy High Representative, Werner Wnenndt asked of BiH Minister of Physical Planning and Environment, Ramiz Mehmedagic to remove Stolac crosses by May 20. But Mehmedagic still has not done anything about the issue. According to the Chair of Youth Forum, Nerin Dizdar, this is a political issue which is being solved by SDA and HDZ, and that no pressures are being made at the moment for the crosses to be pulled down. Reporter said that OHR in Mostar on being asked about the issue was acting as if they have never heard of the problem of Stolac crosses case and as if they have never been involved in this issue. “OHR’s stance is that the issue should be solved by BiH authorities”, said OHR Spokesperson, |
| Vinko Puljic in Kupres
| Vecernji List pg 4, announced on cover ‘Church will not engaged in politics, but I will not be silenced’ by Dejan Jazvic, RTRS – Cardinal Vinko Puljic stressed Friday that the matter of law on restitution must be resolved. Representatives of religion communities in BIH stressed the importance of knowing other religions since people in BIH do not know enough about each other although they live next to each other for centuries. He also said that “Church does not want to be engaged in politics, but it needs to pledge for good-being in general.” |
| Poll in BiH on state affiliation | Vecernji List pg 6 ‘Serbs make majority in desire to renounce BiH citizenship’ by Valentina Rupcic – Dialy refers to the BiH Research Agency “Prizma” poll on sample of 1000 adult citizens of BiH. On the question of state affiliation, 46.4% of Serbs finds BiH to be their homeland, while 29.7% Serbs find SFRY their homeland. |