OHR BiH Media Round-up, 24/11/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

EC: BiH begins SAA neg. on Friday

US/EU: DPA changes needed

R. Gelbard: 2 entities must survive

20 killed in Baghdad explosion

UHSP critical of Washington talks

Marti Arthisari in Belgrade

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

HKDZ receives letter of threat

Warning on war criminals

Reactions to Washington declaration

Sudar on BiH internal structure

HR on constitutional changes

Investigation Uzdol/Grabovica case

OHR on Washington agreement

ICRC on missing persons

Mostar Administration’s new Agency

Ivanic on Washington agreement

CoE report for FBiH Parliament

Renaming of streets in Mostar

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

BiH officials return from Washington

Reactions to Washington declaration

BiH to start SAA talks on Friday

Rice comment on signed agreement

Rice on arresting of war criminals

Reactions on Washington agreement

US public on Washington meeting

Reactions to Washington declaration

OHR on Washington agreement

BiH products and EU rules

Citizens on Washington declaration

SPON on Washington agreement

Oslobodjenje

Bosniak leadership was setting up to Oric

Dnevni Avaz

Prosecutor McNair: Soon we will raise another large indictment

Dnevni List

Halilovic was Delic’s direct envoy during operation

Vecernji List

Cardinal Puljic: Vatican supports BiH with four regions

Slobodna Dalmacija

Mafia Godfather gets 22 years of prison

Glas Srpske

Feature story on a man from Prijedor suffering a heart disease

Nezavisne Novine

Filip Cepter received payment in the amount of 3 million KM from the budget

Blic

Cepter admitted he has 4 billion dollars [a report on value of Filip Cepter’s property]

Vecernje Novosti

Serbia related headlines

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

US/EU: DPA changes needed to strengthen central authorities

BH Radio 1 – United States and European Union deem it is time for BiH to carry out the changes to the Dayton Peace Agreement in order to strengthen the central authorities. Former US Special Envoy for Balkans, Robert Gelbard, stated in an interview to Voice of America VoA that BiH needs to become more centralized state to join the EU and to become more efficient.

RHB – Gelbard stated for the Voice of America that 2 entities should survive in BiH, however, there is no need for the third, Croat entity since Croats accepted the Bosniak-Croat Federation in the nineties and it should stay that way. 

UHSP comments on Washington talks 

RHB – UHSP (United Croat Party of Rights) issued a press release, which says: ‘By signing the statement in Washington representatives of leading political parties have created a framework for a new BiH Constitution. All disadvantages of the so-far organization of BiH were identified, and necessity for changes pointed out. However, the situation from 10 years ago about the signing of Dayton Accords repeated, when Serb and Bosniak side set their conditions and Croats accepted them to show their cooperation.’

Davidovic: Start of SAA talks of great importance for BiH

BH Radio 1 – Chief BiH negotiation with EU, Igor Davidovic, stated that official launch of the negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement on Friday in Sarajevo is an event of great importance for BiH. It is a day when BiH will finally make serious steps moving towards the strategic goals of joining EU, said Davidovic.

BiH mayors meet in Brcko to discuss role of local communities

BH Radio 1 Nedjo Djurovic – The conference considering the roles of the local communities in BiH has commenced in Brcko gathering over 70 heads of municipalities and mayors. Participants focus on the relations between central government and local authorities, adding that this is necessary especially in a sense of economic cooperation. They also agreed that the local communities must have larger degree of independence, especially in a fiscal sense. The conference will issue a resolution and pass it to other levels of authorities. Representatives of the entities and the BiH Council of Ministers  are also taking part in discussions.

Constitutional Reform/BiH Road to EU

BHT: Reactions to Washington declaration on constitutional changes

BHT Damir Simic – The conference on changes of BiH Constitution ended with signing of declaration, which obliges BiH politicians to adopt and implement constitutional changes by march 2006. BiH officials returned from Washington on Wednesday with different impressions. According to media, the declaration was adopted under great pressure of US administration. The text of the declaration is written in a way that allows different interpretations. BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac stated that the declaration is a political statement which didn’t give concrete instructions for constitutional changes, but it obliged political sides in BiH to find a solution by March 2006. Sefik Dzaferovic from SDA party said that he hopes that all sides in BiH are ging to understand the importance of this project and change the BiH Constitution in order to create a modern and functional state. Safet Halilovic from Party for BiH stated that his party has critical approach to the changes, especially regarding the issue of president and parliament of the state. US Under Secretary for Political Issues Nicholas Burns said after the conference that  the soon changes should bring reform of tripartite  Presidency into one President and establishing of strong Prime Minister mandate and stronger parliament. Serb political leaders signed a separate declaration, inviting ICTY indictees Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic to surrender. EU officials expressed their hope that BiH Constitution is going to be changed during the negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Commenting the signing of declaration, OHR stated that after the declaration, constitutional changes are the next task which must be completed in order to improve the functioning of BiH state.

Hayat, FTV, RTRS also carried Paravac’s statement.

Hayat: Reaction in US to Washington meeting

Hayat Report of VoA, Omer Vatric– Many of U.S media ad officials have dealt with the Washington meeting and according to VoA, joined appraise is that for the first time, leaders of three ethnical groups have obligated in Washington that they will overcome obstacles that stand in the Constitution and system of power. “New York Times” wrote that USA has mediated in reform of the Government; Washington “Times” wrote that three groups have came to the agreement on uniting. State Secretary Condoleezza Rice said that during a meeting with her, BiH leaders have once more confirmed their taken obligations to start process of constitutional reforms and to finish them till March, in order to create stronger and more democratic institutions, which will provide mechanisms for facing the challenges of association with modern Europe. Under- Secretary for Europe, Daniel Fried said that all participants have agreed on exchanging of the Presidency with one President, but it was decided that specific solutions will not be discussed in Washington, because the whole matter could fail, stressing that real goal of all this is to take BiH on the road toward European integrations.  Under- Secretary Nicholas Burns, a man who organized the meeting, has invited to higher authorities of BiH Prime- Minister, to more efficient Parliament and one President. Asked if this is more or less then expected, Burns said: “That is more then we expected, because these leaders have now obligated to the process of constitutional reforms”. Host and moderator of the meeting, representative of American Peace Institute, Daniel Server said that this goes in direction of functional State, which BiH needs in order to be able to negotiate on joining with the EU and NATO. “Even though I always expect more, that is enough. I think that it is important that they have agreed to do something crucial till end of March, in order for next election to be held with supplemented Constitution; so, that is not a new Constitution that will be updated Constitution”- said Server. Bill Clinton in today’s “Wall Street Journal” reminded that people in his administration and he were conscious regarding Dayton ’s flaws, which allowed establishment of three Armies and three members of Presidency, adding that they didn’t want that at the time, but they hoped for improvement.

OHR: Washington agreement a step forward

RHB, Pink, RTRS – Agreement, signed by leaders of BiH political parties in Washington , presents a step forward and the OHR welcomes it. The OHR believes that constitutional change presents another step which needs to be taken in order for state’s functioning to be improved. This represents a beginning of the process, and it is up to BiH authorities to agree on this issue, states the OHR.

Oslobodjenje: US Govt to remain included in talks on constitutional changes

Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘US Government will be included in the negotiations on changes to the BiH Constitution’, mentioned on cover, by Az. Kalamujic – US Undersecretary for the political affairs, Nicholas Burns, addressed a letter to BiH political leaders who attended the talks in Washington informing them that the US Government will remain included in further negotiations on the BiH Constitution and its changes. SDA leader, Sulejman Tihic, told daily he was very satisfied with the letter, and with the stances presented by the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Daily, however, also notes that Tihic and his Presidency counterpart, Borislav Paravac, have entirely different opinion on the issue of constitutional changes. Paravac stated on Wednesday evening that the current constitutional concept of BiH Presidency should not be changed, concluding that there is no need to change Constitution to regulate work of Presidency.  Tihic told daily that the reason he left the negotiations on Sunday evening was the pressure to legalize solutions set by the DPA.  

SDA leader Tihic: I have prevented signing an agreement with wrong solutions

FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘President in place of too expensive Presidency’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘I did not want to legalize Dayton Agreement’s failures’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘I have rejected Americal proposal’ by Agencies, FENA – BiH Presidency member and SDA leader Sulejman Tihic on Wednesday told Fena that the joint statement on constitutional reforms signed by representatives of eight BiH political parties and BiH Presidency members in Washington is largely general but adequate and with clear deadlines. “This statement speaks about the need for modernizing the Dayton Constitution to ensure that BiH institutions are functioning as in every other modern democratic country”, said Tihic upon his return from Washington. According to Tihic, the joint statement clearly says what needs to be changed: the Presidency, Council of Ministers, parliament and competencies of institutions, which will allow BiH to function as a normal state that can be a partner to the international community and meet the criteria for membership in Euro-Atlantic structures. “I am optimistic and I feel that the statement given before such important witnesses commits us all to implementing it, instead of betraying these intentions as soon as we have returned to BiH”, said Tihic. He also stressed that “everybody is aware of what is the meaning of this statement, the essence of which was clearly underlined by the U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, who said that its aims were to modernize the institutions and order in BiH. Speaking about the reasons of his dissatisfaction and leaving the beginning of talks in Washington, BiH Presidency member told Fena that the media were not fully informed about everything than went on over there. According to him, two documents were supposed to be signed in Washington, one is the said joint statement, and the second – was supposed to be the concrete agreement on solutions presented in the statement. The agreement, said Tihic, was not signed because he left the talks. As the reason for this step, Tihic accented the manner of conducting the negotiations and certain pressures to legalize the wrong solutions from the Dayton Accords for the purpose of making certain cosmetic changes. “I did not wish to legalize something that is after ten years regarded as wrong by creators of the Dayton Accords and all persons who are well informed about the situation in BiH. Thus, it is clear that the presidency is something anachronous and that it cannot function efficiently as an institution, because it is too complex and too much expensive. I did not wish to legalize some other kind of presidency that would now be elected by the parliament, and not the people”, said Tihic.

Party for BiH Halilovic on Washington talks: This is the first step in constitutional changes in BiH

Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Positions are nevertheless closer’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘The most important thing is that US stands by BiH in resolving the problems’, FENA – The Chairman of the Party for BiH (SBiH) Presidency, Safet Halilovic, on Wednesday told Fena that the talks on changing BiH’s Dayton structure did not achieve any significant results. According to him, there is a great degree of disagreement on important issues, while the highest degree of agreement has been demonstrated on the issues of human rights. Regarding the BiH Presidency, Halilovic said that great differences exist among the opinions from RS and Federation. Regarding the Parliament, the leaders from RS insist in the House of Peoples, which would be elected from the Entity parliaments, which is unacceptable for the parties in Federation. “What is especially symptomatic in demonstrating the inadequate will for changes is the insisting of political leaders from RS in view of BiH structures, i.e. the institutions that would be charged with the affairs related to integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures. They wish for those institutions to be controlled by the Entity institutions”, said Halilovic. In this way, the Entities would remain the key mechanism for practical running of the entire state structure, which is absolutely unacceptable for the Party for BiH and other political options form the Federation, according to Halilovic. However, at the end of the talks, the political parties from BiH with mediation of U.S. officials signed the agreement on the need for pursuing reforms necessary for strengthening the State institutions and protecting human rights. Halilovic believes that the important segment of the statement was aiming the process of constitutional reforms at enhancing the State authority and streamlining the Parliament and the institution of the Presidency. He added that it was also important that it had been agreed that these constitutional reforms had to be agreed by March 2006.

Cavic: We have started with realistic changes to BiH constitution

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘We have started with realistic changes’, mentioned on cover ‘Change Constitution by evolution, not revolution’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview to DA, SDS president Dragan Cavic says that he is not dissatisfied with the results of the negotiations on the constitutional changes to date, underlying all decisions must be accepted by all peoples and not imposed. Asked about possibility to abolish the entities, Cavic says: “Such talks have no chance to succeed. Every story on this means a confrontation… Therefore, this issue should not be opened. Neither the time is right nor is possibly to get the result which would be of general stance.” Cavic notes that it is realistic to expect the Presidency with one President and two Vice Presidents rotating every 16 months. As for the BiH Council of Ministers, Cavic says body should maintain its name and be a government. All decisions would me made by reaching a consensus and the President of the CoM would not rotate, would be able to remove a minister with good explanation. Parties also agreed to increase the number of CoM Ministries to 11, and most probably a number of delegates of the BiH House of Representatives. As for the House of Peoples, Cavic says that its character must change to prevent delays in adopting the laws. “We agree that the number of delegates in the RS Council for protection of vital national interests should be decreased from current 28 to half. I believe the same should be done for HoP in FBiH,” says Cavic. He also underlined: “I think we have started wit realistic changes. I would be much happier if these negotiations were lead in Sarajevo. Every time we go outside of Sarajevo there is an impression that someone twists our arms, applying huge pressure on us. That doesn’t happen.” Finally, Cavic denies he is in conflict with RS PM Pero Bukejlovic and denies he would dismiss him. As for Karadzic, Mladic and Stojan Zupljanin, RS President says according to his information there is almost not possibility for them to be in BiH.

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Nothing aside of the statement’ not signed carried Cavic’s statement on Washington talks.

RS/Serbian press: Statements on Washington talks; PDP leader Ivanic announced RS politicians would soon draft Constitutional amendments

Nezavisne novine pg 3 ‘Constitutional changes are important in negotiations of BiH with EU’ by V. Popovic – carries statements of EC Delegation Spokesperson Frane Maroevic, SDS President Dragan Cavic, Party for BiH’s Safet Halilovic. Inset ‘OHR welcomes the agreement from Washington’ carries OHR’s statement. PDP’s Mladen Ivanic has announced RS politicians will soon draft amendments to BiH Constitution, but these amendments will not bring RS interests in jeopardy. ‘After the meeting in Washington, it is more than clear nobody would impose any changes and only what we agree upon can be incorporated as a constitutional amendment’, Ivanic said.

EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Entities will remain’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘No major changes’ not signed – also carry Ivanic’s statement.

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Small results’ not signed – Halilovic’s statement

RHB, Hayat, RTRS also carried Ivanic’s statement.

SRS and DNS critical of Washington agreement

RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Remain unified’ by D. Mo. (SRS), Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Erasing from maps’ by Srna (DNS) – SRS believes constitutional changes might develop on detriment of RS if RS politicians do not form a single stance, while DNS says politicians, by accepting the agreement signed in Washington, have actually accepted to have RS erased from maps as of the next year.

SNSD’s Krstan Simic: even better agreement could have been reached

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Time of imposing has passed’ not signed – SNSD’s Krstan Simic thinks the Washington statement represents an obligation to reach an agreement on certain details of constitutional changes by March next year and he adds even better agreement could have been reached in Washington if the will of F BiH representatives, primarily of Sulejman Tihic, had existed.

NN op-ed on Washington talks: Washington truth

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Washington truth’ by Pero Simic – the author criticizes politicians and says the politicians would be the happiest if someone imposed a decision instead of them, leaving them the opportunity to stand on their nationalistic points and constantly emphasize they have “betrayed” nothing. The author concludes such politicians should be betrayed by people at next elections.

London Guardian: Talks on constitutional reforms in BiH to be difficult

RHB, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Turning point in BiH’ – Negotiations between BiH political leaders on constitutional reform in BiH, which should be agreed on by March, are going to be difficult, and the easies will be to agree on increase the number of BiH Council of Ministers members and extension of its authorities, says UK based The Guardian. The Guardian furthermore says that the agreement in Washington was signed under huge USA pressure and it could present turnover in BiH’s efforts to overcome war consequences.

US’ Rice on Washington statement; Relota insists Covic was invited to talks in US

Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Strengthening of central authorities through reform’, by NINA/I. Rozic – The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, welcomed, what she described as, ‘the historic agreement of leaders of three peoples of BiH’, which foresees strengthening of central authorities through reform of the Dayton Constitution. “BiH is joining the international community today”, stated Rice on Tuesday. DL also carries a reaction by the HDZ BiH spokesman, Miso Relota, who denies a report by DL from Wednesday, according to which the HDZ President, Dragan Covic, was not invited to the Washington talks. Relota argues that Covic received an invitation from the US Peace Institute signed by the Institute’s Vice-President, Daniel P. Serwer.

Pink, Hayat, FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Development of Dayton is needed’ inset ‘Arrest of Hague indictees is a visa to NATO’ not signed, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Entities will remain’ by Rajna Radosavljevic also carried Rice’s statement.

HDZ to present draft of new Constitution soon

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘New Constitution soon’ by A.O. – HDZ spokesperson Miso Relota stated that HDZ would present soon a draft of a new Constitution prepared by legal experts coming from the line of the Croat people. Relota did not want to comment on the Washington statement on the constitutional changes, but he said that Ivo Miro Jovic and Barisa Colak, who attended the Washington talks, would inform the HDZ Presidency, at the session that is to take place on Friday, about the course of the negotiations and signing of the joint statement on the constitutional changes and then the HDZ Presidency would declare itself on the further HDZ stand on the agreement on change of the Constitution.

Cardinal V. Puljic on Bishops’ Conference proposal on const. Changes

Oslobodjenje pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Bishops propose BiH with 4 Cantons’ by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘BiH needs four regions’ by Onasa, Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Vatican supports BiH with four regions’, and pg 5 ‘The Pope supported our proposal’, by KTA/ONASAcarried an interview with Cardinal Vinko Puljic in which he explains the Bishops’ Conference proposal on the constitutional changes which envisages 4 functional Cantons. Among the other things, Puljic stated: ‘In this document we stated that there could be Cantons, regions, provinces, districts, Federal units…We did not have an intention to determine the authority structure but to stress importance of having limited authority at the regional or the FBiH level, that is, to determine minimal representation of each of 3 constituent peoples in the legislative and executive authority.’ Cardinal Puljic also said that if the Dayton Peace Accord had been truly implemented many injustices would have been corrected and people would have been at their homes long time ago.

BiH Bishops call for abolishment of entities

RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Washington talks were to confirm Dayton injustice’, Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Bishops call for abolishment of entities’, by Ivana Rozic – The “Iustitia et pax” Commission of the Roman Catholic Bishops’ Conference of BiH has joined demands for a democratic and just solution to the internal organization of the country, describing as “unreasonable” the support by some world powers for the preservation of the divided BiH as it is today. In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the commission chairman, the Auxiliary Bishop of Sarajevo, Pero Sudar, the commission said that the 1995 Dayton peace agreement, which ended the war in BiH, spelled “unjust and unsuccessful division” of the country. The statement, carried by the BiH Catholic press agency KTA, said that it would not be possible to ensure human rights protection and the equal position of BiH’s three constituent peoples – the Bosniaks, the Serbs and the Croats – as long as the country remained divided into two entities.

Colak on Washington talks

Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘They threatened with isolation of Croats’, by Zoran Kresic – carries an interview with Barisa Colak, who comments on the Washington talks. Asked whether the HDZ and Croats in BiH would have been subjected to isolation, if they had not signed the joint statement, Colak says: “Absolutely. We simply could not be against the whole process. Other diplomatic circles who were present here pointed out to the fact too”. On the statement itself, Colak says: “The statement does not represent constitutional reforms in any sense. In comparison to Brussels, no progress was made apart from (the issue of) Council of Ministers. Presidency was not agreed upon, House of Peoples was not agreed upon”. On BiH CoM, Colak says: “Everyone agrees to extend the CoM with two ministries, but there is no consent about which ministries those might be”.

Globus op-ed on BiH, way how West treats peoples in BiH

Globus, pgs 28-29 ‘Holbrooke’s Bosnia without Croats’, by Dr. Mirjana Kasapovic – Commenting on the situation in BiH in light of the recent talks in Washington, Kasapovic mostly insists on her claim that the pre-war BiH was not a harmonious multi-ethnic community the way Haris Silajdzic portraits its, arguing that such harmonious multi-ethnic societies do not turn into war fronts overnight, even if influenced from outside. As for the Washington talks, the author argues that all three sides in BiH feel that the West ‘owes them something’. Namely, the Bosniaks feel the West owes them an integrated state without entities, however Kasapovic notes the West will not oblige since it will not abolish the RS, instead it will centralize the FBiH and turn it into a Bosniak entity. As for the Serbs, Kasapovic says the West will preserve the RS as a sort of compensation to the Serb(ian)s, who are losing Montenegro and Kosovo. As for the Croats, the West will not agree to establishment of a Croat entity in BiH, and Kasapovic argues that the West paid out all Croat(ian)s when Croatia was fully integrated without Serb autonomous areas in it.  Finally, the author criticizes the HR, Paddy Ashdown, over his message that the Croats should be protecting their national identity in the EU, once BiH has become an EU member, calling the message “an incredible cynicism and inappropriate political impudence that can only come from a person who has politically established himself as a ‘lefty lord’”.

EC’s Maroevic: Constitutional changes in necessary on BiH road to EU

RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Formal opening of talks with EU’, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Negotiations officially start tomorrow’, by A. B., FENA – The European Union has a clear stand that the issue of constitutional changes in BiH would be raised in the context of BiH’s negotiations for signing a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). “The BiH Constitution will most probably be amended, but this will be the obligation of the relevant institutions in BiH with consensus of all BiH peoples”, said the spokesperson for the Delegation of the European Commission in BiH, Frane Maroevic, commenting on the agreement reached in Washington among the representatives of eight political parties and BiH Presidency members. The EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, will arrive in Sarajevo on November 25 to formally open the negotiations between BiH and the EU, following the EU foreign minister’s decision on the issue. The EU ministers have estimated that the pace and completion of negotiations would particularly depend on the progress in development of the legal frame and administration in BiH, implementation of police reform, adopting all necessary laws on PBS and full cooperation with the ICTY. The EU ministers stressed that they expect BiH to take decisive steps to ensure that all fugitives from justice wanted by the ICTY, especially Radovan Karadzic ands Ratko Mladic, are brought to justice.

Chief Negotiator Davidovic says BiH ready for SAA talks with EU

Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘BiH team to be completed in ten days’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 – BiH chief negotiator on Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU Igor Davidovic stated that BiH is ready for negotiations. He confirmed that the talks with the EU are going to start officially on Friday. However, the Friday meeting with EU officials in Sarajevo won’t address any technical details. Davidovic also confirmed that the negotiation strategy has been prepared.

SIPA’s Novic: Police reform must be implemented ASAP regardless of deadlines in agreement

Dnevni Avaz pg 9, mentioned on cover ‘It is fatal for police reform to last five years’ – The Head of the State Information and protection Agency [SIPA], Sredoje Novic, stated in an interview to DA that it would be very negative if the implementation of the police reform takes too long. “People are already thinking whether they would remain in police or not, as there are talks 4000-5000 of surplus police officers. They wonder why would they put themselves at risk whether they could perhaps stay without their jobs. Realistically, there is a possibility for the next two or three years to be marked with weaken activities of police in the entities and cantons, which would be fatal,” explains Novic. He underlines that the police reform must be implemented as soon as possible regardless to deadlines presented in the agreement on this issue. As for the terrorism and recent related arrests, Novic says BiH is not well investigated on this issue adding that all security agencies must gather their information on one place – and only than a credible analysis could be made. “But, what is important is that OSA has proved through these arrests of standing on its own feet,” adds Novic. Asked about the last spring’s information on the truck with explosive targeting OHR, Novic explains that at the time there where information on this which resulted with preventive evacuation of the staff members. He adds that this case is being investigated with the foreign services, believing it will get its conclusion. Novic also says that the SIPA is to get its Special Unit as of 1 January which will enable it to carry out impromptu arrests of persons indicted for either organized crime or war crimes.  

VL: Schwartz-Schilling has best chance to become new HR

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Schwartz-Schilling instead of Ashdown’, by I.O. – Commenting about the appointment of the new High Representative for BiH, VL argues that the biggest favourite for the office is Christian Schwartz-Schilling from Germany, who enjoys the support in Germany and Europe. VL goes on to say that the Serbs are favouring the Italian candidate, that Bosniaks are not keen on having a Dutch as a HR because of Srebrenica, whilst the CzechRepublic “is fresh in European policy”.

Crime/Security/Legal Proceedings

Continuation of trials in ‘Croat self-rule’ case

BHT, Hayat, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Big consequences for defence capabilities of Federation’, by Erna Mackic, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘HNS disbanded HVO, not Jelavic and Prce’, by Dejan Jazvic – In the continuation of ‘Croat self-rule’ trials before the BiH Court, for which former FBiH Defence Minister, Miroslav Prce, and retired HVO general, Dragan Curcic, are indicted, former FBiH Deputy Defence Minister, Ferid Buljubasic, noted that the decision of the former BiH Presidency member, Ante Jelavic, to disband the Croat component of the FBiH Army has big consequences for defence capabilities of the FBiH, because a big number of vehicles, mobile phones, equipment and armament has gone missing at the time. Sarajevo dailies, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Minister Anic was considered traitor of Croat people’ by A. D. also covered the issue.

Osl.: ‘Bosniak top was pinning on Oric’

Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Bosniak top was pinning on Oric’ by A. Avdic says that shifting the responsibility for all events in Srebrenica at the wartime Srebrenica Commander Naser Oric was the chief goal of the operation called ‘Guber’ that was launched after the war by AID leaders. Oslobodjenje claims to be in possession of the AID documentation that proves the aforementioned claim and the article also brings some details from this documentation.     

Prosecutor McNair: Indictment against highly position persons for suspicion of organized crime soon

Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Soon we will raise another large indictment’, pg 4 ‘Soon, new indictments against highly positioned people’ by S. Turcalo – Canadian Prosecutor John McNair told DA that another big indictment related to organized crime should be raised before his mandate of the Head Special Department for organized crime  expires. He McNair leaves the country in November, but will return once more before his mandate expires on 5 January. McNair says he has prepared the documents for his successor, who will again be the international judge to be appointed by the HR Paddy Ashdown in next few days. He adds that there will be additional charges raised against the persons on high positions, but refuses to disclose any details. DA learns from credible sources that McNair will be replaced by American David Upcher who currently heads the Office of the Disciplinary Prosecutor within the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council. Finally, McNair assesses that BiH judiciary is functional, however points out to great problem of double citizenships alike in the case of Ante Jelavic adding this will be a big problem for upcoming war crimes cases.

Croats from Grabovica claim Halilovic was coordinating military operations in Grabovica

Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 8 ‘Halilovic was Delic’s direct envoy during operation’, not signed – The Association of Croat victims of war ‘Grabovica 93’ has sent the ICTY a letter in which the Association notes that the ICTY has diminished the idea of justice by acquitting Sefer Halilovic. The Association argues that Halilovic was, according to the then BiH Army’s commander, Rasim Delic’s order, authorized to coordinate military activities in Grabovica during the operation ‘Neretva 93’.

VL: It is only matter of time when ICTY will send BiH Court documents on Grabovica

Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Police has been protecting culprits of Grabovica’, by Zdenko Jurilj – According to VL, it is only matter of time and procedure when the ICTY will forward the documentation on crimes against Croats of Grabovica to the BiH Court for further proceedings. VL says the documentation will show the responsibility of former BiH Army’s units commanders, Zulfikar Alispago AKA Zuka and Enver Buza, and the daily stresses that both of them enjoyed the police and intelligence support in Sarajevo after they had committed the crimes in Grabovica.

A man accused in US of recruiting terrorists in BiH

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘One was accused in USA of having recruited soldiers of radical Islam in BiH’ by D. Raduski – Grand Federal Jury in Miami accused Hose Padilla of terrorism, being a member of Al-Q’Aida and recruiting of soldiers in 1993 for fight for radical Islamist goals in Bosnia, Kosovo, Chechenya and Somalia.

CoE requests for information on alleged CIA prisons in Europe; No such prisons in BiH

Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘BiH too was asked to provide with data on existence of secret CIA prisons’ by A. Sekulic – Upon the affair regarding the existence of secret CIA prisons, CoE Secretary General Terry Davis sent a letter to Governments of 45 members of CoE, asking for data on how they have been implementing the convention on Human Rights.

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘No secret prisons?’ not signed – BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Mirsad Kebo on Wednesday stated the Ministry and CoM have no information there are any illegal CIA prisons in the area of BiH.

NN op-ed on manipulations with number of war vicims in BiH

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Auctioning with victims’ by Sasa Cavrag – the author referred to the recently published information on number of victims of BiH war, published by Head of Investigation-Documentation Center Mirsad Tokaca, and the author adds these numbers showed all previous reports on the number of killed persons were exaggerated. The author concludes by saying Tokaca’s data have crucial role in reconciliation process.

Economic/Social Affairs/Education

BHT, FTV employees went on warning strike

BHT Mirela Cosic, FTV– Trade Union of RTVBiH in transition and Trade Union of BHT decided to go on warning strike last night. For that reason, BHT1 and FTV Prime Times News programs lasted only 20 minutes each (in place of usual 30 minutes). This decision was made due to the generally poor social/professional status of employees. Head of Strike Board Mirza Huskic stressed that the public should be informed about the humiliation of employers at the broadcasters. They demand payment of all overdue salaries and benefits, as well as clear plan for overcoming crisis at BHT and FTV. Slobodna Dalmacija, pgs 18-19 ‘’Snow’ on state screens’, by Miroslav Landeka,other media also covered the issue.

Council of Europe says situation in education sector in BiH deteriorated

Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Bargaining with Europe represents obstruction’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Urgently enact Law on education’, by ra – According to the report prepared by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, the situation in the BiH education has in some areas, three years after BiH was admitted to the CoE, even deteriorated. It is foremost related to the issue i.e. trend of ethnic separation of pupils, especially in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. According to Sead Avdic, an MP in BiH Parliament and president of commission for cooperation with UNESCO, any bargaining with European standards represents obstruction and blockade of BiH’s road to EU. Other BiH media also covered the issue.

Masic ( SDP) on re-capitalization of ‘Energopetrol’

BHT, Dnevni List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Prosecution looking into illegalities’, by Mensud Zorlak – According to an SDP MP in the BiH Parliament, Damir Masic, the party will do everything in the FBiH House of Peoples to cancel any form of re-capitalization of the ‘Energopetrol’ company at this moment. He explains that the party will insist on having a discussion in the FBiH HoP at the session scheduled for November 29. Masic also notes that the SDP has information that the Prosecution has started activities into possible illegalities in the company.

FBiH Vice-president Dzihanovic: illegal sale of Energopetrol must not be realized

Nezavisne novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Dzihanovic: illegal sale of “Energopetrol”’ by M. Rener – Deputy F BiH President Sahbaz Dzihanovic on Wednesday stated that F BiH Government has neither legal nor constitutional grounds for its activities on preparation of a contract on co-capitalization of “Energopetrol, since HoP of F BiH Parliament still had not presented its stance on this issue. He added that the decision of F BiH Government on selection of INA/MOL as strategic partner in co-capitalization of “Energopetrol” must not be realized. According to SDP information officer Damir Masic, SDP delegates at F BiH HoP will insist on discussion on “Energopetrol” to be held and will insist on adoption of conclusions that would ‘tie hands of F BiH Government’.

DL: BiH market flooded with illegal cigarettes; ITA says BiH borders are porous

Dnevni List, pg 7, mentioned on front ‘Market flooded with illegal Marlboro’, by Anja Vrebac – DL notes that BiH market is flooded with illegal ‘Marlboro’ cigarettes, some of them carrying Serbian and some of them not wearing any stamps at all. According to Indirect Tax Authority’s spokeswoman, Andja Cosic, the ITA is informed about the situation, however she argues that the BiH borders cannot be completely controlled and on top of that there are many illegal crossings that the State Border Service cannot control. Cosic notes it is only (BiH) ITA’s stamps that are valid in BiH.

Filip Cepter started collecting compensation money from RS budget

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Filip Cepter received payment in the amount of 3 million KM from the budget’ and pg 2 ‘Cepter collected 3 millions’ by A. Sekulic – RS Ministry of Finances on Wednesday confirmed “Cepter komerc Banka” from Banja Luka withdrew the first part of compensation in the amount of approximately 3 million KM from the account of RS budget upon the out-of-court settlement reached with the Republic Attorney for Cepter’s failed business with mobile telephony.

“Avaz” group accuses Bakir Izetbegovic of standing behind criminal sale of Magros

Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Bakir Izetbegovic stands behind Saudi firm “Al-Shidi”’ announced on cover ‘Bakir Izetbegovic stands behind criminal sale of Magros’ by M. Cubro – “Avaz” partnership group denied having any connection with threats to director of Sarajevo Cantonal Agency for Privatisation and accused SDA Deputy President Bakir Izetbegovic of standing behind criminal activities by which “Magros export-import” and “Magros veletrgovina” firms are trying to be sold to Saudi firm “Al Shidi”. Director of “A-roto press”, one of members of “Avaz” partnership group, Adi Hadziarapovic claims “Dnevni Avaz” papers had been reporting on these criminal activities and is currently under tremendous pressure. Izetbegovic denied he has any connections with “Al Shidi” firm. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 also covered the issue prominently.

VL, SD: FBiH Investment bank abused by SBIH

Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘They wanted to re-route money intended for companies to Energopetrol’, by Dejan Jazvic – The author argues that the FBiH Investment Bank is being politically manipulated with lately, which resulted in resignation of the bank’s CEO, Asim Omanovic, who allegedly disagreed with ‘principles of destruction, divisions, national and political divisions’. However, VL learns that the real motive lies in the fact that Omanovic, as a trusted member of SBiH, could not push through a request that the bank recovers the ‘Energopetrol’ company after the SBiH could not manage to land the co-capitalization job for its favourite, the Austrian ‘OMV’ that is. The bank’s Steering Board resolutely rejected the proposal because the bank’s regulations say the bank cannot finance oil and oil derivatives related businesses. (similar article in Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 21 ‘Investment bank is Silajdzic’s empire?’, by Zlatko Tulic)

Miscellaneous

City Council of Mostar fails to rename three disputable streets in Mostar

RHB, Dnevni List, pg 12 ‘Beslic’s proposal to rename streets fails for second time’, by Sanja Bjelica, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘SDP does not allow abolishment of Ustasha street in Mostar’, mentioned on front ‘SDP against abolishment of Jure Francetic Street’, by Zoran Kresic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 23 ‘’Old Town’ agency established’, by M. Landeka – The City Council of Mostar held a session on Wednesday during which, among other items, the Council did not accept the Mostar Mayor, Ljubo Beslic’s, proposal to rename three disputable streets in Mostar, namely Mile Budaka, Vokica and Lorkovica and Tabornika streets. DL notes that Bosniak councillors were against the proposal, asking that all disputable names be discussed and renamed, not only the three streets Mayor Beslic proposed. The Council also formed the Agency, which will be administering the Old Town core and Old Bridge in Mostar

Survey: most of BiH citizens would support SNSD if elections were held today

Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Most of BiH citizens would vote for SNSD’ by S. Gojkovic – According to a survey of a distinguished foreign agency [name not mentioned] conducted on a sample of 1550 citizens, most of BiH citizens – 13,3% – would have voted for SNSD if elections were held today. 9,3% citizens would have voted for SDA, 9% for SDP, 5,4% for Party for BiH, 4,4% for SDS, 3,6% for BOSS, 3,5% for HDZ, 1,9% for RS SRS, 1,1% for PDP and 1,1% for SPRS.