OHR BiH Media Round-up, 24/3/2006

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

BiH CoM in session Friday

RS NA discussing RS symbols

Spring summit of EU countries

Exhumation near Sanski Most

Ship sinks in Cameroonian waters

Anniversary marking NATO bombing

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

HDZ to support const. changes

Trial for war crimes inBanja Luka

Floods in Celinac

Croat Block on const. changes

RSNA extraordinary session

Floods in Zivinice

Citizens’ Parliament on DPA

BiH Court confirmed indictments

Land slides in Foca

BiH HoR, CoM in session

HoR adopted passive reg. of voters

Floods in Janja

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Floods, landslides in Canton Tuzla

Floods in TuzlaCanton

Floods in BiH

Agreement on constitutional changes

Floods threaten Doboj

Slide of terrain in village Vrnjci

HoR adopts changes to Election Law

BIH HoR session

RSNA session-BiH lawsuit vs SCG

BiH lawsuit against SCG before ICJ

CoM session

RSNA session- constit. changes

Oslobodjenje

[FBiH Finance Minister] Vrankic puts Finance Police under control

Dnevni Avaz

[ UK PM Tony Blair] EU will keep its word given to BiH

Dnevni List

News bills of indictment shake Mostar (HNC Prosecutor’s Office issued another bill of indictment for war crimes committed in area of Mostar)

Vecernji List

There are no vaccines for Croat children (On alleged discrimination in 2 health centres in Uskoplje where unlike Bosniak one, Croat one does not get supply of vaccines on a  regular basis)

Slobodna Dalmacija

Priests better than Thompson (on humanitarian action organized in Ljubuski whose goal is assistance of Herzegovina to Croats in Posavina)

Nezavisne Novine

450 tons of hard lead

Glas Srpske

Urgently to withdraw suit

EuroBlic

Settlements in vicinity of Vrbas and Bosna flooded

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbia related titles

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

RS NA resumes session:  discussion on file by BiH presidency member Tihic regarding examination of constitutionality of RS symbols

RTRS – The RS MP’s have today resumed session with discussion on activities of Team of representatives of the RS NA in the procedure before BH Constitutional Court, following demand file by Sulejman Tihic, member to BiH Presidency,regarding examination of constitutionality of RS flag, coat-of-arms and hymn. Reporter says that during discussion on this issue, the Bosniak MP’s pointed out that on several occasions, they tried to resolve the this issue of RS symbols at RS Parliament, adding these initiative clashed with misunderstanding. Bosniak MP’s reiterated that RS symbols insult national feelings of other peoples and effect on return process in RS. Serb MPO’s pointed out that the aim of this initiative is to destroy RS and create unitary BiH. Serb MP’s stressed that RS has implemented all international norms, referring to protection of religious, ethnic and human rights and completed the process of returns of Croats and Bosniaks to RS. Igor Radojicic, RS NA Speaker, expressed expectation that the BH CC, which is to pronounce ruling on this issue on 31 March, will act in line with constitutional provisions and reject initiative as legally ungrounded. As reporter learns from unofficial sources, the regular session of the RS NA, which adjourned 17 March, will not resume after completion of today’s 38th session.

Political developments: elections, constitution, etc

BiH HoR passes amendments to BiH Election Law, enabling constitutional changes to be on time for upcoming elections

Hayat– BiH House of Representatives (HoR) adopted on Thursday the Bill amending the BiH Election Law introducing passive registration of voters, by which the process itself should be significantly simplified. It means that every BiH citizen with valid CIPS identification document would automatically be registered as the voter, explained member of BiH Election Commission [EC] Vehid Sehic. Changes to the BiH Election Law also reduce a deadline to call elections from 170 to 150 days before the elections take place, meaning that BiH EC would announce election on May 4 instead of April 14. This would allow BiH HoR have enough time to prepare and pass amendments to the BiH Constitution in line with the agreed changes. However, the amendment that regulates the presence of women on the list of candidates has not been accepted. RTRS – Media election campaign would be reduced from 60 to 30 days and some private media might not even get a chance to cover the campaigns. The election threshold has not been changed, and remains to be 3%. FTV – SDA deputy Elmir Jahic explained that the same election threshold has been kept for dissemination of compensation mandate, however the entity was taken as the election unit and not the individual election unit. Changes also include ban for the officials to perform more than one elected duty. Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘350.000 new voters in elections’, by Eldina Medunjanin – VL notes that changes related to the registration of voters could increase the number of possible voters for as much as 350.000. RHB, PINK, BHT1, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Scheduling of general elections on May 4’ by A.Terzic Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Amendments to Election Law passed’, mentioned on cover ‘Campaign would last 30 days’ by H.Orahovac, Nezavisne Novine pg3, announced on cover ‘Deadline for scheduling of elections postponed’ by M.Cubro,EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Campaign 30 days shorter’ by D. Stanisic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Threshold is 3%’ by Z. Domazet, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Final issuing of writs for elections on may 4’, by D. P. Mandic– carried similar reports.

RSNA passes information on const. changes, asks active participation of draft amendments; SRS, Club Centre opposes the changes

RTRS late news – The second part of the session on Thursday, the RS National Assembly discussed the agreement reached by the leaders of seven parties [SDA, SDP, SDS, SNSD, PDP, HDZ and HNZ] on the constitutional changes. RSNA deputies have adopted the information on the agreement with conclusion that the RS representatives have to be actively included in adoption and preparation of the amendments in line with the agreement. RS President Dragan Cavic informed the RS NA deputies on the changes agreed expressing his satisfaction with the fact that the agreement was reached by the domestic politicians. “Compromise means that something was gained and something was lost”, stressed Cavic adding that everyone gained by making BIH more functional state. “All participants gained one thing in common, a lot of enemies”, concluded Cavic. RTRS – The discussion was launched upon the request by the ‘Club Centre’ who demanded to see the blueprint of the Agreement. “Thanks to the Agreement that Cavic, [Milorad] Dodik and [Mladen] Ivanic signed, RS would never go back to the position to have competences it had under the Dayton Peace Agreement. This is what I call betrayal”, said Milanko Mihajlica, SRS leader. Dodik reacted stating that the RS did not loose anything by these changes: “BiH Constitution would be changed in BiH Parliament and it needs two thirds of votes in order to be passed.” Late on Thursday night, RSNA started discussion on initiative of BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic before BiH Constitutional Court, regarding the constitutionality of RS insignia [flag, coat of arms]. However, the session was interrupted about 11:00 PM on Thursday and would continue with this agenda item on Friday morning at 10:00 AM. Nezavisne Novine pg4, announced on cover ‘MP’s demand withdrawal of suit’ by V.Popovic, Vecernje Novosti pg 5 ‘They tricked half of Bosnia’ by M. Labus, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Against will of Serbs’ by Rajna Radosavljevic; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Nothing on the detriment of Srpska’ by D. Momic – also carry Dodik and Cavic.

DA: constitutional changes would not be supported in BiH HoR

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Adversaries of changes of the Constitution currently in better position’ by H.Orahovac– Daily claims that current stances of MPs in BiH House of Representatives are showing that constitutional changes would not pass the BiH HoR. Passing of amendments demand two-third majority, meaning 28 votes and according to daily only 22 votes are certain under condition that the representatives honour the agreement reached by their leaders [which, as DA says, in case of Energopetrol before the FBiH Parliament was proved it doesn’t have to be the case].  According to daily, changes would be supported by 10 SDA, 5 SDS, 3 SDP, 3 SNSD officials and 1 PDP deputy, while SBiH [6], HDZ- Demo-Christians Caucus [5], BOSS [1] and independent MPs Ivo Lozancic and Sead Avdic would vote against it, as Avdic confirmed to DA. Daily further says that Tihomir Gligoric from SP RS would also vote against the agreement if, as he explained, is the same as one presented in the media. Gligoric told DA that Petar Kunic and Mirko Blagojevic would also vote against. Inset ‘It needs to pass House of Peoples as well’- If members of HDZ-DC Caucus do not attend the HoR session that would not diminish validity of the decision and amendments could be passed. However, amendments have to pass the BiH HoP, and if only five Croats would object them, everything would fail. Inset ‘Zoric: Nothing has changed’- Chair of HDZ-DC Caucus in BiH HoR Vinko Zoric told DA that nothing has changes in their stances toward constitutional changes and that they would be against them.

HDZ-CD- HNZ Caucus chair in FBiH Parliament Madunic: 4 out of 5 Croat MPs in BiH HoP support const. changes/ President of BiH HoP Jukic: I do not know anything about it

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 10, mentioned on cover ‘I have no idea about Constitution’ by P. Milos – President of the HDZ-CD-HNZ Caucus in the FBiH Parliament Ivan Madunic stated that out of 5 Croat representatives in the BiH HoP, 4 of them support the constitutional changes agreement while representative Anto Spajic only might be against them. The author says that this information seemed unbelievable to him because all Croat representatives were against the agreement and for this reason he contacted President of the BiH HoP Velimir Jukic to check this information. The author says that he was even more surprised when Jukic replied him that he does not know anything about it and that he is not familiar with the issue. 

HDZ spokesperson Relota: HDZ MPs will support agreement/ HSP President Jurisic: HDZ is selling Croats in BiH

Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Relota: HDZ will support agreement/Jurisic: HDZ is selling Croats in BiH’ by tk, vb – HDZ spokesperson Miso Relota has not expressed too big concern over an appeal of the BiH Bishops’ Conference not to adopt the constitutional changes agreement. He added that HDZ MPs in the BiH Parliament would support the agreement since this is about the first phase of the constitutional changes, while it has been guaranteed to Croats that they would elect their member of the BiH Presidency. President of HSP Djapic-Jurisic, Zvonko Jurisic, stated that his party fully agrees with the BiH Bishops and he added: ‘The election of the BiH Presidency is the least important and HDZ is trying to profit on it while at the same time they (HDZ) sell Croats in BiH and the BiH Bishops noticed it.’ According to Jurisic, the worst parts of the agreement are the BiH Parliament and entity way of voting. RHB – also reported.    

HDZ leader Covic reacts to conclusion of Bishop’s Conference: Read adopted documents before making conclusions; HDZ MPs in HoP would vote in line with HDZ Main Board stance

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘We did nothing against Croats’ by F.V. – Commenting Wednesday’s conclusion of BiH Bishop’s Conference which opposed the agreement on constitutional changes reached by seven BiH political parties, HDZ leader Dragan Covic said: “I think that what we have done is in favour of Croats in BiH, not against them… We have been emigrating for ten years of Dayton [Peace Agreement]. If someone thinks that DPA should stay for another five years, we will totally disappear. The message for all that have different stance is – first read adopted documents before they make conclusions.” OBN current affairs program ‘Telering’ by Mato Djakovic – In an interview to OBN, Covic says that perhaps this was not the best time for the agreement, however adds it has finally opened public debate on the Dayton Peace Accord. Covic believes that BiH HoP would pass agreement emphasizing the HDZ deputies will vote in line with a stance of the HDZ Main Board.  

Oslobodjenje op-ed criticizes Catholic Church for ‘taking role of political party’

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Bishop’s – No!’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – Criticizing Wednesday’s conclusion of BiH Bishop’s Conference which opposed the agreement on constitutional changes, editorial reads that “Catholic Church completely got into practical political issues, taking role of parties, especially of HDZ. It is a devastating truth for cheated and disoriented political being of BiH Croats. This disorientation is confirmed by bishop’s objection that constitutional changes are made without participation and approval of all contractors of Dayton Peace Agreement.” Author concludes that neighbouring countries have no right to interfere with sovereignty of BiH and its Constitution.

VL comment: Opposite stands of BiH Bishops and HDZ President Covic on const. changes divides and confuses Croats

Vecernji List pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Bishops against HDZ, strong differences confused Croats’ by Z. Kresic comments on the constitutional changes agreement and opposite stands of BiH Bishops and HDZ President Dragan Covic, who signed the agreement, when this issue is in question and the author concludes that such opposite stands have divided and confused Croats. The author also says that the worst side of the agreement is ratification of the Dayton Constitution, which defines existence of 2 entities, while on the other side there is just unclear support of the US Administration that the constitutional changes talks would continue after the October elections.

Feral: Continuation of const. changes negotiations after October elections would show whether changes agreed few days ago were good or bad 

Feral ‘Be satisfied’ by Ivan Lovrenovic comments on the constitutional changes agreement and says that after they had signed the agreement political parties’ leaders were competing as to who would praise the compromise more. The author also says that HDZ had just a walk-on role during the negotiations and that HDZ was acting firmness when the least important issue, that is, the way of election of the BiH Presidency, was in question. The author concludes the editorial by saying that the continuation of the constitutional changes talks after the October elections would show whether ‘these partial and insufficient constitutional changes were good and dynamic investment or just embalming of the Dayton corpse’.  

SB: New Croat party ‘HDZ 1990’ to be established; No HDZ parliamentarian will support agreement on const. changes signed by party’s leader Covic

Slobodna Bosna pg 11 ‘These days, Bozo Ljubic is to establish new Croat party in BiH with those like-minded’ by S.M.- Establishment of new Croat political party should be official by the end of this week, as it was agreed at the meeting of the HDZ deputies in the FBiH and the BiH Parliaments held in Hotel ‘Ero’ [Mostar] on March 20. According to the weekly, all HDZ deputies have attended the meeting, where they agreed that they would not support the agreement on constitutional changes signed by HDZ leader Dragan Covic. Former HDZ member Bozo Ljubic, who was expelled from the party following dispute with Covic over elections for party’s leader, chaired the meeting. Party would probably be named ‘HDZ 1990’.

DL op-ed: HDZ Covic’s political career is over

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Church gives up on Covic’, by Marin Topic – the author argues that the political career of the HDZ leader, Dragan Covic, ended after the Catholic bishops in BiH issued a statement in which they opposed to ratification of constitutional changes as agreed by leaders of 7 parties. According to Topic, by signing the changes, Covic has taken the blame for all the sins and stupid moves the HDZ has made in last 12 years, which destroyed the position of the Croats in BiH. The author concludes that whoever is supported by the (Catholic) Church, he/she can count on 200.000 Croat votes, “and that is certainly not Dragan Covic or HDZ”.

SDA Press conference: Proposed const. changes are beneficial for all BiH citizens

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Izetbegovic: Proposed changes are beneficial for all BiH citizens’ by A.Malagic – At their Thursday’s press conference SDA called on BiH citizens to get acquainted with the contents of the proposed constitutional reforms and “see through the groundless critics that certain parties are using irresponsibly for the sake of their pre-election campaign.” SDA Vice President Bakir Izetbegovic said that every new solution within the proposed changes represents progress in comparison to the solutions of the Dayton Peace Agreement “and it represents one or several steps closer towards a single and functional state.” Explaining the details of the agreement on constitutional changes, Izetbegovic noted that it is for benefit of all BiH citizens. Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Closer to unitary state’ by S.R., Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘SDA called on adoption of amendments to BiH COsntitution’ by Agencies  also covered.

SDA Secretary Zukic: SDA will unanimously support const. changes

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Zukic: Unanimous support to amendments’ by A.M. – After Wednesday’s meeting of the SDA Caucus from both houses of BiH Parliament, SDA secretary Amir Zukic announced that SDA will unanimously support the agreement on constitutional changes.

DS leader Vukotic: agreement on const. changes should have been decided on by citizens through referendum

BNTV current affairs program ‘Puls’ by Suzana Radjen Todoric– Harshly criticizing the agreement on constitutional changes, DS [Democratic Party] leader Dusko Vukotic said that this leads toward abolishment of name of the RS entity. He further claims the agreement was “imposed by the International Community and the RS political parties concealed the agreement because it is not in the best interest of their people”. Vukotic argued that RS is losing all of its authorities, while “Croats and Bosniaks haven’t lost anything”. DS points out that the changed accepted excluded the opportunity the RS citizens had to declare through referendum on transfer of competencies, which he believes was the way for changes to be accepted. 

UK PM Blair: EU doors are open for BiH; cooperation with ICTY, reforms of police and PBS are must; BiH is good example of European country with Muslim majority

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘EU will keep its word given to BiH’ by Sead Numanovic – In a page long interview to daily, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed his satisfaction that BiH and other Western Balkan countries made significant progress towards EU during the UK Presidency over EU. Blair said: “EU, I promise you, will keep word it gave. Our doors are open. As soon as BiH is ready to fulfil set criteria, it will progress and turn to another phase of the path.” Stressing importance of police and Public Broadcasting Service [PBS] reforms, he underlined necessity of cooperation with the ICTY: “I agree the [cooperation with the] ICTY is priority of all priorities. Especially because it represents an obstacle for both BiH and SCG in their road towards EU.” Blair welcomed the agreement on constitutional changes in BiH, noting that it will help BiH to strengthen state structures, which is necessary in path to EU. Inset ‘I do not think there is a clash of civilisations’ – Blair said that he does not agree with such remarks that there is an ongoing clash of civilisations. He said: “BiH is a good example of a European country that has Muslim majority. It can show that tolerant, democratic and European Islam is not in disharmony with European traditional values.” Inset ‘Status of Kosovo and Montenegro ’ – Blair noted that issues of Kosovo and Montenegro would not in any case or in any way influence BiH

BiH CoM Chair met British Secretary for Europe : police reform and cooperation with ICTY very important

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Satisfied with constitutional changes’ by N.N. – Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair and British Minister for Europe, Douglas Alexander, Thursday in London expressed satisfaction over agreement political leaders in BiH reached regarding constitutional changes. Terzic believes adoption of amendments will be provided in order to ensure upcoming elections are organised in accordance with the agreement reached. Alexander expressed great interest of Great Britain for successful continuation of work on police reform, stressing that police reform and cooperation with the ICTY are key elements for completion of SAA talks. Terzic and Mladen Ivanic, BH Foreign Minister, attended Tourism Conference on BiH opened in London Thursday. Oslobodjenje pg 2 – also reported.

Supervisor of Brcko District takes measures against corrupt political influence in public employment procedures

RHB, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Corruption crossed the line’ by M. Djurdjevic, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Heads of Sub-divisions were appointed’ by G. G., Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘The Supervisor puts a stop to corruption and connections’ not signed– On Thursday, the Brcko Supervisor Susan Johnson brought decision introducing measures against corruption and political influence in the process of selection of professional public employees. OHR stated the selection process for six heads of subdivisions within the Brcko District Administration revealed a series of irregularities in employment process. Appointing the heads of mentioned subdivisions, Johnson noted the “District government has fostered a culture in which corrupt political influence is routinely exerted in the selection of professional public employees” adding Mayor has failed to prevent such practice. Thus, Johnson ordered that until the adoption of a new law regulating the process, any decision employing any public employee in any capacity whatsoever, passed by the District government or by any individual, must have the prior Supervisor’s consent in writing, or it will be null and void. Also, no further vacancy will be issued without the Supervisor’s written consent.

BiH HoR’s Gligoric confirms initiative on confidence-vote in BiH CoM to be cast at one of upcoming sessions

EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Council on the agenda after all’ by D. S. – SPRS delegate Tihomir Gligoric confirmed HoR will discuss the initiative for casting a confidence-vote in BiH CoM at one of the forthcoming sessions. Gligoric added he got this promise on Thursday during the session of HoR Collegium, and he also said HoR Chairman Nikola Spiric too had promised him this.

BH Dep. Minister of Human Rights confirms Friday’s session of BiH COM will discuss Peljesac bridge and police reform

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Today about construction of Bridge at Peljesac and police reform’ by M.C. – Ivica Marinovic, BH Deputy Minister for Human Rights, has confirmed that the BiH COM will today (Friday) hold a special session and discuss the issues of construction of Peljesac bridge, construction of 5C corridor and functioning of Police Reform Directorate. He explained Thursday’s session of BiH COM did not include discussion on RS PM’s letter, Milorad Dodik (who, inter alia, disputed the election of members of Steering Board Police Reform Directorate).

BiH CoM’s Terzic not aware of new proposals re status of Ploce port

Oslobodjenje pg 8, mentioned on cover, ‘Ploce Port for BiH is not what is Hamburg for Czech Republic’ – Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, stated for daily that he was not aware of any new solutions that the Croatian PM, Ivo Sanader, would offer to BiH regarding the status of Ploce port, as some media suggested. Terzic reckons Sanader should forward any new documents/proposals to the BiH Presidency.

Former SDP Croatia official Tomac: BiH and Croat people are hostages of Anglo-American policy/ Croats would be in even worse position if they agree with const. changes

Dnevni List pg 9, mentioned on cover ‘Croats disappear due to proposed constitutional changes’ by I. Glibusic carries an interview with former SDP Croatia official Zdravko Tomac, who says that BiH and Croat people in BiH are hostages of global interests and conflicts of the Anglo-American policy. He explained that Anglo-Americans who fight in Iraq want to preserve sympathy of some Moslem states and for this reason they do not want to pass anything that would damage the position of Bosniaks. According to Tomac, in order to keep Serbia under control they also have to make some compensation and in this case this is preservation of the RS and creating of the ground for Western Balkan in which Serbia would have a leading role again. Talking about the constitutional changes in BiH, Tomac said that Croats would be in even worse position if they agree with such changes.

War crimes

RSNA condemns BiH lawsuit against SCG as illegal and illegitimate; passed resolution calls on diplomatic solutions

RTRS late news, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Diplomatic solution- before or after the Court ruling’, mentioned on cover by O.V. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ivanic and Paravac are sending complaints to Court in The Hague’ by N.Diklic, Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Urgently to withdraw suit’ by E.G.S., Nezavisne Novine pg4, announced on cover ‘MP’s demand withdrawal of suit’ by V.Popovic, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Against will of Serbs’ inset ‘Suit be settled through diplomatic not court way’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Witnesses Vitomir Popovic and Vladimir Lukic’ not signed–  – Late Thursday night, the RS National Assembly finished the session which also discussed the lawsuit against SCG , which BiH filed before International Court of Justice for aggression and genocide. RSNA deems lawsuit is illegal and illegitimate and passed a resolution with five conclusions. [Note: the third resolution with such conclusion passed in the RSNA on the lawsuit]. RSNA resolution reads that the RSNA is in favour of diplomatic solution of the lawsuit, that lawsuit endangers the principle of constitutionality and equality of people in BH, thirdly, the facts related to start of lawsuit are controversial. Fourth conclusions says that the Serb representatives in BIH institutions should have reacted to the lawsuit and finally, support was given to the evaluation of constitutionality of the lawsuit by the BIH Constitutional Court .

RSNA tasks Foreign Affair Minister and member of BiH Presidency to inform relevant institutions on RSNA conclusion that BiH suit vs. SCG is illegal

RTRS – During the discussion on BiH lawsuit against SCG, RSNA tasked the BiH Presidency Member Borislav Paravac and BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic to inform all relevant institutions, including the International Court of Justice, that the RS Government, RSNA and RS citizens strongly oppose the lawsuit. Addressing the Assembly, Paravac said that he did his best to solve this issue in diplomatic manner and that he asked the BiH Constitutional Court to evaluate constitutionality of the suit, as it “violates BiH Constitution, ignores a will of Serb people and violates principles of equality.” The Deputy Speaker of the BiH House of Peoples, Goran Milojevic, told the RSNA that the lawsuit is illegal and he called on Bosniaks to give up it. He added that putting the lawsuit on the agenda of the BiH Parliament was not possible, because there was no consensus. “Once again, I publicly demand from those who filed this lawsuit to withdraw… it is against the interest of all peoples in BiH”, Milojevic added. Tarik Sadovic, SDA representative in the RSNA believes that lawsuit is legal and legitimate.Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ivanic and Paravac are sending complaints to Court in The Hague’ by N.Diklic – Paravac said: “BiH lawsuit against SCG is the only foreign issue on which there is no consensus. It does not lead towards peace between peoples in our country.”Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Constitutional Court about lawsuit in late March’, by T. Calic – carries Paravacas addressing the RSNA that he has unofficially learned that the BiH Constitutional Court would decide about his initiative at a plenary session scheduled for late March. RHB, PINK, BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Bosniaks showed their cards’ by D. Mo., Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘RSNA again rejected lawsuit’, by B. S.  – also covered the session.

SCG continues defence before ICJ; former RS PM Lukic spoke about relations of former leaders in Belgrade and Banja Luka

Hayat-Serbia and Montenegro continued the presentation of the evidences before the International Court of Justice in The Hague in a case of BiH lawsuit against SCG for aggression and genocide. First defence witness, former RS Prime Minister Vladimir Lukic testified on Thursday. Lukic testified about the relations between political leaders of former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and RS, and the negotiations in Dayton, in which he participated as expert. Lukic stated that official Belgrade has had no influence on official Banja Luka at the time. Former RS Deputy Prime Minister Vitomir Popovic should have also testified on Thursday, about the crimes committed during the war in BiH, as well as the relations between leaders on Pale and in Belgrade. Popovic is currently BiH Ombudsman for Human Rights.  BHT1, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Vitomir Popovic testified’ by BETA – also reported.

Serbian President Tadic: officials embarked diplomatic initiative for prolonging of deadline for Mladic’s arrest

RHB– Serbian President, Boris Tadic, stated that the Serbian PM, Vojislav Kostunica, and SCG Foreign Minister, Vuk Draskovic, had embarked upon diplomatic mission with the aim to delay a deadline for arrest and extradition of Ratko Mladic, currently set for April 5. Tadic notes that initial reactions to the initiative have not been favourable (for SCG authorities). He also assessed that the ICTY has lost credibility in Serbia. BHT1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Obligations toward the Tribunal have to be fulfilled’ by Onasa, EuroBlic pg 3, announced on cover ‘Serbia demands for postponement of deadline for [extradition of] Mladic’ by I. Cvetkovic and Lj. Begenisic, Dnevni Avaz pg 19 ‘Tadic demands extension of deadline for extradition Mladic’ – also covered.

DL: HNC Prosecutor’s Office issued bill of indictment against war crime suspect and former HVO member Dilberovic

Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘New bills of indictment shake Mostar’ by Dn. L. – After the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC) Prosecutor’s Office has issued recently 2 bills of indictment for war crimes committed in prison camp Heliodrom in Mostar, the HNC Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to DL that they also issued the bill of indictment against Jasmin Dilberovic because of grounded suspicion that he committed war crimes in Mostar during the Bosniak-Croat conflict. DL explains that Dilberovic is a Bosniak who was an HVO member during the war.   

Economic, crime and judicial issues

FBiH Govt endorses report on co-capitalization of Energopetrol

Hayat– On Thursday, the FBiH Government adopted a report by the Commission tasked with implementing a tender for co-capitalization of oil company “Energopetrol” Sarajevo. It reads that the issue of mutual debts between this oil company and the FBiH Government needs to be resolved through relevant structures which should enable continuation of negotiations on the co-capitalization with the Austrian-Hungarian MOL-INA Consortium. BHT1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Negotiations with Consortium INA/MOL continue’, mentioned on cover by A.Avdic,Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘FBiH Government decided to continue negotiations with Consortium’ by M.Kukan, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Talks with MOL/INA continue’ by M.Rener, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Energopetrol goes to INA-MOL after all’, by R. D. (NB – article does not specifically mention that INA-MOL would take Energopetrol over), Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘FBIH Government again offers INA/MOL Energopetrol’, by ra– also covered.

NN: PB ES Provisional Administration to demand from Sokolac Basic Court to decision on forcible payment of SDS debt

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Toby Robinson demands seizure of SDS property’ by M.C.-A.S. – Daily learns that Provisional Administration of Privredna Banka East Sarajevo (PBES) will today file a motion with Sokolac Basic Court for forcible payment and seizure of all SDS assets over the debt this party owes to PB ES, amounting to BAM 1.9 million with interest rates. Provisional Administration of PBES Thursday briefly told daily they held a meeting with Dragan Cavic, RS President, on the issue. (NOTE: In June 2005, Provisional Administrator of PB ES Toby Robinson sued SDS and East Sarajevo city over millions debts towards PB ES. Shortly after SDS accounts were blocked.) Collocutor from IC told daily that: “SDS must pay BAM 10 thousand until 2 May from the party account in order to register for the upcoming elections. Also each arty must attach documents proving they owe nothing to the state. The amount cannot be paid from some funds or akin but solely from the party’s account, and SDS account is blocked.” The collocutor also said that Robinson does not intend to de-block SDS account in spite of certain pressures from a part of international community.

Oslobodjenje: FBiH Finance Minister Vrankic wants to put Finance Police under control

Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Vrankic puts Finance Police under control’ by Azhar Kalamujic – Daily carries that FBiH Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic submitted to the FBiH Government the draft Law on cessation of the application of the Law on FBiH Financial Police. The proposal will soon be presented to the FBiH Parliament. Claiming that campaign against the Financial Police is ongoing for seven years now, author alleges that the FBiH Finance Ministry intends to abolish or marginalize the role of Financial Police as supervisory body at all costs, in order to ensure ‘crimes’ committed by the HDZ and SDA officials are not revealed.

CoM Chair Terzic meets EBRD President: Bank wants to invest more in BiH

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘European bank wants to invest more in BiH’ by Sead Numanovic – Commenting his meeting with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development [EBRD] President Jean Lemierre, BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic said: “It is obvious that EBRD invest more and more in BiH… We want to catch up other regional countries. EBRD invest twice as more in Croatia and Bulgaria… We are interested to strengthen our partnership with this institution.” Article carries that EBRD is very interested in the project of gasification of BiH and Croatia , and is willing to take part in talks with Croatian authorities on the issue.

PB ES versus Sase mine: debt still not paid, while Sase violates Court decisions banning it to export mine

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘450 tons of hard lead’ by N.Krsman/J.Sarac/A.Sisic – Daily learns at Provisional Administration of Privredna Banka East Sarajevo (PBES) that although Srebrenica Basic court on 16 March 2006 ruled that Mine of hard lead and zinc Sase Srebrenica is banned to export and sale mine, equipment and machines, this firm on Monday, 20 March, exported around 18 trucks of mine loaded with 450 tons of mine of the US $ 294.796 worth to Serbia. (NOTE: Sase mine owes BAM 2 million to PB ES owing to which reason Provisional Administration of PB ES demanded Court intervention.) The BH Indirect Taxation Administration Thursday stated they banned Sase mine to export mine as soon as it received court decision.

Head of BiH Registry Office Johnson: ‘Sometimes, politicians are in temptation to try to influence court process’

Dnevni List pg 8 ‘There are political pressures exerted against court’ by Justice Report carries an interview with Head of the BiH Registry Office Michael Th. Johnson who would leave BiH soon and who, among the other things, says that there is disagreement among diplomats, politicians and lawyers. He added: ‘Sometimes politicians are in temptation to try to influence the court process.’ Johnson said that there should be a clear explanation that judges are independent from politicians and he believes that the court secures justice to citizens of this country and that it would be successful.  

SB claims RS PM Dodik, NN director Kopanja under threat

Slobodna Bosna pgs 30-34 ‘Dodik in sniper scope of criminals’ by Suzana Sacic – Commenting statements by the RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik in which he stresses the main task of his Government would be the fight against organized crime, article reads that “maybe his intentions were serious, but steps [made] were not because he appointed Stanislav Cadjo for the RS Interior Minister, person without any experience in the police work.” SB carries that after Banja Luka-based daily Nezavisne Novine published series of articles accusing SDS high officials of taking part in organized crime, RS criminal structures were recently preparing an assassination of NN Director Zeljko Kopanja. Article claims that NN only published facts from the investigation carried out by the BiH Prosecution. SB alleges that Kopanja received a death threat, and that the RS police failed to protect him. Instead, FBiH police prevented alleged assassination attempt in Sarajevo on 15 March which was organized by the former RS security official Ljuban Ecim [SB claims he is close ally of Dragan Cavic] and Ferid Okic, who was recently sentenced to 22 years of imprisonment for organized crime by BiH Court but still maintains close relations with his associates through his wife. SB further claims Kopanja asked Dodik to protect him, to which Dodik apparently replayed: “I cannot help you, I myself am in their sniper scope.” Article concludes that Dodik “does not trust his police and accepts to be a hostage of criminals he said he would fight. If that is the case, than politically Dodik is dead even without a fight for he accepted to be a casualty of a farce.”

NN op-ed supportive of RS PM’ fight against organised crime and corruption

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Un-written letter’ by Goran Petrovic – The author notes since he cannot address a letter to RS PM Premier, Milorad Dodik, he will write a column which PM will maybe read. Judging by his 20-year experience in security and intelligence field, the author underlines good and bad sides of the fight against organised crime and corruption, stressing that this is the most important task of each politician, but they seem to approach it unwillingly owing to several reasons. He is supportive of RS PM’s actions aimed against crime and corruption, stressing that if Dodik fulfils pre-election promises he would get even greater support at the upcoming elections – otherwise, the support of citizens will decrease.

Police reform

Police Reform Directorate: Four models for police proposed

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Four possible models of police structure presented’ by Srna– Chair of Police reform Directorate Steering Board Sead Lisak told Srna agency that four models of possible police structures have been proposed during the last meeting. He said that RS Police Director Dragomir Andan proposed preservation of entities and Brcko District Interior Ministries. Other three proposals came from representative of Sarajevo Canton MoI Himzo Selimovic, Brcko District Police Milenko Milicevic and Director of FBiH Police Zlatko Miletic. These proposals are to be discussed and harmonized on the next meeting scheduled for April 5. RTRS – Andan said he expects organization of police in two levels, with preservation of entities’ Ministries of Interior and Brcko District Police. Other three proposals expect unique police structure, which would be organized in two levels- state and local.

SNSD calls on CoM to respect both ethnicity and entity parity in Police Reform Directorate

RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘SUport to demands of RS Govenrment’ by A.S., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Terzic’s tricks’ by D. Mo – SNSD supports the RS Government request for the BiH police reform to be implemented in accordance with the Agreement on police restructuring passed by the RS National Assembly. SNSD expects BiH Council of Ministers to respect both the ethnicity and entity parity in the Police Reform Directorate and to harmonize it with the Agreement, by which – according to the SNSD – foreigners and Brcko District representatives could not be members. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Four possible models of police structure presented’ by Onasa, inset ‘Representatives of Brcko District and foreigners redundant in Directorate’  – also reported.

DL comment: Dodik is undermining joint police, reform returns to square one

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 11 ‘Dodik is ‘destroying’ joint police’, by Zlatko Tulic – commenting on the letter that the RS PM, Milorad Dodik, has sent to the Police Reform Directorate’s Steering Board, in which he questioned the legitimacy of the very Directorate, the author writes that many analysts were right when they said that BiH would find itself in a chaos after (former HR) Paddy Ashdown leaves the country. Tulic explains that Ashdown had spent most of his 4-year tenure in BiH doing ‘political trading’ with SDS leader Dragan Cavic, which eventually ended in the agreement on police reform, which has now, according to Tulic, returned to square one.

UK Ambassador Rycroft supports police reform; Head of EUPM Coppola criticized cooperation of BiH prosecutors with media

Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Weak cooperation with media’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg  8 – UK strongly supports police reform in BiH, which is a precondition for concluding Stabilization and Association Agreement [SAA] with the EU, said UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft at the opening of the EUPM workshop dedicated to the TV show “Nerijesen slucaj”. The Head of EU Police Mission [EUPM], Brigade General Vincenzo Coppola criticized the cooperation of prosecutors from the entire BiH, not only in realization of this show, but generally in their relations with the media. According to him, the EUPM experiences indicate that in times there seems to be reluctance from the prosecutor’s offices to release information to the media in a timely fashion. As a result, the image of the prosecutors with the media is disastrous.

UK PM Blair, Minister for Europe Alexander support police reform; CoM to discuss process on Friday

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘EU will keep its word given to BiH’ by Sead Numanovic – In a page long interview to daily, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair stressed importance of the police reform. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Satisfied with constitutional changes’ by N.N. – Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair and British Minister for Europe, Douglas Alexander, met in London on Thursday. Alexander expressed great interest of Great Britain for successful continuation of work on police reform. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Today about construction of Bridge at Peljesac and police reform’ by M.C. – BiH COM will today (Friday) hold a special session and among toerh things will discuss functioning of Police Reform Directorate.