| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Meron visited Potocari | Reactions Cavic’s speech | Audit of FBiH PIO | Meron visited Potocari |
| BIH Presidency in session | Landmines in BiH | CoE on BiH | Cavic’s statement reaction |
| Mostar budget adopted | Brucellosis in Mostar | Cavic’s public addres | CoE on BiH |
| Cavic’s statement reaction | Bogdanic arrested | Audit of | EC officials in |
| Oslobodjenje | Cavic’s statement means nothing to Srebrenica women; Terrible crime in Srebrenica was planned; Criminals will not avoid justice and verdict of history |
| Dnevni Avaz | Ashdown prepares purge in RS; Employees spend 16,6 million KM; Meron: Everything reminds of horror; Grabovica instead of Dudakovic; CoE demands constitutional changes from BiH |
| Dnevni List | Radicals from SDA and HDZ joining ranks against unification of city of |
| Vecernji List | Assistance to BiH on European way |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | 127 persons sentenced in FBiH and none in RS |
| Glas Srpske | Session of Council of |
| Nezavisne Novine | Reactions on address of RS President Cavic: Historic and courageous speech of Dragan Cavic; ICTY President visited Potocari: Executors of crimes will not avoid justice; Audit at BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Budget wasted on presentations and phone bills; |
| Blic | Support to RS President: Brave, fair, extorted! |
| Vecernje novosti | RS President Dragan Cavic on events in Srebrenica in 1995: Black page of our history |
Follow up to Cavic’s address on Srebrenica | |
| Cavic’s address on Srebrenica events in 1995
| RHB, BHTV1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List, pg 17 ‘Srebrenica a dark page in history of Serb people’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Srebrenica tragedy a dark stain of Serbs in BiH’, not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘Srebrenica a dark Serb page’, by Aleksandar Macanovic, Vecernje novosti, pg. 4 ‘Black page of our history’ mentioned on cover ‘RS President Dragan Cavic on events in Srebrenica in 1995: Black page of our history’by M. Labus – RS President, Dragan Cavic in a TV address to RS citizens broadcast on Tuesday said that crimes committed against Bosniaks in Srebrenica presented a black page in a Serb history. “After all of this as a man and Serb and than as a father, brother and a son I must say that these nine days July of Srebrenica’s tragedy is real black page of history of Serbian people,” Dragan Cavic. [Note: Electronic media broadcast TV address day later, as it was made On Tuesday evening after the news bulletin time] |
| Reactions to Cavic’s address by political parties [SDS, HDZ, SDA, DNS, PDP, SBiH, SDP, SPRS, SDU]
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pgs 4-5 ‘Historic and courageous Cavic’s speech’ – The authority officials and political parties generally welcomed the address of the RS President, Dragan Cavic, regarding it as a historic and courageous act. Sulejman Tihic, SDA President, is of the view that Cavic’s statement represents a good course on the path of reconciliation. He said: “This is the first time a senior official from RS of Serb nationality gave such a statement.” Beriz Belkic, Party for BiH, is of the view that this “is the beginning of turning point in approach towards the facts related to Srebrenica developments in July 1995.” He added: “I hope Cavic understands a great obligation now rests with him to see this recognition implemented in practise.” Krstan Simic, SNSD, stated that the view his party has towards the crimes committed in Srebrenica is well-known, adding that coalition in RS does not have enough strength to face this problem. Ivan Madunic, HDZ, also welcomed Cavic’s statement, stressing that: “It is good to hear such thing, even nine years after those events took place.” Svetozar Pudaric, SDP of BiH, assessed that: “Acceptance of report and Cavic’s public address have their daily political purposes either to simulate or to exert pressure against public in RS, and also international community, in order to see the arrest of Radovan Karadzic or Ratko Mladic.” Tihomir Gligoric, SP RS, yesterday assessed that President Cavic has practically already announced previously he would make a public address regarding Srebrenica Commission Report, stressing that: “He spoke in a realistic manner and on the basis of facts.” Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘It is not possible to hide from crime’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘The first step towards facing mass crimes’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ashdown: Serbs understood that criminals are not national heroes but the worst kind’ by Aj. D. – SDU leader Miro Lazovic said that Cavic’s address proved that the road to truth is slow, but reachable. Presidency member, Borislav Paravac believes that nothing can be hidden and that nobody can run away from anything: “Every crime must be revealed regardless to the side [it was committed by], as only that leads towards the reconciliation. Crimes were committed on all sides, and I am in favour of discovering all. The crime has no ethnicity.” Blic, pg. RS2 ‘Brave and fair’ by Marija Jandric mentioned on cover ‘Support to RS President: Brave, fair, extorted!’, inset ‘PDP: Cavic will not be alone’ not signedNevenka Trifkovic, PDP, expressed expectation of PDP that the act of RS President would not be a single case, as well as that representatives of other peoples in BiH and region would have enough responsibility, determination and strength to reach the truth on sufferings of Serb people. She said that by having made a public address regarding Srebrenica development, Cavic has shown he is much more courageous than other, without making any exact reference to anybody. BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Follow German example’– “Statement by Dragan Cavic is one of the most positive statements made since Dayton,” commented Seada Palavric from SDA. RTRS – Milorad Dodik, leader of SNSD, commented that TV address shows tragic politics of SDS, which participated or politically stood behind the events. Blic, pg. RS2 ‘Brave and fair’ by Marija Jandric mentioned on cover ‘Support to RS President: Brave, fair, extorted!’, inset ‘SDS too is taking a stance’ not signed – SDS Spokesperson Dusan Stojicic announced that the party would hold a session later the same day, at which it should take a stance regarding the statement of Dragan Cavic. No person from the party wanted to reveal details on what “taking a stance” actually means, since Dragan Cavic gave the statement as the RS President and not as an official of SDS. |
| Reaction by Ashdown
| RHB, BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ashdown: Serbs understood that criminals are not national heroes but the worst kind’ by Aj. D., Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Historic moment’,Dnevni List, pg 17 ‘Dragan Cavic was not being pressured’, not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘OHR: Historic moment’, not signed, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Cavic’s historic move’ Blic, pg. RS2 ‘Brave and fair’ by Marija Jandric mentioned on cover ‘Support to RS President: Brave, fair, extorted!’, Vecernje novosti, pg. 4 ‘Black page of our history’ by M. Labus mentioned on cover ‘RS President Dragan Cavic on events in Srebrenica in 1995: Black page of our history’- High Representative BiH Paddy Ashdown assessed statement by RS President Dragan Cavic regarding the crimes committed in Srebrenica as a “potentially historical moment“. Ashdown’s said that Cavic’s statement was a potentially historical moment – the moment when Serbs in BiH face the crimes committed in their name and admit that the people who committed these crimes are not national heroes but the worst sort of criminals who ashamed the Serb people and for that they must face justice in The Hague. RTRS – OHR did not exert any kind of pressure on the president of the RS, Dragan Cavic, in connection with his public statement in light of the report of the commission for investigating events in Srebrenica, stated OHR spokesman Vedran Persic. |
| Reaction by EC, OSCE
| RTRS, RHB, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘EU welcomes statement on crimes in Srebrenica’, by bs– European Union has welcomed the courageous statement by RS President Dragan Cavic about the events that occurred in Srebrenica in July 1995, but declares that it is also necessary to make the results in RS cooperation with the Hague Tribunal visible, said the Director of the EC General Directorate for Foreign Relations, Reinhard Priebe. “There are certain steps ahead in the cooperation of RS with ICTY, but it is necessary to have concrete results”, Priebe stressed, reiterating that this is one of the conditions that must be met for the purpose of opening the negotiations on Stabilization and Association with the EU. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Dealing with past is the only way for BiH to move forward’ by Fena, Nezavisne Novine cover and pgs 4-5 ‘Historic and courageous Cavic’s speech’ – Michael Humphreys, Head of EC delegation to BiH, said on Wednesday that: “President is correct in saying that guilt should not be regarded as collective, because all criminals have name and surname.” Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Dragan Cavic’s speech a chance for reconciliation’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Cavic’s historic move’ – Robert Beecroft, Head of OSCE Mission to BiH, said that Cavic’s statement is of great importance. |
| Reaction by ICTY
| Vecernje novosti, pg. 4 ‘Black page of our history’ by M. Labus mentioned on cover ‘RS President Dragan Cavic on events in Srebrenica in 1995: Black page of our history’ ‘Message from the Hague’ – It is up to RS authority, since they have admitted in public that murder of thousands of Muslims in Srebrenica did happen, to undertake concrete measures in order to arrest Radovan Karadzic and others who are accused of this crime, as representatives of the Hague Tribunal stated yesterday. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Now, it is time to arrest Karadzic’ – Asked whether Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte still believes that Karadzic would be arrested by 29 June, her spokeswoman Florence Hartmann says that Del Ponte believes that all war crimes suspects would be arrested: “For someone indicted in 1995, arrest next week would be too late. RS authorities publicly and openly admitted that this crime happened and now they have to undertake concrete steps,” says Hartman. Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Dragan Cavic’s speech a chance for reconciliation’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Cavic’s historic move’ – Robert Beecroft, Head of OSCE Mission to BiH, said that Cavic’s statement is of great importance.Theodore Meron, ICTY President, said that it is unacceptable that RS authorities have not still arrested war crimes suspects. Florence Hartmann,Spokesperson of ICTY Chief Prosecutor, yesterday stated that Prosecutor’s Office would use some pieces from Srebrenica Commission Report in some cases. |
| Reactions to Cavic’s address by Masovic, Subasic, RS citizens
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pgs 4-5 ‘Historic and courageous Cavic’s speech’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘I want to believe that Cavic experienced personal catharsis” by E. Sarac – Chairman of FBiH Missing Persons Commission, Amor Masovic, says he is very surprised with Cavic’s statement wondering what has caused it, adding that he wants to believe that Cavic experiences personal catharsis. He also says that he was not aware of the source of information mentioned by Cavic that 1.706 Serbs were killed in Srebrenica region. Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Cavic’s statement means nothing to Srebrenica women’ – The Chairwoman of the Association Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa enclaves, Munira Subasic, believes that Cavici’s statement was of “political character, and not the statement of true repentant.” She added that he had to say all due to pressure. BHTV 1, Blic, pg. RS2 ‘Brave and fair’ by Marija Jandric mentioned on cover ‘Support to RS President: Brave, fair, extorted!’ – RS citizens think that crimes should be admitted, but they think that not only Serb people should be held responsible for crimes committed during the war. They think that admitting crimes is a ‘great step forward’ but they also think the main reason for Cavic’s statement was the forthcoming NATO Summit that gives BiH a hope that it will be admitted to PFP, and such moves are setting conditions to RS. |
| Int with Srebrenica Commission member, Gordon Bacon
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Terrible crime in Srebrenica planned’, mentioned on cover by Asaf Becirovic – In an interview to Oslobodjenje, international member of the Srebrenica Commisison, Gordon Bacon, says that most of the people in RS have not been aware of events in Srebrenica in July 1995, adding that that will change drastically now that there are evidences. Answering the comment by the journalist that Serb members in the commission managed to exclude work genocide from report conclusions, Bacon says: “It is important that the report says at several places that thousands of Bosniaks were liquidated, that there was a large crime committed violating the international humanitarian law.” Bacon adds that the members of the Commission worked remarkably well together and that there were no many disputes among its members. |
| Op-eds on Cavic’s statement
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Uncompleted Cavic’s statement’ by Sead Numanovic – Editorial refers to Cavic’s statement on Srebrenica, saying that despite the fact that the Cavic said he was shocked with Srebrenica Commission report “that however not enough for Cavic to murmur apology, and not to mention asking for forgiveness.” Author says that at first glace his statement may seem courageous, however is it brings nothing new “it losses its important and it comes to daily political move with unclear background… Nevertheless, actions are needed more then words.” Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Darkness of history’ by Gojko Beric – On Cavic’s statement, author says: “With this political discourse with a religious touch Dragan Cavic signed moral disqualification of war criminals of Serb nationality. He did not spare even RS institutions… Everybody is clear that [Cavic address] was forced by unbearable burden of terrible truth and strong pressure coming from IC.” However, author says it is impossible that Cavic was not aware of Srebrenica events. He further accuses Cavic for being a part of establishment that kept quite about these crimes. Adding that Cavic noted that 20.000 Serbs died in the war “ honourably fighting for RS”, author reminds that such honourable fight was lead by Karadzic and Mladic. |
Other war crimes issues | |
| Meron visits Potocari
| BHTV 1, RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Criminals will not avoid justice and verdict of history’, mentioned on cover, by Sakib Smajlovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Meron paid respect to Srebrenica victims’, mentioned on cover ‘Meron: Everything reminds of horror’ by A. Hadzic, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Special ICTY Department in BiH by mid 2005’ not signed and Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Real truth about Srebrenica is necessary’ by E. Me. – President of the Hague tribunal Theodor Meron on Wednesday visited the Potocari Memorial Centre and paid his respects to the victims of the war crimes committed in Srebrenica. Meron also met with representatives of the Srebrenica-Potocari Foundation and association Mothers of Srebrenica. Meron said that genocide is the right name for the crimes committed in Srebrenica, since the Serb military leadership aimed to liquidate certain groups of Srebrenica Bosniaks because of their identity and ethnicity. He called on the BiH authorities, especially the RS, to cooperate with ICTY and arrest war criminals, adding that the report of the Srebrenica commission gives hope and optimism that full truth is to be discovered about those who committed these crimes. RTRS – “[ICTY Appeal Council] has established that some members of the Bosnian Serb army had genocide intention against Bosnian Muslims who seeks heaven in Srebrenica enclave… As a target for extermination they had 40 000 of Bosnian Muslims living in Srebrenica, the group that symbolically represents Bosnian Muslims in general” said Meron. The president of the ICTY invited BiH authorities to cooperate: “It is simply unacceptable for RS authorities to still have persons accused by the ICTY at their territory. It is high time for RS to stop the tradition of non-cooperation and obstructing the lawful authorities”. FTV – “Those who committed crimes in Srebrenica won’t run away from Court of Justice,” said Meron. |
| SBS arrests war crimes suspect from
| RHB, BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Miroslav Bogdanovic arrested’, Blic, pg. RS9 ‘Serb was arrested upon Interpol’s wanted warrant’ by J. D. – Savo Strbac, the Head of Documentation and Information Centre “Veritas”, said that the State Border Service at Raca border crossing point arrested Miroslav Bogdanovic yesterday in the morning. |
| Ashdown on BiH lawsuit against SCG
| BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Process in the Hague is a matter of BiH Foreign Affairs’ – Answering to the letter sent by a number of RS politicians opposing to the BiH lawsuit against Serbia and Montenegro for aggression and genocide and which called him to reconsider legality of the lawsuit, the High Reperesentative Paddy Ashdown underlined that the issue of lawsuit was a matter of BiH foreign policies and affairs. |
| Update to BiH Law suit
| Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Statements on illegitimacy of BiH lawsuit against Serbia and Montenegro are not grounded’ by E. Mackic – Commenting on the statements of Deputy Chairman of the Houses of Representatives of the BiH Parliament Nikola Spiric and other RS high-ranked officials who say that the BiH lawsuit against Serbia and Montenegro is not legitimate and contrary to the BiH’s efforts to join European processes as soon as possible, BiH legal representative in the BiH’s lawsuit against SCiG Sakib Softic stated that in 1997 former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia submitted preliminary objections on the lawsuit that BiH filed against FRY in 1993. Softic added that the ICTY discussed and rejected these objections. Softic added that this lawsuit does not influence the future membership of BiH in the European integration in any way. |
| ICTY: Karadzic arrest is just a matter of time | Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Arrest of Karadzic is a matter of time’ – Christian Chertier, Head of ICTY Information Department, stated that Radovan Karadzic “will surely be arrested, and this is just a matter of time”. He yesterday again called on RS authorities to fulfil its international obligations and arrest and extradite war crime suspects. According to NN inset, Florence Hartmann, Spokesperson of ICTY Prosecutor, confirmed that the Hague Tribunal has received the archive with 16 boxes with documentation on police role in period from 1992 to 1998. |
Political issues | |
| CoE adopts 2 resolutions on BiH stressing need to change BiH Constitution
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Opening of Pandora’s box’; Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Slow progress of BiH’, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘BiH fulfills all major obligations since joining Council of Europe’, mentioned on cover, by NINA – The Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe, which adopted resolutions on situation in BiH on Wednesday, welcomed the secure, albeit slow progress towards functional democracy and State. CoE notes an improved functioning of institutions at State level, stressing that BiH has fulfilled all the major post-accession obligations. However, it was stressed that the progress has been achieved often due to the pressure from the international community. RTRS, FTV – The Council of Europe also invited RS to fully cooperate with ICTY. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘CoE demands changes to BiH constitution’, mentioned on cover, by E. Huremovic – Chief of the BiH Parliament Delegation to the Council of Europe, Elmir Jahic stated that CoE Parliament underlined that the BiH constitutional structure is extremely complicated and contradictory, and that it cannot provide for efficient functioning of the state in the long-term. The CoE Parliamentary Assembly called on the domestic authorities and political forces in the country to launch a constructive dialogue on the subject of constitutional reforms. The Parliamentary Assembly requested from the Venice Commission to conduct an objective analysis of the BiH Constitution, especially in regard to its harmonization with the CoE principles, primarily the Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. “For the first time we have a recommendation from an international organization on the need for conducting constitutional reforms”, said Jahic. There was also a request for that BiH authorities swiftly pass the legislation on public broadcasting, in accord with the relevant European standards. Blic, pg. RS1 ‘Everything concerns the Hague’ by N. B., T. V., SRNA – The article carries the inset ‘Criticism of authorization’ – A Bulgarian delegate and member of the Political Committee of the Council of Europe, Evgenij Krilov, criticized the principle of functioning of OHR in BiH. He pointed out that the authorization of the High Representative to bring decisions without a possibility for anyone to dispute them was not in accordance with democratic principles. Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘CoE demands change of BiH Constitution’ – Oslobodjenje writes that CoE Parliamentary Assembyl also invited Paddy Ashdown to continue with the trend of decreasing a number of laws imposed by him and, “especially to halt with practice to dismisses election officials from their positions.” |
| DA claims Ashdown to dismiss at least 10 politicians in RS if BiH fails to join PfP
| Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Ashdown prepares big purge in RS’, pg 2 ‘Ashdown dismisses politicians in RS’ by S. Numanovic – DA writes that OHR currently works on a set of measures to follow NATO summit in Istanbul where most probably BiH will not be admitted to PfP. DA learns that Paddy Ashdown’s cabinet considers a number of options, which will certainly include dismissals of at least 10 people in RS authorities. DA says that the sanctions will be gradually intensified [alike in the case of Srebrenica Commission] leading to the arrest of Radovan Karadzic. According to DA, OHR considers the set of measures that will ensure full cooperation of RS with ICTY. Parallel to that, a list of officials that could be dismissed is being prepared. These could include RS Interior Minister Zoran Djeric, and Avaz learns that Mladen Ivanic announced he would resign from the position of BiH Foreign Minister in that case. “It is also to expect several dismissals of SDS leaders. Any mention of some names in this context is risky as the list keeps changing, however it is possible to say with certainty that some local power-wielders in Doboj, Zvornik and Visegrad could ‘pay’,” concludes the article |
| EC officials in
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Arrest of war crime suspects of crucial importance for admission into EU; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘To Brussels via The Hague’ – Yesterday in Banja Luka, officials of European Union, Reinhardt Priebe, Director of General Directorate of EC for Foreign Affairs,and Head of EC delegation to BiH, Michael Humphreys, reiterated that cooperation with ICTY is one of the conditions that must be met for the purpose of opening the negotiations on Stabilization and Association with the EU. The officials of the European Commission saluted braveness of BiH and reforms, which BiH carries out. But for joining to EU BiH must adopt 16 more law, otherwise BiH will wait for a long time for joining to EU. Until today BiH Ministry Council adopted 31 from 44 laws, which adopting is condition for the start of negotiations with EU. Priebe also said: “These are very serious reforms and successful in work of 16 points will open doors for starting the negotiations for joining to EU.” He could not give the exact date when negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement, stressing that BiH can fulfil all 16 pre-requisites by the end of this year, because there are “technical possibilities and political conditions” of which the most important one is the cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. |
| Mostar budget adopted
| RHB, Dnevni List pg 14 ‘Less funds for Mostar administration’, mentioned on cover, by V. Soldo, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Mostar budget adopted’ by f and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘Mostar: City budget adopted’ by M. Landeka – The Mostar City Council adopted the Mostar City budget yesterday. Mostar Deputy Mayor Ljubo Beslic stated that after the Mostar Statute was passed the adoption of the Mostar budget is the most significant message of the unification of Mostar. Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Institutions that are not united by the end of August will be sanctioned’ by F. Vele – DA writes that all institutions that do not carry out unification by the end of August will be sanctions. RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Adoption of budget a step forward’, Dnevni List pg 14 ‘Adoption of Mostar City budget a step ahead in the process of reunification of the city’ by NINA – Commenting on the adoption of the Mostar City budget, High Representative Paddy Ashdown stated: “I see the adoption of the Mostar City budget as a step ahead in the process of reunification of the city and as an important step in restructuring of many city institutions.” |
| DL on SDA, HDZ radicals
| Dnevni List, front and pg 9 ‘Radicals from SDA and HDZ joining ranks against unification of city of Mostar’, by Zvonimir Jukic – learns from an anonymous source that city boards of HDZ and SDA are being split into two factions respectively, of which one is in favour of implementation of the new City Statute, the other against it. DL’s source, allegedly close to Miroslav Coric, Ljubo Beslic and Josip Merdzo of HDZ, reveals that Coric, Merdzo and Beslic are leading the group in favour of implementation of the Statute, whilst the other group is led by Goran Bilic, a former Interior Minister of |
Defence issues | |
| Appointments of generals
| RHB, BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Hajrudin Grabovica comes to the position of Atif Dudakovic’, mentioned on cover ‘Grabovica instead of Dudakovic’ by M. Kukan, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 23 ‘Hajrudin Grabovica the joint commander’, by B. Kristo, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Grabovica and Brdar instead of Dudakovic and Zeko’, by Dejan Jazvic, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Hajrudin Grabovica and Novak Djukic leading entity armies’, by E. M., Blic, pg. RS4 ‘Six new generals were nominated’ by J. D. – The BiH Presidency, at its session held Wednesday, determined a proposal of officers for generals’ positions in the FBiH and RS armies. According to the Serb member of BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac, brigadier Hajrudin Grabovica is nominated for the duty of commander of Joint HQ of FBiH Army, whilst colonel Jugoslav Brdar has been nominated as his deputy. When it comes to the RS Army, Major General Novak Djukic has been nominated for the chief of RS Army’s Main HQ. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘No obstacles to Podzic’s appointment’ – As for appointment of Sifet Podzic to the position of BiH Armed Forces Commander, Sefik Dzaferovic, informed the BiH joint Security Commission that based on documents it is clear that Dzaferovic uses his own apartment, and that there were no obstacles for his appointment [note: Serb representatives in BiH parliament objected his appointment as he apparently illegally uses property of a former JNA officer] Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘General positions in entities armies distributed’, mentioned on cover ‘General positions distributed’, by A. Omeragic – Paravac refused to comment whether BiH Presidency will request another candidate to the position of the Commander of the BiH Armed Forces Joint Command, instead of Sifet Podzic. RTRS – “[BiH Minister of Defence Nikola] Radovanic should check and see on which valid documentation suggested general Sifet Podzic uses the apartment, and that should not be an obstacle. I think that will be solved”, said Paravac. |
| BiH Presidency accepts invitation for attend NATO summit
| RTRS, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Grabovica and Brdar instead of Dudakovic and Zeko’, by Dejan Jazvic, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘EUROFOR instead of SFOR’, not signed – The BiH Presidency accepted an invitation to take part in the Istanbul NATO Summit on June 29. BiH’s delegation will be led by the Chairman of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, and will also include Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic, Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic, and Security Minister Barisa Colak. According to the Serb member of BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac, it is expected that the change of SFOR with EU troops will be the main topic on the agenda. VL quotes Paravac as saying: “I expect that BiH could be joining the Partnership for Peace programme by end of year”. |
| OHR on Mikerevic statement
| Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘RS responsible for BiH not joining’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘BiH will not join PfP because of RS’ by Fena – The failure of BiH to join the Partnership for Peace will be a result of Republika Srpska’s failure to arrest war crime indictees, said OHR. “Mr [RS Prime Minister Dragan] Mikerevic’s reported statement that BiH will not get in to PfP because it is being held back by Serbia-Montenegro is wrong. If BiH does not join PfP next week, it will be because the RS authorities have failed to uphold BiH’s international obligations towards the ICTY. The time for further excuses is over: it is now time for the RS to act,” OHR spokesman Oleg Milisic said in a written statement. |
| Radovanovic meets UK Defence Minister Ingram
| RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘The attitude on war crimes is clear’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Takeover of mission must not create security vacuum’ by D. Polovina-Mandic and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 23 ‘British General to be Head of EUFOR in BiH’ by H – British Defence Minister Adam Ingram visited the BiH Defence Ministry where he talked with the BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic. The main topic of this meeting was the replacement of SFOR’s forces with the EU forces and with regard to this issue Radovanovic stated: “First of all, we are expecting from the coming of the EU forces that it will not create any kind of the security vacuum. At the same time we are expecting to take part in the complete process of preparations and planning of the future EU engagement and to talk from the very beginning about the way that BiH will look like when peace forces leave BiH.” |
| Covic on admission to PfP
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 19 ‘We are not joining Partnership for Peace at Istanbul’, by A. Macanovic – The Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, stated in Banja Luka that it was evident that BiH would not be joining the Partnership for Peace at the NATO Summit in Istanbul. Covic noted that until a few months ago, the arrest of war criminals was not a pre-requisite for joining the PfP, adding that the whole issue was used to show the cooperation with the ICTY or lack of it. Still, Covic believes BiH will join the PfP before end of 2004. |
Economic issues | |
| FTV claims FBiH PIO embezzled 174 million KM
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘PIO FBiH embezzled 174 million KM’ – According to FTV, FBiH adutirs stated in their report that Pensions-Disability Fund of FBiH [PIO] for working period from 2001 to 2003 has concluded that “irresponsible persons” have spent about 174 million KM. FTV says that embezzlement was realized through ‘compensation’ carried out during the Edhem Bicakcic government. Other persons apparently involved in this spending are current FBiH Finance minister Dragan Vrankic, former prime minister Alija Behmen, temporary director of PIO Mostar office Mato Matic, and Mihailo Butigan deputy of finance minister in HNK Govt. Dnevni AVaz pg 13 ‘About 1000 employees spend about 16.6 million KM’, mentioned on cover, by A. Hadziarapovic – DA gives details of some of the misuses of funds and office by FBiH PIO employees in total amount of 16.6 million KM. |
| Ivanic meets Austrian Foreign Minister
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Austrian wants to help’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘BiH has 1,8 million Euros of assistance at its disposal’, mentioned on cover, by D. Polovina- Mandic and Vecernji List front pg ‘Assistance to BiH on European way’ and pg 3 ‘We shall help BiH on way to EU’ by E. Medunjanin – BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic received yesterday Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Ivanic stated that Austria is among the BiH most important partners when investments in BiH are in question. Ferrero-Waldner stated that so far Austria has invested 500 million Euros in BiH and within their assistance planned for this year BiH will have at its disposal 1,8 million Euros. Ivanic also stated that at the end of August competent BiH authorities will demand the EC judgment on the things that have been done with regard to the Feasibility Study. Ivanic added that in case that the EC response is a satisfactory one then BiH can expect negotiations on stabilization and accession. |
| Update to Eronet
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘They want to share Eronet with Federation’, mentioned on cover, by A. Omeragic, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘HT Mostar disputes sale of Eronet’s majority shares’ by F. Vele, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘HT Zagreb yet to receive offer for Eronet’, mentioned on cover, by Zoran Kresic – The ‘HT Zagreb’, which has the right to pre-emption when it comes to purchase of shares in ‘Eronet’, is yet to receive an offer from the Provisional Administrator for Hercegovacka bank, Alpina Komerc and Municipality of Grude, which earlier offered their shares in ‘Eronet’ to ‘Mobilkom Austria’ for 24 million Euros. ‘HT Zagreb’s’ representative, Marjan Jurleka, says HT Zagreb is yet to receive the offer. |
| Audit of BiH Foreign Ministry
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘Budget wasted on presentations and phone bills’ – Although Audit Report on dealings at BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs during 2003 was not assessed as negative, auditors have not observed any progress made in the work of this Ministry, whose budget amounts to BAM 38 million. Basic omissions refer to internal control, non-updated accounting, irregularities in financial dealings, diplomatic and consular missions, uneconomic dealings and uncertainty of court suits. |
| RS Government on internal debt
| RTRS, Blic, pg. RS9 ‘Both cash and bonds’ by T. Veselinovic – RS Government on Wednesday defined draft Law on determining amount and ways of payment of internal debt, which amounts 1,761 billion KM. The Government forwarded the draft to RS NA to discuss it in an urgent procedure. The draft foresees payments in cash and bonds. |
| Ashdown writes to ITA Director on appointments
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Revised appointments in the Indirect Taxation Authority’ by S.N. – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown sent a letter to ITA Director Kemal Causevic stating that he revised appointments made in the Authority. Ashdown also stresses he is worried that there was an agreement reached between parties at power to select and appoint a number of operative leaders in ITA. “In this context I ask from you to ensure the beginning of the employment process for these positions, which will not be a subject to the political pressures and which will be carried out in a transparent way, fully respecting principles of qualifications and experience of the candidates,” reads the letter. In accordance with this, Ashdown informed Causevic he will conduct revision on of the candidates list forwarded to ITA by the State Civil Agency to order to ensure respect of the mentioned principles.” Causevic comments for DA that he was aware of the fact that OHR carries out vetting procedures for candidates, adding that he believes that some candidates will not be favoured by OHR. |
| Re-audit at RS Elektroprivreda
| Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘International auditors again at “RS Elektroprivreda” – OSCE Sarajevo yesterday confirmed that the team of the Special International Auditor is again inspecting the dealings of “RS Elektroprivreda”. Zinaida Delic, OSCE Spokesperson, yesterday stated that this new inspection should not be a surprise to anybody, since it is a part of constant and permanent process of special auditor. |