OHR BiH Media Round-up, 25/11/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK  (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Snow caused problems

SAA negotiations open on Friday

McNair on additional indictments

Start of SAA negotiations

Davidovic on opening of SAA

Tihic re RS name

Solana at DA discussion

Jovic on Washington mtg.

Paravac on Tihic’s request re RS

Ivanic on SAA negotiations

Stojicic on Washington mtg.

Rycroft on Constitutional changes

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Tihic on name- RS

Reception at BIH Presidency

Davidovic on SAA team

Ceremony in BiH Presidency

Conference on ZAVNOBIH

RS Government vs. Zepter company

Academy on Statehood Day

Tihic re RS name

OHR on Cenic’s letter

Holidays in FBiH and RS

FBIH re Aluminij power supplies

Indictment vs. RS SP Chair Djokic

Oslobodjenje

BiH today officially starts talks with EU

Dnevni Avaz

Donald Hays: Discussion on entities in the next phase

Dnevni List

(Technical) Talks to start only next year

Vecernji List

CIA interrogated Islamic radicals, Serb generals (in a secret base near Tuzla)

Nezavisne Novine

BiH starts talks with EU

Glas Srpske

Feature story on a man from Derventa (burial of his missing family members)

SAA Talks/Reforms

BiH talks on SAA with EU to be officially opened today

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 5 ‘BiH today officially starts talks with EU’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, Dnevni List cover page, pg 3 ‘Talks to start only next year’, Nezavisne Novine cover page, pg 3 ‘BiH starts talks with EU’ – Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic will be the host on Friday of official opening of negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. The official talks opening ceremony will start in the great hall of BIH Parliament in Sarajevo. Participants of the event will be addressed by EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, as well as British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft and Terzic. Oslobodjenje quotes Deputy EC Haed of Mission to BiH Renzo Daviddi as saying that the draft SAA will be prepared in a few weeks when the so called technical talks will formally begin.

EC office in Sarajevo confirms start of SAA talks

RHB – European Commission office in Sarajevo has confirmed that BIH starts negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement on Friday. EC spokesman Frane Maroevic stated for HB radio EU Enlargement Commissioner Oli Rehn will arrive in BIH on Friday in order to officially start the negotiations. Maroevic also stated that EC stressed that BIH must continue to work on police reform, PBS reform as well as improve its cooperation with ICTY.

British Ambassador Rycroft says constitutional changes not condition for SAA talks

BHT Gvozden Sarac – UK Ambassador Mathew Rycroft stated for BHT 1 that Constitutional changes are not set as the condition for starting negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement with EU. “Constitutional changes are not set as condition but they would accelerate the progress of negotiations. On the other hand, cooperation with ICTY and police reform are set as obligatory conditions for SAA talks” added Rycroft. Director of BiH Directorate for European Integration, Osman Topcagicstated that start on the SAA talks will be formally opened at the ceremony of marking the BIH’s Sovereignty Day on Friday but that first technical meeting will be scheduled for January. The spokesperson for the Delegation of the European Commission in BiH, Frane Maroevic , stated that the contract between EU and BIH will be mainly concentrated on trade and economy.

Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘First step on the road to Europe’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 carried a Rycroft’s open letter to BiH’s citizens regarding the start of SAA talks.

Ivanic hopes BiH will soon have strategy for talks with EU

RHB, Pink, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 – BIH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic stated in Banja Luka that start of negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement will be officially marked in Sarajevo on Friday. Ivanic believes that BIH negotiating strategy will be prepared soon. Commenting on constitutional changes talks, Ivanic emphasised that only what was published in the public was signed in Washington , rejecting speculations that anything else was signed.

EU’s Solana to visit Sarajevo on December 5

RHB, Pink, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 – EU High Representative for security policy Javier Solana will participate in public discussion on Dayton Agreement that will be held in Brussels on Friday. Solana is also to announce his trip to Sarajevo planned for 5 December.

Chief Negotiator Davidovic says negotiating team to include professionals fully understanding the matter

Pink, RTRS – BiH Chief negotiator with the EU on SAA negotiations, Igor Davidovic said that opening of SAA negotiations on Friday, even though it has only ceremonial character, is a great event for our country. Davidovic confirmed that intensive activities on establishment of BiH negotiating team, are ongoing, adding that this team should be in its full capacity in next ten days. Davidovic emphasised that members of negotiating team will be highly qualified people, professionals who understand the matter and who know what kind of analyses will be necessary.

Hayat: Brussels expected more than promises

Hayat – Official Brussels is pronouncedly sustained in reaction to the agreement that BiH political leaders made in Washington. Official Brussels is expecting more then promises, they expect concrete steps in adjusting of BiH to demands of integration process. Editor commented that officials in Brussels probably learned from experience, because of what they haven’t rushed into commenting of this agreement. To prove his point Editor emphasised that Office of EU High Representative Javier Solana instead of a comment gave a promise that this agreement will be carefully studied, taking into consideration needs on one side and measures whose implementation is possible till given deadline on the other.

HDZ BiH leadership discussing constitutional changes

RHB – HDZ BiH leadership session started in Sarajevo on Thursday. HDZ announced that it will discuss discussion on constitutional changes in BIH, report on activities related to improvement of cooperation with European national party as well as changes to BIH election law. 

Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘HDZ expected more from Washington talks’ – After the session of the HDZ Presidency, HDZ leader Dragan Covic said that the party had expected more from Washington talks on constitutional changes.

Ivo Miro Jovic: Croat people in BiH will not accept cosmetic changes

RHB, Pink, Hayat, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 –  – BIH Presidency President Ivo Miro Jovic stated that Croat people in BIH will not accept cosmetic changes to BIH Constitution. He added that BIH Constitution has to be changed thoroughly.

NN interview with SDA leader Tihic: The easiest would be to draft new Constitution

Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘The easiest would be to draft new Constitution’ – In an interview with the daily, Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency and SDA leader Sulejman Tihic said that the easier way of carrying out constitutional changes in BiH would be to make a totally new Constitution than to correct or amend the existing one.   

RS President Cavic: Constitutional changes must be agreed not imposed

Pink, Hayat, RTRS – RS President Dragan Cavic says that he is not dissatisfied with negotiations on constitutional changes in BiH, but he considers that all changes has to be agreed on and accepted by all, without imposing. Speaking for BiH press, Cavic rejected all speculations regarding the abolishment of Entities and considers it realistic that establishment of BiH Presidency with one President and two Vice- Presidents, who would rotate in four year mandate (16 months each), will be agreed by political leaders till end of the March. Cavic advocate for remaining of BiH CoM, which in its character should be the Government and added that it was agreed that number of Ministries will increase, which comprehends Ministry of Agriculture and establishment of Ministry, which would coordinate economic issues.

RSNA Speaker Stojicic: Constitutional changes matter for domestic authorities

Pink – RSNA Speaker Dusan Stojicic stated that negotiations in Brussels and Washington have shown that matter of constitutional changes in BiH is something that domestic politicians and institutions have to deal with and that no one from aside has will to write new constitution or amendments. Stojicic emphasised that process of adjusting of BiH Institutions to EU standards reflects in the fact that several issues are to be agreed with the Council of Ministers, BiH Presidency and BiH Parliament till the March, what was accepted by the statement signed in Washington.

Donald Hays: Major changes to the BiH Constitution only to follow

Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 5 ‘Discussion on entities in the next phase’ – In an interview with the daily, Coordinator of talks on constitutional reforms in BiH on behalf of the US Institute for Peace Donald hays says that, during the next phase of the talks that will take place after the next year’s general elections, the state structure will be discussed. Hays added that it is clear to everyone that major changes to the BiH Constitution are only to follow.

Tihic challenges RS name; Paravac’s response

RHB, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, GS pg 2, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 – BIH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic has submitted a request to BIH Constitutional Court to determine whether sections 1 and 3 of BIH Constitution are in accordance with European convention on human rights protection when it comes to the name of RS. Tihic feels that the name RS is discriminating Bosniak and Croats living in this entity.

BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, GS pg 2 – Member of BIH Presidency Borislav Paravac issued a reaction to Sulejman Tihic’s request regarding the name of RS by saying that any decision reached in favour of Tihic’s request would violate the BIH Constitution.

BiH, SCG, Albanian parliamentarians discuss cooperation on the road to Europe

RHB, Pink – On the way toward European integrations, regional countries, beside of many other obligations, are obligated to cooperate and insure freedom of movement for people, products and capital. In Sarajevo, BiH, SCG and Albanian Parliamentarians have presented results of their work, in organization of Centre of Civil Initiatives and financial assistance of Netherlands’ Government. Representative in BiH Parliament, Mirsad Ceman explained that they have agreed that in matter of softening of visas’ regime, in bilateral relations, they will present synchronized stance on all European forums.  Parliamentarians have stressed that it is very important to overcome the misunderstanding on the way toward EU.

Economic/Social Affairs

FBiH Govt adopts draft 2006 Budget

RHB, Pink, FTV – During its session FBiH Government has passed a Law proposal on Budgets in FBiH and submitted it to the Parliament on short procedure. This Law regulates drafting, passing and execution of budgets in all FBiH levels. FBiH Government passed a new regulation on Office for Public Appeals, being that it was necessary to harmonize previously passed regulation with changes of organization structure of Police administration, solutions on FBiH State Service and on Police officials. Government has also passed decision on opening of Agency for Quality and Accrediting in Health, which will be placed in Sarajevo .

Managing of RS Pension Fund

Pink, BHT – Steering Board of RS Pension Disability Insurance Fund has decided on today’s session to start searching for best model in managing of Fund’s stocks, which couldn’t be placed on market due to lack of legal regulative. Recently passed amendments to the Law on PDI have enabled Fund trade with its own stocks. Investment Experts will manage the Fund’s property, they will buy and sell stocks with goal to increase Fund’s capital, which according to accounting value is about Km800 million. Advisor of RSNA Speaker for Economic Affairs, Zoran Lukic claims that this capital has decreased on one side, due to bankruptcy of companies, while on the other side it has increased in companies with positive balance, adding that for example Fund’s capital in Telecom has increased to about Km90 million. 

Crime/Legal Proceedings

McNair: BIH Court to process some other persons on high positions

BHT Boris Grubesic – Outgoing Head of Special Department for organized crime at the BIH Court John McNair announcedanother big indictment related to organized crime that will be raised before his mandate expires. He stated that this Department is currently processing 30 cases and interrogating 60 persons directly connected to the crimes. “50 to 60 persons are under investigation on the charges of money laundering, organised crime or tax evasion and they are all persons on high positions” said McNair. HR Paddy Ashdown will appoint McNair’s successor on 5^th December. Reporter stated that BIH Court has sentenced Mirko Saric, Dragan Kalinic and Momcilo Mandic in the case of Privredna Banka from Eastern Sarajevo adding that the case of Edhem Bicakcic is still being processed.

Dnevni List pg 5 speculates that an indictment might be filled against the current Herzegovina-Neretva Canton PM Mirolsva Coric and with regard to his involvement in illegalities related to Mostar Soko Company operations.  

Croat self-rule trial continues

Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 3, Dnevni List pg 4 – In continuance of trial toformer FBiH Minister of Defence Miroslav Prce and Deputy Commander of FBiH Army Dragan Curcic before BiH Courtretired General Atif Dudakovic has given his testimony , explaining that in time when “Herceg Bosna” was established, defensive power of FBiH has been weaken formally, legally, but not basically.  Dudakovic stressed that he as Bosniak Commander couldn’t issue orders to Croat component of FBiH Army.

SPRS leader Djokic suspected of fraud

RTRS Valentina Lekanic, GS pg 2, mentioned on cover, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 – An indictment was raised against chair of SPRS Petar Djokic in Brcko Distrct. Djokic in suspected of fraud thus damaging RS Telecom Brcko 141.500 KM. BD Prosecutor Zekerijah Mujkanovic stated that apart from Djokic another 2 persons Vida Tesic and Ivan Klasic were also involved in the fraud and therefore charged. Reporter comments that BD criminal law states 6 months to 5 years in prison for crimes mentioned in the indictment. Djokic feels that the entire case is SDS attempt to politically disqualify him. He announced his victory in the court proceedings. Trial starts on 1^st of December.

VL: CIA has a secret base, prison near Tuzla

Vecernji List cover page, pgs 2-3 ‘ CIA interrogated Islamic radicals, Serb generals (in a secret base near Tuzla)’ – According to the daily, Washington Post claim is correct that US’ CIA has had a secret base/prison near Tuzla airport where they have been interrogation persons suspected of war crimes and involvement in terrorism. 

Miscellaneous

HR Ashdown meets with Mostar councillors

Hayat – High Representative Paddy Ashdown met with Representatives of Caucuses of Mostar City Council. Hard truth is that “stubborn people” on both sides have lost months, during which progress could have been made. New phase of increasing local responsibility, which will follow opening of negotiations on SAA , can be used as a test to see if Mostar politicians are able to take more responsibility in reform process.

NOTE: Editor, who read this news, didn’t state if these were the words of the HR or not.

Dnevni List pg 13, mentioned on cover ‘Ashdown supported HDZ-SDA coalition’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 also reported on the meeting.

CoM Chair Terizc meets with Deputy UN SG over decertified policemen

Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 – Chairman of Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic has met with Deputy of UN General Secretary in New York and discussed conclusions of Venice Commission, regarding the matter of decertified policemen. Deputy of UN GS hasn’t rejected results of the Commission and expressed preparedness of the UN to find qualitative solution, along with BiH authorities and after detailed analyses.