OHR BiH Media Round-up, 2/6/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Gotovina’s wife handed over weapon

Man convicted for four crimes in ZE

Del Ponte inBelgrade

Cardinal Puljic visits German Caritas

Del Ponte in Belgrade

Pre-trial against “Skorpion” in BG

BiH Presidency session today

World news

Reactions of French “No” to EU

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

FBIH HoR session

Ranko Grujic surrendered

Video on crimes in Srebrenica

BIH soldiers departed for Iraq

Cavic on RS NA decision

Trial of Naser Oric

Cavic on police reform

Rycroft on RS NA decision

Grujic surrendered to Serbian auth.

RS Government on police reform

SIPA officials still not appointed

Vjestica and Samardzija cases

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Video on crimes in Srebrenica

Video on crimes in Srebrenica

BIH soldiers departed for Iraq

Del Ponte to visit Belgrade

Scheffer on Karadzic and Mladic

Robinson on Privredna Banka E.S.

Ranko Grujic surrendered

Zvornik crimes indictee surrendered

Cavic on police reform

Tomo Mihajlovic to be sentenced

UK Embassy on RS NA decision

Ratko Grujic surrendered

Oslobodjenje

Difficult time is coming for me and RS Government and the most difficult for SDS

Dnevni Avaz

Our de-miners left for Iraq

Dnevni List

Franciscans acknowledge Peric (Franciscans in Herzegovina acknowledge Bishop Peric’s authority in Herzegovina after long spat)

Vecernji List

Soldiers go to hell of Iraq

Slobodna Dalmacija

Highway that ‘swallows’ Hutovo Blato park (Vc corridor through Capljina municipality)

Glas Srpske

Ashdown preparing a purge

Nezavisne Novine

Prosecution showed snapshots of murder of Bosniaks

Blic

We did not say “no”

Vecernje Novosti

Features Serbia Related headlines

Srpski Nacional

Features Serbia Related headlines

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

Carla Del Ponte visiting Belgrade

RS Radio, BH Radio 1, RHB – Carla Del Ponte, ICTY Chief Prosecutor,stated after today’s meeting with Svetozar Marovic, SiCG President, it is not doubtful that SiCG will do all it can to ensure full cooperation with the ICTY. She expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation between ICTY and SiCG, reiterating war crime fugitives will soon be arrested.

Pre-trial case against Skorpion police unit members

RS Radio – The Prosecution at the Special Chamber for War Crimes in Belgrade is running pre-trial procedure for the crimes committed in Srebrenica, for which the members of the reserve police unit “Skorpion” have been charged. Rasim Ljajic, President of SiCG National Council for Cooperation with the ICTY, stated that the pre-trial case is taking place on the basis of the video-tape recording the murder of Bosniaks from Srebrenica by members of “Skorpion” unit. The tape was handed to SiCG authorities by Natasa Kandic, President of Humanitarian Fund.

Police Reform

RS President Cavic expects political revenge over police reform rejection

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Difficult time is coming for me and RS Government and the most difficult for SDS’ O. Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Cavic: I presume Matijasevic will be removed’ A. Malagic, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘I am constantly exposed to threats’, by B. S., Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Ashdown preparing a purge’ by G.D., Nezavisne Novine pg 6, announced on cover ‘We are waiting for penalties’ by V.Popovic, Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘That are constantly threatening me!’ by M.Labus, EuroBlic cover pg splash, RSpg 1 ‘We did not say “no”’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – During the preparations for the reform of the police in BiH, the international community has made many procedural mistakes, as well as the mistakes in interpreting some principles of the feasibility study, RS President Dragan Cavic said at a press conference in Banja Luka on Wednesday. He pointed out that any possible measures of High Representative Paddy Ashdown in the wake of RS National Assembly decisions would present an act of political violence against those who defend the Dayton peace agreement, the BiH Constitution, and the RS Constitution. It is indisputable that the RS National Assembly adopted the decisions that refer to the police reform as an expression of the highest democratic right of 62 representatives in the legal and legitimate institution such as the parliament, according to Cavic. Commenting on Tuesday address by High Representative Ashdown, who said he would take measures against the responsible officials of the RS over the rejection of the police reform, Cavic pointed out that those announcements should be taken absolutely seriously. He said that the HR measures might include removal of RS Interior Minister Darko Matijasevic. According to him, the pressure on the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) is exerted with the goal of finding another political partner in the RS that is prepared to accept the principles of the police reform proposed by Martens’ commission. “Something tells me that the issue of the cooperation with the Hague tribunal will again become topical. I can only presume that it will form the basis at some point in the future – whether in the near or distant future, it does not really matter – for a showdown with the interior minister. Or perhaps some people will be dismissed. I can only presume that. We can presume that from the assessment that there is a standstill in the defence reform as well, that Minister Stankovic will also be targeted by dismissals at one point. If that happens, that will be an act of political retaliation for the police reform. I know that the oath-taking at Manjaca and Bileca is also an issue that will result in a showdown with the chief of the RS Army General Staff, General Novak Djukic. In short, it is obvious that we are in for some difficult times – the most difficult for me, as I am the president of the SerbRepublic, equally difficult for the RS Government, and as regards the parties, the most difficult for the SDS, as usual,” said Cavic.  Cavic pointed out that the parliament had not voted against the police reform or in favour of isolation, but in favour of the preservation of the Dayton peace agreement, as well as of the constitutions of BiH and the RS. Cavic said that the government was obliged to implement the decisions of the National Assembly on the basis of the RS Constitution and the law. This is a minority government and if some people in the RS believe its activity is taking the RS into isolation, there is a procedure that enables its dismissal, RS president said. Cavic underlined that the government would not resign and that he would not dismiss it, because its survival was an alternative to a political crisis through which the RS and BiH went late last year and early this year. The RS president denied having promised, at the police reform meeting in Sarajevo , to prevail upon the representatives in the RS National Assembly and the RS Government to accept the proposed police reform. President Cavic said that he had been exposed to the political pressure from Sarajevo after the decision. He announced that, in the future, he would inform the public about all the details of the threats but he did not want to do that at today’s news conference. Asked about the justifiability of the referendum on the police reform, Cavic pointed out that it would be a wrong decision at this point due to the complexity of the political situation in BiH. Cavic also rejected as ridiculous claims he had been influenced by Serbian authorities to reject police reform.

Serbian Gov. rejects speculations on its influence on the RS Gov. to reject police reform 

FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘The attempt of Serbia to undermine the BiH future is unacceptable’ by A.S.-V.P, Glas Srpske cover pg inset ‘Another fabrication’, EuroBlic pg 3 ‘Kostunica is not influencing decisions in RS’ by E.B – Serbian Government Media Officer, Srdjan Djuric, stated that speculations on Serbian impact on the RS Government regarding rejection of the police reform is another in line of fabrications, reports Beta news agency. Banjaluka’s daily, Nezavisne Novine, reports on Wednesday that Western diplomats suspect that Serbian Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, influenced on SDS and RS National Assembly to reject police reform in BiH, in order to strengthen Serbian position before negotiations on final solution for Kosovo.

OHR on claims Kostunica ordered Cavic not to accept police reform

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘The attempt of Serbia to undermine the BiH future is unacceptable’ by A.S.-V.P. –Mario Brkic, the OHR Spokesperson, on Wednesday commented on claims (of anonymous western diplomat saying that Vojislav Kostunica ordered Dragan Cavic who to act in regard to police reform) saying thatOHR never comments on speculation. Brkic also said it’s clear that Belgrade‘s role as a DPA signatory must be a positive one – any attempt to undermine BiH’s future through undue influence would be unacceptable to the IC”.

RS Government rejects Ashdown criticism on police reform

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘RS Government claims they are not responsible for reform failures’, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘RS Government: We are not responsible for hold-up in police reform’, by NINA,Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Ungrounded accusations’ by V.P., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘The door is not closed’ by G.Dakic, SRNA – The RS Government has described as unacceptable assertions that conclusions adopted by the RS National Assembly halted the process of police reforms in BH, as they clearly express a commitment to reforms in this domain in line with the constitutions of the RS and BiH. Conclusions from Wednesday’s government session which was devoted to High Representative Paddy Ashdown’s news conference in Sarajevo on Tue4sday state that the RS Government cannot accept the label of being responsible for the alleged impasse in the process of police reforms. The government recalls that the conclusions of the RSNA were adopted with a three-quarters majority which confirms the commitment of RS institutions to implement reforms in line with the constitutions of the RS and BiH, a statement from the special government session says. “The RS Government recalls that the majority that voted for the conclusions in the RS parliament is made up of deputies from different political parties which took part in the police reform negotiations and that the government took a stance on defence reform on the basis of support from a majority of political parties, including opposition parties,” the conclusions say. The government says that the conclusions at Wednesday’s session were adopted unanimously and that the RS Government is not made up of representatives of only one nation or one political party.

Former NATO advisor: Serbs, guard your autonomy

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Serbs, guard autonomy’ – Alexis Wallace, former Political Advisor for BiH at NATO, stated in Strasbourg that police reform in BiH is justified, noting that Republika Srpska should not be making concessions in regard to its autonomy, which is guaranteed through Dayton Agreement. On basis of his personal experience, he assessed that Serbs and Croats do not feel a true affiliation to BiH. He stressed that international community did a great job in the field (in BiH), adding it cannot artificially create the emotion of unity.

US Congressman demands protection of DA

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘New authority, old policy’ by S.R.Todorovic – The daily brings pieces from speech Trent Franks, US Congressmen, delivered before the Congress (which BN Television broadcast), when he expressed concern over the American policy run in the Balkans and which has not changed with the change of US Administration. He also expressed deep concern over the fact that US is withdrawing its troops from BiH and Balkans, adding: “As a part of DA, we are obligated to provide a feeling of fair-play in BiH and not to change it exerting pressure. And this has recently been attempted via Paddy Ashdown, High Representative, and assent of the US Ambassador, Douglas McElchany.” He also said that statements RS Police Director gave regarding connection of BiH and Madrid terrorist assaults should be subject to examination, not reprimand.

VN op-ed describes HR as colonial governor

Vecernje Novosti op-ed pg 2 ‘Stoning of people’ by Djuro Bilbija – Referring to Paddy Ashdown as a colonial governor, who behaves as if Bosnia were a mini-India, the author criticizes HR for accusing the RS for only one failure, forgetting who much RS has done for implementation of the reforms. He calls on EU to stop Ashdown in his actions, if it is unaware of his actions – and if it is aware and supportive of its actions, the EU is also responsible. The author concludes by referring to the French rejection of EU Constitution, which did not result in stoning of a people.

NN op-ed critical of Cavic/supportive of Matijasevic

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Who is responsible’ by Dragan Risojevic – Commenting on latest accusations of HR Paddy Ashdown and Wednesday’s denial of accusations by Dragan Cavic, the author ntoes that if the hierarchy and real, instead of declarative power of decision-making were respected, Cavic has every reason to fear from sanctions. Risojevic notes that the panic speech Cavic gave at Wednesday conference may result from this fact. Furthermore, the author is supportive of Darko Matiajsevic, saying “it would be a shame if Lord decided to hit on Interior Minister, since he deserved such action the least of all. Also, he did not do anything subject to punishment and reference as main obstructionist of the police reform…Results accomplished during Matiajsevic’ mandate cannot be measured with the indifference work of his predecessors. If nothing else, he deserves to stay on position because of this.”

NN op-ed on Sarovic/Cavic

Nezavisne Novine op-edpg 7 ‘Sarovic riding again’ by Pero Simic – The author notes that the times of Mirko Sraovic and Dragan Kalinic still last, adding that Sarovic has chosen the timing to appear in media a month ago and mark the beginning of fall of Dragan Cavic’s times. The author also notes that the RS NA speech Cavic delivered marked the political requiem of RS President. Furthermore, the author adds it seems as if Radovan Karadzic is again shuffling cards and choosing the card he finds suitable at particular moment.

Ambassador Rycroft says British Government dissatisfied with RSNA conclusions on police reform

Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Dissatisfaction with the RSNA conclusions’, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘BiH missed a chance for speedy course towards Europe’ by V.Popovic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘A European course decelerated’ by G.Dakic – UK Ambassador to BiH, Matthew Rycroft said that the British Government was not satisfied with conclusions on police reform which were adopted at the session of RS National Assembly on Monday. Now RS Government, led by SDS, needs to make a move and that is to propose solutions, which would show whether it is for the path towards European Union or for the blockade of that process, stressed Rycroft. “There is no threat for RS, in terms of police reform, nor there is threat for RS if BiH is to head towards Europe. RS is to face threat in case of an obstacle on BiH’s way towards Europe appears”, said Rycroft. Rycroft met in Banja Luka on Monday with RS Parliament Speakerr, Dusan Stojicic and SNSD President, Milorad Dodok. Dodik emphasized that the SNSD was going to support any activity regarding de-blockade of European path of RS and BiH. Dodik offered new map with more police regions in RS as a compromise/solution. Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Proposal with five police regions ought to be offered’, not signed also carried SNSD/Dodik’s statement.

EC reiterates their principles for police reform

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Polcie solely in line with EU principles’ by M.C. – Commenting on Wednesday’s conclusions of the RS Government, Frane Maroevic, Spokesperson of the EC delegation to BiH, stated that EC would accept police reform only if it were in line with the three known principles, adding: “…When these three principles are met, BiH would enter a new phase of European integration.”

SDP urges Ashdown, BiH and RS Governments to resign over police reform

FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Responsibility lies with Ashdown and ruling parties’, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘SDP requests Ashdown’s resignation’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Ashdown, Terzic and RS Government should tender resignations’ by SRNA, SRNA – The SDP BiH on Wednesday called on High Representative Paddy Ashdown, the BiH Council of Ministers, Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic and the RS Government to resign over the failure of police reform. An SDP delegate to the Council of Peoples of the RS, Dragi Stanimirovic, told a news conference in Sarajevo that the international community “should appoint another person to Ashdown’s position unless Ashdown himself resigns”. “BiH still needs a high representative, but it would be best if Ashdown resigned for all the damage that he has caused,” Stanimirovic said. He went on to say that the conclusions of the RSNA violated all three EU principles relating to police reforms “which represents continuation of the rigid nationalist policy in the RS”. “BiH’s future now looks much bleaker than it has done since the signing of the Dayton Agreement hitherto; failure to reform the police force is conducive to isolation, not only of the RS, but also of BiH,” Stanimirovic said. 

HSP Djapic-Jurisic to IC/HR Ashdown: Abolish SDS or yourself

Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Either SDS or Ashdown ought to be abolished’, by Tomislav Kvesic – The Presidency of the HSP Djapic-Jurisic condemned the blockade of the police reform by the SDS. The party president, Dr. Zvonko Jurisic, requests that the IC, and the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, personally, either abolish the SDS or themselves. On top of this, the party called the SDS the biggest factor of crisis in BiH, accusing the SDS of preventing the return of Croats and Bosniaks to the RS.

SBiH’s Halilovic, RS Vice-president Tomljenovic, HDZ’s Pavlovic on RSNA stand on police reform

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Halilovic: They want to create image of BiH as temporary community’ by A.M. – Commenting on the RSNA decision, President of the SBiH Presidency Safet Halilovic stated that during the last 6 months RS politicians have been exclusively working on re-vitalization of the RS sovereignty. According to Halilovic, the RS politicians are trying to stop integration processes and create an image of BiH as a temporary community in which they would be able to create a new state and political arrangement. Halilovic added that representatives of the International Community pretend that they do not see what is going on, however, in Halilovic’s opinion, in this way they make a grave disservice to BiH, stability in the region and whole Europe. On the same issue, RS Vice President Ivan Tomljenovic stated that he surprised and disappointed with the RSNA stand on the police reform. Tomljenovic believes that this would cause a halt when admission to European integration is in question, however he hopes that it would not distance BiH permanently from that goal.  HDZ spokesperson Pero Pavlovic stated: ‘We are concerned that due to such RSNA’s decision BiH’s approaching European and Euro-Atlantic integration would be considerably slowed down.’  

BHT story on responsibility for police reform failure

BHT Marina Boskovic – Even though the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown announced that he will undertake measures against those who are responsible for failure of negotiations on police reform, it is still unknown who are those persons, said the presenter. “We believed this process is going to be successful but something happened, something prevented that to happen”, said Ashdown and added that now is necessary to establish clearly who has been responsible for that failure. Belgrade denies allegations that Serbian President, Vojislav Kostunica has influenced decision of RS NA, mainly of SDS, regarding police reform. The analysts believe that the HR and International Community have no right not to share responsibility for the failure of talks on police reform.  “International Community has constructed the system that exists and its representatives had the highest authorities and the power of making decisions and they proved that many times”, said Muhamed Filipovic, academic. “The HR and the OHR have to bear responsibility, where they have spent such big amount of money and they have not implemented even part of those tasks that they had to do regarding Dayton Peace Agreement”, said the Alternative High Representative to BiH, Josip Pejakovic.

War Crimes

Tape of Srebrenica executions showed at Milosevic trial in The Hague

RHB, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Tape of Srebrenica executions showed (before ICTY)’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Horrible video tape of Srebrenica executions’, Dnevni List, pg 24 ‘Recording of execution of people of Srebrenica showed at Milosevic trials’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 18 ‘Recordings of slaughter shown’, by zb, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Prosecution showed snapshots of murder of Bosniaks’, pgs 2-3 ‘Murders of Bosniaks showed’ by R.Segrt  – In the continuation of the process being led against Slobodan Milosevic, the prosecutor’s office of the Hague tribunal played a video recording of Bosniaks in Srebrenica being executed. The prosecutors say that the people committing the murders in the video are members of the Scorpion Serbian Interior Ministry-controlled paramilitary unit. The tape shows soldiers in camouflaged uniforms with Serbian flags on their berets and hats dragging out emaciated civilians whose hands are tied behind their backs and have been severely beaten. In one scene, a group of these tied civilians is lying on the floor. Next is the execution scene where the civilians are taken in rows of threes and shot in the back. While the first is being killed, the other two prisoners wait quietly. After three men are killed, a man’s voice is heard complaining that the battery in the camera is dying again, but encourages the soldiers to continue the executions. There are also two civilians in the video who are responsible for carrying off the bodies of the executed, who are then killed as well after all the bodies have been taken care of.

Srebrenica Task Force held session: No conclusions

Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘A material from RS MoI examined’ by S.G. – Jovan Spaic, Head of Srebrenica Task Force, on Wednesday confirmed that “Task Force has examined the material we got from RS MoI and other points within our tasks. Hwoever, we did not reach any concrete conclusion.” He did not want to reveal the nature/content of the material examined. Sarajevo dailies also covered the issue.

Bosnian Serb war crime suspect Grujic surrenders to Serbian authorities

Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘wartime Mayor of Zvornik Branko Grujic surrenders’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Branko Grujic in detention of War Crime Court in Belgrade’ by M.Kusmuk – The wartime mayor of the Municipality of Zvornik, Branko Grujic, turned himself in to the Serbian judicial authorities on Wednesday, the War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office and the War Crimes Council of the Belgrade District Court have announced. The announcement says that Grujic has been indicted for war crimes against civilians in Zvornik in 1992. A first group of 13 witnesses had been heard in Sarajevo in connection with the crime in Zvornik. Most of them are eye-witnesses to the killing of at least 15 civilians in the culture club in Celopek and the deportation of 1,822 civilians from the village of Kozluk to Hungary in May 1992.

Scheffer dissatisfied with failure to arrest Karadzic, Mladic

FTV – The NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer expressed hisdissatisfactionbecause former leaders of Bosnian Serbs, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, indicted by ICTY for genocide in BiH,have not been arrested yet. Scheffer said this in Washington, where he met with US President George Bush. He underlined that he can’t explain why the NATO forces couldn’t find them and added that better cooperation with the Serbian and BiH authorities is needed in order to carry out these arrests.

Political Developments/Reforms

BiH Armed Forces’ mine clearance unit leaves for Iraq

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 7 ‘BiH soldiers left for Iraqi mission’, Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 3 ‘Our de-miners left for Iraq’, Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Soldiers go to hell of Iraq’, pgs 2-3 ‘Iraqi adventure of 36 soldiers’, by Dejan Jazvic, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Important task of BiH soldiers in which there can be no mistakes’, by Mensud Zorlak, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘Unexploded ordnance experts from BiH departed for peace mission in Iraq’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Soldiers departed for Iraq’ by M.Cubro, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Kuwait, and then Iraq’, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Volunteers departed to Iraq’, FENA – Members of a mine clearance unit of the BiH Armed Forces on Wednesday left for Iraq from Sarajevo International Airport where they will take part in a peacekeeping mission. The unit, comprising 32 members of the BiH Armed Forces and under the command of Major Stjepan Musa, was seen off by high-ranking officials of BiH, including the three members of the BiH Presidency, the BiH defence and foreign ministers, Nikola Radovanovic and Mladen Ivanic, the Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives Sefik Dzaferovic and representatives of international organizations and the diplomatic corps. In his address to the peacekeepers the chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of BiH, Sifet Podzic, pointed out that the demining unit served as an example and a signpost for the future Armed Forces of BiH. “You are changing the perception the world has of the Armed Forces of BiH. From today our homeland is becoming a part of the family which is actively promoting peace with specific contributions by our armed forces,” Podzic said.

SDU President Tokic on departure of BiH Army unit for Iraq

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Tokic: BiH Presidency is responsible for that senseless decision’ not signed – With regard to the departure of a BiH Army unit for Iraq, the SDU President Sejfudin Tokic issued a press release on Wednesday in which he warned that implementation of this BiH Presidency’s decision was a dangerous precedent which brought into question moral, political and security credibility of BiH in the world. According to Tokic, all the consequences stemming from this unilateral and senseless decision will be the exclusive responsibility of the BiH Presidency members and their political parties SDA, SDS and HDZ. Tokic warned that the countries, which supported the American military presence in Iraq or participated in it militarily were targets of terrorist attacks and threats.

BiH Presidency member Jovic meets with NATO’s Schook to discuss defence reform in BiH

Pink, BHT, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Talks about abolishment of military service’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Ivo Miro Jovic receives general Steven Schook’, by vr, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘To European integration via reform of military’, by D. Pasic – BiH Presidency member, Ivo Miro Jovic and Commander of NATO HQ to BiH, Steven Schook agree that the key elements for defence reform are abolition of military service, creation of professional army, reducing reserve unit to 5.000 members or its abolition. They also agreed that it was necessary to establish only one Ministry of Defence, one budget and one command over the armed forces. Schook said that such changes will enable BiH to support its armed forces on its own and that would lead BiH to partnership for Peace and NATO.

LDS: Mostar is Paddy’s virtual city

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Mostar, Paddy’s virtual city!’ by A.B. – At the LDS press conference held on Wednesday, President of this party Lamija Tanovic talked about the impressions that LDS representatives have after their visits paid to a few towns in Herzegovina. Tanovic stated: ‘High Representative Paddy Ashdown is wrong if he believes that he made Mostar a unified city. When you talk with Mostarians you learn that they have 2 Universities, two theatres, two post offices etc. and everything is divided on an ethnic principle. Mostar is divided and what Ashdown made there is some sort of virtual Mostar.’

Osl.: Who is going to replace international representatives in BiH Election Commission?

Oslobodjenje pg 8, mentioned on cover ‘Paddy Ashdown disputes political appointments?’ by A. Terzic – The Ad Hoc Commission decided not to announce vacancies for election of 3 members of the BiH Election Commission and it transferred competence for their appointment to the BiH House of Representatives. The election of these members would be carried out after the High Representative Paddy Ashdown’s decision to withdraw international members from this Commission. President of the BiH Election Commission Vehid Sehic explained that the reasons for such stand of ad hoc commission are short deadlines. Osl. says that in order to prevent interference of politics in this case, it was proposed earlier to appoint 3 BiH Constitutional Court judges on vacant positions in the BiH Election Commission. According to the article, if this proposal does not get support there is a fear that 3 new members could come from the circle close to the current authority and this would mean interference of politics in the BiH Election Commission’s work. Osl. says that the HR is on move and that he should prevent this possibility either by extending the mandate to international members or by appointing BiH Constitutional Court judges on vacant positions in the BiH Election Commission.

Colak on SIPA Director appointment

Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Appointment of Lukac avoided’, by Miso Relota – Carries the BiH Minister of Security, Barisa Colak, as confirming that he would not give up his request that Dragan Lukac should be appointed the new Director of SIPA. “It is obvious that repercussions of the decision of the RSNA regarding failure to adopt concept of police reconstruction are having serious reflection on other processes in BiH. However, I will be adamant that the political agreement that a Croats leads the SIPA gets observed (…) I am afraid that we will enter an even bigger crisis if we do not solve the problem soon”, said Colak.

HDZ’s Zoric: It is important Covic does not get elected new HDZ President

Dnevni List, pg 6, mentioned on front ‘It is important that Covic is not president’, by Zvonimir Jukic – The President of HDZ Caucus in the BiH House of Peoples, Vinko Zoric, stated for DL that it was most important that Dragan Covic is not elected the new HDZ president at the forthcoming HDZ convention. According to Zoric, Covic has lost the support of many HDZ delegates from West-Herzegovina Canton because of his wrong staffing policy because of which the Croat people got into problems. As a special reason against Covic’s candidacy, Zoric also lists the letter that was sent by the European People’s Party that indirectly suggests that Covic should not be elected.

DL: Canton 10 HDZ embittered with Covic

Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Herzeg Bosna Canton embittered by Covic’s moves’, by De. L. – The article notes that Covic will not be supported by the HDZ from Canton 10 too since  a source from the Livno HDZ says that any candidate will receive support, but not Covic. It would appear that the Canton 10 HDZ is not happy with staffing issues, for which they blame Covic and ‘Covic’s people’.

Colak: I did not expect Covic to run for HDZ president

Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Future of party is more important than anything else’, by Miso Relota – Carries an interview with the current HDZ president, Barisa Colak, in which he talks about the situation in the HDZ prior to the forthcoming HDZ convention. Asked to comment on his party colleagues who are also running for the post of the HDZ president, Colak says: “I respect all other candidates. Sincerely, I least expected Dr. Dragan Covic’s candidacy because he personally told me and fellow colleagues in the party Presidency that he would not run for the post. That’s why I must admit I was surprised with his candidacy and hurt as a man. Namely, I am of opinion that his candidacy is not appropriate, it is not appropriate for the HDZ BiH, for as long as the court proceedings are ongoing”.

SD: Covic will resort to electoral rigging to secure victory

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘Covic is ‘counting’ on victory in single round of elections’, by Emil Karamatic – The author argues that Dragan Covic, aware that he stands little chance of becoming a new HDZ president in case the voting goes into the second round of inter-party elections at the forthcoming HDZ convention, is trying to make sure that the new HDZ president is elected in a single round of elections, although the HDZ Statute says the new president should receive 50%+ votes. According to SD, Covic can count on support of some 40% HDZ delegates, and if it goes into the second round, the HDZ delegates are likely to support Covic’s counter-candidate, whoever it might be.

SD on Colak and Covic

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘Coxless two’, by Zlatko Tulic – Commenting on the situation in the HDZ, the author says Barisa Colak has not declared a single political position about the situation in BiH in last two years, whilst it was clear during Colak’s term as the HDZ president that the real boss was Dragan Covic, who was, in SD’s opinion, “impudent” in appointing his people into BiH institutions.

Danas: Ashdown supports Covic, Ljubic enjoys support of Sanader, Brajkovic, Puljic

Danas, pgs 12-15 ‘Ashdown for Covic, Pack and Martens for Ljubic’, by team of Danas journalists – Carries an article dedicated to the election of new HDZ president, in which Danas argues that apart from Wilfried Martens, who is the President of European People’s Party, it is also Doris Pack, an MP in the European Parliament, who is against Dragan Covic becoming a new president, believing that the election of Covic would, at this moment, be decadent. The article also notes that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, is the most vocal advocator of Covic, believing that his political ‘darling’ is the only person capable of making radical turns within the HDZ i.e. transforming the party the way HDZ of Croatia did. As a return favour, Covic would have to change the ‘blood count’ i.e. staff changes in the HDZ. Moreover, article claims that Bozo Ljubic is enjoying support of, among others, the Croatian PM, Ivo Sanader, Aluminij CEO, Mijo Brajkovic, and Cardinal Vinko Puljic.

Danas interview: Bozo Ljubic says he will become new HDZ president

Danas, front pg splash ‘I will be new president of HDZ BiH!’, pgs 16-21 ‘Conflict of concepts, not factions, rules in HDZ’, by Zdenko Jurilj – Carries an interview with a candidate for the office of HDZ BiH president, Bozo Ljubic, in which he claims, having seen the situation on the ground in both the FBiH and RS, that he will without any doubt win the inter-party elections. Asked to comment on the constitutional reforms in BiH, Ljubic says that he has seen and read a material that was prepared by the Venice Commission entitled ‘Opinion of the Venice Commission’. “I have read it and I find it completely unacceptable since it foresees the existence of the current entities, subsiding of cantons in the Federation to the point of abolishment and sidelining of roles of house of peoples in parliaments, which are the only institutions that could to some extent protect vital national interests”, said Ljubic. He adds that he advocates BiH as a federal state with three entities, “however I have already said that it would be best that it (BiH) functions through associations of cantons”.

Danas on transformation/transfer of OHR powers/authorities

Danas, pgs 26-27 ‘EU wants one president and strong state institutions’, by Zdenko Jurilj – Talking about the transfer of the High Representative’s authorities onto the BiH institutions, Danas notes it is a position of majority of representatives of IC in BiH and domestic intellectuals that the powers/authorities of the HR will transfer into the office of the EU special representative in the next year and a half under condition that the issue of constitutional changes is solved i.e. that a functional state system is in place. Danas notes that the future authorities of the EUSR will be lesser than the current OHR’s authorities and will be related to harmonization of the BiH legislation to the EU requirements. Danas goes on to say that the vetting and removal of politicians, which was carried out by the OHR on basis of the ‘Bonn powers’, as HR Paddy Ashdown announced already, will be a privilege of a special commission and MPs in the State Parliament. On top of this, Danas says number of ministries at the entity levels will be decreased, duties of the FBiH President and Vice Presidents will be abolished, whilst when it comes to the BiH Presidency, some projections say the Presidency will not have three members.

Political Parties Funding/Economic/Social Affairs

Provisional administrator of Privredna Banka Eastern Sarajevo Robinson submitted a proposal to BIH Prosecution to start an investigation into founders of fictive companies Spectra from Bijeljina and Matres from Eastern Sarajevo

RTRS Report by Branka Kusmuk, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘SDS accused of money laundering’ – Provisional administrator of Privredna Banka Eastern Sarajevo Toby Robinson submitted a proposal to BIH Prosecution to start an investigation against founders of fictive companies Spectra from Bijeljina and Matris from Eastern Sarajevo. These companies owe over 4 million BAM to the bank. Robinson claims that this money was also used for SDS pre-election campaigns. She claims that the director of company Spectra, owned by SDS according to Robinson, was appointed by Dragan Kalinic and that the signatories of loan contract worth 400,000 BAM are Milovan Bjelica in the name of the company and Momcilo Mandic Director of Privredna banka at the time. Robinson further claims that the fictive company Matres was founded by leadership of Srpsko Sarajevo at the time and the signatory of administrative acts in the name of the management board was Mirko Sarovic. She claims that the resources were used for buying shares of Privredna Banka that were owned by state companies. Robinson concludes that the bank gave loans to buy its own shares which were sold to Mandic during privatisation. Robinson is asking 1.6 million BAM from Spectra in a civil suit and from Matres 2.3 million BAM. She expects that BIH Prosecution will carry out an investigation against mentioned individuals from SDS and town of Eastern Sarajevo. “I will forward the documents to state Prosecutor and he will conduct his own investigation and determine who, if anyone will be criminally prosecuted”, stated Robinson. She also stated that the situation in PB is one of the worst banks she ever saw. She reminds that the debt of PB is only partially returned by confiscation of Mandic’s property. OHR stated in a letter that SDS must return these illegal loans so the money could be returned to savers who lost it due to financing SDS campaigns. OHR reminds that it already froze Mandic’s accounts due to his connections with Radovan Karadzic. The letter further states that the fact that Kalinic and Sarovic were involved shows that it was organised and carried out by SDS highest officials.

BHT, FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘A blockade of all SDS bank accounts ordered’ by A.Sisic also covered the issue.

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Kalinic, Krajisnik and Sarovic involved in crime’, announced on cover ‘Kalinic, Krajisnik and Sraovic involved’ by A.Sisic – In a page interview, Toby Robinson elaborates on claims that Kalinic, Krajisnik, Sarovic and Bjelica are involved in crime.

OHR: SDS Robbing Small Depositors to Fund the Election Campaign

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘OHR’s Brkic: They must repay the money without delay’, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘OHR: SDS was robbing small depositors’, not signed – The SDS has been discovered robbing from depositors to pay for their elections. The SDS is paying a price for illegal funding they received from Momcilo Mandic‘s bank. Mr Mandic’s funds where frozen by HR for his connections with Radovan Karadzic. The fact that both Mirko Sarovic and Dragan Kalinic were involved shows that this was organized and implemented by the highest ranking members of the SDS, according to OHR Spokesman Mario Brkic . The SDS must repay these illegal loans without delay in order to refund the depositors who have lost their savings to fund the SDS campaigns. Criminal action against those at the highest level are matter for the courts.

FBiH HoR gives Government 45 days to find solution for start of payment of invalid pensions under new lagislation

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘Money for social welfare only after Budget re-balance’, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Re-balance and only than Law on Social Protection’ – The FBiH House of Representatives accepted the FBiH Government proposal to make the budget rebalance in the coming 45 day in order to ensure funds for the implementation of the law on basics of social care, protection of civil victims of war and protection of families with children. After the budget rebalance is approved by the Parliament a date will be set for starting payments defined by this law. Representatives of the FBiH Association of Disabled Persons say they won’t give up on the deadline for beginning of implementation of this law. “When it comes to beginning of implementation of this law, it is written that the 1 January 2005 is that date. We won’t give up on that date ever,” said Association’s President, Zijad Arapcic. According to some estimation, there are about 22.000 civil invalids in BiH. Association claims that this number is significantly higher, what means that Government’s obligations towards civil invalids might increase.

FBiH HoR adopts Law on Inspections

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘Law on Inspections adopted’, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Pre-condition for loan fulfilled’ – The FBiH House of Representatives (HoR) adopted at the special session on Wednesday the draft law on inspections in FBiH, rejected on Tuesday by the HoR. The FBiH House of Peoples adopted this law earlier. Coalition HDZ-HNZ-HDK announced procedure on determining constitutionality of this law.  Adoption of this law is a condition for receiving the second instalment of a 30 million USD international/WB loan.

FBiH HoR: HDZ-HNZ-CCD Caucus will contest Law on Inspections

Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Federation is only BiH’s obstacle on road to EU’, by Ivica Glibusic – Commenting on the yesterday’s decision of the FBiH House of Representatives to adopt the Law on Inspections one day after the Law was rejected by the same chamber, the President of the HDZ-HNC-CCD Caucus in the FBIH HoR (which left the session just prior to the voting on the Law), Ivan Madunic, says the adoption of the law represents simultaneous plunder, outvoting and violation of Constitution. “No matter what they say about the RS, the black hole in BiH is the FBiH, however nobody talks about it”, says Madunic. The Caucus is unhappy with the procedural matters pertaining to the enactment of the law, also claiming that the law will centralize inspection related issues at the FBiH level. The Caucus announces it will contest the constitutionality of the law.

Capljina authorities angry they are left out from talks on Vc corridor

Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 17 ‘Highway that ‘swallows’ Hutovo Blato park’, by Ivanka Dzajic – The municipal authorities of Capljina, including the Head of Municipality, Stjepan Sutalo, are angry with the fact that nobody is contacting the municipal authorities regarding the future itinerary of the Corridor Vc since out of three proposed itineraries, two should go through the Capljina municipality. They say the current proposals will cause grave damages.

OHR welcomes adoption of Law on Electric Power

Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘OHR welcomes progress regarding Feasibility Study requests’, by D. K. – OHR welcomed adoption of the Law on Electric Power by the Harmonisation Commission of the FBiH House of Peoples. “This is one of the key laws that BiH is obliged to adopt according to the Feasibility Study”, said an OHR spokeswoman, Sanela Tunovic , at a press conference of international organisations in Mostar on Wednesday. According to her, the liberalisation in the field of electric energy will introduce competition into the public utility sector, which is likely to result in lower electricity rates for companies and households. Ms. Tunovic pointed out that the legislative progress regarding the requests specified in the Feasibility Study shows that both the Government and the Parliament could work together on key strategic reforms.