| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30) |
| Update to HB archive | Breza miners on strike | Terzic on visa regime | ITA on sugar affair |
| New recruits in FBIH Army | Protests of war victims | 9 years primary education? | 4 cars confiscated in BL |
| Livno monument damaged | Update to HB archive | Audit of FBiH PIO | Investigation on Bluz |
| Organ transplantation | New murder case in SA | Mostar City Council session | CIPS to be audited? |
| Oslobodjenje | Exhumations will not be continued?; Criminals must be tried by the Hague Tribunal; 20 million debt will be solved |
| Dnevni Avaz | Covic: It is possible that BiH troops will not go to Iraq!; 63 persons illegally employed in Foreign Affairs Ministry! |
| Dnevni List | Zijad Pasic, FBiH Minister of Education and Science: Canton in charge of free textbooks |
| Vecernji List | Two Russian airplanes fell simultaneously |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Trip from Sarajevo to Split shorter by 40 kilometres |
| Nezavisne Novine | Take over military facility Vrbas in Banja Luka completes: Students take over the barracks; Sarajevo: War time documents of the HDZ, HVO and Herceg Bosnia are not in BiH; Nikola Spiric: Sexual services were asked from the candidates for positions at BiH institutions |
| Glas Srpske | BiH will not sue Croatia for aggression and genocide: Old flags – new knots |
| EuroBlic | Kemal Causevic: There will be no inflation |
|
| Reactions: Audit of CIPS project |
| Halilovic and his deputy disagree over announced CIPS audit
| RHB – In his statement to Dnevni Avaz on Wednesday, the BiH Minister of Civil Affairs, Safet Halilovic, announced the possibility of the revision of the CIPS project, stating that the reason is the possibility that the entire CIPS project has been compromised and the entire project might have been abused. He claims that all abuses are related to Interior Ministries, however noting that problems come from Banja Luka. Halilovic also said that he asked from RS MoI to give reports on the misuses cases that occurred, however that there was no respond to date. BHT 1 – Deputy Civil Affairs Minister, Zoran Tesanovic, says that he heard about revision of CIPS for the first time, claiming that such proposal has never been before the Council of Ministers and that this is just his boss’ election trick. BHT 1 also notes that the full information on CIPS misuses will not be known before the BiH’s Prosecutors’ Office completes its investigation and release the results. Investigation on forgery CIPS documents will continue for another several months. RTRS – “I think this is a politic statement from Minster Halilovic who is accusing RS MoI as an institution and him asking for the report from MoI… shows typical lack of knowledge when it comes to legislation,” says Zoran Tesanovic, Assistant Minister for Civil Affairs. |
| RS MoI says report on CIPS misuses to be submitted soon
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Glusac: RS MoI will submit information these days’ by E. Sarac, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Revision over forgeries’ by N. Z.; EuroBlic RSpg2 ‘Investigation already launched over abuses’ by J. D. – Spokesperson for RS Interior Ministry Zoran Glusac stated that the Ministry currently works on preparing information demanded by the Minister Halilovic which will be submitted very soon. He further did not want to comment to Halilovic’s claim that the most of misuse occur in RS MoI Banja Luka, however stressing that the MoI is not the only institution included in the project. RTRS – “I think it cannot be said that the biggest problem is in RS MoI since we are not the only one participating in the realisation of this project. We should see the responsibility of all other subjects”, said Zoran Glusac. RS MoI recently arrested 4 persons employed on issuing ID’s, and BIH Prosecution decided to keep them in custody. |
| CIPS Directorate on announced audit | Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Revision over forgeries’ by N. Z.; EuroBlic RSpg2 ‘Investigation already launched over abuses’ by J. D. – The Chief of the CIPS Directorate, Mirko Skrbic, confirmed there will be review of the identification documents issued this year. He said that the revision proposed by Minister Halilovic made sense, because of the reported cases of abuse of power, for which several persons had been arrested. Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Safety of project has not been jeopardised’ by Agencies –The Spokesperson of the CIPS Directorate, Sanela Turkovic, stated that the security of identification documents issued within the CIPS project was not placed in jeopardy. |
|
| War crimes |
| Update to Herceg Bosna archives
| RHB – The Croat Liaison Officer to the ICTY, Goran Mihaljevic, on Wednesday met with top Croat officials in BiH, namely the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, FBiH President, Niko Lozancic, President of HDZ, Barisa Colak, and FBiH Justice Minister, Borjana Kristo, to inform them about activities and results in gathering of documentation that the ICTY Prosecution has requested. Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘There are no reasons to remove Croat officials’, mentioned on front, by Jurislav Petrovic – According to Mihaljevic, an action plan for the next few days has been adopted. Mihaljevic also says that top Croat officials should be travelling to Zagreb tomorrow where they should be meeting the Croatian Justice Minister, Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, and Head of Croatian Office for Cooperation with the ICTY, Jaksa Muljacic, to ask them for help regarding the ICTY Prosecution’s request because it would appear that most of the documentation is in Republic of Croatia. Mihaljevic adds that he believes that members of his office will be allowed to probe through the Croatian State archives. Questioned to comment statements by the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, who announced removal of Croat officials in case the documentation is not handed over, Mihaljevic says he does not see reasons for removals because the Croat officials are fully dedicated to full cooperation with the ICTY. Mihaljevic also announces that Covic, Lozancic, Colak, Kristo and FBiH Finance Minister, Dragan Vrankic, will be visiting the ICTY in early September to meet with the ICTY President, Theodor Meron, and del Ponte, to assure them of full commitment in honouring international obligations. BHT 1 – The meeting was held behind closed door, but BHT 1 says it found out that smaller part of documentation is found and the other part does not compromise former and current Croat officials in BiH. “I don’t understand why certain officials now deny their involvement when it is well known which functions they held at that time,” said Goran Mihaljevic. Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Indictees are probably in possession of documentation’, by Dejan Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9 ‘Croat liaison officer to ICTY from BiH granted access to Croatian Central archives’, by H – note that the Croatian Justice Ministry has authorized Mihaljevic an insight into the Croatian State archives. Mihaljevic is quoted as saying that he believes that some of ICTY indictees, such as Jadranko Prlic, had made notes at meetings that he had participated at. Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘ It is possible that BiH troops will not go to Iraq!’, pg 5 ‘It is possible that we will not send troops to Iraq’ by Husein Orahovac – In an interview to DA, members of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic says that Croat officials have done everything to find documents. |
| Protests against war crimes trials outside ICTY or BiH
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘War criminals must be tried by the Hague Tribunal’, mentioned on cover’ by S. Rozajac, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Hasecic: War criminals to be tried in either Hague or BiH’ by Az. B. – Members of the Association ‘Woman – war victim’ on Wednesday protested in from of the ICTY office in Sarajevo objecting the decision of the Tribunal to allow war crimes indictees to be tried by judiciaries of other countries other than ICTY. The Association demands all war crimes to be tried either before the Hague Tribunal or judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and no other country. BHT 1 – BHT 1 says that victims of the war crimes are sceptical about the new rule on war crimes trials as they have no trust in these being processed by the courts in Serbia and Montenegro or Croatia. This decision not only allows transfer of cases to the countries where crime took place, but to any other country willing to take on the case. Representatives of war victims associations say that they will see transfer of cases to other countries will be considered as the amnesty given by ICTY and UN Security Council. According to BiH’s war victims, trials to war criminals for crimes in BiH should and have to be processed in BiH. BiH’s Justice Ministry sees no reason for which Belgrade and Zagreb should take over the cases of war crimes that happened in BiH, said BiH’s Justice Minister, Slobodan Kovac. ICTY has a final work on deciding which country can take over individual cases. |
| Masovic: exhumations of mass graves identified by Srebrenica Commission could cease
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 7 ‘Exhumations will not be continued?!’ by Avdo Avdic – Daily writes that Srebrenica Commission, established by the RS Government, in its report has not given the exact locations of the mass graves, adding that only smaller graves were mentioned. This was stated by Zumra Sehomerovic, members of the Association of Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa. “The best evidence for that is mass grave in Kazani near Srebrenica” said Sehomerovic. This is one of the 31 locations mentioned in Srebrenica Commisison report, and Tuzla expert team for missing persons has tried twice in past three months to find body remains at the locality. Murat Hurtic, chief of the team, says that while Commission mentioned that there should be about 20 to 30 bodies, so far the FBiH Commission for Missing Persons has not found anything. Chair of the Commission, Amor Masovic, said it is too early to conclude whether Srebrenica Commission’s information were correct or not. However, he stressed that “if FBiH Commission doesn’t find anything in Kazani, we will not continue exhumations in other six mass graves unknown to us and mentioned in the report.” Otherwise, Chair of Srebrenica Commission Milan Bogdanovic will be asked to disclose sources for information on the mass graves. |
| Reactions to statement of Sakib Softic
| Glas Srpske, cover page story ‘Old flags – new knots’ by M. Dz. – The article brings reactions on a statement of Sakib Softic, a legal representative of BiH in the lawsuit against SCG, who has stated that BiH should not bring a lawsuit against Croatia despite to the fact it has been proven it has attacked and partially occupied BiH. Softic has assessed that there are ‘reasons to bring a lawsuit against SiCG, because this is a lawsuit brought over a genocide, while the aggression only represents an environment in which the genocide has been committed’. Slobodan Radulj, the legal advisor of the Serb member of BiH Presidency, thinks BiH had not brought a lawsuit against Croatia for genocide and aggression due to a traditional alliance of Bosniaks and Croats. Apart from this, according to Radulj, Bosniaks do not want to create a conflict with Croats and Croatia because they do not know when they will need them again in some of future “battles” with Serbs. He claims Croatian Army committed a war crime on March 26, 1992 in Sijekovac. Petar Kunic, a delegate at HoR of BiH Parliamentary Assembly, assesses the statement of Sakib Softic as ‘continuity in knotting of flags and alliance without principles at BiH political scene’. Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5 ‘Statements of Sakib Softic are not leading BiH to the truth’ by N. S. – The article carries a reaction of the Association of Former Camp Inmates from Derventa on the Softic statement, whose members were surprised and hurt with it. |
|
| Economic issues |
| Update to Buk Bijela dam project
| Glas Srpske, pg. 5 ‘Politics run down “Buk”’ by D. Vrhovac – Mihajlovic – The article claims that a report on additional assessment on justification of the construction of “Buk Bijela” hydropower plant was compiled in May last year upon a recommendation of the Office of High Representative. The report reads that there is no reason not to reach a decision on the construction of the plant. Damir Miljevic, the President of RS Association of Employers, claims many undefined interests are involved in “Buk Bijela” project. One of these, according to Miljevic, is invoking of HR on a recommendation of a special Auditors to halt the construction of “Buk Bijela” until “Elektroprivreda” is privatised. He notes: “I do not see in what relation is the reconstruction of “Elektroprivreda” for privatisation with a completely new business, such as the construction of “Buk Bijela”. Primarily since the state will not invest money in this project, but a concessionaire will do so.” Dusko Djuric, a professor at the Banja Luka Faculty of Architecture and Construction, claims “Buk Bijela” would provide with the cheapest electricity and would be the most lucrative hydropower plant on the grounds of former Yugoslavia. BHT 1 – OHR is still against construction of Buk Bijela hydropower plant calling on financial audit of RS Elektroprivreda from 2003 which among other things says that construction of this plant isn’t justified in economic terms. Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Buk Bijela” has no economic viability’; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Sowing illusions’ by D. Risojevic; EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Tara Canyon placed in jeopardy, unemployment remains’ by Srna, RTRS – OHR notes that ” no serious person would support such a controversial project before credible feasibility, financial and environmental impact studies have made clear that it is viable economically and environmentally. No such studies have been carried out in the case of Buk Bijela, and much of the available evidence suggests there is no economic case for this project.” RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic thinks that the statement from OHR is not contributing to the solution of the problem. OHR position is inconsiderate and not contributing to the RS development plans of RS, stated Mikerevic. |
| Comments to sugar affair
| RTRS – Director of Indirect Taxation Administration Kemal Causevic confirmed that “sugar affair” exists in BIH and that consequences of it are being investigated. “I responsibly claim that from 1 January 2001 until the end of 2003, in BiH 250 million kg of sugar more than BiH needs was imported or “imported”. How is it possible that the import of sugar is increased by 150 million kg in a year?” wonders Kemal Causevic. Investigation on sugar import/export was taken over by the department for special investigations of BIH Court. More sugar was imported in Fbi,H but RS Customs have also started an investigation and checks of all importers and distributors of sugar in RS, states Bogdan Novakovic, Director of RS Customs. RS President Dragan Cavic feels that one of the most responsible institutions for sugar affair is CAFAO. “I have to comment, it is absurd. CAFAO exists in this country, an international organization that monitors the work of customs and… installed a system in FBIH for control of custom works. How did it happen and they didn’t see it? That response should be given by Mr. Alan Jensen”, says Cavic. As broadcasted by FTV recently, certain humanitarian organization are also believed to be involved in the sugar affair. They are connected also to terrorism. |
| Int with ITA Director on VAT
| EuroBlic cover and RSpg 1 ‘There will be no inflation’ by Nedeljka Breberina – In a statement to EuroBlic, Kemal Causevic, ITA Director, notes that the introduction of the VAT would increase public revenues, eliminate grey economy and create conditions for establishment of a single economic environment in BiH. He notes “it is absolutely impossible there would be inflation following introduction of 17% VAT.” He further stresses that a single VAT rate is much easier for implementation and eliminates possibilities for manipulation. He emphasises: “If everybody pays taxes and if social funds are filled up, the state would then be able to protect the poor category of population.” On the other hand, Rjko Tomas, Professor with Banja Luka Faculty of Economy, warns there will be “inevitable prices increase following VAT introduction”. |
| Strike in Breza mine
| BHT 1 – Miners from coal mine Breza are on general strike, refusing to go to pits before their existential problems are solved. Miners say that their salaries are minimal, work gets more and more difficult, they sustain injuries more often they have to pay on their own for the medical treatment as the Mine hasn’t paid for their health insurance. They also underline the fact that, out of 1380 employees in Breza mine, only about 300 of them work in mineshafts. This month, mine production fall for 30%. |
|
| Political issues |
| Mostar City Council adopts systematisation plan, HDZ walks out from the session
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘New crisis in Mostar authorities’ by F. Vele, Dnevni List, pg 12 ‘220 workers to lose jobs’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Without HDZ on employees’, by mmu, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘220 workers to lose jobs through re-organization’ – On Wednesday, the City Council of Mostar (CCM) – without presence of HDZ councilors and one independent councilor – adopted the Rulebook on internal organization and systematisation of jobs in the City administration of Mostar (CA), according to which some 220 CA’s employees will lose jobs. HDZ councillors walked out from the session after their proposal to remove the decision on internal organization and systematisation of jobs from the agenda was not adopted. They believe pre-requisites for adoption of new systematisation are not met, because there is not a plan that will take care of redundant workers. The President of HDZ Caucus in the CCM, Jadranko Lovric, claims that the systematisation should have been done two months ago. “The High Representative passed a decision that the systematisation must be adopted by June 30, which was not done. Nobody was held accountable for a two-month delay, and now they are rushing us to do it two days after we have received the proposal of new systematisation. We are only asking for a quality description of future jobs and a thorough programme of taking care of surplus workers”, says Lovric. Lovric holds Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Mostar, Hamdija Jahic and Ljubo Beslic respectively, responsible for the situation. “Following our remarks, the OHR talked to them, not to the councillors. They are the ones that should have done the work properly, but they did not”, says Lovric, rejecting that the HDZ is obstructing the process. Councillors Radmilo Andric warned of small representation of Serb employees in the CA and CCM, calling on the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, because of failure to observe the BiH Constitution because the future jobs in the CA will be filled through internal vacancies, meaning the number of Serb employees will remain the same. RHB – OHR stated that passing systematisation plan is an important milestone in the creation of a unified, functioning, modern Mostar City Council, stressing that a process of reunification of Mostar should continue without delay. FTV – FTV notes that Hamdija Jahic believes that the systematisation plan is good and he refuses all objections, while in the past few days OHR had put the Mostar Council under pressure to adopt the plan. |
| Stolac Municipal Council fails to discuss education
| BHT 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘HDZ denied adoption of decision on school unification’ by D.J. – The session of Stolac Municipal Council scheduled for Wednesday was not held, as majority of Croat councillors didn’t show up. Stolac’s HDZ claims that the only reason for cancelling the session is that certain points on the agenda weren’t harmonized and that these are not in accordance with Council’s working regulations. DA comments that this allowed HDZ to avoid discussion on the unification of two schools under one roof. Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Commissioner Carty visits Stolac’, by NINA – the EUPM Commissioner, Kevin Carty, visited Stolac on Wednesday and met with the Head of Municipality, Zeljko Obradovic, President of Municipal Council, Zoran Turkovic, and members of the Ministry of Interior. The aim of the visit was to review the security situation in Stolac. Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Bosniaks again announce removing of Croat flags’, by fm, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘Stolac people will defend themselves’, mentioned on front, by I. Ragux – Regarding the announcement of Stolac’s Youth Forum that it would remove Croat flags from the centre of Stolac, the HSP BiH Djapic-Jurisic issued a press release noting: “If these or other forum people again touch and insult Croat and Catholic symbols in our municipality, and the institutions of authority do not react to it, the Croats of Stolac will be defending their dignity on their own.” |
| BiH delegation visits Pakistan
| RHB, BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Twenty million war debt will be solved to BiH satisfaction’ by Az. Kalamujic, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Tihic: President Musharraf told me not to worry about the credit’ by F. Mandal, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Pakistanis invited to invest in BiH’, by NINA Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Agreement on evasion of double taxation signed’ – The BiH delegation – consisting of Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic, FIPA Director Mirza Hajric and BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic – is in official visit to Pakistan. Tihic held a meeting with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf discussing also return of BiH’s credit to Pakistan, which is estimated at US$ 20 million and 12 million in interest. This is the credit approved to BiH during the war, and Pakistani government warned BiH authorities to this outstanding debt in 2000. Tihic stated for Oslobodjenje that President Musharraf promised him that the issue will be solved to the satisfaction of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Delegations also signed the Agreement on Prohibiting Double Taxation between BiH and Pakistan, which exempts companies such as construction company Put from paying 5 million US dollars of taxes. Talks also included the exchange on the current political situation throughout the world. |
| Downsizing of OHR
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Responsibility to domestic authorities’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘This is a beginning of transferring authorities to domestic institutions’ by Fena, Dnevni List, pg 6, ‘Decision on downsizing welcomed’, by Nina, and Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8, ‘Level of responsibility of BiH authorities raised’, by D. Pasic – Josip Pejakovic, the Alternative High Representative, has welcomed the decision on the OHR downsizing as a step towards termination of the OHR mission, towards transfer of authority onto domestic institutions and increase of the level of responsibility of BiH authorities that could lead the country independently. “It seems that our first meeting, during which I presented to Paddy Ashdown my own programme that would enable the OHR to leave BiH as soon as possible, has already yielded results”, Pejakovic said. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ashdow in short visit to Brcko’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Ashdown in Brcko’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Ashdown spoke about OHR re-structuring’ by Fena – High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, paid a short working visit to Brcko District and discussed the announced downsizing of OHR staff. Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Vicious circle’ by Josip Blazevic – The author is critical about the most recent announcement of Paddy Ashdown, High Representative to BiH, regarding the downsizing of OHR over the fact that BiH has made a progress towards a full statehood. On the other hand, the author opposes the most recent System Study of Transparency International, which practically denies everything Ashdown believes and claims, according to Blazevic. He further refers to TI Study saying that local politicians rely greatly to international officials, which makes a no-way out situation ion BiH and a sort of “circulus vitiosus”. He further stresses there is actually a way-out from this situation, which is through reforms of judiciary, police and prosecutor’s office. |
| DA int with Covic
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘ It is possible that BiH troops will not go to Iraq!’, pg 5 ‘It is possible that we will not send troops to Iraq’ by Husein Orahovac – In an interview to DA, members of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic says that the decision to deploy BiH troops to Iraq could be changed which depends on developments in Iraq, however stressed that BiH must be a partner in global fight against terrorism and organized crime. On BiH Constitution, Covic says that the changes to the constitutional structure should be advocated “as BiH currently constitutional structure doesn’t offer self-sustainability in either political or economic sense.” Covic also says he believes that five levels of authorities is not acceptable, and that the key is to strengthen local and state authorities, and to establish something ‘looking like entities’ which would be a connection between local community and state. “Any territorial unit in BiH with national prefix is fatal for the future of this state,” notes Covic. |
| Spiric: candidates applying for positions at BiH institutions were asked to provide sexual services
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Through bed to the work’, mentioned on cover, by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Spiric claims candidates asked to offer sexual services’ by A. Basic, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Candidates for vacancies are asked to provide sexual services’ mentioned on cover ‘Sexual services were asked from the candidates for positions at BiH institutions’ by V. Popovic; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Authority doing it old way’ by M. Dz. – Nikola Spiric, CO-Chairperson of the BiH House of Representatives, stated that the candidates applying for positions at BiH institutions were asked to provide sexual services. At press conference Wednesday, he said that prostitution threatens to infiltrate into the highest institutions of the BiH, because “the nationalists at those institutions demand sexual services from candidates” Spiric said he learnt of this from some candidates who applied for positions. Furthermore, he notes that “BiH needs staff, who will be leading it into Europe”, noting that basic pre-requisite during selection process of appropriate candidate is nationality rather than qualification. |
| Cavic, Mikerevic on removal of SDA ministers from RS Government
| Nezavisne Novine pg 10 ‘SDS supports PDP position regarding removals of SDA Ministers’ by Srna; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Prime Minister to make a move’ – Dragan Cavic, Acting SDS President, yesterday said that SDS still supports PDP demand for removal of SDA Ministers from RS Government. He said that issues should be raised in a rational manner and effects of possible decisions should be well-thought through. Nezavisne Novine pg 10 ‘Stance on removal at the beginning of September’ – Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister, yesterday stated that at the beginning of September, he would have a clear stance regarding the announced removal of SDA Ministers from RS Government. Mikerevic said he would hold some meetings in the future on this issue. |
| FTV feature on visa regime for BiH citizens
| FTV – Adnan Terzic, Chairman of BIH Council of Ministers, went for the official visit to the United Kingdom, stating that he expects the visa regime for BIH citizens to be abolished by the mid 2005. There are very few countries where BIH citizens can travel without a visa. Terzic comments that process of making visa regime easier has already started: “I’m very satisfied and I expect the media to support the Council in our efforts to provide citizens with the visa-free regime as soon as possible. You know that nobody even addressed this subject before us, and I don’t expect you to ask me every day when this will happen. So, this will happen by middle of next year, if we do what European commission expects from us, and we expect media to follow and support the authorities in order to achieve this, and not to ask questions when it will be achieved all the time.” As stated in a letter from EC Commissioner for Justice and Internal Affairs sent to Terzic, the EU countries are pleased by progress made so far. Antonio Vittorini says that, in order to abolish or liberate visa regime, key conditions will be progress of fight against organized crime, corruption, money laundering, trafficking, illegal immigration, border administration, asylum policy and safety of documents. IN a procedure, EC proposes abolition of visa regime for a country, which must then be adopted by the European Council but only after the Parliament expresses its opinion. Renzo Daviddi, Deputy Chief of EC Delegation to BIH, comments: “We must say that the visa issue concerns many EU countries. European Commission can’t suggest abolition of visas without approval of countries which are EU members.” Adnan Terzic: “We already have very positive feedback on trends from these countries, but they expect these trends to continue. This means that we need a process of several months, half of a year at least, in order to make such analysis.” Delegation of European Commission emphasises that it might take several months to make a decision after a positive suggestion. |
| Coalition HDZ, UHSP, HSP, HKDU, HNZ on Mostar Statute, elections
| Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Give Mostar future, not destiny’, by D. Pusic, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘We offer Mostar future, not destiny’ by Fena– A coalition of parties that will go together in the elections in Mostar, namely the HDZ, UHSP, HSP, HKDU and HNZ, held a press conference yesterday at which it talked about the coalition’s programme in Mostar. Miroslav Coric (HDZ, Canton 7 PM), who leads the coalition’s Elections HQ, stressed on several occasions during the press conference that the situation in Mostar was extremely difficult for all citizens of Mostar, especially because of the new Statute. According to information that are at his disposal, no political option in Mostar is happy with the Statute. Coric also stressed that the forthcoming elections in Mostar were perhaps the most important elections ever, announcing an intensive pre-election campaign. Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Surplus of workers cannot end up on the street’, by Zoran Zekic – quotes Coric as commenting about systematisation in the City administration of Mostar: “Over 400 people should keep working in the City administration, whilst the rest are surplus. Personally, as the cantonal Prime Minister, I insist, and I told this to the German diplomat Werner Wnendt, that those people must be taken care of. For example, five FBiH ministries should have been moved to Mostar by now, but it has not been realized for years.” Coric notes the moving of 5 FBiH ministries must happen with help from the IC, even if it means that the IC has to apply pressure. |
| Topcagic on launch of BiH negotiations on SAA
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘BiH has resources to establish only nine state institutions’ by M Cubro – Osman Topcagic, Director of the Directorate for BiH European integration, stated that the BiH Council of Ministers has provided resources necessary for the opening of nine out of 22 new state institutions, which is a pre-requisite for Stabilisation and Association process. He could not say what is the exact number of institutions established so far. He expressed belief that at the beginning of October, BiH might receive recommendation to launch negotiations. |
| DA on employments in Foreign Affairs Ministry
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ’63 people illegally employed in Foreign Affairs Ministry’, mentioned on cover, by F. M. – DA learns that the BiH Civil Service Agency informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that according to their preliminary audit report 63 persons were illegally employed by the Ministry. This was also informed by the Agency’s director Jakob Finci who explained that according to the Law these positions have to be publicly advertised. Finci said that workers currently occupying them also have a right to apply. |
|
| Investigations and audits |
| Prosecutor McNair calls on Cesic, Azinovic and Medic to turn themselves in
| FTV, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Cesic, Azinovic and Medic will be arrested in BiH’, mentioned on front, by Robert Soldo – Head of the BiH Prosecution’s Department for Organized and Economic Crimes, John McNair, called on Ljubo Cesic Rojs, Ivan Azinovic and Ivan Medic, suspects in the Hercegovacka bank case, to turn themselves in. The call was made through their lawyers. VL could not manage to contact Cesic and Medic’s lawyers, however the information was confirmed by Azinovic’s lawyers Nada Dalipagic and Davor Silic. Because of failure to show up so far, arrest warrants in BiH have been issued against the troika. According to VL’s “reliable information”, Cesic was in Posusje last weekend and he even invited to a meal several politicians, business people and journalists. Croatian Justice Ministry unofficially confirmed Cesic would not be extradited to BiH, and he would be tried in Croatia if necessary. Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Azinovic called to turn himself in through lawyer’, by N. Dedic – notes that Azinovic was called to turn himself in, it does not mention Medic and/or Cesic. |
| McNair denies transfer of Sarajevo explosions investigations to his Department
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘We did not ask for transfer of investigations on bombs’ by A.N. – Prosecutor John McNair denied on Wednesday speculations that appeared in media which say that his Special Department for fight against corruption, organized and economic crime would ask BiH Court to transfer cases on bomb attacks and explosions in Sarajevo. “At the meeting with the Chief State Prosecutor Marinko Jurcevic we talked about this, but nobody knows how is the source for these stories… Cantonal police and prosecution actively work on these cases and special department did not ask to take them over,” stressed McNair. Asked by journalist what happened to their request to take over investigations against 40 persons suspected for misusing their positions and officers, McNair said that he still did not receive respond from BiH Court: “We did file such motion and we are interested in cases related to some of the suspects such as Dragan Covic and Edhem Bicakcic, but BiH Court still did not decide on it.” |
| FTV feature on FBiH PIO audit report | FTV by Zvonko Maric – There have still been no reactions to the audit report on the FBIH Pension-Disability Fund [PIO], which noted that illegal usage of 173 mill KM. FTV comments that the criminal activities of PIO have been know to the public for a long time, while FBiH Audit Office has been pointing to the problem for several years. Ibrahim Okanovic, General Auditor FBIH: “We’ve been making reports on pension funds in past four years [and] we have a negative report every year.” FTV notes that existence of parallel systems of pension funds in Sarajevo and Mostar is a perfect opportunity for crimes committed even by high-ranking officials, where FTV includes former Prime Minister of FBiH Alija Behmen, current Minister for Finance Dragan Vrankic and a number of PIO officials Marko Matic, Mihail Butigan, Bakir Mujic, Sead Zece and Nadir Kovacevic. Noting that audit office was ‘insulted’ by the fact that there hasn’t been any reaction to their report so far, FTV brings comment by Radovan Vignjevic, Minister of Labour and Social Policy FBIH: “We agreed with management of PIOs to create a programme to eliminate errors and [irregularities] which were noted in the audit report.” Journalist concludes that this probably means that nobody will be held responsible for crimes committed. |
|
| Defence and police issues |
| Cavic on appointment of RS MoI
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Cavic: Nobody wants to be RS police minister’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Premier to make a move’ – Dragan Cavic, RS President, stated on Wednesday that new Interior Minister of RS will not be appointed in the near future, bearing in mind that nobody wants to take over responsibility for apprehension of war crime suspects. He noted: “We are intensively engaged in finding solution. You can be certain that there is nobody interested in this position after Minister Djeric was removed.” RS President said that the major task of the new minister would be to fulfil obligations related to cooperation with the ICTY. Nezavisne Novine pg 10 ‘Crime will blossom in RS without Police Minister’ by Fena; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘The voice of the people is the most important’ by G.D. – Marko Pavic, DNS President and candidate for the Prijedor Mayor, yesterday called on Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister, to appoint the new RS Interior Minister as soon as possible and resolve the dilemma whether SDA ministers would be removed from RS Government or not. He expressed his view that failure to appoint the new interior minister benefits the blossoming of crime. Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Candidates for vacancies are asked to provide sexual services’ mentioned on cover, inset inset ‘We do not need RS MOI’ – SNSD officials Nikola Spiric claimed that Dragan Mikerevic has no strength to select the new Interior minister of RS, which shows that “RS does not need this institution”. |
| FBiH Army ready to take new conscripts
| RHB, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘In military barracks at the beginning of October and December’ by A.P., Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘By the end of year, 2800 recruits’ by E. Sarac, Dnevni List, pg 6, ‘Conscripts enter barracks at end of September’, by Ivica Glibusic, mentioned on cover – During Thursday meeting of FBiH Minister of Defense Miroslav Nikolic with the leading FBiH Army officials, Hajrudin Grabovica and Jugoslav Brdar, specific assignments were given to the latter so that the process of taking new conscripts to military barracks in FBiH could be realized again. According to Minister Nikolic’s decision, the first group of conscripts will start their service in September, and the second one at the beginning of December. |
| RS Army hands military facility to B. Luka University
| RTRS, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 4 ‘Students take over the barracks’ by N Moraca; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Students in line’ by Z. Marceta – The officials of the RS Army General Staff yesterday officially handed the ,military facility of “Vrbas” in Banja Luka to the Banja Luka University. Dragan Cavic, RS President, stressed that “gratitude should be conveyed to RS Army members for what is happening on this. The army throughout RS has handed a large number of its facilities, by which it has shown it is an army of peace.” Dragoljub Mirjanic, Banja Luka University Rector, said that “Vrbas” barracks is the nucleus of the future students’ city. |
| US Embassy: US troops to stay in BiH | Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘US troops staying in BiH’ by A. Prlenda – Daily learns in US Embassy that US military presence in BiH will be maintained and continued, therefore denying information that appeared in media which say that US withdraws completely from BiH. “US clearly said it will continue with its presence in BiH within NATO’s HQ with a very clear tasks to assist in defence reform, fight against terrorism and apprehension of the war crimes indictees,” stated US Embassy. |