TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Oil being removed from Neretva | Incident in | Members of “Zvornik group” arrested |
| A Karadzic’s supporter killed | Three persons arrested in Zvornik | Shooting in |
| Three persons arrested in Zvornik | Regional News | Vandalism in Bihac |
| Almmhofer on constitutional changes | RS Government’s session | Investigation of vandalism in BL |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| A Karadzic’s supporter killed | Members of “Zvornik group” arrested | Incident in |
| Milosevic’s trial, update | Shooting in | Three persons arrested in Zvornik |
| Oil being removed from Neretva | EUFOR incident update | PSC Trebinje brought charges |
| Almmhofer on constitutional changes | RS Government in session | EUFOR concluded the investigation |
| Oslobodjenje | One person murdered, three wounded in |
| Dnevni Avaz | Draft opinion will be finalized until middle next week |
| Nezavisne Novine | Ratomir Spajic murdered |
NOTE: Dnevni List and Vecernji List were not delivered to B. Luka kiosks this morning.
Constitutional changes | |
| BH Pres. Chair: Response from Venetian Comm. on election of BH Pres. Members next week | Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash, pg 2 ‘Draft opinion will be finalized until middle next week’ by T.Lazovic – Sulejman Tihic, Chairperson of the BH Presidency, told daily he had addressed an inquiry on Friday to Venetian Commission demanding opinion on the issue of election of BH Presidency members. He is of the view the draft opinion will be finalized by middle next week, and officially confirmed at the session of Venetian Commission on 16 and 17 March. |
| BH member of Venetian Comm.: No reason to change previous stance on election of BH Presidency | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘No reason to change previous stance on election of BH Presidency’ by T.I.– In a statement to daily, Cazim Sadikovic, BH member of Venetian Commission, says that Venetian Commission will not be able to give opinion of election of BH Presidency at its next session on 16 and 17 March, adding that he sees no reason why Commission would change its previous stance (when it recommended a classical parliamentary structure with one president that would be elected directly). |
| HDZ and | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Signature after recommendation of Venetain Commission’ by F.Vele – Miso Relota, HDZ Spokesperson, and Milenko Brkic, |
| Report on speech Muhamed Filipovic gave at public discussion on constitutional changes
| NTV Hayat – Report carries speech Muhamed Filipovic, academician, gave at public debate on constitutional changes organized by SBiH, SDU and BOSS, on March 2nd, in |
| Interview with Sejfudin Tokic, SDU leader: SDU strongly condemns the fact that BH Constitution, was going to be signed by several people
| NTV Hayat – Report carries interview with Sejfudin Tokic, leader of SDU, one of the parties which organized public debate on constitutional changes in BiH. Tokic said that his party strongly condemned the fact that document, the most relevant one in terms of BiH’s future, na |
| NTV Hayat’ Poll: Majority would support parties not willing to sign agreement on constitutional changes
| NTV Hayat POLL – First question: Who do you support? 448 votes for the political parties which would sign the constitutional changes agreement immediately, na Second question: Which political party’s stances on constitutional changes you support? Great number of BiH citizens said that they were supporting neither of the parties since they worked against their interests. They also said that none of the above mentioned political parties’ representatives had right to sign any kind of constitutional changes agreement on behalf of BiH citizens. |
| “Others” not included in constitutional changes
| TV PINK – Negotiations on constitutional changes include leaders of eight political parties but not citizens, especially “others”. European Parliament Representatives believe that this is discrimination and if BiH does not work on this issue, its way toward EU would not be easy. In the census in 1991, 8% of BiH citizens did not declare themselves as member of one of three constitutional people but as citizen of this country. “Others” were not consulted regarding constitutional changes. Jakob Finci, director State Service Agency said that BiH Parliament did not give seats for “others’ and that BiH Parliament only protects vital national interest of three peoples. Hans Swoboda, European Parliament Representative said that BiH with the Constitution that discriminates someone would not be able to associate with EU. Swoboda said that negotiations on constitutional changes should continue adding that there should be decision made after the October elections that would satisfy all the citizens of BiH. |
Political Developments | |
| First session of new RS Government: Many decisions of previous Govt. put out of effect
| RTRS – New RS Government held its first session in RS Government also suspended decision on appointments in Councils of the Universities in BHT 1 – Dodik announced charges against all companies suspected of mismanagement. Regarding the special prosecutor’s department, Dodik said that “it will have its own authority in all RS cities without Government’s interference”. Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Reductions of pays to premier and ministers’ by A.Sekulic – daily carries Dodik as announcing donations to “Glas Srpske” from RS budget would be suspended, adding that editorial board of this paper will soon be removed. Dnevni Avaz pg 4, announced on cover ‘Milorad Dodik announces new denunciations’ by N.Diklic, Oslobodjenje pg 3, announced on cover ‘Pays of RS Government members returned to previous level’ by O.Vukovic, TV PINK, RHB, FTV – also report on RS Govt. session |
| Interview with EUPM Commissioner Coppola: Terrorism is no threat to BH security | Nezavisne Novine pgs 8-9, announced on cover ‘Terrorism is no threat to safety in BiH’ by Almedin Sisic – In a lengthy interview to daily, Vincenzo Coppola, Head of EUPM Mission to BiH, says that “political interference in the work of police in BiH is still strong…I want to be clear: political control over the work of police is normal, bit interference is something else – it is inadmissible.” Announcing future activities of the EUPM, Coppola says that it would conduct inspections of local police structures. Responding to press question what the greatest threats to safety in BiH are, he responds there are many sorts of threats, starting with minor crime, via organised crime, trafficking in people, etc. According to him, the fact is that corruption is more visible in BiH than in other states. Noting successful fight against corruption involves the issue of alteration of mentality. In regard to terrorism issues, he says: “It is most likely there is terrorism presence in BiH, but I am not certain whether that presence represents a threat to BiH security. Hence, I am of the view that situation in BiH is – at worst case – akin to the situations in some European states.” In regard to police reform, he notes the final goal of reform is to get more efficient police force, with reduced level of command chain. |
War Crimes | |
| Shooting in
| TV PINK – In the incident that happened in BHT 1 – The murderer still hasn’t been identified but the investigation is ongoing. Spaic, owner of RMG company, was often connected with network protecting war crime indictee at large Radovan Karadzic and with mafia. Reporter noted that in Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Ratomir Spaic murdered, pg 3 ‘Ratomir Spajic murdered, BH T journalist wounded’ by R.Rakic, Dnevni Avaz pg 23, announced on cover ‘Rato Spajic liquidated’ by Dz.Mahmutovic/E.Sarac, Oslobodjenje cover pg splash, pg 39 ‘One person murdered, three wounded in East Sarajevo’ by R.I., |
| Interview with Phon van der Biesen
| NTV Hayat – Report carries interview with Phon van der Biesen, BiH legal representative in BiH vs. SCG lawsuit for aggression and genocide. On being asked whether the evidence documentation BiH team is to present before the International Court of Justice in The Hague is sufficient in order for the lawsuit to be successful, Biesen said that the team has submitted a lot of documentation and that it now was clarifying some issues which have not been clarified enough since there was no sufficient material. “In period of 10 days we are presenting a whole picture of ethnical cleansing period which raged in BiH”, said van der Biesen. Biesen explained why the team did not invited war victims, individuals, to testify in the case because there is great number of war victims and it would not be fair to make any kind of election, making one victim more relevant than the other. While commenting statement Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica gave after videotape on his visit to Serb troops at frontline in Sarajevo during the war was shown in the Court, na |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed critical of SiCG Premier Kostunica
| Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘Kostunica above Sarajevo’ by Senka Kurtovic – Commenting on statement Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica gave after showing of videotape on his visit to Serb troops at frontline in Sarajevo during the war (when he said it presented no evidence and that due to such poor evidence the lawsuit was going to be rejected), the author notes that story about Ratko Mladic and Kostunica has same denominator, i.e. general as a criminal and premier as a coward are facing with same situation, when none of them can run away from their past. She underlines regardless how bad Mladic is trying to make a hero of himself, he is becoming increasing burden to SiCG. On Kostunica, she adds all his attempts to Europise and civilise his primitive nationalism fail when tape is seen. |
| Three persons indicted for war crimes were arrested in Zvornik
| BH T 1 – War crime indictees Ratko Todorovic, Dusan Spasojevic and Mirko Pantic have been arrested in Zvornik on Friday upon the warrant issued by Tuzla Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office. Spokesperson of RS Ministry of Interior Radovan Pejic first denied that these indictees were arrested and than in a telephone interview for BHT 1 he confirmed their arrest. The apprehended war crime indictees are charged with war crimes against Bosniaks in Zvornik in 1993. This arrest my help in the trial against Zvornik Group processed before the Belgrade District Court. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Those charged with war crimes in Zvornik arrested’ by J.Sarac – daily reports that the fourth suspect Radomir Skilje, also charged with war crimes against Bosniaks at “Novi izvor” camp, has not been arrested, since he is not within Bijeljina PSC AOR (area of responsibility) and arrest warrant has been issued after him. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Mirko Pantic, Ratko Todorovic and Dusan Spasojevic arrested’ by A.,Hadzic, RHB, TV PINK, FTV, RTRS – also report |
| Former Serbian high official collects information on Karadzic in
| BH T 1 – Former Serbian high official from State Security (Note: no name stated), that has been charged with war crimes before the ICTY, has been collecting information on whereabouts of war crime indictee Radovan Karadzic in Montenegro. The high official was close associate of Slobodan Milosevic. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Former official of State security in search after Karadzic’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Former official of State Security searching after Karadzic’ by |
Economy, Judiciary | |
| Interview with HJPC President: Selection of foreign judges and prosecutors should be more transparent
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Selection of foreign judges and prosecutor is not transparent enough’ by Husein Orahovac – In an interview to daily, Branko Peric, President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC), estimates that the establishment of the HJPC has ensured a full independence of judiciary from politics. He is of the view that the a long fight is ahead of judicial-prosecutorial authority to reach the satisfactory level of efficiency, the lack of which at the moment Peric sees in the fact that disputes that judiciary should not be dealing with are run as in no other place in developed world (i.e. failure to pay utility bills). In regard to election of foreign judges and prosecutors, he is of the view it is not transparent enough, which is because HJPC is not entirely authorized to deal with the appointments. |
| Confederation of BiH Syndicate regarding VAT
| TV PINK, RTRS – Confederation of BiH Syndicate supports the initiative that would be discussed on March 7th in BiH Parliament. The initiative expects introduction of 0% Valued Added Tax (VAT) on groceries, press and medications. Confederation also requests that 50% of VAT is allocated to social categories but not fixed 50 million KM. Cedo Volas, Chair of Confederation believes that budgets should be passed as soon as possible in order that categories (pensioners, socially endangered persons and employees) get resources. Volas expects from BiH Council of Ministers to establish Economic- Social Council on BiH level. Volas will request meeting with the World Bank due to World Bank request for decrease of salaries in BiH. |
Miscellaneous | |
| EUFOR soldiers breeched disciplinary regulations
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘EUFOR members violated regulations’ by D.B., Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘EUFOR completed investigation regarding incident in Banja Luka’,RTRS, FTV – Chief of EUFOR Press Office Russel Craig said that two soldiers with masks that were seen with a crying young woman sitting in EUFOR car have breeched the disciplinary regulations. Craig confirmed that EUFOR will start the disciplinary proceedings against these soldiers. He noted that they were familiar with the girl and that no files were charged against two soldiers. |
| Oil from Neretva being removed
| RHB, NTV Hayat, BH T 1, FTV – Process of removing oil, which has poured into Neretva river, has been continued on Saturday. In interview for RHB, investigator from Hervegovina-Neretva Canton Nedzad Karalic said that investigation was ongoing and that persons, suspected of pouring the oil in Nretva were being interrogated. (NOTE: Oil is believed to cause carcinogenic diseases). Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘No comment about investigation at Hydro Power Plant Jablanica’ by M.Krilic – Jablanica employees did not want to make comment on the fact three of their colleagues were suspected by Cantonal Interior Ministry for being responsible for pouring of oil into river. |