04/07/2006

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 7/4/2006

Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 onApril 7, 2006

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

14th anniversary of HVO

ICTY: Status conference on Gotovina

Crans Montana forum in Zagreb

TV news broadcast on April 6, 2006

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

CEFTA Summit in Bucharest

BIH HoP session

State flag set on fire in Brcko

Kran Montana Forum in Zagreb

Terzic at conference in Bucharest

Marking of April 6th

BiH HoP in session

Davidovic meets Union reps

Declaration on Free Trade Zone

Public debate on const. amendments

Social symposium in Banja Luka

BiH HoP to discuss const. changes

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

BiH flag burned in Brcko

OHR on Dixon’s mandate

RS NA session

Report on situation in Bratunac

FBiH Gov. distribution of VAT income

Social symposium in Banja Luka

Report on two primary schools

Alleged embezzlements in ARDA

BIH HoP session

Feature story on two returnees

Dutch Minister on EU enlargement

Update on GO company

 

Oslobodjenje

Tihic and Lagumdzija convinced they have support of Parliament

Dnevni Avaz

SDS bankruptcy for debts worth millions

Dnevni List

Investigations against Covic returned to Mostar (BiH Prosecution handed over 2 investigations agst HDZ President Dragan Covic to Cantonal Prosecution in Mostar

Vecernji List

He killed patient by laser ray during operation of bile (on misterious death of patient in Mostar hospital)

Slobodna Dalmacija

Alija gave up Herzegovina and RS (transcript from wartime session of R BiH Presidency during which Alija Izetbegovic stood for division of BiH)

Nezavisne Novine

BiH in CEFTA by the end of the year

Glas Srpske

They are threatening me with [throwing me out on] street [feature story on problems with regard to tenancy rights of a former handball player]

EuroBlic

Darko Mladic: They are searching after my father over me and my uncles [son of Ratko Mladic denies the latest pressures against Mladic family would have any effect]

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related titles

 

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

Cardinal Puljic to US Ambassador McElhaney: 2 entities are death for Croats 

Fena – Cardinal Vinko Puljic met with US Ambassador Douglas McElhaney on Thursday and on this occasion Cardinal Puljic stated that 2 entities are death for the Croat people.  

 

Economy, economic crime and investigations

CEFTA summit agrees to complete enlargement process by end of year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RHB– Process of enlargement of the Central Europe Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) has to be completed by the end of the year, since it is in interest of all states in the region, was agreed by all CEFTA Summit participants in Bucharest. Prime Ministers of Southeast Europe states have been negotiating on the free trade agreement by enlarging the free trade area by 4 new states: Croatia, Bulgaria, Rumania and Macedonia. It is expected that by the end of 2006 BiH, SCG, Albania and Moldavia would join CEFTA. BHT1SEE PMs adopted the Declaration on establishing the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Southeast Europe. Detailed negotiations on a joint Free Trade Agreement [FTA] should start on May 31. Chair of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic [who attends the conference]stated that BiH welcomes this Declaration, stressing that the negotiations on annexes to existing FTAs should be negotiated at the same time, especially regarding the sensitive category of products such as agriculture products. U Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn stated at the Conference that regional cooperation is a logical part of the EU integration process. PINK, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘A step towards single free trades zone’ by M. K. S., Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘BiH in CEFTA by the end of the year’ by M. Cubro, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Terzic: Establish just system of free trade’, by f, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Remove barriers to trade of goods’, by D. Kozina, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘BiH member of CEFTA by the end of the year’ by M.Cubro carry similar reports.

CoM Chair Terzic on CEFTA: We have improved BiH position in free trade

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘We have improved BiH position in free trade’ by T.Lazovic– Chair of BiH CoM Adnan Terzic after the CEFTA Summit in Bucharest told that the BiH delegation managed to get a promise on improvement of BiH unfavourable situation in current agreements. “We received guarantees of the EC and Stability Pact that they would help us to negotiate on annexes to the Agreement with Croatia and SCG in regard to agricultural products” said Terzic.  

FBiH Govt discusses ITA, allocation of public revenues/ FBiH Finance Minister Vrankic: ITA should be under CoM

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Transfer ITA in the BiH Council of Ministers’ framework!’ by M. Kukan – The FBiH Government held a session in Mostar focusing at the blockade of the public revenues allocation to entities and lower authorities as instructed by the ITA Steering Board Chair, Joly Dixon. Following the session, the FBiH Deputy Prime Minister Gavrilo Grahovac and FBiH Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic held an extraordinary press conference stating that the Government gave a full support to Vrankic to continue solving this issue within the current legal provisions. The entire situation however indicated that the blockades and blackmails are possible from the RS at any time, which – as Vrankic explains – lead to an initiative to change the Law on ITA. “The system of the ITA has showed to be a travesty. Thus I propose for this unnatural creation currently between the entities and the state, to be located definitely at the [state level], in the Council of Ministers and the sate institutions,” said Vrankic noting this would prevent the further blockades. Commenting on the Dixon’s decision to freeze the allocation of public revenues from the single budget account, Vrankic notes that he has information Dixon did this following the consultations with the OHR and EC. BHT1 – Vrankic stated that the decision of ITA to freeze the assets has negative effects on work of all FBiH institutions. ITA Spokesman Ratko Kovacevic stated that a final solution on allocation from the single account is expected on Tuesday. He reminded that until then, about 100 million KM are expected to be collected at the ITA account. RHB, Hayat, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘De-blockade of account announced for Tuesday’, by Ljiljana Vidacak, Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘All left without money because of conflict between entities’, by Milan Sutalo – also covered.

OHR in process of extending ITA Steering Board’s Chair mandate

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Process of extending Dixon’s mandate in process’ – The OHR confirmed that the process of extending the mandate of the Chairman of the Steering Board of the ITA is in progress. The mandate of Joly Dixon expired on March 31. The OHR spokesperson, Ljiljana Radetic, told Fena on Thursday that “all other matters need to be resolved in line with the law”. RS Finance Minister Aleksandar Dzombic said the Dixon’s mandate expired on March 31, thus he could not issue any decisions, including “freezing” of funds from the single account. Namely, Dixon issued the decision by which he terminated the previous decision from March 31 on distribution of revenue, by issuing the decision to “freeze” distribution of funds till further notice [see BiH Media Round-up April 6]. FTV, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Extending of mandate to Joly Dixon’ by Fena – carry Radetic.

RS Finance Minister demands urgent ITA Steering Board session

 

Nezavisne novine pg 4 ‘Dzombic demanded urgent session of the Baord’ by DR. – MK. – RS Finance Minister Aleksandar Dzombic demanded an urgent session of the ITA Steering Board, and also proposed that the extraordinary session should determine the coefficients for allocation of the revenues in 2006 [which still presents the main issue to be solved.] Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Dzombic demanded session without Dixon’ – Dzombic underlined that the session would be held without Chair Dixon.

RSNA passes draft laws foreseeing establishment of RS Investment Development Bank

 

RTRS – RS National Assembly passed a set of draft laws from field of economy and development foreseeing establishment of the RS Investment-Development Bank. Addressing the RSNA, the RS Finance Minister Aleksandar Dzombic stressed the Bank would have a task to actively work on creation of business environment in the RS as well as on increase of company competitiveness, increase of employment and assistance to privatised companies. He also stated that the Bank should be established as a shareholders’ institution for managing investment funds. Founder of the bank would be the RS Government. SDS deputies objected this law the most and Branislav Stojanovic stresses that the concept of the bank is not in accordance with the RS legal and finance system. SNSD and PDP deputies on the other hand feel that the law represents a good concept for improvement of the RS. PINK, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘RS will get investment – development bank’ by V. Popovic – also covered.

Symposium on social welfare in Banja Luka / Draft of integrated welfare system presented

 

RTRS– The international symposium on “Systems of social welfare – analysis and first recommendations for BiH and its entities” was held in Banja Luka. RS President Dragan Cavic participated at the symposium and stressed that BiH’s welfare sector has not been changed since signing of the Dayton Agreement. RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik stated that privatisation process that improved the social status of employees is almost non-existent in the RS. He claims that the RS and BiH need to have a sustainable model of the welfare system. The first draft of new integrated system of social welfare in BiH has been presented at the symposium, which among other stresses that the biggest problem in BiH is lack of money.  PINK, BHT1, Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Reform of welfare sector to take place’ – also covered.

Deputy FBiH PM Grahovac: FBiH Govt may dismiss FERK members

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Removal of FERK officials is possible’ by M. K., Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Replacement of FERK members possible as well’ by F.V.– Vice President of the FBiH Government Gavrilo Grahovac said at Thursday’s press-conference in Mostar that there is a possibility for the FBiH Parliament to dismiss members of the Federal Electricity Regulatory Commission [Risto Mandrapa, Djulizara Hadzimustafic and Zdenko Simunovic].  Grahovac said that there is also a possibility for FERK to be abolished “if it would work as it has been working so far”. Chair of FERK Mandrapa told DA that he does not want to comment on this, stressing that they would present all details regarding their decision at the FBiH Parliament’s session.

SB: FBiH Financial Police sues Minister Vrankic for abolishing ‘Energopetrol’s’ debt

 

Slobodna Bosna, pg 12 ‘Hushing up Energopetrol’s debt’, by M. Fazlic – Notes that the FBiH Financial Police (FBiH FP) submitted to the Chief Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor, Branko Sljivar, a report that charges the FBiH Finance Minister, Dragan Vrankic, that he annulled the decision of the FBiH FP according to which the ‘Energopetrol’ has to pay the unpaid taxes (on oil) to the FBiH budget in amount of some 14 million KMs. The same report also orders that the company has to pay 8 million KMs on account of unpaid customs. Dani pgs 19-21 ‘Minister for tycoon finances’, by Vildana Selimbegovic – carries a list of companies that have not paid taxes worth millions of KMs, which was allegedly all possible thanks to Minister Vrankic.

DA: PBES demands seizure of SDS property 

 

Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘SDS bankruptcy for debts worth millions’, pg 3 ‘Seizure of SDS property begins’ by S.Numanovic learns that provisional administration of the Privredna Bank Eastern Sarajevo [PBES] demanded the authorized Court in Doboj to seize a part of the building in property of SDS, and issue a public tender for its sale to ensure that SDS’s debt to PBES of approx. 2 million KM be paid back. SDS allegedly collected 1,3 million for this purpose. DA learns that SDS almost faced bankruptcy, while party leader Dragan Cavic is trying to lobby, finding no understanding for pay off to be put on hold.

SB: Trials to Sarovic and others starts on April 14

 

Slobodna Bosna, pgs 18-21 ‘Trials to four-member SDS gang’, by S.Mijatovic announces that trials before the BiH Court against former senior BiH, RS and SDS officials, Mirko Sarovic, Milvan Cicko Bjelica, Milorad Govedarica and Momcilo Mandic, who are charged with abuse of money belonging to the ‘Privredna Banka Srpsko Sarajevo’, will begin on April 14.

BiH Prosecution handed over 2 investigations agst HDZ President Covic to Cantonal Prosecution in Mostar

 

Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Investigations against Covic returned to Mostar’ by E. Mackic learns from sources close to the BiH Prosecution that the BiH Prosecution handed over 2 investigations (on ‘Soko’ and ‘Buying of flats’ cases) against HDZ President Dragan Covic to the Cantonal Prosecution in Mostar. Covic’s lawyer, Zdravko Rajic, confirmed that the ‘Soko’ case has been transferred to Mostar and he added that the bill of indictment has not been confirmed yet. DL also carries the Chief Cantonal Prosecutor in Mostar, Nijaz Mehmedbasic, who claims that the aforementioned cases have not been transferred to the Cantonal Prosecution in Mostar.

Five managers of ARDA submit resignation

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Resignations of five managers were accepted’ by M. K. and P. K. – Five managers of ARDA (Regional Development Agency of north-west BiH) have submitted their resignations and the Governing Board accepted these resignations. The resignations were filed after an attempt of these people to include members of their families in lucrative projects of the Agency (financed by the EC) had been discovered. FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Five resigns for conflict of interest’ by S.Dz., also reported.

Oslobodjenje op-ed on RS fight vs. organized crime: RS PM Dodik acknowledges only opinion of his own party

Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘Dodik’s justice’ by Zija Dizdarevic – Following adoption of a set of laws on fight against organized crimes by the RSNA, the author says that RS PM Milorad Dodik had, by this, started fulfilling promises he had made while he was taking over the position of RS PM. Referring to the decision of BiH Constitutional Court on entities’ symbols and Dodik’s statements disputing and criticizing the decision, the author says it is obvious Dodik acknowledges only opinion of his own party.

 

Constitutional changes

BiH HoP organizes public debate on const. changes; closing discussion on April 12

 

 

 

BHT1 – At the Thursday’s session, the BiH House of Peoples issued the Decision on public discussion on proposed amendments to the BiH Constitution. The closing discussion will be held on April 12. The BiH Parliament Assembly’s Legal-Constitutional Commission discussed the amendments with representatives of Caucus of 17 political parties. All opinions and stances will be submitted to BiH Parliament Assembly. RHB, PINK, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Amendments to the Constitution go into public debate’ by H.Orahovac Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Amendments to the Constitution were sent to the public discussion’ by A. T., EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Joint discussion on April 12’ by D. S., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Public discussion was scheduled’ by Z. D., Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Amendments to the Constitution on public discussion’ by Agencies – carried similar reports.

FBiH HoR Constitutional Constitution discussed proposed const. changes: Entity voting biggest problem

 

RHB– The public debate organized by the FBiH House of Representatives’ Constitutional Commission and representatives of 17 parliamentary parties noted that  the entity voting is a crucial problem in proposed amendments to the BiH Constitution. It is possible to abolish entity voting since the existing Constitution allows changes if 2/3 of the HoP representatives agree, as the member of the Commission Omer Ibrahimagic said. In terms of amendments to the Constitution in general, Ibrahimagic said that he supported them. SBiH Caucus Chair Ismet Briga said that SBiH could not support the entity voting. Stances, given during the debate, will be published at the special Constitutional Commission’s session. BHT1– Representatives of Croat parties expressed their worries over the fact that the entity voting is being preserved. They also doubt that in the second phase of constitutional changes, all decisions could be passed by the entity voting without the approval of Croats. FTV– also carried.

SDA leader Tihic and SDP leader Lagumdzija convinced they have support of BiH Parliament for constitutional changes

 

Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 5 ‘Tihic and Lagumdzija convinced they have support of Parliament’ by Az.K. – Commenting on possibilities for the amendments to the BiH Constitution to be adopted in BiH Parliament, SDA leader Sulejman Tihic and SDP leader Zlatko Lagumdzijaare convinced that they would have necessary support. Tihic believes that 28 out of 42 deputies in the BiH House of Representatives will be in favor of the constitutional changes, adding the chances are even bigger, since there is always someone of the deputies not present at the session, so the quota would be lower. Lagumdzija claims: “Some of deputies that are currently against amendments to the Constitution, will be in favor of them at the session. We who are in favor of changes, we take responsibility for moving things from the dead spot, and those that are against it, let them not think they are amnestied from the responsibility.”

SDP PresidentLagumdzija: Many of those who oppose const. changes do it because of coming elections

 

OBN ‘Telering’ – guest SDP President Zlatko Lagumdzija, who very thoroughly explained the changes to BiH Constitution, amendment by amendment. Among the other things he said that those who are against proposed amendments to constitutional changes “are mostly not against the changes, they are against us. Many of them know very well that we are right, but they have decided to lay all their cards onto the next elections. If they were serious persons, they would propose something else, make a different proposal of the constitutional changes.’

SBiH leader Halilovic: Proposed amendments are full of defections

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Proposed amendments are full of defections’ by Husein Orahovac – SBiH leader Safet Haliloviconce more stressed that the proposed amendments to the BiH Constitution are “damaging future and sovereignty of BiH”, underlining that the greatest defection is that entity voting remains.

HDZ spokesperson Relota: HDZ does not have parallel amendments

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘HDZ does not have parallel amendments’ by A.M. – Commenting on the statement of SDP leader Zlatko Lagumdzijawho said that HDZ submitted “completely different amendments” to the BiH Constitution, HDZ spokesperson Miso Relota stated that the party does not have nor it will submit any parallel amendments to the BiH Constitution. He said: “We had our amendments drafted on the base of the previous agreement of political parties. But, it has been harmonized at the last meeting in Sarajevo.”

HDZ representative in BiH HoR Andric: Regardless of pressures I shall vote agst const. changes agreement

 

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘Croats are more important than HDZ: I shall vote against Constitution’ by F. Mioc – HDZ representative in the BiH HoR Filip Andric stated that disciplinary measures of any kind and any other pressures would not prevent him to vote against the constitutional changes agreement in the BiH Parliament. He added that the 2nd phase of the constitutional changes negotiations is a fairytale since Serbs would get a state within a state and Bosniaks almost the whole FBiH, having in mind their number, if the agreement was adopted. Andric added that Croats would only have a few Cantons that they might lose in the 2nd phase of the negotiations since regionalization might take place in this phase.

Croat member of BiH Presidency Jovic with French Ambassador de Fabiani: In future Europeans should be more present in const. reforms

 

Dnevni List pg 4 ‘2nd phase of negotiations can start’ by NINA, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Europeans will be more present in the reforms’ Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Domestic forces show they can lead BiH’ by Onasa – Croat member of the BiH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic met with French Ambassador to BiH Henry Zipper de Fabiani on Thursdayand they stated that constitutional changes have shown that domestic forces can lead their country, however the International Community’s consultative assistance is still welcome. They also agreed that in the 1st phase of the negotiations Americans had a prominent role but that in future Europeans should be more present in the process of constitutional reforms.

DL: ‘HDZ is playing double game when it comes to constitutional changes’

 

Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘‘HDZ is playing double game when it comes to constitutional changes’, by D. P. Mandic – with regards to some media reports that suggested that the HDZ Presidency has prepared and submitted constitutional amendments that are different to the amendments agreed by the political parties, DL notes that participants of the negotiations (NB: DL does not name them) assessed the HDZ’s amendments as a new attempt to deceive the public and attempt to shift the responsibility for the constitutional changes on someone else. Apparently, one of amendments that the HDZ has submitted says the future BiH House of Peoples should continue to confirm the state budget, appointments of officials and give its consent for ratification of international agreements.

Colak (HSS): Croats are hostages of entity way of voting

 

Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Croats are hostages of entity voting’, by Mensud Zorlak – carries the Vice President of HSS (Croat Peasants Party), Ante Colak, as criticizing the proposed constitutional amendments, especially the bit about the survival of entity voting in the BiH House of Representatives and limited competence of the BiH House of Peoples, arguing that in the future all decisions could be taken without Croats’ votes.

DL op-ed: HR Schwarz-Schilling disagrees with BiH Bishops when const. chgs are in question

 

Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Schilling and Bishops’ by P. Gasparevic comments on constitutional changes and the author’s main objection when Croat interests are in question is the entity way of voting. The author reminds that the BiH Bishops’ Conference is against the changes since they believe that they are damaging for Croats. The author goes on to say that High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling expressed his disagreement with this stand of BiH Bishops and he said that the Constitution is not final and that ‘it would be especially necessary to create the possibility at lower levels so that Croats can be and feel as a part of BiH’. The author says that it would be good to remember this promise made by the HR.  

Dani comment on constitutional changes: Process is full of absurdities, opponents propose no alternative solutions

Dani, pgs 22 -23 ‘Patriotic fear of changes’, by Ivan Lovrenovic says that the main feature of the opponents of the constitutional changes is the fact that they oppose the changes, since they have not offered any alternative solutions, or as Lovrenovic puts it, they want to preserve the status quo in BiH. As for the changes, the author argues they indeed are limited, there is no reason to commend SDP’s Lagumdzija and SDA’s Tihic for their achievements, however the changes will try to start a process that could ‘break the coffin called Dayton Peace Accord’.

 

Other political issues

RS Law on Holidays fails to obtain necessary RSNA majority; SDA, SDP dispute 9 Jan as RS Day

 

 

RTRS – At the continuation of the extraordinary session on Thursday, the RS National Assembly MPs rejected the proposed RS Law on Holidays since it failed to obtain necessary majority after 41 delegates voted in favour, 10 against and 12 abstained from voting. The delegates from Bosniak parties asked that the RS Day be celebrated on November 21 (signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement) instead on January 9. However, these amendments were not adopted. SDA abstained from voting, while SDP of BiH voted against proposed Law. BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Correctional [test] in three months’ by G. Dakic and Z. Markovic, Blic pg RS2 ‘Holidays remain’ by Srna, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘RS will get investment – development bank’ by V. Popovic Inset ‘Law on holidays without support’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘RS keeps war time holidays’, Dnevni List ‘Law on Holidays was not adopted’ – also reported in short.

EC and OHR criticize RS officials and their proposals on the police; warn that SAA could be suspended

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Possible delaying of the agreement with the EU’, mentioned on cover by M.Cubro – EC spokesperson Frano Maroevic warned that the Commission could ask for a delay in signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the BiH if the police reform is not carried out in line with the three EU principles. The OHR criticized the proposal of RS representative in Police Reform Directorate Dragomir Andan envisaging establishment of three regions [entities and Brcko District]. Spokesperson of the OHR Oleg Milisic stated that the Office expects RS officials to make a new proposal soon, which would respect 3 principles, but also “reflects a promise of the RS PM Milorad Dodik, given to the High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling”. Milisic explained that Dodik has told the HR that he expects the PRD to finish work by June. EC did not want to comment on the proposal of RS officials. “We do not want to get into detail discussions on certain proposals, because we clearly said what reform should be and authorities very well know what has to be done” said Maroevic. Chair of the PRD Sead Lisak explained that according to the RS proposal the police would not be able to cross entity lines and the state would pass only the frame law, which would regulate the current situation.

SDHR Bas-Backer meets HDZ Chair Covic, discuss const. changes, higher education, PBS and elections

 

RHB– HDZ Chair Dragan Covic and HDZ Secretary General Nevenko Herceg met in Mostar with Senior Deputy High Representative Peter Bas-Backer in order to discuss constitutional changes in BiH, law on higher education, public broadcasting service and forthcoming elections. HDZ and OHR representatives agreed that constitutional changes in BiH presented a crucial issue. SDHR said that in the period to follow BiH had to be a functional state, adding that after OHR’s withdrawal, the EC was going to take over leadership in BiH in order to help BiH in becoming an EU member.

EC: Launching VNI procedure on PBS will not block European path

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Launching vital national interest will not block European path’ by Fena – The EC spokesperson, Frane Maroevic, stated that aunching of the vital national interest procedure by the Croat Caucus in the FBiH House of Peoples with regard to the FBiH Law on Public Broadcasting Service [PBS] is a right of MPs and this will in no way stall BiH’s further progress on the road to European integration. Maroevic said: “We wish for this procedure to be completed as soon as possible so that the Law could be adopted. We also expect the RS Government and the National Assembly to adopt the Law on RTRS that is in line with the State legislation, with the aim of establishing a public broadcasting system on the entire territory of BiH”.

BiH Foreign Minister Ivanic: solution for Kosovo might pose danger for entire region, BiH should be neither centralised nor divided in two parts

 

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Dangerous for the region’ by Tanjug, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Strengthening state of BiH will be the priority in following period’ – In an interview to Vienna daily “Kurir”, BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic has stated that a solution to the Kosovo issue, which would be unacceptable either for Belgrade or Pristine, might have negative consequences on the entire region. With regard to BiH, Ivanic noted that there should be no international pressure aimed at abolishing the RS and added that the solution to this issue should be neither too centralised BiH nor a division of BiH in two parts.

SDHR Bas- Backer meets Beslic; discuss budget and surplus in Mostar Administration

 

RHB– SDHR Peter Bas-Backer met with Mostar Mayor Ljubo Beslic and the Chair of the City Council Murat Coric and Beslic informed the SDHR about obstacles due to which the budget has not been passed yet. Beslic pointed out the issue of Herzegovina TV station, being a political issue, as well as the issue of not having the 5 FBiH Ministries completely moved to Mostar. It was agreed for the issues to be solved at the higher level. Asked whether the OHR was going to help in taking care of surplus employees in the Mostar City Administration, SDHR said that the OHR had no money at its disposal and that it could only support establishment of institutions. FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘OHR advocates urgent determining of draft town budget’ by M. K., Dnevni List pg 11 ‘HTV Mostar and surplus employees obstacles’ by S. Bjelica, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘SDHR visited Mostar’ by id, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 21 ‘Budget in blockade’ by M. Landeka  – also covered.

HDZ 1990 pr: ‘Join HDZ 1990, which is going to be leading Croat party’

Vecernji List pg 2 ‘We shall establish HDZ 1990 tomorrow’ by Fena carries a press release issued by the HDZ 1990 Initiative Board which, among the other things, calls on all HDZ BiH members and other persons to join HDZ 1990, ‘which is going to be a leading Croat party’

Serb MPs to support, Bosniak MPs to be against inter-state agreement with Croatia on assistance to HVO victims

 

Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Agreement with Croatia to be adopted even without votes of Bosniaks’ by I. Glibusic – With regard to the inter-state agreement between BiH and Croatia on the rights of HVO victims and members of their families for which the BiH Constitutional Court concluded that it does not violate a vital national interest of Bosniaks, Chairman of the Bosniak Caucus Halid Genjac said that the BiH CC’s decision would be implemented, however, Bosniak MPs will not give their support to this agreement. On the other hand the Serb Caucus announced that they would support the agreement. Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Verification of agreement on assistance to HVO’ by E. Medunjanin carries that Serb MPs would certainly vote for the agreement if they get the guarantees that parts of the agreement, such as qualification of the wartime conflict, would be changed later on.

OHR: Passive registration is not obstacle for returnees to register in pre-war municipalities

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘There are no obstacles to people voting in places they were expelled from’ by N.D. – L.S. – Commenting on the request of the RSNA delegates from the SDA for the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling to ensure returnees to vote in the municipality they were expelled from, the OHR spokesperson Ljiljana Radetic, told that the OHR does not see the passive registration to be the obstacle for this way of voting. She stressed that the OHR “deems that the system allowing refugees to register in their pre-war municipalities is a characteristic of the passive registration system BiH Election Commission has been preparing.” 

VL: ‘Think BiH’ project launched to strengthen BiH identity

 

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Schilling: Raise political conscience of citizens’, by Valentina Rupcic – According to VL, the Goethe Institute, the US embassy to BiH and Sarajevo-based agency ‘CMC’ launched in 2005 a campaign entitled ‘Misli BiH’ (Think BiH), the aim of which is to promote BiH within the country itself since BiH has a problem of identity. The campaign will continue in 2006. VL also notes that the HR, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, is also supporting the campaign, claiming it should raise the political awareness of BiH citizens prior to the October elections. Inset ‘Citizens recognized campaign’ notes that some 7% of citizenry have spotted the campaign. VL concludes that the ‘action’ will be coordinated in the OHR.

 

Crime, security and war crimes

Another state flag burned down in Brcko

 

 

 

BHT1– Unknown persons damaged and torched the state flag in front of a primary school in thr Brcko District. Police is investigating to discover the perpetrators. Brcko Mayor Mirsad Djapo and District’s Administration fiercely condemned this act of violence. This is the second time in past 20 days that the state flag has been torched in thr Brcko District. PINK, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Damaged BiH flag in Brcko’ Dnevni Avaz pg 6 ’BiH flag torched again’ by E.R, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘BiH flag torched’ by N. Tr., Vecernji List pg 2 ‘BiH flag burnt again’ by Pincom.info  – also reported.

SB: Mladic will turn himself in after he had phone talk with Prosecutor del Ponte at PM Kostunica’s

 

Slobodna Bosna, front pg splash and pgs 6-9 ‘Ratko Mladic to Carla del Ponte – I’m coming to The Hague in 15 days’, by Mirha Dedic learns from its source close to the Serbian Government that during the last meeting between Serbian PM, Vojislav Kostunica and the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, Kostunica took a phone, dialed a number, and the result was that Mladic answered the call and it took as little as 5 minutes for Mladic to promise he would turn himself in. Mladic apparently asked from del Ponte to provide him an adequate medical attention at the ICTY since the latest diagnosis say Mladic will not make it until end July since he is terminally ill with cancer. SB goes on to say that Mladic will cash in from the arrest, since SB’s source says Mladic will get some 10 million Euros to take care of his family and loyal bodyguards. Furthermore, SB says only a handful of people know the details of the operation, including the RS PM, Milorad Dodik. Namely, the arrest/surrender will be staged in BiH, which would save Kostunica’s cabinet. Finally, SB says del Ponte asked from Dodik to dismiss the RS Police Director, Dragan Andan, since Andan too wanted to convince Mladic to surrender, however Andan’s asked for a big commission, which triggered del Ponte’s request to Dodik.

ICTY claims that Serbian PM promised arrest of Mladic by end of April

 

RTRS– Newly appointed ICTY Spokesman Anton Nikiforov stated that Serbian Prime minister Vojislav Kostunica promised ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte that Ratko Mladic will be extradited by the end of April. At the same time official Belgrade claims to have no information on alleged interrogation of Mladic’s cousins. Ratko Mladic’s son Darko Mladic stated that the Belgrade police interrogated his cousins. Darko also stated that he was not interrogated and added that his cousins have been released. BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 19 ‘Kostunica promised to arrest Mladic by end of April’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Kostunica promised to extradite Mladic by the end of April’ by Agencies, Blic cover splash ‘Darko Mladic: They seek my father trough me and uncle’, pg 2 Inset ‘Nikiforov: Kostunica promised general by end of April’ Inset ‘Hartman on new duty’, Dnevni List pg 22 ‘Two brothers of Ratko Mladic’s wife arrested’ by P. Petrovic  – also covered.

ICTY acting spokesperson Chartie: Karadzic and Mladic not to be tried in BiH

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Karadzic and Mladic are not to be trialed in BiH’ not signed – ICTY Acting Spokesperson Christian Chartie stated that the possibility that Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are “not likely” to be trialed before BiH Court, as former ICTY Secretary Michael Johnson previously stated.

ICTY denies dismissal of Chief Prosecutor’s Spokesperson Hartman

 

Hayat– While addressing journalists, the Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte’s Advisor Anton Nikiforov denied all media reports on dismissal of the ICTY Spokesperson Florence Hartmann and informed that Del Ponte gave her some other assignments, namely made her in charge of Prosecution’s projects. Nikiforov did not want to go into details. According to some allegations, one of possible reasons for removal might have been Hartmann’s statement given to ‘Globus’, when she said that she was spending more time with del Ponte than with her children. Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Hartmann was reassigned’ by Beta, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘New duty for Hartmann’ by Beta, Blic cover splash, pg 2 Inset ‘Hartman on new duty’ – also reported.

RS Association of missing soldiers and civilians to protest on April 10 as FBiH PM failed to meet promise on forming Commission for Missing Sarajevo Serbs

EuroBlic RS4, mentioned on cover ‘Hadzipasic promised commission, then lied’ by N.Berberina, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Hadzipasic forgot about the promise’ by Z. D. – RS Association of missing soldiers and civilians will organise a protest in the front of FBiH Government’s building on April 10, since FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic did not fulfil his promise and establish the Commission for missing Sarajevo Serbs by end of March. FBiH Government claims that deadline [March 31] was the “framework deadline”, and that the Commission is to be established eventually at the very next session. ]

Int. Community calls on BiH MoD to assume full control over weapons, ammunition, explosives

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Defence Ministry must has control over all weapons’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Weapons under single umbrella’ by M. Dz.  – In a joint statement, the NATO, OSCE and EUFOR called on the BiH Defence Ministry to assume control over all weapons, ammunition and explosives still held by the entities. They expressed concern about the reports of certain subjects in entities still believing this should remain under their jurisdiction, which would allow them to sell weapons to other country. IC noted such decision would violate the instruction by the BiH MoD, which bans the sale of small arms. Inset ‘Scwarz-Schilling support’ – The HR, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, welcomed the joint statement noting the BiH MoD is the sole competent institution to handle weapons and other munitions. “The Hralso said: ‘Proper control over weapons and ammunition at the BiH level helps ensure a safer environment within our own borders.’ BHT1, FTV, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘To take over control over weapon’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘BiH should take over control’ by ra  – also carried.

Amnesty Int. report suggests possibility of secret CIA prisons located in BiH, Slovakia

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Secret CIA prisons in BiH too’, mentioned on cover, by S. Numanovic – The latest Amnesty International [AI] report notes that the US Central Intelligence Agency has most probably used BiH and Slovakia as locations of their prisons for suspects of being connected to Al’Qaeda. The Council of Europe, which monitors human rights on the continent, and a European Parliament committee are both investigating a report by the Washington Post last year that the CIA ran secret prisons for terrorist suspects in Eastern Europe . European governments have denied hosting such facilities and the US has refused to comment on the allegations. BiH authorities stresses they have no information on such activities taking place in the country.

BIH forwarded the report on extradition of the Algerian group

 

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘BIH forwarded the report on extradition of the Algerian group’ by Az. K. – BiH Ministry of Security and Justice compiled a new, supplemented, report on secret anti-terrorist activities in BiH in response to an additional request of Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis. The report should contain answers to questions of the CoE that investigates allegations on the existence of secret prisons of CIA and unannounced flights of the American intelligence services in Europe. Davis had ordered BiH authorities to send him information on extradition of the Algerian group [six naturalized BiH citizens who had been transferred to the Guantanamo base on Cuba] latest by April 7 and accused the official Sarajevo for failure to mention similar cases in past and for failure to answer to questions with regard to the involvement of state officials in illegal activities.

VL negatively comments on number of SIPA employees

 

Vecernji List pg 4 ‘SIPA more numerous than American FBI’ by D. Jazvic negatively comments on a number of SIPA employees and says that when finally established SIPA is going to have over 1000 agents in charge of security-police affairs. VL says that this means that the number of agents compared with the number of BiH citizens would be much above US and European standards.