Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 8 February
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Update to strike of teachers in HNC | SDHR Ney in farewell visit to B. Luka |
| Education Unions to hold presser | Terzic: Yes to W. Balkans free-zone |
| BiH Presidency to meet today | 12 dead at Chechnia military facility |
TV news broadcast on 7 February
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| HNK Gov. accepts teachers’ requests | Del Ponte in | Del Ponte meets HR |
| Teachers’ strike in ZHK | HR in first visit to BiH Presidency | Bomb threat to Danish Embassy |
| Covic-Tihic-Halilovic meeting in MO | Project on reduce of arms signed | Regional news |
| Carla Del Ponte in | Agreement on highway traffic signed | World news |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Carla Del Ponte in | Bomb threat to Danish Embassy | Audit of BiH citizenships |
| ‘Blic’ on Mladic’s apprehension | Tihic meets Norwegian Ambassador | Del Ponte in |
| | Profit Mohammed’s drawings judged | Composition of new RS Gov. |
| FBiH HoR on nationalized flats | Regional news | |
| Oslobodjenje | [Effendi Ceric] Islam is not defended by riot and violence |
| Dnevni Avaz | [Effendi Ceric] Violent protests damages reputation of [prophet] Mohammed |
| Dnevni List | Mladic is in Serbia, there is no trace of Karadzic ( On del Ponte’s visit to Sarajevo) |
| Vecernji List | Features Croatia related headline |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | |
| Nezavisne Novine | I do not know where Karadzic is [Del Ponte in |
| Glas Srpske | Destiny had repeated itself [feature story on a 78-year-old woman from Brod who was detained in a concentration camp controlled by HVO and Croatian Army] |
| EuroBlic | One admitted crimes against Serbs in newspapers |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| SDHR Ney in farewell visit to
| RTRS – SDHR Martin Ney is today paying a farewell visit to |
| CoM Chair Terzic: Yes to W. Balkans free-zone | RTRS – Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair, supports the initiative of the European Commission regarding establishment of a single customs-free zone in Western Balkans states. |
| PDP’s Ivanic: continuation of const. changes possible only in | FENA – PDP President Mladen Ivanic believes that is ‘bit strange and ridiculous‘ that parties from |
Del Ponte’s visits to Sarajevo, Belgrade | |
| ICTY Chief Prosecutor Del Ponte meets HR, NATO, EUFOR: Mladic in
| Hayat – During her visit to Sarajevo, Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte reiterated that six remaining war crimes indictees are still at large, adding their neither Serbia-Montenegro nor the Republika Srpka are fully cooperating with the ICTY. “I need more active intelligence services’ work, because I don’t know if Radovan Karadzic is in RS, BiH or |
| EuroBlic sources: SiCG authorities promised Mladic would surrender or be arrested by February 21
| EuroBlic pg 3 ‘Mladic in the Hague by February 21’ by T. N. Dj. – According to information in possession of EuroBlic, SiCG representatives told ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte during her visit to Belgrade that the authorities are close to resolving of Mladic case in “one way or the other”, meaning he would either surrender or be arrested. Reportedly, this should take place by February 21. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Belgrade has team for arresting Mladic’ by B.Boskov – Daily carries Blic’s report that Del Ponte received approval for establishing a team to capture Mladic lead by |
| BiH Foreign Minister: BiH is in better situation that
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘When it comes to the Hague, BiH is in more favourable position than |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed: Del Ponte came with “old news” | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Old news’ op-ed by Senka Kurtovic – Editorial reads visit of ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte to Sarajevo as repeating old news, adding that the only difference is that this time there were no new deadlines for capturing Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. |
| DA op-ed: Del Ponte’s vain threats for not arresting Karadzic and Mladic
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Vain threats’ op-ed by Sead Turcalo – Commenting, in a pessimistic tone recent, visits of ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte to Belgrade and Sarajevo, author said that her threats sound vain, since EU so far did not fulfil any of its threats for lack of cooperation with ICTY. Author reminds that Del Ponte has not fulfilled her promise that she would reveal who from the International Community is responsible for Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic being still at large. Editorial reads that EU reiterates that arresting war criminals is responsibility of local authorities, not giving an explanation why the allied forces have not done that while they were 70.000 large in the region. Editorial concludes with hopes that EU would interrupt talks on Stabilisation and Association Agreement [ |
Protests over caricatures in European press | |
| Reis of BiH Islamic Community condemned the caricatures of Prophet Mohammed and calls upon Muslims to restrain from violence
| Hayat – Islamic Community in BiH strongly condemned the inappropriate presentation of Prophet Mohammed, and requested the European media to stop spreading Islam phobia for the sake of freedom from fear and humiliation. Leader of the Islamic Community in BiH, Reisu-l-ulema Mustafa effendi Ceric urged all Muslims in |
| Hoax bomb threat in Danish Embassy day before scheduled protests
| FTV – Danish Embassy in |
| BiH presidency member Tihic meets Norwegian Ambassador to condemn caricatures
| BHT1 – Protests against portraying prophet Mohammed in European press of the BIH citizens would be held in front of Danish, Norwegian and French Embassy for Wednesday. BIH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic stated that security of foreign Embassies has been increased in cooperation with SIPA and FBIH Ministry of Interior. He added that security measures are just a precaution, but he added there are no serious threats towards the Embassies. BiH Deputy Security Minister Dragan Mektic stated that violence in Islamic world due to drawings will it affect the security in BIH. BIH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic also judged the drawings but called upon citizens to restrain from violence. FTV – BIH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic met with Norwegian Ambassador Henrick Ostad and judged the publishing of insulting drawings of profit Mohammed in European press. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Islam is not defended by rioting and violence’, Inset ‘Violence is not in spirit of Islam’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Violence is not in spirit of Islam and is in contradiction to tradition of co-existence’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Violence opposes Islam and tradition of coexistence’ by G. M., Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Tihic calls on Muslims to restrain from violence’, not signed – also carries Tihic. Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Bomb in Danish embassy?’, mentioned on front ‘Sarajevo: Bomb hoax in Danish embassy’, by Dejan Jazvic, Robert Soldo, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 2 ‘Protests in Sarajevo today’, by H – announce protests. |
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| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Appeal to calm down tensions’ by D. R. – BiH |
Political developments | |
| HR meets BiH Presidency: constitutional changes are responsibility of BiH politicians
| PINK– High Representative to BiH Christian Schwarz-Schilling held his first meeting with the members of the BiH Presidency. Schwarz-Schilling reiterated to the BiH officials that he would use |
| HR int. to BHT 1:
| BHT1 late news by Laura Bosnjak – In interview for BHT1 late news, the High Representative Christian Schwarz Schilling stressed that he came to BiH with 2 goals: to lead BiH from Dayton to the Brussels phase and to change the mentality of the BiH politicians so they work for the interests of the state. HR also stressed that cooperation with ICTY is a priority for BIH. When asked what would happen if most wanted ICTY indictees end up in The Hague and those supporting their politics are still in power, HR answered that such question is a matter for the legal bodies. According to him Prosecution and Courts should be doing their job in that process. He underlined he would use his |
| Poll: BiH citizens expects HR to make better decisions then his predecessor; SBiH/ | BHT1– According to the opinion poll carried out by |
| Stability Pact Coordinator Busek: Rebuilding of
| Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Rebuilding of Yugoslavia is nonsense’ by Marina Kavaz-Sirucic – In an interview for Oslobodjenje, Stability Pact Special Coordinator Erhard Busek said that there are 31 different agreements on free trade in the region, and that single agreement on free trade zone, which has been proposed, would simplify situation for businessmen. Commenting |
| Stability Pact Coordinator Busek met BiH CoM Terzic, Foreign Minister Ivanic: Stability Pact will continue to support BiH’s path to
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Preparations for integrations in EU market’ by Fena – At his Tuesday’s meeting with BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic, Busek said that recent successes of BiH deserve to be additionally promoted, adding Stability Pact will continue to support BiH’s path to Europe. Terzic underlined that BiH supports the latest EU initiative for creating a trade union among the countries of the region. PINK, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Negotiating team competent and ready’ by NINA – BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic on Tuesday met Busek, who was interested in the course of BiH’s negotiations with the EU with regard to signing the |
| Belgian Foreign Minister Chevalier meets Ivanic, discusses const. changes and
| PINK, |
| EU Parliament representative Pack: DPA must be completely changed;
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘It is over with Dayton’ by Sead Numanovic – EU Parliament representative Doris Pack stated at the meeting with journalists from the Western Balkans held in Brussels that BiH citizens or its political leaders are not responsible for the fact that BiH is not functional state. This is rather responsibility, says Pack, of the International Community that forced Dayton Peace Agreement [DPA]. She underlined DPA must be completely changed. Pack also criticized ‘ |
| FBiH HoR enacts law that enables privatization of nationalized apartments
| Hayat by Alem Karamesic – During the extraordinary session on Tuesday in |
| HDZ Covic, SDA Tihic, SBiH Halilovic agreed on how to solve FBiH crisis: new Ministry for HDZ, Ministry of Industry for SBiH
| Hayat by RTV Mostar – Leaders of HDZ, SDA and SBiH, Dragan Covic, Sulejman Tihic and Safet Halilovic respectively,held a meeting on Tuesday in Mostar and they reached an agreement on solving the current crisis in FBiH Government. Covic, Tihic and Halilovic agreed that a new ministry within FBiH Government should be established, and HDZ would get the ministerial position; while at the same time SBiH would appoint new FBiH Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry. FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic and his deputies Dragan Vrankic and Gavrilo Grahovac now have several days to create the experts’ proposal for the new ministry. All three participants of Mostar talks condemned the controversial cartoon drawings of Prophet Mohammad, on which he was portrayed as a terrorist. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Establishment of new Ministry in Government agreed’ by A. Omeragic– Documents on establishment of new ministry within FBiH Government should be submitted to urgent Parliamentary procedure, along with the 2006 budget and Law on distribution of revenues. |
| HDZ Covic, SDA Tihic, SBiH Halilovic agree const. changes talks should continue
| Dnevni List pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘FBiH Government’s crisis resolved’ by |
| DA int with BiH Foreign Minister Ivanic: Croats could seek third entity, but that is not realistic
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘When it comes to the Hague, BiH is in more favourable position than |
| EuroBlic: legal experts think political agreements on const. changes unclear; Members of Work Group Ceman and Hadziavdic confirm delay in development of const. amendments
| EuroBlic pg RS1 ‘Lawyers think agreements of politicians are unclear’ by Nedeljka Breberina – The article reads that, judging everything, negotiations of politicians on constitutional changes were made in vain. According to the agreement in principles, the amendments to the Constitution should have been forwarded to the Parliamentary procedure latest by February 1, but this did not happen. A member of the Work Group in charge of development of draft constitutional amendments, Mirsad Ceman, says legal experts think certain formulations politicians have agreed upon with regard to CoM and human rights were unclear therefore politicians should again meet and explain what such formulations should have meant. F BiH HoP Secretary and member of the Work Group Izmir Hadziavdic also claims there is a delay in development of the constitutional amendments and says they have managed to transform a part of the political agreement into amendments. ‘Still, there are certain unclear things and US Embassy is on the move now, since they have taken our text and they will, most probably, exert a pressure on domestic politicians to accept the rest of the agreement as well’, Hadziavdic stated. |
| VL commentary: Issue of entities and ethnic issues should be resolved in BiH
| Vecernji List pg 4 ‘European train for BiH’ by Z. Cosic carries a lengthy commentary on the International Community’s results achieved in BiH so far and the author reminds that upon his departure former High Representative Paddy Ashdown sent a message to BiH citizens ‘to focus our efforts on European issues and not on disputes about entities and ethnic issues’. The author ironically comments on this message by saying that ‘on the way to such simple goal there is equally simple problem that Ashdown himself used to face quite frequently: there are entities in BiH and disputes about them as well as ethnic issues that should be resolved’. The author also concludes that ‘simplicity of the aforementioned Ashdown’s ‘European recipe’ would be understood an accepted at the BiH political market when HR’s understand ‘simplicity’ of our current situation. The author says that coming of new HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling was welcomed by all parties in BiH, however it depends on his understanding of ‘our simplicity’ whether he would be seen off in the same friendly manner. |
| SD slams cries of some Croat parties that want Croat referendum on constitutional changes
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 11 ‘Referendum: Shot in the dark’, by Veso Vegar – commenting on the wishes of some Croat parties in BiH (read: Mario Vasilj of Croat block) to organize a referendum at which the Croats would declare themselves what kind of BiH they want to live in, Vegar argues it nothing but a sign of lack of vision and courage/responsibility on the part of the Croat parties, foremost the HDZ and |
| JL: Croatian PM Sanader’s visits Mostar in order to support election of new HDZ BiH President
| Jutarnji List pg 5 ‘Visit to Mostar because of purge in HDZ’ by N. Jelic carries that according to spokesperson of the Croatian Government, Ratko Macek, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader will pay an informal, working visit to Mostar on Saturday. He will attend the ceremony during which’ A person of the year’ would be proclaimed and he will also visit the Mostar Clinical Hopital. JL says that those who are better informed claim that Sanader would actually come to support a part of HDZ BiH which wants to obey recommendations of the European People’s Party and which stands for election of a new HDZ BiH President. JL also says that Bozo Ljubic expects Sanader’s support. |
| SDHR Ney with FBIH PM Hadzipasic: 4 FBIH ministries have moved to Mostar
| Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Ministries have moved to Mostar’, by NINA, Oslobodjenje, pg 7 ‘Help to City administration of Mostar’, not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘State is the owner of military property’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Military facilities are at disposal of BiH Defense Ministry’ by Srna – Outgoing SDHR Martin Ney paid a farewell visit to the FBIH PM, Ahmet Hadzipasic on Tuesday. One of topics of the meeting was the issue of City of |
| Outgoing RS PM Bukejlovicand RS NA Speaker Stojicic met SiCG Ambassador to BiH Vukicevic
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘New authority asap’ by Z.M. – SiCG Ambassador to BiH Stanimir Vukicevic Tuesday in Banja Luka had separate meetings with outgoing RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic and RS NA Speaker Dusan Stojicic. The meeting with Bukejlovicdiscussed the current political and economic situation in this entity. Bukejlovic expressed hope that in the interest of stability of RS institutions the new RS Government will be established soon, stressing his Government is leaving a regulated situation in a number of fields to the new government. Stojicic and Ambassador Vukicevic concluded that the Stabilization and Association Process is an area in which the two counties can work together, and that the European road of BiH and SiCG should not be put at risk in any way. |
| | Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pgs 18 and 19 ‘I will resign, I have done my job’ by D. Ivankovic carries an interview with West Herzegovina Canton Education Minister Jozo Maric with regard to the strike of |
RS Government reshuffle, follow up | |
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| RS PM-designate still engaged in consultations with pol. parties’ officials / consultations to end Friday
| EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Socialists in the game as well’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – Daily learns that RS PM-designate Tuesday met with the representatives of Pensioners Party and RS Socialist Party about the programme of its future Cabinet. According to daily, Dodik is to meet with DNS representatives today, with representatives of the Bosniak parties tomorrow (Thursday) and PDP, and |
| Media speculate on the distribution of positions in the RS Government
| RTRS By Biljana Knezevic- Commenting the consultations of the RS Prime Minister Designate, Milorad Dodik, and political parties on composition of the future RS Government, reporter says that the main issue is division of the personnel in the structure. PDP counts on three ministers positions. DNS expects at least one minister position. At the same time, both PDP and DNS stressed the fighting crime, social issues, audit on privatization and reforms are important issues that the new Government should take upon. |
| NN op-ed: decision to appoint Dodik RS PM designate proves logical and mature decision is still a surprise | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Difficulties of political impotence’ by Anton Kasipovic – The author notes the decision of RS President Dragan Cavic to appoint Milorad Dodik RS PM designate proves a logical and mature decision is still a surprise here. He also says it is completely obvious SNSD and Dodik have taken the responsibility and announced they would undertake a number of measures, for which it is difficult to estimate whether the bigger obstacle is the general atmosphere or time that is running out. |
Defence, security and war crimes | |
| EC/ ITA open newly reconstructed border crossing ‘Karakaj’ near Zvornik
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Faster flow of goods’ by Z.Kusmuk – Head of the EC delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys on Tuesday opened the newly built border crossing between BiH and SiCG in Karakaj near Zvornik. It is the first border crossing in BiH completely funded by the European Union, with approximately EURO 3.4 million. RTRS – Humphreys handed over the border crossing to the Indirect Taxation Administration (ITA). Humphreys said that this border crossing will bring better controlled movement of people and goods, meaning BiH would be better protected. |
| BiH MoD and UNDP start project to reduce armament in BiH
| PINK– Project worth 11.5 million US dollars aimed at control and reduction of the small and light armament in BiH was signed by the BiH Defence Ministry and UNDP on Tuesday in |
| Issue of international representatives in Commission for Audit of Citizenships has not been resolved yet/CoE should be consulted as well
| Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Commission for audit of citizenships has not been formed yet’ by D. Kozina carries that the Commission for Audit of Citizenships has not started with its work yet. An Assistant to the Minister of Civil Affairs, Miodrag Pandurevic stated that the issue of 3 members from the International Community (who would participate in the work of this Commission) is still being resolved. Pandurevic stressed that they are formulating this issue together with the OHR, however it is necessary to consult the Council of Europe about the election of international members. He added that as to when the Commission would start with its work depends on how fast the CoE would give its opinion on proposed representatives. Hayat, RTRS– BiH Deputy Security Minister Dragan Mektic said that audit on BiH citizenships issued in period 1993-2005 would be carried out adding security institutions conduct surveillance of certain individuals due to possible connection with terrorism. |
| Niset Ramic admitted for Dnevni Avaz he had committed crimes against Serbs
| EuroBlic cover pg splash, pg 11 ‘One admitted crimes against Serbs in newspapers’ by |
| VL: FBiH police checking into alleged Gotovina aides in | Vecernji List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Police investigating into Gotovina’s aides in Herzegovina’, by Zoran Kresic – According to VL’s information, members of the FBIH police have started a thorough investigation on four persons from Herzegovina, who were allegedly aides of the Croatian general Ante Gotovina (charged with war crimes, extradited to The Hague)when he was allegedly hiding in Herzegovina. VL notes these four persons are prominent businessmen and former senior military officials, however VL did not want to publish their names, claiming it knows the identity of the persons in question. |