Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 9 February
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Apologies for burning of flags in SA | NATO action in Vlasenica | NATO search in Vlasenica |
| Update to teachers’ strike in | Case of Badnjar, state secret | EU forwards file to |
| NATO operation in Vlasenica | Miners in Breza froze their strike | Protests re. Mohamed caricature |
TV news broadcast on 8 February
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Protests re Danish cartoons in SA | Protest in | Protest against Prophet caricatures |
| Croatian MoFA on protests in SA | BiH Presidency on protests in SA | Reactions to protests in |
| No protests held in | World News | World News |
| Regional News | Decision on symbols of infantry | Moroccan arrested by SIPA |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Protests re Danish cartoons in SA | Protest against Prophet caricatures | Protest in |
| Regional News | Reactions to protests in | Regional News |
| World News | Cro. officials on Prophet caricatures | World News |
| Issue of BiH- | World News | Future election of RS Government |
| Oslobodjenje | [Protestors in |
| Dnevni Avaz | Dodik announces overthrowing of Terzic |
| Dnevni List | Norwegian, Danish and Croatian flags burnt down (on protest in Sarajevo) |
| Vecernji List | Croatian flag burnt down (on protest in Sarajevo) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Butcher from Crvena Stijena pensioner in Fojnica (on alleged Communist time criminal) |
| Nezavisne Novine | Flags set afire |
| Glas Srpske | For Allah against Vlachos / Serbs (protest in |
| EuroBlic | Key ministries for SNSD |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related topics |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| NATO searches house of suspected Mladic’s aide in Vlasenica
| RTRS – This morning at about |
| Serbian police arrests suspected Mladic’s aide in
| RTRS – 30-day detention has been set against Sasa Badnjar, former RS office, in |
| HR Schwarz Schilling to meet BH CoM Chair
| RTRS – At today’s IO’s press conference, Ljiljana Radetic, OHR Spokesperson, has announced that the HR, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, is meeting today with the CoM Chair, Adnan Terzic. According to her, at this meeting, the HR will reiterate the fact that the |
Protests over caricatures in European press | |
| Protests in
| Hayat– On Wednesday, over 1000 persons protested over caricatures portraying Prophet Mohammed that appeared in the European press in front of the Danish, Norwegian and French Embassies in |
| CoM condemns burning of Croatian flag; BiH Presidency members Jovic/ TIhic: citizens have right to express disapproval; Ivanic/Dodik on
| BHT1, Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘That is not and can’t be approach of BiH citizens toward insults’- BiH Council of Ministers condemned the act of burning flags during the protest rally in Sarajevo. BiH CoM expressed its regrets over the fact that the protests were aimed against neighbouring |
| Croatian MoFA condemned burning of Croatian flag; Croatian Officials condemned the ‘Nacional’ publishing of caricatures
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| VL: Slobodna Bosna published these cartoons months ago; Reactions to cartoons
| Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘Croatian flag burnt down’ and pgs 2 and 3 ‘Flags in flame’ by D. Jazvic VL inset ‘Caricatures were published in BiH as well’ carries that the caricatures were published in ‘Slobodna Bosna’ as early as in November last year, however there were no some serious protests of the Moslem community in BiH at that time. Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘React with contempt, not with violence’ by M.K.S. – Article carries reactions on Sarajevo protests by Sarajevo University professor Enes Karic, FBiH Ombudsman for Media Mehmed Halilovic, caricaturist Djoko Ninkovic and magazine Dani editor Senad Pecanin who all opposed both insulting cartoons and insulting protests. |
| NN op-ed praise Effendi Ceric’ call to citizens “to abstain from aggressiveness”
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Five minutes to twelve’ by Nihada Jablic – Commenting on the latest statement of Reis-ul-ulema Mustafa Effendi Ceric (regarding Mohammed and his call on citizens to abstain from aggressive responses to “provocations” and stay at home since much more important issues need to be solved), the author stresses this is most certainly the best move Effendi Ceric has done for the last 13 years, ever since he was elected head of Islamic Religious Community in BiH. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed:
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Protest in Sarajevo’ by Daniel Omeragic – Editorial reads that reactions of Islamic Community leader Mustafa effendi Ceric and SDA leader Sulejman Tihic were not enough to prevent Wednesday’s protest in Sarajevo. Author says that these protests could only bring damage to BiH while the talks Stabilisation and Association Agreement [ |
| DL op-ed condemning protest in
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘They returned us 100 years back in the past’ by N. Dedic condemns the Wednesday’s protest in Sarajevo and the author says that this protest showed that BiH went 100 years back in the past and that this trend would continue as long as people who were at the protest yesterday are among us. |
| VL op-ed condemns publishing of Prophet Mohammed caricatures | Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Prisoners of freedom’ by Z. Cosic condemns publishing of caricatures of Prophet Mohammed and the author wonders ‘as to what the freedom of speech means if the guards of human dignity and ethics are not at its borders’. |
Reshuffling in entity governments | |
| RS PM-designate Dodik: SNSD to get nine positions; PDP two ministries plus RSNA Speaker’ position,
| RTRS – According to media speculations, Milorad Dodik, RS PM-designate, already enjoys a support of 45 RS National Assembly representatives, defined program for the new Government and composition of the personnel even before the end of the consultations with political parties. Consultations are expected to finish by the end of week when PM-designate will ask for session of RSNA. New Government should be elected between February 20th and 25th. According to the RTRS, agreement on ministerial positions was achieved without much talk. Nine ministerial positions would go to SNSD, two Ministers and the RSNA Speaker would be from the PDP and DNS, while SDA, |
| SNSD to get ministries of internal affairs, education, health; PDP’s Trifkovic to be new RSNA Speaker?
| EuroBlic cover pg splash, RSpg 1 ‘Key ministries to SNSD’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, RSpg Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Eight ministries to SNSD’ by V.Popovic – Talking about possible composition of the new RS Government, Milorad Dodik said “SNSD representative will be at MoI, since the fight against organized crime will be the priority of new Government.” He added SNSD staff would most likely be leading ministries of education and culture, health and social welfare. He stressed Darko Matijasevic and Svetlana Cenic will not be in the new government. According to inset ‘Nevenka Trifkovic instead of Dusan Stojicic’, daily learns that apart from 2 ministerial posts, PDP would also get the seat of RS NA Speaker, to which Nevenka Trifkovic, Head of PDP Caucus at RS NA,will be proposed according to source from PDP. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Line of support, line of conditions’ by Z.Markovic – GS says that on Sunday Dodik would forward a demand for RSNA session to discuss the issue of composition and programme of new RS Government. |
| PM-designate Dodik announces overthrowing of CoM Chair Terzic;
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Dodik announces overthrowing of Terzic’ by N.Diklic – SNSD leader and RS Prime Minister designate Milorad Dodik stated for DA that he is not satisfied with work of BiH Council of Ministers, adding that he intents to call on reconstruction of this body. Commenting |
| NN op-ed: Dodik surrounded with friends and “so called friends
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Unclear re-grouping’ by Pero Simic – Writing about consultations and speculations regarding composition of the new RS Government led by Milorad Dodik, the author expresses support to efforts Dodik will have to make to un-don all the wrong Pero Beukejlovi’c Government has done. He is also skeptical of latest support expressed to Dodik by various political parties, his friends and so-called “friends”. He notes Dragan Cavic obviously proved not to be inclined to political suicide, proved by the fact he had proposed Dodik PM-designate. He concludes by saying we all need to show patience to new PM-designate, who wants to take over responsibility. |
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| Hayat– |
| Kovac, Radovanovic believes their resignations would only deepen crisis in CoM
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Kovac: Demands for resignations not wise’ – |
| DL on
| Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Blockade of Council of Ministers to happen in late February’, by Ivica Glibusic – commenting on the decision of the |
| DA op-ed: Demand for
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘ |
| Solving of crisis trough establishment of a ministry; Hadzipasic claims that crisis could have been avoided
| Hayat– Leading FBiH political parties [HDZ, SDA and SBiH] have agreed to solve the crisis they have created in FBiH trough establishment of a Ministry. FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic said that the issue could have been solved a long time ago, when the Law on Government was being changed. “Dissatisfaction could have been stressed at that point, that ministry without portfolio should not be established; instead an operative ministry should be established. The error has been made, especially due to the fact that FBiH Ministry of Justice, with HDZ representative being the Minister, proposed the law. If there had been any misunderstandings, the Minister should have report it and the whole issue could have been solved long time ago”, said Hadzipasic. HDZ denies allegations on being responsible for the crisis by insisting on ministerial positions in the FBiH Government. “If we had been interested in creation of crisis in the FBiH Government, we would have created it so far, the FBiH President could have dismissed the FBiH Parliament, the budget would be passed”, said the Spokesperson to BiH HDZ Miso Relota. “The OHR wants to see this issue solved as soon as possible in order for the Government to be established and for reform process to be continued without any obstacles”, said the Spokesperson to OHR Oleg Milisic. |
| VL brings 4 possibilities for establishment of new FBiH Ministry
| Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Vrankic: Agreement on Ministry’ by Z.K. – FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic and his Deputies Gavrilo Grahovac and Dragan Vrankic tried to agree o Wednesday night about establishing of a new Ministry that would practically replace the abolished FBiH Defence Ministry. VL also learns that HDZ President Dragan Covic, SDA President Sulejman Tihic and SBiH President Safet Halilovic agreed in principle that the solution should be found in the division of some of the current Ministries that cover a few areas and the FBiH Ministry of Urban Planning and Environment, FBiH Ministry of Energy Mining and Industry, FBiH Ministry of Development and Entrepreneurship and FBiH Ministry of Trade and Tourism were mentioned as possible solutions. VL says that Vrankic could not say which Ministry the FBiH Government would get and he judged that it is good to reach an agreement on this issue in order to resolve the crisis emerged due to non-adoption of the budget. |
| HDZ spokesperson Relota: Nikolic is HDZ candidate for new Ministry; Deputy FBiH PM: Heco to be new Industry Minister | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Nikolic is HDZ candidate’ by F.V. – HDZ spokesperson Miso Relota confirmed for DA that former BiH Minister of Defence is candidate of this party for position in newly opened ministry position in FBiH Government. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Grahovac: It is not questionable that Heco would be minister of energy’ by M. Kukan – The FBiH Deputy prime Minister Gavrilo Grahovac confirmed that SBiH’s candidate, Vahid Heco, would certainly be the FBiH Minister of Energy, Industry and Mining. |
| FBiH PM Hadzipasic: They already are too many ministries in the Government
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Session only after appointment of ministers’ by A.Omeragic– FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic stated that all things aside there would be no splitting of existing ministries and that he doesn’t have proposal for authorities of the new minister. “I believe that we already have too many ministries in the Government” stated Hadzipasic. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘New Ministry resolved crisis at Federation Government’ by R.Cengic – also reported. |
Defence, security and war crimes | |
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| PINK – BiH Court confirmed indictment against Mirko Sarovic, Momcilo Mandic, Milovan Bjelica and Milorad Govedarica in case of “Privredna banka Srpsko Sarajevo”. The indictment includes 14 counts regarding organized crime, economic crime and corruption. Mandic has also been accused of assistance to ICTY fugitives. |
| BiH Presidency approved flag and symbols for infantry units of BiH Armed Forces
| Hayat – Following the session of BiH Presidency, Chairman Ivo Miro Jovic informed the press that the Presidency passed document on security politics. “I find the document of extreme importance in order to have intelligence services work efficiently on providing security to both, the state and its citizens”, said Jovic. The Presidency has also approved the way flag and symbols of infantry units in BiH military forces would look like. It was also decided for two BiH police officers to be sent to peace mission to |
| DL: BiH Presidency security policy document on insignia maintains national features
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘National symbols in armed forces to remain’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – According to the BiH Presidency’s decision on look of flags and insignia for BiH armed forces infantry units, the flags and insignia of the three infantry regiments will keep the current national insignia i.e. the identity and heritage of units and peoples they come from. DL also reports on security policy document adoption and decision to send BiH police officers to UN mission. |
| SIPA arrests terrorist from
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Terrorist Said Atmani arrested’ by A.Sisic – Daily learns that the SIPA members Wednesday in Sarajevo apprehended Moroccan citizen Said Atmani (aka Ebu Hisham), previously sentenced for terrorism in France. A source close to apprehension action confirmed that “not a single state has not demanded his extradition. However, since he is Moroccan citizen, he will be expelled to |
| DA source from | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘In order for visa regime abolishment, EU will demand BiH to issue biometric passports’ by T.Lazovic – Well informed source from Brussels told DA that EU could very soon demand from BiH to issue biometric passports which rely on the state-of-art technology using microchip. CIPS project is considered outdated after September 11, says DA, adding that European Commission is considering issuing single decision that would be applied for all the regional countries. |
| EUFOR Commander Chiarini: We will not quit fight against criminal and corruption
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘We will not quit fight against criminal and corruption’ by Lana Sinanovic – In an interview for DA, EUFOR Commander General Gian Marco Chiarini stated that there are no valid information that Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are in BiH. Chiarini said that authorities at the municipality level are not as determined as BiH higher-ranking officials for Karadzic and Mladic to be arrested. Speaking of EUFOR successes, Chiarini said that EUFOR captured 3 tons of illegal weapons, decreased illegal forestry exploitation by 30%, adding that this trend will continue and that EUFOR would continue to fight organized crime and corruption. |
| DA source close to ICTY: RS MoI follows orders from
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘RS MoI works on exclusive orders from Belgrade’ by E.Sarac – DA source close to ICTY says that ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte accused the RS of non-cooperation with the Hague Tribunal in a period of Darko Matijasevic and Dragomir Andan’s have been appointed for RS Interior Minister and RS Police Director, respectively. The source added that BiH Intelligence Agency [OSA] is the only agency that immediately provides their information on war criminals to the ICTY, adding that RS MoI follows exclusive orders from |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on Del Ponte visiting the region | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Chase freezes’ op-ed by Gojko Beric – Commenting recent visit of ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte to Belgrade and Sarajevo, author says that the only news there is that it is obvious she freezes chase after Radovan Karadzic, quoting her when she said “in amazement” that Karadzic “disappeared somewhere”. Author says that “Unknown someone” in |
Other political issues | |
| SDHR Ney visits
| PINK – Martin Ney, Senior Deputy High Representative, paid farewell visit to |
| SDHR Ney in farewell visit to
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Reforms lead to Brussels’ by G.Dakic , Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Grief over freedom of Karadzic and Mladic’ by V.P., EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Too far away from EU without reforms’ by M.Soja – SDHR Ney and Dragan Cavic, RS President, expressed expectation that the political crisis in RS would be resolved soon. The outgoing RS |
| Danas: Comments by FBiH Vice President Dzihanovic, MP in the BiH HoR Zoric, MP in BiH HoP Genjac, political analysts on new HR Schwarz-Schilling
| Danas pgs 26 and 27 ‘Cautious beginning of experienced German’ by Z. Kovacevic carries comments of few BiH politicians on new HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling. FBiH Vice President Sahbaz Dzihanovic stated that, perhaps, the HR’s statement that he would not interfere in resolving of current problems in BiH but that he would let domestic authorities to do it, was given too fast and that this might encourage those political forces that are against reforms in BiH to be patient and to preserve their stand of rejection, which means cementing of the current situation. MP in the BiH HoR Vinko Zoric expects from new HR to be concrete and correct and according to Zoric new HR is such person. He also expects from new HR to be more democratic than his predecessors. MP in BiH HoP Halid Genjac sees moderateness and cautiousness in fist statements of the HR as a part of the HR’s strategy. Danas also says that many analysts believe that although negotiations on |
| SD: Croatian PM Sanader would meet HR Schwarz-Schilling in Mostar on Saturday, Ivo Miro Jovic and Covic to attend
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16 ‘Sanader in Mostar’ by V. Vegar carries that Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader comes to Mostar on Saturday and SD also says that this information was confirmed with 99 % certainty in the OHR Sarajevo. The article also says that Sanader should meet with new HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling in Mostar. According to SD, there are many interesting topics for their talk and “the HR has already announced one, although not exclusively in relation to this meeting, and that is ‘the free trade zone’ “. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ivo Sanader arrives to Mostar’ by F.V.– Croatian Government confirmed for DA that Prime Minister Ivo Sanader would arrive to Mostar on February 11. Sanader is arriving to attend the election of ‘person of the year’ award by ‘Vecernji List’. As daily comments it is interesting that beside Sanader and Chair of BiH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic and Christian Schwarz-Schilling, HDZ leader Dragan Covic would attend ceremony. |
| SD: B. Ljubic on possibility to form new Croat party
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 ‘Ljubic: There is room for HDZ 1990’, mentioned on cover, by T. Zoric – With regard to media speculations that Bozo Ljubic is going to establish a new party called HDZ BiH 1990, SD carries Ljubic as saying that since the very idea of HDZ BiH has been failed during the last years there is absolutely need for new politics. He also said: ‘However, the problems that that Croats in BiH and BiH as the state are faced with demand a well thought out national strategy. For this reason my goal is not division of HDZ but much wider gathering of other Croat parties around the plan on working out the strategy and its implementation in the coming period.’ |
| Continuation of talks on const. changes still uncertain
| EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Second phase after elections’ by Nedeljka Breberina – In regard to continuation of talks on constitutional changes, daily notes that RS party officials (Mladen Ivanic and Milorad Dodik) thing talks should resume after election, while FBiH party officials (HDZ’ Miso Relota, Party for BH Safet Halilovic) think talks should resume ASAP. |
Economic, social and judicial isseus | |
| HR: strategic priority promotion of business environment
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Unnecessary bureaucracy for shackling businessmen’ not signed – At the meeting with directors of international financial institutions for BiH and Indirect Taxation Administration director Kemal Causevic, High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schillingsaid that BiH has to use business potential that has often been tackled by inefficient and unnecessary bureaucracy. RTRS – Her added that strategic priority of BiH authorities should be promotion of better business environment that would develop small and medium size enterprises and open new jobs. |
| Croatian politicians against HR’s statement on free trade zone in western Balkans, Croatian FM without specific comment
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 7 ‘High Representative should stick to BiH’, by M. K. S. – Commenting on a statement by the High Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, which was picked up by media in BiH, that he would make sure Croatia agrees to free trade zone of the western Balkans countries, former Croatian Foreign Minister and current MP in Croatian Parliament, Miomir Zuzul (HDZ of Croatia), notes it is only EU Enlargement Commissioner, Ollie Rehn, Special Coordinator of Stability Pact, Erhard Busek and state ministers of EU countries that can speak on behalf of the EU, not the HR for BiH. An MP in the Croatian Parliament, Tonci Tadic ( |
| Prov. Administrator of PB ES: RS Govt. won’t expel Russian from Sase Mine over failure to pay outstanding loans
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘RS Government won’t expel Russians’ by J.Sarac, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘How to get to surface?’ by K.C. – Toby Robinson, Provisional Administrator of East Sarajevo Privredna Banka, one of five Banks that gave a loan to Sase Mine,, Wednesday stated that the RS Government and Ministry in charge won’t do anything to implement decision of Banja Luka Court (which banned current management to manage Sase Mine). Namely, the consortium of these five Banks (including PB ES) have raised the issue of outstanding mortgage over unpaid loan. |
| SNSD Doboj ask audit of business dealings at
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘They demand control of business dealings of Doboj municipality’ by S.Ca., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Publicly against crime’ by Sl.P. – The SNSD Municipal Board Doboj will call on Bosko Ceko, RS Chief Auditor, to carry out control of financial dealings of this municipality in the period from 1998 to 2005, the press release SNSD Board Doboj Wednesday issued reads. Board President, Milorad Zivkovic, has stated: “The majority of criminal activities in this municipality have been carried out in that period. If necessary, we will call on HR to BiH, Christian Scwarz Schilling to help us in tackling crime in Doboj.” |
| Deputy Director of FBiH MIO-
| Dnevni List pg 9 ‘We shall resign if they order payment of pensions’ by A. Vrebac carries Deputy Director of the FBiH Pension Insurance Fund Ivan Rogic as saying that the FBiH MiO- |