Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 13 March
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) |
| Difficult road conditions in BiH | ICTY: Milosevic died of hearth attack |
| Milosevic died of heart attack | Milosevic’s wife on his funeral |
| Cardinal Puljic on const. changes | Tadic : no state funeral |
TV news broadcast on 12 March
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Autopsy on Milosevic | Del Ponte,Pocar on Milosevic’s death | Autopsy of Milosevic’s remains |
| Del Ponte on Milosevic’s death | Ljajic on Milosevic’s death | Live report from Hague |
| German media on Milosevic’s death | Milosevic to be buried in | BiH public on Milosevic’s death |
| Puljic’s warning to Croat reps | Delegation of BiH HoR in | Serbian public on Milosevic’s death |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Del Ponte,Pocar on Milosevic’s death | Autopsy of Milosevic’s remains | Autopsy on Milosevic |
| Hayat reporter live from | Del Ponte on Milosevic’s death | Pocar and Del Ponte on Milosevic |
| Biserko on Serbian political scene | Trial against Milosevic to be closed? | Reactions to Milosevic’s death |
| Milosevic’s wife to receive Dutch visa | Impact of Milosevic’s death | Respects paid to Milosevic |
| Oslobodjenje | Decision on structure and police budget by end of the month |
| Dnevni Avaz | Del Ponte: Great pity for justice, truth remains to the victims |
| Dnevni List | Cardinal stands up against agreements on constitution (Cardional Puljic on constitutional changes) |
| Vecernji List | Moan was heard from cell (Former ICTY prisoner Kupreskic says health care in Scheveningen is not well-organized and appropriate) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features |
| Nezavisne Novine | Place of burial unknown [Autopsy of Milosevic’s body conducted in Hague] |
| Glas Srpske | That is a morgue! [reactions on Milosevic’s death] |
| EuroBlic | Funeral in |
| Vecernje novosti | Secrets: cause of death and place of burial |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Milosevic’s body to be release today; Dutch expert says Milosevic deliberately took wrong medicines
| BH Radio 1 – The body of Slobodan Milosevic is to be released to relatives today, however the place of burial has not yet been decided. ICTY issued a statement reading the preliminary results of autopsy on Slobodan Milosevic’s body showed that he died of massive hearth attack (myocardial infraction), caused by two previous hearth conditions. Following toxicological blood analysis, Dutch Toxicologist Donald Uges told |
| Serbian President says state funeral for Milosevic would be inappropriate
| BH Radio 1 – Serbian President Boris Tadic stated that he would not pass decision annulling criminal charges against Mirjana Markovic, wife of Slobodan Milosevic, for abuse of power. Mirjana lives with son Marko in |
| | BH Radio 1 by Amir Suzanj – The legal team representing the |
Death of Slobodan Milosevic: reactions, follow ups | |
| ICTY: Preliminary results show Milosevic died of heart attack;
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| SiCG MoD Stankovic: defence should demand expertise to assess rejection of Milosevic’s demand for treatment | EuroBlic pgs 4-5 ‘Both judges and doctors under investigation because of the death’ by N. M. Jovanovic – SiCG Defence Minister and former Chief of Department for Pathology of Military-Medical Academy (VMA) in Belgrade Zoran Stankovic has stated that Milosevic defence should demand for a court medical expertise to be conducted in order to determine whether judges of the Tribunal or doctors were responsible for rejecting Milosevic’s demand for medical treatment. |
| ICTY Chief Prosecutor Del Ponte disappointed because Milosevic’s trial wouldn’t end
| PINK – Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte on Sunday expressed disappointment because the trial against former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic will not be completed. “It is a great pity for justice that the trial will not be completed and no verdict will be rendered”, reiterated Del Ponte. “But the two most responsible persons are still at large. Now, more than ever, I expect |
| RS citizens pay respects to Milosevic
| RTRS – RS citizens paid their respects to Slobodan Milosevic in several towns of RS. They placed flowers and lit candles. Some of them are featured saying that Milosevic was a hero and that he was killed in ICTY. SP RS held a press conference in Bijeljina. SP RS Chair Petar Djokic stated that ICTY should investigate its internal policies. Posters with Milosevic’s picture and ‘Heroes ever die’ slogan were placed all over Bijeljina on Sunday. BHT1– also reported |
| | FTV– Tibor Varadi, member of |
| BiH,
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash and pgs 16-19 ‘Del Ponte: Great pity for justice, truth remains to the victims’, Oslobodjenje pg 2-3 ‘Investigation of Netherlands authorities did not reveal cause of death’ mentioned on cover – Both dailies published dozens of articles related to the death Slobodan Milosevic. DA carries 4 pages of articles, with Del Ponte’s statement in focus. It is followed by the articles carrying the reactions in |
| Media in region and the world speculate on Milosevic’s death;
| BHT1– Most world media reported on Slobodan Milosevic’s death, commenting that his death has prevented the justice to be severed through an indictment. Most of them refer to Milosevic as “the Balkans Butcher”. Media in Serbia speculates on cause of death and location of his funeral. |
| DA, Oslobodjenje op-eds: | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Milosevic’s legacy’ op-ed by Almasa Hadzic – Assessing the legacy of Slobodan Milosevic and his role in the wars in the Balkans, DA editorial concludes that it is now up to Serbia to either fight it or embrace it. 0slobodjenje pg 9 editorial by Josip Vrcko concludes the same. Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Victims’ by Sandra Gojkovic – The author notes a victim is everyone who had been caught by Milosevic’s hand of justice, adding one should remember this on the very day when Serbia and Serb people are marking the third anniversary of murderof Zoran Djindjic [assassinated Serbian PM], one of persons who was killed by people Milosevic had made. Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘To some he was hero, to some butcher’, by Arijana Beus – the author argues that Milosevic’ death has shown how much the public in the region, including BiH, is really divided, since some applauded to the news, Sarajevo-based media called him the ‘butcher of the Balkans’, whilst in Banja Luka some people laid flowers at local squares. Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Milosevic and truth about war’, by Milan Ivkosic – Author says Milosevic’s death triggered many to say that it would have been better if Milosevic had lived to see the end of his trials. Editorials notes there are speculations Milosevic and wars he had started were just tools in the hands of the IC, which saw establishment of the RS, for which Ivkosicclaims it is a reward for Milosevic’s aggression (on BiH). |
Political issues | |
| SDA leader Tihic: talks on constitutional changes to continue next week | RTRS, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘On the Constitution by the end of the week’ not signed – BIH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic stated that political leaders would continue talks on constitutional changes next week, but that issue of election of BiH President and Vice Presidents should be agreed prior to that. He also stated that final agreement might be concluded on the same meeting. |
| HDZ National Council supports leader Covic on const. changes talks, conditions signing of agreement with talks on territorial, administrative re-organization
| Vecernji List, pg 8 ‘HDZ – agreement together with guarantees’, by Zoran Kresic – following the session of National Council of HDZ (held last Friday) the party issued a statement which reads that the HDZ will condition signing of the Agreement on constitutional changes with guarantees that talks on internal territorial and administrative re-organization would continue (afterwards). The statement also says the party is giving its full support to the HDZ President, Dragan Covic, during the negotiations, and that a pre-requisite for the party to continue the talks on election of BiH Presidency is that the Croats be given the possibility to elect the Croat member of BiH Presidency. According to VL, the leading BiH parties, 8 of them, could continue the talks either on Monday or Thursday. |
| Avaz: HDZ MPs in BiH HoR do not support conclusion of HDZ National Council on const. changes; Spokesman Relota insists MPs will have to accept HDZ’s decisions
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘Andric: Even if had been there, I would not have supported it’, by F. Vele – the article notes that although the HDZ has given its support to its President Dragan Covic regarding the constitutional changes talks, several HDZ members who are MPs in the BiH House of Representatives did not want to attend the session of the National Council of HDZ and give their support to the HDZ’s conclusions. MPs Ruza Sopta and Filip Andric confirmed this for Avaz. The latter added that the HDZ Main Board reached a conclusion in October 2005 which reads that the HDZ accepts enactment of a new, democratic constitution that would ensure the full equality of the peoples, which is completely different to what the National Council is advocating now. Inset ‘Relota: They will not be able to reject it’ carries the HDZ spokesman, Miso Relota, who says the HDZ will not sign anything that is detrimental to the Croats, adding that when something does get accepted, all the (HDZ) MPs will not be able to reject it because these issues are about the Croats in BiH, |
| Cardinal Puljic against constitutional changes detrimental to Croats
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Cardinal stands up against agreements on constitution’, by Ljiljana Vidacak– Cardinal Vinko Puljic, asked to comment the process of constitutional changes in BiH, stressed that he hoped the changes would bring the Croats equality to other two peoples. Puljic stated: ‘’Nobody can sign something that is against me and my people in the name of the Croats. I expect that all those involved in the signing of the changes be responsible and not sign something that is detrimental to the people (…) I guarantee that I will stand up against the changes that are detrimental to the Croats whoever signs them, I will call on people to fight against injustice’’. (the statement was made at Cerin near Citluk, probably after the holy mass the Cardinal served on Sunday). Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘I will call Croats to fight the injustice’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘Puljic: Nobody can sign changes if they are against interests of Croats’, not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 13 ‘I will call on people to fight against injustice’, by Marijan Sivric,Vecernji List, pg 6, mentioned on front ‘Puljic: No more divisions among Croats’, by Darko Juka – also reported. |
| SBiH’s Silajdzic: issue of presidency is drawing attention from key issue- entity vote
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Solution that is offered to us leads to isolation of the state’ mentioned on cover by Edian Sarac– In a page long interview for daily, founder of SBiH Haris Silajdzic repeated his criticism against the course of the constitutional talks, stressing the citizens should have been allowed to participate and express their stances. Commenting on quick answer of the Venice Commission regarding the election of BiH Presidency, Silajdzic stated that Presidency issue is only drawing attention from the ‘question of all questions’ referring to entity vote. |
| EC Delegation Head Humphreys: BiH has the obligation to change its Constitution
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘BiH has the obligation to change the Constitution’ by M. Cubro – in an interview to NN, Head of EC Delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys stated BiH authorities have both legal and international obligation to change the Constitution because it had ratified the European Convention on Human Rights and it must ensure the Convention is respected during the elections. He added he expects the talks on constitutional changes would continue soon, as well as that the political leaders in BiH would reach an agreement. He noted that the constitutional changes are complicated and long process in any country, but one needs to act urgently because of the forthcoming elections in BiH. |
| EU Foreign Affair Ministers urged Balkans countries to learn from the past
| PINK – During the informal meeting in Salzburg, Foreign Ministers of EU member states confirmed the European prospects of Western Balkan countries, and urged countries in the region to learn the lesson from the past, especially now following the death of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ursula Plassnik, who presided over the meeting in Salzburg, emphasized that Albania, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia-Montenegro and BiH must continue on their ‘long path’ towards the full admission into the European Union. BHT1 – also carried. |
| Topcagic: we have to promote our work and show that we are prepared to take over membership obligations
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Statement in Salzburg shouldn’t have direct consequences to BiH’ by A. Malagic– Director of BiH Directorate for EU Integrations Osman Topcagic stated for DA that an emphasize of limits in the EU enlargement put at the lastest meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers in Salzburg shouldn’t bear direct consequences for BiH. Topcagic explained that last enlargement disclosed some weaknesses in functioning of the EU, and now larger member states insist that EU should consolidate in order to find more adequate ways to function. “Trough appropriate dialogue with member countries as well, not only with the EC we have to promote everything that is being done here. This means that in addition to working on reforms we have to persuade EU members that those reforms are truly improving situation in BiH and are strengthening our capability to take over obligations that come out of the membership” stated Topcagic. |
| EUPM’s Commissioner Coppola: ‘Decision on structure and police budget by end of the month’
| Oslobodjenje cover splash and pgs 4-5 ‘Decision on structure and police budget by end of the month’ by Antonio Prlenda – In interview for daily EUPM Commissioner Vincenzo Coppola commented the future course of the police reform stating that the deadlines are quite short: “We [Police Reform Directorate] nine months to finalize the recommendations for the politicians. At the end of the month, the main issues are to be discussed, such as the single state police structure, as well as to touch the issues of police regions, centralized law for police and the budget. There are some obstructions, but we have to find solution. After all, the decision is to be finally made by the local authorities.” Coppola added that the police reform will also solve issues of political control over police. He also urge the establishment of the State Data Bank, which would merge information on the crime from all around the country providing the grounds for credible analysis of the situation. Inset ‘Cooperation with foreign agencies’- In tackling the organized crime, Coppola said it is important to establish relations with foreign agencies. |
| BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Ivanic: BiH lawsuit against SiCG illegitimate; it is good talks on const. changes commenced | Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Illegitimate lawsuit’ – BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic stated for |
| Lawyer and Co-Chairman of RS CoP Mikes: dispute between BiH and SiCG should be resolved in diplomatic manner | Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘The dispute should be resolved diplomatically’ by Z. Markovic – Lawyer and Co-Chairman of RS Council of Peoples Miroslav Mikes said the outcome of BiH lawsuit against SiCG, regardless of it would be, would cause great disturbances in BiH, i.e. it would cause either dissatisfaction of Serbs or Bosniaks. Mikes believes the dispute should be, therefore, resolved in a diplomatic manner and history should be let to reach a judgement on the character of the war in BiH decades later. |
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| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘First mover of RS Government encouraging’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Moves of RS Government are encouraging’ by Srna, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Trust in Government’ not signed – |
| No benefits for retirement of FBiH MPs and government officials
| Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘No benefits for members of the Government and MPs’ by A.Terzic– Chair of FBiH House of Representatives, Muhamed Ibrahimovic, confirmed for daily on Thursday that he would not support any changes to the law which would provide additional retirement benefits for the members of the FBiH Government and Parliament. “If such proposal would be included in the agenda… it is not likely that a decision on more favourable conditions of the retirement would receive majority support” stated Ibrahimovic. At the same time, daily learned from the FBiH Pension Disability Insurance Fund [PDIF] that the FBiH Government has “preformed additional strike on pension budget” when it decided to provide more favourable retirement conditions for retired soldiers of former FBiH Army. The Fund claims that every new increase would present a collapse for the FBiH PDIF. |
Crime, investigations | |
| BiH prosecution launches investigation on support to ICTY fugitives; media speculate all suspects are
| BHT1– As BiH Chief Prosecutor Marinko Jurcevic confirmed, BiH Prosecution has launched investigation on several persons from RS suspected of organised crime and providing support to the ICTY suspects at large. Prosecution didn’t want to comment on any concrete names, while BHT1 sources speculate these are members of |
| Miroslav Delic denies claims of NN, says he had not attended secret meetings
| Nezavisne Novine pg 7 ‘I have nothing to do with anything’ by Miroslav Delic – One of persons Nezavisne Novine wrote about last week with regard to illegal activities of |
| Chief RS Prosecutor Bukic: politicians are trading shots over prosecutors’ backs
| EuroBlic pg RS3, announced on cover ‘Politicians are trading shots over prosecutors’ backs’ by Tijana Veselinovic – Chief RS Prosecutor Amor Bukic, in an interview to EuroBlic, stated Prosecutor’s Offices in BiH often serve as means for mutual accusations of politicians and other groups. He noted prosecutors are being criticized both if they raise indictments and if they don’t raise indictments because there is always a side that is not satisfied with the work of prosecutors. Referring to frequent accusations that the Prosecutor’s Office is doing nothing with regard to audit reports, Bukic says the RS Chief Auditor had never informed the |
| DA: ‘FBiH MoI conducts investigation on pressures exerted against witnesses in ‘Covic and others’ case’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘FBiH MoI conducts investigation on pressures exerted against witnesses in ‘Covic and others’ case‘ by F. Vele learns from the BiH Prosecution that upon the request of Prosecutor Johnotan Rattel, the FBiH Ministry of Interior investigators have started an extensive investigation on the pressures exerted against witnesses in the case ‘Covic and others’. DA also says that Rattel sent this request at the end of February and the request was urged by media reports on suicide of Head of the Import Department with the Mostar Customs Administration, Gojko Mandic, who was supposed to be a witness in this case. DA inset ‘Why Zelimir Rebac tried to commit suicide’ says that circumstances of a suicide attempt by former Head of the FBiH Customs Administration, Zelimir Rebac, were also investigated. DA learns that Rebac should testify on the ’Covic and others’ case. |
| NN: Dusan Kos, as Chief of Banja Luka | Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Policemen were spying on OHR employees’ by A. Sisic – In frame of series of articles on documents proving illegal activities on base of which BiH Prosecutor’s Office might raise indictments against top officials of |