OHR BiH Morning Media Brief
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| World news: | BiH Delegation in | Ivanic meets troika in |
| BiH citizens in | US Congressmen in BiH Presidency | Kostunica to present action plan |
| Delic entitled 60 % of his salary? | BIH Presid. met US Congress deleg. |
| Catholic cemeteries desecrated in TZ | October elections, update | Dodik on RS CoP re RS Telecom |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Revoked sentence to Jelavic | Jelavic’s sentence annulled? | Paravac on Delic’s salary |
| World news: | World News | US Congressmen in BiH Presidency |
| Interview with BiH Ambass. at | BIH | A month detention for 6 persons |
| 83 pct of BiH citizens want BiH in EU | EU Ambassadors re BIH politicians | RS Govt on RS Elektroprivreda |
| Oslobodjenje | [Former RS PM Bukejlovic] Ashdown protected participants of attack on Srebrenica |
| Dnevni Avaz | [IMF resident representative Slack] Extravagance could avenge BiH authorities |
| Dnevni List | Rabies infection – 14 people hospitalized (Bijeljina) |
| Vecernji List | ‘I do not know who liberated Mostar’ (J. Manolic in |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Porn replaces |
| Nezavisne Novine | SNSD is the strongest in both BiH and RS’ |
| Glas Srpske | Resource for the future |
| EuroBlic | School tuition outside the law [Report on high tuition at the Banja Luka School of Economics] |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
Judicial issues, security and war crimes | |
| BiH Presidnecy Chair’s Cabinet: Delic’s payment legal; Presidency member Paravac asks Justice Ministry, OHR to asses legality
| RTRS By Zorica Rulj – The Cabinet of the BiH Presidency Chair, Sulejman Tihic, confirmed on Monday that an ICTY suspect and former Tihic’s adviser, General Rasim Delic, was receiving a salary from the budget of the BiH institutions. Press release issued by the Cabinet reads that Delic was receiving benefits on the basis of the Law on BiH institutions, which stipulates that any person suspended from office, during the term of custody or investigation, is entitled to 60% of the amount of their salary received prior to suspension. BiH Presidency member, Borislav Paravac demanded this decision to be legally evaluated, and he also asks from the BiH Justice Ministry and OHR to take their stance on the issue. Paravac says he received an explanation from BiH Presidency Secretariat, but finds it incomplete. “It is still unknown whether the decision on payout was made on the basis of the Law on labour or Law on civil service; it is unknown whether Rasim Delic served as state official…” says Paravac and adds these are the reasons why he decided to submit the BiH Justice Ministry with the documentation. “Due to the fact that this is a political event, we are submitting OHR Political and Legal Affairs Departments with the same documentation”, says Paravac. Tihic’s Cabinet claims that everything has been done in line with the law and that Delic, who surrendered voluntarily, cannot be compared to war crime suspects who do not want to surrender. PINK, BHT1, Hayat, FTV – also reported. Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘’Delic’ case before OHR’, not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Paravac asks OHR’s opinion’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Rasim Delic’s suspension conducted by the law’ by Onasa– Inset ‘Paravac asks for OHR’s stance’ all carried. Paravac. Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘The Hague suspect gets compensation in line with law’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Delic entitled to compensation’, by ri, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Case at Ministry’ by R.R., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Sensitive political event’ by G.G., Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘60% of salary to Rasim Delic’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Rasim Delic’s suspension conducted by the law’ by Onasa – carried Tihic’s cabinet release. |
| RS PM Dodik: Oric, Delic only move peoples in BiH away from reconciliation
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| BiH Prosecution indicts Mandic for war crimes at time he was Deputy MoI, and Justice Minister
| BHT1- On Monday, the |
| BiH Appellate Council revokes first degree sentence to Jelavic; new trial to be scheduled
| Hayat – Appellate Council of the Court of BiH has revoked first-degree sentence to former BiH Presidency member Ante Jelavic, news agency |
| Ex RS PM Bukejlovic: Ex HR Ashdown ordered identity protection for participants of attack on Srebrenica
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘Ashdown ordered identity protection for participants of attack on Srebrenica’ by A.Avdic – Former RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic told daily on Monday that it is not true he hid any documents related to Srebrenica. He denied statement of RS PM Milorad Dodik who stated recently he knows nothing about the list of those persons who participated in Srebrenica genocide, which was put together by RS Srebrenica Task Force, claiming his predecessor Bukejlovic hid the list. List contains approximately 28,000 names of persons that took part in attack on UN protected zone of Srebrenica, 892 of which are still working in state and entity institutions. Bukejlovic stressed: “Dodik can obtain the list trough the RS Government’s bodies,” adding the list could not be published because former High Representative Paddy Ashdown demanded identity protection for all those who appeared on the list. He added that all documents were submitted to the OHR, BiH Prosecution and the ICTY; last week, the chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte stated while attending marking of Srebrenica massacre that she was surprised the list was not published. She added that the Tribunal has not imposed embargo on publishing the list. ‘Women of Srebrenica’ President Hajra Catic confirmed for daily that Ashdown banned publishing the list, adding it is “not logical to protect identities of those who had taken part in mass liquidations of our children.” She invited HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling to remove this ban. |
| Serb Diaspora in US threats to Srebrenica wartime commander Oric and SBiH leader Silajdzic | Dnevni Avaz pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Death threats to Naser Oric and Haris Silajdzic’ by E.S. – Daily carries the letter of “group of Bosnian Serbs living in Chicago, USA” with death threats to Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric and SBiH leader Haris Silajdzic. The letter, addressed on Dnevni Avaz editorial board, was received on Monday, claim daily. The group was dissatisfied with ICTY sentence against Oric and “Silajdzic who is defaming RS for years.” |
European integrations | |
| BiH Foreign Minister meets EU Troika: without progress in police reform, there will be no singing of
| BHT1 by Elvir Bucalo, |
| Oslob: OHR and BiH CoM Chair Terzic trying to solve problem of
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Serb experts do not want to chair Police Reform Directorate’ by Az.K. – Article carries that police reform is heading another blockade, for none of the Serb members of Police Reform Directorate [ |
| EU Head of Missions in BiH express concern regarding statements that question territorial integrity of BiH; DPA cannot be changed unilaterally
| BHT1– The EU Heads of Missions in BiH noted with concern some recent statements by politicians in BiH that seem to question its territorial integrity and the constitutional order, said the German Embassy to BiH on Monday. “The territorial integrity of BiH as well as the existence of both Entities as integral parts of the country are recognized in the Constitution of BiH. Changes to the DPA cannot be done unilaterally, but only through the proper procedures prescribed therein. The EU Heads of |
| Finish Foreign Minister expresses concerns with referendum talk; Minister Ivanic: some are not ready for OHR to leave
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Police reform remains condition for signing of the Agreement’ by E.Sarac, inset ‘EU concerned with statements on referendum in RS’ by Tanjug – Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja [Finland currently presides over the EU] stated [following the meeting with BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic] that the EU is concerned with the fact that certain politicians from the RS are mentioning the possibility of referendum. He stated that |
| Osl. op-ed: For OHR to shut down, BiH must have European Const., sign
| Oslobodjenje, pg 9 ‘Transfer to Brussels’, by Zija Dizdarevic – Commenting on the announcement that the OHR could be shutting down in end June next year, Dizdarevic argues the announcement came to hastily without Brussels (EU) giving any clear guidelines to BiH related to its transition into a normal country. The author argues that the demise of the OHR would be reasonable only if BiH (by |
| Assistant BiH Foreign Minister Perkovic said that EC would deliver to BiH its proposal on visa mitigation for BiH citizens
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘BiH Negotiation team is waiting for the answers from Brussels’ by M. Cubro – Assistant BiH Foreign Affairs Minister and member of BiH Negotiation Team with the EU Zoran Perkovic told daily that EC would in few days deliver to BiH authorities its proposals for the mitigation of the visa regime for BiH citizens. Perkovic explained BiH proposed gradually visa abolishment for certain BiH categories, in other words issue of visa for longer period and with smaller expenses. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Police reform remains condition for signing of the Agreement’ by E.Sarac, Inset ‘EC gets mandate for visa liberalization’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 inset ‘BiH tired from waiting of liberalization of visas’- BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic, who met EU troika on Monday, said visa issues were discussed and that upon his insisting, by end of this week EC should get the mandate to talk about liberalization of visa regime with all regional countries. |
| GS op-ed: Author states that the integration of BiH is imposed by the IC
| Glas Srpske op-edpg 2 ‘World trend’ by Nenad Kecmanovic– Author states that democratic separations but not imposed integrations present world trend adding that EU did not manage to preserve any post communist country. Author questions whether three peoples in BiH want and under which conditions to live together in one country. According to author, examples of |
Elections and other political issues | |
| Because of launching of VNI by Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP, SNSD demands “mini constitutional changes to asses the role of RS CoP”
| BHT1By Boris Gagic – After Bosniak Caucus in the RS Council of Peoples launched procedure for protection of the vital national interest regarding the privatisation of RS Telecom, the RS Government stated the privatisation could not be stopped regardless of activities taken by the RS CoP. “There is absolutely no reason for doing that. We demand form the RS CoP to hold the session in this week, otherwise the entire issue will be presented before the RS Constitutional Court as this is yet another example of political manipulation” stated RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik. Reporter stated that in order to carry out the privatisation, Dodik’s SNSD demands mini-constitutional changes. Rajko Vasic, SNSD Secretary-General, stated party would ask for “an urgent reform of RS Constitution to re-assess the position and role of RS CoP”. This request was considered by the RS Vice President Adil Osmanovic as “an abuse of RS CoP” completely denying any of aforementioned allegations regarding the launch of VNI. “There are no valid arguments to change the RS Constitution and the role of CoP” added Osmanovic. RTRS- |
| Serb parties ask RSNA Speaker to remove SDA’s Hafizovic at Tue session; SDA replies it would withdraw support to RS Govt
| BHT1- Delegate from Serb Caucus at RS Council of Peoples, Milojko Grujicic, asked from RS National Assembly Speaker Igor Radojicic to remove RS NA Deputy Speaker Sefket Hafizovic at the session scheduled on Tuesday. The request is filed following the recent meeting between Hafizovic and wartime Commander of Srebrenica Naser Oric. |
| SDA’s Hafizovic: If they vote, I will leave
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘If Hafizovic is replaced SDA s withdrawing from the RS Government’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘SDA would leave RS Government’ by N.D. – Sefket Hafizovic told DA that SDA would not wait for confidence vote, but would leave the RSNA in case of launching of the initiative for his replacement, which was announced by Radicals and |
| RS PM Dodik: Bosniak Caucus abused vital national interest
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘No one could stop the privatisation’ by CA.Sekulic – Regarding the privatisation of RS Telekom and the initiative of Bosniak Caucus at the RS Council of Peoples to launch the procedure for the protection of vital national interest (VNI), RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said that Bosniak Caucus abused VNI adding that this mechanism (VNI) showed as motive for RS obstruction while such Council that would deal with such issue has never been established in FBiH. SNSD Main Board member Rajko Vasic said ‘’Launching the procedure of vital national interest regarding the privatisation of the RS Telekom is reliable sign of BiH collapse. Collapse of states is always based on economic issues, and it started that way if former |
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| FTV by Gordana Antonic – The Head of BiH Central Election Commission, Branko Petric, told |
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| Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Bajramovic: Deadline for correcting of irregularities expires tomorrow’ by L.S. – In a statement to DA, Spokesperson of BiH |
| SBiH’s Silajdzic on | Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Such decisions were being brought only in South Africa by 1994’ by E.Sarac – Commenting decision of Central Election Commission [ |
| NN op-ed: candidates removed from election lists failed to respect law of the country in which they want to be a part of the legislation
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Legislators outside the law’ by Rubina Cengic – Author states BiH Central Election Commission removed 663 candidates from the election lists due to different irregularities (author mentions some candidates did not have ID) adding that every hundredth candidate was removed. Author also states that every hundredth candidate does not respect the law of its country in which want to be a part of the legislation noting that those candidates broke the law by walking around BiH without having the ID. According to author, the fact that Svetlana Cenic was among those who did not have ID was surprising and disappointing. |
| According to the UNDP Poll, SNSD is the party with the highest support in BiH and RS
| Nezavisne Novine cover splash, pg 3 ‘SNSD is the strongest in both BiH and RS’ Public opinion poll conducted in June by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) shows that one third of BiH citizens would vote for SNSD if the elections are to be held this week (In BiH: SNSD – 30,9%, |
| SD int with Ivo Miro Jovic: ‘We are not sovereign because we do not manage our wallet’
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 9 mentioned on cover ‘We are not sovereign because we do not manage our wallet’ by Marko Karacic – SD runs an interview with Croat BiH Presidency member and HDZ BiH candidate for the same position in the October elections Ivo-Miro Jovic. Asked about the possibility of two Croat media outlets in Mostar shutting down and the “terrorist threat to Croats in Mostar”, Jovic replies that Croats in BiH are in such a position because ‘the decisions the world’s policy makers have been making in the last fifteen years have been intended to deprive Croats in BiH of their constituency and sovereignty.’ He believes the way to guarantee a future for the Croats in BiH and prosperity for entire BiH is to apply EU standards in BiH as soon as possible. Jovic says that ‘constituency without sovereignty is nothing and the Croat people is not sovereign because it does not manage its wallet but instead depends on others for that’. It is absurd, he continues, that even ethnic minorities in BiH have the right to their own media and Croats, as a constituent people, do not. That was the reason, Jovic adds, he referred the BiH law on PBS to the BiH Constitutional Court but there are already pressures coming from the IC trying to influence future solutions regulating this field. Inset: Jovic says he deeply believes in his win in the upcoming elections and sees no serious competitors among other candidates. |
| BiH HoR Speaker Raguz visits
| Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Croats in offside – Croatian help continues’, by Dario Pusic – Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives Martin Raguz will pay an official visit to Croatia on Tuesday, where he would hold meetings with Croatian Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks, Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and Foreign Minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. The main topic of discussions will be the continuation of reform processes in BiH, Croatian help to BiH and the possibilities of cooperation between the two countries in getting closer to the EU. According to DL’s unofficial information, Raguz (a senior member of HDZ 1990) could also be talking to his Croatian hosts (senior figures in Croatian HDZ) about an alleged document the HDZ BiH has sent to the Croatian PM and leader of HDZ Croatia Ivo Sanader, which compromises many members of HDZ 1990 (document allegedly says they are close to Mafia circles etc). (NB: the headline of article is unclear, does not refer to any part of article itself, possibly refers to BiH Croats’ geographic position in relation to |
| DA op-ed slams RS politicians for forgetting reforms due to elections
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Is way to Europe forgotten?’ by Edina Sarac – Commenting that BiH politicians forgotten reforms processes necessary for EU approaching at the same moment when the October elections were scheduled, editorial condemns mostly RS politicians for taking pre-election stances that are not helping reforms at all. Author warns that all BiH citizens, not depending of the place in BiH they live, could pay the price of such policy. |
Economic, social and media issues | |
| RS PM Dodiks says RS Govvt would not private Elektrioprivreda
| Glas Srpske cover splash ‘Resource for the future’ by G. Dakic,Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Elektroprivreda should not be privatised’ by A.Sekulic,EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Elektroprivreda is not for sale’ by Tijana Veselinovic – At the RS Government’s Monday session, RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said that the RS Government is not supportive of ‘Elektroprivreda’ privatisation adding the RS Government asked from ‘Elektroprivreda’ management to propose construction of one hydroelectric power station of 50 mega Watt. Dodik also said the RS Government would consider assigned concessions and would deny them in case of irregularities. Namely, the RS Government claims the international financial organizations’ loans should not be accepted but those loans should be provided through neutral financial market, without political requests. The Government asked the independent Regulatory Commission to make electricity price equal for citizens and industry. RS Government believes it is necessary to strengthen capacities of ‘Elektroprivreda’ since production of electrical energy is resource of high importance for the RS’ and BiH’ future. RS Government supported structure of ‘Elektroprivreda’ as ‘holding’, which expects the RS owns home company (100%), elects Supervisory Board and gives compliance for the election of the management. PINK, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘RS Government asks for electricity prices for industry to decrease for 30%’ by Fena |
| RS Int. Minister, RS MoI Trade Union sign new collective contract; increase of salaries agreed but budget rebalance requirement
| PINK by Dragica Tojagic – On Monday, the RS Interior Minister, Stanislav Cadjo, and the Chair of Trade Union of RS MoI employees, Dusko Jandric, signed new, special collective contract under which the Interior Ministry’s employees would be entitled to “greater rights”. Namely, the new agreement foresees means to pay for overtime and night shifts, increase salary coefficients, etc. “We have increased coefficients to all employees, including police officers, from 3 to 4.3-4.5”, says Jandric. The signed agreement does not mean that salaries are going to be increased immediately; the agreement creates presumptions, in order to have negotiations on new labour price started by the fall. RTRS- “We have agreed upon this, but since we have not started this year with such project, we will have to wait for budget rebalance”, says Jandric. BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Better rights and pays for the police’ by M. Milunovic, EuroBlic RSpg3 ‘Raise as of next year’ by D.Filipovic – also carried. |
| RS PM Dodik denies BiH CoM Chair Terzic on realization of RS Budget
| Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Terzic tells untruth’, not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Dodik: The RS Budget is being realized in in almost the hundred-percent rate’ by FENA – On Monday, RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said the RS Budget is being realized in full and the statements of BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic that the RS Government is obstructing the agreement on coefficients of revenue distribution because they are not providing for the planned amount of funds in the budget are absolutely incorrect. Dodik claims that the RS Budget is realized “in almost the hundred-percent rate” and that the RS Government at this moment is not concerned about the blockade of funds on the account of the BiH Indirect Tax Administration. |
| IMF resident representative Slack: Extravagance could avenge BiH authorities in 2007
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘Extravagance could boomerang on BiH authorities’ by Tarik Lazovic – In an interview for daily, International Monetary Fund [IMF] resident representative to BiH, Graham Slack, said IMF is worried with a decrease of budgetary discipline and an increase of public spending in BiH. He underlined that BiH authorities should not rely on temporary increase of budgetary income, for it could boomerang on them by beginning of next year, for which period IMF foresees that a deficit in a state budget could reappear. Slack noted that capital investments in infrastructure would take the first blow of budget deficit, adding that temporary surplus of income should be spent on income tax reform, in order to improve new employments. |
| RS PM Dodik:
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Obstruction will not pass’ by G.Dakic – RS Premier, Milorad Dodik, Monday stated that |
OHR BiH Media Round-up
Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 18 July
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| No peace in middle East | FBiH HoR on Ombudsmen work | RS NA in session |
| Tsunami in Java – update | RSNA on agriculture development | Talks btw BG-Pristina resume |
| Speaker of BiH HoR Raguz in | Appelate Council on Jelavic case | Conflict btw Israel-Lebanon continue |
TV news broadcast on 17 July
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| World news: | BiH Delegation in | Ivanic meets troika in |
| BiH citizens in | US Congressmen in BiH Presidency | Kostunica to present action plan |
| | Delic entitled 60 % of his salary? | BIH Presid. met US Congress deleg. |
| Catholic cemeteries desecrated in TZ | October elections, update | Dodik on RS CoP re RS Telecom |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Revoked sentence to Jelavic | Jelavic’s sentence annulled? | Paravac on Delic’s salary |
| World news: | World News | US Congressmen in BiH Presidency |
| Interview with BiH Ambass. at | BIH MFA on BIH citizens in | A month detention for 6 persons |
| 83 pct of BiH citizens want BiH in EU | EU Ambassadors re BIH politicians | RS Govt on RS Elektroprivreda |
| Oslobodjenje | [Former RS PM Bukejlovic] Ashdown protected participants of attack on Srebrenica |
| Dnevni Avaz | [IMF resident representative Slack] Extravagance could avenge BiH authorities |
| Dnevni List | Rabies infection – 14 people hospitalized (Bijeljina) |
| Vecernji List | ‘I do not know who liberated Mostar’ (J. Manolic in |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Porn replaces HTV2 (on cable tv) |
| Nezavisne Novine | SNSD is the strongest in both BiH and RS’ |
| Glas Srpske | Resource for the future |
| EuroBlic | School tuition outside the law [Report on high tuition at the Banja Luka School of Economics] |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| FBiH HoR discusses work of FBiH Ombudsmen in 2005
| BH Radio 1, RHB – In continuance of the session of FBiH House of Representatives, MPs have not accepted the report on FBiH Ombudsmen’s work in last year with evaluation of status of human rights in FBiH. During the discussion MPs have expressed many critics and the “loudest” were MPs of SDA, who questioned the purpose of existence of this institution “considering achieved results compared to given authorities”. One of the objections refers to “unreasonably high salaries”, which as was pointed, are in line with FBiH Judges. MPs also object to their failure to react when necessary, such as in case “Pogorelica”. MPs agreed that it is a good thing that this institution will no longer be on FBiH Budget, since as of New Year entities’ institutions would be abolished and only BiH Ombudsmen Office would exist. During the continuance of the session it is expected for MPs to vote on two proposal laws, on which the voting was postponed. Namely, MPs should vote on proposal law on lowest net hourly wage and proposal law on income tax. |
Cooperation with ICTY and war crimes | |
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| FTV By Zinaida Hamidovic – Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica is going to present the Action Plan for Cooperation with ICTY to EU Troika in |
| Oslob op-ed: Main goal of Serbian PM Kostunica’s ‘Action Plan’ is to restructure security structures in
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Plan for Mladic’ op-ed by Senka Kurtovic – Commenting on Serbian Action Plan for Cooperation with the ICTY presented to EU officials in Brussels on Monday evening by Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, editorial notes that Kostunica is not bothered by capturing Ratko Mladic as much as he is eager to restructure the security and intelligence services in his homeland. Author notes: “Ones that rule security services – rule |
| US Ambassador to Serbia Polt: EU and US expect Action Plan to fruit with results
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Apprehension of Ratko Mladic is inevitable’ by B92 – Commenting on ‘Action Plan’, presented by Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, US Ambassador to Serbia Michael Polt said EU and US expect the Plan to fruit with results: “If this is a plan that serves for buying time, in order for this issue to be further discussed, it won’t have an effect. If this is call for action, not only by few, but by all in the country, than it would have positive effects, and I hope it would be like that.” |
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| RTRS- The vice-president of the SDS Bosko Siljegovic, asked BiH Justice Ministry, BiH Court and Prosecution to say how far the investigation against 49 Bosniaks suspected of committing war crimes in Srebrenica has progressed. “The ICTY forwarded the case to the BiH Court over a year and a half ago and 3,262 mothers and wives in black are entitled to the truth and a just trial for the murderers of their sons and husbands,” says Siljegovic in a press release. He explained that this request is a result of the provocative reception for holders of ‘Golden Lily’ medal and ‘Golden Police Badge’ held by the Srebrenica mayor, Abdurahman Malkic, and which was attended by wartime commanders and “war criminals” Naser Oric and Zulfo Tursunovic. Hayat, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘ What is with the investigation’ by not signed, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Who is obstructing the investigation’ by not signed – also reported. |
| DA: No one of the responsible knows how was 1 million KM allocated for cooperation with ICTY spent
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Cavic demanded one million KM more for ‘special’ needs’ by N.Diklic – Following the story published in Banja Luka-based daily Nezavisne Novine on audit report of RS Interior Ministry [MoI] business activities in 2005, DA carries that the RS Government assigned 1 million KM, from the budgetary reserve for 2004, to RS MoI ‘for special needs’, i.e. for operative expenses related to the cooperation with the ICTY. Daily carries that audit report does not state how this amount was spent and for what purpose. Former RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic told Avaz that these issues were top-secret, adding that no one except the MoI and RS Police Director knows how this money was allocated and according to which principles: “These funds were spent during my mandate, but after allocating money to RS MoI, Government lost any possibility for supervision. The same problem occurred last year, when RS President Dragan Cavic demanded RS MoI to allocate the same amount again to the RS Police.” Ex-RS Finance Minister Svetlana Cenic confirmed that the amount was never allocated again. Ex-RS PM Dragan Mikerevic stated that he could not remember what purpose was the money allocated for. Article carries that the two responsible for money spending, ex-RS MoI Darko Matijasevic and ex-RS Police Director Dragomir Andan did not want to give any comments, as well as current RS MoI Stanislav Cadjo. Inset ‘Money is not given to families’ – Article carries that the only thing that is known with certainty is that the money was not given to the families of ICTY detainees, which was confirmed by Head of RS Government Secretariat for Cooperation with the ICTY Jovan Spaic. |
| RS Ass. of families of fallen and missing soldiers criticizes Masovic, saying he obstructs search for the missing
| Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘Politics is holding the brake?’ by G. Klepic – The RS Association of families of fallen and missing soldiers organized a two-day round table in Banja Luka, discussing search for imprisoned and missing persons. The Association believes the appointment of Amor Masovic, Chair of FBiH Commission on missing persons at the BiH Institute for Missing Persons would make an obstacle in the process of search. RS Office for search of missing persons Milan Bogdanic said number of exhumations decreases every year. Chair of Association for missing and forcibly expelled persons from |
| GS reports verdict to Oric at least proved that there were killings of Serb prisoners and destruction of Serb villages
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Victims can not be hidden’ by G. Klepic, D. Majstorevic – Daily refers to the crimes that were committed against Serbs in the area of Srebrenica and Bratunac in 1992 and 1993 taking into consideration release of Naser Oric. Daily states RS Ministry of Interior submitted reports on crimes in this area to BiH Prosecution noting that BiH Prosecution did nothing regarding this issue. Daily also states that the ICTY verdict to Oric justified all that happened to Serbs in this area during the war. Daily reported ICTY at least concluded tortures and killings of Serb prisoners and destruction of Serb villages (although Oric was not proclaimed directly guilty) adding that this might clear up the situation in Srebrenica before July 1995. |
Economic issues | |
| BiH marks 37.12% increase in export; VAT has positive effects, but experts deem that Law should be more flexible
| Hayat by Zumra Arnautovic – During the first six months of 2006, BiH has exported goods totalling approx. 2,45 million KM, which is 37.12% more than compared to same period of 2005. The biggest foreign-trade partner is |
| IMF warning: BiH could face budget collapse due to unreasonable spending
| Hayatby Elma Kazagic – Despite positive macroeconomic trends, the International Monetary Fund [IMF] has warned once again that BiH could face budget collapse next year, due to unreasonable spending of budget money. IMF report emphasized that the economic growth in BiH was on a satisfactory level, export has increased and Value Added Tax has been successfully introduced; however, budget discipline is getting even weaker, while the necessary reforms have been suspended. “The budgets for 2006 have dramatically increased expenses. Governments on lower levels of authority are planning to increase their salaries, while the amendments to the law on old foreign currency savings – if they are adopted – would be another shock to a budget”, stated IMF representative in BiH Graham Slack. Members of BiH Economic Council agree with this assessment; they claim that some improvements have been made, but in the same time a slowdown in institutional strengthening of the state is evident. “The World Bank has cancelled a $50 million loan for adapting social sector, because regulations in the field of veterans and disabled persons’ protection have not been harmonized with European standards”, stated member of Economic Council Zarko Papic. Dnevni List pg ‘Excessive pre-election spending will cost citizens’ by Danijela Kozina – also reported. |
| Int. w/ Finance Minister Vrankic on proposed Income Tax Law: New law respects everyone’s personal situation
| Vecernji List pg 6 mentioned on cover ‘100,000 employees will not be paying income tax ‘ by Zoran Kresic – VL interviews FBiH Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic on the topic of the expected adoption of the new Law on Income Tax. Vrankic calculates that, under the new law, a single person would pay 20 KM tax on a 500 KM income whereas a family with 2 children would pay 14 KM on the same amount. He explains that progressive tax rates will be 5 % (income up to KM 400), 10 % (800 KM), 15 % (1500 KM) and 20% (income over 1500 KM) and that pensions and scholarships will not be taxable. Regarding workers who are on minimum wages, Vrankic says 100,000 workers in FBiH with two or more children will not pay income tax because annual income under KM 1200 will not be subject to taxation. Based on the above, Vrankic says new law will respect everybody’s personal circumstances and family situation. |
| FBIH HoR to vote on Income Tax: SDA to support provision, SBiH only after settling certain ‘unclear’ issues
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Will deputies vote for introduction of Income Tax?’ by Ad.H. – Announcing that FBiH House of Representatives would vote on introduction of Income Tax at its Tuesday’s session, author comments that this provision would abolish some about 20 present cantonal taxes on income and radically change the present tax system in whole. Article reminds that the FBiH Government proposed four different rates of Income Tax: 5% for monthly income up to 400 KM, 10 % for 400-800 KM, 15% for 800-1500 KM and 20% for 1500 KM and more. Head of SDA Caucus Semsudin Mehmedovic stressed: “It is important for us that approximately 118,000 citizens would be completely released from paying taxes, which would not, at the same time, endanger cantonal budgets.” Head of SBiH Caucus Ismet Briga noted that FBiH Government should answer certain questions before voting takes place. Dnevni List pg 7 “Parliament to discuss methods to tax income’ unsigned, – announced discussion in the parliament. |
Elections and other political issues | |
| BiH Presidency meet US Congressmen; emphasis on BiH main goals- EU and NATO
| BHT1- BiH Presidency members met on Monday with a delegation of the U.S. Congress. “We understand that your country is going through transition and when we look back at what has been accomplished to date, we are proud to have been partners in the past… It is indeed difficult to work on basis of consensus, and you are carrying the responsibility for peace, reconstruction and prosperity, and we congratulate you on this”, said the member of the House Intelligence Committee, Congressman Peter Hoekstra. BiH Presidency members reiterated the basic objectives of BiH; admission into NATO, which offers security, and the EU, which offers prosperity, noting that all political parties of the three peoples have consensus on these goals. They reiterated that BiH is committed to the battle against terrorism, adding that BiH is part of the international coalition. The delegation headed by the member of the House Intelligence Committee, Congressman Peter Hoekstra, also comprises Congressmen Gil Gutknecht, Mike J. Rogers, Earl Pomeroy and Christopher Shays. The U.S. Ambassador to BiH, Douglas McElhaney also attended the meeting at the BiH Presidency. |
| DA: SDA, SBiH and Patriotic Block plan ‘humble’ pre-election campaigns
| Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘SDA has right to spend 2.5 million KM and PDP will not exceed 300, 000KM’ by A.Malagic – DA brings an overview for expenses of election campaigns some political parties are planning, noting that billboards and singers are definitely not issues money would be save on. SDA Secretary General Amir Zukic said that they already have some offers, but stresses that this won’t cost so much, since mentioned singers are “friends of the party”. He underlines that there will be no huge rallies, since party has no means for this. Zukic said that SDA, according to BiH Law on Elections, has right to spend about 2.5 million KM, but “I believe that we will not reach that sum”. Member of SBiH’s Presidency Beriz Belkic said his party would base its campaign on direct contact with citizens. However he couldn’t say how much campaign would cost. Inset ‘Patriotic Block without glamorous rallies’ – SDU leader Sejfudin Tokic said that Patriotic Block [SDU and BOSS] would focus on direct contact with voters. He underlines that their expense plans are much below 300,000 KM. |
| DA: HDZ to determine schedule for pre-elections rallies on Friday; PDP to focus on large rallies; SNSD on direct contact
| Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘SDA has right to spend 2.5 million KM and PDP ill not exceed 300, 000KM’ by A.Malagic – HDZ Spokesperson Miso Relota stressed that party would determine schedule for pre-elections rallies on Friday, adding that they will try to maintain the same level of campaigns as in last years, but he couldn’t say how much this would cost. PDP’s Igor Crnadak said their campaign wouldn’t be more expensive then previous i.e. will not exceed 300,000 KM. Crnadak said that PDP will focus on several large rallies. Inset ‘SNSD will not bring Severina for certain’ – SNSD Vice President Krstan Simic said his party will spend about 450,000 KM. Simic explained that SNSD will focus on “door to door” campaign with large, ending rally in Banja Luka. |
| FBiH parties will not support amendment to BiH Law on Elections foreseeing voters’ right with old IDs
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘To voting posts only with CIPS documents’ by A.Terzic – After Constitutional Legal Affairs Commission [ |
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| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘RTRS damages |
| RS Association of Young journalists: media are responsible before public, not political parties
| Vecernje Novosti pg 19 ‘Journalists responsible before public’ Dj.T., Glas Srpske pg ‘Keep your fingers away from media’ by D.Mo. – RS Association of young journalists condemns all attempts of political interference in the work of public RS and BiH media. The Association reminds political parties that they could send their objections to Communications Regulatory Agency. Association strongly condemned political interference in editorial policy of RTRS, |
| DL comment: Mostar has not benefited from making it to UNESCO list
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Daily commentary’, by Sanja Bjelica – reminding that it has been one year since Mostar’s Old Bridge and Old Town core made it to the UNESCO’s world cultural heritage list, Bjelica argues that the city has not benefited as much as when it comes to tourism-generated profits as some (politicians and officials) argued a year ago. As a remedy to the situation, Bjelica argues all levels of authorities, including the City of |
Judicial issues and trial | |
| Covic-Lijanovici trial continues at State Court, expert says Lijanovici did not damage FBiH budget
| Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Who damaged FBiH budget?’ by E. M. – Hearing in the Covic-Lijanovici trial was held on Monday, reports DL. Customs expert Teufik Kec ascertained that company Lijanovici did not damage FBiH budget; company complied with the laws on customs tariff and foreign trade and instructions by Customs Administration Director which means the debt attributed to the company is made up. Trials continues Tuesday. Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Lijanovici did not damage budget’ by Zoran Kresic – also reported. |
| Trial to commence before
| Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Suit guards reputation’ by D.Majstorovic – The former First Secretary of the BiH Mission with United Nations in New York Darko Trifunovic is today expected to appear before BiH Court at the main hearing in suit he has filed against BiH. He confirms to daily he has filed a suit against BiH some four years ago over severe violation of Laws and basic human rights. (According to daily, Trifunovic assumed the position of First Secretary until March 2002 in New. After he informed the-then BiH Foreign Ministrer, Zlatko Lagumdzija, of irregularities he observed at the work of the BiH Mission with UN, Lagumdzija sent him a letter of employment termination instead o investigating into claims, according to Trifunovic. One of Trifunovic’ claim is that there was a mysterious advisor at Mission’s payroll named Safet Catovic, who was also Spokesperson of the alleged humanitarian organisation led by the-then first humanitarian convicted over ties with Al Qa’ida.) |
| | Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘They sacked secret agents out of avenge’ by M.Cubro – Daily learns at BiH Court that it has passed several first-instance rulings regarding suits sacked intelligence agents have filed against BiH Intelligence and Security Agency (OSA). The verdicts pronounced the OSA leadership had violated the Law by having dismissed its staff, noting OSA is obligated to return some individuals to work, connect their length of service and pay out material damage. One of sacked intelligence agents confirms Court determined OSA sacked some of them out of avenge. (NOTE: at the beginning of 2005, two entities’ agencies OSA and FOSS have merged into one, by which several hundred of staff were sacked.) Tomislav Limov, Chairperson of the BiH Parliamentary Board for Supervision over OSA work claims OSA must respect Court rulings. Daily ntoes they Monday failed to get any comment on the issue from Adnan Terzic, BiH Council of Ministers’ Chair, and Almir Dzuvo, OSA Head. |