02.07.2006

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 2/7/2006

TV news broadcast on 1 July

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

RHB employees on strike

War crime suspects deported to BiH

Oric at Sarajevo airport

 

Oric arrived to Sarajevo

Reactions to Oric’s release

 

Reactions to Oric’s sentence

Compensation for Srebrenica victims

 

Gregorian criticizes BiH Presidency

HR pardons 7 officials

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Naser Oric arrives to Sarajevo

No transmission

Davidovic on signing of SAA

Reactions to Oric’s sentence

 

Oric arrived to Sarajevo

HR rehabs seven persons

 

Reactions to Oric’s sentence

Issue of naturalized BiH citizens

 

Politicians on Oric’s sentence

 

Oslobodjenje

Ovations in Sarajevo, strong condemnations in Banja Luka and Belgrade

Dnevni Avaz

Five questions that need to be answered

Vecernji List

I have seen death in my dream [excerpts from diary of Jake Kovco, Australian soldier of BiH origin who committed suicide in Iraq]

Nezavisne Novine

Even the Prosecutor’s Office was surprised with mild sentence [Refers to the statement of ICTY Spokesperson Nikiforov on sentence to Oric, see OHR BIH Media Round-up: July 1]

Note: Dnevni List was not delivered to Brcko office this morning

Naser Oric returned to BiH/further reaction on his verdict

Wartime Srebrenica commander Naser Oric arrived to Sarajevo Airport from Hague

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BHT1 – Approximately 1000 people gathered at Sarajevo airport to meet Naser Oric. Oric was released from ICTY custody after ICTY Council made a ruling by which Oric was sentenced to 2 years in prison for crimes committed in Srebrenica area. Oric was in custody for more than 3 years and was therefore released. Oric’s family as well as many citizens are featured expressing their joy due to Oric’s release. BHT1 reporter comments that whilst there was joy in one part of BiH in the other there was only bitterness. TV Pink, TV Hayat – Oric’s attorney Vasvija Vidovic stated that she is not satisfied with the verdict, because she is convinced that Oric is not guilty. She announced filing of an appeal. TV Hayat, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Naser Oric arrived to Sarajevo’ by D. Muminovic“Srebrenica citizens are happy but dissatisfied with the fact that Srebrenica commander was sentenced to two years, since he proved that no crimes, he could be trialled for, were committed in Srebrenica. The verdict proves that there were no organized, planned and systematic crimes”, said Abdulrahman Malkic, the Head of Srebrenica municipality. TV Pink, TV Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, announced on cover ‘Thousands of people welcomed Naser Oric in Sarajevo’ by H. Orahovac [Dnevni Avaz estimates there were several thousands of citizens who came to Sarajevo Airport], Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Naser Oric arrived to Sarajevo’ by D. Muminovic, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Oric welcomed’ announced on cover ‘Hague convict welcomed as a hero’ by Dejan Jazvic, Oslobodjenje cover pg splash ‘Ovations in Sarajevo, strong condemnations in Banja Luka and Belgrade’ and pgs 4-5 ‘Naser Oric arrived from the Hague to Sarajevo’ by M. K. S.– all reported on the arrival of Naser Oric to Sarajevo.

A number of people known to public were present at the Airport to welcome Oric / NN: even persons known to have committed acts of crime were present

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Naser Oric arrived to Sarajevo’ by D. Muminovic – reads a number of persons known to public came to Sarajevo Airport to greet Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric when he arrived: Sefer Halilovic (first commander of BiH Army who was acquitted of charges before ICTY), Head of Sarajevo Municipality Centar Amir Zukic, Srebrenica politicians Ahmed Sadikovic, Sefket Hafizovic, Abdurahman Malikic and representatives of F BiH Ministry for Veterans’ Issues. NN reads “even several persons known to have committed acts of crime” were present. Dnevni Avaz pg 3, announced on cover ‘Thousands of people welcomed Naser Oric in Sarajevoby H. Orahovac – carry similar list of names of people who were present at the Airport.

RS President Cavic: ICTY’s sentence to Oric is shameful

 

BHT1 – RS President Dragan Cavic stated that the sentence to Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric is the biggest shame of ICTY. TV Pink – Cavic stated that the trust in justice has faced a complete defeat, adding that Oric would have faced a much harsher verdict if he stood trial before any Cantonal Court in FBiH. RTRS – Cavic stated that the verdict doesn’t represent a punishment for Oric, but a reward for war crimes he committed over Serbs during the war. Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Even the Prosecution was surprised with mild sentence’ by G. G., Oslobodjenje cover pg splash ‘Ovations in Sarajevo, strong condemnations in Banja Luka and Belgrade’ and pgs 4-5 ‘Oric was awarded, not punished for crimes’ by Onasa – also reported.

PDP’s Ivanic: ICTY’s sentence to Oric is disastrous, may have negative consequences in BiH

BHT1 – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs and PDP President Mladen Ivanic stated that the sentence to Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric is a disastrous decision made by ICTY. “I feel it will have extremely negative consequences and lead towards division of our society even further in BIH”, says Ivanic. RTRS, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Even the Prosecution was surprised with mild sentence’ by G. G.also reported.

RS PM Dodik: Oric was commander and he holds responsibility for murders

 

BHT1, TV Pink, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Even the Prosecution was surprised with mild sentence’ by G. G., Oslobodjenje cover pg splash ‘Ovations in Sarajevo, strong condemnations in Banja Luka and Belgrade’ and pgs 4-5 ‘Oric was awarded, not punished for crimes’ by OnasaRS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik stated that Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric was a commander of a unit that had committed crimes in Srebrenica area and therefore holds responsibility for concrete murders.

RS parties DEPOS, DNS and SRS “Dr. V. Seselj” strongly criticise the verdict to Oric

 

RTRS, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Even the Prosecution was surprised with mild sentence’ by G. G. – DEPOS issued a press release stating that the verdict to Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric is deeply embarrassing the international legal order. According to DEPOS, the attitude of the international community towards the Serb victims is a result of years of negative media campaign. DNS believes that the verdict of ICTY shows that justice is subject to different manipulations, stressing that the verdict shows the hypocrisy of the international community regarding the Serb victims. Head of the Executive Board of Serb Radical Party “Dr. Vojislav Seselj” Mirko Blagojevic stated that Oric’s verdict clearly shows that ICTY has been established in order to punish only Serbs.

RS NA Speaker Radojicic: sentence to Oric is too mild

 

RTRS – RS NA Speaker Igor Radojicic stated that sentence to Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric is too mild, adding that ICTY keeps destroying its credibility. Radojicic stressed that RS investigation agencies should continue gathering documentation on war crimes committed in Srebrenica area.

Serbian President Tadic: verdict to Oric is scandalous

 

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Even the Prosecution was surprised with mild sentence’ by G. G., Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Oric welcomed’ announced on cover ‘Hague convict welcomed as a hero’ by Dejan Jazvic Inset ‘Punishment insufficient for the crime’, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Credibility of the Tribunal questionable’ by B. Boskov – Serbian President Boris Tadic expressed his dissatisfaction with the verdict to Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric and assessed the verdict was “scandalous”.

Serbian officials Stojkovic, Stankovic and Kostunica comment on sentence to Oric, say ICTY applies double standards

 

BHT1 – Belgrade press published reactions of Serbian public regarding sentence to Naser Oric. Serbian Minister of Justice Zoran Stojkovic stated that he is revolted with the sentence and stressed that double standards are being implemented in ICTY. Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica stated that such double standards couldn’t justify the existence of ICTY. Director of Humanitarian Rights Fund Natasa Kandic stated that the sentence was made in accordance with presented evidence stressing that ICTY Prosecution didn’t have sufficient evidence against Oric. RTRS – Serbian Minister of Defence Zoran Stankovic stated that he doesn’t understand why the verdict is so mild. Serbian press described the verdict as scandalous. Some newspapers published the pictures of Serb victims from Srebrenica region. Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Even the Prosecution was surprised with mild sentence’ by G. G., Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Credibility of the Tribunal questionable’ by B. Boskov – carry Stojkovic’s statement as well as statement of Serbian Minister of Interior Dragan Jocic who condemned such verdict.

“Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa enclaves”: victory of justice / F BiH and RS citizens have opposing views on the verdict

 

TV Pink – Head of Association “Mothers of Enclaves Srebrenica and Zepa” Munira Subasic stated that the verdict to Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric means victory of justice. Featured citizens of FBiH welcomed the verdict and Oric’s release from detention. On the other hand, RS citizens were disappointed with the verdict and they sharply criticized the ICTY. Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Naser Oric arrived to Sarajevo’ by D. Muminovic, Oslobodjenje cover pg splash ‘Ovations in Sarajevo, strong condemnations in Banja Luka and Belgrade’ and pgs 4-5 ‘Naser Oric arrived from the Hague to Sarajevo’ by M. K. S.– carry statement of “Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa enclaves” Association.

Srebrenica Veterans’ Association and RS Office for Missing Persons condemn result of Oric’s trial

BHT1, RTRS – Chair of Srebrenica Veterans’ Organisation Dragomir Zekic stated that the trial to Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric was only a “cover” for over 3000 victims in Srebrenica in the 1992-1995 period. RTRS – RS Office for Missing Persons stated that the verdict of ICTY to Naser Oric represents an amnesty for the war criminals and those who were sponsors of war crimes against Serbs in Srebrenica area.

Bratunac Association of Families of Missing and Killed Persons disappointed / RTRS: families from Srebrenica might organise protest rallies

TV Pink, RTRS – Head of Association of families of killed and missing persons from Bratunac Radojka Filipovic stated that the verdict to Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric causes bitterness and disappointment. RTRS Tihomir Joksimovic – RTRS reporter commented that Oric’s verdict might cause an even deeper division between Serb and Bosniak population in Srebrenica area. According to some rumours, the families of killed Serbs from Srebrenica might organise protest rallies.

 

General political developments

HR lifts bans on holding public office against 7 individuals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BHT1 – HR Christian Schwarz Schilling lifted bans on holding public office against 7 individuals earlier removed by former HR’s. The seven individuals are: Edhem Bicakcic, Kemal Brodlija, Enes Cengic, Ramiz Dzaferovic, Elvedin Hrelja, Milos Krstic and Kemal Terzic. TV Hayat – ‘The lifting of bans against these seven individuals does not return them to the positions from which they were removed. As the High Representative said, the removal of an OHR ban does not automatically mean that a particular individual can participate in full in public life. Rather, it means that it is no longer the OHR’s responsibility to decide whether a person can participate or not. Political parties have to decide whether to put these individuals forward for certain positions, and if these individuals are placed on party lists, it is up to the electorate to decide whether they are the best people to chart BiH’s future’, OHR Spokesperson Sanela Tunovic explained. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Shwarz-Schilling pardoned seven removed persons’ by S. Numanovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Ban on holding public office against seven individuals lifted’ by Z. Sa., Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Schilling “rehabilitated” Bicakcic’ by Eldina Medunjanin, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Pardon for seven BiH officials’ not signed – also reported.

Gregorian says it is very unfortunate that BIH Presidency failed to adopt decision on organisation of BIH Armed Forces

TV Pink, BHT1, TV Hayat, RTRS – Political advisor to NATO commander in BIH Raffi Gregorian stressed that it is very unfortunate that BIH Presidency failed to adopt a decision on organisation of BIH Armed Forces by 1st of July. Gregorian expects NATO and Peace Implementation Council to fiercely judge this failure and announced that further details will be known on Monday.

EUFOR Commander Chiarini: reform of BiH Armed Forces represents great step forward, should be considered as example of well done work

 

Nezavisne Novine pgs 8-9, announced on cover ‘Defence reform in BiH as an example for others’ by Goran Maunaga – in an interview to Nezavisne Novine, EUFOR Commander to BiH Gian Marco Chiarini assessed the work of EUFOR in BiH in past six months as successful especially in collecting and destroying of illegal weapons and he added they have an excellent cooperation with RS MoI, which had resulted in several arrests of war crimes indictees. General Chiarini said he is convinced the war crimes fugitives would face trials sooner or later. He stated that the reform of BiH Armed Forces represents a great success and a grand step forward towards a complete normalisation, adding this reform should be considered to be an example of well done work, mutual cooperation and understanding.

BiH Presidency Chair Tihic attended establishing assembly of Adriatic Euro-region in Pula , met with Croatian President Mesic

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Tihic: Adriatic had always been a place of connection and cooperation’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Adriatic Euro-region established in Pula’ by Agencies, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Tihic attended establishing assembly of Adriatic Euro-region’ by d. k., Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Faster to EU over Adriatic’ not signed – According to the statement of BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic’s office, Tihic met with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic in Pula (Croatia) on Friday. BiH Presidency Chair Tihic and Croatian President Mesic attended the establishing assembly of the Adriatic Euro-region in Pula . The statement reads that the two leaders exchanged views on the state of bilateral cooperation between BiH and Croatia and on the most important issues in the southeastern European region. Tihic and Mesic underlined in particular the importance of regional cooperation, expressing readiness of BiH and Croatia to cooperate even more vigorously in all fields.

Croatian President Mesic thinks it would be better to construct a highway through Herzegovina than Peljesac bridge

 

Vecernji List pg 9 ‘Highway through Herzegovina’ by Zoran Kresic – Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, in a statement to “Hercegovacka TV” from Mostar, advocated for the Croatia to construct a highway through Herzegovina instead of constructing Peljesac bridge, by which the investment would become cheaper and the two states would strengthen their bonds. He added he believes the construction of Peljesac bridge would be a waste of both money and time and added the bridge would be constructed once there is more money at disposal.

Austrian Ambassador Almhofer: SAA negotiations developing fine, politicians see reform process in different manner due to forthcoming elections

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Those who oppose constitutional changes found themselves in a paradox situation’ by Tarik Lazovic – Austrian Ambassador to BiH Werner Almhofer, in an interview to Dnevni Avaz, commented on whether Austria might have done more during its presiding over EU in order to avoid bringing BiH’s negotiations on SAA in question due to delays and blockades in reforms, and he stated there are two aspects of SAA negotiations: ‘The negotiations alone are developing fine and there is enough time to conduct it in the foreseen timeframe. The second aspect is reform implementation and that is the harder part. We support European Commission that encourages the reforms. It is clear political parties see the process in a different manner due to forthcoming elections’. With regard to objections of RS PM Milorad Dodik with regard to the composition of Police Reform Directorate (PRD), the Ambassador stated both EU and Austria as EU presiding country have rejected arguments from RS and added: ‘we have no intention to discuss the way in which PRD was established anymore’.

Davidovic: no SAA signing without police reform

RTRS – BiH Chief Negotiator with the EU on Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) Igor Davidovic stated that the signing of SAA might be delayed should there be no agreement on police reform.

BiH Helsinki Committee: political parties and religious communities in Mostar are to be blamed for recent incidents, IC contributed to divisions in Mostar

 

BHT1 – BIH Helsinki Committee claims that political parties and religious communities in Mostar are to be blamed for the incidents that occurred in this town in the last 15 days. Chair of BIH Helsinki Committee Srdjan Dizdarevic claims that the incidents are a part of dirty pre-election campaign. Dizdarevic also stated that religious representatives use language of hatred in their sermons instead of using the language of peace. He also feels that police and competent legal institutions should finally address these unfortunate incidents. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘International community contributed to divisions’ by Fena – Dizdarevic believes the international community had contributed to divisions in Mostar because it failed to understand Mostar. Oslobodjenje pg 3, announced on cover ‘International Community feeds parallelisms’ by Fena – Dizdarevic explained IC believes it can resolve the problem by giving RS to Serbs and think Mostar can exist without them, while at the same time IC thinks it can preserve the relations between Bosniaks and Croats by preserving parallelisms and parallel institutions in the two parts of Mostar. ‘International Community failed to understand in the right way multi-ethnicity in BiH, including Mostar. It had chosen a colonial approach, i.e. the approach of division, rather than the approach of reintegration’, Dizdarevic concluded.

RS President Cavic, RS PM Dodik comment on PACE Resolution: it does not pose a real danger for Dayton order, RS NA to discuss it

 

RTRS – RS President Dragan Cavic stated that the PACE Resolution on BiH doesn’t represent a real danger for Dayton order, because it doesn’t represent the stances of countries which have signed the Dayton Peace Agreement. ‘Abolishment of Dayton Peace Agreement would mean abolition of BiH’, Cavic said. He added that in such case, all sides would try to promote their political ideas, stressing that for Serbs, this means referendum on independence. RTRS – RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik stated that if insisted on its implementation, the PACE Resolution on BiH is going to destroy BiH rather than RS. He announced that RS National Assembly would discuss the Resolution as well.

 

Economy/social issues

BiH didn’t reach agreement with Slovenia on social insurance

TV Pink, BHT1, TV Hayat, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘No agreement on social insurance’ by Srna, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Without agreement on pensions’ not signedBiH and Slovenian delegations didn’t manage to reach a consensus on bilateral agreement on social insurance between the two countries. BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic stated that BiH will insist on continuation of negotiations right after the consultations of delegations with their governments are held.

World Bank had suggested introduction of three-way pension insurance in BiH, BiH officials believe changes are needed

 

TV Pink Dragica Tojagic – BiH is the only country in the region that still didn’t conduct the reform of pension insurance system. The World Bank, which is involved in the reform process, recommends introduction of three-way pension insurance: the compulsory basic insurance, volunteer insurance and luxury insurance. Director of RS Pension Insurance Fund Slavko Basic believes that this model is acceptable, stressing that it is being implemented successfully in many countries. Head of RS Association of Pensioners Rade Rakulj stated that the reform of pension insurance system is necessary, but he doesn’t believe that the time for this reform has come yet. Rakulj also stressed that the model recommended by the World Bank can’t be successfully implemented in BiH due to the poor life standard and low income of citizens. RS NA Speaker Igor Radojicic stated that a new system would mean different allocation of collected insurance payments.

Return of VAT revenues still has not commenced

 

TV Hayat – According to the Law on VAT, the refund of revenues collected through VAT should have commenced as of July 1st. In an interview to TV Hayat, BiH Indirect Taxation Administration (ITA) Spokesperson Ratko Kovacevic said that the BiH House of Representatives (BiH HoR) adopted amendments to the law, which foresaw the VAT revenues refund but he added that the BiH House of Peoples (BiH HoP) still had to do that, due to which the refund of revenues still has not commenced. Kovacevic explained that the refund of revenues had not commenced to those taxpayers who do their business in BiH, while those who export to other states, have already got the refund.

F BiH PM Hadzipasic: no means collected through privatisation were paid to F BiH account during my mandate

 

TV Hayat By Lejla Gutlic – FBiH still waits for revision of privatization processes, which have been carried out. In a month, the law will be sent to the parliament. As the reporter notes, strikes in privatized companies have lately become FBiH’s reality. In period between 1999 until 2005, BAM 425 millions have been collected through privatization processes in FbiH, but the question is what was the money spent for? At its last session in April, the FBiH Government promised to prepare the information on the way in which the money has been spent, but still no report whatsoever has been developed. FBiH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic claims that during his mandate no means collected through privatization have ever been paid to the FBiH’s account.