05.07.2006

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 5/7/2006

The OHR Media Monitoring service is being improved. As of 3 July we will be offering you two distinct daily reports; the Morning Brief, covering all BiH’s top stories and the afternoon BiH Media Round-up, containing the latest agency and radio news, summaries of relevant articles published by the international media and summaries of articles published by BiH’s periodicals.

OHR BiH MORNING MEDIA BRIEF

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

No news broadcast due to strike

HR insists on decision on AFBiH

Heart Centre to be opened

 

HR on Dixon’s mandate

RS NA in session

 

Estonian Minister visits BiH

FBIH HoR in session

 

Humphreys meets Cavic in BL

BIH Court Prosecution on Jelavic

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Audit of the work of BiH institutions

Heart Centre to be opened

RS NA in session

OHR, Presidency on BH armed forces

Issue of employment in Ze-Do

Live report from RS NA session

Law on the Rights and Duties of MPs

Privatisation of Energopetrol at halt

Dodik on veterans and war disabled

Distribution of revenues issue

FBIH HoR in session

Day of Veterans marked in RS

 

Oslobodjenje

List of ‘disabled’ veterans includes even those who weren’t in Army?! [Audit of disability]

Dnevni Avaz

We have no election favorites [Ambassador McElhaney]

Dnevni List

DNA analysis identifies sharpshooter (murder case in Ljubuski)

Vecernji List

Tudjman wanted to annex Herzegovina (J. Manolic testifies in the Hague)

Slobodna Dalmacija

Covic appoints his lawyer head of Mostar hospital

Nezavisne Novine

BiH needs Agreement, not Resolution

Glas Srpske

Rights before duties (RS NA session)

EuroBlic

Pension after only one mandate (RS NA session)

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related topics

 

Economic issues/ MPs duties and benefits

RSNA adopts law on rights and duties of MPs stipulating more benefits for parliamentarians

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RTRS Momcilo Ostojic – On Tuesday in Banja Luka, the RS National Assembly adopted the Law on rights and duties of MPs in the RSNA and RS Council of Peoples that enables former deputies to retire after only one mandate and 55 years of age. The RS Government strongly opposed the law, claiming its implementation would pose much larger demands on the budget. The RS Finance Minister Aleksandar Dzombic stated the Government at this moment could only increase budget for 2007, however that would require cut down of funding for other for purposes. SNSD deputy Drago Kalebic sharply criticized the new law. SDS deputy Slavko Dunjic stated that those opposing the law are only aiming to get pre-electoral points, claiming some of them earlier had supported it. DEPOS’ Nedjo Djuric reminded that even those who voted against the law would benefit of it.SDA’s MP, Tarik Sadovic, noted that most parliamentarians are not going to use the right for early pension, but he stressed it was necessary to regulate a status of MP’s by law. The Head of the RS Association of Pensioners Rade Rakulj stressed this law is unacceptable, as nobody could earn pension after only one mandate in the Parliament. Rakulj expressed hope the RS President is not going to approve this law. OHR also criticized the law, stating that it is not fair to increase the pensions of parliamentarians before an increase in salaries of other citizens. Report concluded with comments of citizens all sharply condemning the newly adopted law. PINK – The Law set an average pension of a former MP to 700 KM. RSNA adopted the Law with only three votes against it. Dunjic stated that this law would require the additional budget in amount of only 560.000 KM in 2007. Hayat by ATV Banjaluka – 55 deputies voted in favour of the Law. “The biggest dilemma for me was whether it was moral [thing to do] or not. But than, the real question is – what is moral?” wonders Dunjic. DEPOS’ Djuric was one of the rare MPs who abstained the vote; all PDP representatives voted in favour of this law, just like the MPs from SDA. BHT1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Deputies increased their salaries’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘RS MPs to have pension of KM700’ by Onasa – also covered.

GS says Law to be returned to Parliament procedure if RS President Cavic refuses to sign it

 

Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Rights before duties’ by D. Momic – Regarding Tuesday’s adoption of RS Law on rights and duties of MP’s, MP Drago Kalabic [SNSD] claims the Law was enacted under a pressure of a group of SDS delegates, but he did not deny some SNSD delegates too have supported the law [ATV reported that Kalabic said he did not support the Law, but SDS Slavko Dunjic immediately denied his claim, by showing Kalabic’s signature on the proposal of the law]. GS comments that the Law cannot come in force without an approval of RS President Dragan Cavic and carries a comment of DEPOS’s Dusko Vukotic who believes such a scenario might be possible, adding: “The Government disapproved the Law and President Cavic will not want to sign it. In this way, he and RS PM [Milorad] Dodik will present themselves as guardians of people and collect political points prior to elections.” Nevertheless, even if President Cavic refused to sign the Law, the Law would be returned to the Assembly procedure and, if delegates enacted the Law again, it would be considered as a final confirmation of the Law. Inset ‘Delegates failed’ – Chair of RS Union of Syndicates Ranka Misic strongly criticised the adoption of the Law, since high salaries and pensions should first be justified through work.

RS NA Speaker did not want to comment on adoption of Law, saying he did not support it

 

EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Pension after one mandate only’ and pgs RS2-RS3 ‘Non-scrupulous way to privileges’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – RS NA Speaker Igor Radojicic did not want to comment on the adoption of the Law, but he said he did not support it because he does not believe the solutions incorporated into the Law were good. PDP’s Veselin Poljasevic said he believes RS and RS NA need to have such a law because all neighbouring countries have one. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Average MP’s pension of BAM 700’ by P.Klincov/D.Risojevic – also adopted. 

OHR criticised enactment of RS Law on rights and duties of RS MP’s

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Average MP’s pension of BAM 700’ inset ‘OHR criticized Law’ – OHR criticized Law on rights and duties of RS MP’s. OHR Spokesperson Oleg Milisic said that RS NA by this law provided its deputies with higher pensions and other benefits higher than those of other citizens. Milisic believes that media and public should ask for reasons why deputies have right for higher pay than regular citizens.

GS op-ed critical of RS NA Law on rights and duties of MP’s

 

Glas Srpske op-edpg 2 ‘Joy of taking’ by Veljko Kojovic – The author is critical of Tuesday’s decision of RS MP’s to adopt the Law on rights and duties of MP’s, raising the issue of whether Law stipulates RS citizens should pay privileges to MP’s family members in case that, God forbid as he says, something happens to them. He concludes the article by raising the issue of what people will say at October elections.

FBiH HoR discusses draft of Law on Income Tax

 

PINK Zeljko Mandic – At the session held on Tuesday, FBiH House of Representatives discussed the draft Law on Income Tax. The proposed Law would replace existing Law on salary taxes and a series of similar cantonal laws. According to the proposed law, all citizens would be obliged to register their income and pay 10% or 20% taxes. FBiH Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic explained the citizens with monthly income of up to 300 KM would pay 10% or less tax, adding students and pensioners would be exempted from payment of Income Tax. The discussion on this proposal has finished. The MP’s are supposed to vote on it in the session scheduled for Wednesday. BHT1 – BiH Independent Trade Unions President Edhem Biber,deems that this law would worsen situation for citizens since the income tax was so far 5%. FBIH Government disagrees noting that so far every citizen had guaranteed monthly deduction of 100 KM plus deduction on family of 170 Km. Vrankic said that in this way “an increase of the income tax will not radically change since most of the citizens will not pay more than 6%”. FBIH HoR delegates asked for the introduction of the differentiated income tax rate for the citizens with higher incomes and redemption for the incomes lower than 300 KM. This law has been in the procedure for the last three years. It anticipates all the tax rates in all FBIH cantons and RS to be equalized. Hayat by Lejla Gutlic – According to NTV Hayat reporter, it is not clear what has been concluded, because some representatives in the FBiH HoR claim that BiH citizens will pay less, while others deem that citizens will have to pay more. The Law on Income Tax is one the reform laws, which should replace previous FBiH law on income tax and twenty other cantonal laws and regulations, stated Vrankic, adding: “We will collect the same amount of revenues as in 2005, but 60 percent of tax payers will pay less taxes than before.FTV – Opposition was against the proposed law, claiming BIH citizens still haven’t recovered from the Value Added Tax. Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Vrankic: citizens will pay less tax’ unsigned   Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Vrankic: 60 percent of citizens will pay less tax’ by F, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Voting on Law on income delayed’ by R.Cengic  – also reported.

FBiH HoR discusses Law on lowest net hourly wages

 

Hayat – FBiH Parliament on Tuesday discussed the draft of the law on lowest net hourly wages in FBiH, which stipulates 1.25 KM net hourly wage for apprentices, and 1.75 KM net hourly wage for full time staff. During the discussion, representatives adopted the amendment proposed by SDP representative Damir Masic; he claims that the law was discriminating, and that the net hourly wage should be the same for all workers. PINK, FTV, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Government rewarding illegal employers’ by Mensud Zorlak, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Novice’s hourly wage is 1,5KM’ by H.A.also covered.

OHR: Dixon ’s mandate expires on Friday; HR is currently reviewing the situation

 

PINK – Asked to comment the speculations on extension of the mandate of the Indirect Taxation Administration Steering Board’s Chair, Joly Dixon, the OHR Spokesman Oleg Milisic confirmed it expires on Friday. According to Milisic, the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling spoke to Dixon on Monday, and is currently reviewing the situation.Milisic stated that a decision regarding this issue could be expected within days. RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘OHR: Decision on Dixon in the next few days’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Decision on mandate of Joly Dixon in days to follow’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Decision on Dixon in following days’ by Fenaalso covered.

BiH CoM Chair says if OHR does not extend mandate to ITA Chair, BiH COM can appoint BiH Fin. Min. to run this position

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Maric maybe instead Dixon’ by R. Cengic- Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair said if OHR does not extend mandate to ITA SB Chair Joly Dixon, or if Dixon does not accept mandate extension,CoM can appoint Ljerka Maric, BiH Minister of Finance to the position of ITA SB Chair, adding “I am definitively against new foreigner at the head of this institution since it encourages RS PM in his attacks on this institution and single account. I believe HR should extend mandate to Dixon and CoM in meanwhile should pass the law by which BiH Minister of Finance should be also at the position of ITA SB Chair”. Dragan Vrankic, FBiH Minister of Finance also believes that ITA SB should be BiH-run institution.

DA int with McElhaney: allocation issue must be solved ASAP

 

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘We have no election favorites’ by Sead Numanovic– In a lengthy interview to DA, the US Ambassador to BiH, Douglas McElhaney, commented the situation with the allocation of public revenues: “I am certain that decision-making-process has to start in BiH Fiscal Council, in order for this country to resume moving in the right direction. We are here to help for such things to happen.” He noted issue of allocation from the single ITA account has to be solved carefully. Ambassador denied speculations that he is collision with the EC because of prolonging of mandate for Indirect Taxation Administration Steering Board Chair Joly Dixon, saying: ”I have no special stance on Dixon’s mandate. I believe that issues have to be solved inFiscal Council.” 

New talks on coefficients for allocation from Single Account to take place by the end of week

Hayat – According to Hayat presenter, new talks on the coefficients for distribution of revenues from the Single Account will take place by the end of the week, because the mandate of the Indirect Taxation Administration Steering Board Chairman Joly Dixon expires on Friday.

After blockade of single account FBiH Finance Ministry claims that FBiH can survive for 20 days without new incomes

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Federation can survive 20 days without new incomes’ by M.Kukan– Director of BiH Indirect Taxation Administration, Kemal Causevic, commented on newest blockade of single account and explained that payments for June would be carried out, while new VAT applications [payments to single account] would disable financing of the state and servicing of the foreign debt. Causevic stressed that he expects for about 100 million KM to be collected at the single account in period from July 1-10, where VAT applications are being submitted. It is still unknown when would the financing of entities and Brcko District start again, but FBiH Finance Ministry confirmed the statement of FBiH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic, who stated after Monday’s session of BiH FC that none of FBiH citizens would feel the consequences of this blockade. As DA notices, bit ironically, FBiH Finance Ministry explained this with the claim that FBiH has reserves with which can survive for about 20 days without new incomes.

RS representative in ITA SB Kudic: RS is not to be blamed for blockade of single account

 

Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Demand for fixed coefficients is result of fear from forgery’ by Marina Kacvaz-Sirucic – Commenting the blockade of single account, member of ITA Steering Board from the RS, Miodrag Kudic, told daily that RS is not to be blamed for this, stressing that he is more concerned by the fact that BiH and FBiH Finance Ministers haven’t attended, though the session of the Fiscal Council was priory announced. Kudic stressed that RS’ insisting on fixed coefficients, instead based on VAT applications [as the Law foresees], and is based on the fact that many of VAT applications do not contain the data on final consumption, which is necessary for calculating of coefficients. Coordinator of Brcko District within Council of Ministers, Sinisa Kisic, stated that the only right way of allocation is as the Law foresaw it. He stated that demand for fixed coefficients is a result of a fear that data could be falsified before the statistic analysis.

Oslob: even those who weren’t in the army are on lists of disabled and killed veterans

 

Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘List of ‘disabled’ veterans includes even those who weren’t in Army?!’ by A.B.– Daily carries that the Commission for audit of the certificates issued on circumstances in which an army member suffered injuries or was killed has checked 1,111 cases which were deemed as problematic on basis of anonymous reports. Out of total, 130 cases were found “very disputable”. As daily carries, the Commission revealed that among “disabled or murdered veterans” there are those who never even were in the army and that their medical files were falsified during the war. Lists with names of “suspicious” were submitted to FBiH Ministry of Veterans, which is the only one that can take away the privileges enjoyed by the veterans and their families. However, daily stresses that no one has to be concerned, not even those who died or were wounded in criminal activities, since former FBiH Defence Ministry has set very vague definition of “on line of duty” in such manner that even a suicide is considered as military duty.

 

Defence and police reforms

HR concerned over BiH Presidency’s failure to approve proposed decision on size and structure of BiH Armed Forces

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PINK by Adriana Domazet – The OHR’s press release issued on Tuesday reads that the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling was concerned by BiH Presidency’s failure to meet its legally set deadline for approving proposed decision on size, structure and stationing of the Armed Forces of BiH. OHR spokesman Oleg Milisic remained that 1 July deadline set under the BiH Law on Defence, which came into effect on 28 December 2005, expired at the end of last week. Milisic quoted Schwarz-Schilling, who said that “by missing this deadline, BiH Presidency is delaying implementation of critical military reforms. In its capacity as a collective Commander-in-Chief, the Presidency must take this up at its next meeting as a matter of urgency.” The proposed decision on the size, structure, and stationing of the BiH Armed Forces has been developed by BiH Minister of Defence Nikola Radovanovic and his Transition Team with NATO advisory input. FTV – According to Paravac’s Military Advisor Dragan Kapetina this decision might be adopted at the session on Wednesday. Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Take decision on Armed Forces’, not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 10 ‘Postponement of military reform’, by D. Pasic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘NATO sanctions are possible’ by D. Muminovic Inset ‘Schilling appealed on the Presidency to undertake an urgent action’, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Defence reform slowened’ by M.S., Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Jovic still asking for larger number of Croats in BiH AF’ by E.Sarac, Inset ‘Schwarz- Schilling concerned because of the failure’also covered focusing on OHR stance.

DA: main problem in Decision on structure of Armed Forces is insisting of Presidency member Jovic on 25% of Croats

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Jovic still asking for larger number of Croats in BiH AF’ by E.Sarac – At its Wednesday’s session BiH Presidency would discuss the proposal of Decision on structure, size and deployment of BiH Armed Forces, which was submitted by BiH Defence Ministry [three months ago] and which should have been passed by July 1. As DA writes, the key issue is insisting of Croat member of BiH Presidency, Ivo Miro Jovic, that BiH Armed Forces should contain 25% of Croats, which is not in accordance with BiH Defence Law, which foresees that national balance would be in accordance with population census from 1991. According to latest information, as DA writes, Jovic was prepared to decrease his demand for few percents, but DA stresses that accepting of this demand in this phase would present violation of all current agreements in defence reform. DA also stressed that other two members of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic and Borislav Paravac, had no objection to the Decision and were prepared to pass it immediately.

NATO’s Gregorian: BiH might face NATO sanctions unless Presidency adopts decision on Armed Forces on Wed

 

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘0.5% of military personnel to others’ by A.P.– Advisor of NATO HQ, Raffi Gregorian was informed that structure of BiH Armed Forces would the second agenda item at the Wednesday’s session of BiH Presidency. “But if they do not agree on national representation of soldiers, the structure would be withdrawn from the agenda,” said Gregorian. As daily learned, it was agreed that number of “others” is 0.5%, meaning that difference from pre-war 7.9% of “others” would be divided to three equal shares, to which Bosniak have objected. “The more they discuss the more they open issues that were already solved by the Law,” said Gregorian, adding that at its Thursday’s session NATO’s highest body, North-Atlantic Council, would be informed about the fact that BiH Presidency hasn’t acted in accordance with the Law. Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘NATO sanctions are possible’ by D. Muminovic – Gregorian warned BiH might face NATO sanctions unless BiH Presidency members adopted the final text of the decision on size, structure and locations of BiH Armed Forces. Gregorian noted there are no indications the issue would be resolved at session and added: “Apart from betraying the promise that they will reach an agreement, BiH Presidency members were in no rush to organise the session earlier but scheduled it for Wednesday.”. NN reads the final text of the decision had not been agreed upon as yet.

US Ambassador McElhaney warns defence, police reforms must be completed

 

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘We have no election favorites’ by Sead Numanovic– In a page long interview to DA, the US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney, stressed defence reform has to be completed, adding he is aware of a halt in this process, thus he is in contact with the NATO HQ. McElhaney underlines it is time to conclude this issue, noting US wants to see BiH is joined to the Partnership for Peace. Ambassador also said the police reform is something else necessary to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement, noting that opponents of this reform have to realize what needs to be done so that police structures would serve the citizens. However, McElhaney hasn’t agreed with the Author that reforms are “falling one after another”, adding that consensus isn’t always easy to reach. Inset ‘ICTY cooperation’- McElhaney stressed that US Government would not give up the intention to arrest most wanted war crimes’ indictess, especially Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.

PRD SB to discuss objection and proposals of PRD SB members; seven objection submitted

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Experts continue to agree on model of police structure’ by E.Sarac– Police experts, member of Police Reform Directorate’s Steering Board, on Wednesday will discuss the proposed model of police structure, as well as objections and proposals submitted by seven members (of PRD SB). DA carries that objections were submitted by Director and deputy Director of SIPA, Sredoje Novic and Sead Lisak, FBiH Police Director Zlatko Miletic, Director of State Border Service Vinko Dumancic, Police Commissioner of Canton Sarajevo Interior Ministry Himzo Selimovic, Police Chief of Brcko District Milenko Milicevic and foreign member of PRD SB, EUPM Head Vincenzo Copola. RS representative in PRD SB, the new RS Police Director Uros Pena, will “continue the tradition of his predecessor” and attend the meeting only as an observer.

EC’s Humphreys meets RS President Cavic, discussing SAA talks, police reforms

 

PINK, FTV, Glas Srpski pg 5 ‘Politicians should show maturity’ inset ‘Ambassador Humphreys at RS President’s Cabinet’ by Miroslav Filipovic, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Reform then association’ by T.V.  – Head of EC Delegation in BiH Michael Humphreys visited Banja Luka on Tuesday, where he met with RS President Dragan Cavic. Humphreys informed Cavic that the EU is not likely to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with BiH until BiH makes progress in police reform. Cavic stated the solution for police reform could be reached only through consensus based on political agreement on police reform that has been approved by the EU. Humphreys stated that the negotiations on SAA between BiH Negotiation Team and the EC are going on well, adding that the talks might be completed by end of 2006. Glas Srpski pg 5 ‘Politicians should show maturity’ by Miroslav Filipovic – In a page-long interview to daily Humphreys says the BiH politicians should show maturity on the way to their goal, which is EU, stressing that BiH politicians would have to bring and implement important decisions independently owing to OHR closure in 2007. On SAA and currents issues of reforms, Humphreys added Igor Davidovic, BiH Chief Negotiator does his job professionally, noting that SAA talks also deal with free trade and creation of free trade zone. He underlines Agreement may be signed by the end of year, but the act of signing itself depends on overall reform implementation. Humphreys also stresses importance of the public administration reform.

 

Trials, war crimes and security

Jelavic trial: Prosecution demands higher sentence, defence ask release

 

 

 

Dnevni List pg 2-3 ‘Defence and prosecution contest verdict’ by Erna Mackic – Daily writes that in a hearing before the State Court yesterday both prosecution and defence stated their appeals to the previously pronounced ten year prison sentence against Ante Jelavic, ex HDZ BiH President and BiH Presidency member. Prosecutor Drew Engel said Jelavic actually headed the organization in question whereas defence lawyer Dragan Barbaric said the verdict should be annulled or a new trial scheduled because the verdict is incomprehensible and contains many deficiencies. Judge Nedzad Popovac said decision on appeals will be made within legal deadline.  Slobodna Dalmacija pg 4 ‘Jelavic should be tried anew’ by Zlatko Tulic – Title source is Jelavic’s lawyer Barbaric. Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Acquittal or new trial’ unsigned, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Prosecution demands higher sentence, defence ask release’ by A.Dozo  – also covered.

RSNA adopts amendments to Crime Code, Law on fight against organized crime with assistance of HJPC 

 

RTRS by Sandra Zrnic – At the session held on Tuesday, the RS National Assembly adopted in an urgent procedure the draft law on amendments to Crime Code and Law on fight against organised and economic crimes. The new amendments were prepared in cooperation with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Court. According to the Amendments, the Special Prosecution for fight against organised crime would be established within Banja Luka District Prosecution. The prosecutors will be appointed by the HJPC. RS Justice Minister Justice Omer Visic stated the new legal regulations would improve a fight against organised crime. FTV, BHT1, PINK, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Average MP’s pension of BAM 700’ inset ‘Adopted Laws that enable establishment of special prosecution’, Glas Srpski pg 3 ‘Changed Law prevents crime’ by Z.M.- G.D. also covered.

BiH Prosecution requests extradition of fmr RS PM Klickovic

 

Hayat – BiH Prosecutor’s Office has delivered a request for extradition of the former RS Prime Minister Gojko Klickovic, suspected of committing war crimes, to the BiH Ministry of Justice. The BiH Minister of Justice Slobodan Kovac told news agency SRNA that this request would be forwarded to the Serbian Ministry of Justice. Klickovic has already been suspected of abuse of office and illegal writing-off debts for taxes, excises and fees to Tobacco Factory from Banja Luka. He was also indicted for war crimes. BHT1, RTRS, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Extradition of Klickovic requested’, by E. M., Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Extradition of Klickovic demanded’ by A.Dj., EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Klickovic also searched for crimes’ by M.S., Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘BiH demanded extradition from Serbia’ by E.Kamenica, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘BiH Prosecution asked for Klickovic’s extradition yesterday’ by N.J.– also covered.

Presidency member Jovic visits ICTY: Highlights that crimes against Croats must be processed

 

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Jovic attended trials to Herceg Bosna’, by Zoran Kresic – Member of BIH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic met with the ICTY President Fausto Pocar and ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte on Tuesday. Among other things, Jovic highlighted the lack of processes of war crimes committed against Croats in BIH. During the meeting, the importance of cooperation with ICTY as condition for signing of Stabilization and Association Agreement was stressed, namely arrest of war crime indictees Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. Jovic also asked from the ICTY to support the work of BiH judiciary in handling war crimes cases. Finally, VL reports that Jovic also briefly attended yesterday’s proceedings in the trials to ‘Prlic and others’, i.e. former Herceg Bosna leaders charged with ethnic cleansing of Croat-majority areas during the war. FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘It is important to apprehend all war crime suspects’ by SRNA, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Jovic is dissatisfied with processing war crimes over Croats’ by A.Omeragic, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Why do crimes over Croats are not penalized?’ – also covered.

SD claims Dragan Covic appointed his friend as head of Mostar hospital to gain control of KM 30 million donated to hospital by Croatia

 

Slobodna Dalmacija cover splash & pg 9 ‘Covic appoints his lawyer head of Mostar hospital’ by Petar Milos – SD claims that Dragan Covic, HDZ BiH President, has arranged for the FBiH Ministry of health to appoint as Chair of Mostar hospital’s governing council Covic’s personal friend and lawyer, Zdravko Raic, who has nothing to do with health services ‘except for owning a health insurance booklet’. Covic’s motives for this, reads the story, were that he wanted to get hold of KM 30 million which the Croatian government pledged as its donation to Mostar hospital. ‘That much money could not escape Covic’s attention’ says Milos, who goes on to say that, in this way, Covic will not have to pay for the services of Raic who has been his lawyer in the trial being conducted before the state court for some time now. It should be noted, article also reads, that these millions are especially important now BiH is in for elections.

 

Other political issues

HR meets Mostar City Council

 

 

 

 

BHT1 – The HR to BIH Christian Schwarz-Schilling has met with members of Mostar City Council in Sarajevo on Tuesday. They discussed employment in the administration, employment surplus and possible union between separated Mostar’s companies. They have also condemned the recent incidents in Mostar. At the press conference in Sarajevo after the meeting, HR said that they agreed to open the vacancies for 35 employees in civil service, to set the deadline for dealing with the employment surplus and devise the plan for establishment of Mostar’s Public Utility company. Mostar Mayor, Ljubo Beslic, said that among other things they discussed the current security situation in Mostar and they condemned the recent incidents adding that perpetrators should be punished. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Problems to be solved by end of July’ by M.Cubro HR said that all tasks (Single Utility Company, accommodating civil servants’ surplus) should be completed by the end of July. FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Schwarz-Schilling: Violence has to be eliminated’ by Fena also covered.

Interviews with US Ambassador to BiH: BiH needs Agreement, not Resolution, since BiH politicians and parliaments have to vote for changes 

 

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘BiH needs Agreement, not Resolution’, pg 5 ‘There is no such declaration that would change situation in BiH’ by A.Sisic – In a page-long interview to daily, Douglas McElchany, US Ambassador to BiH, comments on last week’s PACE Resolution on BiH by saying there is no such declaration that would change situation in BiH, since reality is that politicians and parliament have to vote for changes. On ICTY verdict against Naser Oric, he says US Government strongly supports work of ICTY. He also stresses the importance of 4th July, US Independence Day. Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘We have no election favorites’ by Sead Numanovic– In a lengthy interview to DA, Ambassador denied speculations he supports SNSD leader Milorad Dodik [especially in events around the police reform and VAT]. He added that he supports no one: “I am trying [to ensure] best solutions are found for BiH… I want… real issues to be talked about during the campaigns, to have election which would be carried out in peace and for them to give government able to do its job.” As for the constitutional changes, McElhaney underlined US would continue with its engagement in this issue:“We would continue to be active on constitutional reforms as well. As soon as the election period is over, we would continue activities with political leaders, in order to create more coherent state structures.”. Inset ‘Closing of the OHR’- Commenting the decision of the Peace Implementation Council to close down OHR end of June 2007, Ambassador said “that principles has not been carved into the stone. We are flexible and at the beginning of next year we’ll assess situation to see how and what is to be done. Position of the US in the EUSR would not necessarily mean that we would have our people there, but we will closely cooperate.”

EC Humphreys met Director of RTRS Davidovic; Humphreys underlined that the reform of PBS system is crucial for signing of SAA

 

RTRS by Sanja Popovic – During his visit to Banja Luka, Head of EC Delegation in BiH Michael Humphreys met with the Director of RTRS Dragan Davidovic. Humphreys underlined that the reform of PBS system is crucial for signing of Stabilisation and Association Agreement. According to Humphreys, RTRS has made a great progress in this field, and its became a modern broadcasting system that fulfils EU standards. However, stressed Humphreys, there are still many things that need to be done, especially regarding the establishing of joint PBS corporation.  Davidovic stated that the ECU provides great support to the reforms of PBS system. He emphasized that RTRS needs additional transformation and further stabilisation. Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘RTRS did a lot, now it is politicians’ turn’

VL writes about ‘inaccurate ethnic representation on OHR’s web page’; Serbs wrongly declared majority in many BiH towns

 

Vecernji List pg 4 ‘OHR web page says Serbs were majority in Posavina prior to war’ by Miroslav Vasilj – VL article states that the OHR web page contains an inaccurate map of ethnic representation in the territory of former Yugoslavia. According to OHR info, Bosanska Posavina, with the exception of Brcko, had Serb majority before the war, as did MostarMunicipality (apart from the city itself), as well as municipalities of Konjic [Bosniak majority], Jablanica [Bosniak majority] and Rama [Croat majority]. It is not known, article reads, who OHR got this information from, but false data are offensive first of all to genocide victims in Bosanska Posavina, in which Croats constituted relative majority prior to war and Serbs became majority only after the war. OHR claims the map was not produced in OHR. Sanela Tunovic, OHR spokesperson, said ‘OHR would look into who the source is and then decide what to do about the map’.

DA: ‘Twenty three candidates running for BiH Presidency’

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Twenty three candidates running for BiH Presidency’ by E.Sarac – Daily carries that twenty three candidates will run for the BiH Presidency in the forthcoming general elections in October. Sarac comments that the most interesting race would be for the Bosniak member between SBIH and SDA leaders Haris Silajdzic and Sulejman Tihic, respectively. Peoples Party ‘Radom za Boljitak’ candidate is Muhamed Cengic, Patriotic Block [SDU-BOSS coalition] Mirnes Ajanovic, and independent candidates Adil Zigic and Besco Alibegovic. SBiH submitted one more candidate for BiH Presidency member – Ilijaz Pilav, from RS. Serb candidates are SDPJugoslav Jovicic, SDS Mladen Bosic, PDP Zoran Tesanovic, Peoples Party ‘Radom za Boljitak’ Ranko Bakic, SNSD Nebojsa Radmanovic, DEPOS Nedjo Djuric, SRS Vojislav Seselj Radislav Kanjeric, Patriotic Block Slavko Dragicevic plus three independent candidates. SDP Zeljko Komsic, Peoples Party ‘Radom za Boljitak’ Mladen Lijanovic Ivankovic, HDZ 1990 Bozo Ljubic, HDZ-Croat Coalition-HNZ Ivo Miro Jovic will run for Croat member of BiH Presidency.

DL op-ed: BiH politicians doing everything to keep us away from EU

 

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Taking steps that keep us away from EU’, by Resad Dautefendic – the author is very critical of several BiH politicians, foremost senior officials coming from the RS such as BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac, Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic, RS President Dragan Cavic, and especially the RS PM Milorad Dodik, for having ‘mouth full of promises’ that they are for BiH getting closer to the EU, whilst in reality, Dautefendic believes, they are doing everything to keep BiH away from democracy, rule of law and justice. In addition to the listed politicians, Dautefendic says BiH is in for bleak future considering that ‘destroyers of constitutional changes Haris Silajdzic, Martin Raguz and others’ are fighting for another term in the office.

 

OHR BiH MEDIA ROUND-UP

Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 5 July

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

No news broadcast due to strike

FBiH HoR postpones vote

No news due to technical difficulties

 

RSNA continues session

 

 

Plavsic testifies in Krajisnik case

 

TV news broadcast on July 4

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

No news broadcast due to strike

HR insists on decision on AFBiH

Heart Centre to be opened

 

HR on Dixon’s mandate

RS NA in session

 

Estonian Minister visits BiH

FBIH HoR in session

 

Humphreys meets Cavic in BL

BIH Court Prosecution on Jelavic

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Audit of the work of BiH institutions

Heart Centre to be opened

RS NA in session

OHR, Presidency on BH armed forces

Issue of employment in Ze-Do

Live report from RS NA session

Law on the Rights and Duties of MPs

Privatisation of Energopetrol at halt

Dodik on veterans and war disabled

Distribution of revenues issue

FBIH HoR in session

Day of Veterans marked in RS

 

Oslobodjenje

List of ‘disabled’ veterans includes even those who weren’t in Army?! [Audit of disability]

Dnevni Avaz

We have no election favorites [Ambassador McElhaney]

Dnevni List

DNA analysis identifies sharpshooter (murder case in Ljubuski)

Vecernji List

Tudjman wanted to annex Herzegovina (J. Manolic testifies in the Hague)

Slobodna Dalmacija

Covic appoints his lawyer head of Mostar hospital

Nezavisne Novine

BiH needs Agreement, not Resolution

Glas Srpske

Rights before duties (RS NA session)

EuroBlic

Pension after only one mandate (RS NA session)

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related topics

 

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

FBiH HoR postpones vote on proposal Law on lowest net hourly wage

 

 

BH Radio – Upon proposal of Chair of FBiH House of Representatives, Muhamed Ibrahimovic, FBiH HoR postponed vote on proposal Law on lowest net hourly wages until further notice. Ibrahimovic postponed the vote, until the one more attempt is made, so that an optimal solution would be found. Before voting on Draft Law on Income Tax, FBiH Finance Ministry presented a graphic chart with comparative data. In graphic presentation, Deputy FBiH Finance Minister Hajrudin Hadzimehanovic once again repeated that the Draft Law on Income Tax is foreseeing 60% less taxes for majority of citizens, in comparison to current taxes.

RSNA Continues session; discussion on

 

BH Radio – RS National Assembly continued the session and MPs have passed the amendments to Law on providing security to persons and property and private detective sector. The RS Government foresaw by these amendments that frame of services is limited to service providing to solely “third subjects”, but legal acts are enabling the Government to establish the public company, which could perform securing of state institutions and would have operative authorities of RS Interior Ministry. SDA MPs objected to this proposal, concerned by danger of “establishing of a parallel police structure”. After consulting with the RS Interior Ministry Stanislav Cadjo, SDA MPs decided to support the proposal. RSNA passed draft Laws on Securities’ Market and Investment Funds without discussion.

Plavsic testifies in Krajisnik case

 

BH Radio – Former RS President Biljana Plavsic, this morning started her testimony in case against Law on providing security to persons and property and private detective sector Momcilo Krajisnik in ICTY. Plavsic, who is sentenced to 11 years by ICTY because of war crimes, after pleading guilty, responded to Prosecutor’s demand and presented her testimony. Former RS NA Speaker, Krajisnik is indicted because of war crimes over non-Serb citizens in BiH.

 

War crimes/judicary

Josip Manolic (former Croatian PM) testifies in Hague, accuses Tudjman of trying to bring about secession of Herzegovina

 

 

 

 

Dnevni List pg 56 ‘Manolic accuses Tudjman and “Herzegovina lobby”‘ by HINAHINA reports on yesterday’s hearing in the trial of ‘Herceg-Bosna’ six and the testimony of wartime Croatian PM Josip Manolic. Manolic said that late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman wanted to annex Herzegovina to Croatia that, as Manolic says, was the reason he left HDZ. According to him, Tudjman’s politics in BiH was implemented by the “Herzegovina lobby” comprising late Croatian defense Minister Gojko Susak, former high HDZ officials Vice Vukojevic and Ivic Pasalic, Mate Boban [late president of “Herceg-Bosna”], Dario Kordic [high HVO officer in central Bosnia] as well as the six H-B officials currently on trial in the Hague. Manolic confirmed that there was a secret and undocumented Croatian military presence in BiH which should not be held against Croatia but against Tudjman and Susak. Vecernji List cover splash & pg 11 ‘Tudjman wanted to annex Herzegovina’ by H, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 2 ‘It is not Croatia that should not be blamed but Tudjman and Susak’ by Ines Sabalic, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Creation of Herceg-Bosna is greatest Tudjman’s mistake’ by Sense, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘I told Tudjman it is not clever to touch Bosnia’ by Sense – also reported.

Abazovic case is not yet completed due to engagement of many institutions

 

EuroBlic pg RS5 ‘Half year without truth’ by Tijana Veselinovic-  District Prosecutor East Sarajevo Rajko Colovic told daily that investigation in Abazovic case (on 5th January EUFOR to arrest war crimes indictee Dragomir Abazovic, on this occasion his wife Rada Abazovic was killed, while Dragomir and his son Dragoljub were injured) is taking long time due to engagement of many institutions and expert witnesses. Abazovic’s attorney Dusko Tomic could not believe that investigation deadline, which expires on Wednesday, will be extended, adding that all necessary proofs and expert witnesses’ opinions were presented on time and Prosecution had time to complete the case. 

BiH Court brought new indictment against Gojko Jankovic

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘New indictment against Jankovic’ by A.Dj.- BiH Court confirmed it expanded indictment against Gojko Jankovic, holding him responsible for the crimes against humanity committed in 1992 and 1993 in Foca.

Standard on sentence against Naser Oric: ICTY has great impact on politics in both Serbia and BiH; sentence is strengthening right-radicals

 

Der Standard ’Three ways of interpreting the verdict’ by Andrej Ivanji – Commenting ICTY verdict against the wartime Srebrenica commander Naser Oric[sentenced to two years and released immediately as he spent 3 years in ICTY detention centre], article carries that such ‘mild verdict’ can be interpreted in three different ways. First possibility is that ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte did a lousy job, not being able to prove his guilt. Second option is that the Tribunal, as most of Serbs believe, is politically influenced and does not want to disturb the black-and-white image of a criminal and a victim in BiH. Third choice is that Oric is de facto innocent. Ivanji comments that if later is the case “who is then supposed to be called for responsibility for the crimes committed against Serbs in Srebrenica region? Del Ponte has no alternative to Oric. If no one is however convicted for killing, torturing and expulsion of Serb civilians in the symbolically so important Srebrenica, how could then the pro-European forces in Serbia bring Serbs to admit their own guilt and turn to the European future? ICTY does not help them in any way.” Author concludes that ICTY has great impact on politics in both Serbia and BiH, adding that it is irresponsible to use youth as an alibi for the alleged war crimes, thus strengthening right-radicals, the anti-European forces.

GS brings statements saying ICTY has double standards, comparing cases of Naser Oric and Biljana Plavsic

 

Glas Srpski pg 2 ‘In jaws of double standards’ by M. Dizdar, V. Janjic – Daily brings statements of officials from RS saying ICTY has double standards, substantiating it with comparison between verdicts pronounced against Naser Oric and Biljana Plavsic. Attorneys Krstan Simic, Nebojsa Pantic and Miroslav Mikes, BiH Minister Branko Dokic, sociologist Ivan Sijakovic and BiH Ombudsman Vitomir Popovic believe that ICTY uses double standards and that Plavsic should be released from prison bearing in mind that Swedish legal system stipulates prisoners older than 75 years should be released from prison.

 

Political developments

Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs met with BiH officials: Estonia will support BiH way to EU and NATO

 

 

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Support to BiH on the European path’ by N. Krsman- Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet visited Sarajevo on Tuesday, where he had separate meetings with BiH Presidency Chair and member respectively Sulejman Tihic and Borislav Paravac, BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic and BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic.  Paet expressed support to the policy of “open doors” to the EU and NATO for countries that fulfill requirements.  BiH officials informed Paet about reforms in BiH, stressing importance of the SAA signing. Paet said that Estonia supports reforms in BiH, offering Estonian experiences and help in this area. Vecernji list pg 2 ‘Improvement of economic cooperation between BiH and Estonia‘ by ra, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Economy behind politics’ – report on the meeting of BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic with his Estonian counterpart Umas Paet.

SDP condemned political manipulations regarding Resolution on BiH before PACE

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Political manipulations regarding Resolution’ by N.N., Fokus pg  ‘Manipulations with the Resolution on BiH ’ not signed,Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Manipulations about Council of Europe’s Resolution’ not signedSDP condemned “political manipulations” regarding recently passed Resolution on BiH before PACE. SDP stated that there are attempts of certain political parties to hide participation and get relieved of responsibility regarding economy collapse, high unemployment and bad tax policy.

President of Institute of European Regions Schausberger: too early to annul DPA or abolish entities

 

Nedeljni Telegraf pg 7 ‘It is too early to annul the DPA – BiH is still unstable’ – Franz Schausberger, president of the Institute of European regions, says that the resolution of the Council of Europe [PACE Resolution] was presented too early and at the moment it cannot be implemented. According to him, abolishment of entities could be seriously considered only in connection with the accession to EU, and political, economic and structural reforms should be implemented prior to this. “BiH needs to take a lead within the state. In this case the changes could be implemented only with consent of all national groups,” Schausberger says, adding it is too early to annul the Dayton Peace Agreement.  

Stability Pact Coordinator for SE Europe Busek: there will be no annulment of DPA, BiH Government needs to become independent

 

Nedeljni Telegrafpgs 6-7 ‘Bosnia facing civil war’ by N. T.pg 7 Inset ‘There is no annulment of the DPA – Bosnia government needs to become independent’ – Erhard Busek, Stability Pact coordinator for South-eastern Europe, says it is not true that the DPA will be annulled. “The IC does not need to intervene often in BiH anymore and BiH authority should be more efficient and more responsible, and that will lead to a faster BiH progress in both economic and social context. That is the most important now. BiH should not be a black spot of the continent in the integrations with the IC, relations with Europe or in religious and economic context.” Busek says that although it has been announced that OHR will close next year it does not mean the DPA will be annulled, but it is a step that will help BiH to become a state that functions thanks to engagement of its own institutions.

GROZD gathered 100.000 signatures for its platform with list of 12 biggest problems BiH should solve at once

 

Hayat,BHT1, PINK, RTRS– 100,000 people in 80 BiH cities and municipalities so far supported the platform of the Civic Organizing for Democracy [GROZD] containing the list of 12 biggest problems future authorities in BiH should immediately solve [opening 150,000 working places; minimal pension to be 250 KM; reduce costs of administration apparatus; decrease corruption; double foreign investments]. GROZD representatives claim that their goal is to collect 500,000 signatures by mid-September. The platform will be forwarded to all political parties, independent candidates and coalitions, and those who accept it will be asked to explain how they intend to solve those 12 problems.

HSP Djapic-Jurisic / NHI coalition name election candidates

 

Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Zubak for Parliament, Jurisic for Presidency’ by Z. Jukic – DL names candidates for October elections of the coalition between HSP Djapic-Jurisic and NHI: HSP President Dr. Zvonko Jurisic will run for the position of the Croat BiH Presidency member and NHI President Kresimir Zubak will be the list holder for state Parliament from Posavina electoral unit. Daily then gives the name of other list holders for the state, FBiH and cantonal parliaments.

BiH Helsinki Committee President Dizdarevic: Pre-elections atmosphere in BiH is just like before the war

 

Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Pre-elections atmosphere in BiH is just like before the war’ by Onasa – In an interview to Novi Sad-based daily ‘Dnevnik’, BiH Helsinki Committee President Srdjan Dizdarevic stated: “This year, atmosphere reminds on pre-war time. On getting into full swing and those preparations for conflict. Very insensitive, whole political discourse is filled with intolerance, tries for ethnical homogenization and creation of fear from others’. Dizdarevic also stressed that OHR should remain in BiH for some more time until BiH authorities are ready to take over the responsibility.

NT presents two possible scenarios of future events in BiH: protests and unrests or RS referendum for joining Serbia

 

Nedeljni Telegraf pgs 6-7 ‘Bosnia facing civil war’ by N. T.Nedeljni Telegraf analyses possible consequences of a number of latest developments of events in BiH and region [Montenegrin independence, RS PM Milorad Dodik’s statements on possible holding of referendum in RS, adoption of PACE Resolution, verdict of ICTY to Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric], and quotes anonymous source from Serbian MoI as saying there is a possibility dissatisfied Serbs might start protesting in Banja Luka, which might lead to unrests and spread to other towns in BiH. According to other scenario, supported by experts for international relations, RS might organise referendum with an aim to join Serbia, despite to opposing of the international community, and – in case this scenario turns to reality – Serbia would face an identical situation like the one from the beginning of 1990s and this would lead to a definite rift between Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica and Serbian President Boris Tadic, since Kostunica’s DSS would be willing to accept RS while Tadic’s DS would strongly oppose.

Terzic meets German Parliamentarians

 

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Creating of economic and politically sustainable BiH’ not signed– Chair of Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, met on Tuesday the representatives of German Parliament, lead by the Spokesperson of the Social-democrat Caucus Axel Schafer. Terzic informed them about reforms in BiH, stressing that primary goal is to create politically and economically sustainable state.

FBiH Parliament members inquire what happened with KM 16 million set aside for invalids out of last year’s budget

 

Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Ministers play dumb’ by Mensud Zorlak – DL writes about SDA and SDP caucus heads in FBiH Parliament trying to find out what happened with KM 15 million which was set aside for civilian disabled persons out of the last year’s FBiH budget but now cannot be found in government’s bank accounts. Radovan Vignjevic, FBiH Minister of labor and social welfare says that Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic is the only one who can say where the money is but the FBiH Finance Ministry responds that the Ministry for labor and social welfare failed to withdraw the money before 31 January 2006, which was how long the funds were reserved for this purpose. FBiH Parliament members have announced they will not give up their attempts to find out if the funds were re-directed elsewhere and for what purpose.

Audit Office of the Institutions of BiH prepared 41 reports on the work of BiH institutions in 2005; results of the audit of CIPS Directorate’s work are negative

 

TV Hayat – Audit Office of the Institutions of BiH has prepared 41 reports on the work of BiH institutions in 2005. According to Hayat reporter, those reports will be available for public on the web site [ www.revizija.gov.ba] on Wednesday evening. Hayat learns from unnamed sources that the results of the audit of CIPS Directorate’s work are negative: inventory of property was not carried out in line with the rules, purchases were not carried out in line with the Public Procurement Law, while the budget of the Directorate, as well as the budget of the whole CIPS project was not created in an adequate way. In addition to that, financial reports are not complete and the previous recommendations of the Audit Office have not been completely implemented. Auditors also noticed inadequate planning of funds, which resulted in re-distribution and increase of budget funds.

 

Economic issues

Energopetrol: privatisation at halt due to debt

 

 

 

FTV – Due to debts amounting 18 million KM, the process of ‘Energopetrol’ privatisation has been temporarily stopped. HVB-Central Bank informed Energopetrol Director Namik Busatlic and FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic that the bank has to protect its interests but claiming that the solution is still possible if the relevant authorities reach the needed decisions. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Energopetrol accounts blocked’ by M.Kukan – ‘Energopetrol’ accounts are blocked due to debt, as anonymous FBiH Government official confirmed to the daily. The article reads that this is only the first step towards repossessing ‘Energopetrol’ property due to the mortgage.

SDA supports privatization of BH Telecom: money should be invested in highway

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Means of selling BH Telecom use for building highway’ by E.Kalamujic – At its Tuesday’s session, SDA collegium supported idea of privatization ‘BH Telecom’, adding that means from the sell should be directed for building highway. SDA Secretary General Amir Zukic told daily that the ‘BH Telecom’ management is ready to support such model of privatization.

Croatia offers compromise – Peljesac bridge to be 50 m above sea

 

Jutarnji list pg 5 ‘Peljesac bridge will be 50 meters above sea’ by Kresimir Zabec – JL reports that Croatian expert commission on Peljesac bridge has stated that Croatia will not give up construction of the Peljesac bridge but has made a compromise proposal to its BiH counterparts according to which the bridge will be a suspended one and elevated at 50 meters above the sea level [following BiH’s request to enable free maritime communication to Neum]. Croatian Minister of Transport Bozidar Kalmeta said Croatian Government is determined construction should start in the spring of next year.