11.07.2006

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 11/7/2006

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

July 11, Mourning Day

Live report from Potocari

 

Cavic on 11th July

July 11th, mourning day in BiH

 

‘Women in black’ mourn Srebrenica

RS officials on commemoration

 

Regional News

Conference on genocide

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Podlugovi-Visoko highway opened

Exhumation in Donja Kamenica

Tesla’s birth anniversary marked

Live report from Potocari

Live report from Potocari

Report on Tesla’s birth anniversary

Scholarly research on genocide

Srebrenica awards

Regional News

Potocari ready for commemoration

Srebrenica genocide ann. in Serbia

Regional News

 

Oslobodjenje

Ethnical divisions suitable for genocide [Conference on genocide]

Dnevni Avaz

Tears and moans in Potocari [Srebrenica genocide anniversary]

Dnevni List

We reveal property of our politicians

Vecernji List

Ten people poisoned with mushrooms in Tuzla

Slobodna Dalmacija

Brigands were carrying Tavelic’s statue (local festivities in Tomislavgrad)

Nezavisne Novine

Tesla, a lighthouse of mankind [Anniversary of Nikola Tesla’s birth]

Glas Srpske

The brightest mind of mankind [Anniversary of Nikola Tesla’s birth]

EuroBlic

0.27 KM  per kilo for purchase of wheat

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related titles

 

Marking of 11th Srebrenica massacre anniversary

Marking 11 anniversary of Srebrenica massacre: 505 body remains to be buried, approx. 30,000 attendees expected 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BHT1 live from Potocari by Svjetlana Todorovic, Mirela Cosic – Last preparations for marking the 11th anniversary of Srebrenica genocide are being carried out. On Tuesday [today], 505 identified body remains of killed Srebrenica citizens will be buried. Several hundreds of Srebrenica citizens, family members of the killed ones as well as persons who took part in the ‘March of Death – Path to Freedom’ have gathered to attend the funeral and mark the anniversary. Report brings feature on several survived Srebrenica citizens, some of them saying that people in BiH should not forget their history since “by forgetting it, it will happen again”. In a nearby village, Suceska, a reconstructed mosque has been opened on Monday. FTV live from Potocari by Zvonko Maric – It is expected that over 30,000 persons are going to attend marking the anniversary. Great number of FBiH officials has confirmed their arrival. PINK – Total of 2500 people have already been buried in Memorial Centre in Potocari. 11 July has been proclaimed as the Mourning Day by the Council of Ministers, but decision refers only to this year. RTRS – BIH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic will attend the funeral. Hayat also broadcasted live coverage. Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2-3 ‘Tears and moans in Potocari’ by A.Hadzic– DA carries two pages dedicated to marking of 11th Srebrenica anniversary. Dnevni List pg 15 ‘Truth on Srebrenica covered up’ by R. Dautefendic – Article makes reference to the allegation of Assistant UN Secretary General Diego Arria about most powerful world countries covering up the truth about Srebrenica (covered in Morning Brief 10 July 06). 

Hayat: member of Srebrenica genocide organizing board confirms all preparations completed

 

Hayat by Tomislav Djuric – NTV Hayat brings short live interview with Ismet Hasanovic, member of the Organizing Committee for Marking the 11th Anniversary of Srebrenica Genocide. Hasanovic stressed everything is ready for the burial of 505 identified victims of genocide; he added that only few technical details were left to be completed during the evening. According to Hasanovic, at least 30,000 people from all parts of BiH, Europe and the rest of the world are expected to attend commemoration in Potocari on Tuesday. He confirmed members of police forces from both BiH entities, and SIPA members would take care of security. 

RS press extensively report on marking Srebrenica ‘fall’/’tragedy’

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 6, announced on cover ‘Burial of 505 victims today’ by J. Sarac, Vecernje Novosti pg 21 ‘Del Ponte’s to come too’ by Beta, Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘Preparations as planned’ by K. C. – all report on the forthcoming Potocari commemoration. Nezavisne Novine reads “preparations for 11th anniversary of the tragedy in Srebrenica were completed”, Vecernje Novosti carries a report on the “marking of 11th anniversary of the fall of Srebrenica”, reminds RS Government sent an excuse on November 10, 2004 to families of Bosniaks who were killed in Srebrenica and also reminds “leaders of Bosnian Serbs Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, who are still out of reach of the Tribunal, were indicted for the genocide in Srebrenica”. Glas Srpske carries statement of RS Minister of Interior Stanislav Cadjo as saying preparations for 11th anniversary of sufferings of Bosniaks and 14th anniversary of the sufferings of Serbs in the area of Srebrenica passed in a peaceful manner. GS announces Deputy Presidents of RS Government Antun Kasipovic and Omer Brankovic as well as Miladin Dragicevic, theAdvisor to RS PM Milorad Dodik, would attend the ceremony.

RS MoI Cadjo: all prepared for markings of anniversaries of Srebrenica massacre, and suffering of Serbs in Podrinje region

 

RTRS by Vesna Vukovic-Duric – RS Minister of Interior Stanislav Cadjo stated that all security controls have been completed and everything has been prepared for marking of the 11th anniversary of sufferings of Bosniaks in Srebrenica and 14th anniversary of sufferings of Serbs in Podrinje region. Being asked how they would act if war-time commander Naser Oric comes to Srebrenica, Cadjo replied that “police have been prepared for all situations”. Regarding the traffic, vehicles heavier than 5t will be banned passing roads to Srebrenica and traffic will be organised in two-way system unlike last year. BHT1 – In terms of security, both FBiH and RS agencies in charge are securing the place and Cadjo said that he expected no incidents. Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘No indications on possible incidents’ by Srna, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Cadjo: police would not allow any incidents’ by S. R. M., Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘Preparations as planned’ by K. C. – also report of security measures. Vecernje Novosti pg 21 ‘Victims of bloody St. Peter’s Day’ not signed carries that at the same time the marking of 14th anniversary of sufferings of 3.280 Serbs of Podrinje region municipalities commenced on Monday in the area of Srebrenica and Bratunac. The article reads units under the command of Srebrenica wartime commander Naser Oric killed these victims. Glas Srpske published a separate booklet, with RS Veterans’ Associations named as a source of data, containing a list of names of 3262 Serb victims of the war in Podrinje region (Srebrenica, Bratunac regions) that were killed between 1992 – 1995.

Awards ‘Srebrenica ‘95’ and ‘Potocari Charter’ for Endangered Peoples Society President Zülch and ICTY judge Riad

 

BHT1 live from Potocari by Svjetlana Todorovic, Mirela Cosic – On Monday, An award entitled ‘Srebrenica July 1995’ has been handed over to Tilman Zülch, President of the Endangered Peoples Society, from Germany. Namely, Zülch was the first person who said it was the “genocide” that was carried out in BiH. The Society has helped thousands of BiH refugees in Germany. Fuad Riad, an ICTY judge, was supposed to receive second award, ‘Potocari Charter’, for delivering the first verdict for genocide at trial to a RS Army Drina Corpus Commander, Radislav Krstic. Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa Enclave Association confirmed that judge Riad asked for such awards not to be given to him individually, but to the ICTY. FTV by Salih Brkic – The award was founded byIslamic Community leader Reis Mustafa Effendi Ceric, who underlined this year’s recipient, Zülch, was the first one to speak out at the time when Europe had been silent demanding justice for Srebrenica as well as punishments for those who committed the crime. Receiving the award, Zülch said that he could not comprehend the fact that everyone knew about genocide in Srebrenica but that Srebrenica had been forgotten, as well as the fact that Radovan Karadzic sand Ratko Mladic were still at large. Hayat, FTV also broadcasted live coverage. Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Tears and moans in Potocari’, pg 2 ‘Tilman Zülch awarder with Srebrenica award’ by A.Hadzic, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘BiH cannot express him all of its gratitude’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘One must not forget that genocide is committed in BiH’ by A.H.also reported.

ICTY Chief Prosecutor Del Ponte to attend anniversary

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Del Ponte in Potocari today’ by E.S. – ICTY Prosecution’s Spokesperson Anton Nikiforov confirmed for DA that ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte would attend ceremony of marking 11th anniversary of Srebrenica genocide. Last year, Del Ponte did not attend the ceremony in a protest against Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic being still at large. BHT 1, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 10 ‘Carla del Ponte too arrives in Srebrenica’ by Z. Banovic– also confirmed.

RS President Cavic not to attend Srebrenica ceremony not wanting “to keep company with Naser Oric”; Oric not to attend ceremony either 

 

BHT1 – The RS President, Dragan Cavic, told journalists in Banja Luka that he was not going to attend the marking of the 11th Srebrenica genocide anniversary not wanting, as he put it, “to keep company with Naser Oric”[former Bosniak Commander from Srebrenica who was sentenced to two years in jail by the ICTY but was released upon pronouncing verdict as he had already spent three years behind bars]. He also said that none else would attend the gathering in Potocari on behalf of this presidential institution. Oric’s lawyer, Vasvija Vidovic said that Oric was not going to attend the marking, in order to avoid unwanted consequences. The RS National Assembly, according to BHT 1, has not appointed a delegation to attend the marking ceremony in Potocari. The RSNA Speaker, Igor Radojicic, said that he was not going to attend the ceremony since he received no invitation. FTV – Radojicic said that, despite the fact that the RSNA has appointed [which is different from BHT1’s reporting] a delegation which is going to attend the commemoration, any RS official could do that as well. PINK, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘I do not want to mix with Naser Oric’ by Fena – also covered.

RS association of families of fallen and missing persons ask from the ICTY to re-open the case of Naser Oric

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Award for crime’ by G. Klepic, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘New trial to Naser Oric is needed’ by A. S. – RS association of families of fallen and missing persons asked from ICTY President Fausto Pocar and ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte to re-open the case of Naser Oric due to low sentence. RS association of families of fallen and missing persons stated that the sentence to Oric represents the award for crime, which convinced Serb people in partiality of the ICTY.

International science conference on genocide to be held July 9-13, 2007 in Sarajevo

 

BHT1 by Marina Martinovic – Media carry the announcement of the biennial international scientific conference on genocide committed in Srebrenica is to be held in July 9 –13, 2007 in Sarajevo. Experts agreed on the date, noting this would also announcing hundreds of participants and an event on grand scale. At the lecture held on Monday on the topic of researches in genocide [at which the conference was also announced], the Gregory Stanton, Vice-President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, said that 20th century has been characterized as a genocide century, and a fact that 11 years ago genocide took place in Europe made the whole issue even worse. “The only way for BiH to get a future is to reveal truth on genocide in BiH”, said Emir Zlatar from the conference’s Organization Board. “The scientific part of truth on genocide over Bosniaks has been revealed, but political reasons why such terrible things, which should not have happened, happened still have not”, said Diego Enrique Arria, Advisor to UN Secretary General. Hayat – “We think we have much to learn here in BiH, especially about the failure of International Community, about the lack of political will in the UN and among world leaders to use force in order to save numerous lives” stated Stanton. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Ethnical divisions suitable for genocide’ by S.Rozajac – Talking about 2007 conference to be held in Sarajevo, experts announced it would gather about 300 scientists from all around the world claiming it would also be one of the most significant events after the Dayton Peace Agreement.FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Conference on genocide next year’ by Fena– also reported.

Serbian NGOs mark Srebrenica genocide anniversary

 

PINK – Association “Women in Black” will organise march in Belgrade on Tuesday 11 July as a sign of a support to women from Srebrenica. FTV – The delegation of this Belgrade based NGO confirmed the arrival to Potocari Memorial centre. FTV by Adisa Smailagic – Serbian NGO dealing mainly with judiciary systems and human right issues, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, is going to mark the 11th Srebrenica genocide anniversary by actions, which are going to be carried out in 9 Serbian towns, paying tribute to Srebrenica victims. As announced, actions are going to take place in Nis, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Zrenjanin, Pancevo, Sombor, Kikinda, Novi Becaj and Knjazevcu. FTV by Adisa Smailagic – Serbian Citizens Association stated that 11 years after Srebrenica genocide, Serbian authorities were still hiding the most culpable ones. The party added that it was going to insist on Declaration on Srebrenica in the Serbian Assembly.

 

Other war crimes issues

ICTY Registrar Holtius meets families of Grabovica victims

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FTV by Anita Damjanovic – ICTY Registrar, Hans Holthuis, paid a visit to Grabovica near Mostar where troops of former BiH Army committed crimes against Croat civilians. Holthuis met with family members of the killed ones. Out of 33 killed civilians, 11 have been identified, while perpetrators of the crimes have not yet been punished. At trial to Sefer Halilovic, former Chief Commander of the BiH Army, who was charged with this crime but later acquitted, it was proved that the crime had been committed. Family members said that they lost trust in the ICTY and the BiH Court, saying these institutions showed no interest in punishing responsible ones, regardless of the numerous evidences. Dnevni List pg 56 ‘Halilovic case not over yet’ by Lj. Vidacak – DL reports that Holthuis, during his visit to the village of Grabovica on Monday 10 July, spoke with families of war crime victims and said the ‘proceedings against BiH Army general Sefer Halilovicare not over yet because the appeal procedure is still ongoing’.   Vecernji List pg 2 ‘S. Halilovic case not over yet’ by Vesna Leto – VL states that Holthuis gave Grabovica families hope, stressing that Appeals Council (of ICTY) has started many things and that verdict to Halilovic is not final and unchangeable. This leads VL to say that a turn of events in the proceedings against Halilovic is to be expected soon. BHT1, PINK, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Releasing of Sefer Halilovic doesn’t mean that crime wasn’t committed’ by S.Dj, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Families have no trust in domestic courts’ by J. Gudeljalso covered.

BiH Attorney in ICJ Biesen: convinced that ICJ would rule in BiH’s favour

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘I am convinced in victory before the Court in The Hague’ by S.Numanovic – BiH lawyer before the International Court of Justice in The Hague in the case of BiH’s lawsuit against Serbia and Montenegro, Phon van den Biesen, said in interview to DA that he is convinced that Court would rule in BiH’s favor. However, he emphasized the difficulty of the case, stressing that decision could be passed by February next year. Main hearing in the case started before 16 judges in Ferbruary 27 and ended on 9 May this year. Commenting speculations that there are political pressures to reach out-of-court settlement, Biesen said that he didn’t heard of any pressures, stressing that he doubts that Judges in ICJ are submissive to political pressures.

BiH CC President Hadziosmanovic answers critics: BiH CC discusses every case for four or five times

 

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Court is discussing even less important cases for a long time’ by A.O.– President of BiH Constitutional Court, Haridza Hadziosmanovic stated on Monday that she is convinced into the professionalism of this Court. Commenting statement of BiH presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic who said that foreign centres are pressuring this Cout because of the lawsuit against SCG, Hadziosmanovic said, “she respects Tihic” adding that “politicians has right to their stances and insinuations”. BiH CC has discussed the demand of BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac on constitutionality of the lawsuit and decided not to organize public debate. Hadziosmanovic stated that BiH CC is discussing every case for four or five times and she refused to comment Tihic’s claim that BiH CC should have dismissed the Paravac’s request as unauthorised for further discussion.

SDS’s Cavic: BiH Presidency should inform BiH CC there whether there are documents necessary to lodge lawsuit against SCG for genocide

 

PINK, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Let BiH Presidency determine whether there are documents for lawsuit against Yugoslavia’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘SDS paid high price for the establishment of RS’ by V. Popovic, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Presidency must tell truth’, not signed – On the BiH Constitutional Court decision that rejected request of BiH Presidency Member Borislav Paravac for the pubic discussion on BiH lawsuit against SCG for aggression and genocide, SDS leader Dragan Cavic expressed expectation that BiH Presidency will inform BiH Constitutional Court whether there are all documents necessary for filing a suit against SCG or to announce those do not exist and hence suit is illegitimate.  

RS NA Speaker hopes BiH CC might declare BiH suit versus SICG before International Court of Justice legally unfounded

 

RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘It is good that BiH Court would discuss it thoroughly’ by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Possible abrogation of suit against SiCG’ by SRNA, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Decision by Court is crucial’, not signedIgor Radojicic, RS NA Speaker, Monday stated it could be expected that if BiH Constitutional Court discussed all facts related to BiH suit against SiCG, it would declare BiH suit versus SICG before International Court of Justice legally unfounded. He also said that it is very important BiH Constitutional Court approaches this issue is a thorough manner, since this is a big political and legal issue.

Glas Srpske says SDP’ candidate for RS president Meholjic suspected of war crimes

 

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘A long list of misdeeds’ by D.Majstorovic/G.Klepic – Daily reports SDPHakija Meholjic from Srebrenica has involved in election race for the RS president. Daily observes what makes this candidature disputable is the fact the name of Meholjic is amongst names of 49 Bosniaks from Srebrenica, against whom criminal file has been forwarded to ICTY for committing crimes against Serbs in 1992 and 1992 in the area of Srebrenica. ICTY referred the case to BiH Court, which has not revealed any details regarding this, even whether the investigation on this case is ongoing. Daily also reminds of Meholjic’s interview to Sarajevo paper “Walter” in July 2002, when he stated Alija Izetbegovic told them American President Bill Clinton had promised military intervention against Serb forces under condition they sacrificed 5000 Srebrenica Muslims. According to inset ‘He is not excited’, Meholjic told dailythat nobody has contacted him regarding case. Noting he is not running away from judicial bodies, he stressed he would like to see investigation launched and “his name cleared”.

 

Economic issues

Authorities officially open 8.5 kilometres long section of a highway Sarajevo-Zenica

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hayat by Snjezana Mulic – As of Monday, BiH has approximately 20 kilometres of a highway: new, 8.5 kilometres long section of a highway between Podlugovi and Visoko has been officially opened. FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, FBiH President Niko Lozancic and – totally “unprovoked”, as reporter cynically stated – BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic, attended the opening ceremony. “We have waited for a hundred years to construct 20 kilometres of this highway. I hope it won’t take us another hundred years to construct the Corridor 5-C”, stated Lozancic. Mulic says it is impossible to get over the impression that the construction was deliberately delayed, so that the ceremony can be organized during the pre-election campaign. “If I had the power to order rains in the first part of June, and tropical temperatures in a second part, then yes – it was deliberately delayed for political reasons”, somewhat ironically stated FBiH Minister of traffic and Communication Nedzad Brankovic. FTV by Azra Pasukan – The FBiH Government has invested in the section 58 millions KM. Reporter ridicules the event by saying that it took more that 5 years for BiH to make 20 out of 330 kilometres long highway. “This section has been financed from three budgetary years while it has been constructed in a year, which means that the speed of construction depends on budget capacity or realization of the FBiH Government’s decision by which telecom operators should be sold and means allocated to the project”, saidBrankovic.  According to the project documentation, the highway should be completed by 2013. PINK also covered. BHT1 – “Construction of this part of the highway, quality of works, met standards prove that BiH has construction operative and experts able to make modern highways”, said Tihic. Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘BiH got another 8,5 kilometres of highway’ by R. Cengic also reported. Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Capable of making modern highway’, not signed – carries Tihic as saying the works on the highway showed BiH is capable of making modern highways. Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘BiH gets another 8,5 kilometres of highway’, by dj – reports on opening of highway.

Authorities launch construction of border crossing in Samac

 

RTRS by Rade Grbic – The construction of modern border crossing in Samac was launched on Monday by the BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic, BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac, Head of EC Delegation Michael Humphries and Director of the Indirect Taxation Administration, Kemal Causevic. According to Tihic, this border crossing symbolically connects people while Paravc stressed it is symbolically built in-between two entities that “shows how BIH overcame some of its disputes”.  Humphries reminded that the border crossing is an evidence of BIH sovereignty adding that the need for border crossings will be gone when BIH becomes EU member. Hayat – European Union finances the construction of a border crossing, worth approximately €3.8 million. BHT1, FTV also covered.

DL: ITA GB Chairman Nicholl sends BiH HoP letter, says ITA GB disagrees with return of VAT as of July 1

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘No agreement on de-blocking of single state acount’ by M.K.– FBiH Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic told DA that agreement on allocation of public revenues from single Indirect Taxation Administration’s account hasn’t been yet reached. He added that he hasn’t discussed this with RS Finance Minister Aleksandar Dzombic, because FBiH doesn’t want to abandon its stances that allocation has to continue in line with the provisions of the current VAT Law and not using fixed coefficients, as the RS side inisists. “We will see what the newly appointed Chair of ITA Steering Board, Peter Nicholl, would decide…In any case FBiH wouldn’t feel consequences of this blockade, because we can function with current means at our disposal for some time,” said Vrankic. DA reminds that new blockade of single account occurred on last Monday, since when entities and Brcko District have lose their finances.

FBiH Minister Vrankic: no agreement on allocation of public revenues; FBiH can function for some time with current means

 

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Return of tax to business people stopped’, by D. P. Mandic – DL reminds that the BiH House of Peoples during its last session (held last Friday) did not discuss changes to the law on VAT related to the return of VAT-generated revenues after the BiH HoP received a letter from the ITA Governing Board (ITA GB) Chairman, Peter Nicholl, who noted that the ITA GB did not agree with the stipulated changes, therefore the change cannot take place (NB: earlier, the BiH HoR enacted changes to the law foreseeing that the VAT-generated revenues are to be returned as of July 1). According to Beriz Belkic, (MP in BiH HoR, SBiH), the ITA wants to prolong the deadline (for return of VAT), which is evident from a letter signed by the ITA Director, Kemal Causevic, who called upon technical difficulties and short deadlines and noted that the suspension (of return of VAT) would last until December 31, not July 1. Belkic concludes that by doing so, the ITA is unnecessarily stalling the situation in which companies are not getting back the ever so necessary money.

 

Security

FTV says 63 foreigners were deprived of BiH citizenships so far

 

 

 

 

 

 

FTV by Amarildo Gutic – As BiH Deputy Security Minister, Dragan Mektic, stated for said FTV, persons deprived of illegally gained BiH citizenship will have to leave BiH but they are not going to be extradited to states where they could be faced to death penalty. Such persons are able to file lawsuit against institutions in charge if they found such actions unfounded. FBiH Supreme Court has annulled the FBiH Ministry of Interior’s decision to deprive Al Husin Imad Abu Hamza of BiH citizenship, stating that the FBiH MoI gave no legal reasons for doing it. This is just a single example of process on revision of decisions on naturalization of foreign citizens. According to unofficial data, the Commission in charge has deprived 63 foreigners of BiH citizenships. “We have to be fair and say that there are certain persons who should be deprived of their BiH citizenship, but most of the cases, basic human right has been violated”, saysAbu Hamza. BiH Parliament is soon going to discuss changes in the BiH Law on citizenship. According to the changes, persons deprived of illegally gained BiH citizenship, will not be able to file request on BiH citizenship in next 5 years, in order to prevent new requests, founded on new basis.

BiH HoR to adopt BiH Law on Citizenship: Persons deprived of illegally gained citizenship, will not be able to apply request in next 5 years

 

Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Five years without right on BiH citizenship’ by A.Terzic – BiH House of Representatives accepted a request of the BiH Council of Ministers to adopt amendments to the BiH Law on Citizenship in urgent procedure. Amendments foresee that persons deprived of illegally gained BiH citizenship will not be able to apply for BiH citizenship in next 5 years, in order to prevent new requests, founded on new basis. Chief of Department for Citizenship in the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs Savo Kojic confirmed daily that these amendments were proposed following request of Commission for audit of naturalization of foreign citizens: “Commission confirmed that there are some cases when certain persons were deprived of citizenship, but they gained it again trough naturalization or eased naturalization.”

DL: SIPA takes over police jobs

Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘SIPA takes over police jobs?!’, by M. Zorlak – according to DL’s source in the FBiH Interior Ministry, SIPA (State agency for investigation and protection) is taking over more and more cases related to organized crime at both the state and FBiH level, which resulted in the SIPA resolving many cases that are in jurisdiction of the FBiH MoI. However, according to DL, the FBiH Police Administration Director, Zlatko Miletic, disagrees with such allegations claiming the FBiH police officers do carry out their jobs. Despite Miletic’s statement, DL’s source notes that due to lack of staff in the FBIH MoI, SIPA often helps out the FBiH MoI by usually taking over the most difficult cases. On the other hand, SIPA spokesman Admir Katica says it is only natural that all police agencies in BiH cooperate with each other.

 

Political issues

DL reminds BiH officials will have to submit property sheets, runs list of property sheets by several politicians from 4 years ago

 

 

 

Dnevni List, front pg splash and pgs 5 ‘We reveal property of our politicians’, by D. P. Mandic – DL reminds that according to the latest changes to the BiH Election Law, all elected officials will have to submit to the BiH Central Election Commission (CEC) their property sheets 60 days prior to expiration of respective terms. The CEC President, Branko Peric, says the change was made in order to inform the public what officials have in the beginning and end of respective terms in office. “(…) It is more of a moral type of responsibility because no penalties are foreseen for accuracy of data, nor for failure to submit data”, explains Petric. It is worth mentioning that DL runs property sheets submitted four years ago by the following officials: Dragan Covic (HDZ President) and his wife, Ivo Miro Jovic (member of BiH Presidency), Sulejman Tihic (member of BiH Presidency), Borislav Paravac (member of BiH Presidency), Zlatko Lagumdzija (SDP President), Dragan Cavic (RS President), Milorad Dodik (RS PM) and Haris Silajdzic (SBIH President).

SDS candidates were presented at the SDS reception in Banja Luka

 

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘They paid high price’ by Z.M.SDS candidates for the positions of RS president and member of BiH Presidency as well as list leaders for RS National Assembly and BiH Parliament were presented at the SDS reception that was held on Monday in Banja Luka. SDS leader Dragan Cavic said that SDS is the only party that is older than RS and that SDS paid high price for the establishment of the RS. Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘SDS paid high price for the establishment of RS’ by V. Popovic – Cavic said that High Representative Christian Schwarz Schilling rehabilitated all the officials bar those from the SDS adding that SDS lodged 30 appeals to the Human Right Court in Strasbourg regarding this issue. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Amnesty doesn’t refer to SDSby Srna – carries similar statement.

Public discussion on PBS Law to be held before FBiH CC on demand of Croat Caucus, which asks for three channels

 

Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Public discussion on proposal law on Public Broadcasting Service’ by S.Se – On Tuesday, the FBiH Constitutional Court’s Council for Protection of Vital National Interest will discuss a request of the Croat Caucus in the FBiH House of peoples to assess the proposal Law on FBiH public broadcasting service. In essence, Croat caucus is asking for establishment of third channel in Croatian language within the public broadcasting system. Daily reminded that both FBiH Parliament’s Houses passed this proposal law in April this year. Discussion in FBiH HoR was conducted without members of Croat parties, while in FBiH HoP Croat Caucus have invoked the VNI. It adds passing of this law is a pre-condition for signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and that these laws were priory passed at state and RS level. Daily also reminded that International Community is insisting on harmonization of the FBiH Law with the BiH Law on PBS and author explains that even if the FBiH CC would reject demand of the Croat Caucus, the law would have to be harmonized between two FBiH Parliament’s Houses before coming into force.

Osl op-ed: USA , UK and Russia advocate for EU taking over and OHR closure while at same time challenge the CoE initiatives to change something in BiH

 

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘On cat’s tail’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – The editorial refers to recently passed resolution of Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe [PACE], and the reaction of RS PM Milorad Dodik [“they can tie the Resolution to the cat’s tail”] and statements of US and UK Ambassadors noting Resolution is not obligatory. Stressing that PACE Chair René van der Linden has stated the Resolution is mandatory for BiH,  Dizdarevic speculates what could be a reason for such stances of the US and UK officials, especially after their mild reactions to announcements of referendum in the RS. Author lists three possible reasons: first being Dodik is too strong, thus Ambassadors did not want to “make him mad”, secondly a stance that it would not be good to irritate Serbians “while they suffer for Kosovo” and third reason being an opinion that BiH is still an open issue. Stressing that situation in the international peace mission in BiH is not encouraging, Dizdarevic stresses: USA, UK and Russia are advocating for closing down OHR as soon as possible leaving the EU with primary responsibility for BiH. At the same time they are challenging CoE’s initiative in that direction. At this moment, European vision of BiH is tied to tail of Dodik’s cat”.

SD commentary: BiH politicians giving citizens false hope re abolishment of visa regime, diplomats suggest concrete reform the best path

 

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘Abolishment of visas – just a pre-election promise’, by Z. Tulic – the author argues that many BiH politicians are giving citizens false hope with their stories on alleged abolishment of visas for BiH citizens who would like to go to the EU countries. The author notes that diplomatic circles say it is not about abolishment of visas, instead it is about easing of visa regime for certain categories of peoples such as students, business people etc, which in reality are two completely different things. SD goes on to say that in order for the EU to ease the visa regime, BiH will have to convince the EU it is ready to “get closer to the Schengen doors”, which will be very difficult considering many (unresolved) crucial issues pertaining to future of BiH, women trafficking, porous BiH borders etc. SD concludes the piece by saying diplomats suggest the best way to have visas abolished is concrete reform actions, foremost the completion of police reform.

 

OHR BiH Media Round-up

Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on July 11

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

No news broadcast due to strike

No news broadcast due to live

Potocari commemoration

 

broadcast of Srebrenica

Police searching after shooter in BL

 

commemoration

Chechnya update

TV news broadcast on July 10

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

No news broadcast due to strike

July 11, Mourning Day

Live report from Potocari

 

Cavic on 11th July

July 11th, mourning day in BiH

 

‘Women in black’ mourn Srebrenica

RS officials on commemoration

 

Regional News

Conference on genocide

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Podlugovi-Visoko highway opened

Exhumation in Donja Kamenica

Tesla’s birth anniversary marked

Live report from Potocari

Live report from Potocari

Report on Tesla’s birth anniversary

Scholarly research on genocide

Srebrenica awards

Regional News

Potocari ready for commemoration

Srebrenica genocide ann. in Serbia

Regional News

 

Oslobodjenje

Ethnical divisions suitable for genocide [Conference on genocide]

Dnevni Avaz

Tears and moans in Potocari [Srebrenica genocide anniversary]

Dnevni List

We reveal property of our politicians

Vecernji List

Ten people poisoned with mushrooms in Tuzla

Slobodna Dalmacija

Brigands were carrying Tavelic’s statue (local festivities in Tomislavgrad)

Nezavisne Novine

Tesla, a lighthouse of mankind [Anniversary of Nikola Tesla’s birth]

Glas Srpske

The brightest mind of mankind [Anniversary of Nikola Tesla’s birth]

EuroBlic

0.27 KM  per kilo for purchase of wheat

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related titles

 

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

ICTY Chief Prosecutor angry because Karadzic and Mladic are still at large

 

Srna – ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, has stated at Potocari Memorial today she is “very angry Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic are still at large”, adding: “I am here for the commemoration and victims, but also survivors of this horror and genocide that has taken place in Srebrenica.” SRNA says processions of pedestrians and cars, and many representatives of diplomatic core are still arriving to Potocari.

 

War crimes and other judicial issues

Trial to six former Serbian top officials commenced before ICTY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York Times ‘War Crimes Trial Begins for 6 Milosevic Aides’ by Marlise Simons – Four months after the death of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, the trial of six of his top aides opened Monday, beginning a process that may finally render a verdict on the sweep of Serbia’s actions during the 1999 war in Kosovo. Prosecutors said Serbian forces, under the direction of Milosevic, destroyed numerous villages and towns “to create an atmosphere of terror” and to drive out tens of thousands of unwanted Kosovo Albanians. An estimated 800,000 Kosovo Albanians fled in terror, and 7,000 to 9,000 people were killed. The trial is expected to last more than a year. After death of Milosevic, the accused provide prosecutors with the next best chance of obtaining a verdict on the events in Kosovo. The six accused include two former politicians: Milan Milutinovic, a former president of Serbia, and Nikola Sainovic, former Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister. There are also four former generals: Dragoljub Ojdanic, Nebojsa Pavkovic, Vladimir Lazarevic and Sreten Lukic. All six voluntarily surrendered to the tribunal and were allowed to wait at home for the start of their trial. Another former general, Vlastimir Djordjevic, who was to be part of the same trial, is still on the run and, tribunal officials said, living in Russia. The accused are charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, including systematic deportation, murder and persecution. All have pleaded not guilty. The proceedings deal only with Kosovo and not with other atrocities, like those in Croatia and Bosnia. PINK, BHT1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, International Herald Tribune, Washington Post, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Dnevni List, pg 23 ‘Trials to state and military leadership of Serbia’, by HINAalso covered.

RS Pres Cavic: Tunjice prison management attempted to hush hunger strike of prison inmates

 

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Four given up the hunger strike’ by O.V., EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Four inmates stopped hunger strike’ by Tijana Veselinovic, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Hunger strike ceased’, by Ana KrajinovicMilorad Novakovic, President of the Banja Luka District Court Monday confirmed to daily that the four out of six inmates charged and sentenced for war crimes (serving sentence at Tunjice prison in Banja Luka) have stopped with hunger strike. According to inset ‘Cavic suspects’ – Dragan Cavic, RS President, Monday stated there is a possibility that “Tunjice” Prison Management has attempted to hush hunger strike of six inmates. Cavic said bearing in mind ICTY sentence against Naser Oric, it would have been better it these convicts had been tried in the Hague.

39 body-remains of killed Bosniaks exhumed from a mass gravesite in Zvornik

FTV – Exhumation expert team, lead by Tuzla Canton Prosecution, which has been working on exhumation in Kamenice Donje, in Zvornik municipality, exhumed 46 complete and 309 incomplete body-remains of killed Bosniaks, namely Srebrenica citizens, killed in 1995. On Monday, 5 complete and 34 incomplete body remains were exhumed. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Grave found in Kamenica will be the largest so far’ by E.Huremovic – also covered. Head of Tuzla Expert Team Murat Hurtic told Dnevni Avaz this would probably be the biggest mass grave found so far in Podrinje region.

BiH Court rejected motion for Mirko Sarovic’s pre-trial release on bail

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Sarovic’ request for release under bail rejected’ by N.Jamakovic, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Mirko Sarovic remains in detention’ by A.S., EuroBlic pg RS4 ‘Mortgage on house of 280.000 KM overturned’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Mirko Sarovic remains in custody’ by A. Djozo – BiH Court has rejected motion on Mirko Sarovic’s pre-trial release on bail. At the last hearing, Sarovic’s attorney Dragisa Jokic has offered placement of mortgage on Sarovic’s house estimated to 280.000 KM in an exchange for Sarovic’s pre-trial release. Sarovic had been charged with millions’ embezzlements in the work of ‘Privredna Bank East Sarajevo’.

 

Political developments

RS wants to have special relations with Croatia , BiH CoM’s Terzic sees no point in it

 

 

 

 

 

Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Banja Luka more interested in Zagreb than Sarajevo’, by Zdenko Jurilj – spokesman of the RS Government, Zdenko Juric, confirmed for VL that the RS Government and RS Prime Minister (RS PM), Milorad Dodik, were interested in signing agreement on special relations with Croatia, which would improve relations in fields of economy, trade, culture, sport etc, the way the RS signed the agreement on special relations with Serbia (the then Yugoslavia) five years ago. Juric explains that was a topic of a meeting RS PM Dodik had with business people from Croatia in Banja Luka recently. VL comments that official Sarajevo is not thrilled with such plans. Namely, President of Federation BiH House of Representative’s Commission for economic and financial policy, professor Izudin Kesetovic, says it is not good entities make such agreements by neglecting state authorities, believing it is about political interests of the RS, which has been working on separation from BiH for years. Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 10 ‘RS in special relations with Republic of Croatia’, by Zlatko Tulic – carries comment by BiH Council of Ministers Chairman, Adnan Terzic, who says he sees no reason why to go ahead with such agreement. Terzic believes it is about pre-election games.

BiH Chief SAA Negotiator Davidovic and Head of EU Integrations Directorate Topcagic visit Great Britain

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Davidovic and Topcagic visiting Great Britain’ by Fena – BiH Chief Negotiator for Stabilisation and Association Agreement Igor Davidovic and Director of the BiH Directorate for EU Integrations Osman Topcagic are paying four-day official visit to Great Britain, confirmed British Embassy. The visit is aimed at helping the BiH SAA team so that talks with the EU are successfully brought to a close through the development of contacts with British institutions and by providing practical assistance, instructions and views on the progress of talks between BiH and the EU. The visit includes meetings with representatives of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government and Parliament and others.

A Swiss organisation started research project called ‘Territorial Organisation of BiH and International Cooperation’

 

Hayat – Swiss National International Fund has started a research project called ‘Territorial Organisation of BiH and International Cooperation’. The main goal of this project is to remove political and ideological obstacles in BiH, but also in the whole region. The existing model of territorial organisation does not contribute to the hastening of democratic processes and development of BiH, stated Mehmed Bublin, the Head of this project’s working team. He added that Dayton Peace Agreement had basically divided all the systems in BiH, including traffic, educational and cultural, to two or even three parts, which makes life in BiH much more difficult. Persons involved in this project agree that constitutional changes are necessary for territorial re-organisation in BiH.

SDS’s Cavic: HR’s ban on banning SDS members from holding public office is of political character

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Amnesty doesn’t refer to SDSby SrnaSDS leader Dragan Cavic said on Monday that decisions of the High Representative on banning SDS members from holding public office is of political character. He stresses that majority of officials haven’t been pardoned at all, about 50 of them. “All people were pardoned except those based on so called participating in supporting network to war crimes’ indictees, so that amnesty is valid for everyone, except for SDS,” said Cavic. He also reminded that SDS has submitted over 30 individual appellations to Human Rights’ Court in Strasbourg , which should be solved in this year.

SDS’s Tadic says SNSD’s Dodik will not win 50% plus 1 at elections

 

Fokus pg 4 ‘In SDS since 1990’ by R. Sipovac – In a lengthy interview to Banja Luka daily, SDS’s Ognjen Tadic described how he transferred from SDS to SRS ‘Dr. Vojislav Seselj’ in 1992 and again transferred back to SDS in 2006. Tadic commented the elections and said that RS Prime Minister and SNSD leader Milorad Dodik would not win 50% plus 1 vote even in Laktasi not to mention RS. He noted Haris Silajdzic (Party for BiH) is the most acceptable politician to the electorate in Federation of BiH, but reminded of the fact Sulejman Tihic (SDA) has previously won against Silajdzic.

 

Economic issues

RS farmers: Wheat price lower than expected

 

 

 

 

RTRS, EuroBlic pg RS1 cover splash ‘0.27 KM per kilo for purchase of wheat’ by Darija Filipovic– RS Agriculture Ministry offered 0.27 KM per kilogram as purchase price for wheat. RS farmers did not welcome this proposal, regarding it as humiliating. According to the farmers, the price is lower than expected and they demand the starting price for wheat to be 0.3 KM per kilogram. RS Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Slaven Pekic claims that ministry doesn’t have extra funds for offering higher price for wheat. He added that the protest held on Sunday in Bijeljina was politically influenced and that Party ‘Working for Prosperity’ [Radom za Boljitak – RzB] orchestrated it. Hayat – Pekic stated it expected that approximately 30,000 tons of wheat would be purchased.

F BiH Traffic and Comm. Minister Brankovic: Ministry to submit to F BiH Govt the report on privatisation policy for telecom operators in F BiH

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘In about ten days we would propose model for privatization of telecoms to the government’ by M. Kukan – FBiH Traffic and Communications Minister Nedzad Brankovic told DA that his Ministry would submit the FBiH Government with the report on privatization policy for both telecom operators in FBiH, BH Telecom and HT Mostar. Brankovic said that all goals and methodologies would be defined by this study, adding it would propose sale of state capital in those companies. DA reminds that after RS Government decided to start with privatization of ‘Telecom Srpske’, FBiH Government tasked Ministry to draft the study in fifteen-days period. Brankovic expects that Government’s decision would be supported in the FBiH Parliament, but he couldn’t say anything precisely “due to elections, which are probably bringing new structure of the Parliament.”  He added that FBiH Government defined the primary goal and that is to invest means, gained by this sale, into development and strategic projects.

BiH Transport and Comm. Minister Dokic awaits for report of experts on meeting held to discuss “Peljesac” bridge issue

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Dokic awaits report of our expert group’ by Se.M. – Commenting recent meeting of BiH and Croatian expert groups regarding issue of ‘Peljesac bridge’, BiH Transport and Communications Minister Branko Dokic stated: “I am awaiting for the official report of our expert group to know the result of their meeting with the Croatian colleagues. As far as I know, there were no official concordance or significant changes with regard to our present demands. I hope that Croatia will not start anything without our concord.” Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader told that both the right of Croatia to connect its territory and right of BiH to free access to sea would be respected. Inset ‘Bridge on height of 50 meters’ – Daily unofficially learns that Croatian experts agreed to raise the height of ‘Peljesac bridge’ to 50 meters above sea level. Construction of leaf bridge is rejected, carries DA.