15.07.2006

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 15/7/2006

TV news broadcast onJuly 14, 2006

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

No news broadcast due to strike

Trial to 7 RS Army officers

Trial against seven RS Army officers

 

Zelenovic pleads not guilty

Reactions to trial against RS officers

 

Macedonian soldiers in BIH

Exhumation in Kamenica

 

Unions on lowest hourly wage

Zelenovic pleads not guilty

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

ICTY trial for genocide in Srebrenica

Trial against seven RS Army officers

Butler on referendum

Swede indicted for crimes in BiH

Zelenovic pleads not guilty

ICTY trials

Zelenovic pleads not guilty

BiH Court confirms indictments

Swede accused of war crimes in BIH

Population growth rate in FBiH

Belgrade on Mladic’s supporters

Regional news

 

Oslobodjenje

Re-exhumation of Srebrenica victims today

Dnevni Avaz

Judge banned Carla del Ponte from speaking

Dnevni List

Criminal procedure against Hadzipasic (Croat MP Franjicevic complains against poor representation of Croats in FBiH Civil Service Agency)

Vecernji List

Suspicious Greek tomato on BiH markets

Nezavisne Novine

Strike against survival of RS (Minister Cubrilovic on blockade of privatization of RS Telekom)

 

War Crimes/Srebrenica commemoration update

Trials for Srebrenica genocide in ICTY: Prosecutor del Ponte told to focus on procedural matters, her speech got interrupted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FTVBy Adisa Dedic – Trial against seven RS Army officers, Vujadin Popovic, Ljubisa Beara, Drago Nikolic, Ljubomir Borovcanin, Vinko Pandurevic (charged with committing genocide in Srebrenica) Radivoje Miletic, Milan Gvero (charged with crimes against humanity committed in Srebrenica and Zepa), has been interrupted by interruption of Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte’s speech. Namely, ICTY (Council of Judges) stated that del Ponte was violating previously established concept that the hearing should be dedicated to issues of procedural nature. Del Ponte opened the hearing by saying that she attended the marking of 11th anniversary of Srebrenica tragedy. Defence lawyers interrupted del Ponte by saying that the Prosecutor was not respecting ICTY’s rules by which the opening of the trial should be dedicated to issues of procedural nature, not an opening argument, scheduled for August 21st. Even though the judges interrupted the Prosecutor, after consulting with each other, they allowed her to continue, stressing that the opening of trial was not a part of opening arguments. By saying that she was shocked by objections, del Ponte said that she found her speech just introductory remarks, which were common for a beginning of a trial. Hayat – Clearly upset, Del Ponte emphasized that she – as a Chief ICTY Prosecutor – was entitled to speak at the beginning of the trial, adding that she was not driven by emotions; she was only presenting evidences. According to Hayat reporter, Del Ponte said with her voice raised and with gesticulation, del Ponte provoked laughter among observers. Although the trial officially started on Friday, ICTY announced that both prosecution and defence would give their opening statements on August 21. (also reported by Pink, BHT, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Judge interrupted del Ponte’, not signed, Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Judge banned Carla del Ponte from speaking’, by Sense, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Judges stopped del Ponte’s speech’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Judges interrupted del Ponte’s speech’, by Beta)

ICTY Prosecution’s spokesman Nikiforov: Srebrenica genocide trials will last at least 2 years, Mothers of Srebrenica unhappy del Ponte’s speech got interrupted

 

BHT11By Marina Martinovic – The ICTY Prosecution’s spokesman Anton Nikiforov claims that trial against seven RS Army officers, charged with war crimes in Srebrenica, is the most important trial before the ICTY, finding Srebrenica crime the biggest committed in the area of ex Yugoslavia in the last war. Nikiforov added that the trial would last at least 2 years, bearing in mind fact that it would take a year for 165 prosecution witnesses to testify. Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa Enclave Association condemned the fact that Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, was interrupted at the beginning of the trial. Namely, the Association stated that the defence lawyers’ reaction ridiculed ICTY and justice, trying to diminish genocide. “They once more proved that they were laughing at victims’ faces and that they still want to diminish the crime they committed…they want to hide the crime and genocide”, said Munira Subasic, from the Association.  (Oslobodjenje, pg 2 ‘Belittling of victims again’, not signedcarries Subasic’s statement.

ICTY: War crimes suspects for Foca crimes Zelenovic pleads ‘not guilty’

 

BHT1 – An ICTY suspect, Dragan Zelenovic, former deputy commander of (RS) Military Police in Foca, pleaded not guilty (before ICTY) for crimes in Foca. Namely, Zelenovic is being charged with crimes against humanity and violation of customs of war, including rapes and tortures in Foca in 1992. (originally, Zelenovic was arrested in Russia because he used false passport, then he got extradited to BiH and subsequently he got extradited to ICTY) (also reported by Pink, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Zelenovic says he is not guilty’, by Fena, Dnevni Avaz, pg 12 ‘Dragan Zelenovic says he is not guilty for crimes in Foca’, by Sense, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Dragan Zelenovic denies responsibility’, not signed

BiH Court confirms indictments against Mejakic and others, charged with war crimes in Prijedor area

 

FTV – On Friday, the BiH Court has confirmed indictment against Zeljko Mejakic, Momcilo Gruban, Dusan Fustar and Dusko Knezevic, charging them with crimes against humanity (committed against non-Serb population), committed in the area of Prijedor in 1992. Dnevni Avaz, pg 12 ‘Mejakic and others charged with Omarska and Keraterm’, not signed – Mejakic and others are charged with direct participation in imprisoning non-Serb civilians at Omarska, Keraterm and Trnopolje prison camps. (NB: the case was referred from ICTY) (also reported by BHT1, Hayat

Belgrade Prosecutor’s Office presses charges against Mladic’s aides

FTV – Belgrade Prosecutor’s Office has raised indictments against 10 persons, suspected of supporting war crime indictee Ratko Mladic. (also reported by BHT1, RTRS

Swedish Prosecution presses charges against Swedish citizen for war crimes committed in BiH

 

Hayat – Swedish citizen Jackie Arklöv is indicted for war crimes committed during the war in BiH, where he fought as a mercenary in the Croat army, Swedish media reported on Friday. He is indicted for crimes allegedly committed in BiH during spring, summer and autumn of 1993, stated Swedish state Prosecutor Lise Tamm. She added that Arklöv served as a guard in several prisons in BiH during the war, where he tortured prisoners of war and civilians. (also reported by BHT1, RTRS, Dnevni List, back pg ‘Swede indicted for war crime in Mostar’, by P. Z., Nezavisne Novine, pg 4 ‘Arklov charged with war crime’, by D. Ra)

Round table on work of Sarajevo Commission held at East Sarajevo: Commission facing difficult tasks

 

BHT1 By Mirela Cosic – At a round table (which was held in East Sarajevo), dedicated to the issue of the Sarajevo Commission’s work (commission tasked to establish truth about suffering of peoples in Sarajevo between 1992-1995), family members of killed and missing ones from the RS support the Commission’s work, saying that there is no reason why another body, which would offer its assistance in terms of administrative issues, should be established, since such institutions have already been established. “The body, namely a work group, consisted of members of all institutions who could contribute to more successful Commission’s work, should be established by the RS Government, which should also allocate certain means to it”, said Zoran Tesanovic from BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs. “One is for sure; this process is going to be a long one; this state Commission needs a lot of data and documents which already exist; we should as soon as possible decide whether they are going to be submitted to a work group or whether they would be institutionally examined and presented to the Commission”, said Cvetko Savic, from the RS Government Secretariat for the ICTY relations. RTRS by Dejana Radovanovic-Sarenac – RS representatives and members of NGOs will support the work of Serb members of the Commission. “I hope that the truth on suffering of Sarajevo Serbs will become a world truth on their suffering”, said BIH Minister of Transport and Communications Branko Dokic. Chair of East Sarajevo Association of families of missing persons Mirjana Simanic stated that they are not pleased with the convocation of the Commission and certain items in its statute. She explained that the ways the presentation of reports on completed works is carried out need to be changed.  Reporter comments that the members of the round table concluded that a heavy task is ahead of the Commission that needs to be rationally and wisely completed.

Hurtic of Tuzla Office for Missing Persons: Kamenica mass grave could be biggest in BiH

 

BHT1By Hatka Hamidovic – So far 55 complete and 385 incomplete body remains have been exhumed from a mass gravesite in Kamenica. According to Murat Hurtic, Chief of Tuzla Missing Persons Department, exhumation in Kamenica, which started on 8th of June, is going to last for a month at least. “Due to the fact that over 400 body remains have been exhumed but only a half of the mass gravesite has been exhumed, I believe that this could be the largest mass grave in BiH”, says Hurtic. Eight documents, found in the mass grave state that body remains belong to 7 persons from Srebrenica and one from Vlasenica. Report brings feature on Smajo Ibrahimovic, who searches his father’s body remains.

Conference on missing persons in Mostar: Some 20.000 missing persons in region

 

FTVBy Anita Damjanovic – Members of International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), entity commissions as well as Croatia and Serbia commissions (on missing persons) held a meeting in Mostar (on Friday), dedicated to discussion on ways of strengthening cooperation in search for missing persons. BiH has established Institute on missing persons, due to which entity authorities have been transferred to state level. “We want to make sure that the Institute would closely cooperate with Croatia and Serbia, in order to reveal the fate of remaining 20,000 missing persons”, said Kathryne Buenger, the Head of ICMP Mission to BiH. Mechanisms of cooperation between Croatia, BiH and Serbia have been agreed upon two years ago, at a meeting in Neum. “It is of extreme importance that we have agreed on exhumations, which are to take place in the fall, in Serbia, Croatia and BiH”, said Ivan Grujic, from Croatian Commission on missing persons. As far as Acting Director of BiH Institute on missing persons, Marko Jurisic is concerned, crucial problem in terms of search for missing persons presents a lack of documents on mass and individual gravesites. Oslobodjenje, pg 4 ‘Destiny of 15.000 people in BiH unknown’, not signed – BiH Assistant Minister for Human Rights, Maksim Stanisic, noted destiny of some 13-15.000 people in BiH is yet unknown. (also reported by BHT

RS Govt asks BiH Court to allow RS institutions carry out investigations, complains against arrests ordered by FBiH courts and prosecutions

RTRS – RS Government asked the BIH Court to allow RS MoI and competent Courts and Prosecutions to carry out investigations related to war crimes committed in RS. RS Government has concluded that the practice whereby the suspects are arrested at orders coming from Cantonal Courts and Prosecutions (based in the FBiH) causes insecurity and lack of trust in the citizens. (Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘Request that investigations against persons from RS be conducted by courts and MoI of the entity’, by Srna, Nezavisne Novine, pg 3 ‘Investigations in jurisdiction of prosecutions and MoI of RS’, by G. G.

Serbian PM Kostunica to present Action plan on Mladic arrest on Monday, EU wants concrete steps

 

Oslobodjenje, pg 7 ‘Kostunica will on Monday propose concrete steps to arrest Mladic?’, mentioned on front ‘Kostunica has plan to arrest Mladic?’, not signed – according to report originally aired by Belgrade-based ‘B92’, representatives of the EU on Friday noted that the Serbian PM, Vojislav Kostunica, would on Monday present a clear action plan regarding Serbia’s cooperation with the ICTY, which should contain concrete steps that lead to the arrest of ICTY indictee Ratko Mladic. EU officials also explained that continuation of SAA talks between Serbia and EU depends of the ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte’s assessment whether Serbian authorities are making such quality efforts, meaning just like in the case of Croatia when general Ante Gotovina was on the run, the SAA talks could continue without Mladic in The Hague, however everything must be done that Mladic ends up in The Hague soon. On the other hand, the European Commissioner for Science, Janez Potocnik, says the SAA talks could not resume without Mladic in The Hague. (also reported by Dnevni Avaz, pg 17 ‘Mladic does not have to in The Hague in order to renew negotiations’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine, pg 3 ‘’Action plan’ must be clear’, by agencies)

Oslobodjenje: ICJ to reach verdict in BiH lawsuit against SCG by February 7, 2007?

 

Oslobodjenje, pgs 4-5 ‘Outcome of BiH’s lawsuit against SCG will be known in February next year?!’, by Az. K. – according to the daily’s source who follows the work of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the ICJ could be reaching a decision in the BiH genocide lawsuit against Serbia and Montenegro by February 7 next year. According to the source, it would appear that Serbia and Montenegro ’s attempts to contest the jurisdiction of the ICJ in the case have failed. On the other hand, authorised agents of BiH , Serbia and Montenegro (before the ICJ) could not confirm or deny the information.

Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP wants RAK to penalize RTRS for failing to observe Day of Mourning on July 11

 

RTRS – By Sanja Popovic – Bosniak Caucus in RS Council of Peoples has invited RAK (Communications Regulatory Agency) to penalize RTRS since it failed to respect the decision of Council of Ministers on proclaiming 11th July as the official day of mourning. Reporter comments that viewers and representatives of various organisations as well as political parties are offering their support to RTRS. SP Chair Petar Djokic publicly condemned all attacks on RTRS as well as announced full support for its work.  Hayat – Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP deems that the conduct of RTRS was ‘extremely insulting and humiliating to all the victims of Srebrenica genocide, members of their families, and the whole Bosniak people in RS’. RTRS on Thursday rejected all the accusations. (also in Nezavisne Novine, pg 9 ‘They want penalties against RTRS’, by V. P.)

Re-exhumation of bodies to start in Srebrenica on Saturday, newly discovered body parts to be buried

 

Oslobodjenje, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Re-exhumation of Srebrenica victims today’, by Edina Kamenica – according to an official explanation the daily was given (Oslobodjenje does not specify who gave the explanation), re-exhumation of 54 body remains of Srebrenica victims will start on Saturday morning at 0900 hrs the aim of which is to bury new body parts that have been discovered lately (in order to bury them together with bodies after DNA analysis showed matching results). However, according to Oslobodjenje’s source, it is not only about missing pieces of bodies, which are to be joined with the corpses, it is also about a mistake in which body parts got mixed, which needs to be rectified. (announcement of exhumation also in Dnevni Avaz, pg 3 ‘Buried victims will be added body parts subsequently found’, by A. Hadzic

 

Political Developments

NGO ‘GROZD’ wants political parties to open new jobs, submits list of requests signed by 150.000 people

 

 

 

 

FTVBy Jakov Avram – Citizens’ Movement GROZD (Civic Organizing for Democracy) has officially invited all political parties, which will run in October elections, to accept the citizenss platform for elections. The platform consists of 12 BiH citizens’ request, which should be incorporated in each political party’s political platform. Some of the requests ask political subjects to create 150,000 jobs by 2010, abolish extreme poverty, provide basic heath and social welfare, etc. “We expect political parties to be serious and accept the platform, build it in their pre-election programs and we expect new Governments to take these requests as priorities in their tasks for 4 years”, said Adis Arapovic, GROZD Spokesperson and added that if political parties rejected the platform, GROZD would come up in public with it. Pink – GROZD member Sevko Bajic stated that 150 000 signatures have been gathered so far thus proving that citizens want for politicians to finally address the real burning issues at hand. (also reported by Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, pg 7 ‘Letters sent to political parties’, by A. Terzic, Nezavisne Novine, pg 9 ‘Parties submitted with 12 requests’, not signed)

PDHR Butler : No unilateral division of BiH cannot occur, IC will not tolerate undermining of DPA

 

RTRS – Principal Deputy High Representative Larry Butler stated that unilateral division of any part of BIH cannot occur.  He stressed that both entities are a part of BIH and as such defined in the Constitution. Butler also stated that statements on referendum divert attention from real issues that BIH is facing such as reforms. Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Undermining of Dayton will not be tolerated after OHR is shut down’, by Dejan Jazvic – PDHR Butler also warned that the IC would not tolerate any attempts to undermine the Dayton Peace Accord after June 30, 2007, when the OHR is expected shut down. (also in Oslobodjenje, pg 3 ‘No referendum in BiH’, not signed, Dnevni Avaz, pg 3 ‘There cannot be talk on referendum’, not signed, Dnevni List, g 7 ‘There can be no talk about referendum’, not signed, Nezavisne Novine, pg 6 ‘Secession of any part of BiH is impossible’, by M. C.)

Presidency Chairman Tihic meets Austrian President Fischer: talks on liberalization of regime, Tihic says status of Kosovo cannot have influence on BiH

 

BHT1 – By Irena KljajicAustrian President Heinz Fischer said during his meeting with BiH Presidency President, Sulejman Tihic, that Austria fully supported BiH in meeting the EU terms. Tihic asked Fischer to liberalize visa regime. The two of them also discussed the issue of referendum on RS’ secession. “I told him that, according to the Constitution, no referendums are possible in BiH and that this situation cannot be compared to secession of former SFRY republics”, said Tihic. Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Tihic: Any solution for Kosovo cannot influence sovereignty of BiH’, mentioned on front ‘Full support to BiH’, not signed – Tihic stressed that a solution for status of Kosovo must be identified peacefully, through agreement of Belgrade and Pristina, adding that solution for Kosovo cannot influence the territorial sovereignty of BiH  (also in Oslobodjenje, pg 3 ‘Austria keeps helping BiH’, not signed, Nezavine Novine, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Solution for Kosovo cannot have influence on BiH’, by Fena)

BiH, Bulgarian Foreign Ministers sign Memorandum on cooperation, talk about liberalization of visa regime

 

BHT1By Irena KljajicBiH Foreign Affairs Minister, Mladen Ivanic, asked his Bulgarian counterpart, Ivailo Kalfin for liberalization of visa regime for BiH citizens. Namely, Ivanic signed with Kalfin memorandum on cooperation in terms of Euro-Atlantic integration. “I am pleased to be in Sofia where I had a very pleasant and constructive meeting with my friend Ivailo and his colleagues from the Ministry”, said Ivanic. “We paid most attention to bilateral and regional cooperation. We agreed that bilateral relations were extremely good”, said Ivailo. Oslobodjenje, pg 4 ‘Abolishment of consular fees’, not signed – Minister Kalfin promised Bulgaria would abolish consular fees (BiH citizens have to pay when applying for visa) (also reported by RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, pg 2 ‘Memorandum on cooperation signed’, by G. G.)

Assistant BiH Foreign Minister: Holders of BiH diplomatic passports without visas to Benelux countries soon

 

Dnevni Avaz, pg 5 ‘BiH diplomats soon without visas to Benelux countries’, by S. S. – according to the BiH Assistant Foreign Minister, Zoran Perkovic, during the forthcoming visit of Belgian Deputy PM, Patrick Dewael, to BiH (scheduled for Tuesday), the two countries will sign two agreements, namely on re-admission and liberalization of free regime for holders of (BiH) diplomatic passports. Both agreements will apply on Benelux countries ( Belgium , The Netherlands and Luxemburg), and as soon as the countries’ parliaments ratify the agreements, holders of BiH diplomatic passports will be able to travel to Benelux countries without visas.

Candidates for new BiH State Auditors to be interviewed on July 24

 

FTVBy Nerminka Emric – New state auditors are to be elected soon. Commission in charge of appointing Chief Auditor and Chief Auditor’s deputies has been submitted with names of 12 candidates. Positions of state auditors have to be nationally balanced, due to which Deputy BiH Chief Auditor Dragan Kulina comes as Serbs representative, while reporter finds Ranko Sakota, assistant to BiH Finance Minister Ljerka Maric, his greatest opponent.  Reporter adds that according to certain allegations, Kulina is faced with conflict of interest allegations (without mentioning reasons). Only one Croat candidate applied for the position; namely the current Chief BiH Auditor Milenko Sego. As FTV unofficially learns, Ramiz Dzaferovic comes as Bosniak representative. Candidates are going to be interviewed on 24th of July. After the list has been made, it will be submitted to the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, which would carry out the appointments. (also reported by BHT1)

RSNA Board for education adopts Proposal of law on higher education

RTRS – RS National Assembly’s Board for education has accepted the proposal law on higher education. Members of the board were very pleased with the text of the law.

 

Economy/Social Affairs

RS Trade Unions want RS authorities to eradicate illegal labour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hayat – Report by ATV Banjaluka – ‘Stop to work on the black market’ is the name of campaign launched more than two months ago by the RS Trade Union. According to ATV Banjaluka reporter, after yellow, blue and green folder, President of RS Trade Union Alliance Ranka Misic on Friday delivered the ‘Black book’ – which contains the list of 136 companies that did not register their employees – to the representatives of RS Government, Tax Administration and RS Office of the Inspector General. Report features a story about Vlado Filipovic, unemployed mechanical engineer, who admits that every once in a while he works illegally, without being registered. According to ATV reporter, representatives of competent RS institutions have promised to change the laws, in order to solve the problem of the work on black market. Although current laws are in fact not that bad, because a company that does not register a worker could be fined with up to KM 20,000. “According to the existing law, inspector was able to – not ‘had to’ – temporarily close down the firm which did not register a worker, or which has committed one of those seven more serious violations”, explained Assistant RS Minister for Labour and Veterans Rajko Klikovic. “But, if the RS National Assembly adopts the (new) law, he will be obliged to close down (such companies)”, concluded Klickovic. (also reported by Pink, BHT1

Former Malaysian PM Mahatir visits BiH, brings potential investors

 

BHT1By Damir SimicFormer Malaysian Prime Minister, Mohamad Mahatir, arrived to a three-day visit to BiH, together with a number of Malaysian businessmen, who should discuss with BiH authorities and companies possibilities on investing in BiH. It is expected that a number of business contacts would be realized. “I have promised that I would bring along some Malaysian businessmen in order to asses possibilities of investing in BiH. I hope that we would find some investment potentials”, said Mahatir. During Mahatir’s last visit to BiH, BiH-Malaysia Economic Business Council was established and FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic said that the Council had prepared projects worth 1.5 billion Euros. “They should define things they are interested in and search for a way on how to implement it”, says Hadzipasic. Malaysian companies are also interested in investing in Vc corridor highway, but during this visit, no meeting with state officials have been planned. BiH Minister of Transport and Communications Branko Dokic says that Malaysian officials are waiting for Feasibility Study to be completed in order to clearly see what kind of a project they are getting engaged with. Hayat – Mahatir held a lecture in Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, in which he expressed disappointment because the ‘world today is not a better place to live’. (visit also reported by FTV, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Malaysians received with projects worth 3 billion marks’, by L. Sinanovic, Nezavisne Novine, pg 2 ‘Mahatir in visit to BiH’, by R. C.)

RS Minister Cubrilovic: Invoking of vital national interest by Bosniak Caucus in RS CoP is strike against RS

 

Nezavisne Novine, front pg splash and pg 5 ‘Strike against survival of RS’, by V. Popovic – asked to comment on the decision of the Bosniak Caucus in the RC Council of Peoples, which decided to invoke the vital national interest related to the RS Government’s plan on privatization of ‘RS Telekom’ (Bosniak Caucus claims vital national interests of Bosniaks are violated because RS Telekom does not employ as many Bosniaks as before the war, suggests non-Serbs took part in building of company), the RS Minister of Traffic and Communications, Nedeljko Cubrilovic, insists it is about a political decision that has nothing to do with economy or any one’s national interests. Cubrilovic claims it represents a strike against the survival of the RS and its economy, adding that it was conceived in the interest of the politics that is being implemented from Sarajevo and which does not want to have the RS, a defined by the Dayton Peace Accord.

ITA Director confirms: Allocation of revenues to be discussed on July 25

RTRS – ITA Director Kemal Causevic confirmed that ITA Steering Board would discuss allocation of public revenues on 25th of July as well as issues related return of VAT-generated funds to companies.

 

Judicial Issues/Security

Belgrade court: Fmr RS PM Klickovic can be extradited to BiH

 

RTRSBelgrade Court adopted a decision on extradition of former RS Prime Minister Gojko Klickovic to BiH. Klickovic has been accused for misuse of office (at Sokolac Court) and has been evading justice by hiding in Serbia (since 1999). (also reported by FTV, Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘Pre-requisites for extradition of Klickovic created’, by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine, pg 6 ‘Pre-requisites for extradition of Klickovic met’, by S. K.)

Doboj Prosecution wants BiH Prosecution to take over ‘Vitol’ case

 

Nezavisne Novine, pg 6, mentioned on front ‘’Vitol’ case soon with BiH Prosecution’, by V. Popovic – according to a prosecutor of the Doboj County Prosecutor’s Office, Izudin Berberovic, the Doboj Prosecution is working on transferring the ‘Vitol’ case onto the BiH Prosecution, which is why the Doboj Prosecution will in the next 10 days have talks with the Department for Organized Crime of the BiH Prosecution. Without going into details why they want the BiH Prosecution to take over the case, Berberovic says only then (when case is transferred) one can expect concrete progress in the investigation. (‘Vitol’ case refers to a contract signed between management of Brod Rafinery with UK-based ‘Vitol’ company from December 2003. Due to breach of conract on part of the Rafinery, ‘Vitol’ now claims 115 million US$)

Update to alleged terrorist plot in Mostar: Prosecutor in charge says police found no evidence

 

BHT1 – FBiH Ministry of Interior Spokesperson, Robert Cvrtak did not want to confirm information, (originally) published by Mostar’s ‘Dnevni List’, that a Bosniak got arrested at Blagaj near Mostar on Wednesday evening. According to ‘Dnevni List’, a person, nicknamed Vehabija, was arrested under suspicion of planning terrorist attacks on religious facilities in Mostar. Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Alleged terrorist handed over to Prosecution’, by I. Culina – DL learns from a well-informed source in the FBiH MoI that the person in question is in fact one Elviz Alispahic, who was handed over to the BiH Prosecution on Thursday. On the other hand, the Prosecution told the daily that there was no real case, since no explosives have been found (contrary to reports in Friday’s media reports) arguing that the story was blown out of proportion by the media. Dnevni Avaz, pg 11 ‘Police did not find evidence on plan on terrorist attack’, by F. Vele – Prosecutor of BiH Prosecution Miroslav Markovic confirmed police had not found evidence that would back up the alleged terrorist threats claims. Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Explosion in Mostar postponed?’, by Robert Soldo – according to information VL unofficially learned from the BiH Prosecution, the terrorist attack on the cross on the Hum hill near Mostar did not happen because the person tasked to carry out the attack itself, a member of the organized band of terrorists, gave up. VL goes on to say that the investigators believe this is about postponement of the announced terrorist attack.

Avaz: SIPA investigators looking into organized crime activities in East Sarajevo

 

Dnevni Avaz, pg 11, mentioned on front ‘SIPA breaking down politics-Mafia circles in East Sarajevo’, by E. Sarac – According to Avaz’s source in SIPA, people from SIPA have been for months engaged in investigation into alleged organized crime activities in the area of East Sarajevo, which includes both the direct executioners of orders and senior political figures from the area. According to the source, although everything is pretty much clear what goes on, namely who the killers and political protectors of killers are, due to strong ties between the politics and underground, SIPA cannot break down the network since it does not have any firm evidence.

 

Miscellaneous

Association of Young RS Journalists meet RS PM Dodik, ask him to issue new vacancies for management of SRNA news agency

 

 

 

 

 

Hayat – Report by ATV Banjaluka – The Association of Young RS Journalists asked for an urgent announcing of an open competition for director, editor and members of Supervisory Board of SRNA news agency. Representatives of the Association claim that the mandate of current temporary Supervisory Board expired on June 20th, and that Acting SRNA Director Nenad Bereta unselectively fired certain workers, not obeying the adopted job systematisation in the process. Sinisa Vukelic was fired three days ago, with no explanation. “I was fired after me and my colleague Dalibor Djekic, as representatives of the Association of Young RS Journalists, went to see RS National Assembly Speaker Igor Radojicic, with whom we talked about the illegal work in media, including SRNA”, stated Vukelic. Representatives of the Association of Young RS Journalists on Thursday held talks with RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik as well; Dodik promised that the RS Government would announce an open competition for director, editor and members of Supervisory Board of SRNA news agency. Acting SRNA Director Nenad Bereta and Chair of the temporary Supervisory Board Rajko Vasic did not want to comment on the situation in SRNA; although young journalists claim that he did not obey the job systematisation, SRNA Director Bereta said that he had signed the notices of dismissal in line with this decision. (also featured on Pink,

Catholic Bishops warn of poor return of Croats in RS, call on citizens to vote

 

RTRS – By Sandra Zrnic – Participants of (Catholic) Bishops’ Conference called on relevant authorities to help the return of Croats in BIH. Banja Luka Bishop Franjo Komarica stated that the number of Catholics in RS is reducing. Participants of the conference stressed that local authorities need to provide economic conditions for sustainable return process. Cardinal Vinko Puljic stated that BIH needs a rule of law where every man will be treated equally. Nezavisne Novine, pg 9 ‘Puljic called on citizens to vote’, by Z. Dragovic – carries Puljic who called on citizens to vote in te October elections. (also reported by FTV, Oslobodjenje, pg 6 ‘Less Catholics in Banja Luka’s Diocese’, by O. V., Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Politicians called to responsibility, Croats to unity’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Fear of disappearance of Catholics from BiH’, by KTA)

MP Franjicevic says Croats not represented enough in FBiH Civil Service Agendcy

Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 4 ‘Criminal procedure against Hadzipasic’, by Mensud Zorlak – according to an MP in FBiH House of Peoples, Mate Franjicevic, the FBiH Civil Service Agency is in violation of the Law on civil service because it employs as many as 80% Bosniaks, whilst Croats and Serbs are represented with 14 and 6% respectively. Franjicevic claims the Agency should have abided by the 1991 census principle, as the law describes, saying this is good enough a reason to file criminal chanrges, underlining it is the FBIH PM, Ahmet Hadzipasic, who is the most responsible person.