Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| | FBiH Govt in session | PIC to hold session |
| Holy masses throughout BiH | FTA with | Solana in |
| Celebration of 13th HVO anniversary | Solana visiting | SPC celebrate Annunciation |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Pope’s funeral arrangements | HR in Brussels | HR in |
| Official day of mourning in BIH | BiH CoM in session | SIPA started witness protection |
| CoM session | RS PM meets EUPM representatives | Terzic and economists disagree |
| HR meets Straw | Missing persons in BiH | Zeljezara employees on strike |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| BiH officials to attend Pope’s funeral | Terzic initiated change of BIH Const. | HR in |
| BiH CoM in session | CoM in session | Terzic in Brussels |
| Loans in BiH | Lukic postponed plead at ICTY | RS NA in session |
| Terzic in Brussels | Ashdown in | RS NA in session |
| Oslobodjenje | Former HR Wolfgang Petritsch: Covic’s removal must be a message to all politicians |
| Dnevni Avaz | Dokic intends to isolate BiH |
| Dnevni List | Herzegovina-Neretva |
| Vecernji List | Croats in BiH divided American Congress |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Apparitions in Medjugorje: Seer swamped with thousands of calls from all over the world |
| Glas Srpske | Life under a balcony |
| Nezavisne Novine | Golf of Deputy Cantonal Prosecutor was set on fire |
| Blic | Getting a firm in five days (registration of companies in RS) |
| Vecernje Novosti | Are even Hague agents searching for Pavkovic? |
| Srpski Nacional | Nebojsa Pavkovic has crossed the border on |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| War medals receivers protest in
| BH Radio 1 Senka Hadzispahic – About 200 winners of the FBiH veterans that received war medals for their contribution during the war gathered today in |
| PDP says Sarajevo City Council chosen illegally
| BH Radio 1 – PDP issued a press release today condemning the appointment and election of the new Sarajevo City Council, deeming that the process was carried out in illegal and anti-constitutional manner. They have especially criticized the fact that there are no Serb representatives in the Council, and urged for “this farce to be ended and new elections carried out” adding that Bosniak parties care more for occupying positions than ensuring multiethnicty. |
| FTA with
| BH Radio 1, RS Radio – If BiH introduces 100% of custom taxes to the meat products imported from |
| 13th anniversary of HVO marked
| RHB – 13th anniversary of formation of HVO was marked in Mostar today by placing flowers at the HVO monument. Delegation comprised of wartime commanders of HVO, founders of Croat Republic of Herceg Bosna, HDZ BiH, cantonal and Mostar authorities. The delegation should also visit the grave of the Herceg Bosna founder, Mate |
| UPDATE: US Congress’ Committee on International Relations on BiH
| RHB carries an update to this morning’s story from today’s Vecernji List regarding the hearing held before the US Congress’ Committee on International Relations. According to RHB, participants of the hearing stated that BiH, 10 years after the war, needed to strengthen its institutions at the state level, so it could function as a modern state and become a part of Euro-Atlantic integration. RHB also reports that one of participants, the President of the Sub-Committee on |
Political Developments/Reforms | |
| HR to chair PIC meeting in
| RHB, Pink, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘OHR: On key reforms in Brussels’, by D. Kozina, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 18 ‘Ashdown in London on cooperation with The Hague’, by Zoran Zekic – At a press conference in Mostar on Wednesday, OHR Spokesperson |
| Ashdown meets with British Foreign Secretary Straw
| RHB, Pink, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Police reform still a priority’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Police reform one of the key EU conditions’, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Final negotiations on Police this month’, by M. Batarello, Vecernji List, pg 13 ‘Complete negotiations of Police reform by end April’, by Dejan Jazvic, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Pressure for extradition of Karadzic and Mladic will be increasing by each day’ by V. P., Glas srpske pg 2 ‘A step forward’ by Srna – HR Paddy Ashdown met with UK Foreign Affairs Minister Jack Straw in London on Wednesday. HR informed Straw on the progress that BIH made in fulfilling 16 conditions from the Feasibility Study. HR also stated that police reform in BIH remains one of key reforms so BIH could start negotiations for Stabilisation and Association Agreement. HR stated that recent surrenders of ICTY indictees show that RS has a constructive relation towards ICTY and added that the process cannot be ended until Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are in ICTY. |
| BiH CoM Chair Terzic leaves for
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Meeting with Prime Minister of Luxemburg to follow PIC session’ – BiH Council of Minister Chairman Adnan Terzic on Wednesday left for Brussels where he will attend session of the Peace Implementation Council scheduled for today (Thursday). “I believe that the PIC conclusions will represents even clearer guidelines on what the international community expect BiH government to achieve,” said Terzic in a statement for the daily. Terzic added that after |
| Deputy BiH Minister of Defence, Enes Becirbasic: BiH is not going to be admitted to PfP during next NATO summit
| PINK Aida Doric – In an interview for INFOTOP, Deputy BiH Minister of Defence, Enes Becirbasic said that BiH was not going to be admitted to the Partnership for Peace, due to insufficient cooperation with the ICTY. Becirbasic said that during the NATO summit, which was to be held on April 20-21, NATO was going to mark progress BiH had made in domain of reforms as positive. “According to our estimations, the only obstacle presents the issue of cooperation with the ICTY, which is insufficient”, said Becirbasic. After holding talks with NATO and EU officials in |
| CoM discussed EU letter on Feasibility Study requirements implementation
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Yet 12 tasks wait to be implemented’ – At a session in Sarajevo on Wednesday the BiH Council of Ministers analysed a letter, which EU Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn sent to the Chair of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, and which defined 12 remaining requirements that had to be met in order for the European Commission to allow start of negotiations on Stabilization and Association Agreement in May. “These 12 tasks refer to several different domains, starting from police reform to some practical issues, such as filling certain institutions, etc”, said BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mladen Ivanic. Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Ollie Rehn demands for an agreement on police reform by May’ by M. Cubro – report on a letter Rehn has sent to CoM Chairman Terzic and also carries a statement of Mladen Ivanic re this letter. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Only a half of requirements fulfilled’ S. Numanovic – Only in eight out of 16 pre-conditions BiH needs to fulfill to start talks on Stabilization and Association Agreement with EU a significant progress has been made, said EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn in his letter sent to BiH CoM Chair Adnan Terzic. Eight pre-conditions yet to be fulfilled concern cooperation with ICTY, police reform, state institutions capacity, human rights, trade, energy, economy in general and public broadcasting system. |
| German Foreign Minister Fischer on liberalization of visa regime to BiH citizens
| Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Security is pre-requisite for liberalization of visa regime’, by NINA – During a meeting with the BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, which was held at Drac, Albania the other day (DL does not specify when exactly), the German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, noted that the liberalization of the visa regime towards BiH citizens depended on improvement of regional security, in the same time underlining the necessity to eliminate organized crime and corruption in the region. |
| Globus interview with Ashdown: Great administrator
| Globus, pgs 50-54 ‘Great administrator’, mentioned on front ‘Paddy Ashdown: I cannot sleep because of Dragan Covic’, by Bisera Lusic – Carries a lengthy interview with the Hugh Representative, Paddy Ashdown, in which he, according to Globus, “for the first time reveals an emotional crisis he is suffering because of his decision to remove the Croat member of BiH Presidency”. |
| Globus commentary/analysis: Ashdown’s graveyard of Croatianhood
| Globus, pgs 56-57 ‘Ashdown’s graveyard of Croatianhood’, by Dr. Mirjana Kasapovic – Carries an op-ed in which the author presents her view of the current situation and future of BiH. Speaking about the policy and work of the current High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, the author says Ashdown, “being a politically old-fashioned liberal”, is insisting on the “one person, one vote” principle, and according to Kasapovic, BiH is not a fertile ground for that type of liberal, civic state, however Ashdown is not giving up on adapting the reality to his political ideals. She notes that is especially the case in the FBiH, because the RS is for Ashdown, like for former HR Wolfgang Petritsch, an “impenetrable fortress”. That’s why, according to Kasapovic, Ashdown is focusing on “unitarization” of the Bosniak-Croat FBiH. Commenting on the removal of Dragan Covic, Kasapovic says: “Ashdown even claims that by removing Dragan Covic, he is protecting the ‘dignity of BiH Presidency’. Since he is not that stupid that he does not know what he says, he is simply endlessly cynical: because what sort of ‘dignity’ does an institution have, in which democratically elected members are formally being suspended by an installed international bureaucrat, and in reality by the American ambassador in Sarajevo?”. The author concludes that “guardians of BiH”, including the High Representatives, are probably clear that by turning BiH into the Serb and Bosniak entity is the first step in direction of historic disappearance of BiH. “Reform of |
| Former HR Petritsch: ‘Covic’s removal should be a message to all politicians’
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Covic’s removal should be a message to all politicians’ by Marina Kavaz Sirucic – Former High Representative and current Austrian Ambassador to UN, Wolfgang Petritsch, has arrived to BiH to attend the conference on demining. In an interview to daily, he said that his two biggest regrets from the time of his mandate were failures in the education reforms and solving the issue of third GSM provider. Asked about his opinion of Paddy Ashdown’s decision to remove Dragan Covic, Petritsch said: “This… removal should serve as the message to all BiH politicians, and wider, that they have to establish the ethical code of behavior. They have to be aware of conflict of interest and non-possibility to connect the politics and economy at the way that is present here. Unfortunately, Covic case is not isolated.” |
| HDZ to nominate Covic successor by April 12?
| Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘HDZ Presidency session by Monday!?’, mentioned on front ‘Decision on successor to Covic on April 12’, by N. Bise – Spokesman of HDZ BiH, Pero Pavlovic, could not either confirm or deny the information that the HDZ Presidency will hold another session by April 12, for which a session of the BiH Parliament is scheduled and which is expected to appoint a new member of the BiH Presidency from the line of the Croat people. Pavlovic says that all 5 HDZ MPs (Martina Raguz, Vinko Zoric, Ivo Miro Jovic, Ruza Sopta and Filip Andric) are equal candidates for the post, and he did not want to comment on speculations that the most serious candidates are Raguz and Jovic. |
| VL: US Congress’ International Relations Committee on position of BiH Croats
| Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Croats in BiH divided American Congress’ and pg 9 ‘Croats in BiH divided Democrats and Republicans!’, by Zoran Kresic – Reports that a hearing entitled ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina – unfinished job’ was held yesterday (Wednesday) before the US Congress’ International Relations Committee. According to VL, the future projection of international influence in BiH, foremost the destiny of Croats, depends on conclusions of the hearing. VL notes that the hearing was organized by a Croat(ian) lobbying organization ‘Croatian American Association’, however due to time constraints, VL was not able to publish parts of the hearing. Still, VL notes that the hearing divided the Democrats and the Republicans on the issue whether the mission to BiH was a success or not. |
| Oslobodjenje: Election Commission will bring decision canceling election of new Sarajevo City Council
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘New Sarajevo City Council must be annulled’, mentioned on cover, by A. Terzic – The BiH Election Commission at the session today will discuss the request by SDP and several independent candidates related to t he regularity of electing delegates to the new Sarajevo City Council. The Commission will vote on this issue following the decision of the |
War Crimes | |
| BiH CoM considered establishment of a body to investigate war crimes in Sarajevo/BiH
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Terzic insists on commission for whole BiH’ – At a session in Sarajevo on Wednesday, the BiH Council of Ministers discussed information on establishment of a commission in charge to investigate into sufferings of Serbs, Bosniaks, Croats and other nations in Sarajevo during the war. “The Chair of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic insisted that decision regarding this issue should not be brought today, but during next session, since he said that he was going to consult BiH House of Representatives, which brought the conclusion, and he was going to ask for permission for the work of the Commission to be extended to the whole BiH, which is his personal stance”, said Ivanic. Ivanic said that there were differences in opinion regarding the issue, since he believes that Commission for |
| RS PM Bukejlovic meets with EUPM Heller, discusses Srebrenica Report
| RHB, Pink, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Commission for Srebrenica did the job professionally’, by NINA – RS Prime minister Pero Bukejlovic and Chief EUPM advisor for RS Uve Heller agreed that the working group for implementation of conclusions stated in the report of Srebrenica Commission accomplished its task professionally. Bukejlovic stated that RS Government by adopting the report of the working group showed determination and decisiveness in fulfilling all obligations regarding the events in Srebrenica. |
| Oslobodjenje: Everybody attacks Draskovic, but nobody denies him
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Vuk being attacked, but not denied’, mentioned on cover, by B. Boskov – The Head of the Serbian Security and Intelligence Agency [BIA], Rade Bulatovic, on Wednesday denied the statement of SCG Foreign Minister, Vuk Draskovic, on Ratko Mladic being in Serbia under BIA protection. Bulatovic, who posted its statement at the Serbian Government’s web site, said that such claims were damaging for the country’s image and that they discourage ICTY suspects at large to surrender. However, daily’s correspondent stresses that despite the harsh reaction, Bulatovic “missed” to deny Draskovic’s statement. Milorad Mircic, the head of the Serbian Parliament’s security board, said he is not sure on what grounds Draskovic was claiming such thing. |
| Serbian Minister Kojadinovic: I do not know where Mladic is
| Srpski Nacional cover ‘Americans need proof that Mladic is not in Serbia’ and pg 2 ‘I do not know where Ratko Mladic is’ by P. J. – reiterates statement of Serbian Minister for Culture Dragan Kojadinovic, who has stated on the occasion of the inauguration of George Bush that he did not know where Ratko Mladic was. The article also carries a statement of Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister Vuk Draskovic who claims Serbian Security services know where Mladic is, even if he is not in |
| Draskovic: I defend state interests
| Vecernje Novosti pg 7 ‘I defend state interests’ by A.R.P. – Following statement he gave to “Financial Times”, Vuk Draskovic, SiCG Foreign Minister, also stated that “security agencies, both state and military, are obligated to serve state interests by constantly monitoring the war crime suspects and inform the bodies in charge of that. It is their job they are paid for, and they are not paid not to know when and how indictees have vanished.” In a written statement, Draskovic exclaimed that: “Out strategic national interest depends on extradition of war crime suspects.” |
| Srpski Nacional: Pavkovic has crossed border on
| Srpski Nacional cover pg splash ‘Nebojsa Pavkovic has crossed the border on |
| Serbian MoI source: search for Pavkovic was intensified
| Vecernje Novosti pg 6, announced on cover ‘Even Hague agents are searching for him’ by M. Markovic – Sources close to Serbian MoI claim Hague indictee Nebojsa Pavkovic should be found and arrested in next ten days, unless he decides to surrender in the meantime. The police have intensified search and it reportedly have a support of special agents, hired by the Tribunal. |
| NN op-ed on surrenders of Hague indictees
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Hague rich men’ by Pero Simic – The author stresses that since the issue of cooperation with the ICTY has been placed in the context of reward and punishment thanks to quick-wittedness of our and Serbian authorities, the PIWC’s have been placed in position to financially negotiate their transfers via their lawyers. The author refers to assistance they get from both, |
Economic/Social Issues | |
| CoM adopts amendments to law on VAT- VAT to start being applied on
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Application of VAT as of January 1 2006’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Application of VAT law postponed for January 1 2006’, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Council of Ministers: Application of VAT postponed’, by D. Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List, pg 11 ‘VAT as of January 2006’, by Dejan Jazvic – At a session held in Sarajevo on Wednesday, BiH Council of Ministers confirmed amendments to the law on VAT, by which VAT is not going to start being implemented/introduced/applied on July 1 this year, but on January 1, 2006. |
| Terzic and economists disagree on IMF Stand by arrangement
| BHT By Marina Boskovic– Chairman of CoM Adnan Terzic claims that BiH has reached macroeconomic stability and that it doesn’t need a credit of $50 millions which follows the Stand by arrangement. On the other side, economists claim otherwise, stressing that BiH isn’t capable economically or politically to accept the arrangement without the credit, or it is has credit capability for exit to international capital market. Terzic claims that GDP in BiH has increased for 5% and that trading deficit and poverty level have been decreased, during the last year. “I think that we have stable fiscal position of all Budgets and I think that we have enough arguments not to take credit from IMF for this standby”- said Terzic. BiH and Entities’ Budgets for this year have been planned without IMF means, but the authorities relay on that that they can take these means afterwards, as BiH Minister of Finances Ljerka Maric confirmed. Economists claim that there is no place for optimisms of BiH authorities, being that installment of $18 millions has been asked from IMF from their side, during the last year and they claim that demands from the standby arrangement can’t be fulfilled without the credit. |
| CoM accepted Terzic’s initiative re state officials’ salaries
| BHT – At a session in |
| Dean of Sarajevo Traffic Faculty says Dokic tries to isolate BiH
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash “Dokic is trying to isolate BiH’, pg 4 ‘Dokic is trying to isolate BiH when building highways’ by L.S. – The BiH Transport and Communications Minister, Branko Dokic, is trying to isolate BiH when it comes to Deputy construction of the highways in the neighbouring countries, sates Dean of the Traffic and Communications Faculty, Sefkija Cekic. He explains that this will not influence Vc corridor, urging the establishment of the Directorate for construction of Vc. “Dokic directed a large sum of the money for high way Banja Luka – Bosanska Gradiska, which will join corridor 10 in Serbia,” said Cekic commenting to the statement pf Serbian Capital Investments Minister, Velimir Ilic which says that Serbia will become a center of the international traffic in the South-East Europe. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘BiH, Croatia and SCG fighting over traffic corridors’ by L. Sinanovic – Ilic also said that the countriesin the region fight over traffic corridors. BiH Communications Minister, Haris Basic, says there is no place for concern regarding Vc as the project is not disputable. |
| RSNA adopts law on refugees, postponed adoption of law on forests
| Nezavisne novine pg 4 ‘Forestry Law brought a quarrel between PDP and SDS’ by V. Popovic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘The Law prescribed rules’ by G. Dakic – RS National Assembly postponed the adoption of the amendment to the law on forests at a session on Wednesday. The reason is that parliamentarians did not understand the draft law and who will have the jurisdiction over RS forests. SDS representatives were for the adoption of draft law but the rest of the RS NA was not. RS NA Speaker Dusan Stojicic postponed the voting for the law due to disagreement. RS National Assembly adopted the law on refugees and displaced persons at a session. This law will regulate their status as well as health insurance. The law on refugees and displaced persons is now coordinated with the BIH law and by it BIH has accomplished one of conditions from Feasibility Study. RS National Assembly also adopted the law on systematization of jobs and regulations of salaries of RS ombudsmen. RSNA adopted the law on holidays in RS and discussed the financial situation of employees in RS Ministry of Interior. RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, RTRS also covered the session. |
| RS NA adopted Law on Registration of Economic Subjects/Legal Persons
| EuroBlic RSpg 2, announced on cover ‘To get a firm in five days’ by M.Soja – The RS MP’s on Wednesday unanimously adopted the Law on registration of economic subjects, according to which the firms in RS will be able to register in five days. Nikola Kovacevic, Assistant to RS Minister of Justice, stated that these new legal solutions provide a single identification of firms, efficient connections between courts and tax control bodies. the aim of the Law is to monitor fulfilment of tax duties and contribution fees. The registration court is obligated to pass decision on registration five days after the motion is filed. The Law will be put into effect eight days following publication in “Official Gazette”, and will see implementation 60 days after it was put into effect. |
| EU meeting on process of de-mining in
| Pink, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘More funds needed for de-mining in BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘More money needed for de-mining’, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Minefields endanger lives of one third of BiH population’, by D. Polovina-Mandic – Mine clearance process in BIH is in extremely dire situation. The financial situation for the Mine clearance is difficult since it requires a vast amount of money. Chief of EC delegation in BIH Michael Humphreys stated on Wednesday that EU is preparing a project for financing the mine clearance program in BIH. Wolfgang Petritch president of Convention on Prohibition of Mines said that it is uncertain when entire |
| Croatian Minister Kalmeta, BiH’s Refugee Minister Kebo discuss process of refuges, DPs return
| RHB, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Sustainable return a priority’ S. Subotic, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Croatian Government opens office for return of Croats in BiH’, by Ivica Glibusic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘Kalmeta: New models of aid to Croats in BiH’, by B. Jukic – Croatian Minister of Sea, Tourism and Development Bozidar Kalmeta is in a 2 day official visit to BIH. The purpose of his visit is to see the ways that the help of Croatian Government is used for the Croat return process. He visited Fojnica on Wednesday and announced that Croatian Government will continue to support Croat return process. BIH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Mirsad Kebo stated that BIH is interested in developing projects with |
| A refugee family lives out on street in Brcko
| Glas Srpske cover splash ‘Life under a balcony’ by M. Djurdjevic – features a story on a family of refugees from |
| DL: HNC budget allocates money to private media outlets
| Dnevni List, front pg splash ‘Herzegovina-Neretva Canton: Government treats journalists’ and pg 15 ‘Government treats journalists with hundreds of thousand of marks’, by M. Batarello – DL notes that despite holes in the 2005 budget, the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton budget for 2005 has allocated 1,25 million KMs for media outlets in the canton, although majority of them are privately owned or funded by municipalities. DL wonders how come none of representatives in the HNC Assembly raised the issue of funding of private media outlets, despite the fact that education and social welfare in the HNC are short on money. DL concludes that ministers in the HNC were determined to buy the silence of the press with the taxpayers’ money |
| Vjesnik: Is BiH preparing new taxes for products from
| Vjesnik, pg 12 ‘Is BiH preparing new taxes for products from Croatia’, by Alenko Zornija – The daily reads that an information has “leaked” from the BiH Council of Ministers, according to which BiH is preparing to introduce new taxes/customs duties on products that are being imported from Croatia. Allegedly, the measures would cover coffee, cigarettes, oil and other high-tariff goods. Advisor to the Chairman of BiH CoM, Bojan Zec Filipovic, says the BiH CoM has not officially prepared any document or decision related to this. He also reveals that Adnan Terzic should be meeting his Croatian college, Ivo Sanader, in mid-April to discuss issues pertaining to Free Trade Agreements and economic relations between the countries. |
Crime/Legal Proceedings | |
| Trial of BiH MP Cengic starts before
| BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘BIO established illegally’ L.S., Dnevni Avaz pg 10, Dnevni List, pgs 4-5 ‘Cengic needs 8 hours for opening argument’, by E. M., Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘Trials to Hasan Cengic starts before BiH Court’, by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Cengic demands for eight hours for an introductory speech’ by A. Durmo – A trial of Hasan Cengic, member of BiH HoP, started before BiH Court on Wednesday with reading the indictment. Cengic has been indicted by BiH Prosecution’s Special Department, because as FBiH Deputy Minister of Defence he gave illegal concord for registration of Company “Bosnian Investment Organization”, according to which the Company would deal with production of weapons, explosives and ammunition. The trial was interrupted because Cengic said that he’ll need eight hours to present his opening statement and it will continue on May 4. |
| Former FBiH Deputy Defence Minister, Hercegovina Osiguranje Director Rupcic testifies in Hercegovacka bank trials
| Dnevni List, pgs 4-5, mentioned on front ‘Money and orders came from Zagreb’, by Erna Mackic – Reports from continuation of trials to Ante Jelavic in the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case, which was held Wednesday. Miroslav Rupcic, a former FBiH Deputy Defence Minister and manager of ‘Hercegovina Osiguranje’, noted in his testimony that payments of money to institutions of Herceg-Bosna and several Croat companies in BiH, such as ‘Sokovit’, ‘Vitezit’, ‘Lijanovic’ to name a few, were not illegal or immoral because the then Government of Republic of Croatia was deciding where the money was going to be spent. Sarajevo media, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘There is nothing disputable with regard to payments of money from |
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| Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Changes to Jelavic’s status and conditions in detention requested’, not signed – The BiH Court rejected the notion that Ante Jelavic be returned to the ‘Kula’ prison. Judge Malcolm Simmons stated that Jelavic should be allowed better access to the library and TV room. Originally, Jelavic complained of living conditions, in the same time saying that he should not be in detention that is built for genocide and war crimes indictees. (NB: Jelavic is in detention building adjacent to the Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Extending detention to Jelavic’, not signed – BiH Court will next Monday discuss Prosecutor John McNair’s request that detention to Ante Jelavic in connection to the ‘Croat self-rule’ case be extended. According to unofficial information, reads DL, the request has been filed because detention to Jelavic on the account of the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case expires in May when Jelavic should be set free. |
| VL: 4th anniversary of raids into Hercegovacka bank
| Vecernji List, pgs 10-11 ‘Bank was in the way’, mentioned on front ‘Hercegovacka bank waiting for answers’, by Miso Relota – VL notes that SFOR and masked members of FBiH Interior Ministry raided premises of the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ exactly four years ago. VL argues that the raid started a systematic breaking of the Herzegovinian economy, noting that the bank, during three years it was operational, was profitable. Inset entitled ‘Work within regulations’, by mr – argues that the bank had been operating in accordance with banking regulations as stipulated by the FBiH Banking Agency. |
| Status of 6 protected witnesses in Covic case to be cancelled?
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Prosecutor Ratel asks for the status of protected witnesses to be cancelled’ by F. Vele – The Prosecutors of the BiHs Special Department for organized and economic crimes, and corruption, Jonathan Ratel, filed a request with the BiH Court’s judge for pre-trail hearing, Steven Stevenson, asking him to cancel the status of six protected witness in he case of “Dragan Covic and others”. This would make them usual witness who will speak about the events on their own behalf, learns DA from the source in BiH Prosecution. Covic’s lawyer, Josip Muselimovic, says this is a certain turning point in the process, as the defence will now be able to see the statements of those witnesses. |
| SIPA started witness protection programs
| BHT By Boris Grubesic– SIPA is working on identity change of protected witnesses from cases of organized crime and war crimes, and they have confirmed that first witnesses of BiH Prosecution have already been placed to other countries. It is expected that BiH will sign agreements on exchange of protected witnesses with |
| Murderer of Catholic priest sentenced to 13 years imprisonment
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Murderer of priest Visaticki sentenced’, by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Murderer of priest gets 13 years in prison’, by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 37, announced on cover ’15 years prison term to murderer’ by N.Moraca – The County Court in Banja Luka sentenced Bogdan Gigovic to 13 years in prison because of murder of (Catholic) priest Kazimir Visaticki, which happened on November 17, 2004. Gigovic will remain in custody until the sentence comes into effect. |
| Car of Deputy Zenica-Doboj Canton Prosecutor was set on fire
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘A Golf of Deputy Cantonal Prosecutor was set on fire’ by A. Mujkic,. Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 75, mentioned on front ‘Prosecutor’s Golf set on fire’, by M. Komso – A car of Deputy Prosecutor of Zenica – Dobij Canton Esref Sikira was set on fire Wednesday. The police launched an investigation. No further details were available on this case. |
Miscellaneous | |
| CoM declares Friday Day of Mourning in BiH | RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 12 – At its session in Sarajevo on Wednesday, the CoM also decided to declare Friday, April 8, the day when Pope John |