OHR BiH Weekend Round-up, 22-23/5/2004

NTV Hayat (18,55 hrs)

BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs)

FED TV (19,30 hrs)

RT RS  (19,30)

Constituency meeting

Wood industry

Brucellosis in Konjic

Constituency Meeting

Tensions in Stolac

Constituency Meeting

Constituency Meeting

Tomljenovic on RS MoI

Old bridge ceremony

Radovan Karadzic is in RS

Market Centre “Arizona

Strategy development

Transplantation in BIH

Brucellosis in Konjic

Ski-area on Kamesnica

World news

Oslobodjenje

Report will be brought into question if Commission fails to acknowledge genocide; Terzic banns, Ivanic travels; VF: Brigadiers becoming generals

Dnevni Avaz

Colin Powel: We will strengthen George Bush’s apology; BiH will not be admitted in Istanbul; Sejda Sjekirica: I will sue all those that lied about my Sanel

Dnevni List

Terzic: Mikerevic and RS Government blackmail CoM

Vecernji List

Instead of HDZ in FBiH, HDZ in RS dissolved

Slobodna Dalmacija

People from Livno build ski centre on Kamesnica

Glas Srpske

Destiny of refugee apartments in Visegrad in suspense: Garca full of embitterness;

Police forces in BiH: To survive and remain live

Nezavisne Novine

HR Paddy Ashdown in an exclusive interview to “Sense” news agency: RS is losing legitimacy over Karadzic; Minister of Health and Social Welfare of RS interviewed at BiH Prosecutor’s Office: I did not know I was approving import of substance for drugs; Zvornik: RS police searched the house and firm of Dragan Spasojevic

Oslobodjenje

Tihic again asks for change to the Constitution; Paddy Ashdown: Efficient police, easier arrests of war crimes suspects; Covic: Croats in BiH endangered; Nikolic: Redundancy by the end of May?

Dnevni Avaz

Ivanic on war crimes suspects: RS has no perspective without arrests; Tihic: We will strive to Europe; Destiny of dismissed officers: Hadzipasic got letter from FOSS; Changes of towns’ names: RS Assembly avoids discussion

Dnevni List

Old Bridge: 2500 people engaged for opening ceremony

Vecernji List

Cardinal Vinko Puljic: “Show Christ to people”

Slobodna Dalmacija

Features Croatia related headlines

Economic and social issues

IMF Constituency meeting in Sarajevo

RTRS Sat, Oslobodjenje Sun pgs 4-5 ‘More credits – less unemployed’ by Nagorka Idrizovic, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 4 ‘IMF and WB should help BiH to join EU’ by E. Dizdarevic  – A meeting of the constituency of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank was held in Sarajevo on Saturday, hosting senior officials from the IMF and WB, finance ministers and central bank governors of 12 countries-members of the constituency. Chair of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic said at the opening that BiH has achieved macroeconomics stability in the past period, however stressed that the unemployment has become the biggest problem for its economy. Terzic added that BiH is further not credit capable while international aid lowers as well as IDA credits, adding that the reduction of aid comes in most difficult time as BiH is close to reach credit capability. Terzic stressed the WB and IMF should work out mechanisms to ease the consequences of rash fall of international aid and also ease the process of association to the EU. BiH is in the constituency with Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Israel, Cyprus, Moldavia, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Romania and Ukraine.

BHTV 1 Fri, BHTV 1 Sat – It was concluded that BiH made progress with Stand By Arrangement and there are good chances for BiH to make another one. “Priorities for making new arrangement will be maintenance of macro-economic stability as well as institutional development in the area of fiscal politics and corporation restructuring in order to stop losses in companies and create new jobs,” said Jeren Kremers, IMF Executive Director.

NTV Hayat Sat – Terzic also talked to the WB Executive Director Ad Melket and agreed that the development strategy of BIH should be implemented as soon as possible.

FTV Sat – Melket added that the WB was willing to continue supporting reform processes in BiH and that new Stand By Arrangement should not be brought into question.

RTRS Sat, Dnevni List Sun pg 5 ‘In October conference on investment in BiH in Rotterdam’, mentioned on cover, by R. Radic – At the end of meeting, an investor conference was announced to be held on 25 October in Rotterdam. “I believe that this conference will be a great opportunity for businessmen to see the support which WB offers and to see the possibilities of investment in this area,” said Peter Nichol, Governor of BiH Central Bank.

Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 4 ‘In next few months, BiH could agree on more suitable arrangement with IMF’ by E. Dizdarevic – DA publishes interview with IMF Executive Director Jeren Kremers, who presents Constituency and explains its practical use.

Oslobodjenje Sun pgs 4-5 ‘Arrangement for unemployed and social programs’ by A.O. – Ad Melket said that WB will on 15 June decide on the new credit for BiH, worth almost 100 million US dollars, adding he was optimist that this would happen.

BiH HoR interrupts session over disagreements regarding customs tariffs

RHB Fri, BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 6 ‘Mikerevic and RS Government blackmail me’ V. Zivak, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 4 ‘Changes to the Law on Customs Tariffs on 28 May session agenda’ by E.S., Dnevni List Sat front, pg 4 ‘Terzic: Mikerevic and RS Government are blackmailing CoM’ by E. Mackic – The House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament interrupted its session on Friday since the BiH Council of Ministers demanded that a proposal of amendments to Law on Customs Tariff is discussed according to an urgent procedure, while MPs were demanding the discussion according to a shortened procedure. Collegiums of the HoP decided to interrupt the session and continue it next Friday. Chairman of the BiH Council of Minister Adnan Terzic stated: “RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and the RS Government are blackmailing me and the BiH CoM demanding certain liberalization for which we did not determine exactly quotas and precise measures.”

RTRS Fri [news at 14.30] – In response to Terzic’s allegations, Goran Radivojac, spokesman of the RS prime minister, stated that the RS government insists on the protection of not only meat producers but also of the local producers of sugar and beer in BiH.

Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 9 ‘Agriculture workers postponed protests to 29 May’ – Vladimir Usorac, President of the BiH Association of Farmers, said that Association decided to postponed announced protests for 29 May, however added that was not a trial to impose pressure on the Parliament to adopt the Law. 

PDHR Hays attends CHF Conference on construction of housing units

Oslobodjenje Sun pg 4 ‘Decrease interests to the housing credits’ by onasa, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 9 ‘Hays: More affordable housing units for BiH citizens’, Dnevni List Sun pg 3 ‘Securing of adequate housing units one of priorities in BiH’ not signed – OHR press release reads that speaking at the CHF International’s Housing Development Conference in Sarajevo, Principle Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays highlighted that the creation of a vibrant property market in BiH requires a secure system of property ownership through modernized regulations and the resolution of the property disputes that currently inhibit the growth of this sector. “A home is one of the core human requirements and in Bosnia and Herzegovina access to adequate housing must be one of the main priorities” said Ambassador Hays, on Friday.

Nichol on appointment of Statistics Agency Director

Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 4 ‘Two out of four candidates are of Serb nationality’ not signed – Governor of BiH Central Bank, Peter Nichol, denied the statement by BiH CoM Chair Adnan Terzic that the list submitted by Commission for appointment of the Statistic Agency Director did not include Serb candidates. Noting that the Commission did not propose candidates in accordance with their nationality, but professional qualifications, Nichol stressed that the list included four candidates, out of which two were Serbs. “That means that Prime Minister Terzic has been misinformed and that the Commission which I head cannot be accused for postponements regarding this appointment,” said Nichol.

Defence, police and intelligence issues

BiH HoP confirms list of candidates for generals; one appointment conditional

Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 4 ‘List of candidates for generals’ positions confirmed’, Dnevni List Sat pg 3 ‘Appointment of Sakib Foric questionable’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, RHB Fri – The BiH House of Peoples on Friday approved the list of four candidates – Rizvo Pleh, Miladin Milojcic, Mirko Tesic and Sakib Foric – for the general posts in the BiH defence institutions, with a recommendation to all citizens that if they have information which would bring into doubt the credibility of any candidate to submit it to the SFOR general inspectorate. The BiH defence minister, Nikola Radovanovic told journalists that the legal procedure in checking all the candidates was carried out in line with the law, and that these appointments presented conditions for BiH admission to Partnership for Peace. 

BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri – Appointment of Bri-Gen Sakib Foric has been approved conditionally as the Serb floor group disputed it, in the wake of the testimony presented in the media that he had taken part in crimes in Sarajevo. Statement by citizen Dragan Lalovic accused Foric of being commander of a BiH Army unit in Dobrinja at the time of disappearance of five Serbs.

RTRS Fri – However, Lalovic did not accuse Foric for being directly involved in it, but that he might know something about the case. Radovanovic told journalists after consultations with Serb caucus that those who brought suspicions about Foric should turn the evidence to the general inspectorate of SFOR, as only SFOR has authorities to take further investigation and related decision.

Ashdown welcomes police restructuring initiative

FTV Sat, RTRS Sat, Oslobodjenje Sun pg 6 ‘More efficient police, easier arrest of criminals’, mentioned on cover, by R.I, Dnevni List, Sunday, pg 7 ‘Police forces in BiH are not ready for European future’, mentioned on cover, not signed, Vecernji List, Sunday, pg 3 ‘Dismissing of policemen as condition for abolishment of visas’, mentioned on cover ’5000 policemen will lose job’ by E. Medunjanin – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown in his letter sent to Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic welcomed Terzic’s initiative related to the establishment of the Commission for restructuring of the police because of strengthening of the BiH Police capacity for the struggle against crime and preparation of BiH for meeting European standards in this significant sector.

Djeric on police restructuring initiative

RTRS Fri, Glas Srpske cover pg story ‘To survive and remain alive’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘MoI is not responsible for the murder of Novica Lukic’- Zoran Djeric, RS Interior Minister, said at the press conference that the RS MoI and Special Police Unit “will survive and remain alive”, regardless of reform of police force in BiH [which was announced by Chairman of CoM Adnan Terzic and BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak]. He told the press that the number of policemen in BiH will gradually diminish in accordance with the budget increase and improvement of economic and social situation. Commenting on the crisis at RS Special Police Unit, he said that situation has been settled in a legal and civilised manner to a pleasure of all sides.

Ivanic on chances for BiH admission to PfP

Dnevni Avaz Sun cover page story ‘RS has no perspective without arrests’, pg 5 ‘Without arrest of war crimes suspects, RS has no perspective’ by Fadil Mandal – In an interview to DA, BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic says that while a majority of the work regarding the defence reforms has been completed, it was possible that BiH was not to be invited to join PfP in June at the NATO summit in Istanbul. He notes that the condition not fulfilled refers to the cooperation with ICTY. Asked to comment statement by Paddy Ashdown that serious consequences cannot be avoided if RS stands on BiH road to Europe, Ivanic said that if this refers to the lack of cooperation with ICTY there has to be a serious discussion on it. He adds that it appears that RS improved cooperation, however stressed that RS has no perspective if all war crimes suspects are not arrested, including Radovan Karadzic.   

DA says BiH will not be invited to join PfP in June

Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 2 ‘Because of non-cooperation with the Hague, BiH most probably will not be admitted to PfP’, mentioned on cover ‘BiH will not be admitted in Istanbul’ by S. Numanovic – DA writes that while official decision on whether BiH would be invited to join PfP at the NATO summit in June, it is pretty certain that this would not happen. According to the source from NATO, Alliance will formally reject to invite BiH, but It will allow BiH broader participation in Partnership’s programs. Same source says that the cooperation with the ICTY is a key precondition for integration, and that NATO agrees that arrest of Radovan Karadzic is essential. “He is in BiH or in surrounding region, and he enjoys the support of some circles that help him to hide. That must be stopped,” said source also announcing the visit of 26 NATO Ambassadors and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to BiH on 28 May when “a number of questions related to non-cooperation with ICTY will be addressed especially to RS officials.”

SDA demands EUPM to annul latest appointments to RS MoI

RTRS Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 9 ‘National police and borders’ by S. Rozajac – SDA demands that the EU Police Mission annuls the latest appointments in the RS Interior Ministry because all 11 people appointed to the top posts are of Serb nationality. The party also requests from EUPM to demand, in line with the constitution, new appointments, SDA presidency member Mehmed Zilic stated on Friday.

Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 4 ‘EUPM should annul appointments in RS MoI’ by M. Kukan – Zilic also said that the situation in entire RS police structure has not changed, noting that out of 8000 police employees, only 420 are Bosniaks. OHR Spokesperson Vedran Persic commented that if SDA believes that these appointments were non-constitutional they should address the case with the BiH Constitutional Court.

SDS: Dodik attempted to break up RS MoI

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘SDS: Dodik attempted to break up RS MoI’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Law won’ – SDS on Friday welcomed a peaceful transfer of duties at the Special Police Unit, which represents an act of legality of institutions over obstinacy of individuals. SDS expressed its view that the latest session of the RS NA showed that the actions of undermining by Special Police Unit officials did not disrepute or damaged dignity of this institution. SDS further strongly condemned public statements by Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, who “supported by some media, attempted to break up MoI and practically disable it in implementing its daily operational activities”. SDS also claimed that it holds information Dodik changed the subject during the RS NA discussion on Visegrad action after he was told that EUPM and OHR do not support obstructions to implement removals at RS MoI. 

Djeric denies RS MoI leadership responsible for death of Novica Lukic

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘MoI is not responsible for the murder of Novica Lukic’ – Zoran Djeric, RS Interior Minister, denied claims by father of Novica Lukic, Mile, that the top leadership of the RS MoI is responsible for the death of his son. Mile Lukic also claims that his son was murdered during police action in Visegrad, “because he knew much about criminal activities” of some officials. Djeric said: “I am not aware of such claims. I had a correct talk with the father of Novica Lukic.”

Two special policemen detained after Visegrad action write to Ashdown demanding help

NTV Hayat Sat – NTV Hayat Central News obtained the letter from Drazen Bojic and Vedran Pursic, two policemen accused for the murder of Novica Lukic in Visegrad, addressed to the High Representative Paddy Ashdown. Letter reads: “We are aware of the situation that happened but we feel it is unjust that all burden of responsibility for someone else’s mistakes is upon us and not on those that should be blamed. It is necessary that you know that we and our families received dangerous threats”. Policemen further seek OHR protection stating: “We live in fear that one day in our cell there will be a new criminal sent by either ICTY suspects or someone lese to kill us because of our deposition on the complete truth.” They also ask from OHR to place them in an SFOR base, stating that would be the only place where they would be secure.

NN editorial on OSA

Nezavisne Novine pg 7 ‘Partisan OSA’ editorial by Mirza Cubro – The author writes about the appointments of Almir Dzuvo and Risto Zaric to the positions of Head and Deputy Head of OSA respectively. His conclusion is: “It would be illusory to expect that BiH would get a modern, professional and apolitical intelligence service. It is much more evident that this Agency would be working for persons, who favour Dzuvo, Zaric or [Zdravko] Jukic [current Acting Director of FOSS]. It is extremely warring that not a single opposition leader reacted during the appointment process.” The author is also critical of the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, saying that the approval of Risto Zaric’s appointment marks the best the (in)consistency of HiRep, as he had previously accused Zaric of obstructing Srebrenica Commission work. 

SDS condemns arrest of Milovan Bjelica

Dnevni List Sun pg 14 ‘SDS condemned shameful arrest of Milovan Bjelica’ by De.L, RTRS Fri, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Accusations without proofs’ – The SDS issued a press release on Friday saying that SDS Chair Board condemned the arrest of the former Serb Sarajevo Mayor, Milovan Bjelica. The release reads that Bjelica’s rights, guaranteed by the Constitution, have been violated and that his family is not aware of his whereabouts.

Hadzipasic on 2002 dismissed intelligence workers

Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 4 ‘Destiny of 201 dismissed intelligence officers uncertain’, mentioned on cover ‘Hadzipasic got letter from FOSS’ by M.K. – FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic confirmed to DA that he received a letter from FOSS Acting Director Zdravko Jukic which refers to the 201 workers of former AID and SNS intelligence services dismissed from their jobs in 2002 when a single FBiH intelligence service, FOSS, was created. Jukic warned Hadzipasic that FOSS met with a series of problems in reappointing these people [FBiH Government obliged itself to retire a number of these officers, and others to reappoint.] Hadzipasic said he sent a letter to FBiH Labour Minister to analyse the issues stated in the letter.

War crimes

Tomljenovic: Karadzic is in RS, and has spies in RS police

Nezavisne Novine supplement Revija, pgs 4-5 ‘Karadzic has its people in RS MoI’ by Vesna Popovic –  “[Radovan] Karadzic is … in RS, and he has his own men and spies within the police, but the problem is that no one wants to admit it,” RS vice-president Ivan Tomljenovic [a Croat] told in an interview to Nezavisne Novine on Saturday. “It is certain that within the RS interior ministry there are people who cooperate with Karadzic, some because they are paid for it and some out of fear because they have to.” Tomljenovic added that “it is logical that Karadzic is in Republika Srpska” since he cannot hide in Federation, and as it is possible that if he was in Serbia-Montenegro, someone would betray him for a five-million-dollar award that the US government has offered for information on his whereabouts. He stressed that OHR gave a deadline to RS Minister of Interior, Zoran Djeric and Chief of RS Police, Radomir Njegus, to arrest Karadzic, and added that as this was one of the key conditions for BiH admission to PfP, Djeric and Njegus would be responsible if BiH fails to be invited to join PfP at the NATO Summit in Istanbul.  Tomljenovic added that anarchy rule in RS MoI, as it was shown by the Visegrad action, and added that the entire structure in the Ministry was unprofessional. RS Vice President noted that former Chief and Deputy Chief of RS Special Police, Dragan Lukac and Dragan Ribic, are not the only one responsible for the mistakes of Visegrad action, but also Djeric and Njegus saying that they should resign.

Oslobodjenje Sun pg 2 ‘Karadzic hides in RS’ by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 8 ‘Tomljenovic: Karadzic is in RS and has spies in police’, Vecernji List Sat pg 2 ‘Karadzic is in RS’ by ap, Dnevni List Sun pg 14 ‘Karadzic has his people in RS MoI’ not signed, NTV Hayat, RTRS Sat, BHTV 1 Sat – also covered the interview.

RS Govt concludes RS cooperation with ICTY improved

Oslobodjenje Sat pg 6 ‘Better cooperation with ICTY’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 8 ‘‘Significant progress’ in RS institutions’ cooperation with ICTY’ by M.V., Dnevni List Sat pg 16 ‘Report on cooperation with ICTY in The Hague adopted’ by Nina, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘RS made progress in co-operation with The Hague Tribunal’; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Co-operation improving’ – At the session in Banjaluka, the RS Government has accepted the report on the co-operation with The Hague Tribunal and concluded that the Republika Srpska institutions are making significant efforts to achieve progress in this regard. According to press release issued by RS Government Bureau for Public Affairs, Government concluded that this international obligation of cooperating with the ICTY could be realised through co-operation of all institutions of BiH and entities.

RTRS Fri, FTV Fri, BHTV 1 Fri – The report has been made upon request of the BiH Presidency, who is preparing BiH delegation address to the UN Security Council at the end of May.

Police searches companies, house owned by Dragan Spasojevic

RTRS Fri, Dnevni Avaz Sat ‘Family house of Dragan Spasojevic searched’, Vecernji List Sun pg 4 ‘Search of D. Spasojevoc’s house’ by F, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘The house and firm of Dragan Spasojevic searched’ mentioned on cover ‘RS police searched the house and firm of Dragan Spasojevic’ – Acting upon order of BiH Court, the Bijeljina PSC on Friday in Zvornik searched the house and the premises of the firm “MP 19 December” from Zvornik and “Metalno” building in Karakaj owned by Dragan Spasojevic. According to press release issued by Bijeljina PSC, “the activities were undertaken on grounded suspicion that juristic and physical persons subject to this control have been aiding war crime suspects”. During the war, Spasojevic was the Police Chief in Zvornik. [Note: Dragan Spasojevic, together with Milovan Bjelica and Momcilo Mandic, was blacklisted last year by the US government and the European Union on suspicion of aiding war crimes suspects.]

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Documentation taken away’ – Dragan Spasojevic confirmed to GS that the police on Friday searched his family house and firms, in which he invested capital. He said that police took away a computer and financial documentation. Spasojevic hopes that police would leave him alone after this action, since the papers “are clean”.

Ashdown: RS is losing legitimacy over Karadzic

Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘RS is losing legitimacy over Karadzic’ – In an interview to “Sense” news agency, the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, said that Republika Srpska is paying a big, mostly political price over the fact that Radovan Karadzic is still at large. He also warned that Republika Srpska might lose international legitimacy, based on rules it does not respect, over this failure. He said: “Republika Srpska is diminishing its legitimacy by failing to meet international obligations, because the very existence of RS is grounded on these. It is Dayton. Hence, if it failed to comply with the international laws on which it has been established, it would lose its legitimacy. It is a political price.”  On Karadzic, he further said: “It is a dark curse hanging over the legitimacy of the RS. It also hinders BiH from finding its future within NATO. It is also a dark curse hanging above the heads of each individual person.” He added that foreign investments keep coming to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while there are no such investments in the cities across Republika Srpska. He also added that although there may not be a single economic market in BiH, it is certain that the crime related market is unified in BiH. Ashdown further said there are three reasons why Karadzic should face Tribunal: justice, stabilisation and third is to remove the “curse” from the RS population, especially from its eastern part.

Will Srebrenica Commission use word genocide for 1995 events in Srebrenica?

Oslobodjenje Sat cover page story, pgs 4-5 ‘Report will be brought into question if Commission fails to acknowledge genocide’ by Asaf Becirovic – Chief of FBiH Missing Persons Commission Amor Masovic states that Srebrenica Commission has to write in its report to be submitted to RS authorities on 7 June that what happened in Srebrenica in 1995 was a genocide, stating that this was also confirmed by the ICTY in a recent verdict to general Radislav Krstic. If it fails to do that, says Masovic, Srebrenica Commission will bring its report into the question. Asked by report on whether they believe that the Commission, established by RS Government, would acknowledge that genocide happened in Srebrenica, president of Associations Women of Srebrenica and a member of Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa, Hajra Catic and Zumra Sehomerovic, both dismissed that possibility. Asked whether Commission would use word ‘genocide’ to describe Srebrenica events in July 1995, Chair of the Commission Milan Bogdanic answered: “We are not legal body.”

Oslobodjenje int with Smail Cekic

Oslobodjenje Sat supplement ‘Pogled’ pg 4 ‘We have documents that even ICTY did not see’ by Asaf Becirovic – In an interview to Oslobodjenje, Srebrenica Commission Vice President Smail Cekic said that the commission has obtained 27 confidential documents which were submitted by RS Army HQ to Radovan Karadzic and all commanders of all corpuses in period from the beginning to end of July 1995 referring to eastern Bosnia, adding that some of the documents that Commission has was not seen by even ICTY. Cekic says that documents also given some knowledge on places where certain people were killed and locations were there were burried. Talking about the cooperation with the RS Army, Cekic stresses that RS Defence Ministry offices in region cooperate with the Commission, however adding that a number of information was not submitted to the commission, including those from Public Security Centres, especially from Zvornik. He also says that a part of document asked from RS Interior Ministry was obtained, adding that the Commission sent requests to RS authorities for new information. Asked to comment statements that some of the mass graves, for which Srebrenica Commission claims were newly discovered, were already known to FBiH Missing Persons Commission, Cekic says that the best thing would be that Commission representatives meets with President of International Red Cross Committee, reps of ICTY and Amor Masovic to exchange information on mass graves. Asked why he doesn’t share information with Masovic, Cekic reiterates that this cooperation must be implemented at the official level. Commenting how will Commission describe events in Srebrenica, Cekic responded: “Commission should accept [ICTY] verdict against general Radislav Krstic where the crimes were qualified. The Commission attitude is that qualifying what happened in Srebrenica was a separate issue and it is important how will Commission determine its attitude on it.”

Political issues

Tihic attends Brioni trust-building conference

RTRS Sat, RHB Fri – The fifth international workshop titled “How we can trust each other” under the patronage of Croatia’s President Stipe Mesic, has been on going in Brioni, Croatia. A three-day gathering, which started on Friday, is devoted to the importance of trust in running the state in modern world, and is attended by a number of politicians, scientists and prominent people from the region, including the Chairman of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic, Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek, Monte Negro President Filip Vujanovic and Mesic.

BHTV 1 Sat – Mesic stated that the “Europe is the only region we want to belong to and whose standards we want to adopt”. Addressing the participants, Tihic said that the years of war caused hampered trust among people and nations, and that it is most difficult to overcome this kind of distrust. He stressed that trust can be established by setting truth on the past events and setting truth on those missing and killed, so their body remains could be found and buried.

FTV Sat – “It is evident that variety of Commissions, non-governmental organizations can contribute to process of reconciliation. And that is why it is very important to find out the truth about killed and missing ones, in order to find their bodies and bury it decently. Cooperation in the fields of culture, sports can contribute to improvement of trust and reconciliation,” stated Sulejman Tihic.

Oslobodjenje Sun cover page story ‘Tihic again asks for change of Constitution by R.I. – Sulejman Tihic stated at the conference that it was “necessary to start the dialogue on the changes to the BiH Constitution. Existing legal structure was establishment in the times of conflict, it was never fully harmonized, and the general belief is that it is too expensive and complicated.”

Covic says Croatis endangered in BIH

FTV Sat, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Croats in BiH endangered’, mentioned on cover, by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 8 ‘Covic: Bosnian Croats in undesirable position’, Dnevni List Sun pg 4 ‘Croats in BiH in unfavourable position’ by M.R. – Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic stated to Austrian news agency APA that Croats in BiH are in an unfavourable position, first of all, since they do not use their language in education. He explained: “Everybody should have equal chances for career and for this reason it is necessary to have classes in schools and Universities in Croatian language. There are many problems because of which this right has not become a law.”

On Stolac crosses

RHB Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 3 ‘Thirty days deadline for removal of crosses’ by Fena, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 9 ‘Main cross and foundations of cross path to be removed in a month’ by F. Vele, Vecernji List Sat pg 3 ‘Banishing of crosses from Stolac, objections to mosque in Vitez’, mentioned on cover ‘Cross must be removed form Stolac’ by F. – On Friday The Chief FBiH Inspector for Construction Danijel Capelj sent to the Stolac Municipality the decision on suspension of further works on the construction of concrete mounts for crosses. Capelj’s decision also says that concrete mounts should be removed within 30 days. In case that the mounts are not removed within a set deadline the FBiH will arrange the removal and pay for it.

Dnevni List Sat pg 3 ‘Removing of mounts for concrete crosses in Stolac’, mentioned on cover, by N. Bise, – Asked to comment on this decision, Head of the Stolac Municipality Zeljko Obradovic stated that he did not receive the aforementioned decision and therefore he did not want to comment on it. Obradovic also stated: “We shall respect legal provisions.”

NTV Hayat Sat – Obradovic, appearing as the guest of Central News, said that the situation regarding the crosses and flag incident in Stolac were blown out of proportions, and that parties in Sarajevo should address the issue of lack of employment and investments in that region. 

HDZ Presidency session

Oslobodjenje Sun pg 5 ‘Dragan Covic heads election headquarters’ by fena, Dnevni List, Saturday, pg 6 ‘HDZ Central Board in Central Bosnia on June 4’, mentioned on cover, by M. Relota, Slobodna Dalmacija, Saturday, pg 17, ‘HDZ is dissolving party bodies in RS’ by F – The session of the HDZ Presidency was held on May 20. Among the other things, it was decided to dissolve HDZ bodies in the RS, while Davor Cordas was appointed an HDZ Commissioner in the RS. Also, the Implementation Election Headquarters for the coming local elections was appointed and Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic was appointed the President of this Headquarters. The HDZ Presidency also decided that the session of the HDCZ central Board takes place in Central Bosnia on June 4.

Vecernji List Sat front pg and pg 3 ‘Insetad of HDZ in FBiH, HDZ was dissolved in RS’ by Z. Kresic – VL comments on the aforementioned decision to dissolve party bodies in the RS by saying that this decision is not logical since real problems exist in the Canton 10, Stolac, Capljina, Neum Mostar etc.

Tomljenovic on lack of cooperation with Cavic

Nezavisne Novine supplement Revija, pgs 4-5 ‘Karadzic has its people in RS MoI’ by Vesna Popovic – In an interview to NN, RS Vice President Ivan Tomljanovic stated that there is no cooperation between him and the RS President Dragan Cavic, adding that however “he is not burdening with that.” Tomljenovic added that Cavic doesn’t want to have any communication with either him or Bosniak RS Vice President Adil Osmanovic.

DL says that deadline for passing of unified Mostar budget was postponed

Dnevni List, Saturday, pg 7 ‘Deadline for passing of budget will be postponed for June 30?’, by Z. Jukic – DL carries that according to their IC sources in Mostar, a unified Mostar budget will not be adopted within a set deadline by May 31. DL says that the information received from the OHR itself, which say that Norbert Winterstein was engaged in Mostar again because of passing of a new rules of procedure on the work of the Mostar City Council, that the current composition of the Council failed to pass at the last session of this body, substantiate the aforementioned claim. The author goes on to say that according to their sources, for this reason the OHR will pass 2 recommendations with regard to the unified budget (to postpone a deadline for passing of the city budget for June 30 and the budget will be labeled as a temporary one and it will be valid until the new Mostar authority is constituted after the local, October elections). The author concludes that this situation is another indicator of the fact that the implementation of the OHR’s decision on Mostar does not go smoothly and according to the planned dynamics as international officials are persuading us. The author also says that some analysts, who are familiar with the work of the OHR and the situation in the Mostar City Administration, estimate that the full implementation of the new Mostar Statute in the field will last until the end of 2005.

Oslobodjenje says Ivanic rejects Terzic’s disciplinary measures

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Terzic banned, Ivanic travels’, mentioned on cover, pg Az. Kalamujic – Daily learns that BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic rejects to respect disciplinary measures introduced by the Chair of BiH CoM Adnan Terzic, adding that this could turn into the open quarrel between two officials. Terzic earlier said he banned all Ministers, their deputies and secretaries to travel without his approval by the end of July and instructed them to postpone all vacations to August, explaining that this regime would enable authorities to be fully engaged in the implementation of 16 Feasibility Study conditions.

Judicial affairs

Constitutional courts of former Yugoslavia region discuss cooperation

BHTV 1 Fri, RHB Fri, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 9 ‘Transition experiences in building legal system’ – Two-day conference of constitutional court representatives from BiH, Slovenia, SCG, Macedonia and Croatia was held in Sarajevo over the weekend. The aim of the conference was to exchange the experience these courts went through in transition, notably in the field of human rights, said BiH Constitutional Court President Mato Tadic. Martin Raguz, the BiH House of Representatives Speaker, stated that the Constitutional courts are the key to the democratic development and stability of constitutional systems in these five countries.

Update to Hercegovacka Bank case

FTV 1 Fri – BiH Prosecution’s Special Department for organized crime will bring indictments against ‘Croat self-rule’ officials. Additional charges will be included in the the case of Hercegovacka Bank. BiH Court confirmed its indictments against Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce, Miroslav Rupcic, Ivica Karlovic and Fra Ivan Sevo. Lawyers of Jelavic and Prce stated their suspicion on legality of this process and announced filing appeals. Prosecution is satisfied with the confirmation of 34 out of 36 charges of the indictments that accuse these 6 persons for economy related crimes. Indictment also accuses them of using finances of FBiH Ministry of Defence in order to create Hercegovacka Bank and Hercegovina Osiguranje.   

Update to Trbojevic case

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘The truth about the death of Mirjana Trbojevic next week’ – Sead Zeric, Banjaluka Deputy District Prosecutor, stated that the investigation into the death of Banjaluka Basic Court Judge, Mirjana Trbojevic, will most likely be closed during the course of next week. According to him, the new information related to this case is currently under investigation.

Marin Kvaternik before BiH Prosecutor’s Office on acetic acid anhydride case

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘I did not know I was approving import of substance for drugs’ mentioned on cover ‘Marin Kvaternik interviewed’ – Marin Kvaternik, RS Minister of Health and Social Welfare, was interviewed before the BiH Prosecutor’s Office on Friday. He gave testimony for two separate proceedings Office runs against Rajo Krsmanovic and Bogdan Vasic, both suspected of having produced the synthetic drugs from acetic acid anhydride. According to unofficial sources, Kvaternik stated before the PO that at the time of approval of licences for import of acetic acid anhydride, he was not aware this substance could be used for production of synthetic drugs.