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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 | |
Swede indicted for crimes in BiH | Zelenovic pleads not guilty | ICTY trials |
Zelenovic pleads not guilty | | Swede accused of war crimes in BIH |
Population growth rate in FBiH | | 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
| FTV – By 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
| BHT11 – By 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 signed – carries 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 |
| 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
| 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 |
Hurtic of Tuzla Office for Missing Persons: Kamenica mass grave could be biggest in BiH
| BHT1 – By 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
| FTV – By 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 |
RS Govt asks | RTRS – RS Government asked the |
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 |
Oslobodjenje: ICJ to reach verdict in BiH lawsuit against
| Oslobodjenje, pgs 4-5 ‘Outcome of BiH’s lawsuit against |
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 |
Political Developments | |
NGO ‘GROZD’ wants political parties to open new jobs, submits list of requests signed by 150.000 people
| FTV – By 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
| 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. |
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 Kljajic – Austrian President Heinz Fischer said during his meeting with BiH Presidency President, Sulejman Tihic, that |
BiH, Bulgarian Foreign Ministers sign Memorandum on cooperation, talk about liberalization of visa regime
| BHT1 – By Irena Kljajic – BiH 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 |
Assistant BiH Foreign Minister: Holders of BiH diplomatic passports without visas to
| 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 |
Candidates for new BiH State Auditors to be interviewed on July 24
| FTV – By 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
| BHT1 – By Damir Simic – Former 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 |
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 | |
| RTRS – |
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
| 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
| 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 |
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. |