TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| GROZD issues petition | Zelenovic in ICTY | Update on injured Zivinice children |
| Mandic on medicine market in FBiH | RS MoI on Mladic | Zelenovic transferred to Hague |
| Cadjo on police reform | Grozd action in BIH towns | Man arrested for growing cannabis |
| Increase in | Anti-corruption training in RS | BiH citizen escaped Croatian prison |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| GROZD issues petition | Update on injured Zivinice children | Zelenovic in ICTY |
| Policy experts on October elections | Feature on Denis Memic | Cadjo in Prijedor |
| Zelenovic transferred to | Zelenovic transferred to Hague | Explosion in Foca |
| Cadjo on police reform | Man arrested for growing cannabis | FTV feature on Memic family |
| Oslobodjenje | Army in BiH remains ethnically divided |
| Dnevni Avaz | Referendum in RS is Dodik’s long-term premeditated strategy |
| Dnevni List | |
| Vecernji List | Features football championship story |
| Nezavisne Novine | I would be king of |
Political Developments: Referendum issue | |
| Interview with SzBiH’ Halilovic: Dodik wanted to sign anything on constitutional changes if provision “right to referendum” were included into BiH Constitution/Dodik’s secessionism should be condemned
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Referendum in RS is Dodik’s long-term premeditated strategy’ – In an interview to daily, Safet Halilovic, Party for BiH (SzBiH) Vice President, commented on recent statement of RS PM Milorad Dodik (regarding referendum), saying that this story on referendum “on secession of RS from BiH is not solely a pre-election campaign, but instead a long-term premeditated strategy, which Dodik is trying to impose with the assistance of capitulating structures gathered around Sulejman Tihic and Zlatko Lagumdzija”. In a statement to daily he reveals details from talks on constitutional changes according to which Croats would have been rated as minority if those had been adopted. He claims that during talks on constitutional changes, Dodik had said on several occasions he would sign anything under one condition – if provision “right to referendum” was included into BiH Constitution, adding that judging by latest actions of SNSD’ official, the sole logical conclusion is that Dodik has a premeditated strategy leading to secession of RS. He adds likely BiH Parliament rejected constitutional changes, since those changes would have opened the possibility to see RS secede from BiH in the future. He concludes that Dodik’s secessionism also represents a logical encirclement of (Radovan) Karadzic’s project, which deserves to he morally and politically condemned. According to inset ‘Not even hundreds of Tihic’s and Lagumdzija’s will help SNSD leader’, Halilovic says: “In the context of need to condemn Dodik’;s policy, it should be particularly noted that agreement between two peoples – Bosniaks and Serbs – at the detriment of a thirds is not accepted. It would place Croats in position of ethnic minority, which would be disastrous for the entire region. And instead of condemning it, Tihic and Lagumdzija amnesty Dodik for such anti-state actions before international and domestic public.” |
| Dodik stated that his statement on RS referendum is a consequence of desire for equality in BIH
| RTRS – RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik stated for VOA that his statement on possible organisation of referendum in RS is a consequence of desire for equality in BIH. Dodik stated that RS must be a partner in BIH rather than an entity that is being disputed by structures which do not respect Dayton Agreement. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Dodik: We want to be partners in building of BiH’ by |
| VL: RS PM’s story on referendum has divided members of BiH Central Election Commission on stances
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Decision on punishment of Dodik left upon Schilling’ by Eldina Medunjanin – Daily reports referring to its sources that the members of the BiH Central Election Commission (CIK) have different views on possible sanctioning of Milorad Dodik, RS PM regarding stories on referendum (asked by F BiH Parliament’ Declaration). While Serb members of the CIK find there is no grounds for penalising SNSD leader, views of other member differ. Namely, Lidija Korac and Suad Arnautovic shared the view at two previous sessions of BiH CIK that all party leaders jeopardisisng DA should automatically be penalised. Daily observes that at the next session, CIK will not agree on one stance, and way-out from this will most likely be found in “switching the ball” to HR to BiH, Christian Schwarz Schilling. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed: DA says BiH is a state of two entities and three peoples
| Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘Dayton as sanctuary’ by Daniel Omeragic – Writing about RS PM Milorad Dodik’s story on referendum and reactions following it, the author concludes that the RS has turned out as w inner in this story, and politicians in Banja Luka and Belgrade agree with this: they have managed to get international community, now unanimously saying Dayton Agreement is a key for BiH and fundamental principle for solution, onto their side. The state of two entities and three peoples is a fundamental principle and no major changes are to take part in the near future without the assent of all three sides. |
| BH Civil Affairs Min. Halilovic and expert Trnka agree Agreement on special parallel relations RS signed with SiCG in 2001 was illegal
| Dnevni Avaz pg2 ‘Agreement between RS and Serbia is not legal’ by H.Orahovac – Following statement of Serbian Premier, Vojislav Kostunica, that Serbia will revise Agreement on special parallel relations it signed with RS in 2001, daily carries comments of Safet Halilovic, BiH Minister of Civil Affairs, and Kasim Trnka, constitutional law expert, sharing the view the procedure on Agreement in 2001 was not respected, since BiH Parliament had not been consulted on that, hence Agreement is invalid. According to daily, BiH Constitution stipulates that “entities have a right to form special parallel relations with the neighbouring states in line with sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH”. |
| DA op-ed critical of Serbian PM’s idea on “Great Serbia”
| Dnevni Avaz op-ed pg 3 ‘Kostunica’s “medium Serbia” by Elvir Huremovic – The author agrees with the assessment of some people sharing the view that project of “Great Serbia” devised in the head of Vojislav Kostuniuca, Serbian Premier, has failed through rounds in Slovenia, Croatia, BiHand last Montenegro. According to author, Kostunica is still dreaming of if not “Great” than “medium” |
| Politicians with great economic programs should be elected at October elections, claim BiH policy experts
| NTV Hayat – According to policy experts, it is high time for people who are going to carry out the best economic program, with clearly defined way and deadlines, to be elected at October elections. BiH citizens believe that it is time for politicians who would take BiH forward to take over. Featured ones said that they expected the elected ones to provide new jobs, regular salaries, etc. Reporter wonders whether there is any quality development strategy. “We have such strategies but is there political will and BiH citizens’ support to carry out more radical reforms?”, says BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic. Report ends up by saying that BiH has a number of politicians with lack of political responsibility and a fact that every 5th BiH citizen is poor. |
War Crimes | |
| Zelenovic transferred to ICTY
| BH TV 1 – ICTY indictee Dragan Zelenovic has been transferred from |
| ICTY Spokesperson Nikiforov: Nobody is searching after Karadzic
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4, announced on cover ‘Nobody is searching after Karadzic’ by S.Numanovic – In a statement to daily, Anton Nikiforov, Spokesperson of the Hague Tribunal, says that nobody is doing anything on case “Radovan Karadzic”, adding there is no information on his whereabouts and no results in investigation. He says that demand ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, (that ICTY Prosecution gets a mandate and forms unit for apprehension of remaining war crime fugitives) was made out of frustration, stressing the chances for seeing such unit formed are minor. He underlines the biggest responsibility for the apprehension of the remaining war crime fugitives rests with Serbian authorities, adding it is possible some people from system of institutions in Serbia aide fugitives, stressing Serbian Government is not doing that. |
| Ljajic claims: It would be easy to convince the IC that we have no reason to hide Karadzic if we would extradite Mladic
| RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Punishment for non-extradition of Mladic’ – The Chair of Serbian National Council for cooperation with the ICTY and Serbian Minister for Human and Minority Rights, Rasim Ljajic, said that placing of Radovan Karadzic in the same package with other war crime suspects, which Serbia has to extradite to The Hague, came out as a punishment to Belgrade, due to the fact that Ratko Mladic still has not been extradited. It would be easy for us to convince the International Community (IC) that we have no reason to hide Karadzic if we would extradite Mladic, said Ljajic. |
| FENA: RS MoI hands report on its activities regarding “Mladic” case to BiH Prosecution
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘RS MoI handed report to BiH Prosecution’ by FENA – FENA reports that the RS Interior Ministry has handed a Report to BiH Prosecution regarding actions in had undertaken in relation with the case of “Ratko Maldic”, containing confirmation that in the first three months, the RS MOI has continued with intensive activities aimed at detecting, location, arresting or surrender of remaining war crime fugitives Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and STojan Zupljanin. |
| Food served to Hague officials in Mostar checked | Dnevni List cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘The Hague investigators are afraid of poisoning’ by V.SOldo – Daily reports that the Court Council of the Hague Court Saturday continued with tour at locations in Herzegovina (in relation with case “Prlic and toehrs), adding the judges and attorneys from ICTY have undertaken serious pre-cautionary measures and security during their stay in Mostar. Daily learns from unofficial sources that food served to Hague representatives at some of Mostar restaurants is always checked. |
Defence and police reforms / fight against crime | |
| Decision on structure of Armed Forces of BiH until the end of June
| Oslobodjenje cover pg splash ‘Army in BiH remains ethnically divided’, pgs 4-5 ‘Infantry in BiH remains ethnically divided’ by Antonio Prlenda – Daily reports that although the Team of Experts for implementation of transition of army has informed foreign military envoys with the creation of proposal on structure and stationing plan for BiH Armed Forces (OSBiH), these data still remain classified for BiH public. As daily was told, BiH Defence Ministry does not want to reveal details about this until everything is agreed upon, after which BiH Presidency is to reach final decision by the end of June. The proposal stipulates OS will number 10 thousand professional soldiers and 5000 people in reserve, who would be stationed across 21 cities in BiH. Plan stipulates units should be mixed, while infantry – with BiH emblem on right shoulder and regiment emblem on the left shoulder – will be respecting tradition of one of three constitutive peoples. |
| RS MoI’s Cadjo: RS MoI will reject imposed solutions on police reform
| RHB, NTV Hayat – RS Minister of Interior Stanislav Cadjo said on Saturday that there was possibility for the RS institutions to reject any decisions on police reform in BiH, brought without the RS representatives and which oppose political parties’ agreement on police reform. Cadjo reiterated that temporary blockade in the reform came out as the result of imposed solutions on forming Police Reform Directorate forming. RTRS – During his visit to Prijedor Public Safety Centre, Cadjo praised the action of Prijedor PSC carried out last week when a huge amount of marihuana was confiscated by members of this PSC. He also stated that RS MoI has entered into well organised and strong fight against crime in the last 3 months. Cadjo also stated that good results occurred due to changes in human resources which were carried out in Prijedor and other towns. Reporter concludes that RS MoI is announcing new actions in fight against crime. Dnevni Avaz pg2 ‘On the trace of stamping a large number of murders’ – Cadjo stated that RS police is on a good trace to resolve numerous criminal acts so far classified as unresolved (including cases of murder, organised thefts and smuggling activities). Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Imposed solutions on police will fail’ – Cadjo’s statement on police reform |
| RS Govt. to accept HJPC proposal on appointment of special prosecutor | Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Special Prosecutor at tender’ by D.Risojevic – Daily learns from sources close to RS Government that the RS Government will most likely accept proposal HJPC made – that HJPC elects and appoints chief special prosecutor – on the basis of public bid. |
Economy, Social Issues | |
| GROZD issues petition; politicians asked to meet 12 requests
| TV PINK – Citizens association Grozd organised signing of petition in 30 BIH towns. Petition is organised in support of citizen’s platform recently adopted by wide coalition of non government organisations, Unions, agriculture associations, youth organisations and other. Grozd member Sevko Bajric stated that citizens must take responsibility for their lives. Bajric also stated that BIH citizens should make concrete demands for politicians since they elect them in their respective positions. Citizens are featured saying that petitions and actions like this can make a difference. BH TV 1 – Fadli Sera from “GROZD” stated that most political parties have reacted positively to the citizens’ platform. Transparency International also welcomes the initiative of “GROZD”. However, they warn that without full and transparent privatisation, it won’t be possible to stop the corruption among politicians. RHB – The platform presents a list of 12 BiH citizens’ requests, addressed to the BiH political parties. Some of the requests read that in period of 2006-2010, 150,000 jobs should be created, minimal pension should be 250 KM, foreign investments should be doubled, etc. NTV Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘They waited in line to sign’ by Vanja Bjelica, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Petition of support to civic demands started’ by S.Lemo/D.Bojanic – also report |
| Training on anti-corruption measures organised in RS Chamber of Commerce
| TV PINK, BH TV 1, NTV Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Corruption hinders economic growth’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Corruption is hindering sustainable return’ – Training on anti-corruption measures was organised in RS Chamber of Commerce. Member of Transparency International Board of Directors Boris Divjak stated that the goal of the training is for the private sector to contribute to fight against corruption. Divjak also stressed that most of private companies work illegally since that is the only way to stay competitive in the current market. He emphasised that corruption in BIH can be reduced to an acceptable level by quality law regulations and strengthening of institutions. He concluded that BIH will have a bad economy ambience as long as we have politicians who act as current BIH politicians do. |
| Representatives of missing persons associations of Serb nationality from the region met in
| RTRS – Representatives of missing persons associations of Serb nationality from the region met in |