Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 8 June
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| CNN: Al-Zarqawi dead | RS MPs boycott BiH HoR session | RS MP’s not attending HoR session |
| Ivo Miro Jovic in Travnik | McElhaney- no referendum | Ivanic on F BiH Declaration on Dodik |
| FBiH HoR on PM Dodik’s statements | Mittal Steel protests | RS NA working efficiently |
TV news broadcast on 7 June
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Regional News | FBiH HoR on law on veterans | Dodik on RS referendum in |
| Situation in Kosovo | Tender for Corridor 5c still open | Hate poem published in |
| BiH HoR delegation in | Meeting of Reg. Develop. Agencies | Pocar and Del Ponte report to |
| BiH Foreign Trade Chamber’s session | Training for BiH police officers | Oric’s sentence on June 30th |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Macedonian Govt on BiH milk factory | FBIH HoR session | Del Ponte’s report on ICTY work |
| Trade unions’ rights violated in BiH | FBIH HoR declaration on anti-Dayton | Rain damages spring crops |
| Mittal Steel workers’ strike | OHR on visit of Serbian officials | RS Government session on Thursday |
| FBiH HoR in session | Pocar and Del Ponte report to | Update on |
| Oslobodjenje | Carla del Ponte demanded help to arrest Karadzic |
| Dnevni Avaz | Del Ponte demands authority to arrest Karadzic |
| Dnevni List | Special greeting to our delegation (BiH HoR delegation visits |
| Vecernji List | Network from |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | ‘Tusnica’s’ pits closed, hundreds of workers without jobs (coalmine near Livno closes down) |
| Nezavisne Novine | F BiH demands for removal of Dodik |
| Glas Srpske | Stalling with the appointment [Still uncertain when |
| EuroBlic | Rain brought herbal disease [Rain causing damage to farmers] |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| RS MPs continue with boycott of BiH HoR
| RTRS – MPs in the BiH House of Representatives from the RS are not attending today’s session since the BiH Council of Ministers has failed to – in spite of previous conclusions of BiH HoR – form Sarajevo Commission [Srna news agency reports session was attended by 24 MPs from FBiH and only two from the RS]. Deputy Speaker Nikola Spiric has reminded that BiH CoM was given 10-days deadline to complete this task. BH Radio 1 by Mustafa Karahmet– At the time of broadcast [12.00], extended Collegium was negotiating on steps to get out of the crisis. Meanwhile, CoM Chair Adnan Terzic rejected accusations that he was obstructing the process, explaining the Commission is not established as the FBiH Government is expected to submit candidates which would be done soon. Terzic also noted the Commission is not a true reason for the boycott, but rather a desire to prevent reforms that RS objects to. Head of SDA Caucus, Elmir Jahic,reminded MPs of recent statements about RS referendum and argued a reason of the boycott is to destabilize BiH. Head of SBiH Caucus Beriz Belkic also expressed harsh protest and invited Serb MPs to stop the boycott, reminding them of their responsibility towards citizens. Belkic also announced launching an initiative to establish similar Commissions in several municipalities, starting with Prijedor. Co-Chair of BiH HoR Sefik Dzaferovic claims the behavior of the RS MPs in the HoR was not accidental deeming it to be anti-Dayton activity. He also proposed calling on the HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling and Peace Implementation Council to prevent “destruction” of the state. |
| Foreign Minister Ivanic says FBiH HoR declaration should not be taken seriously
| RTRS – Mladen Ivanic, BiH Foreign Minister, has today assessed that Declaration of F BiH Parliament House of Representatives (demanding SNSD be penalized over Milorad Dodik’s statement on referendum) should not be taken seriously, adding it is another attempt to impose their own views as the sole in BiH. Parliament would have a dignity to do something like that if it had adopted Declaration against all those requesting abolishment of RS. |
| US Ambassador McElhaney: no referendum! | BH Radio 1 – Commenting the latest statements of RS PM Milorad Dodik regarding the referendum in RS given in |
| Foreign Min. Ivanic: Visit of Serbian delegation was announced and approved; RSNA Speaker: any visit is welcomed | |
| Reis Ceric: Muslims are accused of being intolerant, which is not true | |
Political developments | |
| FBiH HoR adopts declaration urging HR
| BHT1 by Zoran Sarenac – FBiH House of Representatives at Wednesday’s session adopted a Declaration judging all anti-constitutional activities. Semsudin Mehmedovic from SDA stated that Declaration also urges OHR and BIH Central Election Commission [BiH |
| RS PM Dodik says his statements on referendum only response to politics of
| RTRS – Commenting the Declaration passed by the FBiH House of Representatives, RS PM Milorad Dodik stated that it s a result of a “political chase” taking place in Sarajevo for long time aimed against those with different opinions: “If each our opinion is to be penalized… it will only demonstrate how democratic life in BiH looks like”, said Dodik, further adding he “can’t believe that serious people sitting in there could adopt such a stupidity. This shows that this parliament doesn’t have any importance and it shows that [its results are] results of daily political needs.” He once again repeated that his recent talks about referendum in RS are not serious. Dodik also said that HR has the right to decide on |
| BiH
| Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘ |
| OHR: Serbian decision to visit BL is welcomed but has to be arranged with consent of BiH institutions; RS has no jurisdiction to schedule referendum
| RTRS – OHR issued a press release on Wednesday commenting the announcement of the Serbian Finance Minister Mladjan Dinkic that the first official visit of the Serbian Government and PM Vojislav Kostunica would be to |
| BiH Presidency Chair Tihic commenting Serbian PM Kostunica visit to | Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Tihic: Even stronger did not divide BiH, such attempts are foolishness’ by A.M. – Commenting information that during its Friday’s visit to Banja Luka Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and RS authorities will discuss issue of referendum on RS secession, BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic stated that not even stronger managed to divide BiH, nor separate any part of its parts. |
| VL: HR has to promptly react to RS PM Dodik’s warmongering and nationalistic statements
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Dodik making mockery of Croats’, by Miroslav Vasilj – the author is heavily criticizing the statement by the RS PM, Milorad Dodik, that Sarajevo and Banja Luka (read Bosniaks and Serbs) will shape the future of BiH since Croats have become a national minority in BiH since their number, percentage wise, has gone below 8%. Vasilj insists it is the entity, whose government Dodik is leading, which is responsible for killing, deportations to concentration camps and expulsions of more than 200.000 Croats, arguing that Dodik is becoming a peacetime version of Radovan Karadzic. Finally, Vasilj says the HR, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, should react promptly to Dodik’s warmongering and nationalistic statement arguing that this more than enough even if it is about Dodik and his pre-election campaign. |
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| EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Voice of reason’ by S. P., Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘RS was created as a result of commitment of people’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Unnecessary fuss’ by S. Savic – |
| Radicalization of Serbian scene: after poem celebrating Srebrenica genocide,
| BHT1 by Vesna Simic – |
| Outgoing SiCG Minister of Human Rights Ljajic: Sandzak views
| Novi Reporter pgs 18 ‘Sandzak views Sarajevo the same way as RS views Belgrade’ by Goran Tarlac – In a lengthy interview to weekly, Rasim Ljajic, the outgoing SiCG Minister of Human Rights, says: “The truth is that majority of Bosniaks in Novi Pazar would like to see Sarajevo their capitol, the same way as majority Serbs in Banja Luka would view Belgrade. But this simply is not possible. We in Sandzak can love |
| BIH FM Ivanic: Imposed solution for Kosovo could have negative effect in the Balkans | Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Ivanic about imposed solution’, by NINA – In a statement for the Belgium based ‘New Europe’ weekly, the BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, noted that any one-sided and imposed solution regarding the future status of Kosovo could have a negative effect in the Balkans. Ivanic believes the solution must be based on an agreement between |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed: If West is taking protective role, why is then tolerating in BiH whet they do not want to see in their alley?
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Badgers in our alley’ op-ed by Gojko Beric – Commenting recent political developments in BiH, editorial reads that BiH is again under general political offensive, adding that it would be naïve to lay it all on pre-elections fever: “Spite politics that has been led in triangle Banja Luka-Sarajevo-Mostar is reality we must face. With such heritage, BiH is simply not able to function, and maybe not to survive.” Author points out that even more realistic danger than talk of RS referendum on secession is a new platform of RS PM Milorad Dodik for forthcoming talks on constitutional changes [after elections], by whom he demands transforming BiH into federal state with three federal republics. Editorial concluded: “In the last ten years, IC has never managed, nor it ever wanted to solve key issue of BiH, and these are ethnic and religious nationalism. It did not react with energy to establishing ethnically exclusive schools and other forms of segregation, it never interfered in chaotic relationship between religion and politics, it never monitored behaviour of |
| Vjesnik: Remedy for referendum initiatives lies in good const. changes, abolishment of current structure of BiH
| Vjesnik, pg 35 ‘There will be no ‘chopping up’ of Bosnia’, by Marko Barisic – commenting on the statement by RS PM Milorad Dodik, on the separation referendum of the RS, Barisic says Dodik’s repeated statements show that he is not giving up the initiative in the long run. Barisic goes on to say that many foreign media are repeating a thesis according to which a part of Serb(ian) policy in fact wants to ‘swap’ Kosovo for the RS since it looks as though Kosovo will become independent by end of 2006. Reminding of EU Javier Solana’s statement that the RS has no right to separation referendum, Barisic argues the remedy lies in carrying out good constitutional changes in BiH, which would abolish the current organization of BiH in which the three peoples are locked in two entities and in which, as the name suggests, one entity belong exclusively to one people. |
| Int with Cardinal Puljic: ‘No one has a right to offend deepest religious feelings’
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘No one has a right to offend deepest religious feelings’ by Catholic Weekly – In a page long interview for Catholic Weekly [official media of Catholic Church in Croatia] Vrhbosna Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljic commented the recently published poem in a Sarajevo high school, which contains a poem insulting Jesus Christ. “Even though there were some unpleasant situations and provocations before I haven’t reacted… however, I couldn’t keep quiet after these last two events: published poem which directly assaults Christ and forcing of a Catholic child to write about Islam as about his religion” said Puljic. He noted: “No one has a right, not even in name of democracy or artistic freedom to assault the deepest religious feelings,” adding that children need to be thought to respect others religious stances, or “if no one is called on responsibility, children are educating for aggression and terrorism”. Inset ‘We will send our message before elections’ – Puljic said that it is not true that he is against some political leaders, but is against some of their stances, which he criticizes: “I am always open for every catholic, even if is not a practical believer, to offer the arm as a Sheppard to anyone…When it comes to elections, we will soon send our Sheppard’s message to all believers. They will be able to hear our stances.” Article also carries statements of Croat political parties HSS, HKDU condemning the high-school authorities for publishing the controversial poem. |
| BiH HoR delegation meets Pope, Cardinal Sodano, talks on BiH European path
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| Danas’ source in HDZ BiH Mostar: We will ask from HR that SDA’s Hadziomerovic be removed from politics
| Danas, pgs 6-7, mentioned on front ‘HDZ Mostar is breaking up coalition unless Hadziomerovic is removed’, not signed – Commenting a statement by SDA Mostar leader Zijad Hadziomerovic that the ‘Croats have occupied the urban planning’, anonymous HDZ Mostar senior source stated that it could lead to breaking of Mostar coalition of HDZ and SDA in. The source says the HDZ will re-examine its relation towards the SDA at its next session, and invite High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling to use his powers and do what his predecessor Paddy Ashdown, had asked i.e. that Hadziomerovic be removed from politics. HR will also be asked to re-examine the work of the OHR South, for not penalizing such SDA statements and actions. Asked why HDZ does not come clean regarding these relations, the source says it cannot happen because of ‘trades at higher levels between [HDZ leader] Dragan Covic and [SDA leader] Sulejman Tihic‘ and indifferent attitude of HDZ deputies in the Mostar City Council. |
| EU Chief Negotiator Priebe: pre-election political games will not harm | Dnevni Avaz pg 2, announced on cover ‘Pre-election political games will not harm negotiations’ by T.Lazovic – In a statement to daily, Reinhard Priebe, EU Chief Negotiator with BiH on |
| EU’s Rehn: no enlargement until 2010
| PINK – EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn Stated that, after the association of |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed: BiH will remain in ‘obscure marsh of Balkans’, as it deserves
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Deserved marsh’ by Svjetlana Salom – Commenting statement of EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn who said that after the association of Bulgaria and Romania, the EU is not going to accept new members until 2010, editorial reads that Rehn actually stated that “countries candidates [for EU membership] did not even reach threshold of their [EU] doors.” Author notes that such outcome was to expect due to EU legal and institutional crisis, adding that BiH will remain in “obscure marsh of Balkans”. Editorial concludes any other line is throwing dust in the face: “ |
Economy, education and broadcasting | |
| FBiH HoR refuses to equalize rights of National Defence Western Bosnia members with those of BiH Army and HVO veterans
| Hayat By Alem Karamesic – At its special session, The FBiH House of Representatives has passed proposed changes to the law on rights of veterans and their families. The HoR didn’t want to equalize rights of former members of National Defense Western Bosnia [NDWB] and their families with the existing BiH war veterans’ rights, pointing out that that the rights of former NDWB members should be defined by some other law i.e lex specialis. “By doing so, the FBiH HoR has violated the FBiH Constitutional Court’s decision”, said DNZ member Hafeza Sabljakovic. The FBiH CC’s decision reads that rights of former NDWB members, BiH Army members and HVO members should be equal, but majority of the HoR representatives believes that this does not mean that they have to be included in the existing law. “I am glad that the HoR has become consistent in its stances and that the passed law clearly states that there is no room for former NDWB members in the Law on War Veterans’ Rights and that their rights should be defined by another law”, said FBiH Minister for War Veterans’ Issues Zahid Crnkic. The HoR tasked the Government to define rights of families of former NDWB members in next month. Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Verbal conflict among Bosniak MPs’, by Mensud Zorlak – stresses that the discussion in the FBiH HoR resulted in verbal confrontations among the Bosniak representatives, foremost between Sabljakovic and former FBiH Minister for Defenders Issues Ibrahim Nadarevic, who even used swear words. |
| Minister Dokic: 15 offers submitted for concession on Corridor Vc
| PINK – BiH Minister for Transport and Telecommunications Branko Dokic told press conference on Wednesday that the tender for concession for construction of Corridor Vc is still open. According to Dokic, about 15 offers have been submitted so far, including offers from the notable international companies. The feasibility study for this project should be completed by July 26. Also, preparations for full project documentation have already started, and Dokic expects more offers whereas tender is not time-limited. BHT 1 – Ministry’s representative, Izet Bajrambasic, urged the Law on roads to be carried out as soon as possible, with a provision for establishment of state road supervision agency and to enable the Ministry to become main investor in all major road projects. RTRS, Hayat, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘World renowned companies asking for concession for corridor’, by D. P. Mandic, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Issuing of tender by end of year’, by Dejan Jazvic, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Deadline for a study is July 26’ by D. S., Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ’15 companies interested in corridor Vc’ by D. Muminovic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Interest in corridor Vc is growing’ by Z. D., Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Tender for highway by end of the year’ by L.Sinanovic, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Buik and Behtel showed interest for concession’ by Az.Kalamujic– also reported. |
| Conference on possibilities of development of small and medium companies; HR: complicated levels of authorities an obstacle to regional development
| FTV by Azra Pasukan-Buljina – The HR Christian Schwarz Schilling, Principal Deputy HR Larry Butler and Chief of EC delegation in BIH Michael Humphreys met the directors of 5 regional development agencies spoke on possibility of development of middle and small companies. IC officials expressed a belief that BiH needs mechanism of economic development, a task that could be performed by the development agency. |
| EC writes to CoM Chair: Zero VAT rate is not in accordance with EU
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Zero VAT rate is not in accordance with EU’ by Fena, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Zero VAT rate would cause chaos!’ – Head of EC Directorate for Economic and Financial issues Klaus Regling warned BiH CoM Chair Adnan Terzic in a letter that the introduction of zero VAT rate would cause a number of negative consequences and noted the introduction of zero VAT rate would not be in accordance with EU legislation. |
| BiH CoM Terzic addressing BiH HoR: Law on VAT should not be changed till further
| Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Terzic: There is no change of Law on VAT till further’ by H.Orahovac – At Thursday’s session of BiH House of Representatives, BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic is to submit Information on VAT introduction for the period January-March 2006. Daily carries that key points of his address will be: VAT is successfully introduced, results are better than expected; significant increase of tax-paying discipline; Law on VAT should not been changed till further, EU following recommendations. |
| Humanitarian organizations claims VAT jeopardized assistances to 700.000 socially vulnerable BiH citizens
| BHT1 by Mirela Cosic – The round-table on the consequences of the VAT introduction on the humanitarian organizations concluded that due to increased costs caused by the VAT these institutions are forced to reduce the range of their services or number of their beneficiaries. Four largest such organisations [Merhamet, Caritas, Dobrotvor and La Benevolencija] proposed introduction of the new law that would regulate their status as the organisations of public interest exempted from paying VAT. Member of BIH Parliament Sead Avdic feels that such law could be adopted to make the work of such organisations easier. Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic notified the representatives of humanitarian organisations that he is ready to contact entity Prime Ministers so retroactive compensations of VAT payments could be ensured. Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Questionable aid for 700.000 people’, mentioned on cover, by S.Rozajac – Chair of Merhamet, Hajrudin Sahic, claims that there are about 700.000 people living in BiH who are socially vulnerable and who depend on the assistance of the humanitarian organizations. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘State has taken away 20.000 meals from the humanitarian kitchens’ by agencies – Merhamet said it paid over 48.000 KM of VAT, which reduced meals for 21.000 persons. |
| Economists and social rights experts assess RS Govt’s work as good, politicians’ views differ
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘They got a passing grade’ by D.Risojevic – Daily claims that majority of its collocutors from the fields of economy (Mladen Micic, President of RS Chamber of Commerce), politics and social rights (Ranka Misic, President of RS Syndicate Union, political analyst Tanja Topic) believe that during the first 100 days of its work, the RS Government has fulfilled the legislative part it promised, while from the political aspect views differ. Stanko Pivasevic from |
| Minister Dokic: BiH parliament soon to appoint Steering Board members for 3 public broadcasters
| RTRS – Commenting the reform of Public Broadcasting System, BiH Telecommunications Minister Branko Dokic told the press conference the public broadcasting Corporation should be established as soon as possible. He also stressed that the corporation should create a more functional system of RTV tax collection, which would be used by all three broadcasters. Dokic said that BiH Parliament Assembly should soon appoint the Steering Boards of all three public broadcasting services. FTV also mentions. |
| RS Education Minister Kasipovic: entities should be accrediting Faculties
| Nezavisne Novine pg 9, announced on cover ‘Entities must be conducting the accreditation of Faculties’ by D. Risojevic – RS Minister of Education and Culture Anton Kasipovic stated in an interview to Nezavisne Novine he would present Draft Law on High Education to RS Government, which foresees the Agency for Accreditation of Faculties would be seated in the entity for the difference from the state-level law. ’We have advocated since the beginning that the Agency for Accreditation at the state level, which would control the work of Faculties, should prescribe criteria for accrediting while the entities would implement this in field. I believe BiH CoM had reached the Law with the best intentions, but I really see no reason why entities should not be implementing the accrediting’, Kasipovic added. Glas Srpske cover pg report ‘Disputable competences of the Agency’ by M. F. – carries Kasipovic’s statement along the same lines. |
War crimes and judiciary | |
| ICTY President, Prosecutor report to UNSC: Serbia has to extradite Mladic; Karadzic moving btw RS, Serbia and Montenegro; expects RS police to improve coop. with new leadership
| BHT1 – ICTY Chair Fausto Pocar and Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte submitted a report to UN Security Council. Del Ponte stated in the report that Serbian authorities are not fully cooperating with the ICTY. She stressed that Serbia is expected to extradite Ratko Mladic and remaining indictees at large. As far as Radovan Karadzic is concerned, Del Ponte stated that he keeps moving between RS, Serbia and Montenegro. She also emphasised the RS cooperation with ICTY is weakening due to changes in the RS Police, adding once the RS Police leadership is consolidated they should start looking for Karadzic immediately. Pocar and Del Ponte stated that ICTY should close its doors by 2010. FTV – Chief Prosecutor underlines it is unacceptable for the ICTY to cease operation without processing Mladic and Karadzic. RTRS – According to Del Ponte, Karadzic’s arrest is the responsibility of Serbia, RS, NATO and EUFOR. Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Del Ponte demands powers to arrest Karadzic’ not signed – “According to my information, Ratko Mladic, Zdravko Tolimir, Goran Hadzic and Stojan Zupljanin are in Serbia. Furthermore, there are established leads connecting Serbia to Radovan Karadzic, whose location is unknown, and to Vlastimir Djordjevic, who is still believed to be in Russia,” said Del Ponte. “It is pathetic that today, nobody is searching actively for Karadzic. The planned downsizing of EUFOR will further aggravate the situation. Since no one else seems to have the political will to locate and arrest Karadzic and Mladic, I will have no choice but to seek from the Council the powers to arrest fugitives where ever they are and to allocate to my Office the necessary resources for this.” PINK, Vecernje Novosti pg 3 ‘We will be waiting for Karadzic and Mladic’ by E. Radosavljevic, EuroBlic pg 5 ‘Hague fugitives must be arrested’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Del Ponte wants to make arrests’ by Agencies, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘Del Ponte demanded help to arrest Karadzic’ by A.O.– also covered. |
| ICTY Delegation to visit BiH re case Prlic and others
| BHT1, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Judges from The Hague touring Herzegovina’, by E. Mackic – ICTY representative in BIH Mathias Hellman stated that delegation of ICTY judges that rules over proceedings in the case against Jadranko Prlic and others [they are indicted by ICTY for ethnical cleansing in Croat majority areas] is visiting BIH. He stressed that the only reason for this visit is for the judges to see locations that are important for the mentioned case only. Hellman concluded that no witnesses would be questioned. Vecernji List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Investigators from The Hague searching through Herzegovina’, by Valentina Rupcic – carries Hellman’s statement and adds that ICTY investigators should be one of these days meeting with representatives of the BiH Prosecution in order to obtain additional details related to the ‘Prlic and others’ case. FTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘They are visiting sites where camps were located’ by M. Kr.– also covered. |
| RS Government proposes members for Sarajevo Commission
| RTRS- BiH Council of Ministers was expected to establish the Commission on Sufferings of Serb, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and others in |
| DL: BiH CoM to discuss appointments to Sarajevo Commission on Tuesday not today | Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Government about candidates for members of Commission today’, by A. B. – DL notes there is a possibility that the BiH CoM does not meet today (Thursday) since the FBiH Government is yet to nominate its candidates for the Sarajevo Commission, which could happen today. Instead, the BiH CoM would meet on Tuesday. |
| Association of Missing
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Stalling with the appointment’ by Z. Domazet – Members of the Association of Missing Serbs from East Sarajevo say the stalling in the appointment of Sarajevo Commission members has the aim to “water-down” the procedure and to keep the truth deeply buried. EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘F BiH Government hits the breaks again’ by D. Stanisic – Deputy BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Ivica Marinovic confirmed for EuroBlic on Wednesday that the Ministry still had not forwarded a list of candidates for the positions at Sarajevo Commission to CoM. |
| President of the FBiH Commission for search after missing persons Masovic: Who are Gligoric’s and Spiric’s to determine who is discredited
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Masovic: Who are Gligoric’s anf Spiric’s to determine who is discredited?’ by E.Sarac – Daily observes that judging by the ultimatum-like announcement of delegates from RS at BiH House of Representatives (viewing that discredited persons cannot be members of Sarajevo Commission) by which they announce they would be the ones to determine Sarajevo Commission’ composition, the process of members’ selection may lead to another politicisation of story on war events at ten pre-war Sarajevo municipalities. Amor Masovic, President of the FBiH Commission for search after missing persons, says: “Until today, I thought if I were proposed I would reject it, but now when I see how they condition who can and who cannot be Commission member, I will accept to be a member. Who are those discredited? Who are they to determine it? I am – I that search after missing persons or some other people dealing with this issue, and those are not (SP’ Tihomir) Gligoric’s or (SNSD’ Nikola) Spiric’s, who are the loudest ones nowadays supporting Karadzic’s and Mladic’s policy.” Amir Ahmic, Bosniak Liaison Officer with ICTY, who was also nominated for Commission member. Masovic announced if he were appointed, he would insist on resolving the case of |
| British Ambassador to BiH: issue on appointment of foreign judges to
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6, announced on cover ‘Safet Halilovic is talking rubbish’ by M. Cubro – In a lengthy interview to Nezavisne Novine, British Ambassador to BiH Matthew Rycroft stated it is in the interest of Great Britain to see BiH have a strong state court and the story on the appointment of a foreign judge was a misunderstanding that had been resolved. ‘Chair of BiH Court Meddzida Kreso too said this was a misunderstanding and I agree with this. Foreign judges can only help in strengthening of state institutions’, the Ambassador said. He reiterated that the Great Britain Government is not behind drawing of maps that project Herzeg-Bosnia and RS as independent states. Asked whether such maps reflect the stance of intelligence services, as BiH Minister of civil Affairs Safet Halilovic claims, the Ambassador replied: ‘That is simply nonsense, what else could I say?’. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed: Pressure made by | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Misunderstanding with Rycroft’ op-ed by Daniel Omeragic – Commenting dispute between BiH Court President Meddzida Kreso with UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft over appointment of international judge Malcolm Simmons, editorial reads that BiH Presidency reacted very mildly, while High Judicial Prosecutorial Council President Branko Peric did not protect Kreso, protecting his own seat. Author concludes: “After perceiving she was left alone, disappointed Kreso concludes that her dispute with Rycroft was misunderstanding and that everything is settled. Pressure done by |
Security and defence issues | |
| Special Council of Europe’s Investigator Marty criticized BiH authorities for doing nothing to release ‘Algerian group’, allowing
| Hayat- Special Investigator for the Council of Europe, Dick Marty, accused governments of 14 European states for being involved in kidnapping and secret transfer of persons suspected of terrorism. PINK- BiH is mentioned as one of the countries that cooperated with |
| BiH CoM Chair Terzic: BiH Presidency did not fulfil obligations regarding ‘Algerian group’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘BiH Presidency did not fulfil obligations’ by S.Numanovic – Commenting claims of Council of Europe’s report on |
| VL: ‘The Times’ report notes worldwide terrorist network incl. branch in
| Vecernji List, front pg splash and pg 47 ‘Network from Toronto to Sarajevo shattered’, by zb, agencies) – according to a story published by the UK’s ‘the Times’, police and intelligences services of different countries managed, after several months of investigations, to shatter a worldwide terrorist network that had branches in 8 countries including BiH. The operation ‘Mazhar’, which leads to Al Qaeda’s leader in |
| BiH Def. Minister: there is no change in regard to the BiH admission into
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘BiH soldiers may go to Afghanistan next year’, announced on cover ‘There are no aiders of war criminals at BiH Armed Forces’ by Edina Sarac – In a half-page interview to daily, Nikola Radovanovic, BiH Defence Minister, says there is no change at the moment in regard to the BiH admission into Partnership for Peace ( |
| Update to Jahorina incident: Several persons questioned and released
| Dnevni List, pg 20 ‘Arrested are released: Rain destroyed clues’, by Anja Krajinovic – carries a follow up to the Jahorina incident (when a hand grenade injured three persons on Jahorina on Monday night). Spokeswoman of |