Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 13 December
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Hays about new Constitution | Cenic on Karadzic/Mladic |
| Martic trials in ICTY | RS Academy on DA |
| BiH Presidency in | Weather |
TV news broadcast on 12 December
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| ICTY: Gotovina pleaded not guilty | NATO action in Pale | Marking of 10th DPA anniversary |
| Budisa express support to Gotovina | Terzic on Karadzic and Mladic | Schilling to be new HR for sure? |
| Croatian veterans’ reaction | Gotovina appears before the ICTY | NATO searched Stajcic’s house |
| Mesic on Gotovina’s helpers | HR on Karadzic and Mladic | Terzic: Karadzic / Mladic not in BiH |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Regional News | Sentence for war crimes in | EU CoM on BiH |
| Gotovina enters a plea | Gotovina pleaded not guilty | HR on war crimes indictees |
| Davidovic’s trial starts | Paravac on lawsuit against SiCG | ICTY: Gotovina pleaded not guilty |
| NATO action in Pale | Romanian PM visits BiH | OHR transfers authorities |
| Oslobodjenje | HR Ashdown: Sanctions against RS if the Hague fugitives are not arrested |
| Dnevni Avaz | Ashdown: Future Ministers will go through more strict vetting procedure |
| Dnevni List | New bills of indictment arrive on ground of private investigations |
| Vecernji List | Gotovina in isolation |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Covic and Lijanovic to be politically retired |
| Glas Srpske | BiH Lawsuit against |
| Nezavisne Novine | Jacques Shirac: BiH has its place in EU |
| Blic | 1/5 of groceries are not eatable (inspections into shops, restaurants) |
| Vecernje Novosti | |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| German Foreign Minister Steinmayer on Schwarz-Schilling’s candidacy | |
| Hays on constitutional changes, arrest of Karadzic and Mladic
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| FBiH HoR in session
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| RSNA session
| RS Radio – 31st regular session of the RS NA has today commenced with discussion on the Information regarding initiative of the BiH Central Bank on transfer of authorities over banking sector supervision. Svetlana Cenic, RS Finance Minister, has today told RS MP’s that Ministry has been faced with a problem related to collection of documents related to sale of banks in RS. She also stressed that RS Banking Agency did not forward information on situation at banks. |
| Cenic on Karadzic/Mladic
| RS Radio – RS Minister of Finances Svetlana Cenic stated in |
War Crimes/Cooperation with ICTY | |
| HR says al war crimes indictees at large must be arrested
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| Terzic says Karadzic and Mladic are not in BiH, but
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| VN: Mladic in
| Vecernje Novosti pg 4, announced on cover ‘Mladic in The Hague by New Year’ by D.Radeka, M.Z.Radonjic – Daily learns from its sources that the encirclement around Ratko Maldic is tightening, noting General has already been located and will be arrested by New Year. Aleksandar Simic, Advisor to Serbian President, does not hide hope either that the greatest problem SiCG has with the world will be soon resolved, relying on cooperation between world intelligence agencies. |
| US’ Gregorian’s letter to RS officials demanding evidence RS is not aiding Hague fugitives
| Nezavisne Novine pgs 2-3, announced on cover ‘RS Government must prove it is not aiding Hague fugitives’ by S. Cavrag and S. Gojkovic – A deadline, set for RS Minister of Finances Svetlana Cenic to issue a public official statement that would confirm no funds from RS budget were earmarked to help, directly or indirectly, Ratko Mladic, Radovan Karadzic or any other Hague fugitive, expires at the end of working hours today. This is one of pre-requisites |
| NATO raid house of a Karadzic supporter in Pale
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| Gotovina pleads not guilty
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| Paravac officially challenges legality of BiH lawsuit against
| BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘BiH Presidency must withdraw lawsuit against |
| DL: Private investigations on war crimes in
| Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 6 ‘New bills of indictment arrive on ground of private investigations’ by I. Rozic – Prosecutor of the Canton 10 Prosecution Milorad Barasin confirmed that many persons conduct their own investigations on the war crimes committed on the territory of this Canton. According to Barasin, these persons established a contact with the Prosecution and handed over the information they have and he added that 2 Prosecutors and a few investigators work on these cases at the moment. |
Political developments/Reforms | |
| OHR hands over authority for vetting process to BiH institutions
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| Spiric welcomes transfer of OHR’s authorities
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Checking will be done by SIPA and Election Commission’, by A. M. – Avaz notes it is the Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives, Nikola Spiric, was the man who originally proposed that the domestic institutions carry out checking of candidates instead of the OHR. Spiric welcomes the move, saying it is illogical that foreigners, i.e. the OHR carry out these tasks 10 years after the signing of the DPA, arguing that one cannot speak about country’s sovereignty when foreigners are in charge of checking. He notes that the board (consisting of members of parliamentary parties) will only be receiving information about who the candidates are, after which it will be SIPA and BiH Election Commission that will be involved in further checking. |
| SD: IC would not allow politicians with criminal past to put forward their candidacy at 2006 elections
| Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pgs 16 and 17 ‘Covic and Lijanovic to be politically retired’ by Z. Tulic carries that the International Community is creating a new criterion for the 2006 elections according to which the IC wants at the next elections the politicians that do not have a criminal past. SD says that for a long time the information have been coming from the OHR according to which dossiers of all politicians would be crucial for their candidacy at the elections. SD also says that it has been confirmed from the OHR that on the eve of the elections it would be known exactly which politicians would be able to put forward their candidacy. A source from the OHR stated that a message would be sent to the politicians with the criminal past that they should not put forward their candidacy. SD speculates that Dragan Covic, Mladen Ivankovic Lijanovic would be among these politicians and that Mladen Ivanic, Branko Dokic, Tihomir Gligoric, Mehmed Zilic etc. might be among them as well. |
| BiH Delegation in
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| Dnevni Avazpg 2 ‘Political Directors to discuss key reforms’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Tomorrow about new HR to BiH’ – Daily carries OHR MA, saying that the Political Directors of the |
| EU Council welcomes start of talks on
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Progress in Western Balkans countries’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Start of talks a historic moment for BiH’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Negotiations with EU are historic moment for BiH’ by |
| US Ambassador to participate in talks on constitutional reform
| BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Ambassador McElhaney to take part in talks’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘McElchany on talks of constitutional reforms’ by R.S. – US Embassy in |
| Oslobodjenje op-eds on constitutional reforms
| Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘Uncertain ending’ by Mirko Sagolj – Referring to talks on constitutional changes Donald Hays had with political representatives, the author notes it would be a miracle if all parties agree on what needs to be changed, when and how. He also points on differences in stances of political parties and also notes Dnevni Avaz has started to fiercely criticize Sulejman Tihic while, at the same time, it had become extremely inclined to its “great enemy” Zlatko Lagumdzija. The author says there is something behind all of this and the ending of the talks might reveal what it is. Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘Feelings without Constitution’ by Zija Dizdarevic – In light of talks on constitutional changes, the author claims a part of BiH citizens does not think of BiH as of their country and he analyses the reasons that have led to such a situation. He, inter alia, says post-Dayton international policy has kept BiH “on hold”, as something that has no secure future. Such a political stance was integrated in BiH Constitution, which gave the entities attributes of a state while the state, on the other hand, had minor competences. He also claims nationalistic parties have found grounds in BiH Constitution and inability of international authorities to understand what this was all about and they (the parties) have caused citizens’ rejection of the state. |
| Ilija Filipovic new HDZ negotiator at const. changes talks
| Dnevni List pg 11 ‘Ilija Filipovic new negotiator’ by V.I. carries that Ilija Filipovic would be a new HDZ representative at continuation of the constitutional changes talks. VL also announces that in organization of |
| DL op-ed: IC or Americans would agree and impose const. changes
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Negotiations on Constitution’ by T. Dragic speculates as to what might happen at continuation of the constitutional changes talks and the author says that she doubts that our politicians would manage to resolve the issue of organization of the middle authority level and therefore she believes that, as many times before, the International Community or Americans would agree and impose the constitutional changes. |
| HJPC supports HR’s decision on judges’ salaries
| Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Support to OHR’ by |
| NN op-ed on HR’ decision: It is hard to have independent judiciary with miserable salaries | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Salaries’ by Sandra Gojkovic – Regarding latest HR Ashdown’ decision regarding salaries of judicial staff, the author notes that “the fact remains it is hard to have independent judiciary with miserable salaries, and these two do not complement. Therefore, some sort of mid-value, that would not cause doubt between judiciary and citizens, needs to be identified.” |
| SDHR Ney reacts to proposed changes to BiH Election Law
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 5 ‘’Closed’ election lists worried principals of OHR’, by A. Hadzic – Avaz learns that SDHR, Martin Ney, sent the Chairman of Working Group for changes of BiH Election Law, Momcilo Novakovic, a letter in which he expresses concern over positions of the Group related to some changes to the law. According to Avaz’s sources, the letter was addressed to other members of the Group. Namely, SDHR Ney minds about the Group’s positions pertaining to procedures related to ‘closed’ election lists and participation of women in the said lists. According to Avaz’s information, some members of the Group, especially those appointed by the BiH Election Commission, are in favour of having ‘open’ election lists, which will allow voters to vote for people they prefer. On the other hand, other Working Group members are advocating positions of their political parties that stipulate that voters are to vote for the parties and the parties offered lists. Novakovic however notes that nothing has come to his address, still he announces a session of the Working Group for tomorrow when he will put the letter on the agenda. Inset ‘System that suits party leaders’ carry an anonymous member of the Working Group who says that, unless the OHR reacts, party leaders will install their yes-men to the election lists who would automatically make it to the parliament because voters would be voting for parties and their respective lists. The source also claims that the proposed changes’ aim is to eliminate women from the elections lists. |
| VL/SD on alleged dispute between Germans and British in EUFOR
| Vecernji List pgs 8 and 9 ‘War broke out in EUFOR’, mentioned on cover ‘British want to rule EU military mission in BiH’ by D. Jazvic carries that according to German newspaper ‘Die Welt’ the media mission of the German Army in BiH will not be interrupted due to the lack of money but because of military diplomacy. ‘Die Welt’ says that the Department within which ‘radio Mir’, youth magazine ‘Mirko’ etc. are acting would be shut down most probably due to the British attempts that they completely rule over this segment of the EUFOR acting in BiH. ‘Die Welt’ also claims that General David Leakey and British officer William Weber directly support this policy. VL inset ‘EUFOR: Constant audits of Departments’ carries EUFOR spokesperson Jem Thomas who commented on this case by saying: ‘EUFOR keeps conducting audits of its Departments including the Information Department in order to achieve bigger efficiency and in order to adjust to changed conditions.’ Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19, mentioned on cover ‘British and Germans in war because of ‘Mirko’ by Z. Tulic carries on the same issue that German Colonel Eberhard Melber stated that HR Paddy Ashdown also involved in the whole issue by giving support to Leakey. SD also says that according to some information former Head of the OHR’s Press Office Julian Braithwaite is also involved in this issue. |
| S. Palavric on her future work as
| Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Justice must always win’ by D. Polovina-Mandic carries an interview with a newly elected judge of the BiH Constitutional Court, Seada Palavric, in which she says that it would not be hard for her to distance herself from political acting since law has been her life choice. Asked whether she would be able to judge objectively since, most probably, her first case would be a demand of Sulejman Tihic for judging constitutionality of the RS name, Palavric said: ‘International standards and European Convention would be crucial in every case that I would work on.’ |
| On the eve of today’s RS NA session, political aprties say NO to proposed budget for 2006
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Budget overthrows the Government’ by V. Popovic – The adoption of 2006 RS budget is uncertain, considering the fact PDP and SNSD delegates have announced they would not support the budget, while remaining parties, except for EuroBlic RSpgs 2-3 ‘Lack of votes jeopardizes Government’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – Daily also carries statements of officials from PDP, SNSD, |
| SNSD’ Radmanovic: Cavic did not officially offer SNSD to take part in authority
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Cavic did not officially offered power’ by V.P., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Government without support’ by D.Mo.– Monday’s session of SNSD Executive Board discussed the possibility to take over the RS Government after RS PM Pero Bukejlovic lost the support of parliament majority. SNSD representative Nebojsa Radmanovic stated that Dragan Cavic, RS President, did not address an official offer to SNSD, noting SNSD will not respond to calls Cavic has made in this regard through media. He reiterated previously announced stance of SNSD that this party would not vote for proposed budget and economic policy for 2006, adding: “If budget were not adopted, it would be clear Government has no legitimacy and that Cavic should make decisive moves in accordance with the RS Constitution.” |
Economic/Social Affairs | |
| FBiH HoR adopted amendments to Pension-Disability Insurance Law
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| | Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘BiH prison at the military range at Kasindo’ by R.C. – The BiH Commission for State Property Monday unanimously reached decision that the military range at Kasindo is excluded from the ban on state property disposal, which HR Paddy Ashdown, declared in March this year. According to Dezmaludin Mutapcic, Commission President, Kasindo range has been accordingly assigned to BiH Justice Ministry to serve as land where state prison would be built. |