TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| HNC Education Minister holds PC | HR appoints SBS Director | NATO on PfP membership |
| Education | Matijasevic, Andan in visit to Hague | BIH Presidency on conscription |
| Grabovica massacre anniversary | New reports on crimes against Serbs | Matijasevic and Andan visit Hague |
| Regional news | Weber on Karadzic, Mladic | HR appointed SBS Director |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| HNC Education Minister holds PC | HR appoints SBS Director | Holbrook on new BIH Constitution |
| Education | Matijasevic, Andan in visit to Hague | New reports on crimes over Serbs |
| Grabovica massacre anniversary | New reports on crimes against Serbs | HR appoints SBS Director |
| Regional news | Weber on Karadzic, Mladic | EU officials on police reform |
| Oslobodjenje | Vinko Dumancic as SBS Director |
| Dnevni Avaz | Ivanic is talking nonsense and twisting facts |
| Dnevni List | Bosniak top is ignoring Croat victims |
| Vecernji List | Gotovina is no longer a condition to |
| Nezavisne Novine | No more military conscription |
| Glas Srpske | The bloody trace of jihad |
Police reform | |
| Terzic and Cenic spoke with Humphreys on police reform at unannounced meeting
| RTRS – Council of Ministers Chairman Adnan Terzic and RS Finance Minister Svetlana Cenic spoke with EC delegation in BIH Head, Michael Humphreys about police reform at an unannounced meeting. Humphreys stated that he repeated EU positions regarding the police reform, adding the matters of European integrations cannot be negotiated with representatives of entity authorities only with the state ones. He also expressed his belief that negotiating parties can reach an agreement regarding police reform but wouldn’t divulge any details from the meeting. Humphreys repeated that EC is not trying to endanger RS as an entity. “We want to establish a police force that can act in the entire territory of BIH”, stated Humphreys. Cenic stated that RS authorities are ready to transfer certain authorities to the state level but public safety must remain at the state level. Reporter concludes that time for reaching an agreement on police reform is running out. |
| Terzic on police reform and “Ivanic case”
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Ivanic is talking nonsense and twisting facts’, pg 2 ‘Polcie reform is a priority, I will deal with Ivanic later on’ by E.Sarac – In a statement to daily, Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair, says that he is currently engaged in police reform talks, “which is the most important issue for the future of BiH, and I have no time to resolve the problem of Mladen Ivanic, BiH Foreign Minister in resignation…I have some ideas how to put an end to this, but for the time being, I do not want to waste time on this.” On police reform, he still thinks “a miracle can happen”, adding as long as there is a slightest chance of reaching an agreement, he will be attending those police reform talks. He notes that representatives of the RS Government are not ready to accept all three basic principles, but neither are they ready to reject them. He reiterates his acceptance of Ivanic’s resignation was a right thing to do, proved with the latest developments arising from Ivanic’s destruction of agreement on SIPA Director appointment. |
| PIC on police reform
| RTRS, TV PINK, RHB, BHT 1 – Ambassadors of EU member countries at the Peace Implementation Committee warned that the negotiations on the police reform must be finished before 10th Dayton Anniversary for BIH to start the negotiations for Association and Stabilisation Agreement. The Ambassadors expressed disappointment in failure of BiH Institutions to reach the decision regarding the police reform that would respect three EU principles. The next meeting on police reform is scheduled for September 12th in Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘RS should show flexibility’, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Failure in reform blocks the course to EU’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Negotiations’ – also report |
| BiH has to meet three EU principles, says Olli Rehn
| Dnevni Avaz pg4 ‘Agreement must fulfil three principles’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘EU principles should be respected’ by S.Gojkovic, TV PINK, NTV Hayat, FTV – EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said that police reform in BiH had to meet three main EU principles and added that there should be no bargaining on them. Rehn said that police reform did not endanger entities’ destinies, but created possibility for better environment for all BiH citizens. Dnevni List pg 4 ‘New warnings to Serbs to accept police reform’ by De.I. – carries both PIC and Rehn’s statement. |
| Matijasevic caused tensions with EC delegation during Bjelasnica talks
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Matijasevic caused a scandal at Bjelasnica’ by D.Risojevic – Daily learns fro sources close to international diplomatic circles that Darko Matiajsevic, RS MoI, caused a scandal during Bjelasnica talks on police talks (when he told EC representatives attending talks they should be “honoured to sit at the same table with him and talk”). Source claims that EC addressed a harsh demarche to RS Government over misconduct of Matiajsevic, which has brought in question the tensed relations between RS Government and EC. This article also carries RS Government press release (report below), as well as the statement of Svetlana Cenic, RS Finance Minister, who said in a statement to a local TV station that “a stumbling block” during police reform talks is the issue of transfer of police powers into BiH level and aspiration of Sarajevo authorities, whom international officials support, to have unified police force established in BiH. She reiterated once more RS does not oppose three EC principles, stressing that cooperation with the ICTY and non-apprehension of war crime indictees are means for constant pressure of IC against RS. |
| RS Govt. press release on police talks/EC comment
| RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Pressures are no solution’ by G.D. – RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic and RS negotiating team in police reform talks are surprised with the opinion of EC delegation in BIH upon which the entities are not proper institutional parties for talks on matters of European integrations. RS Government announced that of EC feels that Council of Ministers is the only party they are willing to negotiate with then they should make a suggestion regarding police reform that will be supported by RS National Assembly. It also announced that pressures regarding this issue cannot lead to the solution. Bukejlovic stated that if all negotiating parties show tolerance and flexibility than solution to police reform can be found. |
| EUPM Commissioner on police reform and ICG report
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘We urgently need deadlines for police reform’ by Antonio Prlenda – In an interview to daily, Kevin Carty, EUPM Commissioner, does not hide disappointment over the latest political talks on police reform, stressing that proposal of RS officials on police reform are unacceptable. On this he also stresses that deadlines for police reform should urgently be determined, adding that unique commitment to reform should be demonstrated. He notes politicians of BiH should set these deadlines and agree on reform. He views the latest ICG report on EUPM as a hard blow and inefficient. |
| Interview with US Ambassador to BiH:
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Police reform in BiH is one of US priorities’ by Rubina Cengic – In a page-long interview to daily, Douglas McElchany, US Ambassador to BiH, says it is of essential importance for BiH to implement police reform and satisfy conditions of EU regarding launchment of SAA talks, which is also one of the US priorities. Other priorities are apprehension of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic and defence reform, adding he sees no better option of celebrating 10th anniversary of |
| Representatives of 11 NGO’s coordinating centre disagrees with transfer of authorities to state level in terms of police reform
| RHB, BHT 1, NTV Hayat, RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Again on protests’ by G.K. – In terms of police reform, representatives of coordinating centre of 11 nongovernmental organizations disagree with transfer of authorities from entity to state level. The Chair of the centre Branislav Dukic announced that on September 23, when RS National Assembly representatives are to take stance on police, he was going to call on citizens to block RS institutions and show whether they agree with the transfer or not. The Chair of RS Association of families of the killed ones Milijana Bojic said that it was high time for BiH to become legal state and for the constitution to stop being violated. “We disagree with the idea of joint police, out of a simple reason – we still have not solved the burden of the past”, said Bojic. RS Students Association also disagrees with the idea of joint police forces. |
| Oslobodjenje: How much police reform talks cost tax payers
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, announced on cover ‘BAM 70 thousand spent at hotels’ by Azhar Kalamujic – Daily elaborates on how much talks on police reform have cost institution, starting with comment officials spend a lot. It carries a statement of |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on police reform
| Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘A wasted time’ by Daniel Omeragic – Following latest messages Javier Solana and Paddy Ashdown addressed to BiH politicians regarding police reform, the author notes that five months have passed after Vlasic talks, stressing it is high time the international community cut this or Dragan Cavic persuaded RS NA to transfer police powers in the same manner he persuaded MP’s to transfer defence powers onto state level. |
Other political developments | |
| HR appoints SBS/SIPA leadership
| Oslobodjenje cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘Vinko Dumancic as SBS Director’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, announced on cover ‘Paddy Ashdown appoints Vinko Dumancic SBS Director’ by S.Numanovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Paddy Ashdown appointed new SBS leadership’ by D.Muminovic,Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Vinko Dumancic is the new SBS Director’ by Dejan Jazvic, Dnevni List pg 3, announced on cover ‘Ashdown appoints Dumancic SBS Director’ by NINA, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Dumancic as Director’ by N.Z.,FTV, RHB, TV PINK, NTV Hayat – On Friday, HR Paddy Ashdown appointed Vinko Dumancic as the new SBS Director and Vahid Alagic as SBS Deputy Director. According to the SDHR Lawrence Edward Butler, HR appointed Dumancic based on the most important criteria, the experience and merit. “The HR simply couldn’t have tolerated any longer the neglect of the BIH Institutions on the appointment of SBS Director. EUPM has been consulted on this matter, and the appointment is based on merit as scored by the CoM selection committee” said RTRS – EUPM greeted HR’s decision to appoint SBS Director. |
| Ivanic blames Terzic for CoM’s lost opportunity in appointing the SBS Director while Terzic claims that IC finds Bosniak candidates not welcomed at the senior management posts within the Security Agencies
| BHT 1, NTV Hayat – OHR’s Spokesperson Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Terzic has caused new crisis in BiH’ – carries Ivanic’s statement |
| Terzic on “Ivanic and Dokic case”: Ivanic and Dokic react
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Ivanic is talking nonsense and twisting facts’, pg 2 ‘Polcie reform is a priority, I will deal with Ivanic later on’ by E.Sarac – In a statement to daily, Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, says that he is currently engaged in police reform talks, “which is the most important issue for the future of Bih, and I have no time to resolve the problem of Mladen Ivanic, BiH Foreign Minister in resignation…I have some ideas how to put an end to this, but for the time being, I do not want to waste time on this.” Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘The worse is the better?’ by V.Bugarin – Commenting on Terzic announcement, Mladen Ivanic stated that the issue of technical mandates of hyis and Branko Dokic should be resolved asap, adding: “If Terzic has a majority, he should appoint new Ministers.” This article also includes Ivanic’s statement (see above). Branko Dokic expressed his encouragement over the fact that Terzic has some ideas on how to resolve this issue. |
| DL op-ed on Dumancic’ appointment
| Dnevni List op-ed pg 2 ‘State in coma’ by Anja Vrebac – Writing about most recent HR’s decision to appoint SBS Director, the author stresses that local politicians can hardly reach an agreement on anything, owing to which reason HR to interfere again. She stresses that BiH citizens would have been most likely shocked if BiH politicians had agreed on this issue. |
| Holbrook informed that an American organisation is preparing a new BIH constitution that will reduce the tri-partie Presidency to single-member Presidency
| Oslobodjenje pg 3, announced on cover ‘New BiH Constitution under preparation’ by ONASA, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Blood will run streets’, BHT 1, RTRS, NTV Hayat – Former American Ambassador to UN and Special Representative for Balkan, Richard Holbrook stated that an American NGO “Dayton: A project programme for civic dialogue in BiH” led by Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Richard Holbrook announced creation of new Constitution of BiH’ by S.Skuletic – Apart from carrying Holbrook’s statement, daily brings comments of political officials regarding this issue. Mirsad Ceman, SDA representative, stated that representatives of leading parliamentary parties in BiH are taking part in these talks, without revealing any further detail. Sejfudin Tokic, President of SDU, says that new constitutional solutions of the existing political composition will not be brought without support and initiative of the SDA. Momcilo Novakovic, SDS Chair Board member, stated that only political factors in BiH, not “various movements and associations like Hays’” can speak about changes of BiH Constitution. Ivo Miro Jovic, BiH Presidency Chairperson, stated that if there is anything useful from Dayton Agreement, then it is a tri-partite BiH Presidency. He advises Holbrook not to play with BiH as with guinea pie. Sefik Dzaferovic from SDA confirmed that SDA is of the view the future BiH should have one president and Government instead of BiH COM. |
| Relota denies Covic to leave position of HDZ of BiH President
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Covic remains HDZ President!’ by V.Z. – Miso Relota, HDZ of BiH Spokesperson, Friday denied claims of Slobodna Dalmacija, that published that Dragan Covic will leave the position of HDZ of BiH President under the pressure of the church authorities. Relota said: “Those are notorious lies”. |
Defence / Education / Judiciary | |
| New commander of NATO HQ addressed BIH media on Friday
| TV PINK, RHB, NTV Hayat, FTV, RTRS –If Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are not arrested by 10th Dayton anniversary, it will not be considered as failure but disappointment, said new NATO Commander to BiH Louis Weber at first press-conference in Sarajevo. Weber denied speculations on Karadzic’s apprehension, pointing out that still 9 ICTY indictees are at large. “I hope that the International Community and BiH people want to bring the chapter to conclusion”, said Weber. Weber pointed out that BiH had a reason for not being admitted to Partnership for Peace – war indictees at large and lack of cooperation with the ICTY. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 “War criminals are hindering admittance to PfP’, announced on cover ‘To end chapter on Karadzic and Mladic’, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘We want to help, not lead reforms’ by A.P., Vecernji List pg 5 ‘We will continue the search after Karadzic’ by Eldina Medunjanin, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘BiH has made fundamental changes’ by E.Mackic , Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Hague fugitives are obstruction to NATO’ by R.Cengic – also report on presser |
| Nikola Radovanovic meets John Reid
| TV PINK, BH TV 1, FTV – BiH Minister of Defence Nikola Radovanovic and his British counterpart John Reid met on Friday so to discuss progress which has been achieved in defence reform and cooperation with the ICTY. Reid said that Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘To have a showdown with police reform and apprehension of criminals’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Priority is the arrest of Hague fugitives’ by D.Mu. |
| Staff working in defence sector to be downsized, BIH Presidency decides
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pg 3 ‘No more military conscription’ by D.Bojanic, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Mandatory military conscription abolished’, TV PINK, RHB, BH TV 1, NTV Hayat, RTRS – BiH Presidency decided to reduce military staff in 2005 and change decision on the size and structure of BiH military forces. According to these decisions, military conscription will be regulated in line with new laws, proposed by Defence Reform Commission, according to what military forces will be consisted out of professional soldiers. |
| NN op-ed on protests at schools
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Unrests at schools’ by Ugo Vlaisavljevic – Writing about unrests and protests at schools, the author stresses that those should not be neglected, ignored or underestimated by the local officials. He stresses that politicians might have acknowledged over the past period that these unrests are no less dangerous than protests at factories. He concludes by saying that victorious was the a post-war policy that took care of – or at least represented it that way – fulfilling needs of ethnic being. |
| FBIH Union of high school education will leave all OSCE commissions for education reform, says Union Chair | RHB – Chair of FBIH Union of high school education Dzenana Hamzic-Tanovic stated that this |
| HB Radio weekly commentary: Croatian language in schools and in PBS
| RHB – HB Radio in its weekly commentary is stressing the fact that young Croats in BIH might not be able to speak to their parents since they will not be able to watch TV programme in Croatian language or listen to classes in schools in that language. Reporter comments that PBS program will be broadcasted in a mixed language therefore disabling Croat youth to practice their language. Simunovic adds that decisions of Bosniak and Croat officials to replace the system of 2 schools under one roof with schools in Croatian and Bosnian language caused fierce reactions in the public. He stresses that Japanese and German can educate them in their own language whilst Croats in BIH cannot. Simunovic explains that British Ambassador Mathew Rycroft explained that 2 schools in different languages are not in accordance with laws and EU standards. Simunovic concludes that such laws in fact are violating BIH Constitution and Dayton Agreement as well as all human rights charters. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed on problems in BiH in general
| Oslobodjenje op-ed pg 9 ‘State in chaos’ by Mirko Sagolj – The author stressed that it is even hard to list all the arguments proving that BiH is in chaos, while its key institutions are fully disintegrated. He notes that the problems does not solely rest with the fact that RS does not accept a joint state, but also in the latest divisions between Croats and Bosniaks in political regard and also with focus on educational affairs. |
| Some counts of indictment in “Covic and others” case dropped
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Prosecutor’s given up on part of indictment in Covic-Lijanovic case’ by Zoran Kresic – Legal representatives of DraganCovic, Lijanovic’s and Zdravko Lucic confirmed to daily that Jonathan Rattel, the BiH Prosecutor, has decided to drop some counts in the indictment “Covic and others”, which now charges Covic, Lijanovic’s and Lucic for customs frauds and office abuse. One of counts dropped was their alleged agreement to commit criminal acts. Daily notes that dropping of some counts in the indictment results from Dnevni List pg 5, announced on cover ‘Prosecutor dropped some counts of indictment’ by N.Dedic – daily writes that John McNair, Head of Special Department of the BiH Prosecutor’s Office for organised crime and corruption,has given up on counts 5,8 and 11 of the indictment against Covic, Tadic and Lucic. Daily also writes that it is speculated that reason for dropping charges was that it would be hard to substantiate charges. |
War crimes | |
| Matijasevic and Andan in visit to Den Hague
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘In The Hague, Andan and Matiajsevic were lokking for information on hiding of criminals’, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Exchange of information on movements of indictees’ by Az.K. Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Matijasevic and Andan with ICTY officials’ by Sn.K., TV PINK, BHT 1, NTV Hayat – RS Interior Minister Darko Matijasevic and RS Police Director Dragomir Andan are visiting The Hague, where they were engaged in talks with ICTY officials during which they exchanged information on the fulfillment of commitments by RS on locating and arresting indicted war criminals. The RS Ministry of Interior told FENA that the visit is in line with the determination of RS authorities to fulfil all commitments towards the ICTY if indicted war criminals are on its territory. The RS is requested to arrest Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, as well as Sredoje Lukic and Stojan Zupljanin. The RS MoI is determined to fulfil commitments towards the ICTY regarding the discovery and arrest of all indicted from the public list, and at the same promote the possibility of voluntary arrest. |
| 7 new reports on crimes against Serbs
| BHT 1, TV PINK, NTV Hayat – RS police have prepared the 7 new reports on killing of Serbs during the war. At the press conference RS Police showed the film on killing of Serbs. Police spokesperson Radovan Pejic stated that RS Ministry of Interior possesses the information on 749 identified or partially identified persons suspected of committing war crimes in Donnja Bioca, Crni Vrh, Teslic and Podvelezje in 1992 and 1993. The reports read that out of 2116 victims, 235 were killed, 80 were injured, 11 were raped and 1170 persons were put in war camps. Pejic added that most of the war crime executors were volunteers from Islamic countries, who fought as members of the “El mujahedeen” unit of the 3rd corps of BiH Army. According to RS MoI, 15,000-30,000 foreign citizens were involved in the crimes. Pejic said that RS MoI had not received any response to any report it had submitted to prosecutions. RTRS – RTRS unofficially found out that Rasim Delic, Safet Halilovic, Sakib Mahmuljin, Ibrahim Polic, Ejub Ganic, Stjepan Kljujic, Ivo Komsic. Mirko Pejanovic, Jovan Divjak and Ibrahim Delic are included in the lsit of 25 names of eprsons suspected of commanding responsibility. RS MoI Spokesman Radovan Pejic stated that they have videos showing mujaheedins committing the crimes and adds that the same material shows the connection between them and BIH officials at the time. Pejic adds that Serbs were taken to war camps in Tarcin, Pazaric and Zvornik whilst their property was robbed and destroyed. Reporter concludes that around 70 people in total are being held responsible for crimes committed over Serbs. Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Pejic: Americans trained mujahedeens in Slovenia and Croatia’ by Nermin Bise,, Oslobodjenje pg 6, announced on cover ‘Americans trained mujahedeens, and UN got them inside BiH’ by Az.Kalamujic, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘A majority of those reported are mujahedeens’ by S.Karic, Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘The bloody trace of jihad’ by N.Z. – also report |
| Anniversary of Grabovica massacre marked
| Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘Families still do not know where the bodies of 21 victim are’, announced on cover ‘Memoray of innocent victims at Grabovica’ by A.M., Oslobodjenje pg 7, announced on cover ‘Pain for the dearest ones is always the same’ by Asaf Becirevic, Dnevni List cover pg splash, pgs 2-3 ‘Bosniak top is ignoring Croat victims’ by Ivana Rozic,BHT 1, RHB, FTV –media report on commemoration in Grabovica dedicated to 33 Croats killed in 1993 by the BIH Army. The mortal remains of 22 Croats are still missing. HDZ delegation attended the commemoration mass for Croats in Grabovica accompanied by Chairman of BIH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic. Jovic said at the occasion that crimes committed on Croats are insufficiently covered by media. “This is a place where a monstrous crime happened and no one has been trialled for it. This should be considered as the failure of the civilisation” commented Jovic. |
| BHT 1 on Jovic’s statement regarding the Grabovica massacre
| BHT 1 – BHT 1 commented the statement issued by Chairman of BIH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic that nobody was trialled for the massacre that happened in Grabovica in 1993 when BIH Army killed 33 Croats. Reporter stated that former BIH Army General Sefer Halilovic has been processed for that crime before ICTY. Mustafa Hota and Enes Sakrak have been processed before the |