Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 26 August
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) |
| Amfilohije’s appeal to Karadzic | Amfilohije calls on Karadzic to give in |
| PDP on operation ‘Maestral’ | Zelenovic arrest still not confirmed |
| Croatia-Slovenia border disputes | Weather |
TV news broadcast on 25 August
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| ICTY indictee Zelenovic arrested | ICTY indictee Zelenovic arrested | ICTY indictee Zelenovic arrested |
| FBiH Govt. on defence reform | “Monitor” on Karadzic’s surrender | Karadzic surrenders in Sept? |
| RS Govt. on defence reform | Prosper on ICTY indictees | Milosevic’s trial update |
| New locations of 4 FBiH ministries | OHR on Tihic’s statement | Blaskic update |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| ICTY indictee Zelenovic arrested | EP RS Audit report | ICTY indictee Zelenovic arrested |
| Feature on man who found 20.000 | Zenica Mine Affair | RS Govt will guarantee for Galic |
| Criminal report against SBS officer | Doboj diplomas | Gregorian on defence reform |
| Marihuana plantation destroyed | HJPC on revision of salaries | FBiH Govt on defence reform |
| Oslobodjenje | About 3.300 victims of the war could stay without benefits? |
| Dnevni Avaz | Mc Nair is stopping release of Prce |
| Dnevni List | Mostar: |
| Vecernji List | Prlic will summon officials of |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | There will be no trials to Blaskic, only new evidences will be included |
| Nezavisne Novine | ERS lost 226 million KM trough poor business management |
| Glas Srpske | Hamzas were killing everyone |
| EuroBlic | Features Serbian related titles |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Srpski Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Amfilohije calls on Karadzic to give in
| RHB, BH Radio 1 – Amfilohije Radovic, Metropolitan of Montenegro, issued an unprecedented appeal yesterday in an interview to BBC for the former Radovan Karadzic to surrender to the ICTY. Radovic added that this was Karadzic’s personal decision, however added he expects from Karadzci to make that decision. EUFOR Commander, David Leakey, welcomed the statement. |
| No official confirmation of Zelenovic arrest
| BH Radio 1, RHB – There is no official confirmation that Dragan Zelenovic got arrested in |
| Croatian media say Ljubicic’s new witness
| BH Radio 1 – Croatian media report that the former commander of the military police of the HVO, Pasko Ljubicic, indicted for Ahmici massacre by ICTY, could be a secret witness who enabled Carla Del Ponte to ask for renewal of the Blaskic case. |
War crimes | |
| Media: ICTY suspect Zlenovic arrested in
| RHB, PINK, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Dragan Zelenovic arrested in Russia’ by FENA, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Dragan Zelenovic arrested in Russia?’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Fugitive D. Zelenovic arrested in Russia’, by bs, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Dragan Zelenovic arrested in Russia’, by A. Macanovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover Dragan Zelenovic was arrested in Russia’ by Z. Galic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Dragan Zelenovic was arrested’ by V. Janjic– Serbian Radio-Television announced that the ICTY indictee from Foca Dragan Zelenovic has been apprehended in Russia. Along with Gojko Jankovic and Radovan Stankovic, Zelenovic is indicted for torture and rape of Croat and Bosniak population in Foca in 1992, when he was the deputy commander of the military police and the leader of Bosnian Serbs’ paramilitary units it this city. Hayat– According to SRNA, Zelenovic will probably be handed over to Serbian authorities. Russian Embassy in |
| Prosper: US expects Karadzic/Mladic to be arrested by fall/ DA: the arrest are just matter of time
| BHT1, RTRS, RHB, PINK, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘US expects Karadzic/Mladic to be arrested by fall’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 inset ‘We expect arrest in fall’, Dnevni List, pg 21 ‘Arrest war criminals this autumn’, by not signed, Vecernji List, pg 20 ‘Karadzic goes to The Hague in September?’, by H, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 7 ‘Prosper expects arrest of Karadzi and Mladic in autumn’, by H, Nezavisne novine pg 6, announced on cover ‘Prosper expects Karadzic and Mladic to be arrested in autumn’ by Agencies, Vecernje Novosti pg 7 ‘No progress without Mladic’ by E. Radosavljevic – US Ambassador-at-large for War Crimes issues, Pierre Richard Prosper,stated that the United States expects arrest of Karadzic and Mladic to occur in fall. Visiting the War Crimes Chamber in |
| Montenegrin ‘Monitor’: Karadzic to surrender in September?
| BHT1, PINK, RHB, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Surrender in September?’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Karadzic in the Hague in September’, mentioned on cover, by Fena, Dnevni List, pg 21 ‘Radovan Karadzic goes to The Hague in September’, not signed Vecernji List, pg 20 ‘Karadzic goes to The Hague in September?’, by H, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Karadzic negotiates with Americans’ not signed– Montenegrin ‘Monitor’ weekly, calling upon its sources in Montenegrin authorities, writes that surrender of Radovan Karadzic in Montenegro is being prepared in cooperation with Serbian security agencies. Apparently, the negotiations on the surrender have intensified, and Karadzic could end up in |
| RS Govt granted guarantees for Galic
| RTRS, FTV, Hayat, BHT 1, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘RS Government gave guarantees for Galic’ not signed– RS decided to grant guarantees for the temporary release of former general Stanislav Galic, accused of shelling Sarajevo under siege, who has been remanded in ICTY custody. The government has pledged that it will obey all the orders of the ICTY Appeal Chamber and that it will be responsible for Galic’s security, should he be released on bail. Also covered by |
| DA: Del Ponte gathered new evidences against Blaskic
| Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Carla Del Ponte has new evidences?’ by F. Vele – Following the news published by Croatian weekly “Globus” that Carla Del Ponte has requested renewal of the trial to Tihomir Blaskic, DA’s anonymous source from ICTY claims that she did not base the request on ground of statement of just one protected witness, but also on sieries of new evidences that the ICTY investigators have collected in the past few months. The source says that evidences prove Blaskic’s responsibility for the massacre in Ahmici village, and that a number of new witnesses, mostly Croats, have appeared. The source also claims that the whole case has been treated confidentially, thus the ICTY has already started investigating who leaked the information to media. |
| SB: Prosecution to use docs SB published last year
| Slobodna Bosna pgs 30-31 ‘Dramatic turn in the Blaskic case’ by Danka Savic, Senad Avdic – Referring to the possibility for renewal of the Blaskic case, SB learns that the documents “proving” Blaskic was responsible for the troops which committed massacre in Ahmici in 1993, and which magazine published last year, were received by Prosecution with a big delay. They are allegedly going to be used now to renew the case. Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Neither confirmed, nor denied!’, mentioned on cover, by Darjan Zadravec – Daily writes that so far there were neither official confirmations nor denials of the news that Del Ponte requested renewal of the Blaskic case. Tihomir Blaskic stated he was not information about this either, while the ICTY spokesperson Jim Landale stated that the Court has not received the appeal. |
| Professor Josipovic on Blaskic case: There will be no new trial
| Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 5 ‘There will be no trials to Blaskic, only new evidences will be included’, by Anita Malenica – According to a prominent professor of the Zagreb Law School, dr. Ivo Josipovic, there will not be new trials in the Blaskic case, the only thing that would happen is that new evidence would be introduced on basis of which a possible new verdict could be reached. |
| Prlic’s defence plans to summon IC, UN officials
| Vecernji List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Prlic will summon officials of Republic of Croatia and UN as witnesses’, by Zdenko Jurilj – According to the author, defence team of Jadranko Prlic, who will be tried by the ICTY for his role during the war in Herzegovina, is amassing evidences and conducting interviews with possible witnesses in BiH and Croatia. Apparently, the team plans to summon to the trials foreign and domestic reporters and officials of the IC and the UN. |
| GS claims it has evidence on war crimes committed by 5th Corps of BiH Army | Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Hamzas were killing everyone’ by E. G. S. – The article claims it is in possession of photos that might serve as an evidence for war crimes committed by 5th Corps of BiH Army, i.e. by one of its parts – “Hamza” brigade. The article claims the brigade was a mujahedeen brigade and also publishes some photos to support this claim. The article also reads |
Defence and police reforms | |
| FBiH Govt adopts laws to transfer defence authorities to state
| RHB, Hayat, PINK, Oslobodjneje pg 6 ‘Preparations for abolishment of FBiH Army and MoD’ by A. Omeragic, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Organization of defence at state level’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘New laws for demise of FBIH Army’, by Dejan Jazvic, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Jurisdiction of entities in field of defence are being annulled’ by M. Rener– FBiH Government at the session on Thursday adopted three draft amendments to the FBiH Constitution enabling further implementation of defence reforms. The proposed amendments envisage the removal of the FBiH’s jurisdiction over defence – control and organization of defence, funding of defence, the FBiH parliament’s authority, as well as the appointment of officers, which had been the under the sole jurisdiction of the FBiH President. FBiH Government also defined the draft law on abolishing the FBiH defence law, as well as the draft law on abolishing the law on service in the FBiH Army. The existing laws will expire 30 days after the BiH Defence Law takes effect on |
| RS Govt to adopt final stance on defence reform on 29 August/ Gregorian positive about outcomes
| FTV, PINK, Hayat, BHT 1, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Final conclusion on defence reform on Monday’, by F, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Conclusions on defence Monday’ by R. S., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Army to lower a flag?’ by G. Dakic, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Army is waiting until Ministers are having a rest’ by T. V. and N. B.– RS Defence Minister Milovan Stankovic stated on Thursday that the RS Government would adopt final positions on defence reform at a special session on Monday, 29 August. Stankovic told a press conference in |
| Gregorian meets RSNA Speaker Stojicic, RTRS comments RS politicians not untied on the issue
| RTRS Milka Mrdja – Co-chairman of BiH Defence Reform Commission Raffi Gregorian met with of RS National Assembly Speaker, Dusan Stojicic, and head of RSNA Caucuses in |
| BiH MoD warns defence reform is in critical moment
| Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Deadlines are the most critical moment’ by L. S. – BiH Defense Ministry warns the most “critical” moment in realization of defense reform remains respecting the deadlines set. The Ministry expects timely reaction of F BiH parliament and RS NA following next session of RS Government. |
| OHR: Governing Parties Must Face Up To Their Responsibility For Police Reform
| PINK, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Tihic must now that the reform is in the hands of local politicians’ by FENA, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘No reply on Tihic’ by S. Mi. – OHR spokesperson in |
| Tihic disagrees with OHR
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘International Community cannot love BiH more than I love it’ by Aj. Delic – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic told DA Thursday his statement regarding the responsibility of IC for non-adoption of European principles in police reform is a stance he had reiterated several times already. He stated he does not agree with OHR statement saying ‘political parties in BiH will never be recognized as modern and European as long as their leaders are putting better positioning in frames of their parties before true state interests’ and he added ‘they can never love BiH more than I love it or work for it more than I do’. |
| Hayat comment on police reform
| Hayat by Semsudin Skejic – Commenting the OHR respond to Sulejman Tihic’s statement on police reforms, reporter said that the reform will never be adopted without pressure of the international community. He also emphasized that the RS representatives are obliged to respect the platform adopted by RS National Assembly. Therefore, SDS can’t accept the present police reform concept, even if this party might be ready to accept it. SDA and HDZ both agree with police reform. SDP criticizes the authorities, but the reporter commented that even if SDP were a governing party, problems with adoption of police reform would be the same. NGO’s from RS use the police reform negotiations as ground for expansion of their political work. At the same time, media publishes the news that war orphans are being trained in terrorist camps in BiH. RS Ministry of Inetrior reacted immediately, stating that terrorist camps do not exist in BiH. Reporter ironically commented that this prompt reaction is a prove that RS Police doesn’t need any reforms, as it is functioning so well. Police reform negotiations will continue on Wednesday, but reporter doubts that it is going to bring any results. |
| RTRS feature on police reform
| RTRS by Biljana Knezevic – The RS Government did not discuss the police reform process on its Thursday’s session. Members of the SDS Presidency also did not discuss this issue, although it was expected on the eve of Friday’s session of the SDS Main Board. The Coordination Centre of 11 NGOs warned again that every solution which is not in keeping with RS constitution is absolutely unacceptable: they claim that the reform that foresees abolishing of the RS Ministry of Interior and transfer of authority from the RS to the state level would violate the RS Constitution. “We have some information that there are two currents among RS officials: one – led by the president Dragan Cavic, who is allegedly for accepting the police reform, and the second one – led by the RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic, who does not support the proposed police reform concept”, said Boro Medic, member of the RS Association of Inmates’ Presidency. Although RS non-governmental organizations warned President Cavic and PM Bukejlovic that they must not give up their position, it seems that the compromise could be reached on the next police reform meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, August 31 on |
| DA int with EUPM Commissioner Carty on police-related issues
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘We are not in the |
| BHT1 receives letter from group of anonymous SBS employees on alleged corruption in employment
| BHT1 by Marina Boskovic – The group of anonymous persons, claiming to be the State Border Service (SBS) employees, sent a letter to BHT 1, BIH Security Ministry and OHR claiming that it is a “public secret” that the working places at the SBS are sold for 5 000 KM or given to the relatives and friends. They requested the investigation of the issue. “The SBS agents complained and tried to file charges against the responsible officials but withdrew due to pressure and threats,” reads the letter. The group stated that they did not sign the letter due to the fear. SBS denied all the allegations adding that all candidates had been examined by United Nations’ IPTF. Fadil Jaganjac from SBS BIH stated that he was in the panel in 2001 and he declared under the full responsibility that during that period nobody was exposed to threats. Reporter noted that this issue as well as the issue of the murder of one of the SBS agents by another agent demand for the urgent solution of the situation in SBS. From the last year in April, SBS has no legal director and during the last month not even the deputies. BIH Minister for Security Barisa Colak stated the Wednesday’s meeting between Leaders of SDA and HDZ will enhance the search for the solution. “I will personally advocate for reaching the solution at the next session of the Council of Minister” added Colak. He added that politicians should be aware of the complexity of the situation and express will in solving it. |
| Covic asked Tihic to support Croat to take over SBS Director positions/ Tihic wants Bosniak
| Oslobodjneje pg 7 ‘HDZ offers Croat, SDS a Bosniak’ by V.Z. – HDZ spokesperson, Miso Relota, confirmed for daily that HDZ leader Dragan Covic asked from Sulejman Tihic, SDA president, at the meeting in Mostar on Wednesday to support his request for appointment of Croat person at the position of SBS Director. Tihic responded that SDA believes that a Bosniak should occupy that position. Relota added that parties leaders also called on CoM to solve this issue as soon as possible. He reminded that HDZ was already left without leading position in SIPA. |
Judicial and political issues | |
| HJPC urged Ashdown to temporarily lifts the constitutional protection of judicial salaries/ FTV notes contradiction in HJPC statements
| RHB, BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Constitutional protection of the judges to be temporarily put out of force’, Dnevni Avaz pg 11, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Possible decrease of salaries to judges and prosecutors’, by Erna Mackic – High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) approved the draft law onf the working group tasked by the High Representative to review the salaries of the judges and prosecutors. It also urged Paddy Ashdown to temporarily place the constitutional protection of judges’ salaries out of effect. The above mentioned law will result in certain decrease of the judges and prosecutors’ salaries in all parts of BiH, and HJPC believes that the constitutional protection of the salaries prevent the implementation of this law in both BiH entities. FTV by Blazica Kristo – FTV comments that the press release issued by HJPC was entirely contradictory and confusing, as the HJPC adopts the law which will decrease their salaries, than demand lift of constitutional protection of their salaries [which would prevent decrease], and finally the HJPC said it is risky to lift the constitutional protection because the Courts and judges might be at the risk of corruption and political manipulation. |
| HR’s lift ban to Zelenika, Suljic
| RHB, PINK, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Paddy Ashdown removed the ban of the work for Edina Suljic and Dragan Zelenika’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Annulment of the decision banning the work of Suljic and Zelenika’ by Fena, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Ban to Suljic and Zelenika lifted’, not signed – The HR Paddy Ashdown annulled the decision made 5 years ago which banned the work of the former Chief Inspector Edin Suljic and his Deputy Dragan Zelenika in the FBiH Financial Police. Suljic and Zelenika were removed in November 2000, while the FBiH Government was instructed to return their predecessors, who were replaced because of the political reasons, to work. However, OHR concluded that the circumstances have changed, thus enabling Suljic and Zelenika to find jobs in financial institutions. Both have signed statements swearing to respect the BiH Constitution and uphold the Peace Agreement. As Ljiljana Radetic, OHR spokespersons in |
| Terzic and Sanader discuss Sanader’s visit to
| Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Sanader will visit BiH’, by Hina, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Sanader and Terzic agreed details of visit’, by f – Croatian Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader, and BiH Council of Ministers Chairman, Adnan Terzic, discussed over the phone about Sanader’s visit to Sarajevo. They have also discussed the inter-state agreement on property-legal relations, which representatives of two countries should sign. Both officials agreed that all the controversial issues should be solved before Croatian PM’s visit to BiH. RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Agreement on property relations to be signed in Sarajevo?’, Oslobodjneje pg 2 ‘Agreement on property-legal relations again included in agenda’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Consultations upon agreement on property-legal issues’ by Agencies also reported. |
| FBiH Government denied the authority of Brcko Arbitral Tribunal
| Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘It is impossible to raise the issue of transfer of control over Brcko District’ by M. K. – Deputy President of FBiH Sahbaz Dzihanovic at FBiH Government session on Thursday explained the reply of FBiH upon an order and invitation of the Tribunal for Brcko. By this reply, FBiH acknowledges no further jurisdiction of the Arbitral Tribunal and the Government approved such a reply. The reply, among other, emphasizes that, as in accordance with the Final Award, the Supervisor had taken over his rights and obligations and all rights and obligations with regard to Brcko District had been transferred on the District bodies under the jurisdiction of BiH. ‘The stance of FBiH is that the jurisdiction over Brcko District is in hands of BiH institutions, which is in accordance with BiH Constitution. It is impossible and unacceptable to raise the question of transfer of control over Brcko District to one or the other entity five years after the proclamation of Brcko District’, the reply reads. It was emphasized that Brcko District, in future, will share destiny of the entire BiH and it cannot be seen as “a party” in relation with entities or BiH institutions. PINK, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘BiH institutions have the jurisdiction over Brcko District’ not signed – also report. |
| FBiH Govt: 5 FBiH ministries to move to Mostar within 45 days
| Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Five Federation ministries are moving to Mostar in October’, by Nermin Bise, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Ministries in Mostar’, by ra – The FBiH Government took a decision that the 5 FBiH ministries were to move to Mostar within 45 days. Namely, the building of the FBIH Directorate for Railways in Mostar will become the Government property and will accommodate the FBiH Ministry of Traffic and Communications. The ‘Projektant’ building will accommodate the Ministry of Development and Entrepreneurship and Ministry of Science and Education. Ministry of Industry and Energy will move to the ‘Korzo’ building, whilst the Ministry of Trade and Tourism will remain in the building of the FBiH Government in Mostar. According to FBiH Deputy Prime Minister, Gavrilo Grahovac, this will open a possibility of new jobs for people from Mostar and Herzegovina since there is objectively a number of people that will not be able to work in Mostar. RHB, Oslobodjneje pg 8 ‘Part of the government is moving to Mostar’ by A.O also report. |
| DA: McNair is stopping Prce’s pardoning
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘Mc Nair is stopping release of Prce’ by S. Numanovic – Head of Special Department of BiH Prosecutor’s Office for organized crimes John MCNair will file a complaint to the Board for release on parole in order to halt releasing of Miroslav Prce. McNair told DA he would strongly oppose to release of Prce. Apart from this, he says he had received a letter from F BiH President Niko Lozancic, which he had sent to the HR, but he had not received a copy of a decision on release of Prce on parole. ‘I still have many questions on this issue. For instance, he has stated Prce’s application for release on parole is one of hundreds he has received. However, he has no answer to the question how many decisions on pardons he had reached, or who was pardoned, or only Prce was privileged with this in past six-seven months’, McNair says. Asked to say whether there is any news with regard to Momcilo Mandic’s case, McNair replied the Department is dealing with this, adding that they have interrogated him and he assessed it would not take much time more to complete the investigation. Inset ‘Investigation on Srpske Sume’ – McNair stated one of prosecutors had taken over the investigation in “Srpske Sume” case and he refused to reveal any detail. |
| Judge Babic: Pardon of Prce is null and void
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Pardon of Prce is null and void over non-jurisdiction of F BiH President’ by M. Cubro – F BiH President Niko Lozancic decided 15 days ago to pardon Miroslav Prce, who was sentenced over abuse of office, and to reduce his sentence for a year. A judge of BiH Court Milos Babic says F BiH President has no jurisdiction to pardon Prce. He explained Prce had violated F BiH Criminal Code but, as in accordance with changes and addenda to the Law on |
| Dani on Mandic case
| Dani, pgs 24-26 ‘Mobster targeted by CIA’, by Dzenana Karup-Drusko – carries an article in which Dani explains background of Momcilo Mandic’s arrest, including Mandic amassed his wealth. The author says Mandic and some senior SDS officials took part in financial frauds, namely using the ‘Privredna Banka Srpsko Sarajevo’ (PBSS) to finance SDS pre-election campaigns and support hiding of Radovan Karadzic. Dani unofficially learns that despite the prosecutors trying to find for two years evidence to back the charges up, it would appear that they have failed, unless prosecutor Jonathan Ratel manages to make a connection between the PBSS case and Radomir Kojic [whose bank accounts were blocked by decision of HR on |
| Reactions to Dodik’s initiative for abolishment of RS Council of Peoples
| EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Abolishment of the Council of Peoples is not realistic’ by Nedeljka Breberina – Following the initiative of SNSD’s Milorad Dodik for abolishment of RS Council of Peoples and transfer of its authorities to BiH House of Peoples, representatives of almost every caucus at RS CoP agree this initiative is not realistic. Chair of Serb Caucus Desanka Radjevic says it is the fact Bosniak and Croat Caucuses have misused this institution by launching the issue of vital national interest for all kinds of matters, however she does not believe there is a real possibility for this body to be abolished, considering all pressures that have led to its establishment. Bosniak Caucus believes CoP had justified its existence. ‘I plead for abolishment of RS and I think there should be no RS NA, nor federal parliament, including houses of peoples – but, instead – regional assemblies should be established to deal with local issues’, the Bosniak Caucus Chair, Ramiz Salkic, stated. Deputy Chairman of CoP Miroslav Mikes too believes it is not real to expect CoP to be abolished because such a proposal should first get a support of 2/3 majority at RS NA and, even if RS NA accepts it, the proposal would then be sent to CoP for an assessment and, according to Mikes, it is to be expected Bosniak and Croat Caucuses would reject it. |
| Dautbasic on liberalization of visa regime: ‘Our country is hostage to illegal emigrants’
| Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Our country is hostage to illegal emigrants’, by Ivana Rozic – According to the Secretary of the BiH Security Ministry, Bakir Dautbasic, the issue of liberalization/abolishment of visa regime for BiH citizens depends, to a large extent, on return of BiH citizens who are illegal emigrants abroad. He explains that a big problem lies in the fact that it is very hard to return such BiH citizens to the country because many of them have destroyed their documents, therefore it is very hard for foreign authorities to establish where such people come from. |
| SD on endangering of territorial integrity of BiH
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 12 ‘It is punishable to destroy state only if weapons are used’, by Z. Tulic – The author argues that the BiH legislation is very defective since many referendums, whose aim was to organize separation of one part of the country, have been organized in BiH, especially in the RS, and yet there was no consequences for organizers of such referendums. Beriz Belkic, an MP in BiH Parliament, asked for clarification of this issue from the BiH Prosecution, which stated that the endangering of territorial integrity of BiH can only happen, according to the law, with the use and/or threat of use of arms. |
Audits/ economic and social issues | |
| RS Audit Report on ERS: ERS lost 226 million KM over poor business management
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘ERS lost 226 million KM trough poor business management’ by P. Klincov – RS Audit Service claims ERS lost at least 226 million KM trough poor business management in 2003 and 2004. Bosko Ceko, the Chief RS Auditor, held a presentation of the Audit Report on ERS and said he believes the Prosecutor’s Office and other control bodies might have a work with this case. The article lists a number of irregularities in the work of ERS. BHT 1 – The audit service found out there was a number of irregularities in the work, as well as that court processes against the firm are underway – 160 million KM is claimed from the firm as damage compensation through these court proceedings. The article lists some examples of the irregularities and reads ERS had illegally written off debts towards the firm in the amount of approximately 21 million KM.Drago Vujinovic form legal department of the EP RS stated that they will form the commission to investigate the findings of the report but EP and individuals that made investments will be protected. Cvijeta Kovacevic Head of the RS Government’s Public Relations Office said if irregularities are found the authority will act according to that. FTV, RTRS, Hayat, Glas Srpske pg 3, announced on cover ‘226 million KM were lost’ by D. Vrhovac – Mihajlovic, EuroBlic pg RS5, announced on cover ‘They lost 226 million KM’ by Mirna Soja– also reported. |
| PDHR Butler in Mostar with city, cantonal authorities on appointments in
| Dnevni List, pg 12, mentioned on front ‘OHR does not see problems in appointment of civil servants, by Sanja Bjelica, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘National balance is achieved’, by M. Landeka – PDHR, Larry Butler, visited Mostar on Thursday when he met with city and cantonal authorities. During a meeting in the City administration (CA) of Mostar with Mayor of Mostar, Ljubo Beslic, and Chairman of City Council, Murat Coric, PDHR stated that the OHR fully supported the process of appointment of civil servants into the CA, although the national balance has not been observed as yet. “The national balance has been achieved in the most senior levels of City administration in services and departments. We support work of the CA and its efforts and the national balance will be achieved for the remaining 40-50 civil servants. I think this process should be judged at the end, not in the middle”, said PDHR Butler. PDHR Butler also talked with the cantonal Prime Minister, Miroslav Coric, who informed him about financial problems within the judiciary in the canton. On the other hand, PDHR Butler said a lot is expected from commercial chambers within court, which are expected to solve lawsuits in a more efficient way. Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘ |
| Daily: About 3.300 victims of the war could stay without benefits’ | Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 7 ‘About 3.300 victims of the war could stay without benefits’ by A. Becirovic – Daily’s lead story says that the Law on rights of defenders is not being implemented in Mostar, and for irresponsible behaviour of the City Administration it is possible that 3.300 disabled soldiers and members of families of killed soldiers could stay without their monthly benefits. Namely, at the time when Mostar consisted of 6 municipalities, each of them had its own Department for veterans and invalids protection, while the establishment of the City Administration meant also their unification. However, the FBiH Defence Ministry’s information reads that the Administration has not done anything concrete in this issue to date. |