Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 25 August
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) |
| FBiH Govt on defence reform | Prosper on Karadzic/Mladic arrests |
| Entity farmers on Bakic | ICTY on Blaskic case |
| News on arrest of Karadzic, Mladic | |
TV news broadcast on 24 August
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| ICTY appeal on rule in Blaskic’s case | Branislav Medan arrested | Custody for imam accused of abuse |
| Tihic/ Covic meeting | Police reform talks to be continued | Tihic and Covic met in Mostar |
| OHR on Lozancic’s letter | BiH authorities met with farmers | Police reform talks without results |
| HKDU on constitutional changes | RS and FBiH farmers met in BL | No evidence for terror. camps in BiH |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Aner Kasapovic’s case, update | Custody for imam accused of abuse | RS Energopetrol audit report |
| OHR assess Prce pardon documents | Update on Oric case | BIH farmers update |
| Mehmed Zilic pleaded not guilty | Update on | Restitution of the nationalised land |
| Tihic meets Covic | Protest of “TPO Vitkovici” workers | Paravac/ Shook meeting |
| Oslobodjenje | Entities will eventually have to let police go to state |
| Dnevni Avaz | Hadzipasic: This Government will not allow that ‘Agrokomerc’s’ heart be taken out |
| Dnevni List | ‘You are dead if you do not leave Zrinjski’ (footballer attacked in Mostar) |
| Vecernji List | Blaskic case-Del Ponte wants new verdict: We are speechless |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Prce out as early as January? |
| Nezavisne Novine | Medical doctors under investigation on trafficking in organs |
| Glas Srpske | For poor people – whatever is left |
| EuroBlic | Features Serbian related titles |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Srpski Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Hellman, Blaskic not aware of alleged Del Ponte’s request for renewed trial
| BH Radio 1 by Mirsad Bajktarevic – ICTY spokesperson in BiH, Mathias Hellman, stated for BH Radio 1 he is not aware that ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, demanded renewal of the process against Tihomir Blaskic,who was found guilty for crimes against Bosniaks and served 9 years in prison after which he was released last year. Blaskic stated for BH Radio 1 he has not received any documents from the ICTY, thus has BH no comment. |
| Prosper: US expect Karadzic/Mladic arrests in fall
| RHB, BH Radio 1 – US Ambassador-at-large for War Crimes issues, Pierre Richard Prosper,stated that the |
| Montenegrin weekly on Karadzic’s arrest
| RHB – Montenegrin ‘Monitor’ weekly, calling upon its sources in Montenegrin authorities, writes that surrender of Radovan Karadzic in |
| Ashdown annuls decision banning work for two Financial Police officers
| BH Radio 1 Daliborka Kujundzic – 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. |
| FBiH Government on defence reform
| RHB – FBiH Government is in session today and should be discussing amendments to the FBiH Constitution and set of 3 laws pertaining to defence reform. FBiH Government, if the amendments are adopted, will create pre-requisites for transfer of jurisdiction onto the state level. |
Police and defence reform / Security issues | |
| Tihic, Covic meet to discuss reforms/ Tihic: ‘If Int. Comm. was united, police reform would be completed’
| RTRS, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Now we will have to wait for will SDS Main Board say’ by Fena – SDA and HDZ leaders, Sulejman Tihic and Dragan Covic respectively, met in Mostar on Wednesday to discuss the reforms process in BiH. The SDS, Dragan Cavic, should have been present, but he excused his absence due to obligations. Commenting police reform in BiH, Tihic pointed out that BiH has not success in police reform due to indecisiveness and divisions in international community. “If international community was united and decisive… we would have the agreement so far. Unfortunately, the indecisiveness reflects in some way on the functioning of power at BiH level”, Tihic declared at the press. “Unfortunately, all of us have to wait for as to what the Main Board of SDS will say”, Tihic added. On same issue, Covic said that the reform is still far from a practical solution. “Of course, we are not satisfied with that, and I believe that we from political parties should work more… within next ten days,“ Covic pointed out. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘If IC was united, we would already have agreement on police’ by F. Vele – Tihic pointed out that other reforms were carried out and that agreements were reached on issues of SIPA, OSA, and ITA wondering why police is the problem. Tihic also urged the authorized authorities to appoint SBS director in accordance with the professional criteria and ethnic distribution of positions. RHB by |
| RS Govt: ‘Tihic’s statements only make things more difficult’
| FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Tihic’s statements only make things more difficult’ by Fena, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Tihic is afraid the institutions would reach an agreement’ by V. P., Glas Srpske pg 2, announced on cover ‘Tihic is afraid of an agreement’ by G. Dakic – The RS Government condemned Wednesday’s statements by the Bosniak member of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic on police reform negotiations stating that they are not helping a search for the solution. “His request to the IC reminds of the time left behind us and it only reflects Tihic’s fear that solution might be reached at the BIH institutions and that it will be opposite to what he desires,” concluded the RS Government. |
| SDP: ‘Police reform has come to absolute downfall’
| BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Police reform has come to absolute downfall’, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Police reform suffers complete collapse’, by Mensud Zorlak – SDP deems that police reform, as one of the main conditions for accessing European integration, has come to its final, absolute downfall. SDP Presidency member Damir Hadzic told a press conference that it sounds impossible that since the first round of talks to date, the participants have failed to take a minimal step forward. He stressed that talks on police are no longer focusing on the context of establishing a functional and optimal police that can respond to the basic task, and this is battle against crime and corruption. “Talks are focusing on completely ephemeral issues, which we deemed to have been overcome long ago through the Martens commission, given that uniforms and salaries are now being debated as the most important things. This was one of the issues that were resolved long time ago, and today everything is being returned to the beginning”, said Hadzic. |
| Hadzipasic: Working group will prepare proposal by Bjelasnica meeting
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘This government will not allow for Agrokomerc to be striped of its ‘heart’, inset ‘Police must be acceptable for citizens’ by Mirela Kukan – FBiH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic commented on police reform that the key problem in the negotiations are two entirely difference concepts, one of which is RS’ stipulating police organized at the entity level. However, he said he believes that until the meeting in Bjelasic, the working group consisting of the SIPA director, Security Minister and the Chair of the CoM will manage to prepare one proposal acceptable to all. |
| SDS Presidency today discusses police reform
| Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Solutions in line with RS Constitution’ by Srna – SDS Presidency today meets to discuss the police reform in BiH. On Friday, SDS Main Board will also hold the session. The party told SRNA news agency they expects leadership to find the best solution regarding the police reform in line with the RS Constitution. |
| Oslobodjenje: ‘Entities will eventually have to let police go to the state’
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Entities will eventually have to let police go to the state’ by Az. Kalamujic – Oslobodjenje brings the review of the negotiating process on the police reform since December last year, reminding of the concept proposed by the Police Reform Commission chaired by Wilfred Martens and subsequent objections coming from RS. It also reminds of the rounds of talks already held concluding that the participants of the negotiations will eventually agree on minimum, i.e. three principles set by the EC, which will transfer the authorities over police to the state level. It also reminds of the statement by Adnan Terzic, who said that the decision on police regions and locations of their HQs may be agreed in a later stage by the future Conference of the state police directors. By the meeting at Bjelasnica, scheduled for 31 August, Oslobodjenje expects that the agreement will be reached on uniforms, financing and seats of forensic institute, training centre and police administration. |
| A participant of police talks: defining of police maps might be postponed for a year
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Defining of police regions will be postponed’, announced on cover ‘Defining of police maps will be postponed for a year’ by M. Cubro – An anonymous participant of the police talks has stated for NN defining of police maps might be postponed for a year if RS representatives accept an agreement on police reform that would include a clause saying police regions would be organized in accordance with EU principles. The article also summarizes statements of Adnan Terzic, Barisa Colak and Pero Bukejlovic given after the police talks in Hutovo Blato. (See OHR BiH Media Round-up August 24) |
| Beric: Police reform stuck in mud
| Oslobodjenje, pg 9 ‘Reform in mud’, by Gojko Beric – Commenting on recent events in BiH, particularly about the police reform talks at Hutovo blato (NB: blato means mud in English), Beric says there is something symbolic in the venue since the police reform is definitively stuck in the mud. The author goes on to say that nationalists from the RS will keep doing what they are doing, which resulted in the High Representative losing nerves, which caused pleasure among the Serb nationalists, despite the denial of the ‘Cyprus’ statement. “The genie from the bottle has been released”, concludes Beric. |
| Schook meets Paravac: Admission to PfP will depend on completion of defence reforms
| BHT1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Admission to PfP will depend on completion of defence reforms’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Paravac gave “Sofic coat of arms” [name of the golden BiH plaque] to Schook’, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘NATO General satisfied with achieved tasks in BiH’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘After defence reform – Partnership for Peace’, by ra, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Admission to PfP after defense reform’ by Srna, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Schook: First reforms, then the Partnership’ by Z. B. – BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac met with the outgoing NATO Commander in Sarajevo, General Steven Schook. Paravac and Schook agreed that completion of defense reform would create the preconditions for BiH’s admission into the Partnership for Peace. General Schook said he was satisfied with the tasks carried out during his mandate in BiH, adding he intends to address the RS National Assembly on August 30. Paravac expressed assurance that it is possible to achieve consensus in BiH and accept the essential principles of reform in this field and the appropriate representation of constituent peoples, which would put an end to wars in these areas. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Weber to replace Schook’ – General Schook will be replaced by the brigadier general Louis W. Weber [to take over at the end of year], who performed the duty of director for training of US army. |
| RS Govt criticizes Terzic’s statement on terrorism claims
| BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Ungrounded statement by Terzic’, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘RS MoI reacts to Terzic’s statement’, by BS, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Terzic’s statements have no grounds’ by Srna, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Viciously on Andan’ by Z. Ma. – RS Interior Ministry stated that Adnan Terzic’s comment regarding the reports on terrorist camps in BiH [he called it “continuation of [Dragan] Adnan’s statements”] was ill intentioned. |
| Oslobodjenje on terrorist camps in BiH, statements by Terzic and RS MoI
| Oslobodjenje, pg 9 ‘I guess they do not know…’, by Edin Krehic – carries an op-ed in which the author comments on reports about existence of terrorist training camps in BiH and subsequent statements by Adnan Terzic (who denied existence of statements and said it was continuation of Dragomir Andan’s earlier statement) and the RS MoI, which stood in defence of Andan. Krehic says that the reports on existence of the camps are always more damaging to BiH than any denial, be it from the EUFOR Commander or Spanish Foreign Minister. Regarding RS MoI’s swift reaction to defend Andan, the author stresses the prompt reaction by the RS MoI, whilst in the same time the said ministry has nothing to say about whereabouts of war criminals. |
| 237 anti-tank missiles located near Ljubuski
| BHT1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 19 ‘237 anti-tank shells found in Ljubuski’, by Z. Zekic, Nezavisne Novine, pg 4 ‘237 missiles found near Ljubuski’, by agencies, Oslobodjenje, pg 11 ‘237 anti-tank missiles fund near Ljubuski’, by Fena – Colonel Damien Rouband from EUFOR’s Multi-National Operative Group South-East said on Wednesday [24 August] that a large amount of weaponry has been found in Podglavica, near Ljubuski [southwest of Mostar]. Rouband explained that the local police, after locating 222 anti-tank rockets and fifteen 90 mm calibre rockets, requested EUFOR’s assistance. The ammunition will be stored in a safe location and destroyed soon. Also covered by |
| Novic: 900 SIPA employees by end of 2005
| Oslobodjenje pg 5, Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘SIPA looking for experienced and qualified police officers’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Soon 900 employees at SIPA’, by ra, Nezavisne Novine, pg 4 ‘900 employees by the end of the year’ by , Glas Srpske, pg 3 ‘More and more employees’ by N. Z., EuroBlic, pg RS3 ‘SIPA invites police officers’ by Srna – The SIPA director, Sredoje Novic, and EUPM’s chief advisor to SIPA, David Hamilton, visited SIPA’s offices in Mostar and Banja Luka where they talked to police officers about filling of vacancies in SIPA, which are open until end August. Novic hopes that SIPA will have 900 employees by end of 2005, and that many experienced and qualified police officers will apply for jobs at SIPA. Also covered by RS press. |
Political and judicial issues | |
| Tihic, Covic discuss constitutional changes, other political issues: Changes necessary
| Hayat – SDA and HDZ leaders, Sulejman Tihic and Dragan Covic respectively, met in Mostar on Wednesday to discuss the reforms process in BiH, both agreeing that BiH Constitution and Elections Law must be changed as soon as possible, preferably some time around 10th Dayton Peace Accord anniversary. “This meeting, as well as others to follow, has to result in an agreement on necessity of the constitutional changes and changes in Law on Elections to ensure elections are carried out in a different system, which would remove the existing difficulties”, said Tihic. Covic added: “BiH, organized in this way, has no future, and I believe that any normal person wants to create ambient to change things by next elections.” RHB by Milan Vego – “Everyone who cares for BIH and wishes well to this people should create the atmosphere to carry out constitutional changes,” said Covic. He stressed that the administration is too big and too expensive. Commenting the same issues, Tihic said that most politicians even in RS agree that some changes should be made regarding the organisation of presidency, Council of Ministers, transition of the authority on the state level, etc. “The problem is the organisation of the state where we do not have the approval of one side” said Tihic. Two political leaders also discussed education, appointment of SBS Direcotr and problems in Gornji Vakuf, Uskoplje, Stolac and Mostar. BHT1 by Seid Masnica –Tihic and Covic emphasized that this meeting is one is series of meetings to improve SDA/HDZ relations. Tihic expressed regret that SDS President Dragan Cavic didn’t attend, adding that leaders of other political parties are going to be invited to the future SDA/HDZ meetings. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘If IC was united, we would already have agreement on police’ by F. Vele, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Now we will have to wait for will SDS Main Board say’ by Fena, Dnevni List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘HDZ and SDA agree on majority of constitutional changes’, by Marko Karacic, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Indecisiveness halts reform’, by Zoran Kresic, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Problems in BiH are about regionalization’, by Emil Karamatic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘International Community is culpable for failure of police reform’ by V. Coric, EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Covic and Tihic agree, Cavic did not attend’ by N. B. – also report on discussion on constitutional changes. |
| DL op-ed: How can problems be agreed upon in one hour?
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Brotherhood’, by Marko Karacic – Commenting on the Covic-Tihic meeting and optimistic statements that the SDA and HDZ agree on 80% of issues regarding constitutional changes and other issues, the author wonders how it is possible that the problems that cannot be solved in years get agreed upon in one hour. |
| OHR assesses Lozancic’s documentation
| Hayat by Senka Hadzovic – OHR Spokesperson |
| Prce’s lawyer: Prce out as early as January?
| Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and ‘Prce out as early as January?’, by Zlatko Tulic – According to Miroslav Prce’s lawyer, Zarko Bulic, he will most likely ask that his client be released after January 24, 2006, when his client will have spent two years in jail i.e. when he starts meeting requirement to be released on probation. Talking more about the Prce case, SD notes that despite the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, calling the pardon ‘political game’, the FBIH Justice Ministry says the decision to pardon Prce is final and not contestable. In other words, the decision will be valid after it gets published in the FBiH Official Gazette. Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Prce out on January 24’, by Zoran Kresic – carries similar statement by Bulic and on top of that, VL says Prce will most probably be released, claiming that the defence will file a motion unless the HR annuls the decision on Prce pardon. |
| Danas warns that Prce will enjoy his property when he gets out of jail
| Danas, front pg splash and pgs 28-31 ‘Change of law because of Miroslav Prce’, by Danas investigative team – Talking about the Miroslav Prce pardoning case, the weekly notes that Prce, despite admitting to wrongdoing in the court, will be enjoying his huge property once he has done his prison sentence. According to official and semi-official information, says Danas, Prce has real estate both in BiH and |
| Mehmed Zilic pleads not guilty
| FTV, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Mehmed Zilic feels no guilty’, mentioned on cover, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Zilic pleaded not guilty to all accounts of indictment, mentioned on cover, by B.C., Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Zilic claims he is not guilty of abuse’, by Dejan Jazvic, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Zilic has stated he did not abuse office’ by A. Durmo – Security Advisor to the Chair of the BiH Council of Ministers, Mehmed Zilic, appeared before the Municipal Court in Sarajevo on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges filed recently against him. He has been accused of misuse of position and office while performing duties of the FBiH Interior Minister in period from 1997 till 2000 by allocating the property and approving illegally a means for purchase/reconstruction of apartments. |
| Peric: There is nothing alarming and dramatic in resignations’
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘There is nothing alarming and dramatic in resignations’, by H. Orahovac – The President of High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, Branko Peric, sees no reason to be concerned with the fact that 7 judges and prosecutors have filed resignations within one month. Peric explains that judges and prosecutors file resignations everywhere in the world, stressing that motives behind the recent resignations are of personal nature, in other words there were no political or other pressures. PINK by Dragana Erjavec – In a statement to PINK, the HJPC Chair Peric explained he was not certain of exact reasons for resignations of prosecutors/judges, adding that it would be a serious problem if the tendency was to be continued. |
| FBIH Association of judges/prosecutors: ‘We have already pointed out to possibility for resignations’
| Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘There will be consequences for BiH judiciary’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘We have already pointed out to possibility for resignations’ by Fena – The Association of the FBiH Judges/Prosecutors called on all levels of the authorities to make a joint effort to establish independent and efficient judiciary in the country. Commenting the resignations filed by three prosecutors and four judges in the past month, the Association said it had warned several times on negative consequences of the departure of judicial staff. It also noted that the financial situation of the judges/prosecutors has seriously deteriorated in the past year. |
| GS, Stojanovic, Miljevic criticize financing of joint institutions
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘For poor people – whatever is left’ by D. V. M. and Lj. C. – the article criticizes financing of joint institutions and claims high salaries serve to win support of politicians to strengthen institutions at BiH level. ‘International community tries, at all costs, to establish joint institutions. It is not interested in who or how the expenses of a huge administration would be paid’, the Chairman of RS NA Board for Economy and Finances, Branislav Stojanovic, has stated. Chairman of RS Association of Employers Damir Miljevic shares a similar opinion regarding the financing of joint institutions and warns of a paradox – taxpayers in BiH serve the administration, instead of the other way around. The article concludes HR Paddy Ashdown had often warned of high administration expenses in F BiH and RS, while he had not reacted on the budget of joint institutions. |
| SDS denies conflicts within the party
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Party is not a chorus’ by N. Z. – SDS Deputy President Bosko Siljegovic, member of Main Board from Sokolac Snjezana Bozic, member of Main Board from East Sarajevo Radmilo Golijanin and member of Main Board from Herzegovina Vesko Budimcic rejected allegations with regard to conflicts within SDS, i.e. conflicts between east RS Main Boards members and SDS President Dragan Cavic. |
| Mikerevic: PDP to deny support to SDS at RS NA, possibly to CoM as well | Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘PDP to deny support to SDS in RS parliament’ by V. Popovic – PDP’s Dragan Mikerevic has stated PDP would deny the support to SDS at RS NA and he added the party is close to reaching a decision on denying a support to CoM, with Adnan Terzic at the head, as well. He stated PDP was dissatisfied with moves SDS is taking and PDP would take a stance on relation with SDS Saturday. He says, apart from crisis between PDP and SDS on local level that has culminated in Doboj, these two parties have some “unsettled accounts” on entity and state level too. |
War crimes | |
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| Hayat, BHT1, PINK, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Branislav Medan suspected of genocide’, mentioned on cover, by A. Omeragic, Dnevni AVaz pg 8 ‘Medan detained for 30 days’, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Branislav Medan gets one month detention’, by E. M., Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘He massacred Bosniaks’, by D. P., ezavisne Novine pg 2 ’30 days of detention for Medan’ by A. D. – The pre-trial procedure judge of the |
| Globus weekly: Del Ponte wants re-trial in Blaskic case
| FTV, BHT1, RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Will Blaskic case be again tried in ICTY?’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘ICTY Prosecution appeals to Blaskic’s verdict’, mentioned on cover, by D. Zadravec, Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Blaskic case-Del Ponte wants new verdict: We are speechless’, pgs 2-3 ‘Blaskic threatened with custody’, by Zoran Kresic, Silvana Perica, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Del Ponte wants a new trial for Blaskic’ by Hina, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Croatian Government has no knowledge about repetition of process’, by I. Glibusic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 6 ‘Del Ponte appeals to verdict, Skare-Ozbolt meets with general’, by A. Malenica – According to a story originally published by Croatian ‘Globus’ weekly, ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte has appealed, one day before the expiration of deadline, against the verdict in the Tihomir Blaskic case, whose sentenced was decreased from 45 to 9 years imprisonment and who got out approximately one year ago. Del Ponte’s spokeswoman, Florence Hartmann, did not want to comment on the report. Same goes with Blaskic, who says he has not received anything from |
| Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecution forwards BiH Prosecution war crimes case against Mandic
| RTRS, BHT 1, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Mandic case submitted to BiH Prosecution for estimate’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘BiH Prosecutor’s Office will take over the investigation on war crimes against Mandic’ by A. Sisic, Vecernje Novist pg 13 ‘Blamed for war crimes as well’ by M. Markovic – The Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecution forwarded the file on Momcilo Mandic, recently arrested in SCG and extradited to BiH on charged related to the organized crime,to the BiH Prosecution. The file includes results of the investigation lead against Mandic under suspicion that he had committed war crimes. Mandic is currently held in detention in Kula prison. |
| Danas: Arrest of Mandic is last warning to Karadzic
| Danas, pgs 24-27 ‘Last warning to Radovan Karadzic’, by Zvonimir Jukic – Writing about the recent arrest of Momcilo Mandic in Montenegro, the author says that sources close to ruling structures in Podgorica say that Mandic arrest is in fact the last warning to Radovan Karadzic to surrender himself voluntarily. According to Jukic, the answer lies in the strategy of the Montenegrin Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic, who, by arresting Mandic, showed that he is the boss in his own house and that he is ready to go all the way when it comes to secession referendum of |
Economy / Youth / Audits | |
| Farmers say negotiations with authorities fail
| PINK by Zeljko Mandic – Talks between state authorities and representatives of BiH Farmers Association took place on Wednesday in RTRS, BHT1, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Main demands not discussed’, mentioned on cover, by M.K.S., Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Farmers will put up the tends in front of the buildings of both entitiy governments’ not signed, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Farmers renounce Bakic’, by Nermin Bakic, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘No agreement’, by D. Pasic, Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘Eight demands’ not signed– also reported on the meeting. |
| Entities’ Farmers Association meet, underline Bakic is not their representative
| PINK Dragica Tojagic – RS and FBiH farmers associations, not recognizing Chair of BiH Farmers Association Ranko Bakic as their legal representative, met on Wednesday in the RS Chamber of Commerce and concluded that any agreement reached between BiH Farmers and authorities in |
| BiH Trade Unions warn of growing unemployment rates
| FTV – According to BiH Trade Union, over 505.000 persons in BiH are unemployed, while the privatization process has failed in a number of occasions causing an increase in unemployment. BiH Trade Union called for an urgent implementation of social program. BiH Trade Union President Edhem Biber stated that the present situation is going to lead to more and more protests and strikes. FBiH Minister of Labour and Social Issues Radovan Vignjevic stated that the implementation of social programs have started, many already receive financial aid. So far, 142 liquidation processes have started. However, the liquidation processes are slow, as there are not enough liquidation administrators who must conduct the liquidation process. BHT1, Hayat, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘New social unrests possible’, by Erna Mackic, covered also by |
| BiH youth with Terzic
| Hayat – BiH Youth Informative Agency representatives met with the Chair of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic. Out of 8 requests that BiH youth has presented to Terzic, none has been solved at the meeting. Terzic only promised that Law on Education would be sent to the Parliament for enactment and that Youth Department within BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs would be established. Youth representatives said that they were not satisfied with the meeting since they got nothing but promises. They also said that they asked to meet with entity Prime Ministers. RHB, FTV, Dnevni List, pg 19 ‘Terzic disappointed youth delegation’, by Mensud Zorlak, covered also by Sarajevo press. |
| Avaz interview; Hadzipasic on Energopetrol, Aluminij, Agrokomerc
| Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash and pg 5 ‘This Government will not allow that ‘Agrokomerc’s’ heart be taken out’, by Mirela Kukan – Carries an interview with the FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, in which he talks about topical economic issues. He opens the interview with a statement that the issue of co-capitalization of ‘Energopetrol’ will not be discussed at today’s session of the Government, instead the documentation will be prepared for the next session. Asked as to when one can expect the realization of agreement on ‘Aluminij’, Hadzipasic says the agreement is not yet valid, it is only a basis that will be used by the Government to propose changes to the Law of Privatization of FBiH, which will be dealt with in the FBiH Parliament. He explains that the agreement on ‘Aluminij’ can only be signed after changes to the law (on privatization) have been enacted. Furthermore, PM Hadzipasic was asked to explain his statement from three days ago that he did not received any bid from the ‘MIMS’ company, which is allegedly interested in buying ‘Agrokomerc’ company. Asked whether something has changed in the meantime, Hadzipasic says he has not received anything, therefore he cannot comment on it. Regarding the future of ‘Agrokomerc, the PM says the company has perspective, underlining that any bid that is not in line with modernization, investments and taking care of workers will not get through. |
| NN: ‘ERS illegally written off debts amounting 21 million KM’
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘ERS illegally written off debts amounting 21 million KM’ by M. Kusmuk – An audit report on the work of “RS Elektroprivreda” will officially be published today. According to information in possession of NN, 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. |
| Audit of RS Energopetrol shows irregularities
| RTRS by Sinisa Mihailovic –RS Chief Auditor has published an audit report on the RS Energopetrol for the 2003/2004 concluding that the investments of the EP were enormous, unplanned, uncontrolled and unneeded. The investments were not harmonized with the existing legislation, and most of them were not approved or connected to the business. |
| | RHB – PDHR, Larry Butler, today starts his two-day visit to |
Miscellaneous | |
| ‘Zrinjski football player attacked in ‘east’ Mostar
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 5 ‘‘You are dead if you do not leave Zrinjski’, by Mario Pandza, Vecernji List, pg 7 ‘Threatened with liquidation’, mentioned on front ‘Bosnaik footballer threatened because he plays for Zrinjski’, by Ivan Cubela, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Mehmedalija Covic, player of Zrinjski, physically attacked’, by M. Damjanovic – A football player of ‘Zrinjski’ Mostar (from ‘west Mostar’), one Mehmedalija Covic,(a Bosniak) was attacked by two unknown persons on the Marsala Tita Street (in ‘east Mostar’) on Tuesday night around 2000 hrs, and he sustained light injuries. Covic says that he received threatening phone calls that afternoon, which said: “You are dead if you do not leave Zrinjski” |
| Medical doctor under investigation on trafficking in human organs
| BHT1, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘Medical doctors under investigation on trafficking in organs’ by A. Sisic – BiH Prosecutor’s Office confirmed it is conducting an investigation over a suspicion in trafficking in human organs. According to the information, there are indications several medical doctors from Bihac were involved in this case. Upon claims of IOM saying that 13 young women have disappeared in the area of Modrica and Doboj, BiH Interpol Task Force will launch an investigation on trafficking in human organs in BiH, as according to Adi Biser, acting Deputy Director of BiH Interpol. |
| Hayat: Football fan who died of heart attack was beaten by police | NTV Hayat by Alem Karamesic – Hayat’s lead story is about Aner Kasapovic, 26 years old fan of ‘Zeljeznicar’ football team, who died after a match in Zenica on Tuesday. Report features several witnesses, Edin Hadzismajlovic and Albin Tufekcic, who claim that police used violence against Kasapovic which resulted in heart attack [Kasapovic suffered from heart condition]. “Our reports… show that there has been no excess force used”, said the Spokesperson of Zenica Cantonal MoI Senaid Hasic. However, Hayat says that Mirko Lecic, Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecutor, requested an autopsy which proved Kasapovic was beaten up. |