Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 19 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Croat parties on const. Changes | Mtg. Between EU and BiH |
| Mtg on progress in Feasibility Study | Vuleta on refugee status |
| HR’s interview to Vecernji List | Serb killed near Obrovac |
TV news broadcast on 18 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Meeting of Croat political parties | Cavic on police reform talks | BH Steel – Mittal Steel Zenica |
| Reactions to police reform negot. | BiH Presidency in session | Moratinos on Andan’s allegation |
| BIH HoP in session | BiH HoP in session | PBS directors on new public RTV law |
| | BiH-France defence agreement | BiH politicians on HR’s work |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| BiH Presidency in session | BiH politicians on HR’s work | McElhaney on RS |
| BiH-Spain agreements | HR on transformation of his role | Cavic on police reform |
| HR on police reform talks | PBS directors on new public RTV law | HR on police reform |
| Cavic on police reform talks | ICTY to transf. Stankovic case to BiH | Moratinos in |
| Oslobodjenje | To limit powers of new HR |
| Dnevni Avaz | RS must understand that it is not state |
| Dnevni List | Life saved (story on successful surgery performed at Mostar Clinic) |
| Vecernji List | Sanader wants to conquer HDZ BiH |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Office of High Representative to be shut down |
| Glas Srpske | Two paths, both difficult |
| Nezavisne Novine | Investment 70 million € worth |
| Blic | Srpske Poste got new system against burglaries |
| Vecernje Novosti | Features |
| Srpski Nacional | Features |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Consultative Task Force meeting takes place in | RHB, RS Radio – The 6th meeting of the EU-BiH Consultative Task Force takes place in |
Police Reform/EC Delegation Visit to BiH | |
| Avaz interview with HR P. Ashdown (HR on police reform)
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘RS must understand that it is not state’ and pg 5 ‘RS must understand that it is entity and not state’ by |
| VL interview with HR Ashdown on police reform: RS on road to isolation
| Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘RS is going the road that leads towards isolation’, mentioned on front ‘Ashdown: Republika Srpska obstructs Federation of BiH’, by Dejan Jazvic – Carries an interview with the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, in which he comments on the state of the police reform in BiH. Asked as to what was going to happen now after the police talks have failed and whether it was true that the RS was facing isolation, HR Ashdown says: “If the authorities in the RS put themselves in position that they are the only obstacle to the progress in the whole region, it will be a dangerous situation. One can say it is a road that leads towards isolation”. |
| HR interview with NN: Nationalistic parties cannot lead BiH to EU
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Nationalistic parties cannot lead BiH to European Union’ by M. Cubro – in this page-long interview to NN, High Representative Paddy Ashdown has stated nationalistic parties cannot lead BiH to EU and he added Bih cannot enter EU unless it eliminates nationalism. He expressed his opinion that the current Bih authorities cannot lead BiH trough the door to EU, i.e. these cannot end the journey to EU. ‘It [the journey] cannot be completed without decent opposition parties. Several strong opposition parties are needed because this journey to EU cannot be completed unless the country eliminates nationalism’, HR Ashdown said. HR also commented on police reform, role of RS politicians in it and consequences Bih can expect if it fails to implement police reform. |
| HR Ashdown with Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos: HR comments on police reform
| Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Waiting for positive move by Serb politicians’, not signed – After talking to the Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, whilst answering a journalist’s question what he would do with the RS politicians who are guilty for the interruption of police talks, said that he would do “nothing”. “The issues we are talking about surpass the Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 17 ‘Office of High Representative to be shut down’, by D. Pasic – Carries HR Ashdown as commenting on the Monday’s session of RSNA. The HR hopes that the RS authorities would be able to overcome “this difficult time”. “If it happens, we will be able to make progress and BiH will be able to get across the historic threshold on its way to |
| DL op-ed on Moratinos’ meeting with HR: Commending HR Ashdown is bad joke
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Commending Ashdown’, by Marko Karacic – Commenting on the visit of the Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos’, visit to Sarajevo, during which he commended the work of the High Representative, the author, in an ironic tone, says it is pity Moratinos did not specify what the HR has done. “Perhaps he commended Paddy for arrest of war criminals, because of ‘success’ in police reform or perhaps for unifying the fire-fighters in Mostar?”, says the author, noting that all the commendations are a bad joke. |
| Cavic says it would be extremely difficult to make a decision on police reform
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Accession to EU requires change of Dayton’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘RSNA has May 30 as a deadline’, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Non-adoption of EU principles leads RS into isolation’, by B, Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Two paths, both difficult’ by G. D., Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Decision on police reform rests upon RS Assembly’ by V. Popovic, EuroBlic pg RS1 ‘Police before the parliament, consequences are known to everyone’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, insets ‘There can be no forcible changes of authorities’ and ‘Five plus five plus one’, Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘They offered 5+5+1 formula’ by M. Labus and S. Pesevic – RS President, Dragan Cavic said that it was going to be extremely difficult to bring decision on police reform since it was a political issue by which part of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which stipulated entities’ authorities, was going to be changed. Cavic said that EU’s and International Community’s stances were clear and that they found the solution which came out as the result of Vlasic meeting unacceptable. “Admittance to EU means change in the Dayton Peace Agreement, namely the part which stipulates political entities’ authorities and political parties in RS have to decide whether they are ready to swallow such a big piece”, said Cavic. Cavic added that RS National Assembly had to hold the session, by May 30. “Decision has to be reached. Each decision will determine relations toward RS and BiH political ambient. The burden of the decision has to be presented to the public and all those chosen by the people will have to take a stance on it”, added Cavic. On being asked to comment protest held in Banjaluka on Tuesday, Cavic said that there was no need for October 5 to take place in RS, since RS authority was no violent but democratic. All political parties, which believe that the current Government does not deserve confidence should start initiative in RSNA for its replacement, according to Cavic. |
| SDP blames Ashdown, OHR for police reform failure
| Oslobodjenje ‘OHR to be held co-responsible for the failure’, SRNA – The BiH SDP general secretary, Svetozar Pudaric, said on Wednesday that High Representative Paddy Ashdown and OHR are jointly responsible for the collapse of the police reforms. Pudaric stressed that Ashdown and OHR cannot be excluded from their share of the responsibility for the collapse of the police reforms and the consequences, which will arise from this. “The collapse of the police reforms is a reflection of the ruling parties’ real attitude towards reforms in BiH, as for them reforms mean changing as much as possible on paper, while in reality preserving the existing situation,” Pudaric maintains. |
| NN op-ed: HR should not have cooperated with Cavic
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘ |
| RS political parties and NGOs: RS citizens must not be hostages of SDS’s and PDP’s politics
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘RS citizens must not be hostages of SDS and PDP’ by V. P. – Representatives of certain political parties and NGOs from RS thinks RS citizens must not be hostages of wrong politics led by Dragan Cavic and Mladen Ivanic. Apart from carrying the statement of SDP Secretary General Svetozar Pudaric, the article carries statement of the Head of RS Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Branko Todorovic, who says RS authorities must accept the responsibility for possible isolation of RS, while the President of Alternative Government of BiH, Dragoljub Stojanov, says the failure of political parties to reach an agreement was a proof of inability of ruling parties to reach a consensus and their aspirations to destabilize country in order to fulfill goals they have set at the beginning of ’90-es. |
| NN public opinion survey on police reform | Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Survey’ – carries reactions of several RS citizens who all agree ruling parties from RS should bear the responsibility for failure of police reform talks and they think the most responsible person is SDS leader Dragan Cavic. |
| SD op-ed on police reform: Imposition of Constitution is the solution
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Imposition of Constitution – the only solution’, by Marin Erceg – Comments on the failure of police talks by saying that the Serb politicians rejected the proposal, which resulted in sobering up of the naïve ones. “Serbs care more about the RS, no matter what it is like, more than the imaginary and distant |
| Director for Balkans with the US Institute for Peace: Door of Europe would not be opened forever for BiH
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Door of Europe would not be opened forever’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Police reform in BiH would last for years’ by VOA – In an interview given to Voice of AmericaDirector for Balkans with the US Institute for Peace in Washington Daniel Server commented on the interruption of the police reform talks and chances that BiH stands for further integration to European institutions. He said: ‘People in BiH should not think that the door of |
| EU Delegation to visit BiH today
| EuroBlic pg RS2, announced on cover ‘Travel, Europe’ by Nedeljka Breberina and Rajna Radosavljevic – The Directorate for European Integrations of BiH believes BiH will not get a recommendation for the start of ASA today. Despite to the fact BiH had fulfilled a majority of obligations, the Directorate says the failure of police reform negotiations would be crucial for a negative assessment. The Spokesperson of the Directorate for European Integrations, Emir Hadzikadunic, says after the meeting of EU representatives and BiH representatives, which will be held in |
| McElhaney: There would be no negotiations for EU without police reform
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘There would be no negotiations for EU without police reform’ by Agencies – US Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney has stated in Tuzla that he was worried over the failure of police reform talks and he said the international community would not exert any additional pressure since it was the responsibility of domestic politicians to adjust BiH structure to European standards. According to the Ambassador, this is a pre-requisite without which a signal for negotiations on accession to EU would not be given. |
| French Embassy in BiH: To implement police reform in accordance with EC standards
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘To implement police reform in accordance with EC standards’ by L.S. – Reacting against some media speculation the French Embassy in BiH issued a press release which says: ‘France believes that BiH belongs to EU. In order to achieve this goal finally |
Political Developments/Statements | |
| BiH Parliament Commission discusses on institution of HR in BiH
| RHB, BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4 and 5 ‘To limit powers of new HR’ by S. Sehercehajic, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Instead of HR EU Special Representative in BiH’ not signed, Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘OHR ‘numbs’ BiH institutions’, by Eldina Medunjanin, EuroBlic pg RS2, announced on cover ‘Partner – yes, protector – no’ by D. S., inset ‘Ashdown: A special representative of EU instead of OHR’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘BiH needs a special representative of EU’ by M. C.-The Commission for Foreign Affairs of the BiH House of Representatives held a public discussion on Wednesday about the relation of state institutions towards a mandate of the High Representative and most participants of the discussion agreed that the institution of the HR should be transformed in the position of the EU Special Representative for BiH. President of the aforementioned Commission Martin Raguz stated that the current role of the HR in BiH is incompatible with the BiH membership in the Council of Europe and future membership in the EU. Osl. quotes SDP President Zlatko Lagumdzija as saying that the HR should be deprived of the |
| Ashdown on discussion of BiH Parliament Commission
| Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Ashdown: International Community also deals with this issue’ carries High Representative Paddy Ashdown as saying that the time has come for transfer from the position of the High Representative to the position of the EU Special Representative in BiH. He stated that he will speak about it on Monday in FTV, Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 17 ‘Office of High Representative to be shut down’, by D. Pasic – HR announces his trip to |
| Spanish Foreign Minister visits BiH
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS – Members of BIH Presidency met with Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos (SP) on Wednesday. They spoke on improving the bilateral cooperation between 2 countries especially in the area of education and economy. Moratinos also met with BIH Security Minister Barisa Colak. They signed a contract on implementation of support project to SIPA. The project will strengthen financial-intelligence department in SIPA. Spanish Government will donate 600 000 Euros for this project. Moratinos met with BIH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic. They signed an agreement on visa abolishment for holders of diplomatic and official passports. They agreed that activities on police reform should be continued since it is one of conditions for membership in EU. Moratinos is also scheduled to visit Mostar. Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Madrid terrorists did not train in BiH’, not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9 ‘No evidence that Madrid terrorists were trained in BiH’, by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Visas for diplomats were abolished’ by A. Sisic also covered the visit. |
| BiH Presidency held regular session in full composition, Ivo Miro Jovic took an oath
| FTV, Pink, BHT, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Dragan Andan should leave the office as soon as possible’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Andan should be remove3d by the international community’, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Ivo Miro Jovic assumes office’, by eme, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘Ivo Miro Jovic takes oath’, by D. Pasic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Ivo Miro Jovic took the oath’ by A. Sisic, FENA – The new Croat member of BiH Presidency, Ivo Miro Jovic, on Wednesday gave the Solemn Declaration so that this State institution held a session in full composition after a longer period of time. Several decisions were issued, among which the Decision on consenting with the appointments of the ambassadors of Poland, the Democratic Republic of Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Estonia, Iran and Greece to BiH. BiH Presidency also adopted the Decision on launching the procedure for concluding the Agreement on conditions and benefits for persons working abroad within the Project |
| Spanish foreign minister says no link between
| BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘No indications Madrid attacks were being prepared in BiH’, mentioned on cover ‘Everything indicates Andan’s claims not correct’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘BiH has no links with terrorism in Spain’, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Madrid terrorists did not train in BiH’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Moratinos: Checking is ongoing’, by Dejan Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9 ‘No evidence that Madrid terrorists were trained in BiH’, by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Persons from BiH have not participated in the attack in Madrid’ by A. S., SRNA – Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Angel Moratinos said in Sarajevo on Wednesday that Spain was checking information weather the Madrid terrorist attack had been prepared in BH, but that all contacts so far had shown that this was not true. “We heard this recently and our embassy established contacts with police services. This information is currently being checked but it appears that there are no indications that this is true,” Moratinos told journalists after talks with BH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic. In reply to a journalist’s question on whether Al-Qa’idah cells existed in BiH, Ivanic said that official bodies did not have such information. “BiH bodies are carefully checking information that some people who are considered to be international terrorists were possibly in Bosnia during the war and in this respect we are cooperating with intelligence services of other countries,” Ivanic said adding that BiH “can stand only behind what has been confirmed”. |
| Oslobodjenje: Carty to submit report on Andan and Milteic’s statements to HR soon
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Ashdown expects opinion on Andan and Miletic’ by Az. K. – According to a source from the International Community EUPM Commissioner Kevin Carty would soon submit the report to High Representative Paddy Ashdown about statements given by RS Police Director Dragomir Andan and FBiH Police Director Zlatko Miletic. Osl. Also learns that in this report Carty would warn the HR that the police commissioners should be engaged in operative activities and not in giving political statements. Osl. also says that it can be noticed that the HR and |
| BiH HoP adopted amendments to laws on SIPA, VAT
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Deadline for appointment of SIPA Director extended’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Deadline for appointment of SIPA Director was extended’ by Agencies – BIH House of Peoples adopted the draft law on competition at a session held on Wednesday. This law will strengthen unique economic space. The law also enable establishment of competition council that should provide equal and transparent market appearance. HoP adopted amendments to the law on civil service in BIH institutions. It also adopted amendments to the law on SIPA, which prolonged the mandate of SIPA Director and his deputies for 2 months. Amendments to the law on VAT were also adopted. Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Appointment of SIPA director in two months’, not signed also reported on the session. |
| BiH Security Minister Colak on SIPA director appointment
| Dnevni List, pg 8, mentioned on front ‘Terzic cannot remove Colak’, by Marko Karacic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Colak: Terzic’s threats with removals are ridiculous’ by M. CubroBiH Security Minister Barisa Colak has assessed threats of CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic, who has stated he would remove Colak unless he appoints SIPA officials by Monday, as ridiculous. ‘This country lacks talks, negotiations, harmonization. Had we respected past agreements, we would have had new SIPA officials a long time ago’, Colak said. BiH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic claims Terzic had done nothing to try to harmonize stances with regard to appointments of SIPA officials. He says Terzic was transferring the responsibility on to the BiH Presidency while hiding behind a certain agreement of political parties on distribution of functions. |
| VL: Sanader trying to discipline HDZ BiH
| Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Sanader wants to conquer HDZ BiH’ and pg 11 ‘Ivo Sanader wants to discipline HDZ BiH’, by Zoran Kresic – According to VL, the Croatian Prime Minister and President of HDZ of Croatia, Ivo Sanader, has decided to get involved into the internal party elections within the HDZ BiH by supporting the “opposition” in the HDZ BiH, which is unhappy with the current leadership, namely Barisa Colak and Dragan Covic. According to an anonymous source, several HDZ BiH officials, including a candidate for new HDZ BiH President Bozo Ljubic, met with officials of HDZ of Croatia in |
| Croat political parties met in Mostar, HDZ and HNZ not participated
| RHB, BHT, Dnevni List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘Raguz: Apartheid in Sarajevo’, by Nermin Bise – Senior officials of several Croat parties (HSS, HDU, Croat Christian Democrats, HKDU, HSP Djapic-Jurisic, NHI and Hrvatski pravaski blok) and Croat associations (DAR, HKD Napredak and HNV) met in Mostar last night (Wednesday) to discuss issues pertaining to constitutional changes, organization of BiH and jurisdiction of legislative, executive and judicial authorities. Representatives of HDZ and HNZ did not turn up. Among other conclusions, the parties noted that the BiH Presidency with three members is not the way to go to the EU, and the parties advocate for a strong and decentralized BiH, in which the authorities are transferred from the entity onto the state. |
| London Institute for Political Studies developed proposal on new reorganization of former | Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘New Versailles and Yugoslavia’ by Tanjug – London Institute for Political Studies has developed a proposal on new, radical, reorganization of the territory of former Yugoslavia and sent it to EU, USA, China, Russia and countries in the region. The proposal foresees “exchange” of territory (for example: Serbs would get Vukovar and RS, Croats would get western Herzegovina, including Mostar, SiCG, Sandzak and Muslim part of BiH would form a new confederation etc.). |
| 30,000 signatures for separation of RS from BiH were collected | Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Signatures pouring in’ by S. Mi. – the article reports “Zajedno do Istine” Association has so far collected approximately 30,000 signatures for signing out the referendum for separation of RS from BiH. |
Economic/Social Issues | |
| Mittal Steel Zenica improves production facilities
| BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘A project that restarts entire BiH economy’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘New beginning in Zenica Steelworks’, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 15 ‘Investment 70 million € worth’ by A. Mujkic – About 1500 employees of Zenica’s BH Steel, newly named as Mittal Steel Zenica, will start to work thanks to investment amounting 60 millions USD for the new furnace. New furnace in “Mital Steel Zenica” will contribute to improving the situation in BiH economy a lot. “Increasing of total production in FBiH and BiH, strengthening of investing works as well as the activation of another facilities will enable great number of steel-production facilities in BiH to work”, said FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic. About 3000 of persons have been employed in “Mital Steel Zenica”, but thanks to the newly opened section, this company is about to employ many people. “We estimate that we will need about 1500 young people to start to work and we will solve that in the next two years”, said “Mital Steel Zenica” General Director, Seid Kapetanovic. According to the experts’ estimates, this company will produce about 800.000 tons of steel annually. |
PBS | |
| PBS managers, journalists in BiH critical of draft PBS Law
| BHT Sanita Lisica – PBS Board of Directors disagree with law on public RTV system, which BiH House of Representatives (HoR) adopted on Tuesday. According to PBS directors, the professionals from PBS should have been consulted during the process of finalization of this law. According to this law, the PBS will have broadcasting centres in Mostar, |
| BiH HoP did not discuss PBS Law on Wednesday
| RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘PBS Law to be discussed some other time’, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘House of Peoples postpones decision on Law on RTV system’, by F, FENA – The BiH House of Peoples did not discuss the drfat Law on Public RTV System BiH at a session in Sarajevo on Wednesday. This law was not put on the agenda, because it did not pass the commission phase that commenced today, was explained. The draft PBS Law, which was adopted by the BiH House of Representatives on Tuesday, is a Feasibility Study requirement. |
| OHR welcomes adoption of PBS Law
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘OHR welcomes adoption of Law on public RTV service in BiH’, by Z. Zekic, ‘Dnevni List, pg 15 ‘High Representative at cherry fair’, not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Another pre-condition for association with Europe’ – Carries an OHR spokeswoman, |