Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 9 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| 60th annivers. of victory over fascism | Victory over fascism anniversary | Payment of April pensions starts |
| BiH Parl. marks victory over fascism | BiH HoP to hold session today | Body on police regions meeting |
| BiH HoP to hold session | Body on police regions meeting | BiH HoP to hold session |
TV news broadcast on 8 May
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| World news | Commission for police regions maps | 60th anniversary of vic. over fascism |
| Hrasno pilgrimage | BiH delegation in | BiH delegation arrived to |
| Regional news | BiH Parliament’s ceremony session | BiH Parliament in session on Monday |
| Mothers Day in Brcko | New protest of farmers announced | US Embassy on Draza Mihajlovic |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Snow in | AVNOJ museum re-opened | World news |
| Dizdarevic’s letter to US Embassy | Krug 99 on fascism | Art competition |
| Graphite on the future Museum | 60th anniversary of vic. over fascism | |
| BiH Parliament’s ceremony session | BiH Inmates Day marked in Gorazde | German Amb. on police reform |
| Oslobodjenje | Hague is not an obstacle for negotiations with EU |
| Dnevni Avaz | Terzic, Izetbegovic to be counter-candidates to Tihic? |
| Dnevni List | BiH Election Commission: Ten parties are taking millions from budget |
| Vecernji List | Tribunal changes criteria like fashion dress (Bishop Peric sermon) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features |
| Nezavisne Novine | |
| Glas Srpske | When an Irish pretends to be an Englishman |
| EuroBlic | Girls accuse, young men deny [rape allegations] |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Srpski Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Expert police commission in session
| BH Radio 1 by Vanja Ilicic – A meeting of a commission tasked to draw BiH police regions maps started in RTRS by Radan Skipina – Addressing journalists before the start of the commission’s meeting, Matijasevic stated: “we expect to see what will be offered as the basis for the work of Commission, after which we will take a stance.” Matijasevic further noted that “along with Martens’ proposal on police maps, we will also offer the proposal prepared by the RS MoI and the RS Government based on conclusions of the RS NA.” He assesses that this proposal would be a good solution, since it is in accordance with EU principles on security sector and respects the constitutional position of the RS and F BiH, as well as constitutional provision regarding entity jurisdiction in the field of security, public peace and order and internal affairs. |
| PDP on police reform
| RHB – The PDP Presidency believes that the RS institutions, RS Government and RSNA only can pass the decision on the police reform and that the constitutional organization of BiH and inter-entity borders should be respected in the discussion on the maps of the police regions. |
| BiH Parliament holds plenary session to mark Victory Day
| RHB, RTRS, BH Radio 1 – Both Houses of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly held a special plenary session to mark 60th anniversary of the victory over fascism. The delegates were addressed by the Bosniak member of the Presidency, Sulejman Tihic. Tihic emphasized BiH’s participation in the second world war and its anti-fascist orientation. He expressed hope that different views on the past/history would not jeopardize BiH’s future. |
| Guardian: Karadzic has been seen in public lately | RHB, RTRS – The British daily “Guardian” has learnt from the ICTY that Serbian authorities have been subject to extreme pressures to apprehend Radovan Karadzic, since it was reported twice over the past few months Karadzic was allegedly spotted. The sources claim that Karadzic was observed during separate walks with his spouse and his brother prior to funeral of his mother. |
Police reform / European integrations | |
| Humphreys: BiH must become EU member state
| FTV, NTV Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘BiH must become EU member state’, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Humphreys: BiH must become member of European Union’, by De. L., EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Humphreys: BiH must become EU member’ by Srna– The Head of the EC Delegation to BiH, Michael Humphreys stressed on Sunday in Trebinje that BiH has to become a EU member state. “BiH is an open country and has to come into competition with other developed countries, showing its competitiveness,” stressed Humphreys, during the opening ceremony of the three-day manifestation marking European Day. RTRS – Humphreys also stated that BIH has made a significant progress in the last 10 years, noting that its path to |
| Humphreys: Hague is not an obstacle for negotiations with EU
| Oslobodjenje cover pg splash ‘Hague is not an obstacle for negotiations with EU’ and pgs 4-5 ‘Current cooperation with the Hague is enough for the start of negotiations’ by Marina Kavaz Sirucic – Head of EC Delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys has stated he does not know whether BiH would start SAA negotiations with EU and he said: ‘A progress in cooperation with the Hague Tribunal is obvious, yet I do not know how the progress in other fields would be assessed on May 19th’. He said many things were left to be done and EU enlargement commissioner Ollie Rehn has clearly told CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic what those things were three weeks ago. Humphreys listed fields in which a progress was made and stressed that BiH cannot move forward unless a progress is made with regard to police reform. Nezavisne Novine pgs 4-5, announced on cover ‘There will be no recommendation for the start of negotiations without law on RTV system’ by M. Cubro – also carries an interview with Humphreys with an accent on police reform and adoption of the law on PBS. Humphreys emphasized that the completion of negotiations on police reform and adoption of PBS law are remaining pre-requisites BiH authorities must meet if they want EC to recommend the start of SAA negotiations in the course of this month. |
| German Ambassador urges police reform
| BHT 1, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Politicians who prevent establishment of functional police must be held responsible’- German Ambassador to BiH, Arne Freiherr von Kittlitz,stated that police reform is a key issue for BiH adding the local politicians must take the responsibility for this issue. In interview for daily newspapers Nezavisne novine, he stated that those obstructing an establishment of functional police forces must accept the responsibility if it happens that this issue is a reason for a delay in beginning of negotiations on Stabilization and Association Agreement. |
| PRC Chair Martens on proposals on police regions | Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Three proposals on BiH police region maps’ by A.Sekulic – In a statement to NN, Wilfred Martens, PRC Chairperson, says that three proposals on BiH police regions maps have been handed to Paddy Ashdown, High Representative to BiH, bearing in mind the fact that PRC did not manage to reach decision on this issue. He stresses that the most important thin is that BiH politicians reach decision, which will be grounded on technical criteria sensible for police work. Reminding of PRC final report, Martens notes some new elements have been embodied in it following Vlasic talks, stressing that none of those elements in any way amends the concept of unified police structure, neither does it step away from EU principles. On this he notes: “So, there is no deviation from exclusive state authority for police issues within efficient police structure free of political interference.” In Inset “Police reform – a European test’, Martens expresses conviction that there is readiness of all BiH politicians who took part at Vlasic meeting to reach compromise on police reform in BiH. |
| Police Commission in session today: members to chose Chair and working plan
| PINK, BHT1, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Chair and working plan to be agreed on’ by Srna, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Session of Commission for determining maps today’, by De. L.– The Expert Commission to draft the police regions meets for the first time today in EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Terzic is an optimist, maps ‘til 16 May’ by Dusanka Stanisic – Dialy carries statement of Adnan Terzic, expressing conviction that 19 May would see final agreement reached regarding police regions maps. |
| East RS SDS to warn Cavic not to succumb to pressures and support police reform
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘A joint stance on police reform’ by V.Popovic – NN source from SDS top leadership says that municipal boards of the SDS from east RS will today warn Dragan Cavic, SDS President, not to succumb to pressures and support police reform, which would abolish RS MoI and its police authorities. The source says that before the SDS Main Board session on Tuesday, municipal boards of SDS from east RS would support Lukavica SDS Board conclusions regarding opposition to proposed police reform and demand convening of referendum in RS on this issue is demand for change of BiH Constitution continues. The daily notes that rift at SDS is also indicated by a letter 12 SDS delegates at the RS NA have addressed to Cavic, demanding from him to protect the constitutional position of RS during police reform talks. |
| European parliamentarians says western Balkans has to join EU, Spiric comment | Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Western Balkans should be joined to Union’, by HINA – Leaders of European parliamentary parties, who met in Budapest over the weekend, noted that the area of western Balkans should be made a safe area and the best way to achieve lasting peace in the region is to include the whole region into the process of European integration. According to the Speaker of Austrian Parliament, Andreas Khol, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘There is a political consensus on accession to EU’ by Onasa, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Spiric: We must meet EC conditions’, not signed, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Spiric: There is political consensus about EU in BiH’, by ra – Deputy Speaker of BiH House of Representatives, Nikola Spiric, who attended the aforementioned meeting, stated that BiH had to meet all pre-requisites that the EC had set. Spiric says that both the BiH authorities and the EU are not happy with the pace of meeting of the pre-requisites, however Spiric notes it is very important that a political consensus does exist in BiH. |
Other political issues | |
| HDZ to support Ivo Miro Jovic
| RHB, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘HoP to endorse appointment of Ivo Miro Jovic’ by Fena, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Confirmation of election of Ivo Miro Jovic today’, by Arijana Beus, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘ BHT 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘HDZ delegates will support appointment of Ivo Miro Jovic’ – According to deputy Ilija Filipovic, all 4 HDZ representatives in HoP will support Jovic’s appointment. However, SDP’s representative, Tomislav Limov, will sustain from voting, but if it happens that his vote is decisive, he will vote against Jovic’s appointment, reports BHT. |
| DA: Terzic, Izetbegovic to be counter-candidates to Tihic at SDA Congress?
| Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Terzic, Izetbegovic to be counter-candidates to Tihic?’, pg 4 ‘Tihic, Izetbegovic, Terzic and Dzaferovic to be candidates for SDA leader?’ Aj. Delic – A new SDA President is expected to be elected at the party’s Congress scheduled for May 26. Although the authorized SDA body has so far received not a single official nomination for the post, according to the information coming from the field, the candidates might include current SDA President Sulejman Tihic, Adnan Terzic, Bakir Izetbegovic and Sefik Dzaferovic. In a statement for the daily, Dzaferovic said that he was not and would not be a candidate for SDA leader. He believes that current President Tihic should be re-elected due to results achieved in the past period. Terzic said he could not take the office of SDA leader until he was performing duty of BiH CoM Chairman. |
| Terzic expects to be again elected SDA Deputy President
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Several candidates must be nominated for each of the positions’ by R. Cengic – With regard to election of top SDA officials, SDA Deputy President Adnan Terzic has stated he expected there would be five candidates for the party president, approximately 10 candidates for party deputy president and approximately 20 candidates for positions of vice-presidents. Terzic said he expects to be again elected to the position of Deputy President, in case he is nominated. |
| New political party – BH Democrats – established BiH
| FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Avdic: Nobody has a monopoly over the idea of social democracy’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘BiH Democrats established’, mentioned on cover, by M.K.S. –A new political party – BH Democrats – was established in Sarajevo on Sunday. Sead Avdic is elected for President of this party, while Nikola Tomic, Vedran Dodig and Amila Dizdarevic were appointed as Vice Presidents. Avdic stated on this occasion that low voters turnout at last elections and devaluation of the idea of social democracy are some of the reasons why the new political project has been initiated. |
| VL: Covic has slight advantage over Colak and Ljubic for HDZ leadership | Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Covic in slight advantage over Colak and Ljubic’ by M. Relota carries that candidates for the position of a new HDZ President are Dragan Covic, Barisa Colak (nominated by the West Herzegovina Canton HDZ Board) and Bozo Ljubic (nominated by the Vrhbosna HDZ Board). VL argues that Covic has a slight advantage over Colak and Ljubic. |
| Borenovic and Crnadak leaving PDP
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Borenovic and Crnadak leaving PDP’ by V.P. – According to NN source close to PDP, Branislav Borenovic, member of PDP Presidency, and Igor Crnadak, member of PDP Main Board and first associate of Mladen Ivanic for Banja Luka, both co-founders of PDP, have decided to leave PDP. The source notes that Borenovic and Crnadak are not satisfied with the fact that authority at the party has been taken over by people, who have become rich thanks to party engagement. |
| Election Commission: 14 million KMs from budget to leading political parties
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 7 ‘BiH Election Commission: Ten parties are taking millions from budget’, by Tanja Dragic – Having analyzed the annual financial reports for 2003, the BiH Election Commission noted that some 14 million KMs were paid out from the budget to some 10 political parties. According to spokesperson of the Commission, Maksida Bajramovic, most of the money has been paid to the SDA, SBIH, HDZ, SDS, SNSD, NHI, PDP, DNZ and Pensioners’ party. |
| Bishop Peric on Stolac monument, ICTY
| Vecernji List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Tribunal changes criteria like fashion dress’, by Frano Matic – The Bishop of Mostar-Duvno, Ratko Peric, served a holy mass at Hrasno near Capljina on Sunday. The mass gathered around 8000 people including the Croatian PM, Ivo Sanader,and President of HDZ BiH, Barisa Colak. Commenting on the situation in Stolac regarding the works on memorial at Radimlja, Peric said: “Today, everybody talks that nothing can be constructed within two kilometres of national monuments, whilst in the same time people forget that after the WWII, only 50 metres away from the site, pits were dug in which Croats, Catholics and many priests were thrown”. Persic also commented on the work of the ICTY by saying: “ |
| DL: HDZ and SDA tacitly support works on monument near Stolac
| Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Construction of memorial is tacitly approved’, by N. Bise – The author notes that works on the memorial to victims of Bleiburg, which is being built at Radimlja near Stolac, are entering final stages. The author goes on to say that despite many (publicly displayed) disagreements between leaders of the local HDZ and SDA regarding the memorial, it would appear that both parties tacitly support the works. |
| Novakovic: there is no longer need to have foreign citizens at
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Foreign judges to remain?’ by G. Dakic – The article announces that the Work Group for Issues of BiH Constitutional Court, established upon a request of HR, will complete its part of the work by May 15, by which time it will be known whether there would be any changes in composition, work and decision-making within the Constitutional Court, as member of the Work Group Momcilo Novakovic has confirmed. Novakovic opposes to having foreign judges at the |
| DL on state of higher education in BiH
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Way to European diploma through new education system’ by I. Glibusic – According to DL, the fact that BiH still does not have the state law on higher education illustrates the best to what extent BiH is ready for the beginning of the Bologna process application. DL also says that while |
| FBiH HoP adopts Resolution on representation of peoples
| Vecernji List pg 3 ‘National structure unbalanced’, by mr – The FBiH House of People has adopted a Resolution that points out to problems in area of protection of national, individual and collective rights at all levels of authority. The Resolution notes that the implementation of the |
WWII related stories | |
| 60th anniversary of WWII Victory over Fascism
| PINK, BHT1, RHB, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover, pgs 11, 14,15 ‘The messages of grand victory’, cover and pg 2 ‘Europe will not accept neo-fascism’, Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 17 ‘Today world marks victory over fascism’, pg 2 ‘Paravac welcomed by Zavgajev’, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘BiH delegation in Moscow’, not signed, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Paravac in Moscow after all’, by eme, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Europe celebrates the Day of victory’ not signed,pg 3 ‘Paravac arrived to the celebration’ by N. N., EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Paravac in Moscow’ by R. R. – BiH delegation led by the Chair of the BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac, has arrived to Moscow to attend the ceremony of marking the 60th anniversary of the victory over fascism. Today, the BiH House of Representatives and House of Peoples will hold a formal plenary session on occasion of this anniversary and parliamentarians will be addressed by the member of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic. The Association of the Independent Intellectuals, Circle 99, held the session on fascism on Sunday concluding that it still exists in BiH. |
| Op-eds on Victory Day note fascism in BiH “is not dead”
| Dnevni List pg 10 ‘Day for pondering’, by Slavo Kukic – Speaking about the 60th anniversary of the Victory Day, the author says the day is being celebrated throughout the world even nowadays and is used to “recharge battery” against any form of fascism in the future. Kukic goes on to say that unlike the anti-fascist Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Fascism in BiH is not dead’ op-ed by Mirela Kukan – DA op-ed on the occasion of anniversary of Victory Day notes that fascism in BiH still lives. She is especially critical of Borislav Paravac’s presence as the head of the BiH delegation at the central ceremony in |
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| Hayat, BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Draza Mihajlovic will be decorated’ by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Decoration awarded only because of saving a member of US Air Force’ – The US Embassy in Sarajevo confirmed that its Administration will posthumously decorate Drazo Mihajlovic [leader of chetnik movement in WWII executed by government of former Yugoslavia for his collaboration with fascists regime] for his role in rescuing a US Air Force troops in the war. Embassy further explained that a medal ‘Legion of Honour’ will be submitted to Mihalovic’s family. Following a number of reactions criticising this decision, US Embassy said they have not found any other person that would be awarded with this medal. EuroBlic announced on cover ‘Draza without decoration on Victory Day’, pg 3 ‘Draza without decoration after all’ by I.Cvetkovic-M.Suvar – EuroBlic has learnt from unofficial sources that the US Administration has this time succumb to pressures from Croatia and BiH and decided not to hand decoration, which US assigns to foreign citizens, to Draza Mihajlovic’s descendants on the Day of Victory over Fascism. According to daily, US representatives have put off the handing of decoration, and the date when it will be handed has not been agreed as yet. RHB, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 10 ‘Medal for Draza Mihajlovic is medal to war criminal’ by Z. Krstulovic– SDA calls on the US Government not to award Mihajlovic adding it is appalled with such possibility. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘A wind into the sail of Grand-Serb nationalism’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘A wind into the sail of Grand-Serb nationalism’ – SDU strongly opposes the decision of the US Government. |
| Tihic objects decision of US Administration
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘I asked McElhaney to pass on to |
Economic and social issues | |
| Energopetrol’s privatization: OMV accepts FBiH PM Hadzipasic’s proposal
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘OMV accepts the proposal, INA and MOL still without official position’, mentioned on cover ‘OMV accepts FBiH Premier Hadzipasic’s proposal’ M. Kukan – The Austrian OMV is prepared to accept a proposal made by FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic according to which the Croatian-Hungarian consortium MOL-INA and OMV should by Tuesday submit a joint offer for re-capitalization of the Sarajevo-based Energopetrol oil company. INA and MOL still do not take official positions on the proposal. |
| VL: ‘Energopetrol’ workers support INA/MOL bid
| Vecernji List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Energopetrol workers want INA and MOL to buy them!’, by Zoran Kresic – According to VL, workers of ‘Energopetrol’ and their representative in the company’s Supervisory Board have supported the bid of the Croatian ‘INA’ and Hungarian ‘MOL’ regarding the co-capitalization of ‘Energopetrol’. According to a Union representative in the company, Nusret Mamic, unlike other two bidders, INA and MOL are the only one that meet all the pre-requisites. |
| GS critical of F BiH authorities over pensions issue
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘When an Irishman is playing dumb’ by R.S. – The daily criticizes failure of F BiH authorities to act according to BiH Constitutional Court Human Rights Commission and start paying pensions to people, who earned it in F BiH. It also criticizes HR to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, and his associates for playing dumb on this issue. |
| BHT 1 feature on Srebrenica economic status
| BHT 1 by Samir Kahrovic – The municipal authorities of Srebrenica have been trying for past two years to obtain the special economic status for this town. BiH Council of Ministers and FBiH Government supported the idea, however RS Government opposes it. BHT 1 reporter comments that while political games are on going there is almost no economic activity in Srebrenica. The law, which would provide special status to Srebrenica, foresees taxation, customs and other exemptions for the municipality and entrepreneurs in the town in order to stimulate economic growth and employment. BHT 1 concludes this would also have significant impact on returnees. |
| PINK feature on farmers protests | PINK by Milka Mrdja – BiH Farmers Association announced that unless BiH Council of Ministers meets their requests by May 20 they would hold general protests. This time, farmers and food producers should stand united in their requests for protection of domestic food industry. President of BiH farmers Association Ranko Bakic stated that over 500 households in BiH living of farming now face serious problems because of the negative attitude of local authorities. Bakic emphasized that the high import rates are damaging the domestic productions, while the authorities haven’t yet done anything to change this. He announced 30.000 – 50.000 people are expected to take part at the protests and will block BiH CoM building until their requests are met. |
Security issues / war crimes | |
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| Vecernji List, pg 6, mentioned on front ‘BiH threatens to become terrorist base’, by Valentina Rupcic, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Our country a springboard for Al Qaeda’, not signed – According to a regular consultant of the US National Security Council, Evan Kolman, there are still some people who live in BiH that can be connected to the ‘Al Qaeda’. Kolman stresses that people who pose a threat to the national security of the |
| Vjesnik: Karadzic hiding in near Niksic? | Vjesnik pg 2 ‘Karadzic hiding in caves of Ostrog monastery?’, by Anton Hauswitschka – According to the report, Radovan Karadzic is allegedly hiding in secret caves of the Ostrog monastery near Niksic. |