Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 16 March
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| BiH Bishops’ Conference underway | Security threats against OHR | RS officials in |
| HR:Do ICTY fugitives hide in | BL Mayor receives threats | Search in Bijeljina |
| Cavic: Jankovic was hiding in | RS leaders visit to | Gotovina posters in Zadar |
TV news broadcast on 15 March
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| FBIH HoR in session | Drago Nikolic to surrender to ICTY | Lozancic on Covic’s resignation |
| Ivanic meets Chinese FA Minister | Meron on the work of the ICTY | |
| Lozancic sends letter to Covic | SCG proposes settlement to BiH | Update to Maktouf trial |
| Regional HDZ on Covic’s resignation | HR discusses police reform w/Cavic | Drago Nikolic to surrender to ICTY |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| | | Mtg of RS parties cancelled |
| Drago Nikolic to surrender to ICTY | Regional news | Drago Nikolic’s surrender to ICTY |
| Guardian: Russians protect PIFWCs | Drago Nikolic to surrender to ICTY | |
| Srebrenica working group mandate | Hartman: No more ICTY indictments | HR in |
| Oslobodjenje | Dragan Covic will not resign; OHR evacuated; Hasan Cengic must turn in his travel documents to |
| Dnevni Avaz | Secret Russian police hides criminals from RS!; New indictments to follow; OHR building evacuated |
| Dnevni List | Edhem Biber: Same number of employed and unemployed in FBiH |
| Vecernji List | Russians protect Karadzic and Mladic |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | 7 power plants will ‘drink up’ Neretva |
| Nezavisne Novine | Paddy Ashdown: If they do not hurry, Hague indictees will be serving sentence at Correctional Centre Zenica |
| Glas Srpske | Both pensions and differences |
| EuroBlic | Drama in Trebinje: I feel like buying fuel and burn myself |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related topics |
| Nacional | Features Serbian related topics |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Cavic, Bukejlovic visit
| RHB, BH Radio 1, RTRS by Slavisa Numic – President and Prime Minister of RS Dragan Cavic and Pero Bukejlovic accompanied with RS Interior Minister Darko Matijasevic are holding a meeting behind closed doors in |
| Cavic confirms Jankovic was in | RHB – RS President Dragan Cavic confirmed that before his surrender, ICTY indictee Gojko Jankovic was hiding in |
| Police raids house of PIFWCs brother in Bijeljina
| RTRS – Today in Bijeljina, police has searched the apartment of the person with initials P.P. brought into connection with war crime suspects. According to press statement issued by PSC Bijeljina, the aim of the search was to collect information related to persons from ICTY public lists. RTRS unofficially learnt that the apartment of brother of ICTY indictee Vinko Pandurevic was searched. |
War crimes | |
| Guardian: Russians hide war crimes suspects at large | RTRS, Hayat, BHT1, PINK, Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 3 ‘Secret Russian police hides war RS criminals’ by S. Numanovic, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Russian a haven for ICTY fugitives’ by Fena, Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘Russians protect Karadzic and Mladic’ and pg 3 ‘Russian secret services in Moscow protect fugitives’ by Z. Kresic, Slobodna Dalmacija 18 ‘Russian secret services protect war crime indictees from RS’ by A. Macanovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Russian authorities are hiding Hague fugitives in Moscow’, announced on cover ‘Russian authorities are hiding Hague fugitives’ by S. Karic – The London based The Guardian reported that the Russian secret services are shielding Bosnian Serbs wanted by the IOCTY for atrocities committed during the war, including the massacre at Srebrenica, where more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were slaughtered. Gojko Jankovic, a Bosnian Serb who gave himself up to the tribunal on Monday to face accusations of torture and multiple rape, was one of a group of fugitive alleged war criminals living in |
| Ashdown: Russians should investigate claims
| BHT 1, RTRS, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Ashdown: Seriously investigate claims’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Ashdown: Russians must investigate claims’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, said on Tuesday he is concerned about the allegations that ICTY indictee Gojko Jankovic before his voluntary surrender was hiding in Russia thanks to the support of this country, and stressed the Russian authorities should take appropriate measures to check the allegations published in the articles by the Guardian and New York Times that two other persons indicted for war crimes can also be found in Russia. PINK – The HR said that he expected from |
| Grischenko denied allegations
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Grischenko diens responsibility of his Government’ by Fena, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Grischenko: Russia is complying with duties’ – Alexander Grischenko, the Russian Ambassador to BiH, said in a statement to NN that “Russia is complying with its duties towards the Hague Tribunal, with which we maintain constant contact, and we also check on information ICTY demands.” He added he could not confirm nor deny information that |
| Nikolic voluntarily surrenders to ICTY on Thursday
| RHB, FTV, PINK, Hayat, Oslobodjneje pg 3 ‘Drago Nikolic goes to the Hague tomorrow’, mentioned on cover, by B.B., Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Drago Nikolic was commanding the executions in Srebrenica’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Drago Nikolic to depart to the Hague’ by S. Karic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Serbia writing guarantees’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘Drago Nikolic in The Hague tomorrow’ by A. Macanovic, EuroBlic pg 2 ‘Nikolic volunters as well’ – The former security official of the RS Army, Drago Nikolic, indicted by the ICTY for war crimes committed in Srebrenica, will turn himself over to the Court in the Hague voluntarily on Thursday, 17 March, was announced by the Serbian Government on Tuesday. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Pressure against RS gives results’ by Fena, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Tribunal will be satisfied when all indictees are in the Hague’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Pressure did pay out’- NATO HQ in Sarajevo welcomed Nikolic’s surrender. BHT 1 – Nikolic decided to surrender to the ICTY after Serbian Government confirmed that it would provide all the necessary guarantees for the pre-trial release. Nikolic is the ninth indictee from RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Improvement of cooperation with |
| HR extends mandate of Srebrenica Working Group
| RHB, BHT1, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Deadline extended for Srebrenica working group’ by Srna, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Srebrenica Commission’s mandate extended’, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Addenda ‘til April for Srebrenica’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Deadline for Srebrenica Task Force extended’, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Deadline for report of Srebrenica Commission extended’, by NINA – The HR, Paddy Ashdown, at the request of RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic, agreed on Monday to extend the deadline for the Srebrenica working group to present its report to the end of March, said the OHR spokesperson, |
| Meron stresses ICTY not to close down before trials of Karadzic, Mladic, Gotovia
| RHB, PINK, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Tribunal will be closed after trials of key indictees’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘We will not close the Court without Karadzic, Mladic and Gotovina’ by Agencies, EuroBlic pg 2 ‘Meron brought stick and carrot’ – ICTY President Theodor Meron said in Belgrade on Tuesday that the transfer of a large number of indicted war criminals to the ICTY is a good sign of cooperation of Serbia with that court, but the ICTY will end its work only after the trials of Ratko Mladic, Radovan Karadzic and Ante Gotovina are completed. Meron met Serbian President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Minister of Justice Zoran Stojkovic in |
| Hartmann: No more indictments from ICTY
| FTV – The spokeswoman for the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Florence Hartmann, stated that the indictment against former Macedonian Interior Minister Ljube Boskovski for crimes committed during the clashes between Macedonians and Albanians in August 2001 was the last ICTY indictment. In a statement to FTV, Hartmann added: “This doesn’t mean that war crimes will not be investigated any more. Now, it’s the responsibility of the local, domestic courts, such as War Crimes Chamber in BiH.” Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘No more ICTY indictments’ by E.S., Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘No more indictments for war crimes in former SFRJ’ by N.N., Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘The last indictment’ by Beta – also reported. |
| NN int w/ Ashdown: If they do not hurry, PIFWCs will serve sentences in Zenica
| Nezavisne Novine pgs 8-9, announced on cover ‘If they do not hurry, Hague indictees will be serving their sentences in Zenica correctional facility’ by Mirjana Kusmuk – In a two-page long interview to NN, HR Paddy Ashdown has warned Borovcanin, Zupljanin, Lukic and others, who are still in this area, that the Hague is filling up so they should not be the last because they might find themselves in a position to stand trial in Sarajevo instead and serve their sentences in Zenica correctional facility. HR added that every person at an executive position in BiH, who has been indicted of something, has the right to step down and prove his innocence before the court. He said Dragan Covic also has this right but he does not have the right to much time. HR Ashdown said he does not believe police reform poses a threat to RS and added that the seat of reformed police forces should not be in |
| SCG proposes new out-of-court deal to BiH re: lawsuit for genocide, aggression | PINK, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Trnka: It is certainly a sign they realized they’ll lose’ by A.M. – SCG representatives before the International Crime Tribunal, Radoslav Stojanovic, stated that Belgrade again offered the out-of-court settlement to BiH regarding the lawsuit BiH filed against SCG for aggression and genocide. Kasim Trnka, BiH legal expert, says that the offer is pointless, while BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic also excludes possibility for such deal. |
Judicial issues | |
|
| PINK, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘BiH Court ordered Hasan Cengic to return documents’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Hasan Cengic must turn in his travel documents to BiH Court’ by A.N., Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Cengic can travel only Court permit’ by A. Durmo, Dnevni List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Cengic must not leave country’, by Arijana Beus, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Hasan Cengic must return passport’ by F, Vecernji List 4 ‘Cengic must hand over passports to Court immediately’ by E.M.– The BiH Court will decide in the next 24 hours to temporarily confiscate all travel documents from Hasan Cengic, a deputy in the BiH House of Peoples accused of the abuse of position and authority. Judge Malcolm Simmons stated on Tuesday that if Cengic does not adhere to the Court’s order he would review to option of putting him in detention. Cengic did not appear before the FTV – In a telephone statement for FTV, Cengic said that the reason for this decision is to frighten him. “The purpose of this decision is to create negative impression of me so the court will be under the pressure of public opinion in this politically motivated case”, added Cengic. BHT 1 – also featured similar Cengic’s statement. |
| Oslobodjenje: Dragan Covic will not resign
| Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 7 ‘Dragan Covic will not resign’ V.Z. – Dragan Covic, the current Croat member of the BiH Presidency, who has been indicted for economic crime related to the Lijanovici Company business operations by the BiH State Prosecution, will not resign from the office, several sources told the daily on Tuesday. According to the sources, in making such the decision Covic will be supported by the HDZ BiH leadership. |
| Croat officials to leave authorities if Covic ‘forced’ to resign
| BHT 1 by Damir Simic – Croat officials will resign at all levels of authorities in BiH if Dragan Covic is forced to resign from the position in the BiH Presidency, stated unnamed high ranking HDZ official for BHT 1. Davor Cordas, member of HDZ Presidency said that the indictment against Covic is a way of persecution against Croatian officials. “This shows that the IC and the HR, Paddy Ashdown, are governing BiH in a completely wrong way”, said Cordas. Current trials against Croatian officials in BiH will be one of the main subjects of a meeting of the Bishops Conference scheduled in Mostar later this week. Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Croat officials will resign from all levels of authorities in BiH’ – also carry the announcement for resignation. RHB – reports on Cordas’ statement. |
| Covic and others to plead on indictment next week
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Covic and others before the court next week’ by F. Vele – Defence of the suspects confirmed that their clients have received the indictment officials and that they will plead to charges next week. Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9, mentioned on front ‘Covic: My apartment in London is rigging’, by Zlatko Tulic – Carries the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, as commenting on recent events regarding the indictment against him. He notes that he is yet to receive the indictment, however judging from reports in the media, Covic concludes that a lot of “effort” has been exerted into proving that that an apartment in Dnevni List, pg 9, mentioned on front ‘First hearing by beginning of April’, not signed – Covic’s lawyer, Josip Muselimovic, stated that Covic has not yet received the indictment although some media published such information. According to Muselimovic, scheduling of the first hearing is a matter for the court administration. Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘This is new Leutar case with accusations coming from a criminal’, by Zoran Kresic – Carries Muselimovic as saying that he finally received a copy of the indictment and after reading it, Muselimovic says the whole case reminds of the ‘Leutar’ case, which was based on a statement of a criminal. |
| Lozancic to Covic: “You have no right to resign!” | FTV, RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘You have not right to step aside’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Lozancic: You have no right to resign!’ by F.V., Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Lozancic called on Covic not to tender resignation’ by A. Sisic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘You have no right to resign’, Dnevni List, pg 9, mentioned on front ‘Covic, you do not have the right to step down!’, not signed, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Covic, you do not have right to step down’, mentioned on cover ‘Lozancic invited Covic not to resign’ by zk, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 9 ‘Lozancic demands from Covic not to step down’ by D. Pasic– FBiH President Niko Lozancic sent a letter to BiH Presidency member Dragan Covic on Tuesday urging him to remain firm and not to back down, as well as to influence a more intensive engagement of all BiH institutions on accelerating the implementation of ongoing reforms and thus contribute to the stability of the constitutional order and the strengthening of the international credibility of BiH. “You don’t have the right to step down”, Lozancic said categorically. “It would perhaps be better if they stepped down. We love this country more and have more right and responsibility to organise it to the measure of its every single citizen”, Lozancic said in the letter to Covic. |
| Ashdown: ‘Covic should resign’
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Covic should resign’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Covic should resign’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘A clear position’ – HR Paddy Ashdown said in Banja Luka on Tuesday that BiH Presidency member, Dragan Covic, should resign until the trial against him is completed in order to protect state institutions and the international reputation of our country. Ashdown said that the position of Dragan Covic is entirely clear, alike in the case of Milorad Dodik, and that he as a representative of executive authority facing criminal charges should stand aside, renounce his executive functions and defend himself before court as private citizens. |
| State Prosecutor John McNair: New indictments to follow
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘New indictments to follow’ Sead Numanovic – In an interview with the daily, BiH State Prosecutor John McNair announced new indictments in addition to those filed recently. “There will be new indictments. One is likely to be announced next month, but I do not believe that it could be put in the category of those referring to higher political levels,” said McNair. |
| VL says McNair has no evidence against Jelavic in ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case
| Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Rupcic will not testify in court’, by Zoran Kresic – VL learns from sources in the BiH Prosecution that Prosecutor John McNair spoke on Tuesday with Miroslav Rupcic, who was earlier sentenced to 5 years imprisonment in the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case after cutting a deal with the Prosecution. VL says McNair wanted Rupcic to testify against Ante Jelavic in the same case, but apparently Rupcic rejected the proposal to become a repentant, so it is expected that his testimony will be in Jelavic’s interest. VL argues that McNair continues to stall the process in order to buy time and find incriminating evidence against Jelavic, since he is yet to prove financial malversations. |
| NN op-ed on Covic/HR | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Defending homeland’ by Almedin Sisic – Commenting on the recent indictment brought against Dragan Covic, the author says it is clear to everybody Covic would tender resignation only if HR Paddy Ashdown ordered him to do so, adding that the policy of British Lord confuses people, since he has not so far found information presented in indictment sufficient to remove Covic from the position. The author concludes that the only moral satisfaction to this plundered people is called Special Department of BiH Prosecutor’s Office for organised Crime. Anybody would be tried for his war-time and post-wartime role, regardless of such persons are Hasan Cengic, Dragan Covic, Ante Jelavic or somebody else. |
Security/police issues and reform | |
| OHR building evacuated due to security threat | BHT1, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘OHR building evacuated because of suspicions’, mentioned on cover, by M.K., Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘OHR evacuated’, mentioned on cover, by A.O., Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘OHR staff evacuated’ by M.C. , Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Threat to security of OHR in BiH’ by H – OHR spokesman Vedran Perisic confirmed that OHR building in Sarajevo was evacuated on Tuesday afternoon. Perisic stated that reason was “unspecified security threat”, adding that OHR has reacted in accordance with standard security procedures with police consultation. |
| Ashdown in BL: Police HQ doesn’t have to be in
| PINK, RTRS, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Police HQ doesn’t have to be in Sarajevo’, mentioned on cover, by O. Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘If police reform si not implemented the doors to Europe are closed’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Reforms will not abolish RS nor RS MOI’ by V.P., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Srpska will not disappear’ by G. Dakic, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Change of Constitution through police reform in BiH’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘None can abolish RS’, mentioned on front ‘Ashdown in Banja Luka: Nobody must not abolish Republika Srpska’ by f, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Ashdown: RS National Assembly to pass decision on police reform’ by A. Macanovic, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Deadline for report of Srebrenica Commission extended’, by NINA – During the separate meetings with RS President, Dragan Cavic, the members of the RSNA Board for Defence and Interior, and cadets of the RS Police Academy, the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, said that police reform is the last big reform for BiH’s way to Europe, and pointed out that decision on reform was not to be brought by the OHR but BiH politicians. The HR pointed out that if BiH wanted to meet terms FTV, BHT1 – “If I don’t feel that I can impose police reform in RS, what makes you think that I could impose disappearance of RS”, concluded Ashdown. Nezavisne Novine pgs 8-9, announced on cover ‘If they do not hurry, Hague indictees will be serving their sentences in Zenica correctional facility’ by Mirjana Kusmuk – In a two-page interview to NN, Paddy Ashdown explains the process of police reform. |
| Dutch Ambassador to BiH op-ed on police reform: Your future is in your hands’
| EuroBlic op-ed pg 2 ‘Your future is in your hands’ by Robert Bosher – The op-ed on police reform was written by Robert Bosher, the Dutch Ambassador to BiH, saying that almost all politicians in BiH agree BiH belongs to EU. On this he notes the most important and urgent steps that need to be implemented concerning further integration is police reform, which EC has marked as one of the biggest tasks BiH must fulfil on the path towards EU. He lists a number of reasons for police reform, giving the example of robberies of two banks in Tuzla Canton. He stresses the complex, sluggish and completely doubtful procedure suits criminals, not citizens. He warns the EU door is open, but it will not remain open forever, adding BiH must not waste this historic chance. |
| RS and FBiH analysis disagree over police reform | EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Change of Constitution through police reform in BiH’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – Apart from reporting on HR’s visit to Banja Luka Tuesday, article also carries the comment of Gostimir Popovic, political and military analyst, saying that: “Police Reform Commission Report is layman-like and incorrect, and it serves to agitate RS officials. I believe lobbying on reform is run from |
| FBiH HoP adopts Law on police officers
| RHB, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Adopted law on police officers’, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Law on police officers adopted’ by S.Se.– At the extraordinary session held Tuesday, FBiH House of Peoples adopted the draft law on police officers in FBiH, together with two amendments tot his law. “The amendments will enable employment for the bachelors in crime sciences more than was the case to date,” said proponent of the law, Nermin Vila. HoP disregarded the protest by the FBiH MoI Trade Union to these amendments. |
| RS MoI employees say they are underpaid
| RTRS by Biljana Mandic – RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic together with his Ministers spoke with Chairman of RS Trade Union Cedo Volas on salaries of RS Interior Ministry employees. Volas demanded the salaries to be reinstated to previous level, saying that otherwise RS would have to deal with OHR, IMF and World Bank. RS Minister of Labour and Soldiers and Invalid Protection Miodrag Deretic expressed hope that the current situation will be over come soon. |
| NATO denies requesting deportation of 7000 naturalized BiH citizens | BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘There is no list’ by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Changes and addenda to Law on privatisation adopted’ by N.N. – NATO spokesperson, Derek Chappell on Tuesday rejected the media speculations that NATO has prepared the list of 700 naturalized BiH citizens originating from the Islamic countries and that it submitted it to BiH prosecution together with demand for them to be deported. |
Social and economic issues | |
| War invalids will ask FBiH to resign if pensions are to be decreased
| Hayat, FTV, Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Federation Government should resign if it decreases invalids’ pensions’, by D. Polovina-Mandic – The Presidency of Association of wartime military invalids held a session in Sarajevo on Tuesday, which was attended by presidents of cantonal organizations of military invalids and the FBIH Minister of Defenders’ Issues, Ibrahim Nadarevic. One of conclusions of the meeting is that should the FBiH Government adopt the World Bank’s proposal on the decreasing of pensions to the military invalids, the Association will request the FBiH Government to resign. Inset into the article entitled ‘Croat side left out again’ carries the President of Association of Croat war veterans (HVIDRA), Andjelko Barun, as saying that the Croat side was not invited to the meeting. Oslobodjenje, pgs 4-5, mentioned on front ‘Bigger percentage of disability for 4500 military invalids?’, by Asaf Becirovic – The FBIH Minister of Defenders’ Issues, Ibrahim Nadarevic, fears that the number of veterans could increase from current 32.000 to 37.000, and some 4.500 invalids could be getting a higher percentage of disability, which means bigger pensions. (issue also covered by Dnevni Avaz, pg 12 ‘If World Bank’s gets adopted, just will be sought on the streets’, by J. Milanovic) |
| FBiH HoP adopts amendments to privatisation law
| RHB, PINK, FTV, BHT1, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 5, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 Changes to privatisation law adopted’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Changes and addenda to Law on privatisation adopted’ by N.N. – The FBiH House of Peoples on Tuesday accepted the Draft Law amending the Law on Privatization of Companies. The amendments prevent the foreign companies whose ownership structure is over 50% of state capital from participating in privatization of companies in the Federation. |
| Proposed law foresees review of suspicious privatization cases only
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Proposed law foresees review of suspicious privatization cases only’ M. Kukan – A new version of the law on review of the privatization has been drafted and it is to be forwarded to the FBiH Government and then Entity Parliament for consideration and adoption by the end of this month, according to FBiH Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Izet Zigic. Zigic says in a statement for the daily that reviewed will be privatization of the companies where the ownership structure is unclear as well as the companies where various irregularities have been spotted in the course of the privatization process. |
| Biber: Number of employed and unemployed in FBiH could become even
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 8 ‘Edhem Biber: Same number of employed and unemployed in FBiH’, by D. Polovina-Mandic – According to estimates by the Association of Independent Unions of BiH, when the application of the Law on bankruptcy, which was adopted in March 2004, goes into full effect, the number of employed and unemployed people in the FBiH will be pretty much even. According to the Association President, Edhem Biber, “at the moment, the difference in the number of employed and unemployed is very small – 330.000 unemployed and 390.000 employed. If we have a situation that some 30.000 people lose jobs because of bankruptcies, then the ratio between the employed and unemployed will be fifty-fifty”. Biber argues that the situation in the RS is even worse. |
| Proposal on postponement of VAT collection
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Collection of VAT to be postponed for half a year’ by M.C. – Miodrag Kudic, member of the ITA Steering Board, confirmed that the ITA Steering Board would propose introduction of VAT as of 1st January 2006, explaining: “It is impossible to commence with collection of VAT before 1st January 2006. we do not have software for registering VAT, which is the heart of the system. It is impossible to start with VAT collection without this system.” |
| SD: Construction of 7 power plants on Neretva to cause ecological disaster?
| Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pg 19 ‘7 power plants will ‘drink up’ Neretva’ by E. Karamatic carries that foreign investors are planning to construct as much as 7 hydro-electric power plants on the Neretva river and many ecological associations have been reacting against these projects these days. The author believes that these projects might cause a real ecological disaster. |
| Human Rights’ Comm. has ordered FBiH to pay out pensions to pensioners
| Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Both pensions and differences’ by R.S. – The article reminds of decision (passed 8th February 2005) of the Human Rights’ Commissionwith the BiH Constitutional Court, according which F BiH has been ordered to undertake all administrative measures in order to fulfil its duties towards all the pensioners, who have earned their pensions within F BiH. This decision has upheld decision of the Human Rights’ Chamber decision of |
| Dailies say suspension of parts of FTA is ‘an easy way out’
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Business of our own’, by Tanja Dragic – Commenting on the recent decision of the BiH Council of Ministers to temporarily suspend the application of the zero customs rate when it comes to import of goods from Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro, as stipulated in the Free Trade Agreement, the author argues that the BiH CoM took the easy way out by simply ordering the suspension, without trying to find a way how to improve the competitiveness of domestic production. On a similar note, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9 ‘Council of Ministers a pawn of powerful lobbies’, by Marin Erceg – notes that the BiH CoM’s decision will just create an illusion that the BiH CoM is protecting domestic producers, whilst in reality it only slows down the adoption of international standards that are necessary to get closer to Europe. |
| PDHR Hays’ farewell op-ed in Oslobodjenje
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Pragmatic progress’ op-ed by |
Political issues | |
| Cavic postpones mtg on Agreement | BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Cavic cancels the meeting on agreement’ – RS President Dragan Cavic on Tuesday evening cancelled the meeting of six RS political parties that signed the agreement on principles of harmonized political activities. The meeting was postponed after leaders of SNSD, Milorad Dodik, and DNS, Marko Pavic, informed Cavic that they would not participate in the meting because certain parties, signatories of the agreement, constantly breach it. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Cavic postponed the meeting’ by V. Popovic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Agreement for disagreement’ by N. Diklic – Marko Pavic, DNS President, confirmed to GS that members of DNS will no longer take part at these meetings, “since they do not want to be cover for somebody else’s mistakes”. Milanko Mihajlica, President of RS Serb Radical Party, said his party remains faithful to the Agreement, which should be a foundation on which RS would be preserved and built. Mladen Ivanic, PDP President, told GS he had no intention of taking part at the meeting, since three signatory parties of the Agreement cancelled participation. |
| RS parties support Venice Comm. report
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘The sooner the better?’ by N.D. – Delegates at the RS NA (Stanko Pivasevic from SDS, Krstan Simic from SNSD, Mladjan Zaric from PDP, Milanko Mihajlica from RS SRS) support recommendation of the Venice Commission that the authorities of the High Representative to BiH should be reduced. |
| Spiric contests constitutionality of Statute of City of Sarajevo
| Hayat, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Spiric submits request to assess constitutionality of Statute of City of Sarajevo’, by NINA – Deputy Speaker of BiH House of Representatives, Nikola Spiric, has sent the BiH Constitutional Court a request aimed at assessing of constitutionality of article 21 of the Statute of City of Sarajevo and decision on appointment of councilors into the Sarajevo City Council (CC). Spiric argues that the article in question does not mention the Serbs as a constitutive people, which represents a direct violation of the BiH Constitution. He also argues that a guaranteed minimum of Croat and representatives of ‘others’ has not been appointed to the CC. |