Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on January 27
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Traffic/Weather conditions in BiH | World marks | Weather condition reports across RS |
| | Elections in | Bukejlovic meets SDA officials |
| Pentagon’s agents in BiH | 5 killed in | Auscwitzh ceremony |
TV news broadcast on January 26
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Traffic difficulties in BIH | Girl died of meningitis | Girl died of meningitis | RS NA in session |
| Snow storm in HNK | Traffic difficulties in BIH | Meningitis in FBiH | Protests in Bileca |
| HNC MoI warns drivers | Mektic: citizenship audits | Decision of | DNS supports Bukejlovic |
| Snow difficulties in Drvar | Update “Algerian group” | Situation in Elektrobosna N | BIH HoP in session |
| Oslobodjenje | BiH got VAT Law; Remembering notorious factory of death; A girl died in Bihac; First Jurcevic’s indictment by mid February |
| Dnevni Avaz | Entire state buried under snow; Seven-year old girl Emina Ramic died; Ramiz Mehmedagic: Someone could have got killed in Stolac; Bileca: Citizens’ protests continue |
| Dnevni List | Bad weather : Snow blocked BiH |
| Vecernji List | Little girl died of meningitis |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Cengic’s sins worth millions ‘dried up’ |
| Nezavisne Novine | |
| Glas Srpske | Dragan Covic on BiH lawsuit: A possible disgrace |
| EuroBlic | Ban on increase of prices of bread and milk is possible; Damir Miljevic: we will ask for Ministers’ resignations |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Snow storm in BiH | BH Radio 1, RTRS, RHB – By Dragan Stegic – Snow storm in BiH still causes large traffic problems, especially in RS. |
| World marks | BH Radio 1, RTRS – By Aida Suljevic – The ceremony of the 60th anniversary of liberation of the |
| Pero Bukejlovic will meet SDA and Party for BiH | FENA, RTRS – RS Prime Minister designate Pero Bukejlovic will talk with SDA representatives in RTRS reporter says that Bukejlovichas commenced the meeting with the SDA officials, Adil Osmanovic, Ramiz Salkic and Tarik Sadovic an hour ago. |
| VOA: Pentagon agents are present in BiH | RHB – “Voice of |
Judicial issues / procedures | |
| New premises of BiH judicial institutions opened in
| BHT1, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘2,2 million euro for reconstruction’ by A. Omeragic, Dnevni Avaz, pg 8 ‘The main courtroom was made following example of the Hague Tribunal’ by A. M. – New premises of the BiH judicial institutions (the BiH Court, BiH Prosecution and High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council) were officially opened on Wednesday in former army barracks ‘Viktor Bubanj’. The EU provided 2,2 million Euros for this project. Head of EC Delegation to BiH Michael Humphreys has stated the establishment of an efficient, impartial and politically independent BiH judiciary is a corner stone of the process of BiH reforms. FTV also carries BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac whosaid that the BiH judiciary showed readiness to take over and carry out reforms. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘New premises of BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office opened’ by M. Rener; Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘Europe loosened the purse-strings’, Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on front ‘3,5 million Euros secured for recording of trials’ by E. Mackic, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘With 21,54 million KM EU helps work of judiciary’ by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘Premises of BiH judicial institutions given for use’ by D. Pasic – also report on the opening. |
| SD: Cengic did cut deal
| Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 17 ‘Cengic’s sins worth millions ‘dried up’’, by Marin Erceg – Commenting on Hasan Cengic’s statement that he was in contact with Prosecutor Jonathan Schmidt, who allegedly offered him an out-of-court settlement which he (Cengic) declined, SD claims to learn from sources close to Cengic himself that he in fact did cut a deal with the Prosecution. SD explains that Cengic agreed to the mildest possible indictment and in return, “the international factors” will give up on persecuting Cengic for much serious deeds Cengic and other senior SDA officials had been involved in. In that context, the author lists the ‘Pogorelica’ case, abuse of donations during the war, criminal operations of “humanitarian” organizations, construction of the Visoko airport etc. To back his claims up about Cengic’s involvement in various illegalities, the author says the Ljiljan cover pg splash ‘Cengic rejected the bargain of three years in the jail and 50.000 KM of fine’ and pgs 14-16 ‘Schmidt had offered an out-of court settlement: three years in the jail and 50,000 KM of fine’ by Mugdim Hasanovic – claims Cengic rejected the offer of Prosecutor Schmidt for an out of court settlement. |
| NN on companies connected to Cengic’s alleged crimes
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 5 ‘Firms connected with Cengic under investigation’ by M. Cubro – The documentation, BiH Prosecutor’s Office has compiled against Hasan Cengic, shows that Cengic, delegate at the BiH HoP and senior official of SDA, has handled large amounts of money during the war. The money was intended as assistance to BiH. NN collocutor from BiH PO has said that: “Cengic was a member of a narrow circle of people, whom Alija Izetbegovic authorised to collect and handle the money. The Foundation for assistance to Muslims in BiH has collected large amounts of money, and Cengic was the-then and presently the most senior official of this organisation.” Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Cengic stays at BiH HoP’ – Regarding further engagement of Hasan Cengic at the BiH HoP, NN carries some comments. Mustafa Pamuk, Co-Chairperson of the BiH HoP, says: “We will act in accordance with the provisions of the Employment Manual of BiH HOP. My personal view is that nobody is guilty until proved otherwise. If indictment is brought against Cengic it does not necessarily mean he is guilty.” Oleg Milisic, OHR Spokesperson, has stated that HR will not interfere in decision on possible removal or stay of Hasan Cengic at the delegates’ position. |
| Mektic: Verification of citizenship for over 700 persons
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Verification of BiH citizenship for more than 700 persons’ – Relevant security structures in BiH are checking more than 700 foreigners who received BiH citizenship in different ways over suspicion that some of them may have worked for terrorist organisations, BiH Deputy Security Minister Dragan Mektic said on Wednesday. He added that the checks have started recently and that the review would be fully implemented. Mektic reminded that a dozen humanitarian organisations that were connected to certain terrorist organisations have been closed so far. Also reported by BHT 1, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Over 700 foreigners under check-up’ by Tijana Veselinovic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘700 persons being checked’ by Z.M.; Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘700 foreigners – citizens of BiH being checked” |
| BiH Justice Ministry says it is not its task to ask for extradition of the Algerian group
| BHT 1 – Wives of six BIH citizens imprisoned in Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Ministry of justice cannot ask for extradition of the Algerian group’ by J. S. – also reported on the meeting and carries a statement of Halilagic as saying someone must officially ask from US authorities to extradite the Algerian group to BiH, but he said he thinks this is not the task for Justice Ministry. |
| VL: BiH Prosecution interrogates Lijanovic today
| Vecernji List pg 5 ‘S. Ivankovic on ‘criminal group’ today’, mentioned on front ‘As of today Lijanovici also before court’ by Z. Kresic – Slavo Ivakovic Lijanovic one of co-owners of Meat Industry ‘Lijanovici’ has been invited to the BiH Prosecution Special Department today (Thursday) in order to give a testimony on alleged existence of criminal organization whose members are also Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic, President of the BiH Constitutional Court Mate Tadic etc. |
| Bileca citizens are still protesting
| FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, pg 2 ‘Citizens warn with hunger strike’, by V. D., Dnevni Avaz pg 29 ‘Bileca citizens threat with hunger strike unless alleged accomplices are arrested’, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Hunger strike also a possibility’ by V.M. – Reports that citizens of Bileca were protesting for the fourth day in front of the building of |
Economic issues | |
| HoP adopted law on VAT, law on budget of BiH institutions
| RHB, BHT1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pg 6 ‘BiH got the law on VAT’ by V. Zivak, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘The Law on BiH budget was adopted’ by H. Orahovac, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Adoption of Law on VAT completed’ not signed – BiH House of Peoples adopted the report of the Commission in charge of coordination of text regarding law on VAT. HoP adopted the changes to the law on BIH Central bank and 2005 budget of BIH institutions and foreign debt. 2005 budget was adopted in the amount of 581 million KM. One of the new items in the budget is 10% salary reduction for state officials, which caused the biggest discussion Wednesday. FTV – also reported on the session. |
| Terzic: VAT should be introduced in fall 2005
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘In two years, BiH will be able to introduce 2 rates of VAT’ by Srna – The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, believes that 1 January 2006 is absolutely unacceptable deadline to begin with the introduction of VAT Law, however he is also aware that VAT cannot be introduced before July 1 this year as planned. In an interview to OSM TV, Terzic said that he believes that as of Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Adnan Terzic: VAT from 1st September’ by SRNA, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Start as of 1st September’ by SRNA, mentioned on cover ‘Ban on increase of prices of bread and milk is possible’ – also carry Terzic’s statement on VAT. |
| Causevic: New way of tax payment is very successful | Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Impressive new way of tax payment’ by B.S. carries Director of the Indirect Taxation Administration Kemal Causevic as saying that the results of a new way of payment of a part of indirect taxes in BiH are impressive and that the ITA will collect without any problems the planned amount of 1 959 800 KM of budgetary money. VL says that the application of this system has started a month ago. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Seven million KM of indirect taxes were paid yesterday’ – also carries Causevic’s statement. |
| Mikerevic on distribution of taxation incomes
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Daily distribution of incomes from indirect taxation’ by N.N. – The RS Government on Wednesday made deliberation regarding allocation of resources obtained through indirect taxation, Dragan Mikerevic, RS Premier, announced. He further explained that the resources of BAM 16 million (30.5% from incomes) would be allocated on a daily basis, noting that the amount of resources is larger that in the same period last year. |
| DL: Law on privatisation audit before FbiH Govt soon
| Dnevni List, pg 6, mentioned on front ‘Debatable law on audit of privatization before FBiH Government again’, by Jurislav Petrovic – A source close to the FBiH Government confirms for DL that the said Government will be soon discussing the Law on audit of privatization, which was already rejected once by the FBiH Parliament’s House of Peoples because of shortcomings in it. According to the source, the new law, proponent of which is the FBiH Ministry of Energy and Industry led by Minister Izet Zigic, will only include cosmetic changes. The source also says that Ministers from the SDA and SBiH have already reached a consensus to vote in favour of the law, meaning one can expect another outvoting of the Croat Ministers. DL also reminds that some Croat Ministers noted earlier that the law in question was tailor made for ‘Aluminij’, whilst other companies mentioned in relation to the law will only serve as a cover up. |
Political issues | |
| RSNA demands from Govt to find temporary solutions for Trebinje and Vlasenica
| Nezavisne Novine cover ‘MP’s demanded de-blockade of accounts of Vlasenica and Trebinje’ and pg 4 ‘MP’s demand de-blockade’ by V. Popovic; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Prosecutor’s Office weighing evidence’ by D. Zec – RS National Assembly on Wednesday resumed the session and obligated RS Government to find a temporary solution on de-blocking the accounts of the municipalities Trebinje and Vlasenica, in collaboration with municipal officials from these two cities. RS NA called upon Constitutional and Supreme Court to audit these 2 cases as soon as possible. RS NA has also called upon RS Prosecution to verify the validity of documents that were used as evidence in the case of Trebinje municipality. RS NA also asked OHR to provide assistance in this matter. RTRS – RSNA has also announced it would seek OHR assistance in the matter. Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Dodik announced launching of Serbs’ lawsuits in FBiH’ by De.L., BHT 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Blocked accounts have blocked Trebinje and Vlasenica’ by O. V., Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Dodik threatened Serbs would sue municipalities in FBiH’ not signed–Milorad Dodik on behalf of SNSD has stated it could be expected that Serb citizens would soon start bringing lawsuits against municipalities in FBiH, therefore a law that would regulate postponing of execution of verdicts in cases of compensation for war damage should be adopted. |
| Cavic calls on all political subjects to contribute to functioning of BiH and RS institutions
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Political stability is the aim’ not signed – The RS President Dragan Cavic called on all political subjects in the entities and BiH to offer ‘constructive contribution to enable functioning of the legal institution.” The press release issued by the President’s Cabinet reads that this call has no intention to prejudice solutions at either entity or state levels, but to achieve political stability. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘To enable functioning of the BiH and RS institutions’ by J.S. – Commenting to Cavic’s call, RS Prime Minister in resignation, Dragan Mikerevic, said that it means that all should perform their duties well: “I think President through also about the Council of Ministers and some other institutions. I am personally satisfied with the attitude of RS ministers and civil servants in RS in this situation.” |
| Mikerevic: ‘PDP ministers in CoM will not withdraw resignations’
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘PDP ministers will not withdraw resignations’ by O. Vukovic – RS Prime Minister in resignation, Dragan Mikerevic, stated that the PDP Ministers in the Council of Ministers will not withdraw their resignations, as they were filed because of the crucial problems in BiH. He stressed that PDP expects CoM Chair, Adnan Terzic, needs to start the procedure in a situation when one of the ministers resigns. “This is a finished matter for PDP and we are waiting for the procedure defined by law to be implemented and the House of Representatives to present its position”, Mikerevic said. He said that the PDP legal team is also analysing the OHR view on the presence of resigning ministers at the sessions, which should also be discussed by the PDP Presidency this weekend. Asked if PDP would support the appointment of the new RS Government, Mikerevic said that PDP would act in the interest of the RS and reminded that the resigning government will continue working until the appointment of the new government. RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Resignations of Ministers from PDP are fait accompli’ by V. Popovic – also carry Dragan Mikerevic’s statement. |
| Dokic: If legally obliged, I will attend 1 Feb session but that wont solve CoM problem
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘I still have not received the invitation for CoM session’ by Fena, Dnevni List pg 10 ‘Dokic is waiting for invitation to attend BiH CoM’s session’ not signed– The resigning BiH Minister of Traffic and Communications, Branko Dokic, on Wednesday told Fena that he has not yet received the call for the CoM session scheduled for February 1. “The ministers in resignation, according to the Law on Ministries, need to be doing their jobs until the issue has been resolved – until they are removed from duty or another way is found for them to continue doing their jobs”, said Dokic. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘I will probably attend the CoM session’ by F.C. – “The issue of attending the session is strictly legal. If, in accordance with the law on ministries, the minister in resignation is obliged to attend the session, than we will reconsider this seriously. I have given this to my legal experts for a check. If that is a legal obligation, I will probably attend the 1 February session, but that will not solve the issue of further CoM status,” said Dokic. |
| DNS will support new RS Government
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘DNS will support RS Government’ by M.Z., Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘DNS would support Bukejlovic’ by D.K. – The president of the DNS, Marko Pavic, stated that this party will support the election of the RS Government regardless to is the RS Prime Minister-designate and whether DNS ministers will be in its composition. “However, that doesn’t mean that such government will have our smooth support after the election,” said Pavic. |
| DL: Covic, Colak, Lozancic trying to place HDZ Mostar under their control
| Dnevni List pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Covic and Colak tried to appoint Mostar HDZ Board by themselves’ by Z. Jukic – According to an HDZ official; who wanted to stay anonymous, at the last session of the HDZ BiH Presidency held on January 14 in Mostar, HDZ President Barisa Colak proposed the decision on temporary organization and functioning of the city organization of HDZ Mostar on the ground of which he demanded that the HDZ Presidency appoints all members of the HDZ Mostar Commission. The source also said that Colak came with such proposal according to the instruction of Dragan Covic and Niko Lozancic. The source added that many HDZ members recognized in this attempt the beginning of introduction of the centralistic dictatorship in HDZ BiH in which a small group of people gathered around Covic, Colak and Lozancic would have all power when decision-making is in question. An inset to DL titled ‘Ashdown’s decision reason for new organization of HDZ Mostar Board’ says that at its last session the HDZ Presidency also interpreted the HDZ Statute and it was concluded that having in mind the OHR’s decision on abolishment of Mostar Municipalities the organization of HDZ in Mostar has to be changed in accordance with the new organization of the City of Mostar. DL concludes that Covic and Colak used this fact in order to try to get support for temporary rules for the HDZ Mostar Board on the ground of which they would place HDZ Mostar under their control. |
| DA: Decision on Stolac crosses by 10 February
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Cross in Stolac and minaret in Ustikolina will be removed’, mentioned on cover, by M. Kukan – In a statement to DA, the FBiH Urban Planning and Environment Minister, Ramiz Mehmedagic, stated that the decision on removal of crosses in Stolac will have to be made before 10 February, when 40-days Lent starts. “All structures are included in [this issue]: the Church, the state and Federation authorities; International Community. We will have to seek solution to do this in most painless way, but we will do it. Same thing will happen in Ustikolina, where minaret will be removed and new one made to resemble the one in the past, so this will stay Turhan Emin-beg mosque.” |
| Terzic: CoM had never made decisions against RS or interests of Serb people
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘There is no reason for mistrust’ – Adnan Terzic, the BiH CoM Chairman, who was a guest in the “Lavirint” program, of the Pale TV Station of Open Serb Network, speaking about the police reform in BiH, stressed that the report produced by the PRC made at no point explicit mention that the RS and the Federation MoIs had to be abolished. Terzic went on to reject claims that reforms that are to lead to the abolition of the RS are prepared in his Cabinet and verified in |
| Humphreys: BiH can be admitted to EU with existing structure
| Nezavisne Novine pg 13 ‘Abolition of the RS is not a condition for BiH’s admission in the EU’ by D. Risojevic – In an interview given to today’s edition of NN, Michael Humphreys, the Head of the EC Mission to BiH, says that BIH can be admitted in the EU with its current constitutional structure, meaning with its two Entities. However, certain changes to the BiH Constitution will, in his words, be necessary in BiH’s progressing toward the EU, as it was the case with other countries. According to him, the EU will never request that the RS is abolished so that BIH could become a member of the EU. |
| Ljiljan: EC says conditions for liberalization of visa regime for BiH citizens not yet met | Ljiljan pgs 24&25 ‘European Commission: There is no way that visa regime will be alleviated’ by Amela Keserovic – According to the magazine, the only European country willing to ease visa criteria for BiH citizens if |
War crimes | |
| Jurcevic: first indictments for war crimes by mid February
| RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘First Jurcevic’s indictment by mid February’, mentioned on cover, by A, Omeragic, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘First indictment for war crimes by mid February’ by A. M., Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘First indictments by mid February’ by A.S.; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Indictments in February’ – BiH Chief Prosecutor Marinko Jurcevic has stated during a seminar on trainingprosecutors and judges that by mid February the Court will issue at least 1 bill of indictment for war crimes. Jurcevic also confirmed that the ICTY has not transferred any indictment yet. |
| Covic on BiH lawsuit against SiCG
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘A possible disgrace’ by Tanjug – TANJUG news agency reported on the interview Dragan Covic, member of BiH Presidency, gave to Dnevni Avaz, quoting him as saying that the lawsuit, which BiH had filed against Serbia and Montenegro for aggression and genocide might be “a legal disgrace, because the state does not support it”. He also expressed worry that the outcome of the lawsuit would not be of the kind that people working on it are expecting. |
| EUFOR: ‘We will arrest war criminals if we have intelligence’ | Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘We will arrest war criminals if we have intelligence’, by NINA – Spokesperson of EUFOR, Chris Percival, whilst talking at a press conference in Sarajevo about setting-up of check-points in BiH, stated that the EUFOR would arrest persons charged with war crimes, if the forces had reliable intelligence information. |
| Nacional: EU forces in BiH are preparing another pursuit after Karadzic and Mladic
| Nacional pg 2 ‘Karadzic and Mladic in the maelstrom of the Occident interests’ by D.J. – The report claims that EU forces in BiH are secretly preparing new pursuit after Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. Nacional claims that David Leakey seems to be unaware of the silent war between the western globalists (US democrats) on one side- who would like to see Karadzic and Mladicnever appear before ICTY (because they know a lot that could harm their position) – and the ruling republicans, who would like to see this happen, since it would help them to carry out final clash with Clintons’ politics in the Balkans, which has caused much harm to Serbs. |
| NN op ed on Busek’s criticism against ICTY | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘What are the results of the work of the Hague Tribunal’ by Josip Blazevic – The author is reporting on the most recent statement of Erhard Buseck, when he was critical of the work of the Hague Tribunal. The author agrees with this assessment, concluding that the Hague Tribunal is perceived as a politically biased and unjust with the negative view amongst the public regarding its work. He raises the issue as to what the level of transition some states would have had if they had not been conditioned with full cooperation with the ICTY. He does not question the issue regarding the existence of the Hague Tribunal, stressing it was a necessity to have such Court. |