| Radio Herceg-Bosna (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30 hrs) |
| Presidency session | Case of Dragan Lukac | Police report against H.C. | Visegrad operation |
| FBiH HoP/Law on Defence | FBiH HoP/Law on Defence | Trial of Pavle Strugar | RSNA session |
| Djukic approved by SFOR | Coal Industry in Lukavac | BiH Railway | Trade union in RS |
| Confessed torturing in Iraq | Bosmal City Centre | Brucellosis in Konjic | Confessed torturing in Iraq |
| Oslobodjenje | Military apartments affair: BiH is being forced to do what SCG, Croatia do not even hear about |
| Dnevni Avaz | Bakir Izetbegovic on municipal elections: Coalitions possible and wanted |
| Dnevni List | Mostar University must preserve its independence |
| Vecernji List | Inspectors on trail of rockets for Palestine |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Mostar University must remain independent |
| Glas Srpske | Unequal position of Srebrenica returnees: Two salaries to Bosniaks |
| Nezavisne Novine | OHR warned Minister and Police Director of RS : Djeric and Njegus must apprehend war crime suspects; Crisis at RS MoI: Special police does not give up on its demands; Audit Office on financial dealings of BiH institutions: BiH Presidency exceedingly spends resources |
| Blic | In solitary cell with Legija; Jeremija Starovlah for “Euroblic”: Fight for health and truth |
Police affairs/crime/investigations | |
| RSNA on cooperation with the ICTY, Visegrad operation…
| BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘SDS, PDP and SDA call Hague indictees to surrender’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Investigations be completed – The Republika Srpska National Assembly yesterday adopted information on the activities RS Ministry of Internal Affairs performed during actions at Hajducke Vode and Visegrad and concluded that “tragic event in Visegrad, as well as events resulting from it, have reached the level of politics, which undermines the authority of RS institutions”. The conclusions, adopted with 47 votes pro (SDS, SDA and PDP voted pro adoption), 16 contra and 7 abstained, reiterate the commitment and obligation of all authorities to actively engage in the fulfilment of international obligations of Republika Srpska and BiH. This also includes calls on the Hague indictees to voluntarily surrender. Commenting why SDA voted pro adoption of these conclusions, Tarik Sadovic, Head of SDA Caucus said that there was no previous arrangement with the SDS. Igor Radojicic, SNSD MP, said that one of the reasons why SNSD did not vote for adoption of these conclusions was that Parliament did not accept demands of this party for removals of Zoran Djeric, RS Interior Minister, and Radomir Njegus, RS Police Director. He further said that the Parliament majority passed these conclusions, because “it is stuck in their mutual bargains”. According to NN inset 1, Adil Osmanovic, RS Vice President, said that: “There are people working at RS MoI, who directly participate in hiding of war crime suspects. Therefore, I am of the view that the personnel changes would have good results, especially in regard to co-operation with the Hague Tribunal.” During resumption of its 17th session yesterday, Republika Srpska National Assembly has also adopted several laws, including Law on changes and addenda to the Law on expropriation, changes and addenda to the Law on agricultural land. The Law on changes and addenda to the Law on enforcement procedure proposed by MP Milan Antesevic did not get necessary majority for being discussed as proposal. Instead, it was discussed as Draft Law, which obtained necessary parliament majority. MP’s also adopted the Law on Ombudsmen of RS. |
| OHR, EUPM on Lukac case
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘OHR: They must apprehend war crime suspects’ mentioned on cover ‘Djeric and Njegus must apprehend war crime suspects’ – NN carry a statement by the OHR Director of Communications, Julian Braithwaite, who said: “OHR expects from Republika Srpska police, and in particular Njegus and Djeric, to implement and intensify activities on arrest of war crime suspects. If they fail in doing so before the NATO summit in Istanbul then they will be amongst those most responsible for the failure of BiH to enter Partnership for Peace.” Commenting on affair at RS MoI, Braithwaite said that OHR supports EUPM position noting that: “Lukac should respect decision of Republika Srpska authorities and step down from office. OHR supports position by EUPM Commissioner, who made it clear that the removals at Special Police Unit were legal.” Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Legal removals’, Blic, pg. 13 ‘Support to Njegus’ by J. D., Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘OHR supports Negus’s decisions’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Decision of Police Director in accordance with law and proper procedures’ by Nina,Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Legal decisions on removal of Lukac, Ribic’ (OHR), Decisions on removals in RS Interior Ministry must be implemented’ (EUPM Roberts) – GS carries statements from yesterday’s press conference in Banjaluka by Ljiljana Radetic, OHR Regional Spokesperson, and Alun Roberts, EUPM Spokesperson, who said that removals at RS MoI were in accordance with the Law. |
| Meeting btw. Lukac and Njegus did not resume yesterday | Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 4 ‘Special Police does not give up on its demands’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Lukac must step down’ – The meeting between RS Police Director, Radomir Njegus, and Head of RS Special Police Unit, Dragan Lukac, which was supposed to reach an agreement regarding the most recent removals within this Unit, did not take place yesterday and it is not known when it would take place. Lukac confirmed to NN that nobody from RS MoI contacted him in order to inform him of resumption of talks. The officials of RS MoI claim that Zoran Djeric and Radomir Njegus have gone on a business trip, without saying where. According to GS, its source close to international factor in BiH claims that Dragan Lukac and Dragan Ribic must step down from Office, because they lost the support of not only top leadership of RS but also OHR and EUPM. According to NN inset 1, the Court Panel of the Serb Sarajevo District Court has yesterday extended detention sentence against Drazen Bojic and Vedran Purisis, members of RS Special Police Unit who participated in 18th April action in Visegrad, when Novica Lukic was murdered. The Court confirmed that the decision on extension of measure was passed upon proposal of the District Prosecutor’s Office in charge of the investigation on this case. According to NN inset 2, Alun Roberts, EUPM Spokesperson, yesterday stated that some positive progress has been reached regarding resolution of some personnel affairs following Tuesday meeting in Banjaluka between Kevin Carty, EUPM Commissioner, Radomir Njegus, RS Police Director, and Dragan Lukac, Head of Special Police unit. He said that: “After EUPM Commissioner was asked for advise, those, who had previously had some difficulties in accepting decisions on personnel changes have obligated and said they are now ready to accept them.” Blic, pg. 13 ‘They are looking for a true leader’ by Tijana Veselinovic, Blic, pg. 13 ‘Dragan Lukac: Special Police members want to have a competent commander’ by FoNet – yesterday’s statement of Lukac saying they want one of their colleagues to be appointed to the position of the Special Police Commander, Blic, pg. 13 ‘Who are the responsible ones? Not signed – On a letter sent by Special Police members to Cavic, Kalinic, Government also addressed the issue. Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Situation in Special Police Unit normal, there is no rebellion’ not signed carries that removed Commander of the Special Police Unit Dragan Lukac stated that the situation in this unit is normal, there is no any kind of rebellion and he is waiting a call of the RS Police Director Radomir Njegus, who had talks with the OHR officials in Sarajevo yesterday. Lukac did not want to say precisely as to what he expects from these talks and whether he will hand over his duty. |
| Lawyer Dusko Tomic on Visegrad operation, Lukac case | RTRS – Arrested members of the special police of the RS Interior Ministr, Drazen Bojic and Vedran Purisic, who participated in the action in Visegrad, asked their lawyer DuskoTomic to publicly announce their names. Tomic met on Wednesday with Dragan Lukac, the replaced chief of the RS special police, in Banja Luka and asked him to withdraw from the position peacefully. “I have just returned from the meeting in the base, where I explained to Dragan Lukac why I am here and Mr. Dragan Lukac accepted what we asked him to do because we are afraid that further complication could cause worse scenes, and even shedding of blood, which is absolutely unnecessary”, said Dusko Tomic. Tomic says that Dragan Lukac will soon make public statement on acceptance of the order made by Radomir Njegus, the director of the RS police. Everybody wants to know the truth about Visegrad. The criminal council of the district court in Srpsko Sarajevo extended detention for the two members of the special police who participated in the action in Visegrad. Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Policemen seek protection’, Oslobodjenje pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Nedran Purisisc and Drazen Bojic shoot at Lukic’ also reported on the issue, carried Tomic’s statement. |
| RS Vice-president Osmanovic believes police dismissals to boost Hague cooperation | Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Removals in RS Interior Ministry were necessary’, Blic, pg. 13 ‘Osmanovic: Ministry of Interior should arrest Karadzic’ by G. Savic, ONASA – Republika Srpska (RS) Vice-President Adil Osmanovic said on Wednesday that the latest dismissals in the RS Service of Special Police will contribute to the democratization in the RS Ministry of Interior (MUP) and to the transparency in work in the context of protection of property and cooperation with the Hague tribunal. “Many people, who were active in the period from 1992 to 1995 in the process of expelling of non-Serbs, unfortunately kept top positions in the police. Many of them have directly participated in the successful hiding of persons accused of war crimes,” Osmanovic said. He said he hopes that the RS Government and police will meet their obligations and arrest indicted war criminal Radovan Karadzic. |
| COMSFOR Packett on Karadzic arrest | Vecernji List pg 2 ‘We are so close to Karadzic that we can feel his breath’ by Fena carries that SFOR claims that the noose around former RS President Radovan Karadzic is tightening. SFOR Commander Virgil Packett stated that the noose around Karadzic is so tightened that SFOR soldiers practically can feel his breath. VL says that SFOR was not ready to say whether Milovan Bjelica, suspected of helping war criminals, gave more information about Karadzic. Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover, Nacional Belgrade daily, pg. 3 ‘Circle around Karadzic is getting tighter?’ also carried the statement. |
| State Intelligence Agency: Nomination of Dzuvo and Zaric supported | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Consent for appointment of Almir Dzuvo and Risto Zaric’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Almir Dzuvo and Risto Zaric got consent (to be appointed)’, Dnevni List last pg ‘Candidate for OSA Chief Inspector is being looked for’ not signed, FENA – The Joint Security-Intelligence Commission of the BiH Parliament for monitoring the work of the Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA) on Wednesday agreed with the BiH Council of Ministers’ proposal for appointing Almir Dzuvo as General Director and Risto Zaric as Deputy General Director of the Agency. After the parliamentary commission’s session, BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic told journalists that he had held consultations on the issue with the body’s members and that they agreed with the nominated candidates. Dzuvo and Zaric have previously passed the vetting process conducted by the OHR. Further, the Commission has tasked the Council of Ministers Chair and his deputies to complete the procedure of appointing the Chief Inspector of OSA by June 1. “I expect Barisa Colak to deliver the name of candidate for the Chief Inspector so that it could be forwarded to OHR”, said Terzic. The deadline for beginning of implementation of the Law on the Intelligence-Security Service BiH has been prolonged till June 1 by the High Representative’s Decision, and until this date it is necessary to appoint the officials of OSA. The Council of Ministers will issue the decision on appointing them. Chair of the Commission for Monitoring OSA Tomislav Limov said that Law, which is the foundation for reform of intelligence services, would come into effect on June 1. “This means that the civil intelligence-security services of Entity character will be terminated, and instead there will be a single service for the entire BiH”, said Limov. |
| EC on police forces in BiH | Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Police forces in BiH are not ready for Europe’ – The police forces in BiH are not prepared for European future as they are not treating properly the problems such as organised crime, terrorism, crime amongst the youth, domestic violence and victims’ assistance programs. This is the conclusion of an expert team of the project entitled “Financial, organisational and administrative assessment of police forces and the BiH SBS”, funded by the EU. Amongst other weak sides of the BiH police are internal organisation, old-fashioned operational methods and unsatisfactory logistic and technological support The press release of the European Commission reads that the review showed the current system is not sustainable. The review also showed that the police forces in BiH, given the difficult working conditions, are offering the basic services in the field of public safety that are of satisfactory up to good quality level. |
| RS Helsinki Committee on Srebrenica Commission | BH Radio 1, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 15 ‘Part of Srebrenica tragedy related documentation is in Serbia’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Documents on Srebrenica are most likely in Serbia’ by B. Gagula,Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Todorovic: Work of Srebrenica Commission must not be limited’ not signed – The president of the RS Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Branko Todorovic, has said in Banja Luka that, due to time constraints and bad working conditions, there is a possibility of a total fiasco in the work of the commission investigating the Srebrenica events. Todorovic presented data according to which the information on the Srebrenica tragedy is being covered up as well as that RS authorities have been grooming witnesses ahead of their testimonies before the commission. Information on the Srebrenica tragedy does exist, Branko Todorovic has said. He also said that this information cannot be gleaned and that the institutions of the RS are ready to submit it to the Srebrenica commission only under pressure from certain international community institutions. “It is mainly hidden and is still almost totally unavailable to both the commission and investigative bodies. Also, a part of this documented evidence – according to unchecked claims – has been probably transferred to Serbia,” said Todorovic. According to Todorovic, new information supplied to the commission investigating the Srebrenica events by the RS authorities is almost non-existent. However, there are some worrying findings. “We have also recently received information that the relevant authorities in the RS have been grooming some members of the army and police, who are being questioned, ahead of their testimonies and that the statements they make before the commissions have been actually prepared for them, are not authentic and do not contain anything new whatsoever,” Todorovic added. Todorovic called on the president of the Srebrenica commission to tell the BiH public in clear terms whether the commission can discover something new and glean the total truth about the Srebrenica tragedy. |
| Police report against Hasan Cengic | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Hasan Cengic illegally authorized BIO for arms production?’, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘Hasan Cengic suspected of abuse of office’, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Mostar shells: Criminal report against H. Cengic’ mentioned on cover, by Zoran Kresic – The FBiH Interior Ministry’s Police Administration has suspected Hasan Cengic, the former FBiH Deputy Defence Minister, of illegal issuance of consent to the Bosnian Investment Organisation (BIO) for production of explosive, weapons and ammunition, learns the newspaper. At the time, the BIO was represented by Tarik Balta, who had on the basis of Cengic’s approval registered the company for the aforementioned business at the Sarajevo District Court. Dnevni Avaz pg 9, mentioned on the cover ‘Cengic claims that the case against him has exclusively political background’ – Commenting on the police report filed agains him, Cengic, who is currently the deputy to the State Parliament, told the daily that the entire case against him had only a political background (is entirely of the political nature). Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Mostar shells: Criminal report against H. Cengic’ mentioned on cover, by Zoran Kresic – the Police Administration of FBiH Ministry of Interior filed with the BiH Prosecution a criminal report against Hasan Cengic, reveal sources close to the FBiH Police. It is not specifically stated what Cengic is being charged with, apart that the report is related to the time Cengic was the FBiH Defence Minister. It was only stated that Cengic abused office and authority. VL argues that Cengic was a close associate of the late Alija Izetbegovic and a man who connected to several affairs related to procurement of arms to the BiH Army. (NB: the article does not mention the Mostar mortar shells case – see the headline) |
| VL: FBiH Financial Police checking FBiH MoD’s operations from 2002 | Vecernji List, front and pg 3 ‘Inspectors on trail of rockets for Palestine’, by Zoran Kresic – reports that the FBiH Financial Police last week started to check a vast documentation pertaining to business operations of the FBiH Ministry of Defence from the year 2002 when Mijo Anic was the FBiH Defence Minister. According to information coming from the FBIH Financial Police in Mostar, several contracts and financial documents are interesting to the FBiH Prosecution. An anonymous official of the FBiH Financial Police says the contracts in question are related to the sale of property of the FBiH MoD and the procurement procedures. VL also reports that an investigation is also being conducted into the case of sale of the rocket fuel from the HVO barracks in Dretelj near Capljina, which ended up at an unknown address abroad. According to the FBiH MoD’s plans, the rocket fuel was to be transported to Vitez’s Dynamite Factory, where it was to be destroyed. Instead, the rocket fuel was sold to Republika Srpska, and after that to somewhere abroad. VL also notes that some time ago, there were speculations that the said fuel ended up on a ship in Rijeka (Croatia), which was confiscated and which was allegedly to be shipped to Palestinian fighters. Finally, VL reports that the Financial Police has detected several contracts believed to be fictitious. |
| Confiscation of 48 kg of marijuana in Trebinje | Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 2 ’48 kg of marijuana confiscated’ – The members of the State Border Service in Trebinje, in collaboration with the Customs Office Trebinje on Tuesday confiscated 48 kg of marijuana. According to press release issued by SBS, the drugs were confiscated at the border crossing point Klobuk during the search of the truck “FAP” driven by P.D. from Niksic (Montenegro). The driver was yesterday handed to BiH Prosecutor’s Office and report will be filed against him for illegal trafficking in narcotics and forgery of documents. |
Political developments | |
| BiH Presidency session
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Information on work of BiH Prosecution Office returned for additional consideration’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Improvement of economic cooperation priority’, FENA – BiH Presidency on Wednesday adopted the Platform for the 4th session of the Interstate Council for Cooperation between BiH and Serbia-Montenegro, which will be held May 26 in Belgrade. The Presidency accepted the invitation for participating in the International Conference “Zaklade 2020”, which will be held May 21 to 23 at Brijuni, under patronage of the President of Republic Croatia, Stjepan Mesic. BiH Delegation will be headed by BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic. The Presidency issued decisions on conducting negotiations for concluding the Contract between BiH and Republic Greece on cooperation in combating crime, especially terrorism, illegal drug trade and organized crime. BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac told a press conference that similar agreements would also be signed with Bulgaria and Romania. BiH Presidency issued the Decision on launching negotiations for concluding the Agreement on Economic Cooperation between BiH and Republic Hungary. Dnevni List pg 6 ‘BiH Presidency members travel to Belgrade’ by E. Mackic – during yesterday’s session, the BiH Presidency adopted a platform on the composition of the delegation that will travel to Belgrade on May 26, 2004 to the session of the Inter-State Council for cooperation between BiH and Serbia and Montenegro. Serb member of the BiH Presidency, Borislav Paravac, stated that during this session bilateral relations of two countries would be discussed with a special stress on economic relations. According to Paravac, during this meeting, the two countries will oblige themselves in some way to support one another at the NATO Summit in Istanbul. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 ‘Information on Prosecution too complex’ by Fena – the information on the work of the BiH Prosecution was removed from the agenda of yesterday’s session after it had been concluded that it was too complex. According to SD, the report will be considered again by the next session of the BiH Presidency. |
| Avaz interview with Izetbegovic | Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 5 ‘Coalition possible and wanted’ – Interview with Bakir Izetbegovic, the SDA Vice-president, on the top economic and political issues. He said that he believed his party had a stable support by voters and that it would therefore win this year’s municipal elections. |
| SD on behaviour of former senior officials of IC in BiH | Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 18 ‘Left the office – and ‘opened their eyes’’, by Marin Erceg – argues that it is interesting how international diplomats, once they complete mandates in BiH, suddenly “open their eyes and start speaking about something they were supposed to do whilst they had the authority to so”. The author cites the example of the former High Representative for BiH, Wolfgang Petritsch, who, during his recent visit to Sarajevo, stated that BiH needed a thorough revision of constitutional solutions, because BiH had too many levels of authority, and when Petritsch stated that BiH needed a constitution that had to be a mechanism that will protect the minority peoples and eliminate the discrimination. SD goes on to say that whilst former High Representatives talk about what needs to be done in BiH, the current HR, Paddy Ashdown, remains loyal to the policy of small reforms which do not have any prospect because they encounter obstacles, which HR Ashdown’s predecessors mention, namely the BiH Constitution, or concretely, unsolved national and political issues. In that context, the author reminds that HR Ashdown has a habit to say that the BiH peoples should arrange changes to the Constitution, which, in the author’s opinion, could never happen, because the Serbs, and to a lesser extent the Bosniaks, got a privileged status in the Dayton Peace Accord, and they would never agree to the changes. |
| Editorial on alleged backstage games of current authority and international officials | Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Backstage games of current authority in BiH’ by I. Glibusic carries an editorial in which the author says that the gradual change of the Dayton BiH Constitution caused confusion when Cantonal, entity and state competence is in question and that the Constitution is being adjusted to the things that the High Representative and his yes-men in the BiH authority say. The author also claims that a legal chaos is on the scene in BiH and this chaos is being adjusted to some International Community officials and influential political parties, who allegedly create a better BiH that only they can benefit from. The author wonders according to which criterion the defence issue is being raised at the state level and the higher education issue is not and whether a tacit agreement between SDS and SDA about cementing of the division of BiH in two parts exists. The author concludes: “In spite of warnings of international officials that BiH should be let to its peoples and leadership, the HR in BiH helped with his subordinates obviously does not want to abandon his position of an emperor. For the time being a model of backstage games and agreements, that has blessing of some international officials, has been chosen.” |
| Statement of Day: Michael Humphreys | Dnevni List pg 2 carries in its ‘Statement of Day’, the Head of the EC delegation in BiH, Michael Humphreys, as saying: “None of 16 reforms was completed.” |
| On visit of Croatian Parliament’s delegation to Mostar
| Dnevni List front and pg 13 ‘Mostar University must preserve its independence’ by V. Leto, Vecernji List pg 2 ’16 million Kunas for Clinical Hospital Mostar’, mentioned on cover, by O. Cvitkovic and Slobodna Dalmacija front and pg 3 ‘Mostar University must remain independent’ by D. Juka – delegation of the Croatian Parliament visited the Mostar University (Sveuciliste), Aluminij company and Mostar Clinical Hospital yesterday. Member of the delegation, Zdenka Babic-Petricevic, stated that the Croatian Parliament was aware of the problems of the Croat people on the BiH territory and stressed that they were the most interested in the survival of the Croatian language in BiH as a mother tongue of the Croat people in this country. During the visit to the Mostar University, another member of the delegation, Kresimir Cosic, commented on the Law on Higher Education saying that it has been stressed very often that the assistance to the Federation of BiH amounting to 40 million Euros is being conditioned by the adoption of that law. In this context, Cosic claims that this is not assistance but a loan that can be given in various ways. He added: “There are no any reasons that the Croats, because of some loans, adopt solutions that are unacceptable for independence and stability of education at the University in Mostar in a long run.” |
| Candidates for the Election Commission | Blic, pg. 13 ‘Candidates for the Commission’ by J. D. – Nine candidates have submitted their applications for two vacated seats at the BiH Election Commission and all nine meet the requirements for the positions, as the Commission stated yesterday. Ostoja Kremenovic, Ilija Djurica, Dalibor Racic, Zeljko Buvac, Tihomir Vujcic and Branko Petric have applied for the position of the Serb member of the Commission, while Vedran Hadovic, Suad Arnautovic and Adnan Beslagic have applied for the position of late Hilmo Pasic. The interviews will be held on May 24. |
Economic/social/property issues | |
| Ashdown promotes BiH’s tourism in Paris, meets with French Foreign Minister
| Oslobodjenje pg 5, mentioned on cover with a photo ‘BiH – Your next adventure’ by Zdenka Brajkovic – The BiH tourist’s potentials were presented in the French Foreign Trade Center in Paris on Wednesday with the presence of High Representative Paddy Ashdown and BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Bannier gave full support to OHR’ – the daily quotes OHR Spokesman Kevin Sullivan as saying that, in the course of his visit to Paris, Ashdown met with French Foreign Minister Michelle Bannier, who expressed full French Government’s support to the work of OHR. |
| Oslobodjenje on military apartments issue | Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘BiH is being forced to do what SCG, Croatia do not even hear about’ by A. Omeragic – the daily reminds that on May 29 the BiH Constitutional Court is expected to decide on whether the military apartments will be returned to the former Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) officers or the FBiH Army employees will be allowed to purchase them (privatise them). The procedure has been launched by Nikola Spiric, the deputy to the state parliament, who considers as discriminatory provisions preventing former JNA officers from repossession of their pre-war apartments. FBiH Urban Planning and Environment Minister Ramiz Mehmedagic is however of different opinion. He thinks that the apartments should not be returned to the former JNA officers not only because they have in the meantime got new apartments outside BiH but also because neither Serbia and Montenegro nor Croatia have done this. |
| Audit reports into joint institutions financial operations handed | Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘BiH Presidency exceedingly spends resources’ – The audit report, which was yesterday forwarded to Cabinets of three members of BiH Presidency confirm there were yearly budget over-spending. Borislav Paravac, Serb member to BiH Presidency, confirmed the report was delivered, noting that: “We hardly reach agreements regarding internal distribution of resources. Therefore, it often remains uncertain whether the Law or the Rule Book is older. Our budget advisors will prepare report for the next session with our remarks. Dragan Kulina, Deputy Chief Auditor of State Institutions, yesterday did not want to make any comment into audit reports they sent to BiH Presidency, BiH SBS, Joint Affairs Service at BiH CoM, CRA, Election Commission and BiH Agency for Statistics. |
| Economic, social situation in Srebrenica | Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Two salaries to Bosniaks’ – GS again writes about 14 police officers, 3 education staff and one medical technician, all returnees to Srebrenica, who get two payments – one salary from Republika Srpska and second one is actually an allowance paid from the budget of F BiH. Anto Nikolic, Deputy Minister of Administration and Local self-governance of Republika Srpska , says that if this proved to be true, it would be intolerant because all administration staff must have, more or less, equal position and same working conditions. He said: “They all need to share the destiny of the institution they are working in.” He said that the RS Ministry would ask Srebrenica authorities, including Mayor Abdurahman Malkic, to deliver documentation about this issue and then take a final stance on this issue. |
Defence | |
| SFOR approves appointment of RS Army Chief of Staff
| Herceg Bosna, Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Novak Djukic – the RS Army Chief of Staff’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘General Novak Djukic to be appointed RS Army Chief of Staff’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Packett approved appointment of Djukic to position of Head of RS Army General Staff’, Blic, pg. 13 ‘Novak Djukic passed vetting process’ by J. D., ONASA – SFOR commander has approved the appointment of brigadier general Novak Djukic on the duty of RS Army Chief of General Staff, while green light for the second candidate was not given, the BiH Defence Ministry said Wednesday. The Ministry said the vetting process is underway for 12 candidates from the list proposed by the Federation Defence Ministry, handed to the SFOR Command on 13 May. |
| FBiH HoP adopts defence law | Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘BiH closer to PfP’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Laws on Defence and Military must be harmonized’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Proposal of FBiH law on defense adopted’ by N. Bise, FENA – The Federation of BiH House of Peoples adopted the FBiH draft law on defence at its session on Wednesday. The draft law was also adopted by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, but with two amendments which the House of Peoples failed to accept. Due of this discrepancy, a joint parliamentary commission will coordinate the final text of the law. Prior to the Wednesday’s vote in the House of Peoples, deputy Drago Puzigaca had said that Serb deputies would raise the issue of vital national interest if the law did not exempt returnees from military service within a period of five years from the day this law went into effect. The issue of vital national interest was not raised after all. Following internal consultations, the Serb deputies explained that they did not want to obstruct the reform process in the area of defence, despite the fact that the law on defence was an issue of vital national interest. The draft law on defence of the Federation was adopted with a majority vote at Wednesday’s session of the House of Peoples. As far as military service is concerned, the law treats returnees the same as all other conscripts. |