OHR Weekend Round-up, 13-14/3/2004

NTV Hayat (18,55 hrs)

BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs)

FED TV (19,30 hrs)

RT RS  (19,30)

RS searches for Karadzic

RS searches for Karadzic

Round table on education

RS Govt under pressure

OHR on SBS Director

Mostar Statute

OHR on SBS Director

RS searches for Karadzic

Attack in Madrid

Round table on education

RS searches for Karadzic

BiH and delayed reforms

Guest: Cedo Jovanovic

PII and Human Rights

SDA-HDZ crisis

Young people in Brcko

Oslobodjenje

BiH admission to Partnership for Peace not possible?!; Colak announced Coalition falls apart

Dnevni Avaz

Colak: HDZ terminates partnership with SDA; SFOR ‘congratulates’ birthday to war criminal Mladic; BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac: We need Lustration Law

Dnevni List

Ashdown: Implementation of agreed reforms or resignations; Partnership relations with SDA in present form no longer exist

Vecernji List

HDZ BiH breaks off partnership with SDA; Cermak and Markac before The Hague Tribunal: We are not guilty

Slobodna Dalmacija

Scandalous statement by director of police Zlatko Miletic at meeting of all chiefs: I will arrest Covic and HDZ top because all Herzegovinians are thieves!; HDZ and SDA are no longer partners

Glas Srpske

“Birthday card” for General Ratko Mladic: SFOR declares its weakness

Nezavisne Novine

European Commission discontinued project in BiH: Republika Srpska authorities do not want to prevent corruption; Crisis in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: SDA-HDZ coalition breaks up; Bozidar Vucurevic: Dragan Cavic withdrew his resignation

Oslobodjenje

RS Police looked for Karadzic near Bratunac; Relja Kovac is not fulfilling conditions for SBS Director; Beecroft warns: Politicians are playing with the fate of 100.000 youth; There will be no obstructions in Mostar!

Dnevni Avaz

RS police ‘was arresting’ Karadzic; OHR refutes appointment of Relja Kovac

Dnevni List

Higher education: BiH loses World Bank’s support worth 42 million KMs?!; By appointment of Kovac laws and bylaws ignored

Vecernji List

Director of police Z. Miletic confirms investigation against Dr. Covic: Herzegovina shocked with political lynch; Search: War criminal Karadzic hunted down in Bratunac, smuggled goods found

Slobodna Dalmacija

Features Croatia related headlines

Political developments

HDZ terminates partnership with SDA

NTV Hayat, RHB Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat cover, pgs 4&5 ‘Colak announced termination of the HDZ – SDA coalition’ Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 4 ‘SDA – HDZ coalition breaks up’, Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘End of coalition’, Vecernji List Sat cover splash, pg 3 ‘HDZ breaks up partnership with SDA’, Dnevni List Sat cover, pg 7 ‘Partnership relations with SDA in present form no longer exist’, Slobodna Dalmacija Sat cover, pg 17 ‘HDZ and SDA are no longer partners’ – The HDZ presidency held a press conference on Friday to present the conclusions reached by the presidency at a session on Thursday evening, and stressed that partnership between this party and SDA ceased to exist at any level of the authorities. The HDZ President, Barisa Colak, and a member of the HDZ presidency, Dragan Vrankic, stated that the evident political differences regarding the course of the reforms and the future of BiH, as well as constant attempts at Bosniak domination and outvoting Croats, had resulted in the failure of talks between the HDZ and the SDA. “The Bosniak political interests reflected through the party have annulled the partnership agreement on the principles for the establishment of a parliamentary majority, so the HDZ presidency has concluded that the partnership relations at all levels of the legislative and executive authorities do not exist any more in the form they had so far,” said Colak. He added that the SDA’s attitude, apart from slowing down the reforms in BiH, was also preventing the establishment of BiH as a multinational, functional, democratic and decentralized state with a European perspective. Dragan Vrankic said that the problems within the FBiH government were sorely felt and were a result of the problems in the partnership relations with the SDA, undefined relations and a lack of respect for the agreed principles. “I would like to express my dissatisfaction and concern because of the misunderstandings, and the failure to achieve a political agreement and adopt a common platform on the future of BiH and the FBiH,” Vrankic said.

BHTV 1 Fri  – Barisa Colak also stressed the necessity of new negotiations with SDA, and in case they fail, he said that HDZ didn’t exclude possibility of party’s transition to opposition. On the next session of the FBiH Government, Colak said HDZ would not attend it unless SDA accepts a proposal by which all decisions have to be brought through majority of votes based on Minister’s ethnicity. Second condition is to bring changes regarding the personnel between the parties, and thidly HDZ demands legal provisions to be adopted only in the presence of the authorized Minister.

FTV Fri – HDZ officials also rejected accusations about their intent to establish the third entity in BiH.

Dnevni Avaz Sat cover splash ‘Colak: HDZ terminates partnership with SDA’, pg 4 ‘HDZ terminates partnership with SDA in authorities’ – Colak also announced that HDZ will continue to insist with reorganisation of BiH: “We are in favour of state and municipal levels of the authorities, while entities should be terminated. The central structure of the authorities should go towards developing symmetrical cantons.” Colak added that in negotiations with SDA, HDZ will continue to demand Hadzipasic’s removal, and that it would propose another candidate for the position of the Prime Minister.

SDA sees no reason for break-up of ruling coalition; reactions

FTV Fri, RHB Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 3 ‘Personal problems between SDA and HDZ’, Dnevni List Sat pg 9 ‘There are not big differences between SDA and HDZ in Una-Sana Canton’, Slobodna Dalmacija Sat back pg ‘Outvoting is not good, especially not in Government’– Following the announcement by the HDZ that partnership between this party and SDA ceased to exist, Chairman of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic said: “It is not in the interest of BiH and all the citizens who voted for the SDA, HDZ and the Party for BiH, which make up the ruling majority, to sever the partnership… There are no justified reasons for such a decision. The problems which arose in the work of the FBiH government are not of such magnitude as to be insurmountable… If the HDZ took such a decision, it is rushed in my view.” Tihic added that he believes that the HDZ will re-examine the decision in view of the consequences it could have for BiH. “As a partner, we shall talk to the HDZ and I believe we shall resolve these problems regardless of how great they seem at the moment,” Tihic said. He added that the majority of problems were of personal nature and linked to the allocation of certain posts in centres with powers and funds. He stressed that more discussions, agreements and compromises were needed with a goal of strengthening the BiH state.

NTV Hayat, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 4 ‘Tihic: I expect them to reconsider the decision’ – In a statement to Dnevni Avaz, Chairman of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic said: “In the worst case, if HDZ BiH believes that the termination of the partnership relations foresees leaving authorities, I believe that would be a difficulty for BiH functioning. BiH as the state can function only if it has support from Croats, Bosniaks and Serbs. So, there are no authorities without Croat people. Regardless whether someone likes or not HDZ BiH’s politics, without that party it is almost impossible to create parliamentary majority. Therefore, I believe they will reconsider their decision.”

Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 4 ‘Izetbegovic and Jahic will negotiation with HDZ’ – Sulejman Tihic confirmed for Avaz that SDA tasked two its officials for negotiations with HDZ – SDA Vice President Elmir Jahic will negotiate on the work of FBiH Government, and Bakir Izetbegovic, also SDA Vice President, will seek solutions for functioning of legal authorities.

Dnevni List Sat pg 2 ‘SDA wants reconstruction of Government of FBiH’, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 7 ‘Worried because of reforms delays’, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 4 ‘Negotiations on FBiH Govt continue on Monday’ – Head of the SDA Caucus in the FBiH House of Peoples, Semiha Borovac, stated at the SDA press conference that the negotiations between SDA and HDZ will be recommenced on Monday. She added that SDA does not support the demand by the FBiH President, Niko Lozancic, to dismissal of the FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic. Borovac said that the SDA thought additional effort should be made to resolve the disagreement over the work of the Federation government and set up the mechanism for a speedier solution to open issues. “The agreement and compromise must be reached within the government, and only more important issues should be resolved through the inter-party coordination,” she added.

Dnevni List Sun, pg 2 “Statement of Day”, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 4 ‘I will not submit resignation to Lozancic’ – Hadzipasic stressed that he would not respect demand by FBiH President Niko Lozancic and resign from his position.

BHTV 1 Fri – SDA continues to claim that problems with the HDZ regarding the work of the FBiH were the not related to outvoting, but positions in the Fund for Pension Insurance and Roads Directorate. Regarding the demand by the FBiH President Niko Lozancic for his resignation, FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic sees as an attempt of entity’s destabilisation. “Problem is not in personality of Prime Minister Hadzipasic, but in insisting not to carry out legal and constitutional obligations.”

SBiH reactions to HDZ and SDA rift

FTV Fri – In a statement for FTV, President of the Party for BiH, Safet Halilovic, said that the reason for the situation between SDA and HDZ was an issue of power. “We concluded, and that was when Mr. Djihanovic didn’t agree to Government’s reshuffle, that hidden political aims to disintegrate and then ask for Government reshuffle were behind everything that happens”, said Halilovic.

Oslobodjenje Sun pg 5 ‘SBiH a hostage of nationalistic parties’, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 4 ‘It is not acceptable for FBiH Govt not to be responsible to Parliament’ – “It is not acceptable for FBiH Government to be responsible to SDA and HDZ, and not to the Parliament. If SDA and HDZ make an agreement on transferring decision making from system’s institutions to the centres of political power, than SBiH has not other option but to say that it has no desire to stay in projects like that,” – stated SBiH Vice President Sahbaz Dzihanovic at the round-table discussion held in Tuzla.

EC suspends public acquisitions project in BiH

RTRS Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 5 ‘Assistance suspended’, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 2 ‘EC ceased project of public acquisitions’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 5 ‘Republika Srpska authorities do not want to prevent corruption’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Law, then money’ –Renzo Daviddi, Deputy Head of European Commission delegation to BiH, on Friday announced that the European Commission to BiH has terminated the Project on reform of public acquisitions in BiH and withdrew that technical assistance of an additional 2 million Euro, planned in the Cards program, for that project has been halted. Overall funds for the project amount to total of 3,5 million euros. He explained that this was done due to the refusal by the RS Government to adopt the draft Law on public procurement, which would put an end to corruption within this field and which is one of the priorities stated in the Feasibility Study. He also said that “failure to adopt this reform will put in danger BiH’s future within Europe.” The objective of the law is to establish in order to regulate public purchases in BiH on which 600-800 million KM are spent in BiH annually at all administrative levels. However, RS authorities insist that three separate laws be adopted, two at the entity level and one at the state level, Daviddi said.

BHTV 1 Fri – “I don’t know why, but they insisted on the reasons of political nature, claiming with this Law we deprived competence of entity authorities”, said Renzo Daviddi.

FTV Fri – “In letter we received from RS Government, not only there are lot of objections on reform and not only they refuse them but also suggest amendments which would fundamentally change the nature of implemented reforms” said Daviddi. He added that, beside the money, BiH is losing its reputation: “You will have a problem with World bank but it is not up to me to talk about those measures”.

Mikerevic says IC pressures RS

RTRS Sat, SRNA – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic stated in Derventa on Saturday that the government “is not a yes-man of the international community, not does it intend to give in to political blackmail by some international mediators”. Mikerevic said the government had been under political pressure recently: “The latest example is our refusal to sign the law on public procurement. We had objections to the law, which international mediators described as political obstruction. Neither I nor the Government intend to give in to the political pressure. We have an obligation to respect the constitution and law,” Mikerevic said. He added that the current authorities “would never agree to Sarajevo assessing if something was done well in the RS or not… We in Banja Luka know how to make assessments. This is BiH after Dayton and it must be highly decentralized.”

Mostar city council adopts draft decision on interim financing of the city

NTV Hayat, BHTV 1 Sat, FTV Sat, Dnevni List Sun, pg 14 ‘Temporary budget covers all financial needs of municipalities’, Vecernji List Sun pg 2 ‘Proposal of decision on temporary funding adopted’ – At its session on Saturday, Mostar City Council adopted Draft Decision on Interim Financing of Mostar for the period from 16 March to 31 May 2004, which foresees 3 million KM for this period. After the session, Mostar Mayor, Hamdija Jahic, declared for journalists that a difficult process started, and that a complex task is before all city officials and all those involved in the implementation process. He added that the decision was bought unanimously, but stressed that nobody was satisfied with it [not explaining the reasons for dissatisfaction]. According to his words, City Council is obliged to adopt fixed budget for 2004 for Mostar city by 31 May, as well as to prepare new organization and a systematic job specification for the single city administration by 30 June. Jahic explained that only unified city institutions will be financed by the city of Mostar, explaining that all institutions whose founder is Mostar have to be appointed managing boards that shall reflect multiethnic character of the city, which shall lead the city into the future. “I welcome such decision, because I hold that it leads to unification of the city on the bases that are multiethnic and guarantee that there is no domination of any people in Mostar”, Jahic added.

Oslobodjenje Sun cover, pg 3 ‘There will be no obstructions in Mostar!’ – President of the City Council Ivan Musa stressed that he was satisfied with this decisions, and that Mostar has to be structured as agreement, stressing that nobody will obstruct the process.

Ashdown to visit Mostar on Monday

BHTV 1 Sat, FTV Sat, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 2 ‘Tomorrow Ashdown in Mostar’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, will visit Mostar on Monday, the first day of the city reunification, to “mark the successful conclusion of an important phase in implementation of his Decision on restructuring of Mostar, specifically the dismantling of the city municipalities and transfer of their competencies to the City Administration of the City of Mostar.”  Ashdown will meet Mayor Hamdija Jahic and Deputy Mayor Ljubo Beslic, and will reviewprogress made thus far in implementation.

DL editorials on Mostar

Dnevni List Sat pg 6 ‘Finally, no more municipalities’ by Zvonimir Jukic – DL argues that it has become clear to everyone that the High Representative’s decision on Mostar will be observed in full, and that the HR’s decision defeats the concept of national divisions in Mostar. The author however notes that people who were against the decision, working in municipalities in Mostar, lately took numerous decisions that are bound to be subjected to revision in the City Council.

Dnevni List Sat pg 2 ‘Mostarians, you have the chance – use it’ by Sanja Bjelica – With regard to HR decision on Mostar, DL notes that majority of Mostarians hope that the time has come for things to improve in the city. However, the author wonders whether Mostar can move forward in case that people consider the past as more important than the future. “As long as moves are seen as endangering of ‘national’ interests, and as long as bodies of authority, through outvoting, keep working in the interests of its political parties and not its citizens, not even the most optimistic people see progress in the city”. The author concludes the piece by saying that Mostar was famous for its people, who adored their city, noting that “Mostarians, you have the chance, use it.”

SDA says it shares IC concerns on delays in reforms

RHB Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 7 ‘Worried because of reforms delays’, – Head of the SDA Caucus in the FBiH House of Peoples, Semiha Borovac, stated at the SDA press conference that the SDA shares international community’s dissatisfaction and concern over the delay in the implementation of reforms, and it is prepared to transfer all powers from the entity to the state, and not only the powers of the High Court and Prosecutorial Council. “The SDA reaffirms its commitment and is prepared to adopt in an emergency procedure all draft reform laws and other decisions passed by the Council of Ministers, the entity government and by the international community, without any amendments or conditions,” she said adding that SDA cannot accept that it is equally responsible as parties that are not in favour of reforms and are obstructing this process.

Oslobodjenje editorials on current political situation

Oslobodjenje Sat pg 2 ‘End of coalition’ op-ed by Daniel Omeragic – Author refers to the crisis between HDZ and SDA by saying that these two parties, and SDS, turned into the forces that are destroying the future of BiH. “The worst thing is that early elections are not the answer at all. In this case, there is no political force in BiH that would take the country out of the Balkans’ mod. Even [High Representative Paddy] Ashdown is aware of that, but even he doesn’t know what to do anymore with ‘reformists’ and weak opposition,”  – concludes the editorial.

Oslobodjenje Sat pg 2 ‘Dramatic warning’ op-ed by Mirko Sagolj – Referring to the warning by HR Paddy Ashdown that three ruling parties are responsible for the delays in reforms that should lead BiH to European military and civilian integrations, author notes that warned parties, in light of this, act as if they “play the beach volleyball”: SDS plays with its responsibility regarding war crimes, and defence reforms; while SDA and HDZ lead ‘comedy’ around FBiH Government, which according to the author proves that FBiH is in chaos. Calling HDZ decision to end partnership with SDA absurd, author concludes that the newest crisis “is the bottom of the partnership between SDA and HDZ”, which is another proof that nationalists parties can only further “impair” BiH.  

Oslobodjenje Sun pg 2 ‘End of love’ op-ed by Senka Kurtovic – Cynical editorial also refers to the end of the partnership between SDA and HDZ, concluding that political parties would listen only to themselves, and not respond to warnings by IC to advance implementation of reforms.

War crimes

RS MoI operation to arrest Karadzic fails

NTV Hayat, Dnevni Avaz Sun cover splash ‘RS Police ‘was arresting’ Karadzic’, pg 3 ‘Hunting Karadzic, they captured cattle smugglers’, Dnevni List Sun pg 10 ‘Exhausting game of cat and mouse’, Vecernji List Sun cover ‘Search: War criminal Karadzic hunted down in Bratunac, smuggled goods found’, pg 16 ‘Looking for Karadzic, smugglers got hurt’, Slobodna Dalmacija Sun back pg ‘Bosnian Serb Police looking for Radovan Karadzic’ – On Saturday, RS police carried out operation based on information that Radovan Karadzic is in the area of the eastern town of Bratunac and that he may cross over the border into Serbia. NTV Hayat commented that the operation encompassed intensified traffic control in this area. ‘On Friday afternoon we received information about possibility that former president of the RS Radovan Karadzic was somewhere in Bratunac area. However, we still have no concrete results from the action. The action will continue until we find it necessary,’ stressed the spokesperson of RS MoI Dragomir Peric. He added that the operation was supervised by SFOR on and off. Over 150 policemen from the RS were engaged in the action, with the assistance of the Zvornik Public Security Centre and State Border Service. 

BHTV 1 Sat – BHTV 1 brings that RS MoI controlled all roads, communication in the region, and Drina river, and comments that the operation itself didn’t seem too serious. In the course of operation, RS MoI disclose smugglers of cattle and weapons.

FTV Sat – BiH State Border Service, SFOR and EUPM were informed on the RS MoI’s action, but did not participate.

RTRS Sat – As for the citizens, RTRS says they weren’t surprised with this action, and that they believe that it was carried out only done to delude the people.

Oslobodjenje Sun cover splash, pgs 4&5 ‘RS police was looking for Karadzic near Bratunac’ – RS MoI Spokesperson Dragomir Peric could not confirm whether the action would continue in near future.

Mikerevic on RS MoI operation to arrest Karadzic

FTV Sat, NTV Hayat, RTRS Sat, Oslobodjenje Sun cover splash, pgs 4&5 ‘RS police was looking for Karadzic near Bratunac’, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 3 ‘Operation in accordance with the obligations towards ICTY’, Dnevni List Sun pg 10 ‘Future of RS depends on Srebrenica report’, SRNA- RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic has said that RS police operation in Bratunac is in line with the legal obligations the Serb Republic has undertaken within the framework of cooperation with the Hague tribunal. Mikerevic, in a statement to SRNA, said that the RS does not have any information on the whereabouts of Hague indictees Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. “The foreign intelligence services also do not have this information, otherwise if they knew of their whereabouts I am sure they would have either informed us, or they would have themselves captured them,” Mikerevic pointed out. He added that the RS government is fulfilling all of its obligations towards the Hague court and will continue to do so in future.

SFOR ‘congratulates’ birthday to Mladic

RHB, BHTV 1 Fri, RTRS Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 7 ‘SFOR congratulates birthday to Mladic’, Dnevni Avaz Sat cover, pg 6 ‘SFOR ‘congratulates’ birthday to Mladic’, Vecernji List Sat cover, pg 3 ‘SFOR congratulates birthday to Mladic’ – SFOR spokesperson, Dave Sullivan, has confirmed that SFOR troops on Friday put up posters in the urban part of Pale municipality showing police handcuffs with a red ribbon and saying “Ratko, we have not forgotten, the only present will come soon”. He said: “We know that it is Ratko Mladic’s birthday today and we wanted to say that handcuffs would be his only present.” According to him, SFOR is very happy with the information collected in recent operations that made it possible to cut the network of persons who supported war crime suspects.

Glas Srpske cover pg story ‘SFOR declares its weakness’ – GS comments that Neither experts nor Serb people approve of this “birthday card”. Ivan Sijakovic, Professor of sociology says that this SFOR card represents an attack on the person, exerts pressure and is a sort of a threat, which is not a characteristic of civilised society, which SFOR is also promoting in BiH.

Mikerevic on Srebrenica Commission

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Truth about Srebrenica will not be hidden’, Glas Srpske pg 4 ‘Truth assigned in advance!?’  – On Friday, Dragan Mikerevic, RS Prime Minister, met with OHR officials and discussed the work of Srebrenica Commission. Mikerevic said that: “I think we will try to focus on the target of Human Rights Chamber’s decision. The problem should not be expanded, because the task of this Commission is to provide responses on 49 cases of Srebernica tragedy.”

RTRS Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 4 ‘RS future depends on report’, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 9 ‘RS future depends on Commission’s report’ – Spokesperson for the RS Prime Minister Goran Radivojac said on Friday that the RS Government is not satisfied with the work of the Srebrenica Commission and did not exclude the possibility of certain personal changes in the Commission. Dragan Mikerevic said that destiny of RS in many ways depends on the report of this Commission and he expressed hope that its report will be positively evaluated.

Defence, police and security issues

IC warns BiH membership in PfP impossible unless reforms accelerated

RHB, BHTV 1 Fri, FTV Fri, RTRS Fri, Oslobodjenje Sat cover splash, pg 7 ‘BiH’s admission to PfP not possible?!’, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 2 ‘Admission to PfP in question’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Conditions for PfP were not met’, Vecernji List Sat pg 2 ‘No conditions for Partnership for Peace’, Dnevni List Sat cover splash, pg 3 ‘Ashdown: Implementation of agreed reforms or resignations’, Slobodna Dalmacija Sat pg 10 ‘No Partnership without de-blocking of reforms’ – Paddy Ashdown, High Representative to BiH, Virgil Packett, SFOR Commander, Robert Beecroft, Head of OSCE Mission to BiH, and James Locher, Chairperson of Defence Reform Commission, addressed a joint letter to members of BiH Presidency, Chairman of Council of Minister, Adnan Terzic, BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, and BiH Security Minister, Barisa Colak, warning them warning that “BiH’s membership in the Partnership for Peace, frankly, is impossible”, unless BiH takes urgent steps to kick-start the reforms. The letter says that the implementation of key recommendations of the defence reforms commission is delayed, even though they must be implemented by June. The letter refers to the failures of the BiH institutions, including the failure to appoint the candidates to key posts at state level whose qualifications would meet NATO standards and the failure to ensure sufficient funds for the state defence institutions. The parliament of the FBiH has also failed to pass laws regulating the harmonization of the Federation’s defence law with the new defence law of BiH, while the RS People’s Assembly and the RS Chamber of Peoples of failed to complete the process of adoption of amendments to the defence law of the Serb Republic. There is only a minimal progress in the process of selection and employment of staff in the state defence institutions. The systemic failure is blamed on “the lack of the political will to do what is necessary, which is part of the old practice of obstruction and constant reliance on the international community to find solutions when problems arise”. The BiH Presidency is urged “to be at the helm of these activities and lead by example, and to take all necessary measures to overcome problems which threaten to prevent the implementation of reforms,” reads the OHR press statement.

Reactions to IC’s warning on defence reforms

Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Conditions for PfP were not met’ – According to NN inset, Borislav Paravac, member of BiH Presidency, expressed hope that defence reform would not be an obstacle for BiH admission into PfP. On this he added that activities on defence reform would be accelerated.

RTRS Sat – “There is no reason for concern, I think that main point is that the determination of BiH is to go towards the PfP, that no one is considering the other combinations”, said Borislav Paravac. “That kind of attitude, must be seriously accepted and we have to do anything to implement those things in shortest possible period. But, I think that there is a part of that attitude, which is objectively the exaggerated criticisms of domestic authorities,” said Mladen Ivanic, BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs. On the other hand, SNSD President Milorad Dodik said that it is obvious that BiH Government is not working towards integration of BiH in Euro- Atlantic structures.

OHR questions appointment of Relja Kovac as SBS Director

RTRS Fri, NTV Hayat, Oslobodjenje Sun cover, pg 3 ‘Relja Kovac doesn’t fulfil criteria for SBS Director’, Dnevni Avaz Sun cover, pg 2 ‘OHR disputes appointment of Relja Kovac’, Vecernji List Sun, pg 2 ‘Director of SBS problematic to OHR’, Dnevni List Sun cover, pg 5 ‘By appointment of Kovac laws and bylaws ignored’, Slobodna Dalmacija Sun, pg 10 ‘OHR against Kovac for director of SBS’ – OHR on Saturday sent a letter to the BiH Presidency questioning the appointment of Relja Kovac as director of the BiH State Border Service, and expressed the concern that the appointment had been prompted by narrow political interests. ‘The appointment itself did not follow corresponding legal regulations, and as such it could be disputed. On the other hand, Mr. Kovac does not satisfy qualifications necessary for this position. It is necessary for the candidate to have a rank of a chief inspector, and at least 16 years of experience of service with the police forces. Mr. Kovac, however, does not satisfy any of these two criteria, and we do not understand why his appointment was taken under consideration in the first place. The position as important as this one cannot be confided to someone who is not in a position to properly perform his duty,’ stressed the OHR spokesperson Mario Brkic.

FTV Sat – OHR’s statement reads that by ignoring the legally-stipulated appointment procedure, the Presidency has made it possible for every BiH citizen to dispute the appointment and appeal to the BiH ombudsman against a lack of transparency in the Presidency’s appointment procedure.

Terzic on defence reforms and Intelligence Service

Oslobodjenje Sat, supplement Pogled, pgs 4&5 ‘I have no back plan for Europe’ by Senka Kurtovic – In a two-page interview to Oslobodjenje, Chairman of the Council of Minister Adnan Terzic repeated that there was no conflict between him and that High Rep Paddy Ashdown, and added that he also shared HR’s concerns when it comes to the implementing the conditions for BiH’s admission to PfP and further integration into EU. However, he added that he believed there were element which enable him to be optimistic about this, naming adoption of the 45 measures by CoM directed at the beginning of the negotiations on Stabilisation and Admission Agreement. “There are deadlines we missed, but we work on all those measures,” said Terzic. As for the appointment of the BiH Defence Minister, CoM Chair said he did not expect any problems on this issue anymore, adding that OHR should complete vetting procedure on 15 March. Asked whether he was blaming himself for a number of previous unsuccessful candidates for MoD, Terzic answered: “I openly say I was deceived… During talks with [Dragan] Kalinic and [Dragan] Cavic I was assured that they have ‘clean people.” Stressing that defence reforms were a priority, Terzic also commented on the Law on Intelligence Security Agency: “I have to admit I am really sceptical that something that through Parliament to be done with the Law can be accepted as realistic possibility of establishment of the intelligence service… We should not allow that Intelligence Law gives authorities that will enable those working in it and leading it to be in constant communication with the Presidency. The Law foresess Chair of CoM to have the biggest and only political responsibility for establishment of the service. I am ready to share that responsibility with the Presidency… But, the triangle system Presidency-Service-CoM, where only Chair of CoM bears political responsibility is simply unacceptable for me. There is no way for me to work in accordance with that Law, even if I have to resign from this position.”

RTRS Sat, NTV Hayat – Both media quoted Terzic’s remarks on Intelligence.

DA on police restructuring

Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 3 ‘Key position in SBS to Bosniak, Croat a director of SIPA, and Serb leads Interpol’ – DA writes that within the implementation of the largest police reform in BiH, it is expected to soon have Law on Police Officers at the state level adopted. According to its sources, future structure of the State Border Service foresees Bosniak to lead this institution, and the SIPA Director to be a Croat, while Interpol would be headed by a Serb. The same source says it is “not logical” that Law on SBS was still not adopted.

Djeric: RS/FBiH MoIs recently prevented terrorist attack in BiH

Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 3 ‘RS and FBiH MoIs together prevented terrorist attack in Ozren area’ – RS Minister of Interior, Zoran Djeric, stated for DA that recently police forces from both entities in joint action prevented a terrorist attack in area of Ozren mountain. Djeric also praised cooperation between RS and FBiH Interior Ministries.

Education issues

Round-table on education reforms in BiH urges politicians to adopt Higher Education Law

BHTV 1 Sat, Oslobodjenje Sun cover, pg 6 ‘Politicians are playing with a destiny of 100.000 youth’, Dnevni Avaz Sun pg 2 ‘BiH could loose 42 million US dollars’, Dnevni List Sun, cover splash, pg 3 ‘Higher education: BiH loses World Bank’s support worth 42 million KMs?!’ – Chief of the OSCE Mission to BiH Robert Beecroft repeated on Saturday the warning that BiH institutions have to pass the draft Higher Education Framework Law by late March or BiH will lose 42 million US dollars worth World Bank assistance for much needed reforms. “We are confident that the BiH authorities will do the right thing, otherwise they will lose much needed funds, which would be a tragedy both for the students and universities in BiH”, Ambassador Beecroft said. He made this warning at a roundtable on the role of the international community in the reform of higher education organised in Sarajevo by the Alumni Centre for Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Studies [ACIPS] together with the Sarajevo University’s Centre for Human Rights. Final deadline for passing the Law on Higher education is 31st March. Beecfrot added that BiH politicians, who are hostages of their political parties, block reforms and gamble with the future of more thousands of young people in the country, adding that the demand for establishment of ethnic universities is the latest shameful proof of this.“If the final decision is brought to have ethnic universities, than this will be the end of BiH”, said prominent Sarajevo University professor Zdravko Grebo.

FTV Sat Helplessness of healthy intellectual minds of BiH is illustrated with the answer professor Grebo gave to FTV journalist when asked if ethnic university really are our reality. “The way I see things, we will hear that from Beecroft who will, like Paddy Ashdown impose his decision”, said Grebo. Mr. Beecroft refused to answer a question about obstruction in education reform. According to present political will there are not to many reason for optimism.

NTV Hayat – Hayat’s report commented that the round-table was nothing more but a series of monologues, in which the students did not take part.

Colak on education reforms

RHB – At the HDZ press conference held on Friday, HDZ President Barisa Colak said that the HDZ presidency offered strong support for the reform of the university education, and was in favor of the introduction of equal standards at all universities in Bosnia-Hercegovina, in line with the European standards. He added that the HDZ would also work towards the adoption of the framework law on university education at the state level, and was prepared to endorse the blueprint for the education law used in multinational European countries.

BHTV 1 Sat – “You think that the right of one people on their own language and official usage of it is [not directed to] unification. Well the situation we have now is disuniting, and what we ask is to make sure every ethnicity will have institutions on their own language,” commented Colak.

Judiciary

DA: Int with BiH Justice Minister

Dnevni Avaz Sat cover ‘We need Lustration Law’, pg 5 ‘It would be good and useful to have Lustration Law’ by Husein Orahovac – In an interview to DA, BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac said that the adoption of the draft Law on BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council was a success, as this was one of the key preconditions for BiH integration in European structures. However, he added that he was not optimistic that the law will be adopted by the 1 April. Asked whether he believed that BiH needs Law on Lustration, Kovac said that that would be good and useful.  

Peacekeeping mission to BiH

EU and NATO discuss future mandates in BiH

RHB, Dnevni Avaz Sat pg 2 ‘NATO will have no residential role’, Oslobodjenje Sat pg 3 ‘In a future, only ‘residential’ role’, Vecernji List Sat pg 2 ‘NATO will in future have ‘residential role’ in BiH’, Slobodna Dalmacija Sat back page ‘NATO: Several hundreds of intelligence stay in BiH’ – NATO will have only the residential role in BiH when the EU takes over peacekeeping mission in BiH. Following difficult negotiations between NATO and EU, it was agreed that that NATO would keep only several hundreds of its staff in BiH, mostly civilians working in intelligence and prevention of terrorist actions.