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| Defence reforms | Regional News | IC on education reforms | Regional update |
| BiH admission to PfP | IC on education reforms | FBiH Govt in session Mon | Protests in BL tomorrow |
| Issues in edu reforms | Opposition protests in BL | Serbs/Croat relations Livno | Position on BL protests |
| IC on education reforms | SDP support BL protests | Regional News | Opposition on BL protests |
| Oslobodjenje | To Europe or into the black hole |
| Dnevni Avaz | Politics must leave education; Criminal Karadzic crossed Konjevic Polje; Dodik: We are not inviting anybody with a stone in a pocket |
| Dnevni List | Negotiations between HDZ and SDA Presidents continue”; “Paddy Ashdown: Unclear Declaration on Education? |
| Vecernji List | Interview with General Slobodan Praljak: While Srebrenica was burning BiH Army was attacking Croats; Kresimir Zubak is excluding NHI founders |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | Authority of F BiH fail to implement decision on pensioners’ rights: Still doing nothing; Kosovo Polje: Policemen as arsonists |
| Nezavisne Novine | Telekom Srpske invested BAM 62.8 million in development: Investment plan failed, because the total of BAM 120 million was not invested in development; Fire at Sarajevo picnic grounds: Firemen claim fire was set; Doboj: Olivera Babic, SDS delegate, again before the Court; Ivan Tomljenovic: I will go at 23 March protests |
| Blic | Despair and hope at charred remnants; Protest of opposition tomorrow: the authority claims nothing will be resolved out on streets; ‘Air Srpska’ without wings |
| Vecernje novosti | Tragic balance of genocidal violence of Albanians in Kosovo: 24 killed, 850 injured; The salvation is in truth; Tragedy of children was abused; Holy objects in ashes; Support is the greatest help |
Education reforms | |
| IC representatives warn against politicisation of education reforms
| FTV, RHB, Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘To Europe or into the black hole’, pgs 4&5 ‘Politicisation of the education reforms will destroy BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Politicisation of the reforms damages changes for BiH’s admission to EU’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Issue of ethnic schools may jeopardise the future of BiH’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, the Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Robert Beecroft and the Council of Europe’s Special Representative in BiH, Sonja Moser-Starrach on Sunday restated that turning administrative and technical reforms in Primary and Secondary schools in the FBiH into political and ethnic issues, will damage BiH’s prospects for a European future. In a press statement, officials underlined they were concerned by the reports of a Declaration signed by five Croat Cantonal Education Ministers, Stipo Ivankovic (Canton 2), Nikola Lovrinovic (Canton 6), Jago Musa (Canton 7), Jozo Maric (Canton 8) and Marin Ivic (Canton 10), which suggests that these Ministers will not support reforms in Primary and Secondary School education. “The meaning of this Declaration remains unclear, but were this to result in BiH failing to meet it’s legal, post accession, commitments to the Council of Europe – the fulfilment of which are also a requirement for the start of negotiations with the EC on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement – then this would be a most serious and grave development” said the Paddy Ashdown adding that this “matter could destroy BiH’s hopes for a European future. The HDZ in Croatia are leading that Country towards Europe. The question we must ask is: are obstructionists in HDZ BiH blocking BiH’s chance at that same goal?” Finally, IC representatives also reminded that while all Cantonal Ministers of Education have endorsed the ‘Education Reform Strategy’, there has been little or no progress in implementing these reforms. BHTV 1 – The High Representative had already met with the Ministers reported to have signed the Declaration on 24 February when he said that that Cantonal Education Ministries and their Ministers must fully support education reform within their own Cantons. |
| Halilovic on problems with Higher Education Law | RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘To Europe or in the black hole’ – Asked to commented the declaration signed by five Croat education ministers not accepting education reforms, BiH Civil Affairs Minister, Safet Halilovic stated for daily: “As much as I could see, there are two things being mixed there. The first one is the Law on primary and secondary education, which has been adopted and foresees implementation in the practice, which – I have to say – is not going that well. It respects all constitutional and legal norms, but it doesn’t endorse discrimination in the schools. The second thing is the Law on Higher Education, whose text has been draft… But lately, some HDZ ministers’ opinions started to differ.” Halilovic further says that demand by HDZ leader, Barisa Colak, to have higher education on both state and cantonal levels is a “nonsense”, and underlines the need of integration into European trends. “The newest paper demands ethnic organisation of the universities, under excuse that the languages are not equal, and the new law foresees the possibility of introducing one’s own language in higher education institutions, but only in administrative sense. But, if we have three ethnic universities, there are no European Standards,… If someone chooses black hole instead of European way, it is up to them,” Halilovic concludes. |
| DA interview with Beecroft on education reforms | Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Politics must go out of the education’, pg 5 ‘You will either implement education reforms, or will lose 42 million US dollars of a loan’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview to DA, Head of OSCE Mission to BiH, Ambassador Robert Beecroft, stated that the “common interests of the both international community and a majority of domestic authorities is not to allow the politicisation of the education. But, some whish politics to dominate education.” Stating that the current education model needed to be reformed, Beecroft stressed that he did not see which constitution reason was used to have any university based on the language of teaching. Finally, Ambassador Beecroft repeated that the reforms in higher education would have to be carried out, adding that otherwise BiH would lose 42 million US dollars worth loan from the World Bank. |
Political developments | |
| SNSD: ‘Rally is a turning point in political life of RS’
| FTV, BHTV 1, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Rally is a turning point in political life of RS’ – Protests organized by RS opposition parties, which will call on extraordinary elections in BiH, will begin on Tuesday in Banja Luka at noon. SNSD Secretary General, Igor Radojcic announced completion of preparations for the protest and announced that SNDS leader, Milorad Dodik will hold meeting with the RS Interior Minister Zoran Djeric. RTRS – Protest will start with a minute of silence for Serb victims in recent Kosovo escalation of the violence. “This will be a global message against terrorism, violence, ethnical cleansing, killings, destruction of property, cleansing of history of one people,” said Igor Radojcic. He also said that there will be a special traffic regime in Banja Luka during the protests. Opposition claims that the current situation in unbearable and therefore the motto of the protests will be “This can’t go on”. Milorad Dodik comments: “This was a message of the round table we organized several weeks ago. The conditions have been created for people to simply go out in a civilized, peaceful manner here in Banja Luka at five after noon, and will… try to affect the conscience of those holding power”. RS Ministry of Interior will provide security during the event. Zoran Glusac, Spokesperson of RS MoI, said that they would later decide on manpower needed for the afternoon. According to the study presented by the Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies, more than 80% of RS citizens support these protests. |
| DA: Dodik on protest | Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 2 ‘We are not inviting anybody with a stone in their pockets’ – In a statement for DA, SNSD leader Milorad Dodik underlines that protests in Banja Luka to take place on Tuesday would be a peaceful event, with an aim to point to the difficult situation in RS. Dodik adds that the protests will be attended also by the people from FBiH – Sarajevo, Mostar, Zavidovici and other cities: “That will be an opportunity to condemn any form of violence and vandalism, which we saw took place in Kosovo. We will say clearly that the one cannot respond to the violence with the violence. We will call upon people for peace and tolerance, and RS and BiH authorities to hold early elections in order to see whether people once more could say that they would take this or some other way.” Dodik stressed that he believed there would be no incidents in Banja Luka during the protests. |
| Reactions to opposition protests in Banja Luka on Tuesday | RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Authority cannot be ousted through protests’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘To get on power through shortcut’, Blic front, pg 12 ‘Problems are not to be resolved out on streets’, Vecernje Novosti pg 21 ‘“Hot” protest’ – The Socialist Party also supported protests saying that ruling parties must be aware that their politics were unbearable. Leader of the party, Petar Djokic blamed the nationalistic parties for being responsible for war in BiH: “Those parties present a bad image for the state, because of that, this area is not interesting for no one with the money and wants to invest it, as it is unsafe and this will continue as long as these parties are in the power.” Meanwhile, ruling parties in RS consider that protests can’t bring any good to RS citizens or its institutions. SDS claims that Opposition has no moral or political credibility and wonders what are the issues that SNSD claims Government doesn’t have an understanding for. “Why aren’t they prepared to wait the results of local elections, so that then we could really see what is a political rating of all political parties in RS”, stated Dusan Stojicic, SDS Spokesperson. PDP claims that at this moment RS is more stabile part of BiH. “The question is in whose interest, and upon whose order the opposition is planning to carry out protests with a goal of destabilization of these institutions,” said Velimir Sakan, member of PDP Main Board. According to Pandelija Damjanovic, Chair of the Serb Radical Party’s Executive Board, SNSD intention was to cover up for their internal problems and the most of their illegal activities. “They [SNSD] have to be extremely careful so that they wouldn’t alienate Banja Luka from the rest part of RS,” comments Dragan Kalinic, RS National Assembly Speaker. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Time has come authority of RS and BiH re-examine their legitimacy at elections’ – Marko Pavic, President of DNS [Democratic People’s Alliance] said that the opposition and citizens of Republika Srpska will address a message to authority from Krajina Square in Banjaluka that it is high time they left the power and re-examined their legitimacy at elections. BHTV 1 – “I respect everyone’s right to participate in the protests, but you cannot expect to dissolve authorities during the protests”, Dusan Stojicic, SDS spokesman, comments. Opposition, in the meanwhile announced internal control, which will prevent conflicts during the protests. They claim that, at this moment, opposition enjoys support by the international community. SDP leader, Zlatko Lagumdzija, said that his party hoped that the protests in Banja Luka would offer a getaway out form the current situation. “The biggest SDP opponent is the current situation, situation without economic perspective or justice and employment, and that is what should be changed,” said Lagumdzija. While SDP support protests, Lagumdzija didn’t announce similar activities would be carried out in FBiH. Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Authority should not be allowed to make use of protests’ – Zlatko Lagumdzija, SDP President, expressed hope that those who organised 23 March protests would not allow that the authority parties take advantage of this protest. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Violence in Banja Luka could have difficult consequences’ – Memebr of the SBIH Presidency, Beriz Belkic said that he did not have negative stand on the protests, but stressed that he expected from organizers to be able to hold control over the gathering. Leader of NHI, Kresimir Zubak, also expressed hope that he protests would go in the peaceful manner, adding that his party also saw exit from the crisis in early elections. RS Vice President Adil Osmanovic comments that opposition uses protests to take over the authorities, and adds that “trial to solve problems in the street could slow down reforms necessary to this state.” Elmir Jahic, SDA Vice President, believes that there is no reason for protests, while SDU leader Miro Lazovic says that opposition covered up for the real reason of protest, believing that this was a respond to the public cry for early elections, despite knowing that they would not happen. Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 5 ‘I will go at 23 March protests’ – Ivan Tomljenovic, RS Vice President, expressed support to 23 March protests in Banjaluka and its main demand for holding early elections owing to bad economic and social situation in BiH. He said that he would join RS citizens in expressing dissatisfaction with the inefficient work of the current authority of BiH. He also says that if petition contains enough signatures, the RS President, Dragan Cavic, cannot ignore this and should disband Parliament. |
| NN editorial on Banja Luka protests | Nezavisne Novine pg 7 ‘Demonstration’ editorial by Mirjana Kusmuk – Referring to the protest, author writes that the ruling political parties have demonstrated their fear from this protest by having widely opposed to it verbally. Namely she says that authority has shown its weakness on running the Republika Srpska by having so strongly and aggressively opposed to the announced protests. She also adds that ruling parties would survive in political context. But the myth on political omnipotence will disappear. |
| Presence of Croat Ministers in FBiH Govt session tomorrow questionable | Dnevni List front pg ‘Negotiations between HDZ and SDA Presidents continue’, pg 3 ‘Today’s session of FBiH Government without Croat Ministers’ – DL carries that according to the information coming from the FBiH Government, its session to take place today will not be attended by the Croat Ministers will not attend this session. According to the article it has been expected that HDZ President Barisa Colak and SDA President Sulejman Tihic meet today. DL says that Colak stated that he and Tihic have been negotiating intensively regarding the FBiH Government crises, however, some considerable progress has not been achieved. Colak added that in case that the negotiations fail HDZ might become the opposition and new outvoting of the parliamentary majority and early elections are possible. Nevertheless, Colak said that he believes that the current crises will be overcome. |
| Colak believes SDA will accepts HDZ’s demands | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘HDZ doesn’t demand impossible’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Outvoting practice must be stopped’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘HDZ does not demand something impossible’ – The session of the FBiH Government is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, however the presence of the HDZ Ministers is still questionable. HDZ leader, Barisa Colak, stated for Federation Radio that HDZ Ministers would return to the sessions once the party reaches an agreement on future cooperation with SDA. He added that his could happen soon, stressing that if this was not possible, than HDZ doesn’t exclude possibility of becoming opposition party or of organizing early elections. Colak underlined that the practice of outvoting and making decision in an absence of the Croat Ministers must be stopped: “You cannot discuss the draft budget proposal for 2004 at the session of FBiH Government without the presence of Finances Ministers Dragan Vrankic, who is also Vice President of that Government.” In an interview, Colak also commented to the security situation in BiH, saying that it was quite worsened due to the general situation in the society. As for the BiH Interpol, following the arrest of its Deputy Director Asim Fazlic, accused of misuse of power, Colak said that this affair brought up a lot of damage to BiH’s reputation. BiH Security Minister said at the end that he procedure of establishing BiH Intelligence Service was underway and added that it should start to work in the middle of this year. |
| VL on turmoil in NHI | Vecernji List front pg ‘Kresimir Zubak bans NHI founders from party’, pg 4 ‘Zubak bans most of “founders” from party’ by Dejan Jazvic – Commenting that six months prior to the general elections in BiH and a week prior to the NHI Congress [due on Saturday] a huge crisis is shaking the party, VL reports that the clashes in NHI have reached a climax. Namely, information leaked that there are clashes between 2 NHI factions: the one lead by the current President Kresimir Zubak and the other one which gathers around Mijo Anic, Ivo Lozancic and Nikola Grabovac. The cause of this situation is the passive position the NHI is in ever since the 2002 elections. Zubak is reported to be objected by the “rebels” for having let the party nearly disappear from the political scene and for getting too close to Lagumdzija’s SDP. On the other hand, Zubak and the people of like mind reproach Lozancic for acting in the Parliament without consulting the party leadership and are revolted over more and more obvious fact that Mijo Anic distances himself from the leadership. This leads to a conclusion that the “undisciplined” could be banned from the party. |
| CoM to vote on draft Restitution Law | Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘CoM will today take official stand’ – The Council of Ministers are expected to vote on the draft Restitution law, prepared by the BiH House of Representative’s Speaker Nikola Spiric. Spokesperson for the Chairman of the CoM, Bojan Zec-Filipovic stated that CoM recently asked for the withdrawal of Spiric’s draft, however that official stand would be know at the beginning of this week. “It is still early to say what stand they would take, but it is probable that they would stick to their earlier opinion,” said Filipovic. ‘Dom’ Association said they expected OHR to solve this issue, while opposing to the draft Law. OHR Spokesperson, Vedran Persic, stated that OHR suggests authorities to solve the restitution issue based on some healthy economic grounds, and that it encourages them to seek advices from organization with the experience in this field. |
Economic and social issues | |
| Farmers to protest today
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Protesters will bring cattle and mechanisation before the Assembly’s building’ – FBiH Association of farmers, Independent agriculture syndicate, and Association of BiH Farmers organized protests to take place today in front of the BiH Assembly’s building in Sarajevo. According to the Ranko Bakic, the president of BiH Farmers Association, about 10.000 people will gather to protests at which they would present 14 demands that could assist in solving some issues in agricultural industry. Bakic adds that farmers will bring cattle for the protests. Associations requested to address the parliament. |
| Spiric on farmers protests | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘BiH Parliamentary Assembly should not be turned into the stage of those dissatisfied’ – Speaker of the BiH House of Representatives, Nikola Spiric, said that agriculture protestors will not have an opportunity to address delegates of the BiH Parliament: “I believe that Assembly should not be turned into the stage of those dissatisfied, as in that case than it could be in session every 24 hours. But, the story of protestors, that they want to address the delegates, and that if that was not enabled to them, they would block the traffic and border crossings – while not wanting to send a message to executive authorities – is not logical.” |
| DA on protests related to economy | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Encouragements to the agriculture’ op-ed by Enes Plecic – Referring to the protests to be held by Farmers Associations and their threats of blocking border crossings and roads if 200 million KM is not secured to this sector, author writes that there these demands are to be added to those posed by other associations and if all were to be satisfied BiH authorities would need at least a billion KM per annum. Noting that the authorities were obviously in the split between wishes and possibilities, author concludes: “It is finally a time for Parliaments to voice their opinions and establish single policy aimed at stimulating [economy] that will not disturb both internal and external economic relations, but secure everybody in the country equal conditions for doing profitable business.” |
| VL on FBiH Tax Administration | Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Because of ‘criteria’ 140 Croat tax collectors less’ by Z. Kresic – VL carries that due to application of Book of Rules on internal organization of the Federation of BiH Tax Administration the number of employees in tax offices in the areas with the Croat majority will be reduced by 140 persons. VL reminds that FBiH Minister of Finances Dragan Vrankic signed the aforementioned Book of Rules in January after CAFAO and the OHR were exerting pressure against him for months. Also, the FBiH Ministry of Finances explained that it will be offered to most of these employees to work in the data processing center that will be seated in Mostar. VL also says that criteria for determining the number of employees in the tax offices was the number of registered tax payers, however, according to the article, these information were fabricated in order to keep a bigger number of the employees in some Municipalities. VL also says that although some tax offices were demanding persistently to check these information they did not receive any reply. |
| Non-implementation of HRC decision on pensions | Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Still doing nothing’ – The Resolution passed by the BiH House of Peoples almost a month ago regarding the accomplishment of pensioners rights throughout BiH is still dead letter on a piece of paper. The Resolution supported decision of the Human Rights Chamber, according to which pensions should be paid out to pensioners by the entity they were earned. Goran Milojevic, Co-Chairperson of the BiH HoP, says that authorities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina behave the same way they behaved before the Resolution was passed. He also said that the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, should have engaged in resolving this issue and use his authority to see this HRC decision implemented. |
Defence and Security | |
| Update to defence reforms | RHB – The BiH Defence Minister of Defence, Nikola Radovanovic and his deputies, Marina Pendes and Enes Becirbasic until Wednesday have to prepare and submit to BiH Presidency a set of decisions regarding the defence reforms. This includes the decision on BiH armed forces and division of general positions. The session of BiH Standing Committee for Military Matters has also been scheduled for Wednesday and during it BiH Presidency members will speak with people responsible for fulfilment of conditions for BiH entrance into Partnership for Peace. BiH Minister of Defence, Nikola Radovanovic said that he considers that BiH will be accepted into PfP, on June’s Summit in Istanbul, even though there were some delays in Reform of Educative System. He said that he doesn’t believe that his work will be obstructed, by any of Political options in BiH |
| Kovac gives up on SBS Director position | Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Relja Kovac gave up on candidature’ – The newly-appointed Director of the BiH State Border Service, Relja Kovac, informed BiH Presidency that he withdraws from this position. |
War crimes | |
| Croatian Parliament’s Vice-president on new ICTY indictments
| Vecernji List pg 12 ‘Arlovic: Croatia was not aggressor in BiH’, Dnevni List pg 18 ‘Croatia must prove that it was not created on crime’, Jutarnji List pg 2 ‘Arlovic: We must prove we were not aggressors in BiH’ – Mato Arlovic, Croatian Parliament’s Vice-president, states in light of announcement of new ICTY indictments that “for the sake of future generations, we must prove that Croatia was not aggressor in BiH and that it did not conduct an occupation war there as is implied in the new indictments. If Croatia get convicted for that, our children will pay war reparation”. Arlovic added that one must not let an attempt to prove that Croatia won its independence on crime. |
| DA claims Karadzic moves through Konjevic Polje | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Criminal Karadzic crossed Konjevic Polje’ by A. Hadzic– Journalist calls the last week’s operation carried out in Bratunac area to be nothing more but travesty on the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, and says that, according to the sources, the action was a result of the recent visit by US Ambassadors for War Criminals at large, Pierre Prosper to Banja Luka. “Only three nights before the action Karadzic crossed Konjevic Polje. I know that in one moment there was electricity black out at the gas station in Konjevic Polje, so the entire crossroad was in dark… Five jeeps arrived from the direction of Vlasenica… I heard a worker to say briefly to someone over the phone: ‘It is OK, they passed,’” cites Avaz a witness of what its says to be Karadzic’s move through Konjevic polje. |