| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Funeral arrangements | SFOR statement re crash | Tragedy in Vitez | Investigation of accident |
| SFOR statement re crash | Funeral procession | Past of Dumic, new MoD | RS Biro/ citizens’ appeals |
| BiH Presidency’s session | “Coup d’etat” affair | Strikes of teachers, Ze-Do | Serbs from Croatia in RS |
| SDS Board’s decisions | Teachers strikes | Funeral arrangements | SRS about new MoD |
| Oslobodjenje | Mother killed her two children, and then shot herself?; Witness against new minister: “Dumic blackmailed me to exchanges the property”; Macedonia mourns its killed president: He believed in God, people and himself; Coup d’état investigation completed: Human rights violated, FOSS responsible |
| Dnevni Avaz | Holbrooke dismissed claims from RS and Serbia: There was no deal with Karadzic!; Dumic: I will be Defence Minister for entire BiH; EUPM Hotline: ‘Crime hunters checking also rumours’; Sallivan: French controllers are in BiH |
| Dnevni List | Marinkovic: Flight controllers have not been questioned yet; Jelavic case: Team of lawyers from America joins up |
| Vecernji List | Nobody in BiH controls quality of foods |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Tihic would like to remove Nikolic – because of his own mistake; Air Bosnia stays on ground |
| Glas Srpske | Brcko District Government gave up on its auto repair shop and fuel station: A million locked; Surplus of military personnel: At ease in March! |
| Nezavisne Novine | Explosions in Iraq; SDS Main Board session: Cavic claims he did not withdraw his resignation; Vitomir Popovic: Judges of unenviable quality appointed; Investigation into “coup d’etat” affair: Criminal responsibility demanded; Mostar: Crvenkovski avoided accident after thunder struck the plane |
| Blic | Paul Beaver for ‘Blic’: 60 secret services are functioning in the Balkans; Criminal denunciation against Telebak, the Railroad Company Director: 15 millions disappeared; Dragomir Dumic for ‘Blic’: The main task is admission to the Partnership for Peace |
| Vecernje novosti | TV FBiH accused SFOR for the crash of Trajkovski’s plane: Frenchmen are culpable for the accident |
Macedonian plane crash | |
| Victims of plane crash to be sent to Macedonia today
| BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Bodies will be sent off from Sarajevo today’, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 7 ‘He believes in God, people and himself’, ‘Identification completed’, ‘Remains of Boris Trajkovski to be sent off’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, ‘See-away of mortal remains today’ – The remains of Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and 8 members of the Macedonian delegation tragically killed in a plane crash on February 26 will be sent off with highest honours from the Sarajevo airport today, after remaining 5 bodies were identified on Tuesday. Chairman of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, is expected to pay respect to victims, who will than be transported to Skopje where funeral of president Trajkovski will be held in presence of expected 20.000 people. RTRS – BiH authorities established a special Commission, which will investigate causes of the plane accident, which killed 9-member Macedonian delegation to Mostar Investment Conference, including the president Trajkovski. The Commission consists of seven experts, five from BiH and one from Croatia and Serbia each, with additional assistance from Macedonian and USA representations. BiH Minister of Transport and Communications, Branko Dokic said that this Commission would have access to all evidences, including information provided by black boxes and statements of flight controllers. Macedonian experts demanded for black boxes not to be send to France or United States Of America. FTV, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 21 ‘Black boxes in BiH Prosecution’ – BiH Prosecutor’s Office, in charge of investigation of the plane crash, said is expects to send black boxes to Germany or UK. Dnevni List front splash, pg 5 ‘Marinkovic: Flight controllers have not been questioned yet’ by N. Dedic – DL carries the prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Vaso Marinkovic, as saying that he, as the prosecutor running the investigation, is yet to question the air traffic control. RHB – The NATO Spokesperson in Brussels confirmed that NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer received a letter from Macedonian Prime Minister, Branko Crvenkovski, in which he asked him to help the investigation. |
| SFOR: French controllers are in BiH | RHB, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘French controllers are in BiH’, pg 4 ‘Sullivan: French controllers are in BiH’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘French controllers did not leave BiH’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘SFOR: We are not responsible for the accident’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘SFOR denies claims’, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Sullivan: French controllers is in BiH’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 ‘French flight control talked to investigators’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Mostar Airport does not have radar surveillance’, – SFOR denied on Tuesday that French flight controllers, who were on duty when the plane carrying the Macedonian delegation crashed, have been sent back to France. “The flight controllers are still in BiH and they were interviewed by the investigators. They will remain available to the BiH investigative team if there is a need for further questioning”, SFOR spokesperson Dave Sullivan told a press conference in Sarajevo. He said that SFOR staff responsible for air traffic control at the Mostar airport are qualified in accordance with internationally adopted practice. He also said that the equipment used is modern and that it is regularly serviced and maintained. SFOR also added that SFOR uses the airport for their planes and that they have full confidence in all security aspects. Sullivan confirmed that the tape with the conversation between the control tower and the Macedonian pilot has been handed over to the BiH investigative team and that SFOR would continue to fully support the investigation led by the BiH Ministry of Transport and Communications. BHTV 1 – Chairman of Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic said that it was not appropriate to talk about the responsibility for the plane accident before the results of the investigation. Terzic also confirmed that received official letter from the Macedonian Government in which they demand the full investigation into the case. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘SFOR took black boxes from plane on the first day of accident’ – Barisa Colak, BiH Minister of Security, did not want to comment on claims that two black boxes from the plane, which crashed while carrying Macedonian delegation to Mostar, were in the hands of SFOR before they were handed to BiH authorities. |
| VL: SFOR was hiding truth for 26 hours | Vecernji List pg 5 ‘SFOR was hiding truth for 26 hours’ by Robert Soldo – The papers learn from an “anonymous source close to the EUPM” that the SFOR were hiding the truth about the events for full 26 hours after the plane crashed. VL claims that on Thursday, around 0900, the leadership of the Mostar Investment Conference received information from two EUPM officers, Roblin Kritof and Le Marre Phillippe, that “nine bodies were found on the spot, seven members of the delegation and two crew members”. Apparently, the two EUPM officers stated they had received the information from one Moris from SFOR. VL also reports that the Deputy Commander of SFOR, Brigadier Simon Young, told at 1155 hrs (on Thursday presumably) the Director of FBiH Police Administration, Zlatko Miletic, that he “did not have information about the location of the plane crash”, whilst in the same time confirming that all the passengers were dead. |
Defence and security | |
| Dumic says he is committed to BiH’s admission to PfP
| Dnevni Avaz cover ‘I will be Defence Minister for entire BiH’, pg 5 ‘I will do everything to fulfil necessary conditions for admission to PfP’ by Jasna Alimujkic – In an interview to DA, candidate for the BiH Defence Minister Dragomir Dumic said that he was highly privileged being appointed for this position. Asked what would be his priorities, in case he was appointed, Dumic said: “I would do everything possible to have all conditions implemented, so we could… finally access Partnership for Peace.” Asked whether he would also firstly take care of RS, than BiH interests, Dumic said that politicising this position should be excluded, and stressed that the most important thing is to have established Chain of Command. “In any case, my candidature, if verified, stipulates I would be Defence Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, not Republika Srpska.” Blic front, pg 12 ‘The ‘Partnership’ is the first goal’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘As minister, I will not act as party member’ – Repeating his commitment to BiH’s accession to Partnership for Peace programme, Dragomir Dumic also added he would not be acting as a party member. He also expressed expectation that all relevant factors would provide him support. |
| Accusations against MoD candidate Dragomir Dumic | FTV, Oslobodjenje cover, pgs 4&5 ‘Dumic blackmailed me to exchange house and property with Tintor’ – Esad Muratbegovic, witness to war events in Bijeljina, on Tuesday talked to Oslobodjenje staff and said that Dragomir Dumic tried to force him to exchange his large property in Bijeljina for those belonging to “chetnik duke” Jovo Joja Tintor in Vogosca. Muratbegovic also said that OHR was dealing with Dumic’s criminal activities, and added that OHR official called him to inform him that in several days he would be called for the meeting with a senior official. Article gives detailed descriptions of what were called numerous trials to force Muratbegovic out of Bijeljina, and encounters he had with Tintor and Dumic. Oslobodjenje also asked the Dumic to comment, who said that he did knew Tintor, but never met Muratbegovic, denying all allegations. |
| Serb Radicals oppose Dumic’s appointments; PDP supports it | RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Candidature of Dumic is an insult for Serbs’ – The Serb Radical Alliance issued a statement which reads that the appointment of Dragomir Dumic for the position of the BiH Defence Minister was an insult for Serb Veterans. According to the party’s Secretary General, Ognjen Tadic, Dumic was a deserter for a long time and joined the unit of Ljubisa Savic-Mauzer in 1994 in Bijeljina. Tadic added that Dumic did not have any military education, which would prevent him from creating defence policies of BiH. Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Bosniaks and Croats on move’ – VL also says that SRS Secretary General Ognjen Tadic threatened that this party will insist in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly that none Bosniak or Croat is elected at responsible positions in the BiH defense system if he had a war past. VL says that the other parties will certainly have the same stand since they judged that refusal of Branko Stevic’s candidacy for the position of the BiH Defence Minister is lacking arguments. Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Satisfied with the appointment of defence minister’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Closer to Brussels’, FENA – PDP is satisfied with completion of the process of choosing a candidate for the BiH defence minister, and declares that an important step has been taken in BiH’s accession to European integration. PDP expects the BiH House of Representatives to confirm the candidate for the defence minister at its earliest convenience in order to formally fulfil they key condition for BiH’s admission into the Partnership for Peace, was announced by PDP. |
| Commission on coup d’état afire completed investigation
| BHTV 1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Report on so called coup d’état case soon before the representatives’, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 5 ‘Human rights violated, FOSS responsible?’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 5 ‘Criminal responsibility demanded’ – The Commission appointed by the BiH House of Representatives to investigate the case known as coup d’état affair on Tuesday established the draft conclusion, which is to be submitted to HoR for further discussions. Among other things, it was concluded that there were human rights’ violations during the eavesdropping of SDP leader Zlatko Lagumdzija, the former director of the FOSS, Mumir Alibabic, and a group of citizens. Chair of the Commission, Tihomir Gligoric said: “I believe that Commission worked professionally in this case and I can express my pleasure that Commission today adopted the conclusion by consensus.” He also refused to give details before HoR sees the report. Asked whether the Commission was to seek political and criminal prosecution of those responsible, Gligoric said that report does deal with responsibility, but refused to say whose. “We hope this will be a turning point in BiH regarding Human Rights “, said Tihomir Gligoric. |
| SD claims Tihic decided to dismiss Nikolic, FBiH MoD
| Slobodna Dalmacija front splash, pg 17 ‘Tihic would like to remove Nikolic – because of his own mistake’ by Marin Erceg – SD claims that the Chairman of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, is adamant in his idea to replace the FBiH Defence Minister, Miroslav Nikolic, and seize the control in the FBiH MoD. SD explains that Tihic was supposed to fire General Hamid Bahto from the FBiH Army a long time ago, but fails to do it either because he does not want or dares not to do it. SD further explains that Bahto was found guilty of trafficking arms to Kosovo, that he did the time and that the COMSFOR removed him from service on February 22, 2003. The trouble is, according to SD, that Bahto is still on the FBiH MoD payroll, and Tihic claims that Minister Nikolic should be replaced because of it. In that context, SD argues it is Tihic who is personally responsible because he is in charge of appointments and discharges to/from the Joint HQ and at junior levels of the FBIH Army. Having said all that, SD says Tihic should either resign or be removed by the OHR. |
| EUPM’s ‘Crime hunters’ hotline receives numerous calls | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Crime hunters check even a rumour’, pg 3 ‘EUPM already received a number of citizen’s calls’ – Following launch of free hotline ‘Crime hunters’ for citizens to report the crime activities, EUPM said that already a number of citizens called in: “Crime hunters received big number of calls… EUPM will, together with BiH police forces, keep informing the public on development of this project,” stated EUPM stressing that any information, even perhaps just a rumour, can be useful for investigations. |
| Bradtke: US and NATO are not leaving BiH | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘US are not leaving BiH’, FENA – Replacing of SFOR by the EU-led force does not mean that the United States and NATO are leaving BiH, told Fena on Tuesday the Deputy Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of State for Western Europe and Euro-Atlantic Relations, Robert Bradtke. “The United States is not leaving BiH; nobody wishes to see BiH going back into the past. The United Sates and the European Union are determined to prevent this from happening”, said Bradtke, adding that the United States wishes to appoint an American general on top of the future NATO staff in BiH. He stressed that one of the goals of the U.S. policy is seen in a stronger integration of BiH in the Euro-Atlantic structures, and added that the United States supports BiH’s admission into the Partnership for Peace. “We also wish to see a European military mission, which will, apart from the stabilization role, also be dealing with threats such as organized crime”. |
| RS MoI opens Public Complaints Bureau | RTRS, Onasa – RS Interior Ministry on Tuesday opened its Public Complaints Bureau in Banja Luka. Minister Zoran Djeric said that the Bureau will contribute to better cooperation between the public and Ministry. Djeric said that Bureau’s work in the past was done by the Ministry’s Internal Control, which received around 1,000 complaints last year. Djeric said that the office would also investigate the anonymous complaints:“All RS citizens can send their complaints and appeals to this Bureau and then [firstly, the investigation] is being done by the Bureau and afterwards being sent to our Internal Control and Internal Control works on those cases from then on.” Bureau employs five officials of different professions and nationalities. Establishment of this office is one of the recommendations of European Commission. |
Political issues | |
| Ashdown commenced weeklong diplomatic tour
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ashdown to talk with Powell and Rumsfeld’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Today, addressing the UN Security Council’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Ashdown in New York, Washington and London’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Talks with Annan, Powell and Blair’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Report on BiH before UN security Council’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, arrived in New York on Tuesday on the first leg of a weeklong tour in which he will be meeting the most senior officials at the UN, and in the US and UK governments. OHR spokesman Oleg Milisic said that while in New York, Ashdown will meet UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the UN undersecretary for peacekeeping operations, Jean Marie Guehenno, before addressing the UN Security Council on Wednesday together with BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic, On Thursday the High Representative will be in Washington for meetings with US Secretary of State, Colin Powell and Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld. Before returning to Bosnia and Herzegovina early next week the High Representative will be in London for meetings with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair and the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw. |
| Terzic to address UN Security Council | Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Call for assistance in implementing reforms’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Assistance need to complete reforms’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Ashdown in New York, Washington and London’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Talks with Annan, Powell and Blair’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Report on BiH before UN security Council’ – “BiH is the country in surge of transition. We are not anymore in the focus of the international community, in a way it was several years ago. This presents positive example which indicated how the intervention of the international community can be effective and how a post-conflict country… becomes active participant in the stabilisation process in the region,” stated Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, who will address the members of UN Security Council today. Terzic, who is currently in New York, will present Coucnil with the report on CoM’s activities regarding the implementation of the reforms. Concluding that BiH is stable country now, Terzic will seek assistance for the completion of reforms process. |
| Tihic schedule urgent BiH presidency session | RHB, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Urgent discussion about state budget’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Today, urgent Presidency’s session’ – BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic convened an urgent BiH Presidency session for today. The only item on the agenda is the proposed budget of BiH institutions and international commitments for 2004 and the proposed law on implementation of the budget of BiH institutions and international commitments for 2004, the BiH Presidency stated. |
| NN int with Cavic | Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 4 ‘Cavic claims he did not withdraw his resignation’ – Dragan Cavic, SDS Vice President, on Tuesday stated he did not withdraw his resignation from this party’s position. In a statement given to ATV Banja Luka, Cavic said: “The SDS Main Board did not accept my resignation, and I was in minority. I do approve of majority view, but I did not withdraw my resignation.” He said resignations should have been accepted, but the idea prevailed to have it happen after local elections. Responding to press question whether there are differences between him and Dragan Kalinic, he said there are differences, but it does not mean that the party functioning is jeopardised. According to NN inset, SNSD commented on session of SDS Main Board saying that: “This time again, SDS ascertained its readiness to give up on everything except power.’ |
| Cropress on SDS Main Board session | Dnevni List pg 11 ‘Sarovic’s resignation saved the party’ – After SDS Main Board did not accept resignations of the SDS Presidency, DL notes that the SNSD believes that such decision of the SDS leadership confirmed “a scenario devised as an ordinary parade whose purpose was deluding of public and buying of time”. SNSD also says that after the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, placed SDS Vice President Mirko Sarovic on the list of unwanted persons, SDS tried once again to present itself as a victim, identifying itself with the Republika Srpska. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘They gave Sarovic up’ by A. Macanovic – SD carries that according to a source from SDS during the aforementioned session of the SDS Main Board, harsh tones could be heard from supporters of Dragan Kalinic on one side and SDS members from Banja Luka who are in favor of Dragan Cavic on the other. |
Education | |
| Strikes of teachers in FBiH
| BHTV 1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Communication through media’, ‘Cantonal Government still did not consider demands’, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Minister seeks parent’s help’ – On seventh days of the strike by teachers in Zenica-Doboj Canton, Sreto Tomasevic, Cantonal Education Minister, appealed to strikers to enable the students of primary and secondary schools to attend classes. At the same time, the negotiations between the Teachers Syndicate and authorized Ministry will continued. In Una-Sana Canton, 3700 teachers have commenced with a general strike on Tuesday, and the Union stated that the cantonal executive and legislative authorities bare full responsibility for the consequences of the strike because they ignored the demands of education workers. Teacher’s main demand is to harmonize their salaries with other budget users. Strike was joined by the workers of pre-school education institutions. |
| OSCE urges for adoption of education laws | RHB – The OSCE issued a press statement expressing satisfaction with the work of the education authorities towards fulfilling their obligations by moving forward on developing and passing the RS, Cantonal and District of Brcko Laws on Primary and Secondary Education. OSCE spokeswoman, Zinaida Delic, said that progress has been achieved in Brcko; Una-Sana, Tuzla, Zenica-Doboj, Herzegovina-Neretva and Sarajevo Cantons, and RS. However, she stressed that process has been slower in Posavina, Central-Bosnia, West-Herzegovina Cantons and Canton 10. Last week the High Representative issued a deadline of 15 March for these Cantons to finalize fully harmonized drafts. |
| UK Ambassador Cliff: BiH must change education system | Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Change education system’ – “BiH must make changes in the education system, and be particularly oriented to schools of technical sciences. It is necessary to reduce the capacities oriented to three-year education and to particularly focus on developing the four-year education system”, said the British Ambassador to BiH, Ian Cliff, in his address on the occasion of presenting the Annual Report for 2003 on the “Labour and Social Policies in BiH – Development of Activity Policies and Measures for Softening the Negative Effects of Privatisation”. The British Government’s Project, was supported by the local authorities, and is popularly called “To live in BiH”. The Project is aimed at raising awareness of the authorities in BiH on matters of social and education policies. |
Judiciary and legal affairs | |
| OSCE warns RS judiciary blocked | RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Blockade of RS judiciary’ – The RS judicial system remains in a state of crisis due to lack of adequate funding from the RS Government, OSCE spokesperson Zinaida Delic told a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday. She said that courts across the RS remain inactive as the RS postal service continues to refuse to deliver court summons until all outstanding court postal debt is paid in full. The Mission has been informed by RS Ministry of Justice officials that since mid-December hearings have only been scheduled in cases where it has been possible for summons to be hand delivered by court employees. A number of RS courts have also been threatened with disconnection from the power network pending payment of electrical bills. While the current crisis was to be discussed by the RS Commission for Judicial Reform at the 24 February session of the RS National Assembly, the item was deleted from the session agenda and has been postponed until the RSNA sits in March. Unless immediate action is taken by the RS Government to remedy the financial crisis being experienced by the RS court system, the ability of the RS judiciary to uphold the rule of law in the RS will remain seriously weakened, the OSCE warned. |
| SD: Prefix ‘Serb’ is being abolished in names of cities | Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Prefix ‘Serb’ is being abolished in names of cities’ by Z. Tulic – SD carries that according to still unconfirmed information that SD has, allegedly, the BiH Constitutional Court has prepared a positive decision on judgment of constitutionality on the abolishment of a prefix ‘Serb’ in the names of the cities in the Republika Srpska. SD reminds that as early as two and a half years ago representative Sejfudin Tokic raised this issue. Asked to comment on this unconfirmed information, Tokic says that he does not know yet whether the decision was passed or not. He stressed that in case that the positive decision on the abolishment of the prefix ‘Serb’ in the names of the cities is passed a new demand will be sent to the BiH Constitutional Court to abolish the names of companies that have the prefix ‘Serb’ in their names. |
| NN int with Popovic, BiH Ombudsman | Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 6 ‘Judges of unenviable quality appointed’ – The BiH House of Peoples accepted the appointment of Vitomir Popovic to the position of the Human Rights Ombudsman from Republika Srpska instead of Snezana Savic. In a brief interview to NN, Popovic expresses the view that regardless of non-argumented remarks and complaints from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the references he holds prevailed. He is of the view that Ombudsmen of Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina should not be abolished, because the existence of several Ombudsman Offices anticipates higher level of respect of human rights. Speaking of the appointment process of judges and prosecutors, he stresses it is not good that “a large number of judges who had good references, were not elected. On the contrary, the judges of unenviable quality are elected and this will be observed in the work of judicial system.” |
| Oslobodjenje: SDS delegate in BiH Parliament accused of position misuse | Oslobodjenje cover, pg 3 ‘Spasojevic ‘earned’ on taxes of vehicles 60.000 KM’ by V. Zivak – According to daily, Basic Court in Bijeljina filed charges against Zoran Spasojevic, SDS delegate in BiH Parliament, a year ago for the suspicion of mismanaging his position. Prosecution allegedly charges Spasojevic, while holding the position of Chief of the Bijeljina Customs, for collecting illegal payment of taxes for vehicles earning in total 60.000 KM. |
Economic and social issues | |
| WB warns against FBiH plan to revive Air Bosnia
| Oslobodjenje cover, pg 4 ‘Air Bosna must be liquidated’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Air Bosnia must be liquidated’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Subvention of work of Air Bosna fiscally irresponsible’, Slobodna Dalmacija front, pg 16 ‘Nevertheless, Air Bosna stays on ground’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Air Bosna is insolvent and without a chance to be privatized’ – The World Bank issued a press release saying it is concerned about the decision that the Federation of BiH Government passed on February 9, 2004, with regard to the possibility that that “Air Bosna” starts working again. The World Bank press release says that Air Bosna has a very small property, big debts and insufficient commercial vitality. Also, this company was judged as insolvent in technical terms and without a chance to be privatized. |
| Brankovic: Decision on Air Bosna already made | Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Governments decides’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Decision on domestic operator already established’– FBIH Communications and Transport Minister Nedzad Brankovic said that he only supported a part of WB statements which says that the Government will bring decision on this issue: “We appreciate the concern of the WB regarding the restructuring scheme of Air Bosna… [However], The value of market of the air-transport of passengers is between 100 and 120 million Euros per annum, according to FBiH estimates. In that market potential, domestic operator Air Bosna had 14 or 15% of market shares, without a position of protected local operator. It is obvious from these parameters why FBiH Government sees possibilities and needs to solve the situation in Air Bosnia.” |
| Editorials on Mostar Investment Conference | Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Warning’ by Ljuba Djikic – Author notes that although almost a week has passed after the Mostar Investment Conference took place, there is no a single word on its positive results. The author says that this Conference was overshadowed by a tragedy of the Macedonian delegation and judging by its echo it would have been better that it did not take place or that it was postponed. The author also says that judging by the media reports valid arguments on the ground of which potential investors would invest their money in BiH could not be heard during the Conference. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16 ‘More costs than investments’ by D. Juka – SD carries a similar editorial on the Mostar Investment Conference saying it was a failure. The author also says: “There is a question whether Friday was a Day of Mourning in BiH only because of death of Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski or also because of BiH that probably invested in the organization of the failed Conference more money than it will ever arrive for the investment projects.” |
| Spiric meets citizens to discuss status of refugees in BiH | RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘BiH must start taking care of its citizens’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘BiH citizens request definition of status in their own country’ by E. Mackic – The Speaker of BiH Parliament’s House of Representatives, Nikola Spiric, met with representatives of “To truth together” association to discuss issues pertaining to status of refugees and DPs that settled in BiH. According to Spiric, it is about people who in a legal way exchanged their property with other people from Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro during the war, and now they are being taken to court, in other words they are losing the right to their property. Spiric notes there are some 300 of this type of cases that need solving, promising help to the association. Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Protection of contracts on property exchange’ – Milan Crnkovic, Vice President of the Association, said that: “The exchange was performed in a legal manner., with full respect of property legislation and no force was engaged. And now, the Courts break contracts, because they are not working in line with the word by the law, but OHR interpretation. Nobody can declare me guilty of war.” |
War crimes | |
| Holbrooke denies allegations about deal between US and Karadzic | Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘There was no deal with Karadzic’, pg 3 ‘Karadzic and Mladic are European Bin Laden and Saddam’ by S.N. – “As I pointed out several times earlier, I there was never a ‘deal’ made with Radovan Karadzic. He stepped away from his duties due to US pressure we applied through mediation of Slobodan Milosevic. He was never offered anything in return,” stated creator of DPA, Richard Holbrooke, answering the statements by some RS officials that Karadzic had an agreement with US Administration that allegedly guaranteed him not to be prosecuted by ICTY if he would leave his positions. “I always said and I keep saying that the biggest Dayton’s failure is that we did not arrest Radovan Karadzic. That has to be set straight. Karadzic and Mladic are European Bin Laden and Saddam. Their arrest is of crucial importance for long term stability of BiH,” stressed Holbrooke. |