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| Security Conference | NATO mission in BiH | Returning process in Brcko | MoI on life threats |
| OHR on TV subscription | International Invest. Conf. | Issues on Trade | Another threats in Bijeljina |
| Electroprivreda Mostar | Privatisation in RS | OHR about phyto control | NATO will not leave BiH |
| Mostar Statute | Session of Circle 99 | NATO mission in BiH | Law on Road Safety |
| Oslobodjenje | Srebrenica money for houses in Serbia |
| Dnevni Avaz | Only the Alliance staff beyond the law? |
| Dnevni List | “Violation of law demanded from Brankovic”; “Additional funds for defenders do not endanger budget” |
| Vecernji List | “Members of Special Police Unit were calming down hooligans with shooting”; “World Bank: Too much money is being given to demobilized soldiers, while too little money is being given to the others” |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | At RS Ministries of Defence and Internal Affairs: Month for dismissals; Banjaluka: “Algerians” make threats |
| Nezavisne Novine | Donald Rumsfeld visiting Zagreb: Croatia is ready to deploy its troops in Iraq; Following publication of drug-affair: Death threats to Republika Srpska Helsinki Board for Human Rights and “Nezavisne Novine” editor; Anniversary of ustaches’ crime in Banjaluka area: Liturgy served for 2297 killed Serbs |
| Vecernje Novosti | Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative of the International Community in BiH, for ‘Novosti’: There is no changing of the Dayton without Serbs |
| Blic | Zvornik without two bridges: Army built, SFOR dismantles |
Organised crime/security | |
| Munich Security Conference: Ivanic meets Rumsfeld
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘NATO departure from BiH’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘European Army with American command’ – At the 40th Munich Conference on Security Policy, BiH was presented by BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mladen Ivanic, who on Sunday met with USA State Secretary for Defence, Donald Rumsfeld. According to NATO officials, one of the most successful NATO missions so far was the one in BiH, because political and military stability was established in relatively short time. They have warned that time has come for a new definition of NATO presence in BiH and opportunity for that will be the NATO Summit in Istanbul – this was said during the Ivanic talks with State Secretary Donald Ramsfeld. “We have talked a little about future military mission in BiH. It is evident that new concept has been written, according to which EU would be in charge for military mission in BiH, but at the same time the headquarter of NATO would exist, which would have responsibility to monitor the political situation in BiH but also to deal with the issues of war criminals”- said Mladen Ivanic, BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs. One of the things said in Munich is that they expect faster implementation of reforms in BiH and others countries of the region, so that they could as soon as possible become the full members of the Alliance. |
| DL on BiH joining Partnership for Peace | Summarizing conditions that BiH is to fulfill within 4 months, i.e. by the Istanbul Summit, in order to join the Partnership for Peace programme (PfP), Dnevni List (p 7, “Four months to fulfil conditions”, by Renata Radic) carries that it found out from the BiH Foreign Ministry that BiH has still not submitted an application which is considered a political act on a country’s readiness to join the PfP and to take on its share of commitments following the accession. |
| RS Helsinki Committee Chair, NN editor receive threats by phone | Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘Helsinki Board President receives death threats’, Oslobodjenje pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Phone threats to Branko Todorovic’, Vecernji List page 3, by Fena, FENA – President of the RS Helsinki Committee for Human Rights Branko Todorovic informed the Bijeljina police about the telephone threat that he had received on Saturday. Todorovic believes that the threats were delivered by those who were bothered by work of the organisations for protection of human rights and who were linked with organised crime in RS and the region. Todorovic says that this is not the first threatening message he has received. Bijeljina police will investigate into this matter. Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘Death threats to Republika Srpska Helsinki Board for Human Rights and “Nezavisne Novine” editor’ and pg. 2, ‘Jerinic and Todorovic receive death threats’ – NN reports that Dragan Jerinic, Editor-in-chief of NN, and Branko Todorovic, President of Republika Srpska Helsinki Board for Human Rights, received death threats on Friday and Saturday. Jerinic says he received a death threat on Friday, according to which he was warned not to publish any further information related to Zoran Djeric, Republika Srpska Interior Minister, as well as to stop publishing any statement by Branko Todorovic. Jerinic says he reported the case to police. Todorovic also received threats addressed to him and his family, noting he would be liquidated. He also reported the case to police. Late afternoon yesterday, Republika Srpska Interior Ministry released a press statement, saying that the media totally misinterpreted the threats addressed to Jerinic and Todorovic, publishing the entire content of the message recorded on answering machine at the premises of Republika Srpska Helsinki Board, which says: “The Algerian group is still in Cuba. Those who betrayed it deserve to die. Branko Todorovic, you are a NATO agent – you have been sentenced to death, arrow has been shot and it would find its target. Allah ekhber. If you hide, I will find your family.” (Glas Srpske carries this report as cover page story, ‘Algerians threaten’. It also says that threats were addressed to Jerinic. |
| DA: Only the Alliance staff beyond the law?
| Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 4 ‘Only the Alliance staff beyond the law?’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, on Saturday said that the latest apprehensions of the former and current BiH officials were a clear signal no one in the country regardless of his/her position and status was not beyond the law. Of course, the newspaper claims, that this state if it wants to join Euro-Atlantic integration must primarily prove it is capable of fighting crime. At the same time, this state must not forget numerous criminal actions done in the mandate of the SDP-led Alliance for Change. |
| Lazic secretly followed by police | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘Nebojsa Lazic claims police follows him in secrecy’ – Nebojsa Lazic, Director of the National Institute for the fight against drug-addiction, yesterday warned that two vehicles belonging to Republika Srpska Interior Ministry Secret Surveillance Department, working as a part of Criminal Investigation Department, have been following him for last two weeks. He has been lately warning of many omissions by police, especially in regard to prevention of illicit production and smuggling in drugs. He further claims Radomir Njegus, Police Director, addressed open threats to Lazic. However, Njegus denied by claims saying that Lazic imagines things. However, Lazic further claims that he checked the registration plates of two vehicles he has observed surveilling his house and him for last two weeks and established that registration plates were checked out from Banjaluka PSC and instead of being recycled, the plates were given for use to Republika Srpska Interior Ministry CID. He further concludes: “Apart from totally ignoring the public, Minister Djeric and his obeyers Njegus and Milorad Jelisavac (CID Head) have been violating basic human rights by implementing UDBA known methods.” |
| NN editorial on latest arrests of Jelavic, Fazlic… | Nezavisne Novine editorial by Mirza Cubro, pg. 7, ‘Arersts and courts’ – The author commends the work of the BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office, saying that the latest arrests of Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Rupcic and Miroslav Prce and Asim Fazlic have convinced the local population in BiH that the time is coming when nobody will be above the law. According to him, these arrests have proved state judges and prosecutors are doing their job in an courageous and uncompromised manner. However, he also notes that Judges and Prosecutors dealing with these cases are foreigners. Here he wonders whether the arrests would have taken place at all if local judges and prosecutors were in charge of these cases. He concludes it is obvious local judges and prosecutors are still not immune to political influence. |
| Terzic, Ashdown Saturday’s press conference in RS press | Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘Police beyond politics’; Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘SIPA become police agency’ – At a joint press conference with the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, in Sarajevo on Saturday, the Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, said that the Task force for creation of set of laws for SIPA has completed its work. Following adoption of set of these Laws, SIPA will be in charge of disclosure, investigation and prevention of serious crime acts defined by the BiH Criminal Code. This Law will be placed before BiH CoM sometime next week. HiRep said: “Over the past two years, BiH has established BiH Court and Prosecutor’s Office, that are capable of tackling inter-entity and serious organised crime cases. The results are visible with the arrest of Ante Jelavic and his colleagues and Asim Fazlic as well.” |
Social/economic issues | |
| Aluminij
| Oslobodjenje pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Profit for miners, loss for elektroprivredas’ H.A. – The representatives of the two Federation elektroprivredas are expected in Sarajevo today to sign contract on delivery of power to the Moistar-based Aluminij Company. According to the author, the application of the current tariffs brings larger profit to the coal mines, while it brings financial difficulties to the elektroprivredas. |
| EP HZ HB management talked with Croat representatives about electro-energy sector | Vecernji List (page 4, “Support of representatives to EP HZ HB”, by O. Cvitkovic) carries that the management of Elektroprivreda of Croat Community of Herceg Bosna (EP HZ HB) held a joint meeting with Croat representatives of both Houses of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, Federation of BiH Parliament and Independent Trade Union of EP HZ HB. They talked about further activities after the FBiH Constitutional Court passed the decision on constitutionality of Article 85 of Law on Electricity and after the decision of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament on giving consent to the FBiH Action Plan was passed. VL says that attendants of the meeting expressed readiness and gave support to continuation of the restructuring process in EP HZ HB. Also, they rejected all accusations with regard to using the Constitutional Court decision for slowing down or hindering the restructuring process. Dnevni List (page 3, “Support to process of restructuring in EP HZ HB”, by Nina) and Jutarnji List (page 2, “EP Mostar rejects accusations”, by Hina) also covered this meeting. |
| Mostar Investment Conference/5c corridor | BHTV – Upcoming International Investment Conference in Mostar should present the possibilities of investing in BiH and more than a dozen of investment contracts have already been prepared for signing. Among these, BiH will present the 5C corridor construction, which several countries are interested to participate in. This project will be especially presented at the Conference and, according to organizers, a number of bilateral talks on the issue have been already scheduled. “When it comes to Corridor 5C we will have I believe around six or seven interested parties. They include those interested in the whole project such as Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, Malaysia, and Turkey, as well as a lot of Balkan’s institutions interested in segments of that project”- said Dragan Covic, Chairman of BiH Presidency. When it comes to foreign investments BiH holds the last place out of all countries in transition. “We had intention to present the possibilities of BiH to potential investors as well as the way in which they can invest in BiH”- said Adnan Terzic, Chairman of Council of Ministers. The participation in the Conference was announced from more then 40 countries, and beside political leaders the businessmen also have announced their arrival. |
| ITA Director on Steering Board appointment | Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘ITA Director Kemal Causevic: I will not accept any payment for the facility we will be placed in’ – In a statement for the newspaper, Director of the Indirect Taxation Administration Kemal Causevic could not say when and how the institution will get the permanent instead of provisional Steering Board. “The members of the Steering Board are being appointed by the state and entity prime ministers: Adnan Terzic, Ahmet Hadzipasic and Dragan Mikerevic. You should therefore ask them on this,” said Causevic. |
| Blic: BiH as a single economic space | Blic, p 14 ‘BiH as a single economic space’ – In relation to establishing ITA, implementation of single customs and creating preconditions for implementing VAT, BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic has stated that these activities and political support to this process must be more intensive. ‘The fact is that no part of BiH cannot think of prosperous future without a single economic space’, Terzic said. On the same issue, President of the RS Government Dragan Mikerevic has stated that the establishing of a single economic space was the basic precondition for entering EU market. The Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH, Ahmet Hadzipasic, said that by creating a single economic space in BiH, money would go to budgets of the entities instead to criminals. |
| Mother of Srebrenica warns about irregular spending of return funds | Oslobodjenje front page, pg. 7 ‘Srebrenica money for houses in Serbia’ – “Millions of marks collected at the last year donor’s conference in New York, and which were provided by various foreign donors for the recovery of Srebrenica, are these days being given, instead for reconstruction of houses and sustainable return, to all others but not to those they were intended for,” said the Mothers of Srebrenica Association. The Association will therefore request OHR and FBiH Financial Police to urge for blockage of BiH’s UNDP account. |
| DL on HDZ pressuring Minister Brankovic re appointment of HT Mostar Steering Board | Dnevni List (front & p 5, “Minister Brankovic requested to violate law, by Z. Jukic) carries its sources’ claim that certain circles within the HDZBiH have been lately exerting pressure on FBiH Minister of Traffic & Communication, Nedzad Brankovic, not to accept the results of the competition for the members of the Supervisory Board of Croat Telecom (HT) Mostar. DL reminds that it is of vital importance to certain political circles to have control over HT Mostar due to court proceedings that are underway at the Cantonal Court in Mostar and that are directly linked to this company. There is therefore an attempt to talk Minister Brankovic into neglecting the competition results and to appoint to HT only eligible HDZ people who would cover criminal activities up. DL alleges that Minister Brankovic is asked to either appoint certain people from the 21 candidates irrespective of their abilities or to annul the competition and re-install the Supervisory Board headed by Vlado Majstorovic. The means of pressure against Brankovic is announcement of the removal of the FBiH PM Hadzipasic and the FBiH Government reshuffle, i.e. a message was sent out to Brankovic that his stay in the Government, following it reshuffle, will not be supported unless he implements demands regarding HT. The daily concludes by saying that it would be interesting to see the OHR reaction as it is the OHR that imposed the Law on Civil Service. |
| Ibrahim Nadarevic, FBiH Minister of Defenders, on WB objection | Dnevni list (front & p 3, “Additional funds for defenders do not jeopardise budget”, by Ivica Glibusic) carries the FBiH Minister of Defenders, Ibrahim Nadarevic, as commenting in the following way the warning by the World Bank that the foreseen budged expenditures for defenders and war invalids must not be exceeded: “I have “inherited” the decision that not more than 275 million KM can be allocated to this category. I am of the view that defenders, in line with the category under which they fall, should have their rights realised so the amount would exceed the mentioned 275 millions. The amount of 310 million KM foreseen by the Draft Budget is based on the talks with the PM and on what the FBiH Government analysed at its last session and I do believe the budget could stand this amount”, Nadarevic concludes. Vecernji list (front page “World Bank: Demobilised get too much money, others too little” and p 3 “Demobilised get too much, children too little”, by F) carries the World Bank’s dissatisfaction with the Draft law on Defenders as its cost is too high. |
| ‘Statement of Day’: OHR spokesperson Vedran Persic | Dnevni List (page 2) carries in its ‘Statement of Day’ OHR spokesperson Vedran Persic as saying: “BiH is faced with serious situation.” (Refers to the OHR statement on RTV tax collection) |
| Dismissals at Republika Srpska Defence Ministry this week | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Month for dismissals’ – Over 2000 professional soldiers and those employed at the Republika Srpska Ministry of Defence will lose jobs during the course of this month. The severance pays have been provided for them, amounting from BAM 2 to 8 thousand. The criteria for amount have been also set, including length of service and rank. |
| Srebrenica Factory update | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2, ‘Government fulfilled its duties towards Battery Factory personnel’ – The former employees of Battery Factory from Potocari and Radomir Zekic, Factory Director, confirmed that the Republika Srpska Government has fulfilled its duties towards the Factory personnel, who lost jobs following decision of the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, to transfer the ownership over this firm onto “Srebrenica Potocari Memorial”. The agreement has been realised in it entirety – namely, 41 former staff were paid out outstanding wages, severance pays and unpaid benefits were paid as well. |
| RS Government as debtor | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘the Republika Srpska Government owes over BAM 2.7 million for electricity’ – Dobro Kovacevic, Director of the “Elektrodistribucija” from Pale says that the budget users, including the Republika Srpska Government , owe over BAM 2.7 million to this firm, owing to which further functioning of this firm has been placed in danger. However, Radmila Mihic, Spokesperson of Republika Srpska Finance Ministry, claims that the Ministry allocates resources to Elektrodistrivucija on a regular basis. |
| Cajavec workers go on hunger strike
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Personnel of “Cajavec” goes on hunger strike today’ – Over 120 persons employed at the Banjaluka firm “Cajavec – mechanical products” will today go on hunger strike, because the Republika Srpska Government failed to meet their demands. This was confirmed by Drago Blagojevic, member of Crisis Centre of this firm. He reminds that the staff demanded payment of three (out of 11) outstanding payments, and removal of the current management of this firm. |
Political developments | |
| Hadzipasic on initiatives for FBiH Government reshuffle
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 2, mentioned on the front page ‘Hadzipasic: If I heard arguments I would not be Prime Minister any more’ – Commenting on the initiatives for his removal, the FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic said in an interview for the newspaper that he had tried all the time to stay out of these talks. “Of course it is much better if we spend our energy in some more useful things,” said Hadzipasic. He claims the Government cannot function on the basis of three independent proposals of the political parties. “It is up to them to agree on a minimum and than it is up to us to implement the proper solutions,” said Hadzipasic. Hadzipasic says he is advocating for respecting adequate procedure and not informal talks/meetings and, according to him, that is why his removal was initiated. |
| Mostar issue | Dnevni List (page 9, “New injustice inflicted to Croat people”, by M. Relota) carries a former Vice President of the Croatian Parliament and former senior SDP Croatia official Zdravko Tomac who explains as to why he wrote a letter to High Representative Paddy Ashdown regarding a new Mostar Statute. Tomac says that the principle, that Croats were deprived of and that is their right at the Federation of BiH level according to the Dayton Peace Accord, is now being applied in Mostar, the only bigger city in which Croats make majority. He added: “The principle that one vote is worth as six other votes together is disgrace of democracy.” Asked about media speculations that he might become a new Croatian Ambassador to BiH, Tomac says that such possibility is not realistic since a new Croatian authority would not risk to place him at the aforementioned position. Dnevni List (page 2, “We have lost even bureaucracy”, by V. Leto) carries an editorial which says that Mostar Municipalities will be abolished in a few days and a big number of people working in the Mostar Municipal Administrations will lose job. The author says that in spite of the fact that most of these people, who were employed thanks to their family and other kind of connections, were doing nothing at their places of work, nevertheless, they will join a long line of unemployed citizens. |
| VL on Croat political milieu in BiH | Vecernji List (page 5, “Silence of BiH Croats”, by I. Barbaric) carries that it has become obvious that the Croat political milieu in BiH is disoriented, fragmented and without influence and thus one cannot talk at all about some politics that should take care about a BiH people smallest in a number that has already become an ethnic minority without rights. VL goes on to say that the strongest Croat party, HDZ BiH, almost does not have any influence on the political scene and its relations with HDZ Croatia are at the lowest level since the establishment of the party. According to the article, the fact that phone lines have been disconnected to HDZ BiH for over a year the best illustrates how bad the situation is. VL also says that Barisa Colak is the HDZ President only formally and that Chairman of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic is pulling all important strings. When smaller Croat political parties (HSP, CCD, HKDU, HNZ etc.) are in question, VL says that they do not have any influence at all and strong fraction struggles are taking place inside of them. |
| Kalinic response to Beecroft | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5, ‘Unintended mistake raised confusion’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Srspka to make the choice by itself’ – Press release issued by Dragan Kalinic Cabinet yesterday says that the unintended mistake has raised a confusion regarding the authorities of Republika Srpska institutions and BiH institutions, in relation with the appointment of the BiH Ombudsman from Republika Srpska and member of BiH Election Commission from BiH. Previously, Rober Beecroft, Head of OSCE Mission to BiH, reacted upon press release by Kalinic Cabinet, which said that Republika Srpska is in charge of appointing its members to these bodies. However, GS carries a part from press release saying that: “The well-intended with acknowledge that Srpska has its interest in both of these functions. It would not be logical that anybody attempts to impose the candidates for these two institutions beyond this entity.” |
| Paddy Ashdown’s interview for Vecernje Novosti on BiH reforms/change of Dayton initiatives
| Vecernje Novosti front page and p 2, ‘There is no changing of the Dayton without Serbs’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, has stated he was very satisfied with the results of reforms and progress BiH had achieved during the last year. In the interview, the High Representative complimented the RS NA and RS President Dragan Cavic for achievements in the defense reform and he also stated: ‘First days of 2004 might represent failure if we do not accelerate this process as soon as possible. Doors towards Europe and NATO we had opened might close. At this moment, I am concerned over RS the most. Primarily, it seems to me RS opposes the establishment of SIPA. There is also the issue of finding a seat for ITA. Although the RS officials had promised to me they would find a seat for this Agency, this still had not been done. This directly jeopardizes BiH approaching the EU and the implementation of VAT. It would be extremely dangerous if RS becomes the main obstacle to BiH on its path to Europe’. In relation to changing the Dayton Agreement, the High Representative stated: ‘There is only one group of people who could change the Dayton Agreement, and these are BiH citizens’. Answering the question regarding the differences in expenditures for administration between RS and Federation, HR Paddy Ashdown among other said: ‘Mao Ze Tung once said ‘let thousands flowers blossom’. By this I wish to say one should let the European, Croatian Parliament, NGOs say what they want. Sulejman Tihic can say what he wants, yet the Constitution cannot be changed without an agreement between the peoples’. |
| Dodik on Madrid Socialist International Congress | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 5, ‘Terrorism is a threat to the entire world’ – Milorad Dodik, President of SNSD, on Sunday stated that the meeting of the Socialist International Congress in Madrid assessed that a global terrorism is a threat to the entire world and it is necessary to undertake some steps in order to place this occurrence under control. Dodik took part at the meeting. |
Other issues | |
| Liturgy for Drakulic victims
| Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 4, ‘Liturgy served for 2297 killed Serbs’; Glas Srpske, pg. 3, ‘So that descendants could remember’ – In Drakulic near Banjaluka, the service was served for 2297 Serbs from the villages of Drakulic, Motike and Sargovac, who were murdered in 7th February 1942 by ustaches’ troops led by the friar Miroslav Filipovic. |
| Mesic meets Rumsfeld | Vecernji List (page 11, “Croatia wants to send doctors and humanitarian workers to Iraq”, by Z. Bajt) carries that after the end of the International Conference on Security, that was held in Munich, US Defense Minister Donald Rumsfeld came to Zagreb for a few hours and he met with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Croatian President Stjepan Mesic. Sanader stated that the main topics of the meeting were Croatia joining NATO, cooperation in Anti-Terrorist Coalition, participation in peace operations and signing of bilateral agreement on non-extradition of US soldiers to the International Criminal Court. Sanader did not reply to journalists whether Croatia will sign this agreement. Rumsfeld stressed that NATO will not withdraw from BiH this year, but that it will focus its forces on the arrest of war criminals, while Europe will be in charge of other tasks in the peace mission. Slobodna Dalmacija (front and page 3, “Sanader told Rumsfeld: Croatia wants to join NATO as soon as possible”, by T. Klauski), Dnevni List (page 17, “Mesic: Croatian soldiers will go to Iraq only under UN leadership”, by Hina), Jutarnji List (front and pages 2 and 3, “We are looking forward to Croatia’s joining NATO”, by S. Simic, A. Masle) and Vjesnik (front and page 2, “Sanader refused to reply to question whether Croatia will send its soldiers to Iraq”, by B. Lopandic, M. Rozankovic), Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 17, ‘Croatia is ready to deploy its troops in Iraq’ also covered this visit. |
| Incident at football tournament in Siroki Brijeg | Vecernji List (front and pages 2 and 3, “Members of Special Police Unit were calming down hooligans by shooting”, by M. Knezovic, D. Ravic) carries that there were many incidents before, during and after football tournament dedicated to late Croatian Defense Minister Gojko Susak that took place during the last weekend in Siroki Brijeg. VL says that supporters of two Croatian football clubs, that is, ‘Dinamo’ from Zagreb and ‘Hajduk’ from Split, came into conflict and the result of this incident are 5 injured policemen while 25 persons were arrested. |