| BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| EU-Balkans Forum | Victim of drug in USK | British investments in RS |
| Terrorist attack in Moscow | Forum EU – Balkans | Bosniak vital interests |
| Environment in Mostar | Terzic on SIPA | Sanader as PM in Croatia |
| Sanader candidate for PM |
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Note: BORAM did not provide with CRHB summary due to problems with its signal in Sarajevo region
| Oslobodjenje | Reis Mustafa effendi Ceric: It is better to share power with Croats and Serbs, that to lose Mostar; Dnevni Avaz puts itself above the state and the law; GSM licence costs 500 million KM? |
| Dnevni Avaz | Tihic: It is dangerous to ban writing on politicians; Israeli government doesn’t allow Ivanic to visit Arafat; Kemal Causevic: We cannot introduce VAT before 2006! |
| Dnevni List | Mustafa ef. Ceric sends message to Bosniaks of Mostar and Herzegovina: It is better to share authority with Croats and Serbs than to divide Mostar; Mostar Commission: Last round of talks in Sarajevo |
| Vecernji List | Izetbegovic street in anti-constitutional; Elektroprivreda of BiH indirectly shuts down TLM of Sibenik and Ploce Port |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Blaskic case: Smaller sentence “almost certain” |
| Glas Srpske | Monument in Donji Kamenograd near Sanski Most: IN the hour of conquerors |
| Nezavisne Novine | EU Foreign Ministers welcome progress in Western Balkans states: Talks between EU and BIH on admission commence in October; Radmila Hrustanovic and Dragoljub Davidovic signed agreement: Belgrade and Banjaluka become friends; Barisa Colak: Problems between HDZ and SDA should not be hidden; Sarajevo: BiH Court upheld indictment against 34 persons for money laundering |
| Blic | First test-tube baby; Old man killed by knife in apartment in Banja Luka |
Political developments | |
| Terzic on upcoming PIC meeting
| BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Status of the economic reforms in BiH’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Terzic expects support for reforms’ – The ambassadors of the Peace Implementation Council will meet in Brussels for next two days in order to discuss economic reforms and development strategy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The BiH delegation will present a development strategy [Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, PRSP], and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stressed this was a medium-term strategy for overcoming economic and political crises. At the press conference held prior to his departure for Brussels, Terzic said: ‘The World Bank and EC promised to help us to organize donor conference based on this strategy next year… Our public administration is still organized on the socialist model and we need to reform it if we want to have other reforms in place.’ Terzic also invited High Representative Paddy Ashdown to impose Law on Intelligence Agency. RTRS – According to PRSP, which will be presented to PIC countries by Adnan Terzic, BiH will be economically and politically self-sustainable by 2007. On the second day of the PIC meeting, Chairman of CoM he will talk 16 priority tasks from the Feasibility Study have been worked out in 45 concrete measures with clear deadlines that the BiH authorities were planning to implement by mid-2004. The Peace Implementation Council will also discus the work of the Commissions tasked with the implementation of the Laws on Indirect Taxation, Defence and State Information and Protection Agency. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Terzic: to implement the plan it is not enough to have only political will’, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘BiH seeks assistance on the way to Europe’ – Terzic said at the press conference that the second day of PIC meeting will be focused at the reform commissions in BiH: ‘For the next year, we support for all ministries’ provisions to be written in Ministries, meaning in all three governments, and for OHR to only give experts which would ensure that legal provisions are in accordance with the European standards.’ |
| Terzic urges Ashdown to impose Intelligence Law | FTV, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 3 ‘Terzic calls for Ashdown’ – At the press conference before departing for Brussels to attend PIC meeting, CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic said he was not optimistic that the CoM will pass the draft Law on intelligence agency: ‘Ivanic does not want to discuss the draft, because he wants RS authorities to do that, so HR should use his powers and impose that law.’ BiH delegation will present PIC with 45 concrete measures based on the Feasibility Study. Vecernji List p 2 ‘HR’s turn to make a move, nevertheless?’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Will OHR impose the Law?’ – OHR was unable to state weather High Representative will be forced to impose the Law on the Intelligence-Security service BiH, considering that there is no consensus in BiH Council of Ministers on passing the Law. ‘We do not speculate on possible actions’, told Fena the OHR spokesperson, Oleg Milisic. Before departing for Brussels, Chairman of BiH CoM Adnan Terzic expressed skepticism in regard to passing the relevant Law. |
| Ivanic attends on EU/Balkans forum | BHTV 1, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 3 ‘Future of Balkans is in EU’ – The European Union wants to see more of and faster reforms in the Balkans, in parallel to political democratisation and more regional co-operation. At the first forum between EU and Balkans countries, as recommended at the Thessalonica summit, gathered representatives of EU five Balkans countries. EU officials said that that Union welcomes these countries to join, but also stressed that its admission eventually depends on Balkans countries not EU states. BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic represents Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| [Solana: progress must be seen in 6 months] | EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Javier Solana stated: ‘We are committed to fulfilling our part of the contract, but these countries should do their… Despite significant progress, BiH still suffers from some weaknesses and we want to see clear progress in next 6 months.’ Minister Mladen Ivanic also commented that ‘these requirements should be our priority, but also for international community in BiH. It won’t be easy, but I believe we can do it.’ Political negotiations with BiH may start in November 2004 under chairmanship of Ireland. EU underlined need for more measures to be carried out to fight organised crime, human trafficking and stagnating economy. |
| [Patten, Fratini: focus must be on reforms] | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Ivanic: BiH in November starts to negotiate with EU’ – Franco Fratini, Italian Foreign Minister, stated: ‘The destiny of all Western Balkans countries is to join European Union, and it is up to us to tell them what we expected from them to do in order for admission to happen as soon as possible.’ Asked by the journalist to comment the Balkans’ cooperation with ICTY, Commissioner Chris Patten answered that EU and EC’s stand on this issue was known and that it would not be changed. FTV – EC Foreign Commissioner Chris Patten: ‘If I was a leader of these countries, I would focus on reforms, institution building, judiciary, police, opening of markets, all those things that would eventually bring them into the EU.’ Javier Solana repeated the importance of faster reforms: ‘We can do a lot with unified efforts, but these countries need to make quicker reforms.’ EU officials evaluated that BiH had made significant progress, but that there were still some weaknesses such as organized crime, trafficking, corruption and slow economic recovery. Ministers said that BiH has to make progress in the next 6 months in order to start negotiations on Stabilisation and Admission Agreement with EU. |
| [Busek: these authorities did more than previous ones] | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘These authorities did more than previous ones’ – Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact Edhard Busek stated for Dnevni Avaz following the Forum: ‘There were some stories on nationalists being at power following the elections last year. But the truth is that this government did more than previous one.’ |
| Mostar Commission fails to adopt solutions; HR expected to impose solution | Dnevni List front, pg 4 ‘Last round of talks in Sarajevo’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Winterstein writing the report, Ashdown’s decision waited’– Members of the Mostar Commission held their last session on Tuesday without adopting the solution for the future structure of the city. During hours-long discussion, all parties and returnees’ associations maintained their stands. SDA was in favour of the six municipalities structured city, while SDP was also supporting similar idea. On the other hand, SDU, Party for BiH and the representatives of the returnees’ associations believed that Mostar should be structured as a single city with six city’s areas. HDZ representative said he would accept all proposals for Mostar, under the condition that the elections in city council are carried out in accordance to the electoral principle in municipalities. Chairman of the Commission Norbert Winterstein prepared the report to sent to the High Representative Paddy Ashdown, and DA claims Ashdown will together with his team already in the next week talk with each party leader separately and representatives of the returnees. If the solution still lacks, DA says that HR will than impose the solution. |
| [VL editorial on Mostar] | Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Another chance for agreement’ by Zoran Kresic – VL says only after the ‘third attempt’ the HR will take matters into his own hands. The author concludes the article by saying that the future Statute, which is likely to be imposed by the HR, will contain protective mechanisms for all the constituent peoples. |
| [SBiH warns against imposing solution] | Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘It is dangerous to impose the solution for Mostar’ – Party for BiH warned that imposing the solution for Mostar by the international community would be dangerous without previously SDA and HDZ representatives coming together to find ‘more civilized solution to the Mostar structure than the ones they propose at the moment.’ |
| [DA editorial on Mostar Commission] | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Mostar without improvement’ editorial by Faruk Vele – Dealing with the failure of Mostar Commission to reach a conclusion on the city’s structure, author writes that the problem perhaps is that all parties involved took care mostly of their own interests or of the interests of certain people, not taking care of the Mostar as a whole. In addition, author also says that the part of the blame goes on Chairman Norbert Winterstein for not doing more to achieving the consensus. Current situation allows only two solutions: OHR to solve the issue, or Parties’ HQ. In both, Mostar Commission would be proved to be a non-sense, while Mostar people would not have a saying in their own destiny. |
| Ceric on Mostar issue | Dnevni List front, pg 9 ‘It is better to share authority with Croats and Serbs than to divide Mostar’, Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘It is better to share power with Serbs and Croats than to lose Mostar’ – Leader of Islamic Community in BiH, mufti Mustafa effendi Ceric on Monday visited Mostar municipality North and said that the problem of the current situation in Mostar were ‘those without mercy and those who do not want to share anything’, alluding on Mostar HDZ. However, he added that the problem among Bosniaks in Mostar was even bigger referring to ‘little, small, personal misunderstandings for which some are ready to sacrifice many things for it, and they are calling upon people.’ Ceric also said to those who gathered on the drug-addiction related lecture that Bosniaks still live in fear of those who ‘have no mercy for them. If they are allowed to be back on the power, than they will bring them again to the concentration camps and will take away from them all their human rights.’ However at the end he reminded of the words by late Alija Izetbegovic that it was better to share the power with Serbs and Bosniaks, than to divide BiH or Mostar. Ceric also said that the international community should get more serious, ‘to do its job responsibly’, but also added that Bosniaks must not be a reason for premature IC’s departure from BiH: ‘The international community is here more for the Bosniaks, than for others. Other cannot wait to see IC’s back, so they could do things with us they did before. You know that the problem in BiH was never coming from inside of BiH, but it always came from outside, from Zagreb and Belgrade.’ |
| [Oslobodjenje editorial on Ceric’s statements] | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Reis in Mostar’ editorial by Senka Kurtovic – Referring to Mustafa Ceric’s visit to Mostar to promote fight against drugs, Kurtovic writes about the statement he made in which he criticized HDZ, but also SDA and the international community, adding that none of them asked him about his opinion on Mostar structure. ‘With all respect, but why would he had to be called, asked and consulted when it comes ‘to be or not to be’ for Mostar? More competent and more informed and more dedicated to Mostar problem were not consulted. Many that is the problem. The rumour has it that Reis would not mind becoming a new Bosniak leader. And than, maybe it is better if he starts with Bosniaks from Mostar, who are constantly divided between leaders of their own – Leho, Ceric or Tihic, the question is now?!’ – concludes the editorial. |
| Mostar waste disposal crisis to be solved | Dnevni List pg 14 ‘Crisis on transportation and disposal of garbage in Mostar solved’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Parkovi will pay to Kosmos 148.000 KM of debt’ – Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Mostar, Hamdija Jahic and Ljubo Beslic respectively, Heads of six Mostar municipalities, directors of two public utility companies of Mostar and the Deputy High Representative (South), Ambassador Jacques Andrieu, gathered on Tuesday in order to solve the problem of collections and disposal of garbage in Mostar. According to Beslic, it was agreed that collection and disposal of garbage at the ‘Uborak’ waste dump began immediately and that the ‘Parkovi’ public utility company (west Mostar) was to honour all its financial obligations towards the ‘Komos’ (public utility company from east Mostar) amassed by November 7, 2003. According to Beslic, this is to be honored by December 31. Mostar municipalities, which have not transferred their authorities over ‘Uborak’ as requested by the Mostar City Council, have been given a deadline until December 31 to do so in order to register the ‘Uborak’ waste dump and public utility company at the city level. |
| VL editorial on Ashdown | Vecernji list p 2 ‘Ashdown as co-driver’ by Dejan Jazvic – VL comments that the fact that Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, admitted that BiH Government will not be able to pass the Law on Intelligence itself and that the HR should use his powers confirm that, 8 years after the war, BiH can still not function without the International Community. The author says that, irrespective of controversies regarding his role, Paddy Ashdown hesitates to use his powers and, on a personal level, seems to be the right person to “assist” BiH authorities. “The British Lord has shown the dose of political reality which his predecessors, Wolfgang Petritsch in particular, lacked. Unlike his predecessors, who came to BiH with already set image of good and bad guys, Ashdown judges BiH politicians by what they do and how they act”. Closing the editorial, Jazvic says it is, nevertheless, human to hope we would not need HR’s help for a long time. |
| RSNA declaration on lawsuit vs. SCG before the RS Constitutional Court | RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Declaration on the lawsuit against SCG before the Constitutional Court’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘BiH Lawsuit against SCG to go to Republika Srpska Constitutional Court’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Lawsuit on a live coal’, Blic pg 13 ‘Nobody is endangered with anything’ – The RS Constitutional Court will bring final decision on whether Bosniak national interests were breached by the adoption of the Deceleration, on the RS position towards the BiH lawsuit against Serbia and Montenegro for genocide, endorsed by the RS National Assembly after a joint commission of the RS National Assembly and the RS Council of Peoples failed to agree on this issue on Tuesday. Bosniak representatives in the RS Council of Peoples raised the vital national interest issue after the RS National Assembly passed this Declaration and requested RS representatives in BiH institutions to open this issue before the BiH Parliament. Since representatives of the joint commission of the RS National Assembly and the RS Council of Peoples failed to agree on this issue the RS Constitutional Court is now responsible to rule on it. RS National Assembly Speaker Dragan Kalinic said after the first session of the joint commission of the RS National Assembly and the RS Council of Peoples that the commission agreed on the appointment of Jovo Rosic as the RS judge to the BiH Constitutional Court and that Bosniak representatives agreed that Rosic’s appointment does not hurt their vital national interests. Remzija Kadic, the President of RS Council of Peoples said that the one of the problems within the declaration is that it reads that the charges against SCG before ICTY should be withdrawn and stressed that Bosniaks could not accept that. Constitution stipulates that if the compromise between those two bodies is not achieved, this question will be solved before the Constitutional Court. |
Economic and social issues | |
| Bosnia Business Conference in London
| BHTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Reforms in BiH offer real possibilities for investing’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘British companies interested in telecommunication operators’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘British announce investments’, Blic pg 13 ‘BiH on seven pillars of peace’ – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown invited about 250 gathered businessmen from UK participating the second Bosnia Business Conference held in London, titled ‘Progress and partnership’. RS and FBiH Prime Ministers, Dragan Mikerevic and Ahmet Hadzipasic respectively, introduced attendees with opportunities in BiH. Hadzipasic commented on the conference: ‘We presented opportunities in the energy sector, particularly small hydro plants, reconstruction of mines, winter tourism, healthy food sector… Security of investment is very important and investor seek our assurances.’ Participant agreed that the introduction of VAT and improved business climate were the most important preconditions for new investments. FTV – In a telephone interview, Paddy Ashdown said: ‘I informed them we have undertaken economic reforms and now wait for investments to come… It was bigger conference then last year and there was a considerable interest for investing in BiH.’ Dnevni List p 3 ‘Reduction of taxes – stimulation for investors’, Slobodna Dalmacija p 7 ‘Ashdown calls upon investing in BiH’ – Ashdown noted that ‘macroeconomic stability has been achieved; monetary and fiscal discipline are in place; and the macroeconomic reforms to clear away the debris of the formerly socialist economy and open up the country to international markets and investment are well underway.’ RTRS – During the conference, Ashdown pointed that BiH has not only to finish with the reforms in the field of indirect taxation, but also to create joint system of economic policies and establish certification practice, based on the European standards, to increase export if it desires to start with the negotiations on Stabilisation and Admission Agreement during next six months. RS PM Dragan Mikerevic confirmed that some of the companies are interested for investing in RS and that some concrete agreements took place. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Our chances are in healthy food and tourism’ – FBiH PM Ahmet Hadzipasic said that all meeting were lead by UK Ambassador to BiH Ian Cliff, and that everything was very well organized. He also added that similar presentations should be organized in some other countries. |
| Elektroprivreda BiH signs 80 mil KM contract with EFT | Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘80 million KM from Swiss’, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Contract with EFT worth 80 million KM signed’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘EP BiH sells electricity to EFT’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Contract worth 80 million KMs signed’, Slobodna Dalmacija back pg ‘Is Aluminij going to be left without electricity?’– Director of Elektroprivreda BiH Enver Kreso confirmed that this company signed a contract with Swiss company Energy Financing Team [EFT] for electricity supply. According to the contract, Elektroprivreda BiH will deliver EFT with electricity in a value of 80 million KM. EFT submitted the best bid at the recent competition for sale of electricity, which also meant the termination of the contract with the German company Debis. However, Kreso explains that ‘the negotiations with the German company could be continued, while the entire issue stays open.’ He stressed that Elektroprivreda BiH could provide with additional quantity of electricity, but only at the market prices. Vecernji List front ‘Elektroprivreda of BiH indirectly shuts down TLM of Sibenik and Ploce Port’, pg 17 ‘Mostar’s Aluminij shuts TLM of Sibenik too’, by Zoran Kresic – VL claims if the BiH authorities and OHR do not prevent the stopping of the electricity supply to the “Aluminij” Company of Mostar, the consequences could be far reaching. According to VL, first of all, the “Aluminij” itself would get shut down, secondly, the Sibenik-based “TLM” Company which has 18% share in the “Aluminij” would collapse too, the same would happen to the Ploce Port. On top of that, VL claims if the “Aluminij” were to be shut down, that would cause an immeasurable blow to the BiH’s macro-stability and compromise it reputation in the world and endanger future deals with the “DaimlerChrysler” worth 1,5 billion US$. Apparently, the “Aluminij” management has high hopes in its foreign partners and the OHR, the PDHR Donald Hays in particular. |
| Daily claims GSM operators to jointly share a GSM licence worth 500 mil KM | Oslobodjenje cover, pgs 4&5 ‘GSM licence for BiH costs 500 million KM?’ – Oslobodjenje claims to learn from the source close to the Council of Ministers that the third GSM licence for BiH is worth 500 million KM. Based on this estimate, two licenced GSM operators [BH Telecom and Telekom Srpske] would also have to pay for the licence, as well as the third operator. Neither Prime Minister Adnan Terzic nor BH Transport and Communications Minister Branko Dokic wanted to comment on the price, but they both confirmed that the value would be split between three operators. According to this concept, each company will pay for a part of price proportional to its private property percentage. Dokic explained that this process would be ‘open’, meaning that the raise in private shares of the company would also automatically influence the raise in price the operator has to pay. The final discussion on the price of ‘mobile space in BiH’ will be held on Tuesday at the session of CoM’s Economic Board. Terzic did not want to speculate who will be awarded with third GSM licence: ‘CRA will bring this decision. Licence can be issued to both Eronet and HT Mostar, in case they manage to make some kind of legal agreement.’ CRA Spokeswoman Amela Odobasic says that the current Law did not regulate the issue of change of mobile operator’s ownership structure, and added that the operator was not obliged to report any such change to the Agency. |
| [Gavranovic: 60 mil KM for licence exaggerated] | Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Shareholders’ agreement’, Dnevni list pg 5 ‘Gavranovic: Price of 60 million KMs is exaggerated’ – VL carry that, in light of media misinformation regarding Eronet which harm both Eronet and its 3 shareholders, namely Hercegovina osiguranje d.d., Alpina commerce d.d. and Grude Municipality, the 3 shareholders yesterday signed an agreement on protection of their common interests and rights. Asked to comment on the possible price for the 3rd GSM operator licence, Robert Gavranovic, the CEO of Hercegovina osiguranje, said one should wait for the CoM decision. As for speculation on the amount of 60 million KMs, he stated for DL that the amount is exaggerated. |
| ITA Director: VAT to be introduced only in 2006 | Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 2 ‘We cannot introduce VAT before 2006’ – The newly appointed director of the Indirect Taxation Administration Kemal Causevic stated that he was sure that ITA will merge three existing customs administrations in the next year, and that it will also sent draft VAT Law to the parliamentary procedure. ‘Despite that, we will not be able to introduce VAT before 2006. In order to implement those goals, we have to implement new information system which would secure that all information are timely and of good quality. I believe that CAFAO will assist us in all this.’ – stated Causevic in his first media appearance following the appointment. |
| Colak on ITA Director appointment | Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 8 ‘Problems between HDZ and SDA should not be hidden’ – In a short interview to NN, Barisa Colak, HDZ President and BiH Security Minister, said that ITA Director was not appointed following pressures by international community, but instead following parties’ agreement. He admits there are problems between HDZ and SDA, noting that those problems should not be hidden, but resolved. |
| FBiH Gov withdraws plan for pensioners | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Plan for improvement of pensioners’ status withdrawn’, Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘Vignjevic: By the end of year, pay out of a half of a overdue pension possible’ – FBiH House of Representatives discussed measures for improvement of pensioners’ living standard. A half of overdue pensions is still not certain and it depends on negotiations with IMF. The Government has prepared set of measures for better living standard of pensioners. Minister Radovan Vignjevic said before the delegates: ‘We are considering buy-out of several years for early pensions, but also to reduce the pension age from 65 to 60 years.’ Some representatives opposed to the idea of pensions increase, as it would make them even less stabile than now. The Government had withdrawn these measures from discussion asking for more time to consider and to be able to confirm when it will be able to pay three overdue pensions. |
Legal and human rights issues | |
| Update on Avaz/Lagumdzija case
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 4 ‘It is dangerous to ban writing on politicians’, ‘Press Council disappointed with the measure’ – Member of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic, commented the ruling by Sarajevo Cantonal judge which temporary ban daily Dnevni Avaz to write about Zlatko Lagumdzija by saying ‘it is unacceptable to ban freedom of speech in BiH’. He also added that he was against any media restrictions, even if those were referring to false media reporting: ‘There were no such restrictions in BiH not even during the aggression and war. There is no justification for doing something like that today, eight years after the Dayton. That is not in accordance with the European standards.’ Tihic also explained that he was also against any such temporary measures, for which he said that could serve as manipulation tool as they presented nothing more than mere censorship. The BiH Press Council also expressed its disappointment with the court’s ruling, stressing that such decisions presented direct involvement of the courts in the freedom of media. Oslobodjenje cover, pg 7 ‘Dnevni Avaz places itself above the state and the court’ – Daily writes that only a day following the court’s ban, Dnevni Avaz writes about Lagumdzija, judge involved and harshly offended them for their actions. In addition, Avaz dedicated an editorial and entire page of offending Lagumdzija. Oslobodjenje further writes that a series of contradictory facts were presented in all those articles. President of the Sarajevo Cantonal Court Idriz Kamenica confirmed that Avaz with its issue on Tuesday breached court’s ruling, and added that the only solution to such violation would be high fine penalties |
| Trial in the case of accused Brcko officials commenced | RTRS, Blic pg 14 ‘Kisic negates the indictment’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Kisic claims he is not guilty’, Glas Srpske pg 10 ‘Sinisa Kisic interrogated’ – The first hearing in the case of former Mayor of Brcko, Sinisa Kisic and seven other Brcko officials accused for abuse of office in the process of construction of 550 additional apartments in Brcko was held yesterday (December 9) at the Brcko Basic Court. All indicted persons against whom the Court had confirmed indictments on October 31, stated they did not feel guilty and would present evidence on that during the main hearing. The main trial will be appointed within 90 days latest. ‘I am proud of everything what I have done for Brcko as a member of the Executive Board and later as a mayor of Brcko, and I think what I was doing was in the best interests of the Brcko citizens,’ former Mayor Kisic stated after the hearing. |
| International Human Rights Day | RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘To eliminate discrimination’ – On the occasion of 10 December as the international Human Rights Day, Mirsad Kebo, BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees BiH said that without operational legal state there cannot be mechanisms to provide with efficient respect for human rights. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Human rights of ‘Algerian group’ were also breached’ – On the occasion of the World Human Rights Day, marked on 10 December, the BiH Ombudsmen Frank Orton issued a press release urging for seriousness in dealing with human rights, and not only for the continuation of often practice of using human rights rhetorically in politically correct situations. Reminding of the article of the Human Rights Declaration, Orton also reminded of the human rights breach in the case of so-called ‘Algerian group’ of BH citizens currently in Guantanamo Bay in American detention facility. Nezavisne Novine pg 10 ‘Human rights are mostly violated in field of returns’ – Branko Todorovic, President of the RS Helsinki Board for Human Rights, yesterday stated that respect of some human rights has improved in RS in this year, noting that RS is still too far away from international standards. He says that human rights are mostly violated in the field of returns. He adds that there are ethnic, religious and sex discrimination in Republika Srpska. |