| BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| SEE Justice Ministers | Director of ITA advertised | HR’s press conference |
| New attacks in Baghdad | HR warns about reforms | Mikerevic on Del Ponte |
| Karadzic’s arrest | New 34 killed in Iraq |
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NOTE: Summary for CRHB is not included, due to technical problems with their broadcasting signal in Sarajevo.
| Oslobodjenje | Tihic divided SDA; Ashdown: Stop with arguments and turn towards reforms; Foreigners through Government rule in FBiH; Mostar structure to let up to Mostar people; Jakupovic’s resignation accepted |
| Dnevni Avaz | Ashdown: Next weeks are key for BiH; Tokic: We will ask for Ivanic’s and Paravac’s removal; Bond: Through undertaking to sustainable return |
| Dnevni List | Bond: We shall support decision of Commission; BiH under watchful eye of Brussels |
| Vecernji List | Internal conflicts in SDA, HDZ and SDS; Miroslav Coric: It is outrages that Minister puts himself above Prime Minister |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Rift in SDA: Who will be new leader? |
| Glas Srpske | Refugee settlement of Gredice still without electricity supply: Three years in a dark |
| Nezavisne Novine | Adnan Terzic: I will not allow that foreigners appoint Director; Sarajevo: Paddy Ashdown: Politicians in BiH obstruct reforms; Mirsad Ceman, President of SDA Personnel Commission: Possible removals of SDA personnel from executive authority |
HR’s press conference | |
| Paddy Ashdown: Next few weeks are key for BiH | BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Next weeks are key for BiH’, pg ‘BiH was never under more strict European control’, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 5 ‘Stop with quarrels and turn towards reforms’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg, ‘Ashdown: Way to Europe rests with domestic authority’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 3 ‘Paddy Ashdown: Politicians in BiH obstruct reforms’, Glas Srpske pg. 3 ‘Brussels is taking measures and cutting’, ONASA, FENA – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown held a press conference in Sarajevo on Monday reminding local authorities on necessity to make decisions on several reforms in next few weeks. He pointed at achieved progress and determination of BH authorities to conduct reforms, but stated that there are still open issues and obstacles. Namely, main question is whether party’ leaders and representatives in the parliaments willing to support reforms initiated by the BH Government. He stressed that those encompass defence reforms, taxation system, intelligence services, judicial institutions and public broadcasting system. Real breakthrough in reforms is needed, such as reform of PBS, which will decide on EC financial assistance of 1,5 million Euro. ‘European Commission in Brussels will evaluate progress on reforms in next weeks and will make a decision on BiH accession to EU. They seek to recognize concrete steps, not just promises. …This country only has one prosperous and stable future: and that is Europe. Send the wrong signal now, and you could set back your chances for a better life for you and your families for years.’ RTRS – Among other open issues, Ashdown mentioned Law on Indirect Taxation that was sent to the state Parliament, and several laws from the area of economy, Law on Intelligence Service, and progress in the reform of public broadcasting. In the case authorities do not accept one public system with three broadcasters and joint infrastructure BH will loose that money. That is another clear message to the politicians to forget mutual disagreements and to turn towards the Europe. FTV – Ashdown called on local politician to show real commitment to reforms and EU integration: ‘Political parties have to decide whether they want to work on EU agenda or continue to deal with endless internal quarrels.’ Dnevni List front, pg 3 ‘BiH under watchful eye of Brussels’ – Asked whether BiH can join the EU with the office of the High Representative, Ashdown stated: “You will have to wait for the result of the feasibility study and the assessment of Brussels. As far as I know there is no opposition that BiH joins the EU and takes next steps on that way with the OHR. It has never been seen as an obstacle. However, it is the obstacle if the HR would have to use the powers that he has and if domestic authorities do not take steps in the implementation of the reforms. You cannot join the EU through the Office of the High Representative.” |
Indirect Taxation Administration | |
| Terzic surprised with the new ITA Director advertisement | FTV, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg, ‘New vacancy someone’s self-will’, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Terzic surprised with the advertisement in the newspapers’, – CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic issued a press release which reads he was surprised with new advertisement for Director of Indirect Taxation Administration, which was published on Monday in daily press. Terzic believes that process of selection has been already finished, that the Commission for the Indirect Taxation proposed candidates and CoM is now to appoint one of them. While Terzic acts to be surprised and un-informed about new advertisement, European Commission in Sarajevo claim that the whole process took too long, so it needs to be accelerated. EC spokesman Frano Maroevic explained further: ‘We were very much interested to have new Director…We are going to consider possible misunderstanding in reference to the new advertisement.’ CoM considers that the new advertisement is not valid and said not to be aware of who issued it. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Publishing vacancy announcement for ITA Director was an act of self-will’ – Adnan Terzic said that publishing this vacancy was an act of one’s self-will: ‘Council of Ministers did not asked the Commission for Indirect Taxation to publish a vacancy announcement for selection of the Director, even though it is the only [institution] with powers to do so. Commission finished its job around the selection of the Director long time ago, and submitted the names of the Candidates to the CoM.’ |
| NN: Terzic confirmed Dixon published vacancy | Nezavisne Novine cover, pg. 3 ‘I will not allow that foreigners appoint Director’ – The Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, yesterday confirmed that Joly Dixon, Chairperson of the Indirect Taxation Commission, yesterday announced vacancy for the position of ITA Director. On this, Terzic comments by saying the following: “Dixon has no right to open vacancy. As long as I am the Chairperson of BiH COM, Dixon will have to bring those people he elects home with him. The local authorities are responsible for the election of director and we will do so.” |
| DL: Dixon’s reaction | Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Election of Head of Indirect Taxation Administration at the beginning’ by De.L – DL carries on the same issue that unofficial reaction coming from the office of Head of Indirect Taxation Commission, Joly Dixon, says that Terzic is not familiar enough with this issue and that he misinforms the public deliberately or due to his lack of knowledge. DL goes on to say that their source added that due to numerous objections and irregularities in the work of the members of the Commission, which was made up down the party line, and due to the fact that proposed candidates did not meet minimum of conditions, it was decided to publish the new vacancy notice. The source added that some of proposed candidates should be in prison and not at the head of one of the most important state agencies. |
| Oslobodjenje: Kasumovic eliminated, did not give up | Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Kasumovic did not give up, he was eliminated’ by V. Jahic – After Fuad Kasumovic and Mile Kudic – as the representatives of the international community explained – gave up on their candidacies for the Director of the Indirect Taxation Administration, new vacancy announcement has been issued for this post. Oslobodjenje claims that this has caused the tension between SDA and some in the IC, as Fuad Kasumovic was the SDA’s preference, but he was not supported by the Chief of CAFAO Alen Jensen. Daily’s source from the leadership of SDA claims that Kasumovic never gave up on his candidacy, but was eliminated despite the support we won from the Council of Ministers. ‘Nominating Kasumovic and Kudic as candiactes, the Commission for the Indirect Taxation finished its job… They never came to gather to discuss publishing of the new vacancy. We have no idea how this will end up.’ – stated the source. The persons further accuses Jensen of complicating entire matter, and added that Kasumovic was eliminated after expressing doubt in Jensen’s competencies and well intensions. Kasumovic’s mistrust was apparently strengthened with the fact that at the time BiH was under the weapons embargo, Jensen was the member of Cabinet of the Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. However, Kasumovic refused to comment on any of the speculations on the relationship between him and Chief of CAFAO. |
| DA editorial on ITA | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘The total paralysis of the taxation reforms’ editorial by Adi Hadziarapovic – Author says that customs and taxation reforms in BiH have been halted for past three months. Instead of selecting the ITA Director and starting with the institutions in full capacity, we see games and intrigues, disqualification of the candidates and a series of irregularities around selection, which halted the entire process. Article further reads that Terzic’s statement which described issuance of the new vacancy announcement as an act of someone’s self-will ‘discovered the tip of an iceberg of backstage games’. Author concluded the Terzic must request an investigation of the entire case; while Director of this ‘extremely important Administration’ must be capable, responsible and ‘without criminals record’. Instead of such approach, entire process is endangered by a conflict of interests of a series of lobbies who therefore try to impact on the human resources. |
Security and military issues | |
| SEE Justice Ministers on fight against organized crime
| BHTV 1, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘With the international cooperation against crime’ – Justice Ministers of the SEE countries signed the declaration in Sarajevo on Monday, which praised significance of the UN Declaration on the fight against organised crime. Sarajevo’s Declaration envisage creating the conditions to tackle money laundering, as well as signing bilateral agreements on extradition between those countries who signed the Declaration. Also, Ministers committed to intensifying co-operation in the region as well as strengthening the legislation. According to Mirko Kovac, BH Minister of Justice, this is acknowledgment to BH for all the efforts it made to establish joint institutions and legal system. Mladen Ivanic, BH Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasised the importance of the regional networking in the fight against organised crime, which is one of the biggest obstacles for the countries in SEE region to join EU and to develop new investments and economy. Better co-operation of all the states in the region is needed. BHTV 1 – BiH Minister of Justice Slobodan Kovac: ‘It is very obvious we need to establish much better co-ordination, but also to harmonise our legislation in order to have practically unified legal system for prevention and sanctioning of cross-border crimes.’ FTV – Stability Pact Coordinator Busek: ‘I am not satisfied with a pace of judicial reforms in BiH, because BiH need to do much more in order to come closer to the EU.’ Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Joint fight against organized crime’ – BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic stated for DA: ‘This conference has two positive aspects. The first aspect is that the region continues with the good cooperation, especially at the time when BiH chairs the process of cooperation in SEE, which indicates that we are taking our role very seriously. The second aspect of big importance is that the subject of the organized crime is very strong in entire region. No country can fight it individually, but it can do it within the joint cooperation.’ |
| SPAI centre opened in Sarajevo | BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Regional SPAI Centre opened’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Regional Secretariat opened in Sarajevo’ – Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic, Stability Pact Special Co-ordinator Erhard Busek and representative of the Italian Ministry of Justice, currently chairing the EU, Giole Santeli opened the Regional Secretariat of the Stability Pact’s Anticorruption Initiative (SPAI) in Sarajevo on Monday. The opening of the SPAI was organised during the SEE Justice Ministers gathering in Sarajevo. Terzic said during the opening ceremony that BiH views the issue of fighting corruption as the top priority for countries in the region. He added that the opening of the Regional Secretariat, mostly funded by the US, would improve the fight against corruption creating a healthier environment and influencing the perception on potential investments in the region. ‘Fight against corruption become one of crucial issues in transition countries…I believe this center will contribute to raising higher public awareness…B iH will become visible and recognized as leader in whole region’. – said Terzic. Stability Pact Coordinator Erhad Busek stated during the ceremony: ‘Organized crime and corruption does not hamper democracy, but prevents economic growth and inflow of foreign investments.’ |
| Update on defence reforms | Nezavisne Novine pg. 4 ‘SDA and SDS support changes of Republika Srpska Constitution’ – At the session on Wednesday, the Collegium of the RS NA will decide whether the proposal on inclusion of proposal for change of RS Constitution will be included into Parliament agenda for its session on 29 October. The RS Government has forwarded this proposal to Parliament for further consideration. SDS and SDA support the change of the Constitution, whilst SNSD opposes. Dusan Stojicic, SDS Spokesperson, stated that any negative result of the parliament debate on this would jeopradise the RS and BiH participation in Partnership for Peace. Tarik Sadovic, Head of SDA Caucus at RS NA, supports the proposals of RS President for the change of the RS Constitution. He is of the view that the international community will exert a strong pressure against opposition parties to finally accept defence reform. Dimitrije Ivanic, SNSD delegate, condemned the initiative on change of Republika Srpska Constitution, saying that SNSD will most likely oppose to the adoption of this proposal on changes of the Law on Defence and Constitutional amendments. |
| US State Department: defence reforms a key in BiH | RTRS – Deputy Director of the Southeast Division of the US State Department Rafi Gregorian said that reforms of the defence structures in BiH are key for the country to access the Partnership for Peace, and USA is ready to assist. Gregorian confirmed this following his meeting with the RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic. RS PM requested from USA technical assistance for the control mechanisms in order to suppress the grey economy, as well as for the construction of the highway Banja Luka – Gradiska. |
| USK Police Commissioner’s Resignation Accepted | Oslobodjenje cover, pg 9 ‘USK Government accepted Husein Jakupovic’s resignation’, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Resignation of the Police Commissioner accepted’, Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘Government accepted the resignation of Husein Jakupovic, which he meanwhile withdrawn’ – On Monday, Una-Sana Cantonal Government unanimously accepted the resignation of the Cantonal Police Commissioner Husein Jakupovic. At the session the government’s members said that they never received the withdrawal of the resignation, and added that all other information, including USK Prime Minister Adil Osmanovic, about that were learned from media reports. The Government also recommended the Cantonal Assembly to launch the process of selection of new Police Commissioner. |
| Hadzipasic on letter sent to OHR and EUPM re FMoI | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘I don’t expect quick responds form Ashdown and Frederiksen’ – FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic confirmed for the daily that neither High Representative Paddy Ashdown nor EUPM Commissioner Sven Frederiksen answered his letters regarding the situation in the FBiH Interior Ministry. ‘Since this is a large document, which foresees a series of measures to be taken in reorganisation of the FMoI, to harmonize relations between the Minister and the Police Director, as well as the change to several legal documents, I don’t expect quick answer from OHR or EUPM’. – said Hadzipasic expressing hope that plans for reforms of the Interior Ministry would be supported. FBiH PM also said he expected answers next month and added: ‘When it comes to the issue of personal responsibility for the moves made in past time, specifically for the two reports submitted by the Police Director Zlatko Miletic in which he gave political estimates inappropriate for the duty he performs… Interior Minister Mevludin Halilovic sent requests for his dismissal with explanations to the Independent Board for Appointments.’ |
| DA: follow-up on coup d’état affair | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Investigation Commission learned on the content of the envelope’ – It is still unknown whether BiH citizens will be presented with the content of confidential envelope with the information on ‘coup d’état’ that BiH Security Ministry submitted two weeks ago to the three-members investigative commission of the BiH House of Representatives. According to the source ‘close to BiH Parliament’. Members of the Commission [Nikola Spiric, Sefik Dzaferovic and Martin Raguz] held a meeting several days ago in which they decided to open the envelope and to agree on the session in order to discuss measures to be taken. [Reminder: Information on ‘coup d’état’ was gathered by FOSS, FBiH Interior Ministry and FBiH Prosecution.] |
SDA issues | |
| Terzic: Tihic made division within SDA | Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘Tihic divided SDA’ – Deputy to the SDA President Adnan Terzic stated to Oslobodjenje that introduction speech by Sulejman Tihic at the session of SDA Main Board held on Sunday was leading party into division on those who work in executive, legal and political authorities. ‘At the very beginning of the session, Tihic divided us into those who are in good terms with the international community, and those who are in good terms with people.’ – said Terzic also expressing his dissatisfaction with the fact that Tihic’s report was immediately adopted at the session, wile report by FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic was only ‘acknowledged’. Terzic also added that some of the demands made by SDA for FBIH Government and Prime Minister to carry out were unrealistic. |
| NN: Possible removals in SDA | Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 4 ‘Possible removals of SDA personnel from executive authority’ – Mirsad Ceman, the President of SDA Personnel Commission, said that it is possible that some SDA representatives in executive authority would be removed from positions. He said that some things would have to be changed, including personnel changes if necessary. He denied existence of any “operational plan” for this change. |
| Oslobodjenje editorial on SDA internal conflict | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘In Focus’ editorial by Mirko Sagolj – Editorial reads that despite announcements made by Sulejman Tihic which denied any possibility for the division within SDA, internal conflict ‘in both obvious and expected.’ Author claims both Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic and FBIH Prime MInister Ahmet Hadzipasic confirmed to this, while Terzic even claims that the session of SDA Main Board was set up. ‘Conflicts within ruling parties at this moment are absolutely logical order of events. The first year of their mandate is to expire, while there were no moves forward made. Current authorities are not ready to pay even one overdue pension.’ All this cause internal quarrels, where it becomes clear that some must be sacrificed (especially those less under control) to publicly blame them. |
| Hadzipasic reacts on SDA critics against FBIH Gov’t | Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Isn’t salary increase a fight against poverty?’ – FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic stated the daily that he ‘was not dissatisfied with the work of the FBiH government’ and rejected majority of the critics directed against the government at the session of SDA Main Board. ‘Who says we did not decrease a poverty? Aren’t 8% increase of average salary in FBiH, 20 % increase of the GDP and increase of the de-balance between important and exports, the things that impact the decrease of the poverty?’ – stated Hadzipasic . |
HNK issues | |
| DL on Mostar Restructuring
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Mostar, Dayton and Silajdzic’ by Vedran Kljajic – DL reckons that the Dayton Peace Accord could see its first corrections in the process of Mostar restructuring, a possibility which has been realistically announced by statements of two diplomats, the Chairman of the Mostar Commission, Norbert Winterstein, and the US Ambassador to BiH, Clifford Bond. Winterstein has reportedly freed members of the Mostar Commission of all the restraints of the DPA saying they are not tied with the DPA, whilst Ambassador Bond yesterday sent an ambiguous message, from which one can hint that he would not mind leaving the DPA framework, under condition it provides the best solution for Mostar. He also added that the US administration would recognise every solution reached by the local people. Having said this, the author says it is hard to believe it will happen like that because, after having a bad experience with the first Mostar Commission, the OHR with Lord Ashdown at the helm, will not allow chaos and will not give a unlimited freedom to domestic officials, the officials who do not want to consider compromise and think about solving the Mostar problem. DL also notes that the local leader of SDA, Fatima Leho, is sticking to the DPA as if were the holly letter, saying it could not be changed, that neither Lord Ashdown had the authority to change it. DL goes on to say that Leho and other members of the Commission know if the DPA were to be changed, other agreements that regulate the status of Mostar, agreements from Rome, Washington and Madrid would have to be changed too, which would in turn decrease the influence of the current, Interim Statute, which does not suit the SDA. In that context, the author notes that the policy of SDA is crystal clear, prepare the ground for possible wrong direction the work of the Commission can embark on. The author then asks which option, regarding the DPA, will prevail, Winterstein’s freeing from DPA, Bond’s indifference with tendency to have changes to the DPA or Ashdown’s impossibility to change it. |
| Bond visits Mostar | BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 8 ‘Restructuring Mostar to be let to Mostar people’, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Through undertaking to sustainable return’, pg 3 ‘We will support sustainable return’, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Support to Mostar conference’, Dnevni List front, pg 13 ‘Bond: We shall support decision of Commission’ – US Ambassador to BiH, Clifford Bond, visited Mostar On Monday, where he met with Mostar Mayor Hamdija Jahic and his Deputy Ljubo Beslic. Bond also visited Serb returnees in the area of Mostar (Hodbina settlement) and Bosniak returnees in Stolac. Asked about the expectations of the US Administration when drafting of a new Statute of Mostar is in question, Bond stated: “I cannot talk concretely about the final results, that is something about what the Mostar Commission will be able to tell the most. For certain issues for which the agreement should be reached and, among other things, these are the unified budget, local self-government etc. the best solutions for the City of Mostar will be the ones passed by people who live here. Certainly these would not be the solutions imposed by the International Community, if this happens at all.” DL says that Bond stressed that the US Administration will support all decisions passed by the members of the Mostar Commission and according to the author it remained unclear whether the Mostar Statute will leave the framework of the Dayton Peace Agreement. |
| HNK Gov’t crisis with Bosniak Ministers
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Boric: We will solve the problem in HDZ and SDA pinnacles’ by De. L. – The meeting between the Head of OHR South, Ambassador Jacques Andrieu, and four Bosniak Ministers from the Herzegovia-Neretva Cantonal Government aimed to discuss the crisis in HNK Government has been postponed for Wednesday. HNK Cantonal Finance Minister, Semin Boric commented on the Government’s decision to overturn his decision on signatories of the budget expenditures and said that the Government’s decision was one-sided act of the HDZ’s Ministers who endangered the equality in the decision-making process. “If we do not find a solution with the OHR, the problem will be solved in the party pinnacles of HDZ and SDA”, says Boric. DL also carries a comment by the C7 Prime Minister, Miroslav Coric, who says: “The order, beside the signature of the Finance Minister, according to the law there has to be a signature of the other responsible person i.e. the head of cantonal treasury or the prime minister. The Government has, with its latest decision, only confirmed the earlier practice of payment of salaries stipulated by the law. There is nothing to discuss about in the parties’ pinnacles because the Government’s decision cannot be annulled”. |
| Possible dismissal in HNK Gov’t | Vecernji List front, pg 5 ‘It is outrages that Minister puts himself above Prime Minister’ by Zoran Kresic – questioned whether he will remove the “disobedient” Minister, referring to Minister Boric, the Canton 7 Prime Minister, Miroslav Coric, says “it is certain that the Prime Minister will take measures he has at his disposal. I will not allow anyone to play with the institution of the government and office of the Prime Minister. I will announce the steps very soon.‘ Coric, speaking about the work of Minister Boric, says the work cannot get the passing mark because Minister Boric, allegedly, does not have the balance sheet for the canton. Questioned about the complaint of the Bosniak Ministers in the C7 Government that they had been outvoted by the Croats during the last session of the Government, PM Coric says: ‘I would like to repeat words oftThe Prime Minister Hadzipasic (Ahmet, the FBiH PM) that the government is not a House of Peoples because decisions are made by simple majority. There was no outvoting of the Bosniaks at the last session because only one was against, one abstained, and two did not vote’. |
War crimes | |
| Mikerevic on arrest of war crimes suspects
| BHTV 1 by Boris Gagic – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic said that Karadzic will not be arrested before the end of year. Mikerevic said: ‘RS MUP will not be able to arrest Karadzic till New Year…I recognise my government has not done enough on arrest of war criminals, but there have been several limitations, which I also explained to Carla del Ponte.’ Mikerevic called on all indicted persons to surrender voluntarily to the ICTY. RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Del Ponte asks for what is hard to fulfil’, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Police is not equipped to arrest war criminals’, ONASA – RS PM, Dragan Mikerevic stated that it is very difficult to expect that ill equipped RS police and other bodies arrest persons accused of war crimes, as Carla del Ponte has requested on Friday [October 24]. Carla del Ponte warned that she is expecting concrete results regarding arrest of the former RS President, Radovan Karadzic. Stating that there is political will in RS for co-operation, Dragan Mikerevic stated for the Patriot that there are many objective circumstances and limiting factors for the execution. |
| Halilovic’s trail to begin on 19 Jan 2004 | Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Trial of Sefer Halilovic on 19 January’, Dnevni List front, pg 5 ‘Trial against Sefer Halilovic on January 19, 2004’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Trial to Halilovic as of January 19’ – The trial against retired BiH Army General and former Minister in the BiH Government Sefer Halilovic, who was charged with the murder of over 60 Croats in villages Grabovica and Uzdol in September 1993, will start before The Hague on January 19, next year. |
| Nikolic may face 15-20 years of imprisonment | Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Prosecutor asked for 15 to 20 years of imprisonment for Momir Nikolic’, FENA – ICTY Prosecution demanded that the verdict against Momir Nikolic to be 15 to 20 years of imprisonment. Nikolic, a former RS Army officer, pleaded guilty to the charges of indictment that accuse him of war crimes committed in Srebrenica. He also admitted in playing the key role in massacre of 7000 Srebrenica men, for which reason Prosecutor gave up on proceeding with the charge on genocide. |
Media | |
| BCC’s proposal for PBS, FTV and RTRS reform | Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Collegiums of FTV, PBS and RTRS will reject BBC’s plan?’ – Article reads that the situation within the public broadcasters is more and more difficult with each new day. Following RS National Assembly’s request to dismiss RTRS management, FBiH Parliament’s decision ordering FTV to broadcast live sessions of both Houses, BBC Consulting Team offered with the paper which would define possibility for exit out of the crisis. However, according to daily’s unofficial source, that only ‘poured more oil to the fire’, since the new proposal typed on 1500 pages envisage reduction of a large number of staff and a sale of RTV House in Sarajevo. Source further says that report gives ‘pretty good’ proposal regarding the collection of subscription, which should be encompassed in the telephone services bill. However, it appears that all three broadcasters will refuse the proposal. FTV is to discuss it further on Wednesday. |
| RS Task Force on PBS Law | Glas Srpske pg. 5 ‘Towards the earth and screen’ – The Task Force for creation of the Law on RTRS, which was appointed by the Republika Srpska Government, has completed its work. Government supported the offered text and decided to open a public debate on this issue before forwarding it to parliament procedure. According to Miodrag Zivanovic, Task Force member and Professor at Banjaluka Faculty of Philosophy, the text provides a maximal respect of the fact that RTRS is public broadcasters, which exists for the sake of local citizens (not politicians). According to Zivanovic, the OHR idea to place all broadcasters under one roof of BiH Public broadcasting service represents a comeback to the past. He claims that this idea stems from early ‘90’s, but it even was not achieved then. He further adds that OHR document is a political, not experts’ document and as such it cannot be a basis for creation of the RTRS Law. |
Other | |
| Ashdown on RS in VN
| RTRS – High Representative Paddy Ashdown cannot allow Republika Srpska to act as a state. ‘Citizens and authorities of RS can expect from me to protect entity and its jurisdictions under the Dayton Agreement, but not to do so when RS acts as a state’. High Representative stated this for the Belgrade’s newspaper ‘Vecernje novosti’. He reminded that Dayton is a two-way street and that one direction cannot be ignored. It would be reasonable to expect for the state to realise that existence of the two entities is not productive, that it is not the most logical choice. |
| Reactions to Ashdown’s interview to VN on Monday | Vecernje Novosti pg. 2 ‘It cannot be that way’ – VN carries reactions on yesterday’s interview with High Representative Paddy Ashdown. Cabinet of RS President Dragan Cavic says that the President is on a trip and that most probably he will comment on interview upon his arrival on Wednesday. Chairman of the BiH Parliament’s House of Representative Nikola Spiric says that Ashdown’s interview is full of contradictions, because if he says that in the future there will be no entities and at the same time praises Mikerevic and Cavic, then it looks like they are also working on abolishing the entities. And that abolishment is not the will of people. Spiric compares the current constitutional structure of the Dayton’s BiH and Serbia and Montenegro: “How is it possible to go towards European and Euro-Atlantic integrations with different tariff rates and divided economic space, and something like that is not allowed to BiH, i.e. to the RS and Federation?” Part of Ashdown’s interview that refers to disappointment in the opposition leaders, Spiric calls inappropriate and undemocratic, saying that is the return to political conformism. “That political futurism leaves a bad impression and sends a message – that is the policy of the High Representative. That is something unacceptable and leads to political instability in the RS and BiH,” spokesman of the SDS, Dusan Stojicic, says. |
| OHR’s comment on Puljic’s statement | Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Cardinal Puljic’s statement sends bad signals’ – In an interview to Zagreb based Vecernji list, Cardinal Vinko Puljic stated that relations in BiH could become more tense, and that death of Alija Izetbegovic would change the SDA’s path towards strengthening of Islamic relations which would cause even deeper division between Bosniaks and Croats in BiH. BiH politicians mostly disagree with Puljic, and a member of BiH President Sulejman Tihic stated that ‘Puljic has wrong information, and based on them he gives wrong estimates.’ OHR Spokesperson Mario Brkic said that while Puljic has a right for his own opinion, ‘OHR’s attitude is that there are no indications which would prove that anything Cardinal mentioned would happen in this country.’ |
| OHR Economic Bulletin heavily criticises FBiH Employment Bureau | Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Musemic: In Bicakcic’s time, 200 million KM spent on for other things’ –In the latest issue of its Economic Bulletin, Office of the High Representative strongly criticised FBiH Employment Bureau [previously worked at the BiH level], and the directors Mesud Sabitovic and Hasan Musemic. Bureau has been criticised for using large capacities that some companies were given to encourage employment and pre-qualification gained, the reports on the spending were never submitted. Answering OHR comments, Musemic stated for DA: ‘I don’t know on what ground they gave such remarks, as we worked absolutely in transparent way and in accordance with the Law, and there is documents which precisely establishes where and how much money we gave, and what should be results of [it]. I think that these critics… actually refer to leadership of former Bureau, established by Edhem Bicakcic, which spend over 200 million KM for other purposes, not employment.’ OHR Economic Bulletin also reads that BiH Council of Ministers observes the events regarding the transformation of the services for employment too passively and that it should interfere. |