- BH-Central Institutions
- OHR: BiH Presidency must urgently propose a new candidate for
Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers:
- Inflation in BiH three to four percent:
- SDA will not support the Alliance for Changes candidate for Chairman
of BiH Council of Ministers:
- Was the betrayal of designate Martin Raguz by the SDA an
announcement of their coalition with the SDP
- Federation
- Federation Financial Police seals an office of the Federation
Ministry for Veterans Issues:
- Federation government says payment of late pensions from last year
to be defined in a month:
- Phantom document - Proposed Strategy in circulation:
- Sarajevo announces its candidacy for 2010 Winter Olympic Games:
- Federation Government establishes a board for cooperation with
Dobrinja Arbitrator
- Republika Srpska
- FRY President Vojislav Kostunica announced his visit to the RS
- RS Finance Ministry
- The RS NA Speaker Dragan Kalinic talked to the RS Ombudspersons
- Dragoljub Davidovic, BL Mayor
- Media and freedom of information in RS roudntable held in Banja
Luka:
- International community:
- OHR and SFOR produce a leaflet explaining the arbitration in
Dobrinja I and IV:
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Central Institutions related Issues:
OHR: BiH Presidency must urgently propose a new candidate for Chairman of
BiH Council of Ministers:
BiH Presidency must urgently propose a new candidate for the Chairman of
BiH Presidency, OHR officials said. BiH Parliament House of
Representatives at its latest session has rejected Martin Raguz's
candidacy and the High Representative expects that the Presidency will
name the new candidate who will have the support of the majority in the
Parliament as soon as possible Oleg Milisic, OHR spokesman told Dnevni
Avaz. Ante Jelavic, HDZ President after the rejection of Martin Raguz said
that he will not support the candidate of the Alliance for Changes and
Milisic said that there are other candidates that are neither HDZ nor the
Alliance representatives.
Zeljko Samardzija, Secretary General of BiH Presidency told the daily that
the Presidency will name the new candidate in the shortest time possible
and that it would be logical that the Presidency organizes a new round of
consultations in order to find a mutual solution.
Inflation in BiH three to four percent:
Central BiH Bank Governor, Peter Nicholl told reporters in Banja Luka on
Thursday that the inflation in BiH currently is some three to four
percent. Nicholl said that "since BiH is a country in transition it is
evaluated that the inflation this year will be a bit higher than
currently, but not much higher." He also expressed his hope that this
year the inflation in the Federation and the RS will be equalized, Dnevni
Avaz said.
SDA will not support the Alliance for Changes candidate for Chairman of
BiH Council of Ministers:
The SDA party will not support the Alliance for Changes candidate for the
Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, since this alliance has "a slim
parliamentary majority, a lack of experts and it covers only the part of
the Federation where Bosniaks are a majority," SDA spokesman Sefik
Dzaferovic said.
Dzaferovic told a news conference that following BiH Parliament House of
Representatives rejection of the nomination of Martin Raguz SDA has
called upon the Presidency to immediately nominate a new candidate.
He said that the SDA refused to support Raguz since "he failed to secure
the support of political parties for the structure of the new government".
Vecernji List editorial by Josip Vricko - Was the betrayal of designate
Martin Raguz by the SDA an announcement of their coalition with the SDP -
'They congratulated Raguz for his courage and then let him down'
Zagreb daily Vecernji List in an editorial said that one of the
unfavourable circumstances for Raguz was the fact that the representatives
of the other two national parties - SDS and SDA - practically betrayed him
at the very session, and eventually, he was only given support from his
own party and an SPRS representative.
For (alleged) reasons of principle, the House of Peoples was not formed,
which means that the Parliamentary Assembly is not complete, and there are
no constitutional prerequisites for its functioning. That is what they
told Raguz and withheld the six votes they promised to give him. The reply
to the SDS from the Chairman of the HoR, Sead Avdic, was also illustrative
for the B&H democratic ambiance. It is only the OHR that is entitled to
interpret the Constitution, and the OHR said that the HoR could pass
legitimate decisions about the designate nominated by the B&H Presidency.
That is what Avdic stated and thus put an end to any further "exercise of
democracy."
The reason why the SDA representatives sustained from voting for Raguz and
denied him of 8 votes, was of demagogic nature, to say the least. As Adem
Boric, an SDA official, explained, they decided to react that way after
they realised, during the discussion at the Parliament, that the designate
could not win the confidence of 60-70% of the representatives. The best
answer to this 'argument' was Raguz's rebuttal that he would not have
appeared before the Parliament in the first place had he not been
previously assured of support from the SDA and SDS.
Since the SDA announced that they would not support any candidate that is
not sure to win 60-70% of votes, it will be interesting to see whether the
party will keep their word in this case since they already broke it in the
'Raguz case.' Perhaps Presidency Member Halid Genjac was not just
expressing his personal opinion when he announced that he would even
support the SDP designate if he offers a pro-Bosnian programme.
Slavo Kukic says he does not want to be a member of the Constitutional
Commision:
Sarajevo-based Onasa and Bosnian Croat Habena news agencies reported that
Slavo Kukic siad that he does not want to be a member of the
Constitutional Commission established by the High Representative. Kukic
who was named by Petritsch as one of the members of the Commission said
that he generally supports Petritsch's decision but is not in a position
to participate in the work of this institution.
"I cannot accept to find out about my naming for the position from the
press. Common courtesy would be to consult me and to ask me if I accept,"
Kukic said and added that neither has been done.
"I do not feel obliged to accept and cannot participate in the work of
the Commission because of the numerous obligations I have," Kukic said.
Federation
Federation Financial Police seals an office of the Federation Ministry for
Veterans Issues:
Federation Financial Police has on Thursday closed and sealed the office
of the Financial Department of the Federation Ministry for Veterans
Issues, Sarajevo papers reported. According to Dnevni Avaz Veterans Issues
Minister, Fuad Perisevic prevented Financial Police officials from
inspecting his ministry and this was the reason for the Financial Police
action. The case was discussed at Thursday's session of the Federation
government and it was agreed that the inspection should be carried out.
Federation government says payment of late pensions from last year to be
defined in a month:
Federation Government at its Thursday's session said that the payment of
late pensions from last year should be defined within a month. The
government also said that it is almost certain that the February pensions
will be even smaller but that for the time being the percentage cannot be
determined.
Phantom document - Proposed Strategy in circulation:
Oslobodjenje reported that the removal of Ante Jelavic and the abolishment
of HDZ are part of the sanctions against this party from the phantom
document called "The Proposed Strategy," that has been circulating among
politicians and journalists lately. No one is sure yet who is the author
of this document that proposes the tactics that is to be applied if the
HDZ does not implement the election results and participate in
establishing of authority on all levels. The document has two options: an
"excluding," one which proposes sanctions and abolishment of HDZ and an
"including," one which offers better representation of HDZ in the
Federation and state institutions, Oslobodjenje said.
Sarajevo announces its candidacy for 2010 Winter Olympic Games:
Sarajevo City Council and BiH Olympic Committee have officially announced
on Thursday that Sarajevo will be a candidate for the host of the 2010
Winter Olympic Games.
Federation Government establishes a board for cooperation with Dobrinja
Arbitrator:
The BiH Federation Government made a decision on Thursday on the
formation of the board for cooperation with the arbitrator for issue of
the inter-entity border in Sarajevo's settlements of Dobrinja I and IV,
which has been appointed by High Representative to BiH Wolfgang Petritsch.
By this decision, the BiH Federation Government defined that the
board,
which will cooperate with Arbitrator Justice Diarmuid Sheridan,
will be
comprised of the Head of the Sarajevo Novi Grad municipality Damir
Hadzic, and
representatives of the two ministries of the BiH Federation and two
of the
Sarajevo Canton and cantonal and Federation administration for
geodetic and
property-legal affairs.
The board will hold sessions until the carrying out of the final
decision of the arbitrator and it will execute jobs at the request of the
arbitrator.
Sheridan has invited all interested persons and bodies to help him
with this
arbitrage by attending the sessions, bringing evidence, giving
written
statements and taking part in the discussions. He also suggested
that the
preliminary session is being held on February 13 in Sarajevo.
The arbitrator's decision is expected during April of this
year. The
entities will be bound to implement the Arbitrators decision, and
the very
nature of arbitration means that no further debate or appeal will be
possible.
Before the implementation of the arbitrator's decision there will be a
period
during which the local authorities and the international agencies will
consider
the impact the decision will have, if any, on the day to day lives
Dobrinja
residents and how to best implement the arbitration decision.
If the decision foresees the change of the inter-entity border
line, this
change will have to be approved by the SFOR commander, but return to
apartments
will be possible for pre-war residents no matter to which entity
these
apartments belong.
Republika Srpska
Special relations in ten days?
Glas Srpski reported that FRY President Vojislav Kostunica stated to SRNA
agency, GS carries, he would visit the RS in the following ten days and
sign agreement on special relations between the RS and FRY.
Salaries on their way
Glas Srpski said that a press release from the RS Finance Ministry reads
that the government has, in a promised period of time, managed to conduct
payments of one month salaries to all budget beneficiaries of 21,909 133
KM. It also says that a part of material costs 3,762 035 KM and
compensations to invalids 12 537 964 KM have been paid as well.
Correctors of Justice
Same daily said that RS NA Speaker Dragan Kalinic talked to the RS
Ombudspersons, Slavica Slavnic, Franjo Crnec and Darko Osmic.
As the press release from Kalinic's Cabinet states RS NA Speaker Kalinic
and his deputies were informed about the work of this important
institution.
The ways of cooperation between the Ombudsmen and various commissions of
the RS NA were discussed as well as problems in financing of this
institution. GS carries the press release.
I'm not afraid of construction of Ferhadija
"Representatives of Islamic Community say that we obstruct issuance of
construction permits for construction of Ferhadija mosque in Banja Luka,
which is not true", claims BL Mayor Dragoljub Davidovic for Nezavisne
"If we wanted to obstruct that process, the city administration wouldn't
have issued urbanistic permit for its construction', he adds.
The Mayor of Banja Luka does not agree with the position of the Director
of the Center for Islamic Architecture Kemal Zukic who called on the High
Representative to impose the issuing of the permit for construction of the
mosque, claiming that the Banja Luka authorities will never do that
because they would be called national traitors.
"Personally I am not afraid of anyone, nor is anyone from the town
administration. We are working in accordance with the law, and if we were
afraid, we would have never gotten into this process in the first place.
There are certain accusations made on us, which I cannot accept", said
Davidovic.
When asked what if the construction of the mosque begins in the spring,
without the urban permit, as the Banja Luka Mufti Edhem Camdzic announced,
Davidovic says that this will not happen and one should not raise the
temperature additionally. "The situation should not be made worse. The
problem should be solved through talks with both sides, and there is no
reason for arguing and misunderstanding", says Davidovic.
He expressed his expectation that the urban permit will be issued. "We
began the process of issuing the urban permit, and that is why the urban
consent was signed, if we thought differently, we would have never signed
it", he said.
Media and freedom of information in RS roudntable held in Banja Luka:
Oslobodjenje reported that a round table called "Media and freedom of
information in RS" was held in Banja Luka. President of the Association of
RS Journalists, Brane Bozic, pointed out that media in RS are completely
outside any legislation and that both the international community and
local politicians favor such situation. Other participants, amongst them
was also premier Ivanic and some RS NA representatives, highlighted the
need for a faster introduction of legal regulation of media activities,
solving the status of RT RS as a public service and asked for
non-interference of IMC in those activities that are in the domain of
entity governments. Participants also discussed the requirement to get a
better brief by OHR about their intention concerning PBS.
Premier Mladen Ivanic said that a ministry without portfolio should be set
up in RS that would deal with legal regulation in the media sphere and the
way of financing the public media. Ivanic said this ministry should exist
despite the fact that the IC is against such initiatives as it was against
the ministry of information. Ivanic also stated that PBS concept
represents an attempt by OHR to revive the idealistic concept of Yutel and
that he is against it.
International community related issues:
OHR and SFOR produce a leaflet explaining the arbitration in Dobrinja I
and IV:
The OHR and SFOR have produced leaflets that explain to residents of
Dobrinja I and IV why is the arbitration necessary for these two Sarajevo
neighborhoods and the ways they can participate in the arbitration
process, OHR spokesman Oleg Milisic said.
The distribution of these fliers began on Thursday and in them it is
explained how citizens and organizations can contribute by passing on
their views and information to the newly appointed Arbitrator, Milisic
said.
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