BiH/Central institutions: President of BiH Presidency met Council of Europe delegation: BiH Council of Ministers Chairman meets with Prime Ministers of both entities for the first time: The HDZ BiH condemned the election of the Chairman in the House of Peoples: We are refusing to give legitimacy to Ilija Simic Federation: HDZ divides the police in Federation too: HDZ and Jelavic have 54 million KM stashed away in a secret bank account: Mostar Mayor refuses to resign Interview with Ivo Lozancic, the new Deputy Commander of the BiH Federation Army - I have the information that General Sopta paid 600,000 DEM to the HVO senior officers to step out of the BiH Federation Army HDZ caucus President in Mostar resigns Republika Srpska: Dobrinja I and IV arbitrator hears RS Prime Minister: RS Constitutional Commission started it work: RS Government to hold session in Banja Luka today Head of Banja Luka Public Security Center (CJB) dismissed Dragan Cavic, the Vice President of the RS, on possible changes of the DPA: It has never crossed our mind to abolish the RS International Community: Symposium "BiH in the context of South-Eastern European Integration" commenced in Sarajevo Croat National Assembly claims Petritisch's remarks about a progress in BiH are incorrect: Senior Deputy High Representative says new BiH authorities still need the IC assistance: BiH State Institutions-related Issues President of BiH Presidency met Council of Europe delegation: President of BiH Presidency, Zivko Radisic met on Wednesday in Sarajevo with a delegation of the Council of Europe, Sarajevo papers said. Radisic informed the delegation about BiH efforts to become a full member of the Council and assured European officials that by the end of the month BiH Presidency will be fully staffed and that a Bosniak and Croat member will be elected to the Presidency according to a special law. The Council of Europe delegation also met with BiH Council of Ministers and told BiH officials that passing of the permanent election law Bosnia would fulfill one of the key conditions for its admission to the Council of Europe. European officials said that they came to BiH to show how much they want BiH to become part of Europe and to offer all the necessary operational assistance. BiH Council of Ministers Chairman meets with Prime Ministers of both entities for the first time: Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, Bozidar Matic met in Sarajevo on Wednesday for the first time with Prime Ministers of both entities. After the meeting with Mladen Ivanic and Alija Behmen, Matic said that this is just the first of a number of meetings planned to overcome the current situation in BiH. Federation Prime Minister, Behmen said that the Federation will on Thursday cut down the taxes of fuel to eliminate the difference in prices of fuel between the two entities and added that it is more important to adjust the taxes on all goods in both entities in order to create a single economy market in entire BiH. The HDZ BiH condemned the election of the Chairman in the House of Peoples: We are refusing to give legitimacy to Ilija Simic The HDZ BiH marked the election of Ilija Simic, the candidate of the Croat Peasants' Party for the position of the Chairman of the House of Peoples in the BiH Parliament, as 'another in a stream line of moves, which are not in accordance with the will of the BiH electorate,' Slobodna Dalmacija reported on Wednesday. Federation related issues: HDZ divides the police in Federation too: Oslobodjenje's Thursday front page tells us that after the Federation Army "HDZ divides the police too." After a certain number of Croat officers left their post in the army HDZ leadership on Wednesday called upon Croat policemen to do the same. A call for this action was posted on the streets and police stations in the municipalities in the Central Bosnia canton, the daily said. Oslobodjenje sources said that similar HDZ action is expected in other cantons in the days to follow. Federation Interior Minister told the daily that there were no cases of Croat police officer leaving their posts in the Federation Interior Ministry yet but that there were several cases in the canton ministries. HDZ and Jelavic have 54 million KM stashed away in a secret bank account: Dnevni Avaz also dedicated its front page on Thursday to HDZ. Quoting international media Avaz reported that the dismissed HDZ President, Ante Jelavic and the HDZ party have 54 million KM in secret accounts. According to the reports the money is intended for the financing of Herzeg-Bosnia, that is for the first salaries to Croat officials after the Croat self-rule comes into effect. According to report of a Croatian weekly Nacional the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch has submitted to Croatian authorities the number of the secret bank account of HDZ in Mostar. The money on the account comes from Croatia for pensions and social care but is not being distributed and ends up on the account in Hercegovacka Bank in Mostar, an account which is among others in the name of Ante Jelavic, reports said. Mostar Mayor refuses to resign: Mostar Mayor, Neven Tomic told the press on Wednesday that he will not resign from his post despite the HDZ's non-confidence vote and their request that he leaves the post, Oslobodjenje reported. Tomic said that he will continue his regular activities as usual. Head of OHR Southeast regional office, Colin Munro told a news conference on Wednesday in Mostar that Tomic has proven himself as a capable mayor and if he is forced to resign this means that the HDZ party lost its interest in this city and the Croats who live there. Zagreb daily Vecernji List reporting on the same subject said that Ante Vidacak, the President of the Mostar Board of the HDZ BIH stated yesterday that support was withdrawn from the Mostar Mayor Neven Tomic, what was condemned by the Office of the High Representative. According to sources from the Mostar HDZ, Tomic was criticised for his co-operating with some international officials. Vidacak stated that the City Board of the HDZ received the request to withdraw support from Tomic from the Municipal Boards and local branches and not from the top level of the Party. He did not explain the reasons for giving no-confidence votes. He said that the representatives of the HDZ in the City Council of Mostar would initiate procedure for the election of a new Mayor. Vidacak rejected the possibility of radicalisation of circumstances and added that the City Board of the HDZ does not want to make a ghetto of Mostar but a 'single city in which new Aluminum factories will exist and the University which will be the best one in BiH'. The High Representative for southern BiH, Colin Munro, expressed the concern of the international community for ' the threat to the position of Neven Tomic, the Mayor of Mostar' from whom the Mostar HDZ Board withdrew its support. "If he were to be forced to resign, it would be impossible to avoid the conclusion that his own party had lost interest, not only in Mostar, but also in particular in the well-being of the Croats who live here," stated the British diplomat Munro. Tomic did not want to comment on the decision of the party to which he belongs. Ante Jelavic appointed the liberal in the HDZ BiH the Mostar Mayor. Media speculate that he, personally, removed him. A source within the HDZ BiH refuted those allegations and added that 'the decision of the City Board of the HDZ is autonomous' and that no one from the Main Board of the Party ordered Tomic's removal. In the article headlined 'Munro concerned about Mostar', Republika carries a brief report on Ambassador Munro's statement on the vote of no confidence to Mostar Mayor Neven Tomic from the press conference of the international organisations in Mostar. "In answer to the question as to what the international community will do about the no confidence vote to Tomic, which allegedly comes from the HDZ leadership, Munro said that it was the members of Tomic's party that denied him of confidence, and added that the OHR does not interfere with political party policies," reports Republika. Vjesnik carries an overview of the latest developments related to the no confidence vote to Tomic and reactions to it, including those from the Wednesday press conference. The daily also carries Ambassador Munro's statement that Tomic's replacement would be condemned and would not encounter understanding anywhere outside of Mostar. Vjesnik reports that the Ambassador spoke of Tomic extremely positively and said his possible replacement would mean that the HDZ is definitely not interested in implementing the policy which is in the interest of the Croat people. In the same article, Vjesnik says that there have been some speculations that Tomic might join the New Croat Initiative (NHI), which is one of the Alliance member parties, and that the move of the Mostar City Board of the HDZ could be seen as a sort of response to it. Interview with Ivo Lozancic, the new Deputy Commander of the BiH Federation Army - I have the information that General Sopta paid 600,000 DEM to the HVO senior officers to step out of the BiH Federation Army Asked to comment for Zagreb daily Globus the information from the international circles that General Sopta is the main organizer of the campaign of the Army disintegration, Lozancic said that Sopta must be involved in the campaign, but that there are around 20 to 30 people behind it. As for the allegation that the HVO senior officers were given 600,000 DEM to leave the Federation Army, Lozancic stated the information has not been checked. However, an officer told Lozancic that the military districts received a memo in which General Sopta says that those who express disobedience to the Federation Army would be paid. HDZ caucus President in Mostar resigns Sarajevo-based Onasa news agency reported Pavo Saravanja, the chairman of the HDZ Caucus at the Mostar City Council, offered his resignation to this function on Wednesday, because he does not agree with the decision of the HDZ city board in Mostar to deny confidence to Mostar Mayor Neven Tomic, an HDZ delegate, who did not want to be named, told ONASA. "At the session of the HDZ Caucus in the City Council on Wednesday, Saravanja reasoned his resignation with the fact that he does not see a single argument to deny the confidence to Tomic," the source said. Other delegates elected Ivan Musa as the new Caucus chairman. The same source said that City Council Vice-President Mario Leko, who is also a member of the HDZ main board, refused to vote for the denial of confidence to Tomic as well. President of the Croat Democratic Union's (HDZ's) city board in Mostar Ante Vidacak confirmed during Tuesday session of the board that Mostar Mayor Neven Tomic was denied the confidence to perform the duty of the mayor. In a statement from the HDZ city board issued on Wednesday, Vidacak said the reason for this action was that the "main guidelines in the work of the mayor and the City Administration in general were estimated negatively." Neven Tomic, the vice-president of the HDZ city board in Mostar, was appointed the deputy mayor after the April municipal elections in BiH, at a session of the City Council on May 25, 2000. During the regular rotation of positions, he took over the post of the mayor on February 23. Republika Srpska: Dobrinja I and IV arbitrator hears RS Prime Minister: As part of the Dobrinja I and IV arbitration a hearing of RS Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic on the issues was held in Sarajevo. Dnevni Avaz reported that the arbitration is in its final phase and that the international arbitrator, Diarmuid Sheridan might announce his decision in April. During the 15 minute-long hearing Ivanic repeated his known position that the most acceptable solution would be legalizing the current situation, the daily said. Ivanic promised to return all the refugees to Dobrinja I and IV if these two Sarajevo neighborhoods remain part of the RS. Both RS dailies carry statement of the RS PM Mladen Ivanic confirming the position of the RS Government regarding the Dobrinja I and IV Arbitration Process: "The RS Government will fulfill it obligatations in regards to implementation of property legislation and rights of returnees, Bosniaks and Croats, to Dobrinja," Ivanic said according to RS papers. Ivanic also reminded the Arbiter that the priority of his cabinet is energetic work on providing of conditions for two-way return of refugees and Displaces persons. RS Constitutional Commission started it work: RS Constitutional Commission started its work on Wednesday when the first session was held and as talks started on the implementation of BiH Constitutional Court's decision on the constituency of three nations in entire BiH, Sarajevo and Banja Luka papers reported. "This is not a historical meeting and the results are not final but I hope that we will reach a compromise within the time frame set by the High Representative," Miroslav Mikes, President of the Commission told the press. Oslobodjenje said that the High Representative will rule on all the issues on which the Commission fails to reach a consensus. RS Government to hold session in Banja Luka today Both RS dailies announce today's session of the RS Government which is scheduled for 12,00 hrs. Draft Law on Defamation and Libel, Draft decision on acceptance of responsibility on consolidated loans of the WB, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and development of party associated credits used before April 1992, Information on revision of allocated apartments and housing loans financed from the RS budget, among other issues will be on the agenda of this session. Head of Banja Luka Public Security Center (CJB) dismissed Glas srpski reports that Milan Sutilovic was dismissed from his post (Head of BL Public Security Center-CJB). Vladimir Tutus was appointed to this post by the order of the RS Interior Minister Perica Bundalo. Reasons for this dismissal could be public at this stage, as said by Zoran Glusac, Ministry of Interior spokesperson UN Mission was informed about this dismissal and they are hopeful that the Interior Ministry would inform public about such decisions as well as about the reasons behind it. Dragan Cavic, the Vice President of the RS, on possible changes of the DPA: It has never crossed our mind to abolish the RS Split daily Slobodna Dalmacija quoted Dragan Cavic, RS Vice President as saying that "the possible changes of the DPA would be acceptable for us only if they were the result of the agreement of Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats in BiH." "Also, the possible changes should not be to the detriment of the RS and its degree of autonomy. Finally, the IC has to accept the organization and changes. The abolishment of the RS is out of the question," Cavic said. International Community: Symposium "BiH in the context of South-Eastern European Integration" commenced in Sarajevo Glas srpski and Nezavisne novine report on the symposium that begun in Sarajevo. Russian Ambassador to BiH Alexander Sergeyevich Grischenko stated that a new model of inter-national and inter-religious relations in BiH, which was created by signing of the DPA should be conducted strictly within the DPA framework, since every revision would violate balance of interests. According to him, by having democratic authorities in Belgrade and Zagreb, a possibility for participation of FRY and Croatia in stabilization of BiH appeared. Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General Jacques Paul Klein that a clear signs exist showing the fatigue of the International Community and donors wit BiH, 5 and a half years after signing the DPA. The new leadership should start working having in mind that "the work in a common BiH house is a way forward". Croat National Assembly claims Petritisch's remarks about a progress in BiH are incorrect: Bosnian Croat news agency Habena reported that the Croat National Assembly in a press release argued that the recent remarks of the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, that BiH has experienced a significant progress are completely incorrect. Referring to the HR's address before the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Croat National Assembly officials claimed that Petritsch's statement was "obfuscating the real situation in BiH" by trying to justify the failed policy of the International Community and his own "undemocratic moves which penalized the BiH Croats." "New electoral rules cannot be marked as a progress...the negation of the electoral will of the Croat people cannot be marked as a progress...the illegally and illegitimately established institutions in BiH cannot be marked as a progress...," the HNS statement read. According to the Croat National Assembly, even five years after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, BiH is not a self-sustainable and democratic state. "BiH is a divided country with two entities, who provide an uneven constitutional and real protection to the three constitutive peoples, which results in new tensions and new disagreements." The Croat National Assembly stressed that Petritsch should face the truth and admit to those who finance his administration that the Dayton Peace Agreement used up all its positive aspects, and that its one-sided revisions at various conferences further complicated the already difficult situation. Finally, the HNS accused the High Representative for being most responsible for the upcoming political crisis in BiH. Senior Deputy High Representative says new BiH authorities still need the IC assistance: RS news agency Srna reported that the Senior Deputy High Representative, Matthias Sonn, said that too much should not be expected from the new authorities in BiH since they are still in need of IC assistance, financial and otherwise. Addressing the symposium, 'BiH in the context of Southeast European integration,' held in Sarajevo under the auspices of Konrad Adenhauer Foundation, Sonn said that the new authorities are not as stable as the IC would wish them to be.

The BiH Media Round-up is being compiled primarily for the OHR's internal purposes under time pressure. Please disregard grammar and typing mistakes. The mentioned media reports do not reflect OHR views, and the OHR does not take responsibility for them.

OHR BiH Media Round-up