|
|
BiH Media Round-up, 18/04/2001 |
A request for investigation into Muhamed Sacirbey's abuse of power raised Sarajevo Canton Prosecutors have raised a request for an investigation against Muhamed Sacirbey, former BiH Ambassador to the UN for abuse of power, Sarajevo papers reported. It is suspected that Sacirbey abuse his position during his mandate and after departing left a 610,000 US dollars debt that is unaccounted for, prosecutors said. Issuing of new BiH passports starts in April BiH Minister of Civil Affairs and Communications, Svetozar Mihajlovic has confirmed that 60 thousand new BiH passports has been delivered to BiH and another 150 thousand has been distributed to BiH embassies and diplomatic mission throughout the world. The issuing of new passports will begin on April 20 and the old passports with entity insignia will be valid till the end of 2002, Mihajllovic said. Major BiH diplomatic corps staffing changes announced Dnevni Avaz reported in its front page that major staffing changes of the BiH diplomatic corps have started. BiH Foreign Minister, Zlatko Lagumdzija has sent a letter to all embassies and diplomatic mission informing them that all diplomats and administrative-technical staff that has spent more than four years at a post has to return to BiH by the end of June 30th, the daily said. Lagumdzija also announced major cuts of budgets for all BiH diplomatic missions because of lack of money his Ministry faces.
Possible Arrests of Leaders of the Croat National Assembly Nezavisne novine (on the cover and 3rd page) announce possibility of arrests of the Croat National Assembly Leaders, which is "openly discussed in Mostar these days". According to certain findings, NN write, "Jelavic and his associates, founders of the Croat National Assembly, who are working on establishment of the Croat self-rule which is not in accordance with the DPA, are accused of violation of constitutional order in Federation BiH. The arrest warrant should be made by FBiH Supreme Court and carried out by members of FBiH Interior Ministry. It would make situation more complicated and there would be a realistic possibility that FBiH Policemen could not carry their duty in full. Therefore, the whole action would be impossible to carry out without strong SFOR presence. Federal authorities and the IC are looking for the way to carry this out", claims NN's source close to the IC. HNC officials say US State Department warning against travel to Herzegovina unnecessary Split daily Slobodna Dalmacija reported that the Herzegovina-Neretva Cantonal Government Press Office said the State Department recommendation against travelling to Herzegovina was unnecessary. They fear that the recommendation is, in fact, an announcement of new repressive actions against Croats because "the security situation is totally under the control of the legal institutions and is currently stable." HNC police ask where is the money for their salaries According to Slobodna Dalmacija the Union of the HNC police addressed an open letter to the Cantonal Minister of Finances and asked whether it is true that the money intended for salaries at the Ministry level, was re-directed for the salaries to the secondary and high education institutions. Cardinal Vinko Puljic said Eastern not entirely joyful because of situation Cardinal Vinko Puljic and Monsignor Pero Sudar gave an Easter reception in Sarajevo. Cardinal Puljic said this year's Easter is "not entirely joyful due to the situation that the Croat people are in," and appealed for a dialogue, Slobodna Dalmacija reported. Croat officials ask the High Representative to remove Mijo Anic The Headquarters for Protection of Croat Identity and National Interests in Central Bosnia addressed an open letter to the High Representative and asked him to remove the Defense Minister Mijo Anic due to "Anic's manipulations with the salaries for the HVO members for December 2000." Reportedly, Anic is paying the salaries only to the HVO members who express their loyalty by signing "some sort of a contract." Mostar Pension Bureau demands their account be de-blocked Pension Bureau in Mostar on Tuesday demanded that their account with the Hercegovacka Bank be de-blocked so that they can get their 13.5 million KM in order to pay the March pensions to the 50 000 pensioners who live in the Croat-majority areas in the Federation. Of that amount, 8 million KM is intended for the pensions to civilian pensioners and 5.5 million for former HVO members' pensions. Canton 10 Assembly to be held Zagreb daily Vecernji List reported that the Canton 10 Assembly is supposed to hold a session at noon today. Vecernji list found out unofficially that the HDZ candidate for the position of Governor will be Branko Zrno, and Ante Omazic the candidate for the position of Cantonal Prime Minister. "All this would be less interesting were Branko Zrno and Ante Omazic not on a sort of a black list of the international community," says Vecernji list. The paper says that the IC representatives will be present in the session but cannot grant their approval because they do not have the names of the candidates, which they are supposed to receive at least 7 days beforehand. "This is why they will hold the appointment of Zrno and Omazic illegitimate. It is obvious that the OHR personnel policy will no longer be respected," comments Vecernji list in conclusion.
RS authorities forging document on return to Dobrinja I and IV RS authorities are forging documents on the return to Dobrinja I and IV, Oslobodjenje reported on the front page on Wednesday. The Association of Dobrinja refugees Nas Dom said that the intention of RS authorities is to see that the Dobrinja Administrator, Diarmuid Sheridan reaches a decision that is in their favor. The Association wrote a letter to the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch and to Sheridan warn them about this issue. The High Representative worried with RS President's statements regarding Obrenovic's arrest Sonja Pastuovic, OHR spokeswoman told the press that the High Representative is worried with recent statement of RS President, Mirko Sarovic regarding the arrest of RS Army officer and war crimes suspect, Dragan Obrenovic. Sarovic has condemned the arrest and the existence of sealed indictments saying the arrest was a "shameful act." The High Representative reminded Sarovic that he and other RS officials obliged themselves to cooperate with The Hague Tribunal by signing a document. "Sealed indictments are a result of the refusal of RS authorities to arrest the indicted war criminals," the High Representative said in his message to Sarovic and added there are 15 indicted war criminals from public lists still at large in the RS. Instead of complaining Sarovic should use his authority to arrest the 15 and deliver them to The Hague, Petritsch said in his message. RS Defense Ministry protests against Obrenovic's arrest RS Defense Ministry in a statement protested against the arrest of Obrenovic saying that it causes anxiety and bitterness among the Serb population. Such actions are harmful for the trust between the RS Army and SFOR as well as to permanent peace in the region, the Ministry said. Svetozar Mihajlovic, head of SNS said that the arrest is "scandalous act," and that he is against sealed indictments that practically mean that any Serb can be taken to The Hague. RS Government on Arrest of Lieutenant-colonel Dragan Obrenovic Both RS dailies (Glas srpski and Nezavisne novine) carry the following press release from the RS Government: "RS Government will seriously consider situation appeared after the arrest of Lieutenant-colonel of the RS Army Dragan Obrenovic, which unfortunately showed that term "cooperation" with the Hague Tribunal is taken in the way which does not contribute to establishment of mutual relations from which both the Tribunal and the RS Government could benefit from." "The fact that Mr. Obrenovic was arrested in a "spectacular" fashion, although he made himself available to the Hague investigators, suggests that promises made by the Chief prosecutor of the Tribunal Carla Del Ponte, on balanced arrests of persons indicted for war crimes on all sides, were not fulfilled. Dragan Obrenovic Before the Hague Tribunal Today Glas srpski and Nezavisne novine report that PIWC Dragan Obrenovic would appear before the Hague Tribunal today and plea on charges against him for taking part in genocide over Bosniaks in Srebrenica in the second half of 1995. and for crimes against humanity and war crimes. RS officials reacs to the Obrenovic arrest (today's Glas Srpski) Branko Neskovic: "Party of Independent Social-democrats (SNSD) condemns the arrest of the RS Army Lt. Col. Dragan Obrenovic, and assesses that the RS Government has to find the way to cooperate with the ICTY". He told journalists that the issue of sealed indictments has to be resolved as soon as possible. Svetozar Mihajlovic (SNS) says that the arrest of the Zvornik Brigade Commander Lt. Col. Dragan Obrenovic is a scandalous act. "We are against sealed indictments and we think that sealed indictments should be replaced with public ones. "There are 28 Serbs in the Hague prison, but those who are responsible for the crimes committed over Serbs are still not there. Slobodan Bilic (RS Defense Minister) addressed the letter to SFOR General Michael Dodson and the High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch in which he strongly protested the arrest of Lt. Col. Dragan Obrenovic. Minister Bilic requests that Obrenovic should be given the opportunity to be released on his own recognizance. The press release issued by the RS Defense Ministry further reads that the arrest itself was uncivilized and that all moral and human values were annulled with it. "The Serb people have to ask themselves who will be the next", says Minister Bilic. PDP Municipal Board from Zvornik issued press release in which they strongly condemn the brutal arrest of Lt. Col. Dragan Obrenovic, one of the most honorable officers of the RS Army. We demand the ICTY to reveal all sealed indictments and to press charges against Bosniaks and Croats who committed war crimes. This would eliminate a feeling that only Serbs committed war crimes, which, of course, is not true. President of the RS Constitutional Commission about harmonization of text for Changes of the RS Constitution Glas srpski carries the statement of the President of the RS Constitutional Commission Miroslav Mikes who said the OHR representatives hadn't insisted on April 16. as a deadline for text of changes of future constitutional changes. Mikes assessed that this text could be on the agenda for the next regular RS National Assembly session, which will be scheduled in May. Mikes explained that the OHR representatives realized this commission wanted as little as possible issues going to the HR for arbitration. (full translation) Regular Court in Banja Luka on Case of Nikola Kragulj, Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade at BiH CoM Investigation against Deputy Foreign Trade Minister at the BiH CoM Nikola Kragulj hasn't been started yet since Kragulj called upon "immunity" said the Judge Djordje Stojakovic at BL Basic Court. The prosecutor submitted the request for conducting of investigation against Kragulj based on suspicion that he misused his position and damaged the RS budget for around 558 000 KM. According to the Judge Stojakovic, Kragulj enjoys the immunity as a member of the CoM but the court will ask for the approval of CoM to continue the procedure. Fire broke out in Collective Refugee Center in Lukavica Glas srpski reports: Milivoje Grahovac (60), invalid of war, died in a fire which broke out in a collective refugee center in Lukavica. The fire burnt down five rooms in the center where refugees and elderly persons are situated. Investigation is ongoing and the public information on the cause of the fire is expected.
PLIP agencies warn that some might lose their right for alternative accommodation Oleg Milisic, OHR spokesman told a news conference on Tuesday that the PLIP agencies - OHR, OSCE, UNHCR and the Commission for Real Property Claims - warn all of those who fail to claim real property or who fail to make sure decisions are enforced that they may lose their right to alternative accommodation by doing so. The provision of alternative accommodation is necessary to ensure claimants can repossess their pre-war property without further delay and is not meant as a substitute for the responsibility of the authorities to provide housing for those who cannot otherwise afford it. RS Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic Said He Attended the Meeting of Commission for Public Corporations at the OHR RS Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic confirmed, to SRNA news agency, that he attended the meting of Commission for Public Corporations at OHR in Sarajevo yesterday. "It is the first meeting of this Commission whose President is PDHR Ralph Johnson", said Ivanic and added he had nothing special to report about the meeting. OHR did not want to comment this meeting, GS writes.
High Representative expresses concern about Herzegovacka Bank account holders All three Sarajevo dailies carried OHR statement in which the High Representative expresses his concern about HB account holders. Sokol Company Workers Union asks the High Representative to urgently solve HB problem The Workers Union of Mostar's Sokol company sent a letter to this High Representative asking him to urgently solve the problems caused by the blockade of the Herzegovacka Bank and warned that if this does not happen they will fight for their rights with protests and blockade of main roads. The Union said that 600 Sokol employees cannot receive their salaries because of Petritsch's decision and that the entire work of Sokol has stopped as a result of Herzegovacka Bank problems. Herzegovacka Bank management, share and account holders ask for Petritsch's removal Herzegovacka Bank management, share and account holders sent an open letter to the Peace Implementation Council asking for the removal of the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritch. "By ordering the armed raid and illegal takeover of Herzegovacka Bank and blockade of its accounts Petritsch has abused his power and the trust of the international community and should be removed, the letter said. Habena: SFOR raided again the Hercegovacka Banka in Mostar Members of the SFOR entered once again the building of the Steering Board of the Hercegovacka Banka in Mostar. The Public Affairs office of the SFOR division Southeast refused to provide any comment on the action. In the words of several eyewitnesses, SFOR troops mined the main vault and took away the money, bonds, credit and all other documentation, which was not confiscated during the April 6 action. The Herceg-Bosna auto club confirmed that all roads leading to and from Mostar were blocked between 2 and 6 am this morning. The access to the HB building in Mostar was blocked by the municipal police, while it is possible to see the effects of heavy equipment which was used in the operation. The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, imposed the provisional administration in the Hercegovacka Banka on April 6 because of belief in its "illegal business" and the connection between the bank and the Croat National Assembly. The spokesman of the HB, Milan Sutalo, said that the HR's implementation of "the argument of force instead of the force of argument only confirms his impotence." Sutalo also said that "despite the fact that they had the code and keys, the SFOR planted explosives under the Bank's vault. TV BiH mid-day news report on Herzegovacka Bank TV in its Wednesday mid-day news said that SFOR troops carried out another action in the Herzegovacka Bank main building early morning Wednesday. There were no incidents reported and the street where the bank is and the neighborhood is blocked by HNK police. It is believed that the main motive for the action was to get hold of the information from the bank's central computer system, the TV said. Details of the action as well as what has been taken from the bank is not yet known. It added that more information will be available after the presser SFOR and OHR will hold at noon. TV also said that the situation in Mostar is stabile and intensified presence of SFOR in the town is reported. HN Canton police is securing the building according to TV BiH report. Herceg-Bosna Radio, News at 10 am on HB According to news reports from Mostar, strong SFOR troops blocked early this morning the offices of the Hercegovacka Banka in the Knez Domagoj Street. The operation began at 2 am and ended at 6 this morning. The Multinational Division South East rejected to give any comments. Eyewitnesses say that the main treasury has been blown up and the money and all documentation were confiscated. According to some information, the SFOR took everything that has not been confiscated during the last operation on April 6. The eyewitnesses also say that five trucks of documentation were taken out of the bank. Local police is presently securing the building. The station did not indicate whether this was cantonal, or entity police. Onasa: SFOR conducted action in HB with assistance of helicopters and armored personnel carriers. Onasa news agency reported on Wednesday afternoon that according to suspended spokesperson of Hercegovacka Banka Milan Sutalo, SFOR conducted action with assistance of helicopters and armored personnel carriers. SFOR units conducted an action in the main building of the Hercegovacka Banka d.d. in Mostar on Tuesday night at approximately 0230 hrs. According to suspended spokesperson of the Hercegovacka Banka Milan Sutalo, SFOR conducted the action with the assistance of helicopters and armored personnel carriers. It is unknown whether the members of the Federation services and IPTF participated in this action. According to unofficial information, the action was conducted in order that the international forces get the central (mainframe) computer of the bank, which was not taken in the first action. It is unknown when the action was finished and whether it was conducted only in Mostar. The SFOR Press Office in Mostar said that the details of the action will be announced at a press conference of the international organizations in Mostar, which is scheduled for 1100 hrs in the Mostar Hotel Ero. Based on the Decision by the High Representative in BiH Wolfgang Petritsch to establish the provisional administration of Hercegovacka Banka, on April 6 the provisional administrator Toby Robinson, assisted by Federation officials, SFOR troops and IPTF, entered the premises of the bank to ensure the provisional management. After that, Bank employees supported by a group of Mostar residents, stormed the Hercegovacka Banka main building, and by physically attacking them forced the OHR officials out of the building. More than 30 OHR and SFOR officials were injured in the process. It is peaceful on this Wednesday morning in Mostar, and the policemen of the Interior Ministry (MUP) of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton closed the road where the main building of the Hercegovacka Banka is located
|
| 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. |
|