- Lagumdzija meets with Bush, Annan in Salt Lake City
- Lagumdzija warns Klein he violated UN standards
- BiH Foreign Ministry on the oil dispute with Croatia: BiH authorities are not aggressive if they protect the dignity of the state
- Oslobodjenje Pogled supplement: Constituency of the peoples in BiH – From an idea to the realization
- Beriz Belkic to assume duties of the BiH Presidency Chairman on February 14
- Radisic says lawsuit against FRY negates RS
- Belkic assesses draft state Budget will not gain majority in the Parliament
- Spiric says the international community is changing BiH internal structure at the cost of the entities
- Terrorists threaten to kill Bosnian, Serbian, RS premiers
- Vecernji List: In clinch on BiH elections
- Radom za Boljitak party says BiH Croat interests must be met in the state institutions
- A hundred of millions KM needed for care about and employment of BiH Federation soldiers to be dismissed
- BiH Federation House of Peoples discusses the “Algerian Group” case
- SDP requests BPS to publicly apologize due to presentation of a misinformation about Minister Hasan Becirevic
- Families of 13 missing Bosniaks claim Prlic might know what happened to them
- Safet Halilovic sends open letter to Petritsch in regard of an alleged PDHR’s statement on Bosniaks
- Dnevni Avaz:
Milenko Brkic to become HDZ BiH leader?- Dnevni List:
BiH Croat political parties to meet on Tuesday- Jutarnji List:
Interview with Ante Jelavic, an unrecognized HDZ President, on the constitutional reform in BiH- Slobodna Dalmacija:
Dragan Vrankic’s reaction to Sefkija Dziho’s statement
- AFP: Milosevic trial does not affect RS: PM
- Karadzic if apprehended to be tried together with Plavsic and Krajisnik
- Radisic assesses a Petritsch’s statement on the RS as damaging and unnecessary at the moment
- A trial of those responsible for the last year’s violence in Banja Luka to start early in March
- Public debate in Sarajevo on the amendments to the RS Constitution
- Kalinic reminds two-third majority needed for the adoption of the amendments to the RS Constitution
- Sarovic against incidents
- RS Defense Minister comments on FRY Government decision to cut off financing of RS Army
- Interview with SPRS top official Miroslav Mikes – It is time for Radisic to go
- Official pledges to preserve Serb entity along Dayton principles
- Milorad Dodik holds a news conference after his return from the United States
- Oslobodjenje: Race with the time
BiH State-related Issues
Lagumdzija meets with Bush, Annan in Salt Lake City
Sunday’s Oslobodjenje reports that Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Zlatko Lagumdzija, who attended the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games met on Saturday in Salt Lake City with US President George Bush. Bush thanked Lagumdzija on efforts being made by the BiH authorities in the framework of world-wide fight against terrorism. In the course of the day, Lagumdzija also met with the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Lagumdzija warns Klein he violated UN standards
Saturday’s Oslobodjenje reports that the BiH Foreign Ministry is not satisfied with the response of UN Head of the Mission to BiH Jacques Paul Klein to BiH Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija following a fierce criticism of Klein’s statement with HRT that BiH has never been a state in its history. This dissatisfaction was also confirmed in a letter Lagumdzija sent to Klein before his departure to the Salt Lake City for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games. In the letter, Lagumdzija warned Klein that such a statement was not the truth. “The Dayton agreement clearly confirms the continuity of the BiH statehood, and it is about a legal document, which was created under the United Nations patronage,” Lagumdzija emphasized.
BiH Foreign Ministry on the oil dispute with Croatia: BiH authorities are not aggressive if they protect the dignity of the state
Spokesman for the BiH Foreign Ministry Amer Kapetanovic told journalists in Sarajevo on Friday that BiH was seriously treating an oil dispute with Croatia and it was trying to resolve its causes. Commenting on the recent statement of Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula that BiH was too aggressive in this dispute, Kapetanovic said that BiH authorities were just attempting to protect the dignity of the state and its citizens.
Oslobodjenje Pogled supplement: Constituency of the peoples in BiH – From an idea to the realization
In the Saturday’s Oslobodjenje Pogled (View) supplement, Mirko Sagolj prepared a two-page story dedicated to the constituency of all peoples in the entire BiH’s territory from the first ideas about launching this process in March 1994 to these days and political struggle for the full realization of these ideas. In the framework of the story, the newspaper published a comprehensive statement on the issue made by the High Representatives Wolfgang Petritsch.
Beriz Belkic to assume duties of the BiH Presidency Chairman on February 14
Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz reports that, according to he regular 8-month rotation rule, Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Beriz Belkic is expected to assume duties of the BiH Presidency Chairman on February 14. At a ceremony to be attended by top state officials and representatives of the international community, Belkic will take over the office from the Croat member of the Presidency, Jozo Krizanovic.
Radisic says lawsuit against FRY negates RS
According to Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz, Serb member of the BiH Presidency Zivko Radisic told journalists in Banja Luka on Friday that the Republika Srpska could not accept budgetary financing of the BiH state agent in the case BiH versus FRY before The Hague-based International Court of Justice, and that he therefore expected the Serb deputies in the BiH Parliament t support such the position. “This lawsuit is not just directed against FRY, but also against the Dayton’s BiH, since it negates the RS,” Radisic said.
Belkic assesses draft state Budget will not gain majority in the Parliament
Sunday’s Oslobodjenje quoted Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Beriz Belkic as saying that the current draft state Budget, including a provision on financing the BiH state agent in the case BiH versus FRY would not gain the needed parliamentary majority. “I expect that the parliamentary discussion will show a political position towards the lawsuit in general,” Belkic said in an interview with SRNA news agency.
Spiric says the international community is changing BiH internal structure at the cost of the entities
According to Monday’s Oslobodjenje, the deputy chairman of the BiH House of Peoples, Nikola Spiric, accused the international community of changing the country’s internal structure at the cost of the entities. In an interview with the RTV Prijedor, Spiric emphasized that a silent Dayton agreement revision was being conducted.
Terrorists threaten to kill Bosnian, Serbian, RS premiers
(Provided by OHR Banja Luka)
A clandestine terrorist organization Gavrilo Princip has threatened to liquidate the chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, Zlatko Lagumdzija, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, RS Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic and the former head of the Party for BiH, Haris Silajdzic, a Banja Luka weekly Nezavisne novine writes in its weekend edition. The paper cited claims by the Bosnian anti-terrorism co-ordinating team. A threatening letter was sent from Chicago, the weekly writes, adding that all Serbs are members of the organization “protecting Serbs and the Serb homeland”. The paper claims that Bosnian intelligence services were given orders to “prevent their possible future activities”, and added that the US authorities had been informed about everything. Gavrilo Princip was an assassin who killed the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, which triggered World War I. The Gavrilo Princip organization has also been threatening Serbs who remained in Sarajevo during the war in Bosnia.
Vecernji List: In clinch
(Provided by OHR Mostar)
Wolfgang Petritsch, the High Representative to BiH: “One should not consider postponing of election as a reasonable possibility. People expect to vote. Promises given to the Council of Europe bind authorities to organize elections”.
Lidija Korac, President of Election Commission of BiH: “The Election Commission will have spent 11.767.000 KMs for preparations and implementation of the election in the autumn this year. That is the plan, it will be paid by the state and the entities. So far the Election Commission has received almost nothing. If the money has not been secured, the October elections are put into question”.
Federation
Radom za Boljitak party says BiH Croat interests must be met in the state institutions
Saturday’s Oslobodjenje reports that the People’s Party Radom za Boljitak (Working for Progress), created and led by brothers Mladen and Jerko Ivankovic, who are co-owners of the Siroki Brijeg-based Lijanovici Company, on Friday sent a message to the dismissed HDZ President Ante Jelavic that the interests of the Croat people in BiH had to be met in the state institutions in Sarajevo. The message was a response to the Jelavic’s invitation at meeting, which should, according to his idea, make a multi-partisan agreement for a political action aimed at ensuring a full and genuine equality of the Croat people with other two peoples in BiH. The Radom za Boljitak party reminded in its response Jelavic that, according to the BiH and BiH Federation Constitutions, the House of Peoples at the state and entity level represented legal instruments to protect vital national interests of all peoples in the country. The party also expressed its hope that Jelavic’s public interest for the protection of national interests was not another self-rule like attempt to manipulate with the Croat people in BiH.
A hundred of millions KM needed for care about and employment of BiH Federation soldiers to be dismissed
Saturday’s Oslobodjenje reports that, at a meeting in Sarajevo on Friday, a working group for the reduction of the number of professional soldiers established by the BiH Federation Government concluded that the dismissal of the soldiers required the resolution of the two key problems. The first is a problem how to ensure 100 million KM needed to financially support employment of the dismissed soldiers and the second is how to set criteria who will be put on the list of 10,000 Army and BiH Defense Ministry officers to be fired.
BiH Federation House of Peoples discusses the “Algerian Group” case
According to Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz, the BiH Federation House of Peoples on Friday requested the BiH Council of Ministers to adopt a temporary regulation on the procedure of deportation of persons whose BiH citizenship status is annulled or who are illegally staying in the BiH’s territory. This regulation will be in effect until the passage of the law on the asylum and migration. The House discussed the BiH federation Government’s information on the deportation of the “Algerian Group.” Although the deputies accepted the information, they assessed it as incomplete since thre was a legal contradiction between the deportation order issued by the Federation Interior Ministry and the order of the BiH Human Rights Chamber banning the extradition.
SDP requests BPS to publicly apologize due to presentation of a misinformation about Minister Hasan Becirevic
Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz reports that the SDP BiH would request the BPS Secretary, Sead Gajevic, to publicly apologize to BiH Federation Minister of Industry Hasan Becirevic, because he had misinformed the public saying that a criminal proceedings against Becirevic was underway. SDP Vice-president Sead Avdic told the newspaper that the misinformation had been presented with an aim to politically and morally discredit both the SDP and Minister Becirevic.
Families of 13 missing Bosniaks claim Prlic might know what happened to them
According to the Saturday’s Oslobodjenje front-page story, the families of 13 wartime BiH Army members, who were in 1993 apprehended by the HVO forces in a BiH Army local headquarters in Vranica building in Mostar, believe that they could get precise answers on the destiny of their sons and husbands from Jadranko Prlic, who was the President of the Croat Republic of Herceg-Bosna at the time. Edina Residovic, the lawyer of the families of missing Bosniak soldiers, says that many who were holding public offices in Herceg-Bosna during the war are still active politicians performing various duties.
Safet Halilovic sends open letter to Petritsch in regard of an alleged PDHR’s statement on Bosniaks
According to Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz, President of the party for BiH Presidency Safet Halilovic sent an open letter to the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, in regard of a Fena news agency report of February 5, according to which, the Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, at a press conference during his visit to Banja Luka said: “I assure you that we would not ask Bosniaks to come and resolve the issue of Constitution in our country.” However, in a statement for the Sunday’s Dnevni Avaz, Head of the OHR Press Office Alexandra Stiglmayer explained that it was abut a mistake and that Fena had already published a corrected version of the news item. Speaking on a need that domestic politicians implement the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the constituent peoples, Hays actually said: “I assure you that we Americans would not call Bosnians to come and resolve our constitutional issues, but we would try to resolve them by our own.”
Dnevni Avaz: Milenko Brkic to become HDZ BiH leader?
There have been speculations in the well-informed political circles in Herzegovina during the past days that Milenko Brkic, the leader of the Croat National Alliance (HNZ), would assume duties of the HDZ BiH President. A well informed source told the newspaper that Ante Jelavic, the dismissed HDZ President, had already approved such a move. However, in an interview with Sunday’s Devni Avaz, Brkic denies these speculations.
Dnevni List: BiH Croat political parties to meet on Tuesday
(Provided by OHR Mostar)
Dnevni List on Saturday reads that the meeting of BiH political parties with Croat prefix will be held on Tuesday, instead of Saturday as planned originally, due to technical reasons i.e. problems with organization of the meeting, at Hotel Delminium at Stup. Sarajevo. Host of the meeting that was originally initiated by the Ante Jelavic’s office, Miljenko Brkic, invited members of the Bishops’ Conference (Vinko Puljic, Ratko Peric and Franjo Komarica as reported by Oslobodjenje on Sunday), university professors and members of Matica hrvatska and HKD “Napredak” (Croat cultural associations) to attend the meeting. The daily learned from anonymous sources that some participants (politicians) were against the prelates and other people not directly involved in the politics taking part in the meeting because “they come to a meeting, they would like to be involved in everything, but are not held responsible for anything. If something goes wrong they back off and say: ‘it is not our job, we do not want to deal with it'”. On the same issue, the Slobodna Dalmacija on Sunday reads that Miljenko Brkic will call on all Croat parties to form a pre-election Croat block, which would ensure that Croat votes are not squandered. Miljenko Brkic ruled out a possibility of a Croat coalition in an interview for Sunday’s Dnevni Avaz.
Jutarnji List: Interview with Ante Jelavic, an unrecognized HDZ President, on the constitutional reform in BiH
Interview conducted by Snjezana Pavic (Provided by OHR Mostar)
‘At the eve of the Parliament debate in BiH, this is the right moment to warn that the constitutional reform is, literally, to be or not to be for the Croats in BiH.
You have invited all Croat parties in BiH to attend the meeting. Will the meeting take place?
It should be a joint initiative, not only of Croat parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties, but also of the Croats in the parties such as SDP and Republicans. I believe that it is a high time to reach a minimal consensus on the BiH organization and agree a joint strategy of a parliamentary struggle. I believe that the meeting of the Croat political parties will take place in Sarajevo on Tuesday.
Will it be made impossible for HDZ to register itself for the elections since you were re-elected the HDZ President, in spite of Petritsch’s ban?
I believe that, at this moment, when the issue of the Constitutional organization of BiH has to be resolved, this issue on the registration is of a secondary importance. If the constitutional changes go in a wrong direction, then the question why do we hold elections at all, will arise. I am the least important person in a greater scheme of things.
Is it correct that you are planning to leave the President’s position, and that Josip Merdzo, a current HDZ Secretary General, should be a new President?
These are only speculations. However, it does not mean that I would not like to leave politics, especially under current circumstances, when it is under a foreign protectorate. If, at the elections, they prevent the engagement of those, who were sanctioned by the HR’s decision, I will be the smallest obstacle.
Slobodna Dalmacija: Dragan Vrankic’s reaction to Sefkija Dziho’s statement
(Provided by OHR Mostar)
Deputy Governor of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Dragan Vrankic, issued a PR in which he said that information presented by the Governor of the Canton 7, Sefkija Dziho, in Dnevni Avaz on February 8, 2002, were incorrect and incomplete (Sefkija Dziho said that Federation Finance Minister Nikola Grabovac had been requested by the PDHR at the time, Ralph Johnson, to open one account for C7 in Raiffeisen bank and that he (Dziho) learned that the Federation Government never took the debatable decision to open one account for Cantons 7 and 8). “Mr. Dziho’s concern for status of Bosniak employees in the system of solutions agreed so far, has no ground. Discussions in the matter have been going on for years, in which representatives of the OHR, World Bank, Federation Ministry of Health, Federation Ministry of Finances, Governments of Cantons 7 and 8 and representatives of competent institutions also have taken part. It was not questionable at any of the meetings that the suggested merger would foresee that all employees in health services keep their jobs, that the salaries would be leveled and that the network of health facilities would remain the same. One has to take into account that the Bosniak part of the Canton was contributing some 20% of all revenues. In the other case scenario, there would be mass redundancies, changes to the network and cuts in salaries. That’s why we consider the Minister Grabovac’s instruction justified, with a remark, the instruction left a possibility that the contributions could be paid into the old accounts until January 15 thus securing money for salaries and material costs. In view of that, re-routing of accounts to Sarajevo is not the actual reason why there is no money for salaries and material costs in the Bosniak part of the Canton, the real reason being the outstanding debts, too many employees and funding of institutions that should not be funded from the Fund (…) With this behavior, Mr. Dziho is bringing into question the use of second loan for structural adaptation of public health funding amounting to some 35 million US$ and establishment of Solidarity Fund at the Federation level whose funds would amount to more than 60 million KMs”, reads Dragan Vrankic’s PR. Finally, Deputy Governor Vrankic calls on all relevant institutions and officials who took part in the negotiations to solve the matter as soon as possible.
Republika Srpska
AFP: Milosevic trial does not affect RS: PM
The Republika Srpska Government said Monday that the imminent war crimes trial against Slobodan Milosevic in The Hague will not have any repercussions on the entity. “All trials before The Hague tribunal are individual, not collective, and repercussions of those trials cannot be applied to the RS”, Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic told a news conference. Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic will face a single trial from February 12 all charges of atrocities committed in the Balkans in the wars during the 1990s. Among other charges Milosevic is accused of having helped wartime Bosnian Serb leaders in the RS plan and carry out the takeover of municipalities inhabited by Bosniaks, Croats and other ethnic groups in Bosnia during the 1992-95 war. Many Bosniaks and Croats say that the RS is the product of war crimes and genocide and that it should not exist. Ivanic dismissed those charges, saying the RS was part and parcel to the 1995 Dayton peace agreement that ended the BiH war, during which some 200,000 people lost their lives and some 2.2 million became refugees. “I think that everyone knows that touching the Dayton peace agreement would mean the opening of a Pandora’s box and a new situation in the Balkans and I think that is in nobody’s interest,” he said. As Milosevic’s trial nears, speculations among the public here have increased whether his trial will be an opportunity to effectively put the Republika Srpska on trial as well. The prime minister supported a recent proposal that the RS government should give Bosnian Serb war crimes suspects a deadline to surrender, and that his government would discuss such a measure soon. An advisor to Ivanic, Sinisa Djordjevic said last week that war crimes suspect will be given 30 days deadline to surrender. Pressure from the international community has increased on the RS to start arresting war crimes suspects, especially the two most wanted — former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and his wartime military commander Ratko Mladic, who are thought to be at large in the Republika Srpska.
Karadzic if apprehended to be tried together with Plavsic and Krajisnik
According to the Saturday’s Oslobodjenje, The Hague Tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte told Belgian media that a series of very prominent witnesses would appear at the upcoming trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. These witnesses will according to Del Ponte include “politicians, military officers and the representatives of the international community.” Concerning the apprehension of the most wanted war crime suspects Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, Del Ponte said that “now everything has changed” in this matter. She added that, if apprehended, Karadzic would be tried together with former Republika Srpska high-ranking officials, Biljana Plavsic and Momcilo Krajisnik.
Radisic assesses a Petritsch’s statement on the RS as damaging and unnecessary at the moment
According to Saturday’s Oslobodjenje, Serb member of the BiH Presidency Zivko Radisic said that a recent statement of High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch on the destiny and the future of Republika Srpska although based on the issue of RS’s responsibility for the cooperation with The Hague Tribunal, was damaging and at this moment unnecessary. Commenting on the recent Petritsch’s statement that “RS might disappear,” Radisic told journalists in Banja Luka on Friday that the future of RS and BiH had to be in hands of their peoples and citizens, having in mind that Dayton represented a real basis in this process, in which the international community was a necessary partner. “There is not RS without BiH, nor BiH with without RS,” Radisic emphasized. He said that the constitutional reforms had to be implemented in a more accelerated manner, since it was in the interest of the peoples and citizens in BiH.
A trial of those responsible for the last year’s violence in Banja Luka to start early in March
According to Saturday’s Oslobodjenje, a trial of 16 persons suspected for the involvement in the last May 7 violence in Banja Luka which prevented laying of the Ferhadija cornerstone is expected to start early in March this year. UN/IPTF Spokesman for the Banja Luka and Bihac regions Alun Roberts told journalists in Banja Luka on Friday that the police investigation into the case had been completed recently, and all the documentation had been forwarded to the authorized prosecution office. Both Banja Luka dailies report that the Banja Luka court of first instance has received from the Banja Luka prosecutor’s office charges filed against 16 persons suspected of taking part in the incidents, a court judge, Mirela Jagodic, has told SRNA. The charges were filed against Dragan Jokic, Mladen Amidzic, Sinisa Milojevic, Dragan Radulovic, Goran Kos, Slavko Divljak, Bozidar Pejakovic, Vitomir Jokanovic, Goran Popovic, Branko Stojnic, Miladin Bunic, Dragan Blagojevic, Zoran Mosconja, Dragomir Vulin, Smiljo Kovacevic and Vujadin Savanovic.
Public debate in Sarajevo on the amendments to the RS Constitution
Sunday’s Oslobodjenje reports that representatives of the Bosniak Intellectuals Congress (VKBI), Serb Civic Council (SGV), Croat National Council (HNV) and Circle 99 on Saturday in Sarajevo discussed the proposed amendments to the Republika Srpska Constitution, thereby taking part in the public debate n the issue. They concluded that the introduction of the House of Peoples in the entity would be the best guarantee for the equality of all three peoples.
Kalinic reminds two-third majority needed for the adoption of the amendments to the RS Constitution
The chairman of the Presidency of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) and speaker of the Republika Srpska National Assembly, Dragan Kalinic, said on Saturday that “there will be no adoption of the constitutional amendments without the two-third majority of the delegate in the RS National Assembly supporting them,” ONASA reported. “The political talks on the constitutional changes in the RS will be continued, but they cannot substitute a decision of the Assembly. Those which the two-third delegates decide will be the obligatory decision for the change of the Constitution,” Kalinic said at the election meeting of the SDS Municipal Board in Zvornik. Kalinic said that “the crucial issue which has been discussed is the base for the formation of the executive authority after the elections in October,” adding that it is unacceptable for Serbs that base for the formation of the RS Government be a census from 1991. He believes there are no basis for the insisting on the symmetry of the RS Constitution and the BiH Federation Constitution, since the BiH Federation was created before the signing of the Dayton Agreement. “If the two constitutions are the same, then one constitution is sufficient – the Constitution of BiH. In that case, there are no constitutions of the entities, so there are no entities. Because of that, the Serb delegates cannot accept that variant,” Kalinic said. Commenting the advocating for the introduction of the name “Bosniak language,” he said that the language cannot be a symbol of the statehood, but that it must have a linguistic origin, adding that “the best variant of this amendments would be that Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats speak their languages.” At the election meeting in Zvornik, a new Municipal Board of the SDS was elected, which comprises of 33 members who will elect at the next session the president and other bodies of the party.
Sarovic against incidents
Republika Srpska President Mirko Sarovic said on Sunday that the RS in this year should avoid incidental situations, since its opponents can only profit from that, ONASA reported. Speaking at the election meeting of the Municipal Board of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) in Brcko, Sarovic said he is convinced that the Dayton Agreement and BiH Constitution are not obstacles to the admission into the European integration. According to Sarovic, the RS advocates the admission of BiH into the NATO’s program “Partnership for Peace,” Council of Europe and other international institutions, since “by that, we are showing that we do not want to make barriers, but to follow the European way.” Speaking on the activities on the constitutional changes, he said that the RS will implemented within the foreseen deadline those what the decision of the BiH Constitutional Court on the constituent status of all three peoples in the entire BiH requests, but nothing more than that. He added that the general political concordance for the implementation of the decisions of the BiH Constitutional Court and creation of the mechanisms for the protection and equality of citizens exist in the RS, but with the equal representation of those who participate in the political life. Regarding the relation towards the Brcko District, Sarovic assessed that the presence of the RS in the area of the Brcko District should be more significant, particularly advocating the urgent holding of the local elections.
RS Defense Minister comments on FRY Government decision to cut off financing of RS Army
(Provided by OHR Banja Luka)
Both Banja Luka dailies quote RS Defense Minister, Slobodan Bilic, as saying that he learned from the media about the FRY Government’s decision to cut financial assistance to the RS Defense Ministry. The papers report that the FRY Government fulfilled one of the US conditions set to the FRY authorities for continuing to receive financial assistance. Bilic told a news conference in Banja Luka that the FRY has provided salaries for approximately 1,500 RS Army officers. He said that the issue could be resolved within the annex to the Special Relations Agreement between the FRY and the RS, but added that the OHR still has not verified the annex. The Defense Minister told press he would discuss the issue with the representatives of the FRY Defense Ministry. Bilic also said that these 1,500 officers will have to decide whether they are going to pursue their careers in the FRY or in the RS, adding that 90 high-ranking officers meet requirements for retirement.
Interview with SPRS top official Miroslav Mikes – It is time for Radisic to go
(Provided by OHR Banja Luka)
Weekend edition of “Nezavisne novine” carries a brief interview with SPRS top official and President of the RS NA Constitutional Commission, Miroslav Mikes in which he expresses his views on the conflict between two wings of the Socialist Party of the RS (SPRS). (Note: One wing is led by Zivko Radisic, Biljana Rodic-Obradovic, etc.. while the other one is led by Tihomir Gligoric, Miroslav Mikes, Dragutin Ilic, Petar Djokic..) Mikes said that it is time for Radisic to go, because the number of SPRS voters is drastically decreased. He said that during the times of former SPRS president, Drago Ilic, 130,000 people voted for SPRS and the party had 16 seats in the RS National Assembly, while now, when Radisic is the leader, the SPRS has only four seats in the RS NA and only 25,000 people voted for the party. When asked whether he will form a new party if Radisic is not dismissed, Mikes said that nobody mentioned anything like that because the rift in the party is the last thing they would like to happen. Mikes also said that the SPRS Executive Board will nominate Petar Djokic for the president of the party. He also added that Radisic will probably run against Djokic, and mentions a possibility that Radisic nominates one of the vice-presidents of the party such as Nedjo Djuric to be a third candidate for the president of the party. According to Mikes, Radisic will probably nominate the third candidate because that would split the votes between the third candidate and Djokic and therefore would help Radisic to become a new president of the SPRS.
Official pledges to preserve Serb entity along Dayton principles
(Provided by OHR Banja Luka)
The chairman of the commission for constitutional issues of the RS National Assembly, Miroslav Mikes, told Banja Luka-based Alternativna TV last night that in the process of constitutional changes in this Bosnian entity he would advocate the option which he believes would contribute to the strengthening of BiH as a state, but not at the expense of the interests and survival of the RS. He said that he would support the preservation of all elements which belong to the RS according to the Dayton Agreement, with the aim of strengthening of BiH as a functional state, which is in the interests of the citizens of both entities and the three constitutional peoples.
Milorad Dodik holds a news conference after his return from the United States
(Provided by OHR Banja Luka)
Nezavisne Novine quotes leader of the Party of independent social democrats (SNSD), Milorad Dodik, as saying that the SNSD will not accept the imposition of the constitutional amendments if the High Representative for BiH decides to do so. Dodik said he would ask the High Representative to say whether he is going to impose the constitutional amendments or not and if the High Representative decides to impose it then the SNSD will walk out of negotiations. “If Petritsch imposes the constitutional amendments then the SNSD will insist that the RS NA votes on the Constitution and propose a protection mechanism that will adjust the RS Constitution to the BiH Constitution. Dodik also said that some parties from the BiH federation want to eliminate the entities, but at the same time they forget that this is not about changes of the BiH Constitution but changes of the entity Constitution. “We think that neither house of peoples not the entity parliament constitutional commission should be formed. We think that mechanisms of protection of national interests should be transferred to the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly”, said Dodik. He stressed that the US administration wants to see moderate political parties cooperating and this includes the SNSD and Mladen Ivanic’s PDP. “The US administration does not want to see the SDS in power in the RS. They want moderate parties to cooperate and this excludes the SDS. They wanted me to tell them whether it is possible to form the government without SDS and I told them it is possible, but Ivanic has to cease his cooperation with the SDS”, said Dodik.
International Community
CRA fines RTRS with 5,000 KM
According to Saturday’s Oslobodjenje, Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA) Enforcement Panel held its regular session and passed five decisions. RTRS broadcast the program titled “10 years of Republika Srpska”, which was found in breach of the Broadcasting Code of Practice – Article 1.4 “Fair and Impartial programming”. In addition, this station broadcast feature films “101 Dalmatians” and “Dobermann” for which it could not provide evidence that it obtains the copyrights. Thus, this station violated Rule 02/1999 – Compliance with Copyright Obligations. Considering the nature of the violations, and the station’s record of repeated breaches, RTRS is to pay a fine in the amount of 5000 KM. CRA Enforcement Panel also decided to bring this issue to the attention of High Representative as RTRS is currently a part of the process of restructuring of the public broadcasting system through his office. (CRA decisions)
Belgrade District Court expected to decide on Delimustafic’s extradition in coming days
According to Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz, the Belgrade District Court is these days expected to make an initial decision on the extradition of pre-war Republic of BiH Interior Minister Alija Delimustafic to BiH. According to the FRY laws, the second instance decision in the extradition cases is made by the Serbian Supreme Court, as the final decision on these issues is the authority of the FRY Justice Ministry.
Petritsch says with Oslobodjenje that BiH leaders are facing time limits
“In the two and a half years since I became High Representative, I have found myself repeating the phrases “institution building” and “rule of law” again and again – not because they have some sort of mantra-like power but because they are shorthand for the body of legislation and practice which a modern democracy needs in order to function. They sum up the mechanics of government. For six years, the mechanics of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been built around the Dayton Peace Agreement. We have learned on the job, and we have witnessed the remarkable capacity of the Dayton settlement to accommodate changing circumstances. Now, the Europeanisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken center stage. Alongside the implementation of Dayton, current political debate is addressing the best way of securing a place for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the prosperous European mainstream,” wrote the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, at the beginning of anarticle published in the Sunday’s Oslobodjenje.
Petritsch imposes laws on national monuments
The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, on Friday issued two Decisions that will support and simplify the reconstruction of National Monuments identified by the “Commission to Preserve National Monuments,” which has been set up in accordance with Annex 8 of the Dayton Peace Agreement. (Sunday’s Oslobodjenje and Dnevni Avaz and Monday’s Jutarnje Novine carried the OHR Press Release)
Petritsch says the 1991 census acceptable as a ground for ethnic composition of RS Government
The High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch believes the 1991 census is an “acceptable mechanism for providing full presence of constituent peoples and others in RS”, to be used as a ground for ethnic composition of the RS Government. In an interview with the Serb news agency (SRNA) on Saturday, he said he believed such elections would not be just a roll. He assessed that non-national parties have made quite an achievement at the 2000 general elections: for example the SDP won more then 20 percent of votes in BiH. Petritsch is of the opinion that engagement of some Bosniaks, Croats and other non-Serb ministers would encourage parties in RS, mainly Serb parties, to welcome those who are not Serbs, what would be, by all means, a step forward to a multiethnic society”. The High Representative underlined there will be no Dayton 2 of any kind, stressing the IC agree on that matter entirely. (Interview carried by Monday’s Dnevni Avaz and Nezavisne Novine)
Soros conference on the development of international support to BiH takes place in Sarajevo
All media reported that a two day conference Developing New Policies of International Support took place on Saturday and Sunday in Sarajevo. Addressing the participants, the High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, urged BiH politicians to reach agreement quickly on proposals to make the Entity Constitutions conform to the BiH Constitutional Court’s ruling on the constituency of peoples throughout the territory of BiH. The conference, on lessons that can be learned from the international intervention in BiH, was organized by the Soros Foundation’s Open Society Fund. (Sunday’s Dnevni Avaz and Monday’s Jutarnje Novine carried the OHR Press Release)
IJC says Ibrahimagic has no authorities to resume acting as the BiH Federation Constitutional Court’s President
According to Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz, the Independent Judicial Commission (IJC) reiterated Omer Ibrahimagic, former BiH Federation Constitutional Court President, had no authorities to resume acting in this capacity. Responding to the Ibrahimagic argument that his mandate had been extended by the Commission for Constitutional Issues of the Federation House of Peoples, IJC Deputy Director Kari Kiesilainen said in a letter sent to the newspaper that the mandate of the Constitutional Court judges was a mater regulated by the Constitution and it therefore could not be changed by a decision of any commission.
US Ambassador says families to contact with deported Algerians
In an interview with the Monday’s Oslobodjenje, US Ambassador to BiH Clifford Bond said that the families from BiH would be able to contact with the deported Algerians, but a way how this would be arranged was still to be determined. “I saw that the issue of Algerians was very presented in media during the past few weeks, and I would say that certain things were exaggerated in this matter. But, a public debate on such kind of the issues is a good thing. Those developments are part of a global effort to deal with overcoming terrorism, which equally represents a threat to the people in BiH and in the United States. Our two governments work together to combat and reduce this threat,” Bond said.
OHR’s Dauster apologises to Lagumdzija
Monday’s Oslobodjenje reports that Head of the OHR Anti-Fraud Department Manfred Dauster apologised to BiH Council of Ministers Chairman Zlatko Lagumdzija due to a headline: “I told Lagumdzija: judges need assistance,” which had appeared in the Sarajevo daily Dnevni Avaz last week following a meeting behind close doors of the representatives of the AFD and BiH authorities. Dauster said that this sentence was taken out of context and put on the front page without his knowledge. This sentence, according to Dauster, is a part of wider context in which he had wanted to point out at failures inside the BiH judicial system and possible assistance they needed particularly in processing the corruption cases.
Editorial
Oslobodjenje: Race with the time
The BiH leaders are struggling with the time, ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch warned these days, Ibrahim Prohic wrote at the beginning of the Monday’s Oslobodjenje In Focus Column. “The assessment refers to a need that an agreement on the amendments to the Entity Constitutions is reached within a few weeks. The implementation of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the constituent peoples is not only something which is necessary but urgent as well, since BiH is in the election year. The Constitutional reforms are a pre-condition for changes in the election law to be made on time,” Prohic concluded.
Headlines
Saturday
Oslobodjenje
- Prlic might know where the missing from Vranica are?
Dnevni Avaz
- Due to accusations against Becirevic: SDP requests public apology
Jutarnje Novine
- Winter Olympic Games open
Glas Srpski
- RS Directorate for Privatization – Million marks for wages;
- Euro emptied mattresses;
Nezavisne Novine
- Salt Lake City – The Winter Olympic Games have begun;
- Zlatko Lagumdzija – Klein took history lessons from Franjo Tudjman and Alija Izetbegovic;
Dnevni List
- 27 anti-tank mines on Miljacka bridge: Leutar prevented assassination of the Pope in Sarajevo?
- Alija’s shameful letter to Leutar’s wife
- Meeting of all Croat parties postpones for Tuesday: Some parties against are against presence of Church at meeting
- Zivko Radisic on BiH charge against FRY: Charge against FRY is charge against Republic of Srpska
Vecernji List
- Retired defenders threaten with charges against Federation Ministry of Defence: They throw us on street whilst Anic hires 25 pensioners
- Eronet principles say: Toby Robinson has not returned 46,52% of stocks
Sunday
Oslobodjenje
- BiH leaders are struggling with time frameworks
- Lagumdzija meets with Bush
Dnevni Avaz
- Lagumdzija from salt Lake City: I am satisfied with meetings with Bush and Annan
Vecernji List
- Leutar case: Attorney Dragan Barbaric claims: Mystery of Leutar assassination is not unknown to people who prepared false witness
Monday
- Clifford Bond exclusively for Oslobodjenje: Families will contact with deported Algerians
Dnevni Avaz
- Meat importers evaded dozens of millions of KMs?
Jutarnje Novine
- Dossier Sacirbegovic goes to the United States today
Glas Srpski
- How much money did the RS Directorate for Privatization pay? – Rodic’s wage – 300 salaries;
- Compensations to victims of nazism – Claims have to be approved;
Nezavisne Novine
- America is reconsidering its policy towards Iraq – America is attacking Iraq?
- Interview with Wolfgang Petritsch – 1991Census is a good basis for distribution of power in the RS;
Dnevni List
- A role of a former Head of the Sarajevo Police in ‘the Leutar case’: Ismet Dahic destroyed evidence on Leutar assassination?
- Ivica Ivek Kolobara, the President of HVIDRA Mostar: HVIDRA’s key task is the protection of Croat interests
Vecernji List
- Business relations between the Federation Ministry of Defense and ‘Herzegovina Osiguranje’ are being revealed: 11 000 HVO soldiers did not know that they have life insurance
- On Tuesday in Sarajevo settlement Stup: 8 Croat parties on Constitution