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| FBiH Govt session to be held today | Protest of ‘Agrokomerc’ workers | Leaky on Mladic |
| ICTY trials continue this week | Abbas wins Palestinian elections | Tihic: SDA not to support RS Govt |
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TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| New Bulldozer proposals | Storm in | Peace agreement in | Cavic on RS position |
| FBIH Gov’s sess. tomorrow | BiH assistance to | Storm in | Day of RS in Brcko District |
| OHR on RS PM-designate | Palestinians vote for leader | BiH assistance to | Reactions to PM-designate |
| SNSD on PM-designate | Peace agreement in | Reactions to PM-designate | Leakey on Mladic |
| Oslobodjenje | SDA threatens with blockades in RS Council of Peoples |
| Dnevni Avaz | Mladic’s Officer holds the Office of BiH Assistant Defence Minister |
| Dnevni List | |
| Vecernji List | Privatization of BH Gas questionable |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features |
| Glas Srpske | In accordance with neither census nor regulations |
| Nezavisne Novine | Cavic toys around with people and RS; Limov thinks CoM has violated laws |
| Blic | 140,643 unemployed citizens in RS; Dragan Cavic: Defense reform is overthrowing the system |
| Vecernje Novosti | Short breath of concord; The town will pay the bill |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Protest of Agrokomerc workers | BH Radio 1 by Mirza Sadikovic – About 1380 workers of Agrokomerc company from Velika Kladusa are in strike as of today, and have announced they would hold protests in front of the of the FBiH Government in Sarajevo. The workers also protest every Monday and Thursday on the complex grounds. They demand the revision of the privatization process and re-launch of the production process. Workers have also stressed that the protests are directed against the ignorance of the FBiH Government, which is company’s majority share holder, towards their issues. |
Political developments/reforms | |
| SDA threatens with blockades in RS Council of Peoples
| Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘SDA threatens with blockades in RS Council of Peoples’ by V. Zivak – If the new RS Government decides to obstruct implementation of the international community’s decisions or if it tries to slow down or stop the reforms of police and defense, the SDA will in response block “many projects” in the RS Council of Peoples, according to RS Vice-president and senior SDA official Adil Osmanovic. In a statement for the daily, Osmanovic emphasized that if the new RS Government intended to obstruct reforms than SDA will not support it. “The Serb political parties must finally realize how big is the strength and influence of SDA in RS,” Osmanovic added. |
| DA int with Tihic: Most probably SDA will not support new RS Govt
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Embarrassment with Mourning Day was a result of holiday’s paralysis of the authorities’ by Mirela Kukan – In an interview to DA, SDA leader Sulejman Tihic, comments on the appointment of Pero Bukejlovic as RS Prime Minister-designate by saying that he has no much information about him, however adding he is not much of the optimistic. Tihic said that due to the stances of Serb politicians regarding the police and defence reforms, cooperation with ICTY, etc. most probably SDA will not support the new Government. If the new Government is established without SDA, Tihic says that party will become opposition. Asked to comment the blockade of the Council of Ministers, Tihic underlined: “I always said that we have a constitutional system which produces crises and under which is it very difficult to find solution without involvement of the international community… Only through the change of the constitutional system domestic powers can seek solutions.” |
| RS President Cavic: There is no place for SDA in new RS Government
| BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘There is no place for SDA in new RS Government’ by J. Stojanovic, Oslobodjenje pg 4, Nezavisne Novine pgs 2-3 ‘Cavic: Bukejlovic is a good proposal’, FENA, SRNA – The future government of the RS will not include the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), RS President Dragan Cavic said on Sunday. Cavic told journalists at a ceremony marking the Day of the RS that “there was no place for the SDA” in the cabinet of the RS government which will be appointed by the new prime minister designate, Pero Bukejlovic. He reiterated that at this point there was a parliamentary majority which will endorse Bukejlovic’s candidacy for the post of prime minister. Cavic went on to say that Bukejlovic has yet to hold talks with all members of the RS parliament in an attempt to secure as much support for his concept. Commenting on the possibility that Bukejlovic may not get the necessary parliamentary majority, Cavic said that he “did not expect that the deputies would reject a proposal by the prime minister designate’s cabinet”. Should this happen, the constitution envisages that another prime minister designate be named who would then have 40 days to appoint the new cabinet. “This would be a big problem and it would be a manifestation of a political and institutional crisis in the RS,” Cavic said, adding that he was confident that everyone in the political life of the RS was responsible enough and had enough political sense not to go down this road. |
| SNSD leader Dodik: Nomination of Bukejlovic is a finger in the eye of international community
| RHB, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘There is no place for SDA in new RS Government’, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘SDA threatens with blockades in RS Council of Peoples’, Nezavisne Novine pgs 2-3 ‘Dodik: SDS on the black list’, FENA – The President of the RS Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), Milorad Dodik, said on Sunday that this political party would not participate in talks on electing the new RS government headed by Pero Bukejlovic, or vote in favour of his election. He reiterated that the US Government had put the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) of Bukejlovic “on the ‘black list’ and now when the RS needs new international credibility, it is not a good idea to stick a finger in the eye of the international community, i.e. the United States”. Dodik regarded Bukejlovic’s nomination as “a political game”, which is in the interest of SDS and not the RS, and added that the international political position of RS cannot be improved with Bukejlovic heading the new government. Dodik told the press that nominating Bukejlovic as the prime minister designate is a “completely irresponsible move towards the Entity, and a direct strike against the Agreement on Coordinated Political Action of the six parties from the RS, which included the item that all parties would support the nominee for the PM designate, but this has not happened”. He added that the Agreement envisioned forming of a new concept that would be supported by all signatories, “instead of imposing a story with a man who was the minister of industry two years ago when economy was completely devastated and privatization mismanaged”.Dodik raised concerns because “such an unsuccessful man is now being put on top of a government that should save the economic and particularly the international political position of the RS”. |
| Stojicic: Bukejlovic will get RSNA support
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Stojicic: Bukejlovic will get RSNA support’ – RS National Assembly Speaker Dusan Stojicic believes that the RS Prime Ministers designate Pero Bukejlovic will propose a good, skilled and professional government that will get support by RSNA as foreseen by the Agreement on Coordinated Political Action. “There will be no SDA-nominated Ministers in the Government, but Bosniaks will have five ministerial posts in accordance to the Constitution,” said Stojicic. |
| Reactions to appointment of Pero Bukejlovic
| Nezavisne Novine, cover and pgs. 2-3 ‘Cavic toys around with people and RS’ by V. Popovic – Marko Pavic (DNS) thinks the appointment of Pero Bukejlovic represents a continuation of politics that failed and he thinks Bukejlovic was appointed in order to hide acts of those who will sell out everything in RS. (Also carried by RTRS, EuroBlic, pg. RS1 ‘Wise silence of politicians’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5) Petar Djokic (SP RS) thinks RS President has conducted negotiations regarding the appointment of the designate in a completely wrong manner and brought himself to a position of having no other choice but to thinks of just any solution at the last minute. He added he did not know whether SDS and PDP delegates would support such a solution, but ‘SP RS, should there be readiness of parties that have signed the Agreement, will help in establishing of RS Government in order for RS to get the executive authority and to deal with another important issue after that – with CoM’. (Also carried by BHT, RTRS) Mirko Blagojevic (SRS “Dr. Vojislav Seselj”) thinks the appointment of Pero Bukejlovic means the ruling coalition SDS – PDP – SDA would stay on power. He thinks Cavic’s behavior was not serious and he added the attempts to establish the Government through negotiations were a farce. He says ‘destruction of RS institutions and transfer of their authority to BiH level would continue’. (also reported by Vecernje Novosti, cover ‘Short breath of concord’ and pg. 5 ‘Salvo announced discord’ by Slobodan Pesevic) Milanko Mihajlica (SRS) says this party is ready to discuss the new composition of RS Government with designate Pero Bukejlovic and he expressed his hope that the new designate would act in accordance with Constitution and laws of RS. (Also reported by BHT, EuroBlic, pg. RS1 ‘Wise silence of politicians’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Support by SRSRS’) Svetozar Pudaric (SDP) thinks the international community, especially Seada Palavric (SDA) assessed that the appointment of the new designate might lead to final stabilization of political situation in RS and end of executive authority crisis. (Also reported by EuroBlic, pg. RS1 ‘Wise silence of politicians’ by Rajna Radosavljevic) OHR Spokesperson Vecernje Novosti, cover ‘Short breath of concord’ and pg. 5 ‘Salvo announced discord’ by Slobodan Pesevic, inset ‘Nothing against’ quotes |
| Reactions to Bukejlovic’s appointment in Electronic media, CRO Press
| Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘OHR supports new Prime Minister-designate’, by Nermin Bise – Carries statements/reactions of an OHR spokesman Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Coalition SDS-PDP-SDA remains in power’, by Branka Stevandic – Carries statements of RS President Dragan Cavic, Milorad Dodik (SNSD), Marko Pavic (DNS), Milanko Mihajlica (SRS RS). BHT, FTV, RTRS – Slobodan Popovic from SDP says that if Bukejlovic works as he did when he was a Minister than nothing good can be expected. Safet Halilovic from SzBIH says that this party hasn’t participated in the Government and now in particular has no reason for it. |
| NN article on Pero Bukejlovic
| Nezavisne Novine, pgs. 2-3 ‘Workers have been chasing Bukejlovic away from the factory’ by P. Klincov – the article claims Pero Bukejlovic has attempted to become the director of Modrica Oil Refinery by force in 2003. On that occasion, SDS Doboj opposed to having Bukejlovic at any position in RS, including the position of Modrica Oil Refinery. The party has explained that, at the end of his mandate at RS Government, Bukejlovic has established Steering structures at “RS Railroad Company” and at “Trudbenik” without any consultations with the party and, by doing so, he brought personnel of disputable quality to these steering structures. The party also believes Bukejlovic has also showed poor performance as a minister of RS Government. |
| NN op-ed on Pero Bukejlovic
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Taunt with the people’ by Predrag Klincov – The author stresses that the nomination of Pero Bukejlovic as PM-designate is actually representing the taunting with the people of RS, since Bukejlovic is remembered as Minister from Government of Mladen Ivanic, during his mandate the industry made high drop in production and racketeering privatisation of the state companies at public auctions. The author notes RS people did not deserve to be subjects of such a taunt for the celebration of 13th birthday of RS. |
| RS President Cavic at reception on the occasion of RS establishment anniversary: RS exists and it will be existing
| BHT – RS President Dragan Cavic expressed his belief that everyone in BiH will contribute to BiH progress towards EU, with RS in it, during formal ceremony marking RS Day and St. Steven Day on Sunday.Highest RS officials paid respect to fallen soldiers of the RS Army and victims fascism in the WW II. BHT broadcasted short facts form the RS history. “RS is not only entity for us, it is our way of living. Such way of living do not endanger in any way existence of BiH, it enrich it and represents the best possible State structure,” stated Cavic. RS Vice-President from the Bosniak people, Adil Osmanovic, do not recognize this date and he didn’t attend the ceremony. Vice-President from Croat people, Ivan Tomljenovic, partially participated in the ceremony. “I don’t see myself in this celebration of the RS. I participated in these celebrations previously, but this time I decided not to go because there are no elements of Croat or Bosniak people at the ceremony,” said Tomljenovic. RTRS – RS celebrates its 13th birthday and the day of St. Steven on Sunday. Reception was organised on the occasion and RS President Dragan Cavic stated that RS is not endangered. “RS will not be an obstacle to European processes but it wants to be a factor and to participate in those processes as an equal partner. RS was not and will not be an obstacle on BIH’s European path. RS and Serbs in BIH at least, want an oriental path of BIH towards Teheran or Dnevni List pg 4 ‘RS exists and it will be existing’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Day of RS celebrated yesterday’ by B.S., Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ‘European path of BiH together with RS’ by V. Popovic, Glas Srpske, pg. 3 ‘Homeland in a heart’ by M. Dzepina, Vecernje Novosti, pg. 3 ‘Without fear for survival’ by N. G., EuroBlic, pg. RS2 ‘Cavic: There is no reason for fear’ by Marija Jandric also covered the issue. |
| Croatian President Mesic says he will not campaign in
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Assistance to BiH Croats for equality’, HINA – Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said in an telephone interview with Mostar’s Radio Herceg-Bosna on Saturday that Croatia should assist Bosnian Croats in achieving equal status with the two other constituent ethnic groups, but stressed that they should “seek their happiness” in BiH. Mesic said that he would not run his election campaign in BiH, and assessed that European-oriented Croats and other citizens holding dual Bosnian and Croatian citizenship might vote for him in the second round of the presidential election in |
| Oslobodjenje on Novakovic’s proposal of the Law on
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Constitutional Court would make temporary decisions too’ by V. Zivak – BiH Parliament will soon discuss the proposal of the law on BiH Constitutional Court, as proposed by the SDS delegate to BiH House of Representative, Momcilo Novakovic. According to the proposal, the Court would have nine members – six elected by FBiH HoR and three by RSNA, while the justice in the Court could only be a BiH citizen. The Law also envisages the establishment of the Council for protection of the vital interests, which would consist of 6 members – 2 from each of the constituent peoples. According to Novakovic, the “constitutional ground for endorsing this law is in the provisions of the BiH Constitution, which regulates appointment of three judges elected by the Chair of the European Court for Human Rights.” After more than five years, as it is stated in the Constitution, BiH Parliament could decide on different appointment of these three justices, which Novakovic did too. |
| DL on constitutional changes: Political parties want to keep monopoly
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Monopoly of political parties’ by I. Rozic carries an editorial in which the author says that some university professors expressed their positions with regard to constitutional changes in BiH, however, for this reason they were singled out by some political parties. The author concludes that by such reactions the political parties either want to prevent people to have a different opinion and take over monopoly on the political scene when decision-making is in question or they unfairly ascribed themselves a right to shut down certain ideas even before they come to life. |
| GS cover page story on employment at BiH joint institutions
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Neither by the census or regulations’ by N.Z. – The BiH Civil Service Agency, whose task, amongst others, wad to ensure ethnic balance of those employed at the BiH state institutions, has turned out to have failed to implement criteria on ethnic representation. According to Jakob Finci, Agency Director, says that 7 Bosniaks, 2 Serbs and 2 Croats and one representatives from “others” are currently assuming 12 “specific p[positions”. GS notes that this representation does not meet the standards stipulated by 1991 census. Finci explains: “We are trying to respect the ethnic structure, but it is extremely hard in Agencies as small as this one. All we can do it so employ four more people at “specific posts”. The obstruction is the lack of financial resources to fill in positions at Agency with professional staff.” Serb officials at state institutions wonder what the situation is like at other state institutions, bearing in mind the above. Bosko Siljegovic, Head of Serb Caucus at the BiH HoP, says: “The fact is that provision on ethnic representation of those employed is not respected at the cost of Serbs. I have raised this question several times at the Parliament, but no results have been achieved as yet.” Slobodan Nagradic, Assistant to BiH Minister of Human Rights and Refugees, says: “As for BiH CoM, the worst situation on this matter is at BiH Civil Affairs Ministry, where much more Bosniaks are working, and much less Serbs and Croats.” He also notes that BiH Foreign Affairs Ministry seems to be unable to overcome the ethnic de-balance (with Bosniak dominance and lack of Serb officials at diplomatic and consular missions). GS concludes it is possible that such an ethnic picture is in accordance with New Year’s message of Paddy Ashdown. |
| Milutin Pejic will be excluded from SPRS
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2 ‘Milutin Pejic will be excluded from SP RS’ by V. P. – Following a letter Milutin Pejic sent to Petar Djokic on Friday, SP RS President Petar Djokic has announced Miluting Pejic will soon be excluded from SP RS. Pejic accused Djokic in the letter of having signed “a formal political agreement with five other parties on support to establishing of the Government, regardless of its composition”. |
| Tomislav Limov on OSA
| Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘Limov thinks CoM has violated laws’ and pg. 4 ‘Limov: CoM has violated Law on OSA’ by M. Cubro – Tomislav Limov, the Chairman of the Commission for surveillance over the work of OSA, claims several hundreds of agents of state intelligence service have been fired on the base of results of safety verification, although CoM has never prepared the Law that would regulate this matter. ‘OSA leadership has prepared an internal Book of Procedures on safety verifications and CoM has confirmed it. However, the Law on safety verifications has never been prepared, although the CoM has been obliged to prepare it by September 1, 2004’. Limov thinks this has been done on purpose because the Book of Procedures is an internal act and its contents cannot be checked. He also thinks CoM has not respected regulations of the Law on OSA by failing to adopt the law on safety verifications. |
War crimes/cooperation with ICTY | |
| Dnevni Avaz: Mladic’s Officer holds the Office of BiH Assistant Defense Minister
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Mladic’s officer – an Assistant to the BiH Defence Minister’, pg 3 ‘Radovanovic’s assistant was a close associate of Ratko Mladic’, by E.S. – DA reminds that today [10 January], BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, should receive the report on the investigation on persons that assisted Ratko Mladic by providing him with shelter in Veliki Zep military premise. DA’s sources close to BIH Armed Forces say they are not optimistic in this regard adding that some of the closest Mladic’s associates take up important positions in RS and BiH. Daily also learned that the investigation team of the BiH MoD had a hard time gathering information and that they faced obstructions not only in the RS Army but also in their Ministry. According to DA, one of the assistants to the Minister in BiH MoD was former Mladic’s assistant in charge of moral in RS Army, Savo Sokanovic. Sokanovic was also a member of the Orao company’s steering board at the time of the affair, and DA also carries copies of his alleged diary during the way, which “according to some information is the part of evidences in BiH’s lawsuit against SCG for aggression.” |
| EUFOR Commander Leaky: SFOR, NATO had solid evidence on Mladic’s stay in Han Pijesak
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘SFOR and NATO had strong evidences on Mladic’s dwelling in Han Pijesak’ by Srna, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2 ‘Karadzic and Mladic are mostly nor in BiH’ by Srna, Glas srpske, pg. 2 ‘Mladic did (not) come’ not signed – EUFOR Commander, general David Leakey, stated in Banja Luka that SFOR and NATO had strong evidences of Ratko Mladic’s presence in Hand Pijesak last summer and in several other occasions. He added that “EUFOR, NATO and BiH authorities have information that Ante Gotovina, Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, most often do not spend time in BiH,” BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, told Srna that there are no evidences or any new information on Mladic’s hiding in Han Pijesak. “We will keep carrying out the investigation on that, especially when it comes to the statements of the official personalities,” said Radovanovic adding that Ministry will do everything in its power to prevent offering assistance to persons indicted for war crimes. |
| SCG Foreign Minister Draskovic: Indictees must be transported to
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Suspects must go to the Hague by March’ – The SCG Foreign Affairs Minister, Vuk Draskovic, stated for Belgrade based daily ‘Politika’ that “Brussels told us: we were very patient with you, and we will not be anymore.” Draskovic added that March has been set up as the deadline for meeting obligations from the Feasibility Study, “practically one condition: for suspects to be in |
| DL: Destiny of RS tied with BiH lawsuit against
| Dnevni List, pg 9, mentioned on front ‘Deal about Republika Srpska has begun’, by M. Batarello – Talking about the future (internal) organization of BiH, the author argues that the future of Republika Srpska is tied to the lawsuit that BiH has filed against Serbia and Montenegro, for which the author claims it is likely possible that BiH will win the lawsuit and war reparations amounting to more than 10 billion Euros. DL continues: “This time too the IC is doing the thinking for us, because how can |
| Dutch Government rejects out-of-court settlement with lawyers representing Srebrenica survivors
| Dnevni List pg 7, mentioned on front, ‘Lawsuit of Srebrenica people in |
Economic/social affairs | |
| Bulldozer Committee submits some 50 new proposals
| RHB, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ’50 more tasks for governments in BiH’, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Bulldozer is handing over package’ by vr, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Obstacles in business operations of domestic entrepreneurs’ not signed,ONASA – The Bulldozer Committee, which has been taken over by the BiH Association of Employers, on Monday will submit the third set of some 50 proposals for changing the laws and regulations representing obstacles to normal and efficient business operations. |
| VL: Privatization of BH Gas halted
| Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Privatization of BH Gas questionable’, and pg 3 ‘State looking after BH Gas’ by Zoran Kresic – Announces that the FBiH Government should at its session scheduled for today (Monday) take a decision according to which the ‘BH Gas’ Company will be withdrawn from the package of strategic companies that are to be privatized. According to VL, the proposal is coming from the FBiH Ministry of Energy and Industry and Minister Izet Zigic. VL speculates that placing a moratorium on the privatization of the ‘BH Gas’ in the next five years is aimed at preventing Russian capital from taking over the ‘BH Gas’ (because Russian tycoons claim millions of KM incurred by BH Gas during the war) and keeping the doors open to various partnerships/lobbies gathered around “Silajdzic’s Party for BiH”. |
| VL interview: FBiH Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic on VAT
| Vecernji List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘We are doing everything to introduce VAT on July 1 this year’, by Zoran Kresic – Carries an interview with the FBiH Finance Minister, Dragan Vrankic, in which he, among other issues, talks about the introduction of the VAT in BiH. “Each reform can be seen as a cut that leaves a scar. We will have negative consequence in the initial stage. However, I am convinced that the reforms will contribute to increase of revenues and establishment of completely new relation with the introduction of the VAT (…) We are doing everything to introduce the VAT on July 1, although it was never introduced at half year mark anywhere else. It is much simpler to start at beginning of year. However, I hope that everything will start on July 1 because of functioning of the state”, says Vrankic. |
Miscellaneous | |
| Franciscans open students’ centre in
| RHB, Dnevni List, front pg splash ‘Sarajevo: Bosna Srebrena International Student Centre opened’ and pg 6 ‘Good will of Franciscans resulting in deed’, by Erna Mackic – Reports that Franciscans of the Bosna Srebrena province have reconstructed the building of a former Franciscan monastery at the Sarajevo district of Kovacici and turned it into the Bosna Srebrena International Student Centre. According to the deputy director of the Centre, friar Janko Cura, the aim is to accommodate poor students, who are in the same time good students. The Centre is planning to accommodate students irrespective of their nationality. |
| Update to Alijagic case
| Vecernje Novosti pg 19 ‘City is paying for everyone’ by R. Gutic – The article reports that although the verdict in case Alijagic brothers versus RS Ministry of Trade, Trebinje Municipality and “Metalac” company” of BAM 8 million compensation was to be paid out by all three defendants, it seems that Trebinje municipality will be the only one paying out the compensation and facing with bankruptcy over this issue. Accordingly, Trebinje municipality ahs asked for assistance from the RS authorities on this issue. Glas Srpske cover page report ‘Lock on the budget’ by M.B. – Dobroslav Cuk, Trebinje Mayor, on Sunday announced that the Trebinje municipality budget would be most likely blocked as of Monday (10 January) owing to payment of compensation to Alijagic brothers He also announced he would do all he can to find solution to this problem and ensure the functioning of municipality. |