Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Weather report | |
| Stolac cross not removed today | RS: No changes to January pensions |
| Bishops’ Office PR on Stolac cross | Truce in |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Mostar Bishop Office announcement | BiH Presidency in session | No heating in BL Clinic Centre |
| Miletic says ICTY indictees in SCG | Terzic on his visit to | Jozo Leutar case reopened |
| SCG Army used to protect Mladic | BiH MoS to coordinate intel. services | HR on police reform |
| EUFOR on arrest of ICTY indictees | Election of new RS Police Director |
|
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Karadzic and Mladic in | Legalisation of prostitution in BiH? | Solana met with Terzic |
| FBiH HoR in session | FBiH HoR adopted Family Law | No heating in BL Clinic Centre |
| Hasanic’s amendment to family law | BiH Presidency in session | Problems caused by cold weather |
| BiH citizens on marriage | Terzic met with Solana and Rehn | Military exercise in Manjaca |
| Oslobodjenje | BH authorities do not want cases from |
| Dnevni Avaz | Solana will help abolishment of visas for BiH |
| Dnevni List | Beginning of the Lent marked by pulling down of cross |
| Vecernji List | Brussels wants to erase crosses in Stolac |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Temperature drops below -30 degrees |
| Nezavisne Novine | Filip Cepter wants Palas, RK Boska and Medical electronics |
| Glas Srpske | Misery caught in ice |
| EuroBlic | They performed a joint exercise for |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
| Nacional | Ratko Mladic: “Rather to death than to |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Update to Stolac cross issue
| RHB – In spite of announcements, the Stolac cross has not been removed today. Head of the FENA – Stjepan Boskovic stated that negotiations on the removal of the Stolac cross are still underway and that nothing concrete has been agreed upon yet. |
| Currency Board remains basis of Central Bank activities – Governor
| SRNA – The governor of the Central Bank of BiH, Kemal Kozaric, said that the Currency Board arrangement remains the basis of the Bank’s operations. In an interview published in the Central Bank Bulletin, Kozaric says that all other activities will constitute a supplementation up to the limits allowed by the Law in the Central Bank. “The next priority will be to invest currency reserves for profitability, security and liquidity, and the third priority will be to continue caring about the employees, that is for education,” he said. Kozaric stressed that he would like to see a bonds market established this year, saying that “unfortunately, some people do not see the significance of these projects.” As an example he mentioned that statistics are prepared by various Entity agencies by different methods. The Central Bank called on these agencies to cooperate and offered its statistics. |
| BiH CoM in session today | RHB – Among other things, the BiH CoM should discuss today a draft law on financial leasing, BiH railways and changes to the law on civil service in BiH institutions. |
| FBiH Govt in session today | RHB – The FBiH Government session is to take place in |
BiH-IC relations/Cooperation with ICTY | |
| Terzic in
| Pink– Report from meetings that the Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, had with the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and EU Commissioner for enlargement issues, Ollie Rehn. During his meeting with Terzic, HR Solana said that political solution for BiH should be reached by its citizens. Terzic says that the European Commission still points out the necessity for cooperation with the ICTY to be improved. Terzic said that he was about to face numerous tasks. He said: “The first task would be to try to establish a team which would help in arresting of war criminals, which the Peace Implementation Council requests from the BiH CoM. The team should make Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla According to Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Solana will help abolishment of visas for BiH, by S. Numanovic, Solana had promised Terzic that “he would help as much as he could that visas for BiH be abolished”. Box in Avaz entitled ‘EU willing to liberalize visa regime’ in Avaz reports that Terzic also met with EU Commissioner for Justice, Franco Frattini. According to Terzic “Commissioner Frattini clearly expressed the dedication of his Commission and Commissioner Rehn that an open dialogue with BiH regarding the liberalization of Visa regime be continued”. BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, , Oslobodjenje, pg 5 ‘Talks with European Commission in May’, not signed, Dnevni List last pg ‘EC: BiH deserves to continue to receive support’ by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Solana: Cooperation with ICTY crucial for BiH’ by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘To urgently establish a group for apprehending Hague fugitives’, announced on cover ‘CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic talked with EU officials’ by Mirza Cubro also covered the issue |
| VL on necessity to join PfP
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Army takes BiH to |
| DL op-ed on role of HR Ashdown in BiH
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Lord in bloom of reforms’ by N. Bise carries an editorial in which the author says that the statement given by Head of the EC delegation in BiH Michael Humphreys, who said that BiH does not have to hope that it will join the EU as long as it has the High Representative, might be interpreted in many ways and the most probable interpretation is identifying of the real problem of BiH in the institution of the HR. The author also says that in this case this is not only about the institution but also about the HR himself, since according to the author’s opinion the role and efficiency of Lord Paddy Ashdown is definitely the worst thing that arrived as an international assistance to our country. |
| Oslobodjenje’s Beric wonders why the IC has not resolved crisis in BiH in the past nine years
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Madly shirt’ Op-ed by Gojko Beric – The author wonders why the international community has not succeeded to resolve crisis in BiH in the past nine years since the Dayton Agreement signing? The answer, according to Beric, probably lies in different views of the Western countries on the causes and consequences of the political developments in BiH. Beric also wonders if the Dayton Agreement’s provisions are leading BiH to |
| Miletic on Karadzic, Mladic whereabouts
| RHB, Pink, Hayat, RTRS – FBiH Police Director Zlatko Miletic claims that FBiH holds evidence on Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic being in |
| Matijasevic on Miletic’s statement
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘I will exchange information on Karadzic and Mladic with Federation of BiH MoI’ by D. R. – Upon Federation of BiH Police Minister Zlatko Miletic’s statement that Karadzic and Mladic are in Serbia since last summer, RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic Wednesday stated that he would exchange information with the Federation of BiH MoI. ‘I would be glad to exchange information with Miletic with regard to all issues, including this one. Should he have any information on this, we will cooperate’, Matijasevic said. He added he could only confirm no person whose name is on the list of Hague Tribunal indictees resides in the area of RS. |
| Momcilo Mandic on Mladic
| Nacional pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘I would rather die than go to The Hague’ by N.B.-U.M. – The report carries the statement of Momcilo Mandic, saying that he attended Holy Saint celebration at a friend’s place in 1999 and 2000, when he also saw Ratko Mladic for the last time, who told him he would rather die than surrender to the Hague. According to Mandic, Ratko Mladicsaid he did not trust the new military establishment in |
| Report on alleged Mladic stay in Han Pijesak to be completed by Feb 14
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Report on alleged Mladic stay in Han Pijesak to be completed by Feb 14’ E. S. – The BiH Defence Ministry on Wednesday confirmed that the process of finalizing the report on the alleged wartime RS Army Commander and indicted war criminal Ratko Mladic stay in the Han Pijesak military facility last year was underway. The report will be completed by February 14, according to Defense Ministry Spokesperson Uma Sinanovic. |
| Kreso: BiH authorities not clear about taking over cases from ICTY | Oslobodjenje front pg splash and pg 7 ‘BH authorities do not want cases from |
Political Developments/Reforms | |
| BiH Presidency on US Proliferation and Security Initiative (PSI)
| RHB, Pink TV, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje, pg 5 ‘Prevention of spreading of weapons of mass destruction’, by A. Terzic, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Covic and Paravac refuse to appoint Vahid Karavelic as ambassador’, by A. M. Dnevni List pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘BiH is revising agreement with Holy See’ by M. Zorlak, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘BiH to revise agreement with Holy See’ by F, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘BiH Presidency: to revise agreement with Holy See’ by D. Pasic – The BiH Presidency on Wednesday discussed the US Proliferation and Security Initiative [PSI] and the country’s stance on UN reforms and expansion of the Security Council. Regarding the |
| Covic and Paravac rejected to appoint Vahid Karavelic as BiH Ambassador to
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Karavelic will not be BiH Ambassador to Pakistan’ by N. Krsman, Glas srpske pg 2 ‘A ramp for Karavelic’ by Srna, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Covic and Paravac rejected appointed of Vahid Karavelic as Ambassador’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Against Karavelic for principled reasons’ – BiH Presidency Chairman Borislav Paravac and Croat member of the Presidency Dragan Covic did not approve appointment of the retired BiH Army general Vahid Karavelic as the BiH Ambassador to Pakistan. Karavelic’s wartime engagement as the BiH Army’s Sarajevo Corps Commander was disputable for Paravac and Covic. |
| HR Ashdown in Tesanj, Usora on Police reform
| BHT – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown emphasised that the political discussions on Police reforms should be finished by the end of April. HR visited Police stations of Doboj, Tesanj and Usora. According to the Police Reform Commission, this region will be integrated with FBiH Police after the reforms are completed. Police officers both from RS and FBiH expressed cooperativeness. Political top in RS, on the other hand, rejected the suggested solution for integration in this region. They feel that all the changes should be made by a compromise and that the final word has the RSNA. Dragan Cavic, President of RS stated, “For reforms yes, principles yes, and organisation yes, compromise would be the existence of RS Police and MoI, as we said before.” HR stated that one thing that cannot be changed is that European Union has set standards that must be accomplished in order to become a part of Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Police reform would help save 140 million KM’, by M. Cabric– Also covered the issue. According to HR’s statement in Avaz, the result of the Police reform would be saving of some 140 million KMs. “In that system, Police officers would get paid, not the bureaucracy. We can expect financial help of European partners in that case. Otherwise, the road to EU is closed”, said HR Ashdown. FTV, Oslobodjenje, pg 8 ‘Politicians care more about themselves than about security of citizens’, by M. Be, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘High Representative in police patrol’ by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18, mentioned on cover ‘Policemen without winter shoes’ by B. Jelic also reported on the issue. |
| Sakan and Mikes criticize police reform
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Bad foundation – weak structure’ by N. Diklic – The Chairman of the Board for Surveillance over work of defence and police institutions, Velimir Sakan, thinks the changes, proposed by HR Ashdown and Wilfried Martens, would lead to deterioration, and not improvement, of security. He warned that, in case Ashdown’s model is adopted, it would create confusion in field because several courts and prosecutor’s offices would have the jurisdiction over one police region. A lawyer from |
| PRC member Zilic says establishment of five police regions only right solution
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Mountain of Trebevic a part of Foca police region’ E.S. – According to the article, when one looks more carefully at the borders of the ‘nine plus one’ police regions map proposed by HR Paddy Ashdown, it is clear that there are a number of failures particularly due to extremely illogical solutions for some areas. The objections to the map have been more and more frequent particularly for the regions of |
| RS Police Director update: Candidates submit incomplete documentation
| Pink TV, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje, pg 3 ‘None of candidates submitted complete documentation’, by O.V. , Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘None of five candidates submitted complete documentation’, by J. S., Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Five candidates for RS police director’ by D. R., EuroBlic pg RS7 ‘Bosniaks want Jaganjac’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Five envelopes were opened’ by V. J. – Independent Board for nomination of RS police director was not able to bring decision on the nomination, since documentation of all 5 candidates is incomplete. The Board is going to hold its next session for 23rd of February, and the potential candidates are going to be interviewed. By 23rd of February, all candidates should complete their documentations. The candidates are: Nedeljko Kesic, Nenad Dragisic, Dragomir Jovicic, Fadil Jaganjac and Dragomir Andan. The Chair of the Board Ilija Lukic says that the future police director cannot be a member of any political party. SDA representatives warns that nomination of new RS police director should be done in accordance with decisions of BiH Constitutional Court on constitutionality of nations, which means that the future director should be Bosniak. Pink TV – SDA representative Sefket Hafizovic said “Due to police reform, my opinion is that there should be no hurry in nomination of new RS police director, since, according to the reform, the state is going to be in charge of authorities. Anyhow, we believe that a Bosniak is going to be nominated for the position.” |
| Bishop’s Ordinariate on Stolac crosses
| RHB, Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 5 ‘Beginning of the Lent marked by pulling down of cross’ not signed, Vecernji List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Brussels wants to erase crosses in Stolac’ by V. Rupcic – Carry a press release issued by the Bishops’ Ordinariate Mostar, which says that the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) stated 7 things because of which implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord in BiH is late and the Stolac cross is among them. The Bishops’ Ordinariate wonders as to how it is possible that the cross is endangering the |
| FBiH Urban Planning Minister Mehmedagic: Illegal crosses in Stolac must be removed | Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Removal of illegal crosses in Stolac postponed due to Lent’ – FBiH Urban Planning and Environment Minister Ramiz Mehmedagic on Wednesday rejected a request by Stolac Mayor Stjepan Boskovic to annul the Chief Urban Planning inspector’s decision on removal of illegal crosses in the town. Mehmedagic says that this means the inspector’s decision must be implemented, but in a peaceful manner. |
| Mostar City Council on names of disputable streets in Mostar
| RHB, Dnevni List pg 17 ‘Working group for renaming of streets appointed’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Revision of streets’ names follow’ by M. Relota, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 8 ‘Revision of names of streets and squares’ by M. Landeka, Dnevni Avaz, pg 12 ‘Change names of streets that irritate Mostarians’, by F. Vele, Oslobodjenje, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Audit of names of streets, squares and facilities soon’, by L. Ba – Mostar City Council session – The session of the Mostar City Council was held on Wednesday and during this session the decision on forming a working group that will make revision of names of streets, squares and public facilities in Mostar and propose new names was passed. Also, they gave consent for adoption of the Confidence Building Measures Committee recommendations. |
| DNS on support to new RS Government
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 8 ‘DNS will not participate in Bukejlovic’s Government’, by J. S. – Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Decision on the support to the Government to be reached at the Presidency session’ by V. P. – DNS will not participate in the Government of Pero Bukejlovic, while it will decide on the support to the new RS Government at the Presidency session of the party. The Main Board of DNS asks from RS President Dragan Cavic to convene a meeting of signatory parties of the Agreement on Harmonized political activities because the party thinks ‘a majority of the signatory-parties have violated the document, because of which the question of its value was raised’. DNS President Marko Pavic said the decision of DNS will not depend on decision of PDP on whether to support the new RS Government, however, he added, if all signatory-parties decide to support the Government, then DNS would support it as well. Also reported by Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘They do not want to enter the Government’ by D. Z. |
| Colak on position of BiH Croats | Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘Croats are uncomfortable in Bosnia’ by Dusan Stojakovic – In a half a page interview to VN, Barisa Colak, HDZ President, openly admits “BiH is a specific state by many elements’, claiming it is not tenable in the long run. He agrees with the journalist suggestion that Croats do feel uncomfortable in BiH, adding: “I wish it were not like that. The fact itself that Croats cannot achieve some issues through entity and state institutions stipulated anywhere in |
Economy/Social Affairs | |
| FBiH HoR: Family law adopted
| RHB, Pink TV, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz, pg 9 ‘Proposal of family law adopted’, by A. Basic, Oslobodjenje, pg 2 ‘Family and law on protection from violence in family adopted’, by S. Se ,Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Proposal of Family Law adopted’ by J. Petrovic – During the session of the Federation of BiH House of Representatives held on Wednesday a proposal of the Family Law was adopted, while representatives did not declare themselves on the amendment of SDA representative Mirsad Hasanic on the right to have more than one marriage at the same time since this amendment was not forwarded to the procedure on time. |
| OHR on public expenditures in BiH
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 8 ‘BH authorities must resolve issue of crisis of budget’, not signed, Oslobodjenje, pg 11 ‘BiH must solve forthcoming budget crisis’, not signed Dnevni List pg 4 ‘OHR: Authorities must act fast if they want to avoid financial collapse’ by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘BiH faced with financial collapse’ by Z.Z., Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘BiH must be resolving forthcoming problems of the budget’ by Onasa – OHR spokesperson |
| FBiH Tax Administration Director Arifovic says BiH tax system illogical
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Our tax system is illogical and inappropriately organized/structured’ – “The complete tax system in BiH is pretty illogical and inappropriately organized/structured. There is still much to be done and changed in order for collection of taxes/public revenues to be increased for the benefit of all the citizens. Unfortunately, no one is consulting us as the experts before drafting necessary tax legislation,” said Midhat Arifovic, the Federation of BiH Tax Administration Director, in an interview with the daily. |
| Surgeries in
| BHT, Hayat, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Surgeries were cancelled, -10˚ at surgery department’ by Z. Galic, EuroBlic cover pg splash and pg RS1 ‘Patients are freezing, sergeants are not operating’ by EuroBlic team – Patients of Surgical Ward of Clinical Hospital in Banja Luka will be discharged home due to extremely low temperatures in the surgery theatres. Hospital board considers City Heating Plant responsible for this. Management of the Heating plant claims that |
Legal Proceedings | |
| Jelavic trials continue
| Dnevni List pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Unknown destiny of about 50 cars owned by company Monitor M’ by E. Mackic, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Former Director of ‘Monitor M’ testified’ by ra – Carry that Former Director of ‘Monitor M’, Ignjacije Rakic,testified in the Hercegovacka Bank case on Wednesday. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Ante Jelavic has nothing to do with Monitor’ by Z. Tulic also says that Rakic stated that former HDZ President and suspect in this case Ante Jelavic has not issued any order to Monitor and he did not influence business operations of this company in any way. (also in Oslobodjenje, pg 2 ‘Monitor M a shareholder in HB with one employee’, by A. N., Dnevni Avaz, pg 11 ‘Monitor M was receiving money from FBiH Defence Ministry’, by H. Orahovac) |
| Leutar case to be re-opened
| Oslobodjenje, pg 2 ‘Investigation team formed again’, not signed, Vecernji List pgs 2 and 3, mentioned on cover ‘Investigation on Leutar murder renewed’ by Z. Kresic – Carry that the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor Branko Sljivar renewed the investigation on the assassination of late Federation of BiH Deputy Minister of Interior Jozo Leutar after new evidence became available to the Prosecution. BHT reports that Cantonal Public Prosecutor’s Office in conjunction with FBiH Prosecutor’s Office, announced the reopening of the case. |
| Jerko Ivankovic denies charges
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 10 ‘Jerko Ivankovic-Lijanovic interviewed at BiH Prosecution’, by F. Vele, Oslobodjenje, pg 2 ‘Jerko Ivankovic Lijanovic expects the investigation to be called off’, by A. N., Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Foreign lobbies staged investigation against Lijanovici!?’ by M.K., Vecernji List pg 3 ‘We are victims of campaign of import BiH lobby’ by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija -Report that Jerko Ivankovic Lijanovic gave a testimony yesterday (Wednesday) before Prosecutor Mats Mattsson and this should be the last testimony in this case. According to Jerko Ivankovic Lijanovic, it has been proved that foreign lobbies staged the whole investigation and it is expected that the Prosecutor will decide that there is no ground for further continuation of this case. |
| Filip Cepter wants “Palas”, “Boska” and “Medicinska Elektronika”
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Filip Cepter wants “Palas”, “Boska” department store and Medicinska Elektronika’ by D. Risojevic – Nebojsa Pantic,one of legal representatives of “Cepterfona” Company, owned by Filip Cepter,confirmed that: “Along with out-of-court settlement of BAM 6.5 million, the Company expects from RS Government to ensure strategic partnership to this company at some companies as a sort of compensation for the non-accomplished deal with GSM licence.” NN learnt that the companies “Cepterfona” is interested in are: Department Store “Boska”, Hotel “Palas” and Medicinska Elektronika facility. |
| Investigation into alleged illegalities in Elektrobosna of Jajce
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Investigation on illegalities in ‘Elektrobosna’ started’ by R. Cengic – An anonymous source from the Federation of BiH Police Administration stated that the FBiH Police entered ‘Elektrobosna’ according to the instruction of the BiH Prosecution. NN also carries Director of this company Tomislav Mihalj who stated that the FBiH Ministry of Interior took away from the Cantonal Prosecution in Travnik all material on illegalities committed within this company and forwarded it to the BiH Prosecution. Mihalj added: ‘All criminal charges filed by the FBiH Financial Police to the Cantonal Prosecution were put away for a long time, however, the FBiH MoI took and forwarded them to the BiH Prosecution.’ The FBiH Financial Police confirmed that they filed 4 criminal charges against 15 people because of illegalities in ‘Elektrobosna’. One of the Financial Police inspectors stated that they have been working on the Elektrobosna case for 5 years already, however, that it is up to the Prosecution to determine what is a criminal act and what is not. He added: ‘Our investigation has determined illegal activities with regard to co-capitalization, business operations with Elektroprivreda of Herceg Bosna and relations with companies from the RS.’ NN also says that they failed to get more detailed information in the BiH Prosecution yesterday. |
| Charges pressed against former Assistant Minister for Refugees in RS Govt | Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘RS Government authorised official damaged the budget for BAM 477,548’ by SRNA – The Crime Department of the Banja Luka PSC filed charges with the District Prosecutor’s Office against S.M. (born in 1960), former assistant minister for refugees and displaced persons in the RS government, on suspicion of committing the criminal act of abuse of office, which resulted in damaging the RS budget for BAM 477,548. |