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| Sessions of BiH HoR, FBiH Govt | Ex RS MoI to surrender to ICTY | Stanisic’s surrender to |
| EU on CRO-EU accession talks | BiH HoR in session | BiH HoR session |
| | Sport news | February pension payment |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| Croat self-governance case | Inauguration of the WCC | Inauguration of WCC |
| War Crimes Chamber inauguration | Perisic case update | Perisic’s plea |
| FBIH HoR session | Haradinaj arrives in | Croatia/EU negotiations |
| Free trade agreements | Iranian President visit to BiH | Iranian president visit to BiH |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Inauguration of the WCC | CoM’s decision-free trade agreement | War Crimes Chamber inauguration |
| Iranian President visits BiH | | RS POW on Serb off. at inauguration |
| Iranian President’s lecture | | ICTY events |
| ‘Croat self-rule’ case update | Inauguration of WCC | Regional news |
| Oslobodjenje | Tribunal will not be closed down before trails of (it has processed cases of) Karadzic, Mladic and Gotovina |
| Dnevni Avaz | Justice corner stone laid out |
| Dnevni List | Part of indictment in ‘Croat self-rule’ case withdrawn |
| Vecernji List | Indictment against four Croats withdrawn |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Defenders are not more privileged than aggressors |
| Glas Srpske | Fast, easy and expensive |
| Nezavisne Novine | BiH is ready to process war crimes indictees |
| Blic | Olli Rehn: Police reform is a pre-condition for approach of BiH to |
| Vecernje Novosti | Features |
| | Features |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| Ex RS MoI indicted for war crimes to surrender to ICTY | BH Radio 1, RS Radio – Former RS Interior Minister, Mico Stanisic, will surrender to the ICTY, confirmed the Serbian Government to Beta news agency. Government said that Stanisic has decided to so following the talk he held with the Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Governance, Zoran Loncar, and RS Interior Minister Darko Matijasevic. |
| BiH HoR discussing competition law
| BH Radio 1 Mustafa Karahmet, RS Radio– The BiH House of Representatives has started its regular session in |
| OHR says SIPA Director has to be appointed w/out political interference | BH Radio 1 Daliborka Kujundzic, RS Radio – OHR Spokeswoman in |
War Crimes/Cooperation with ICTY | |
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| RHB, TV Pink, BHT, TV Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Tribunal will not be closed down before trails of Karadzic, Mladic and Gotovina’ Aldijana Omeragic, Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Justice corner stone laid out’, pg 2 ‘A country is not being build on revenge, but justice is basis for a stable peace’ H. Orahovac, pg 3 ‘Del Ponte: Victims suffering must be in the first place’ (Del Ponte address) and pg 3 ‘Karadzic Mladic and Gotovina to be triued only in The Hague’ (Meron address) – The BiH Court War Crimes Chamber and the special department for war crimes of the BiH Prosecutor’s Office were on Wednesday inaugurated in Sarajevo, which pave the way for BiH to take over war crimes trials. The ceremony was attended by senior domestic and international officials. “We are today opening BiH’s permanent institutions which will serve our citizens for many years and decades to come, for as many years as it will take for the perpetrators of war crimes to be given the punishment they deserve for their actions,” BiH Court President Medzida Kreso said. State Prosecutor Marinko Jurcevic said that a phase of operational and hard work still lay ahead. Jurcevic conveyed a message to those who had committed war crimes between 1992 and 1995 that they should not rejoice at the closure of the Hague tribunal because “today marked a new beginning”. Kreso and Jurcevic appealed to the relevant institutions in BiH, Serbia and Montenegro (SCG), Croatia and the international community to help remove the obstacles to unhindered transfer of war crimes suspects given that those of them who have dual citizenship could seek refuge in neighbouring countries. High Representative Paddy Ashdown said that BiH was the first country in the region which could prosecute war crimes suspects in line with international standards. Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pgs 2-3 ‘BiH is ready to process war crimes indictees’ by A. Sisic, EuroBlic pg RS1 ‘Justice instead of revenge’ by Dusanka Stanisic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘New page was turned over’ by Srna, Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Hague on Miljacka’ by D. Stojakovic, Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pg 8 ‘Defenders are not more privileged than aggressors’ by Z. Rerig, Dnevni List pgs 2 and 3, mentioned on cover ‘RS PoW Association demands Paravac’s resignation’ by D. Polovina Mandic, M. Batarello, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Are indictees going to run away?’, mentioned on cover ‘Mini-The Hague started with work’ by D. Jazvic also covered opening of the War Crimes Chamber in BiH. |
| RS PoW Association against Paravac’s presence at WCC opening ceremony
| RTRS, Dnevni List pgs 2-3 ‘RS PoW Association demands Paravac’s resignation’ – President of the RS Association of Prisoners of War Branislav Dukic criticised the fact that the War Crimes Chamber was opened in barracks ‘Viktor Bubanj’ where persons of Serb nationality were detained during the war. Dukic also criticised Serb member of the BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac for attending the opining ceremony and Dukic said that Paravac did it so that Chief ICTY Prosecutor Carla del Ponte does not issue a bill of indictment against him. Dukic added that his Association will demand Paravac’s resignation because of this act, as well as dissolving of the RS Government if they accept re-organization of police forces in BiH on the ground of which the RS would lose its MoI. Nezavisne novine pg 3 ‘Condemnation of Paravac’s and Kovac’s attendance of BiH Court opening’ by Srna, Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Insult to victims’ not signed, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Camp inmates’ not signed quote Deputy President of RS Association of Former Camp Inmates Slavko Jovicic as condemning attendance of Serb officials at the WCC opening ceremony. |
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| RHB, TV Pink, BHT, TV Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ’50 new prisoners by the end of the year’, Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Justice corner stone laid out’, pg 2 ‘A country is not being build on revenge, but justice is basis for a stable peace’ H. Orahovac, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Detention unit with 21 cells’ not signed – High Representative Paddy Ashdown and BiH Minister of Justice Slobodan Kovac in Sarajevo on Wednesday inaugurated a detention unit of the BiH Court. Ashdown pointed out that if the rule of law were enforced it would spell a success for BiH, and if not the country would face failure. “This is only the beginning of sweeping reforms within the penal system,” Ashdown said. He noted that the entities’ detention units, which have so far been used by the |
| DL comments on start of war crimes trials in BiH
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘War crimes chamber’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – Commenting on the yesterday’s start of events related to trial of war crimes cases in BiH, the author argues that despite big words that could be heard during the ceremony, the Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, once again reminded of bad cooperation of the national courts with the ICTY and the fact that the debate on war crimes usually represents a political and not the truth established in the court. |
| Former Yugoslav Army chief Perisic pleads not guilty to war crimes
| TV Pink, BHT, TV Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Persisic pleaded not guilty’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Momcilo Perisic pleaded not guilty’ not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 9 ‘General Perisic does not feel guilty for war crimes’ by H, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Momcilo Perisic: I am not guilty’ by Beta, Vecernje Novosti pg 17 ‘ “I am not guilty” times 13’ by M. Z., Glas Srpske pg 13 ‘Perisic rejected indictment’ by Beta – Former Chief of the Yugoslav Army General Staff Momcilo Perisic pleaded not guilty on Wednesday at the Hague tribunal on any of the counts listed in the indictment charging him for crimes committed in Sarajevo, Zagreb and Srebrenica from 1993 to 1995. |
| SD on war crimes in Mostar, Perisic, Seselj role
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 19 ‘The Hague charges Seselj for crime at Uborak’, by Miroslav Landeka – Following the surrender of former Yugoslav Army general, Momcilo Perisic, to the ICTY, SD notes that many people in Mostar are disappointed that Perisic has not been charged with war crimes in Mostar that occurred in mid-1992, when he was the commander of JNA troops in the Mostar area, especially regarding the ‘Uborak’ case when 114 Croat and Bosniak civilians were killed and dumped at the Uborak waste dump. However, according to information coming from an anonymous source close to the ICTY, ICTY’s investigators had been investigating the case and apparently the direct responsibility for the ‘Uborak’ case lies with members of Serb para-military the so-called ‘Seseljevci’, who were not under Perisic’s command, and with some local Serbs. The source says the indictment against Vojislav Seselj, who is already in |
| Bukejlovic: RS already cooperates with SCG to detain ICTY suspects, BiH institutions should be included
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘BiH institutions should be included in the pursuit of war criminals’ by Onasa – In an interview to Onasa news agency, the RS Prime Minister, Pero Bukejlovic, says he believes that RS will not be faced with new sanctions because it leads in the reformatory processes and implements intensive activities to meet its obligations towards the ICTY. He stresses that the cooperation has been established with the authorities of SCG to detain ICTY suspects, and adds that BiH institutions should be more included in those activities. This, says Bukejlovic, especially refers to SIPA, OSA and State Border Service. |
Political Developments/Reforms | |
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| TV Pink, BHT, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘One should look at the world from the position of culture’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Emotions prove close ties between BiH and Iran’ – President Mohammad Khatami said in Sarajevo on Wednesday that cultural polarity is one of the main principles of democracy and its endorsement can lead to the enhancement of cultural exchange, national solidarity and development of human resources. Addressing the assembly of the elite and intellectuals of BiH in the National Theathre building, President Khatami said that the concept of cultural polarity is both a moral obligation, which has its roots in the spiritual essence of religion, and a human principle that is in full accords with human dignity and human rights. “Being human and living in the present era, we are all dutybound to adapt our political lives – no matter how far and wide or limited they may be – to this necessity of our age. Today, only those political thoughts and policies which correspond to these truth have the chance to become successful. To get acquainted with this truth and for the purpose of reducing the bitterness caused by conflict and insecurity leading to underdevelopment there is no shorter path than that of dialogue,” emphasized Iranian President. |
| Iranian President, BiH CoM Chair discuss boosting economic ties
| TV Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Satisfied with recovery of BiH’, FENA – The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, who is on an official visit to BiH, has said he is pleased that BiH is recovering and that, following a difficult period, one can feel the universal desire of all its citizens for progress. During talks with the Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, on Wednesday, Khatami said that he was convinced that BiH had possibilities for progress and pointed to the years-long experience of our country’s industrial enterprises, the general secretariat of the Council of Ministers has said. He also underlined the interest of Iranian businessmen in more intensive trade and a significant increase in its volume in BiH. Thanking President Khatami for the expressed readiness for promoting and intensifying economic ties between the two countries, Chairman Terzic said that BiH companies had already made their first investments in |
| Iranian President, BiH Foreign Minister discuss reconstruction of
| TV Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Satisfied with recovery of BiH’, FENA – BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic on Wednesday met with the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, who is on a two-day official visit to BiH. President Khatami stressed that BiH should see its diversity as a national treasure, which could serve as an example to other countries. The collocutors agreed that the intensification of exchange visits on all levels would contribute to the strengthening of economic and cultural cooperation between the two friendly countries. President Khatami expressed |
| Iranian president meets BiH parliamentarians, voices support for multiethnic BiH
| Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Great possibilities of economic cooperation’ – Iranian President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami has said that |
| Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Harazi: Should
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘Should USA attack Iran, it would be their nightmare’ by M. Cubro – In an interview to NN, Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs Kemal Harazi has stated there is enough potential for development of better relations, especially in field of economics, between BiH and Iran. With regard to the announcement on possible military attack of |
| FBiH HoR adopts Law on Police Officers, postpones discussion on unclaimed apartments, amendments to privatization law
| RHB, TV Pink, BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Draft Law on Police Officers adopted’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Vote on amendment to privatization law postponed again’, FENA – The FBiH House of Representatives adopted on Thursday the proposal of the FBiH law on police officers. This law was adopted at special session held on Thursday afternoon immediately after the completion of the 17th regular session of the FBiH House of Representatives. At the regular session the House of Representatives postponed until the next session the vote on the proposal of the law on the return, allocation and sale of apartments that were not claimed. The House of Representatives also postponed the discussion on the draft law amendment the law on the privatisation of companies. This law plans to prevent companies outside BiH with more than 50 percent of state capital in its structure from participation in the privatisation of companies in FBiH. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 ‘Proposal of law on Police officials adopted’ by F, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Proposal of law on apartments left for next session’ by NINA also reported on the session. |
| FBiH President Lozancic says disintegrated police serves no one
| TV Pink, Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘Police must guarantee security’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Lozancic visited Police Academy of FBiH MoI’ by M. Zorlak, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Lozancic visited Police Academy’ by ra, FENA – FBiH President Niko Lozancic said during a visit to the FBiH Ministry of Interior Police Academy on Wednesday that “we need to move from a phase of talking about police reform into a phase of implementation, i.e. developing a BiH police system that would guarantee the security to all citizens.” Lozancic discussed upcoming police reform with the leadership of the Academy. He was also informed about its work and achievements in the reform of police training in FBiH. “BiH citizens wish to have a professional, depoliticised, well trained and equipped police force because only such a police force can guarantee the security of all BiH citizens,” Lozancic said after talks with FBiH Ministry of Interior Police Academy Director Taib Spahic. He warned that a disintegrated and unconnected police serves no one and that an integrated and well-led police force under parliamentary control needs to be established. Lozancic said that a modern police structure would ensure more options for better equipping police services in BiH and stimulating them for carrying out difficult and complex tasks. He therefore expressed confidence that police reform would receive the general public support in BiH. |
| EU’s Rehn: Western Balkans achieve significant progress
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Countries of the Western Balkans progress towards EU’, mentioned on cover, op-ed by Olli Rehn – The EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, says in his editorial that the countries of the Western Balkans have achieved significant progress in their efforts to join EU, however stresses that the next two years will be crucial for the process. “Currently, the most critical issues are the end of the ICTY’s work and the solution for future Kosovo’s status,” says Rehn further outlining key issues related to individual countries. On BiH, Rehn reminds that BiH has to meet all 16 conditions presented in the EC Feasibility Study. “If the country achieves enough of the progress in those areas – including comprehensive police reform – the European Commission will be able to recommend to EU to start with the negotiations on Stabilisation and Admission Agreement. I hope the agreements will happen in November,” concludes Rehn. EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Ollie Rehn: Police reform is a pre-condition for approach of BiH to |
| DA on OHR’s review of dismissal decisions
| Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘There will be no rehabilitations for Poplasen, Jelavic, Bicakcic, Grabovac,…’ by S.N. – DA brings that in light of the announcement on a review of certain OHR’s decisions to remove persons from public functions, only a small number of those could expect to be pardoned. While nobody knows who exactly will be ‘rehabilitated’, OHR told DA: “What is known is that HR [Paddy Ashdown] very carefully considers all removals, expect those carried out last year. However, it is known that pardon could be expected possibly buy those removed for obstruction in return process in certain municipalities or parts of BiH. That process has been successfully completed.” DA adds that pardon will not be granted to those obstructing the cooperation with ICTY, wire tapped foreign officials, breached sanctions on |
| VL: IC exerts pressure in order to appoint Sredoje Novic as Head of SIPA
| Vecernji List pg 4 ‘International campaign of seizing positions from Croats’, mentioned on cover ‘Instead of Croat, Novic Head of SIPA’ by Z. Kresic carries that the whole international administration in BiH is intensifying pressure exerted against Croat and Bosniak officials in order to appoint Sredoje Novic a Head of SIPA, regardless of the fact that this position belongs to the Croats according to the political agreement of the parties in power. An official who wanted to stay anonymous stated: ‘Novic who from all 13 candidates has the biggest experience in the area of state security, is a true favorite of the IC.’ BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak did not want to comment on the aforementioned claims and added that the election will be carried out in a legal way. |
| Independent Board Chair Ilija Lukic: Matijasevic agrees with proposal to appoint Andan RS Police Director
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Matijasevic supportive of Andan’ by D.R. – Darko Matijasevic, RS MoI, agrees with the proposal of the Board for RS police director selection to appoint Dragomir Andan, Head of East Sarajevp PSC, to position of RS Police Director. This was confirmed by Ilija Lukic, Board President. According to Lukic, Matijasevic on Tuesday addressed a positive view regarding this proposal. Hence, the proposal was forwarded to RS Government for further proceeding. It is expected that RS Government may discuss this issue at Thursday’s (today) session. |
| RS Vice-president Tomljenovic on position of Croats and Bosniaks in RS
| Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Tomljenovic: There are no indications that position of Croats in RS will improve’, by NINA – Vice President of RS, Ivan Tomljenovic, notes that the position of the Croat people has remained unchanged for quite some time without indications that it would change in the future. As a remedy, Tomljenovic argues if constitutional changes were to be carried out by the end of the year, the position of the Croats and Bosniaks could change. He notes that the changes do not necessarily mean the abolishment of the RS, however some changes should be carried out starting with the constitutional position of RS Vice President(s). “According to the current Constitution we cannot do much”, says Tomljenovic. |
| Politicians’ reactions on PDP withdrawal of resignations
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Resignations were fakes’ by V. Popovic – Commenting on withdrawal of resignations of Mladen Ivanic and Branko Dokic from BiH CoM, Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, says that the withdrawals show a pure obedience of Ivanic and Dokic towards Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair. According to Dodik, it has proved to be true that resignations of ministers from PDP were fakes, hypocritical and aimed at achieving personal and party interests, instead of protecting constitutional order of RS. Dokic Wednesday confirmed that Ivanic, Zoran Tesanovic and himself have withdrawn resignations. According to NN source at PDP top leadership, a part of PDP Presidency members did not support this decision of Ivanic and Dokic, regarding these actions as underrating PDP. Momcilo Novakovic, member of SDS Main Board, has stated that “this move could have been expected, and SDS has been of the view from the beginning that there was no reason to tender resignations.” Petar Djokic, SPRS President, says this move of PDP officials was expected. Drago Kalabic, DNS President, has described it as shameful and disgraceful not only for PDP but also for the entire Serb people. Tarik Sadovic, SDA delegate at RS NA, says PDP officials have acted in a pragmatic manner by having chosen the only realistic path. Slobodan Popovic, Vice President of the SDP of BiH Main Board, concludes that “only those naive have believed in sincerity of Ivanic’s intentions.” |
| NN op-ed on revocation of PDP resignations
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Ivanic’s deceit’ by Natasa Krsman – The author is writing about revocation of resignations by Mladen Ivanic, Branko Dokic and Zoran Tesanovic, saying that the manoeuvre called “irrevocable resignations” would be recorded into annals of political life in BiH, devised by economic strategist Ivanic. She adds: “Feeling revulsion over political life of the decaying state, we cannot congratulate on this manoeuvre of irrevocable resignation if we respect ourselves and have common sense.” |
| SDS accuses RTRS of becoming an advertiser of Nezavisne Novine and spokesperson of SNSD and SPRS
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘SDS assault at RTRS’ by V.P. – SDS Wednesday accused RTRS of “having become TV advertising Nezavisne Novine and spokesperson of the SNSD and SPRS instead of being public service of all the citizens”. According to press release, SDS says “it is astonished with the level of biasedness of the editorial policy of informational programme of RTRS and campaign RTRS is running, by which citizens of Banja Luka are informed of reasons on failures of City Heating Plan in an orchestrated and synchronised manner”. Drasko Ignjatic, Information programme editor at RTRS, says that information programme of this media house is completely independent and that not a single organisation or individual has any effect upon it. He adds: “SDS cannot accept the idea that this is not a mono-party system and that all sides and all parties have same rights to present their stances at public service.” |
| Kovac, Novakovic on
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Ashdown is buying time’ by G. Dakic – A work group for development of the BiH Law on Constitutional Court has not been established as yet, despite to the fact more than a month has passed since Draft Law on BiH Constitutional Court was withdrawn from the parliamentary procedure upon a request of High Representative Paddy Ashdown. BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac says the work group was not established because names of international members of the group are not yet known. He still expects the work group would be established by March 15. He also says the representatives of HoR Constitutional Commission at the work group will be Momcilo Novakovic, Mirsad Ceman and Martin Raguz. It is still unknown who would represent |
Economic/Social Issues | |
| BiH Association of Farmers cancels protests
| TV Pink, Oslobodjenje pg 13, mentioned on cover ‘State suffocates agriculture’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Farmers give up on protests scheduled for March 11’, FENA – The BiH Association of Farmers cancelled protests scheduled for March 11 in Sarajevo. The Association made this decision after the BiH Council of Ministers introduced measures related to import of certain agricultural products from |
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| Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Croatia protests, Serbia threatens with termination of Agreement’ by I. Rozic – Spokesperson of the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture Mladen Pavic stated that his Ministry is shocked by the BiH Council of Ministers’ decision to suspend application of zero customs rate in Free Trade Agreement between Croatia and BiH. According to him, the international Free Trade Agreement, as well as the agreement reached in |
| Terzic says CoM’s reintroduction of taxes saves FTAs
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘The newest decisions protect the Free Trade Agreement’, mentioned on cover, by S. Numanovic – The Chair of the Council of Minsiters, Adnan Terzic, comments on the decision made by CoM two days ago [which reintroduced the taxes on milk and its products, and meat and its products imported from SCG and Croatia] saying that implementation of the Free Trade Agreements with the neighboring countries directly damages agriculture workers in BiH. Thus, CoM brought the decision for which Terzic claims to be in accordance with the FTAs: “The signatory of this accord may launch the negotiations on solving this issue. We have been trying to solve it for the past year and a half through contacts with leaders of neighboring countries and at the end we had to aside with this measure. Between |
| Hadzipasic says Govt, WB, OHR, IMF to find solution for veterans benefits
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘The Law on Privatization should be adopted as soon as possible’, mentioned on cover, by Mirela Kukan – In an interview to DA, the FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, comments on the letter he sent to the World Bank asking them not to reduce the benefits for war veterans [please see BiH Media Round-up March 9] and emphasizes that the FBiH Government has entirely respected the guidelines of the WB when making the decision on the budget funds for these pensions. He adds that savings of even 0.5% of the FBiH budget could bring enough funds to maintain the pensions. PM announces that he will work with WB, OHR and IMF this month to find a solution to this problem. On the issue of Aluminij company, PM says that the “Aluminij is one of the biggest problems between Bosniaks and Croats, and politics at power. Arbitration of Aluminij has already been agreed and it should be implemented. A big portion of the work has already been done, but the arbitration is not, however, going the way it should… [However] I think we are the closest to agreement that could satisfy certain political interests, compensate workers, and create perspective of the company’s development in a future.” Hadzipasic also says that the Privatization Law must be adopted the FBiH Parliament as soon as possible. |
| DL brings details of alleged agreement among FBiH Government, Aluminij and IC
| Dnevni List pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Those who pulled down Aluminij also to get shares’ by I. Glibusic – Commenting on the statement given by Principal Deputy High Representative |
| Cenic: Increase of police salaries possible only by reducing salaries of other budgetary users
| TV Pink, BHT, RTRS, EuroBlic pg RS2, announced on cover ‘Take away and give to the police’ by Mirna Soja, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Redistribution of the budget for salaries of policemen’ by D. Risojevic and B. Gagula, Vecernje Novosti pg 21 ‘Out of someone else’s pocket’ by M. L. RS Minister of Finance Svetlana Cenic stated that the salaries of RS MoI employees could be increased only if salaries of other budget users are reduced. The Trade Union of RS MoI employees left another 24 hours to the Government for negotiations after which they will use all forms of Union struggle to accomplish their rights. Chairman of Union of RS MoI employees Dusko Jandric stated that RS MoI employees would protest if their demands were not met. Cenic stated that she was not afraid of a revolution announced by Jandric because the Trade Union members have the right to demand for an improvement of their position. |
| Terzic: 1,5 million KM to be earmarked for severance payments to former OSA employees
| Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Severance pay to those sacked’ – SRNA news agency has reported that the members of the BiH CoM have agreed on the proposed Rule Book on pays of those employed at BiH Intelligence and Security Agency and discussed modalities on resolvement of issue of severance pays of staff surplus. Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, stated that BiH COM has entasked BiH Finance Ministry to prepare decision on source of payment of severance pays for 350 persons sacked on |
Legal Proceedings | |
| Prosecutor McNair withdraws parts of indictment in ‘Croat self-rule’ case
| RHB, BHT, TV Hayat, FTV, Dnevni List, front pg splash and pgs 8-9 ‘Part of indictment in ‘Croat self-rule’ case withdrawn’, by Zvonimir Jukic, Ivica Glibusic – Head of Special Department for Organized Crime and Corruption with the BiH Prosecution, John McNair, has sent the BiH Court a request aimed at withdrawing of article 2 of the indictment against Ante Jelavic, Marko Tokic, Ivo Andric Luzanski, Zdravko Batinic, Miroslav Prce, Petar Milic and Ivan Curcic, who are indicted for the events related to the establishment of the ‘Croat self-rule’. The said article charged the indictees with endangering of the territorial integrity of BiH. McNair explains in his request that “a use of force or threat of use of force is an element of the mentioned criminal deed”, however the activities during the ‘Croat self-rule’ did not include a deployment of troops or threat of use of force. The end result means that the charges against Milic, Tokic, Batinic and Luzanski could be dropped if the Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Indictment against four Croats withdrawn’ and pgs 2-3 ‘McNair withdraws indictment’, by Miroslav Vasilj – Carries Milic’s lawyer, Nino Gvozdic, as saying that McNair’s withdrawal of the indictment could have a large impact on the indictment against Dragan Covic, because the judge in charge of initial proceedings could reject the indictment. The case also covered by Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 19, mentioned on front ‘Part of indictment for Croat self-rule abolished’ Zlatko Tulic, |
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| Vecernji List pg 3 ‘BiH Court decides on bill of indictment by Friday’ not signed – Spokesperson of the BiH Prosecution Edita Pejovic stated that the BiH Prosecution has not been informed yet about confirmation of the bill of indictment against Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic and the others. She added that the |