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| American–British forces have defeated Saddam Hussein’s regime for less than three weeks | Issuance of the third GSM licence | BiH House of Representatives elected Borislav Paravac for new BiH Presidency member | Borislav Paravac appointed for BiH Presidency member
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| Borislav Paravac is elected new Member of the BiH Presidency | BiH House of Representatives elected new BiH Presidency member | Herzegovina: Due to cold weather, more than 100 million KM of damage occurred in agriculture | RS Assembly approves report of chief auditor |
| Summit on Cooperation Process in Southeast Europe takes place in Belgrade | Summit on Cooperation in Southeast Europe takes place in Belgrade | Summit on Cooperation Process in Southeast Europe held in Belgrade | Conference in Belgrade reaches agreement on fight against organised crime |
| ICTY suspends General Janko Bobetko’s arrest order | NATO Ambassadors lead by George Robertson to visit BiH tomorrow | Iraqi authorities are no longer in control of Baghdad | Gangster Legija is not in Republika Srpska, say RS Interior Ministry, SBS |
| Oslobodjenje | Eronet bribed CRA with 130,000 euro; Milorad Legija Lukovic has got BiH passport |
| Dnevni Avaz | Americans seized Baghdad; HR in Belgrade – Paddy Ashdown lobbied for BiH |
| Dnevni List | Covic: Process of regional co-operation improved; Borislav Paravac new member of BiH Presidency; Federation Army awaits political agreement |
| Vecernji List | Saddam’s regime falls; Americans donated out-of-date weapons; Paravac succeeds Sarovic |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Spanish amnesty for Drago Josipovic?; HDZ promised then forgot HVO soldiers |
| Glas Srpski | For future secondary school students: No entrance examination; RS MoI: Legija does not have passport; Vojislav Kostunica: Authority is violating rights |
| Nezavisne Novine | SEECP Summit in Belgrade: Balkans together to Europe; BiH House of Representatives: Borislav Paravac at BiH Presidency |
| Vecernje Novosti | Summit of South-east European Cooperation Process ends: The Balkans on the European road |
| Blic | The Mafia prepared coup d’etat; Mladen Ivanic: Region spoke with one voice for the first time; Paravac member of the Presidency |
Affairs | |
| ‘Eronet bribed CRA with 130,000 euro’
| Oslobodjenje front page, pg 7 ‘Eronet bribed CRA with 130,000 euro’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Eronet paid 260,000 KM for the assessment of the license value’ – The Mostar-based Eronet gave a donation of 130,000 euro to the Communication Regulatory Agency (CRA) with a note that the funds might be used exclusively for hiring the independent consulting house Price Water House in Prague to asses value of the license for the third GSM operators. The information has been confirmed by Haris Basic, the BiH Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications. “It is about a classic case of a tied interest. Eronet pays for the assessments that is of its particular concern. I consider this scandalous and shameful,” said Basic. The CRA officials however do not believe there is anything strange in a fact an interested party has paid for the value assessments. “The assessment had to be paid by someone and CRA decided that making of the assessments should be paid by Eronet,” CRA Spokesperson Amela Odobasic told media. |
| Legija possesses BiH passport? | Oslobodjenje pg. 6, mentioned on the front page ‘Milorad Legija Lukovic has got Bosnian passport?’ – Milorad Legija Lukovic, who is accused of murder of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, has possessed a BiH passport with a false name, which has been issued by the Banja Luka Public Security Centre, according to the Serbian sources. The Serbian officials allegedly informed about the issue the High Representative Paddy Ashdown during the SEECP Summit in Belgrade. They expressed dissatisfaction because the BiH authorities were doing nothing to arrest members of the Serbian Mafia, who had, as they claimed, escaped to BiH following the assassination of Djindjic. The Chief OHR Spokesman, Julian Braithwaite, denied claims that the Serbian officials had informed Ashdown on the new Legija’s identity. He however confirmed that (non)cooperation of the police forces of the two countries in apprehending criminals had been one of the key issues discussed during the Belgrade talks. Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Legija was killing at the orders from Sarajevo as well’ also reports that Legija allegedly possesses BiH passport. “I have heard that too. We shall check on this, but I am sure that if that man has got the BiH passport it was issued to him in some previous period,” the newspaper quotes BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic as saying. Glas Srpski, cover page story, ‘Legija does not have BiH passport’; Nezavisne Novine, page 4, ‘RS police was searching for Legija’s passport on his name’, Blic pg. 4 – Zoran Glusac, Spokesperson of the RS Interior Ministry, yesterday stated that Milorad Lukovic Legija is not in possession of a passport issued in the RS. Namely, RS police established that no passport on names as Milorad Lukovic or Milorad Ulemek was issued in the RS. according to Glusac, if Legija was in possession of BiH passport, as reported by some media, then that passport must have been falsified. |
| RS Djeric on criminal groups in RS/Serbia | Glas Srpski, page 2, ‘Antennas in RS’; Nezavisne Novine, page 4, ‘Persons searched for by Serbian police are not in RS’ – Zoran Djeric, RS Minister of Internal Affairs, yesterday stated that the persons, for whom Serbian police issued arrested warrants, are not in the RS. he explained that: “There are no such strong criminal groups in RS as there are in Serbia, but their antennas / legs can be found here. Hearby, I call on Serbian Inetrior Minister, Dusan Mihajlovic, to arrange a meeting, which would discuss crime related issues and exchange information of extreme relevance for both sides.” According to NN, Julian Braithwaite, OHR Chief Spokesperson, said that the meeting between Ashdown and Mihajlovic addressed the issue of names of some people belonging to criminal net. |
| SBS: Legija has not entered BiH | Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Milorad Lukovic has not entered BiH’ – The BiH State Border Service (SBS) officials told journalists on Wednesday they had not noticed since the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic until today that Milorad Legija Lukovic, one of the key suspects, had entered the BiH territory. |
| Fresh information about the illegal arms trade through BiH | Oslobodjenje pg. 6, mentioned on the front page ‘Internationals in BiH searching for MIGs (type of Russian military planes) from Kazahstan’ – The international inspectors have again open an investigation in BiH this time related to the sale of 40 Kazahstan’s MIGs to the buyers in North Korea, learns the newspaper. According to the reliable information, a few internationals headed by certain Philip Graber, who is allegedly an UN employee (Oslobodjenje checked on this and his name is not in the register of the UN Mission to BiH), have been visited in the past days a few domestic institutions. They have been asking questions about the authenticity of the end user certificate from September 1998 that had been signed by then FBiH Defence Minister Ante Jelavic. They have also been interested in the business operations of Milan Jankovic, the owner of the prestigious Zepter International Company. |
International community/OHR | |
| SEECP Summit held in Belgrade
| Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘There will be no accession to Europe without the regional cooperation’, Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘SEECP Summit ended in Belgrade’ – The Heads of the nine states stood for strengthening of the regional cooperation as a way towards the European integration at the Summit of the South East Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP) held in Belgrade on Wednesday. In the final declaration, the organised crime was condemned to the strongest possible extent since it was undermining the peace and stability in the South East Europe. Dnevni Avaz pg. 3 ‘BiH took over the SEECP Presidency’ – At the fourth SEECP Summit held in Belgrade on Wednesday, BiH officially took over the Process’ Presidency for the next 12 months. Dnevni List (front and page 3, by M.R., “Covic: Process of regional cooperation made progress”), Jutarnji List (page 5, by B. Vujnovic, “Mesic in Belgrade: Individually and together against crime and corruption”) and Vjesnik (page 2, by Vesna Fabris Peruncic, “Prodi: We want you to enter EU and there is no any ‘if’ and ‘but’”) also report on the Summit. DL carries that OHR presented the plan of High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, for the development and strengthening of “Alliance against Mafia” between BiH and Serbia and Montenegro, as well as, among the whole region of Southeast Europe. Croat member of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, judged that the process of the regional cooperation has made progress and that it is unquestionable that a new spirit of understanding and friendly relations that contributes to a better dialogue and coordination of overall activities exists. DL (page 2, by H, “Prodi: All countries of Southeast Europe will be EU members”) carries on the same issue President of European Commission, Romano Prodi, as saying that all countries of Southeast Europe will become EU members and the question is not whether they will become but when and how. Nezavisne Novine, page 3/also cover page, ‘Balkans together to Europe’; Glas Srpski, page 3, ‘Foundations for more tight cooperation’ also reported on the Summit. According to NN inset 1, Dragan Covic, Croat member to BiH Presidency, and Svetozar Marovic, President of Serbia and Montenegro, agreed that these two states should improve their cooperation, especially in the field of security. Covic also yesterday expressed expectation that the most wanted war crime suspects in BIH would have been arrested in the coming months and extradited to The Hague Tribunal. Blic pg. 2 ‘Resolute reply to the Mafia’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 2 ‘The Balkans on the European road’ – As the priorities of further co-operation the leaders of the region stated in the declaration the fight against terrorism and organised crime at regional level, creating of the free trade zone in South-eastern Europe, founding of regional market of electric and other sources of energy, development of telecommunications, traffic, modernisation of border control and liberalisation and harmonisation of visa regimes, with full respect to obligations of participating states to the European Union. The summit was opened by the President of Serbia and Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic, who emphasised that the region that has managed to achieve good co-operation through SEECP still faces a long trip to Europe. President of the European Commission Romano Prodi pledged further financial and expert aid to countries of the region, but emphasised that the political will of Balkans countries is the key to further European integration.) Blic reports that Croatian President Stjepan Mesic proposed that Croatia, BiH and Serbia and Montenegro reach an agreement in order to speed up the return of refugees and DPs. Member of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, voiced the expectation that at least the most wanted Hague indictees would be arrested over the next two months. (Blic pg. 2) Vecernje Novosti pg. 2 quotes Dragan Covic as saying that BiH could with satisfaction conclude that during Serbia and Montenegro’s chair over the SEECP a significant progress has been made in further implementation of the charter on good neighbourly relations, strengthening of this organisation and verifying of ‘our joint activities’. Blic pg. 2 ‘The Balkans free trade zone’BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic said he had talked with all foreign ministers during the Belgrade summit. “We have agreed to continue with concrete activities in the fight against organised crime and to open talks on the possibility of opening up a free trade zone in the Balkans,” Ivanic said. He said that he would initiate the issue of regional markets and energy, and mutual recognition of high school diplomas. “For the first time the region is starting to speak with one voice,” Ivanic said commenting on the summit. |
| Ashdown lobbied for BiH in Belgrade | Dnevni Avaz pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Ashdown lobbied for BiH in Belgrade’ – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, used his Wednesday’s stay in Belgrade to lobby for the BiH’s accession to the European Union. In the course of the day, Ashdown discussed the issue with the Georgios Papandreu, the Foreign Minister of Greece, which hold the EU Presidency, and with Romano Prodi, the Chairman of the European Commission, according to Chief OHR Spokesman Julian Braithwaite. Nezavisne Novine, page 3, ‘Salon EU Summit is a key for Balkans’ also reports that Ashdown met with Papandreu and Prodi. The meeting discussed the proposals for joint appearance and participation of the Balkan states at the EU Salon Summit. According to Julian Braithwaite, Ashdown’s Spokesperson, the same issue was discussed at the meeting HiRep had with Serbian PM, Zoran Zivkovic. According to Braithwaite, “we proposed that at the Salon Summit, Balkan states should have a joint participation and present four proposals. First is that EU presents declaration, in which it calls on all Balkan states to join EU; second is that the steps and actions should be set, which Balkan states should perform in order to abolish the visa regime; third proposal concerns people, who did transitional processes in Poland and Czech Republic; the fourth and the most important proposal is that EU should intervene with IMF and World Bank to assist Balkan states in tying up with European infrastructure.” |
| HR visited Blic, Vecernje Novosti
| High Representative Paddy Ashdown visited yesterday premises of Blic. During the visit he said that the fight against organised crime was impossible to conduct in one Balkans’ country without cooperation of all countries in the region. Ashdown announced a regional initiative for the fight against organised crime and opening of a central office in Sarajevo. “I am worried over the fact which Serbian Interior Minister Dusan Mihajlovic pointed out and that is that Serbia has received the least help in the action following Djindjic’s assassination from BiH. It is sad that police of Hungary and Bulgaria are better connected with Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs then BiH,” Ashdown said. He sent a message to the RS citizens telling them they should understand that the RS is not a state but an entity, and it could not have the rights that are under BiH competence. (Blic pg. 2 ‘Countries in the region must act loudly and jointly’) Ashdown yesterday also visited premises of Vecernje Novosti, where he spoke with general director and editor-in-chief of all issues Manojlo Vukotic. Ashdown reiterated his stand that the problems in the region are mutual and that only through a coordinating action they could be eliminated. He said he was impressed with the reformist activities of Serbia and Montenegro authorities. “But, political will for braking down the organised crime which is visible at high level, we have to transform into an action at all levels, to every local policeman and customs officer in the region.” (Vecernje Novosti pg. 3 ‘Paddy Ashdown visits Novosti’) |
| NATO’s Robertson: War in Iraq does not jeopardise NATO | Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5, mentioned on the front page ‘War in Iraq does not jeopardise NATO,” Dnevni Avaz pg. 5, mentioned on the front page ‘Military reforms in BiH must continue’ – Ahead of his today’s visit to BiH, the NATO Secretary General George Robertson gave an exclusive interview for Oslobodjenje and wrote an exclusive article for Dnevni Avaz. Robertson emphasized, among other things, that the war in Iraq did not jeopardise the future of NATO and its operations. He says that NATO remains committed to its obligations related to the region including BiH. With regard to the military reforms in BiH, Robertson said they had to be continued and that the BiH Presidency had to have mechanisms to control the armed forces. |
| Marovic and Kostunica on war crime indictees | Serbia and Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic said he did not have information that Army of Serbia and Montenegro as an institution protected former commander of the RS Army Ratko Mladic. “If it is proved that someone from the Army protected anyone of the Hague indictees then that person/s will suffer consequences,” Marovic told RTV Montenegro. (Vecernje Novosti pg. 3 ‘Those who protect him will be in big trouble’) Leader of the Serbian Democratic Party Vojislav Kostunica rejected the accusations of Serbia and Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic that he ‘creates anti-Hague atmosphere in Serbia’. But, Kostunica reiterated his stand he would never call on Ratko Mladic and Veselin Sljivancanin to go voluntarily to the Hague. (Blic pg. 3) |
Political developments | |
| Borislav Paravac elected the candidate for the Serb member of the BiH Presidency
| Oslobodjenje pg. 3, mentioned on the front page ‘Borislav Paravac in place of Mirko Saravic’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Kunic and Gligoric gave up, Paravac waits for the confirmation by the House of Peoples’ – At its session in Sarajevo on Wednesday, the BiH House of Representatives, more precisely seven of its members from the RS, elected SDS’ Borislav Paravac as the candidate for the Serb member of the Presidency. Five SDS and two PDP representatives supported Paravac as the parliamentarians from SNSD, SPRS and SRS left the session before voting. The two other candidates, SPRS’ Tihomir Gligoric and PDP’s Petar Kunic, gave up their candidacy at the session for various (personal) reasons. In order to formally become the member of the Presidency, the election of Paravac has to be verified today at a session of the BiH House of Peoples. Dnevni Avaz on pg. 5 ‘Person of the Day: A SDS hardliner’ presents data from the Paravac’s political biography. Vecernji List front “Paravac succeeds Sarovic” and page 2 “Borislav Paravac new member of BiH Presidency”, by Eldina Medunjanin, Dnevni List, front and page 5, by M. R., “Borislav Paravac new member of BiH Presidency”, Slobodna Dalmacija, back page, “Borislav Paravac Serb member of BiH Presidency”, by Dinko Pasic and Vjesnik, page 6, by Alenko Zornija, “Borislav Paravac instead of Mirko Sarovic” also report on the issue. Nezavisne Novine, page 2/also cover page, ‘Borislav Paravac elected as member of BiH Presidency’; Glas Srpski, page 3, ‘Paravac instead of Sarovic’, Vecernje Novosti pg. 3, Blic pg. 7 also cover the issue. After being elected, Paravac stated that he would include in the ongoing plan and programme of the BiH Presidency, stressing that his priorities would be economic reforms. He noted that his appointment at HoR should be ascertained by the BIH House of Peoples’. |
| Formation of HNC Government | Dnevni List (page 9, by Miso Relota, “We do not accept parallel system of Government in HNC”) carries an interview with the Federation President, Niko Lozancic (HDZ), in light of a meeting between HDZ and SDA when the two parties failed to reach an agreement on formation of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Government. Lozancic says two parties talked about abolishment of parallelisms noting there are differences between HDZ and SDA when it comes to the issue. “We really insist, regardless how good or bad the current constitutional solutions are, that they are implemented in practice. Way of thinking of local SDA officials go into direction of fully parallel system of Government in HNC which is something we cannot accept neither it is constitutional. Basically, that’s where all the problems regarding the formation of the HNC Government come from”. Furthermore, Lozancic says the two parties talked about the issue of outvoting in the Federation Government saying HDZ warned SDA it could burden future functioning of the Federation Government. Dnevni List (page 12, “Dissolution of HNC Assembly and early elections”) carries a press release by SDP of HNC in which the party requests dissolution of the HNC Assembly and early elections. SDP explains the request by saying that the article 38 of the HNC Constitution stipulates if the Assembly does not enact the cantonal budget within 90 days of the fiscal year, the Governor has to dissolve the Assembly. However, since the recent constitutional changes abolished the position of Governors, SDP of HNC says one has only to establish that the budget has not been enacted so the Assembly which does not take care of the citizenry has to be dissolved. Dnevni List (page 11, by D. Kozina, “Parties should stop shifting responsibility”) reports that the spokeswoman of the OHR South, Avis Benes, told journalists at yesterday’s regular press conference of international organizations seated in Mostar that the OHR is disappointed with the fact that representatives of SDA and HDZ failed to reach an agreement on formation of the HNC Government at their meeting from April 7. “OHR believes it is irresponsible from the politicians of this canton that citizens have to suffer for their inability to find a solution”, said Benes. Questioned whether the OHR plans to take certain steps to speed up the process of formation of the HNC Government, Benes said the OHR is closely following the process but believes it is the political parties that should assume the full responsibility for the process. |
| Federation PM Hadzipasic meets cantonal PMs | Dnevni List (page 4, by F, “Last moment for resolute economic reforms”) carries that during the first meeting between the Federation Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, and cantonal Prime Ministers, Hadzipasic stated: “This is the last moment for resolute concentrating of all our forces in one direction only and these are resolute economic reforms.” He also said that together with the BiH Council of Ministers and representatives of the International Community, the Federation Government would undertake activities in order to introduce unique customs at the state level. Also, the Federation Government will prepare the program of rationalization and modernization of the public administration so it serves interests of the citizens. |
| Mikerevic meets with Bond | Glas Srpski, page 3, ‘Stop to crime’ – Yesterday in Banjaluka, RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, received the American Ambassador to BiH, Clifford Bond. At the press conference later on, PM Mikerevic stated that the reason for holding this meeting was yesterday’s visit of the American Chamber of Commerce officials to Banjaluka, who expressed wish to establish more immediate economic connections between businessmen of USA and RS. The meeting also discussed the issue of restricted industry (production of military equipment in RS). |
| Nezavisne Novine editorial on political coalitions in BiH | Nezavisne Novine editorial, page 2 by Almir Sarenkapa, “Cataclysm” – The author is extremely critical of the current coalitions at the levels of BiH Federation (coalition SDA – HDZ) and BiH level (SDA-HDZ-SDS-PDP), who have not so far achieved anything, although they promoted reforms during pre-election campaigns. The author concludes that all the changes made during the so far six months mandate were executed by the HiRep to BiH, Paddy Ashdown. Everything changed in the interest of BiH citizens was performed by HiRep, not coalitions at any level. Furthermore, he refers to a lengthy failure (as of 5th October 2002) to elect the new Head of the Federal Intelligence Service. The author concludes by saying that each of us, including OPHR officials, should wonder what our life would be like in four years time, when justifications and excuse and running from responsibility have already commenced in the first eight of the mandate. |
| ‘HDZ, SDA want to control customs sector’ | Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘HDZ, SDA want to control customs sector’ – The Director of the BiH Federation Customs Administration, Zelimir Rebac, told the newspaper that the officials of the governing political parties, HDZ and SDA, were trying to take over the control over the customs sector and prevent investigations into the big-scale customs frauds by extending pressures on the employees of the FBiH Customs Administration. |
| RS NA session | Glas Srpski, page 3, ‘Last chance to Birac’ – During resumption of yesterday’s 4th session of the RS NA MP’s supported the conclusions proposed by the RS Government, in regard to Annex of the contract on sale of state owned capital at Birac factory from Zvornik. It further demanded that this proceeding is completed as soon as possible and production starts operating again. According to Glas inset, RS MP’s also decided to change the name of Banja Luka daily “Glas srpski” into “Glas Srpske”. |
| French Ambassador Bajolet visits Mostar | Dnevni List (page 14, by J. Terzic, “Cooperation between France and Mostar – possibility of investment to Mostar”) reports that the French Ambassador to BiH, Bernard Bajolet, visited Mostar yesterday and met with the Deputy Mayor of Mostar, Ljubo Beslic. According to Ambassador Bajolet, the topic of the meeting was the making of statute of Mostar, French participation in the reconstruction of Mostar’s Old Bridge and future cooperation between France and Mostar with regards to French investments to Mostar. Ambassador Bajolet also gave lectures to students of journalism of Mostar’s University (west) on the topic “Political system of France”. (Dnevni List, page 12, by S. Bjelica, “Political system of France” and Vecernji List, page 2, by O. C., “Lecture by Ambassador Bajolet”) |
| Federation Civil Service Law | Slobodna Dalmacija (page 15, by Zlatko Tulic, “Government will appoint Heads of Agencies”) carries that according to their information after the OHR’s intervention HDZ is ready to give up the Amendments to the Draft Law on Civil Service in the Federation of BiH, which refers to the formation of 10 Cantonal Agencies. President of the Croat Caucus of the House of Peoples of the Federation of BiH Parliament Mato Franjicevic confirmed that this is about a compromise that HDZ offered. According to him, HDZ’s demand should go in the direction of overall revision of civil servants, especially the ones who were appointed during the last two years. According to him, HDZ believes that the Federation of BiH Government should appoint Heads of Agencies and Administrations. Franjicevic also said: “We shall exert maximum efforts in order to reach a compromise solution, which would minimally satisfy SDA, HDZ and OHR.” |
| NHI on third Republic | Dnevni List (front and page 6, by F., “BiH experienced biggest humiliation in Dayton”), Slobodna Dalmacija (by B. Magas, page 7, “There is no new state organization without reconciliation”) and Vecernji List (page 2, by dja, “NHI on third republic”) carry that NHI organized a round table discussion called “BiH – Third Republic/ Is it possible? Is it wished for?”. During the round table discussion NHI President Kresimir Zubak stated: “The current organization of BiH does not secure rule of law and it is the biggest obstacle for BiH joining European-Atlantic Integration. This kind of organization does not fail only thanks to the International Community. Nevertheless, within the International Community people start to believe that this kind of situation is not sustainable.” One of the main initiators of the idea to organize BiH as a republic again Dr. Franjo Kozul stated: “We have experienced the biggest humiliation in Dayton. We are only a territory now.” (Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ‘Time for new BiH’) |
Economic affairs | |
| VL: Interview with Manager of Daimler Chrysler Volker Schmidt
| Vecernji List (page 6, by Zoran Kresic, “Germany supports our projects in BiH”) carries an interview with Manager of Daimler Chrysler Volker Schmidt. Asked whether his company is interested in privatization of Aluminij company, Schmidt says: “This is not simple. We shall not go directly in purchasing of a part in Aluminij, however, we are in a contact with the companies which follow our work here in Aluminij and which expressed their interest…We believe that that foreign investor has to be reliable.” Asked as to what kind of the results he expects from the international arbitrage, Schmidt says: “As far as we are concerned this is the issue that has to be resolved within BiH…This issue can be viewed from the legal and political aspect. We are accepting each solution that does not destroy Aluminij and quality of the company’s Management.” |
| VL: “Companies from BiH and Croatia together in reconstruction of Iraq?” | Vecernji List (page 3, by Milan Sutalo) carries that BiH companies Energoinvest, Hidrogradnja, Unioninvest and Vranica want to take part in the post-war reconstruction of Iraq. VL says that these companies decided to form the consortium for the joint presentation in the reconstruction of Iraq. Manager of Hidrogradnja Mehmed Drino says: “This is a chance to revitalize the BiH construction companies. There is no doubt that winners will chose the best deals but there will be job for the others including us, first of all because we have a good international rating and we did big deals in Iraq.” President of Federation of BiH Economic Chamber Jago Lasic stated that through the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber they will try to connect with the companies from Croatia and make the joint tender in order to avoid the situation in which BiH and Croatia are competition to each other. |
| RS Government accepted recommendations of Bulldozer Commission | Dnevni List (page 10) carries that the RS Government accepted in principle all 19 recommendations of the Bulldozer Commission, however, they believe that it is necessary to make additional coordination with representatives of the Federation of BiH Government and the Brcko District with regard to the technique of application of three recommendations. |
Other issues | |
| DL: “Federation Army awaits political agreement”
| Dnevni List (front and page 5, unsigned) carries a report from a press conference by Chief of Information Department of the Joint HQ of Federation Army, Brigadier Hamza Visca, who stated that concrete steps that would abolish the parallel structures within the Federation armed forces are being awaited. Speaking on behalf of the Commander of the Federation Army, General Atif Dudakovic, Visca said the decision by the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, on the abolishment of the parallel structures would be fully supported because it is high time the joint establishment of the Federation Army was formed. “The best example of existing parallelisms is the fact that General Dudakovic was not invited to the 11th anniversary of HVO”, said Visca adding that General Dudakovic has not in the past two year had an opportunity to issue orders to the 1st Guard Assembly of the Croat component of the Federation Army. (Vecernji List, page 2, by dja, “HQ supports Ashdown”, Slobodan Dalmacija, page 17, by FENA, “BiH Army will defend sovereignty” and Vjesnik, page 6, by HINA, “Joining of Federation Army”) |
| VL says US Govt. donated out-of-date equipment to Fed. Army | Vecernji List (front “Americans donated out-of-date weapons” and page 3“Americans donated 15 helicopters from Vietnam”, by Zdenko Jurilj) carries an anonymous source in the Federation Army as saying that 70% of the donated weapons and equipment that the US Government has donated to the Federation Army during the four-year project “Train and Equip” are out of date will most likely end up in the scrap yard. For instance, out of 15 UH-1H type helicopters from 1962, only three of them are operational. Apart from the helicopters, other equipment is not operational due to the age, high running costs and chronic lack of money in the Federation Army budget. The total amount of military aid from the US Government has been estimated at 111,3 million US$. |
| Charges against customs officer | Nezavisne Novine, page 7, ‘Charges pressed against customs officer’; Glas Srpski, page 3, ‘Customs officer charged’ – RS Customs Administration yesterday pressed charges against Stevo Vukelic, customs officer at Banja Luka Customs Clearance Office, at the Banja Luka Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office. The charges were pressed on grounded suspicion that he committed a criminal act of misuse of official position. |
| Protest announced for end of April in B. Luka | Nezavisne Novine, page 6, ‘Refugees from BiH Federation announce strike in front of RS Government building’ – Serb refugees from BiH Federation, currently living in the RS, have announced they would hold a protest in front of the RS Government building in Banja Luka at the end of April, unless authorities assist them in resolving their problems by that specific time. Veljko Stojanovic, President of the Regional Board of Refugees in Bijeljina, Ugljevik, Lopare and Janja, stresses that the main reason for this is the fact that upon pressures of the international community, RS authorities assist in the return process of Bosniaks to RS, while the BiH Federation authorities keep obstructing the Serb returns and property reinstatement in BIH Federation. |
| Secondary school enrolment | Glas Srpski, cover page story, ‘No entrance examination’ – According to RS Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, the Ministry is engaged in implementing changes to the RS educational system. At the end, the note was made that the competition for enrolment of children in secondary schools would be announced until 1st June, stressing that there will be no entrance examination this year either. |
| Savanovic on educational reforms | Glas Srpski, page 2, ‘Only basis is shared’ – Gojko Savanovic, RS Minister of Education, Science and Culture, said that as of next year, the high education institutions in the RS should start functioning according to the new programmes stipulated by the Bonn Declaration. |