| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1(19,00 hrs) | FED TV(19,30 hrs) | RT RS(19,30) |
| Prlic and others released | | Prlic and others released | S.Poste vehicle robbed |
| Croat officials go to Hague | Removals of RS officials? | Croat officials in Hague | RS pensioners will protest |
| HoP passes VAT principles | ICTY to convict JNA Gen.? | RS Army war documents | HR on RS&BIH taks |
| EC on VAT rate | Milosevic’s defence | Reactions to the HR critics | Croats delegation in Hague |
Oslobodjenje | They (RS authorities) are reconstructing Hilandar (Orthodox monastery in |
Dnevni Avaz | Ivanic’s response to Chairman of the Presidency: Tihic’s positions sometimes look like rumors |
| Dnevni List | Boris Nemsic of Mobilkom |
| Vecernji List | The six come back home |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Mostar burdened with Kuwaiti loan too |
| Glas Srpske | Robbery at Semberija |
| Nezavisne Novine | Following decision on temporary release: Six Croats at home; 112 thousand BAM intended for pensioners stolen; European Commission: Several levels of VAT make more space for frauds |
| Blic | RS police denies auditors |
| Slobodna Bosna | How a leader of Bosniaks emerged |
| Dani | Exclusive: List of soldiers BiH Presidency will send to Iraqi illegitimately |
| | Political developments/cooperation with ICTY |
| UN Security Council demands fulfilment of IPTF decisions
| BHT – UN Security Council (SC) calls on BiH authorities to ban BiH Courts to consider returning to work police officers that were de-certified by the UN IPTF. |
| BiH Presidency responds to HR’s accusations
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘There were no obstructions’ by Srna; EuroBlic RSpg4 ‘There were no obstructions’; by J.D., Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘We were not obstructing IPTF decisions’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘IPTF decisions have not been obstructed’ – The BiH Presidency yesterday released a press statement following HR’s, Paddy Ashdown, statement. BiH Presidency is of the view that its activities did in no way obstruct implementation of IPTF decisions related to certification and re-certification of policemen. On this, Presidency notes that the session dated 9 March discussed this issue and asked some more information of this complex issue from the BiH Mission in Presidency further notes that it has previously warned BiH institutions they must comply with international duties. |
| Reactions to latest HR message re RS cooperation with ICTY
| BHT – RS President Dragan Cavic stated that additional removal of 90 or more RS officials because of lack of cooperation with ICTY would not mean abolishment of Republika Srpska. Abolishing of RS is an illusion. RS is 1.2 or 1.4 million people. Who can abolish that? RS is 20 000 dead, RS is every Serb in RS who doesn’t want BIH without RS, short and clear”, says Cavic (RTRS also carried the statement). Afterthe HR Paddy Ashdown’s statement “work or it will hurt you a lot”, in RSit is believed that if the entity’s cooperation with ICTY does not improve by the end of this year, 90 more RS officials could be removed. Igor Stanojcic from SNSD believes that “any radical OHR move before elections would have, without doubts, impact on the election results and that would represent direct OHR’s interference into the elections race. “ Dragi Stanimirovic from SDP commented: “Yesterday’s Ashdown’s statement shows that coalition of national parties and the HR have no solutions for any serious problem in BiH”. BHT unofficially found out that government negotiates with several indicted persons of lower rank on their voluntary surrender, but without results. RTRS – Reporter notices that BIH Presidency Chairman Sulejman Tihic did not speak on mistakes of the Presidency but did not fail to speak of RS as the barrier on BIH path towards |
| RS President Cavic condemns Ashdown’s statement as “human rights violation”
| RS Radio, FTV, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘The Hague is the hardest test’ by S. Radjen –Todorovic – Addressing reporters on Thursday in Bijeljina, RS President Dragan Cavic characterized latest warning by High Representative Paddy Ashdown that the authorities of the RS, even after the June dismissals, failed to take serious action to prove there is progress in cooperation with the Hague tribunal as a drastic violation of human rights. Cavic nevertheless admitted that only full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal could improve the international position of the RS. “The future of this country cannot be built on human rights violations or political brutality, although we are taking the threats of the high representative very seriously. However, even without those threats, we are aware of the necessity for cooperation with the Hague tribunal,” Cavic said. “I have proposed a resolution to the National Assembly. The National Assembly resolution constitutes a clear political commitment by all political parties and the RS parliament to cooperation with the Hague tribunal. What else is left? That those who are paid to do a job actually do their job – primarily the government and the Interior Ministry in the framework of the government, as well as the relevant prosecutor’s offices and the relevant court. They should all do their job. That means that the obligations imposed on us by the Hague tribunal today constitute the only hindrance and burden on the RS. If we want to eliminate, once and for all, the sanctions, pressure, dismissals, political suppression, political retaliation and everything to which we have been submitted by the international factor in BiH, that is, both OHR and SFOR, because both have been violating human and civil rights in the alleged implementation of their mandate…. They will very soon be faced with many charges before the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights. However, at the same time, the RS institutions must do their job. Only then can we be fully justified in asking the international community: What are you doing? Why are you taking measures and why do you exert such brutal pressure in the country you want to see in the European Union? We have started carrying out our duties,” Cavic said. Cavic voiced dissatisfaction with the fact that RS interior minister had still not been appointed, which could motivate representatives of the international community to exert more pressure. In the course of the day, Cavic also held closed-door talks with representatives of the RS Veterans’ Organization, who expressed their concern about the growing political pressure on the RS. Furthermore, the veterans voiced the expectation that representatives of the RS authorities would stand up to that pressure in the framework of their constitutional powers and the Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Cavic on HR’s warning’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘No way the Constitution is going to be changed’, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Both OHR and SFOR abuse |
| Stojicic announces establishment of War Crimes Institute
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Institute for war crimes soon’ – Dusan Stojicic, RS NA Speaker, is of the view that the establishment of the War Crimes Institute might happen soon, stressing that “according to the international law, the issue of war crimes does not fall under the Statute of limitations. Any serious country investigates it and compiles documentation at institutions, such as the Institute.” The establishment of the Institute is in accordance with the Resolution (on cooperation with ICTY) which RS NA adopted on 20 July. |
| Top BiH Croat officials arrived in The Hague
| Herceg Bosna Radio, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Meeting with Del Ponte today’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Talks to Del Ponte and Meron today’ – Member of BIH Presidency Dragan Covic, FBIH President Niko Lozancic, BIH Security Minister Barisa Colak and FBIH Minister of Justice Borjana Kristo arrived in The Hague on Thursday for an official visit to ICTY. They will meet with Carla Del Ponte on Friday. During their visit to ICTY they will also speak to ICTY Chairman Theodor Meron. |
| Prlic and the others arrive in Croatia from The Hague
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Prlic and the others arrived in Zagreb’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Prlic and the others will be banned from entering BiH’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Six BiH Croats arrived to Zagreb’ mentioned on cover ‘Six Croats at home’ by HINA – In line with the decision by the Hague Tribunal’s appeals chamber, six BiH Croats accused of war crimes committed in BiH were temporary released from custody on Thursday. Jadranko Prlic, Slobodan Praljak, Milivoj Petkovic, Berislav Pusic, Bruno Stojic and Valentin Coric will most probably stay in Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘Six indicted Croats arrive to Zagreb’, mentioned on front, by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 3 ‘Six BiH Croats arrive to Zagreb’, by S. Dukic, Vecernji List, front ‘Six come back home’ and pgs 2-3 ‘Trials to six maybe in Zagreb’, by Zoran Kresic also covered the issue. VL carries the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, as announcing that trials to Prlic and others could take place either in |
| VL interview: Minister Kristo on cooperation with ICTY
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Documents were not crucial for release’, by Valentina Rupcic – carries an interview with the FBiH Justice Minister, Borjana Kristo, who is on the BiH Croats’ delegation that is travelling to The Hague today. Minister Kristo notes that the release of the 6 BiH Croats on pre-trial release is not connected to collecting of Herceg Bosna documents, saying the ICTY is an institution that does not bargain. Regarding today’s talks with the ICTY President, Theodor Meron, and Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, Minister Kristosays the Croat delegation will try to present its cooperation (with the ICTY) and its position on the issue. She also says that there are no reasons for any removals of officials or for additional pressures, announcing that del Ponte will be presented an analysis of activities, which will prove the seriousness dedicated to the cooperation with the ICTY. Inset entitled ‘Documentation for new indictments’ notes that according to sources close to the ICTY, the ICTY Prosecution has requested documentation of the former Herceg Bosna in order to complete new indictments, since all investigations have to be completed and indictments raised by end of 2004. |
| DL and VL say BiH Croats cooperate with ICTY
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Confirmation of cooperation with The Hague’, by Ivica Glibusic – carries an op-ed in which the author argues that the departure of a senior Croat delegation to The Hague for talks with the ICTY President, Theodor Meron, and Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, prove the full cooperation of the BiH Croats with the ICTY. The author notes that the BiH Croats have so far fulfilled all the conditions set forth by the ICTY, and according to some information, the ICTY will not be issuing any new indictments against the BiH Croats. Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘No reasons for sanctions’, by Miso Relota – prior to today’s talks between senior Croat delegation and the ICTY President, Theodor Meron, and Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, and amid reports that some 20.000 documents related to the wartime work of Herceg Bosna had been recovered thanks to efforts of the Croat leadership in BiH, the author notes that the Croat leadership has again shown its full dedication to the cooperation with the ICTY. |
| SDS versus SNSD and cantonisation of RS
| EuroBlic RSpg2 ‘SDS opposes to cantonisation of RS’ by Srna – SDS Banja Luka yesterday released a press statement, where it expressed a firm determination in the fight against cantonisation of the RS, whose model is announced by SNSD President, Miloard Dodik, through the so called community of municipalities, Banja Luka-Laktasi-Gradiska (whose centre Laktasi would finally become, in formal and legal manner). SDS further calls on citizens of RS to prevent a catastrophe hanging above |
| Sadovic on demands for removal of SDA ministers from RS Government
| EuroBlic RSpg5 ‘The destiny of ministers from SDA uncertain’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – Tarik Sadovic, President of SDA Caucus at the RS NA, is of the view that if Ministers of SDA sitting at RS Government were removed, the parliament majority could be established with votes of Serb Radical Party, which would mean that RS Government is taking a course with right orientation. Accordingly, the international community might oppose to this, says Sadovic. He further stressed: “If SDA ministers were removed, SDA Caucus at RS NA would go to opposition, and the increased role of radicals would result in new political blackmails and diverting from pro-European course.” According to EuroBlic inset RSpg5 ‘Matijasevic leading RS MOI?’, the candidate for position of RS MOI is Darko Matijasevic, currently BiH Military Attache at NATO in Brussels. His name had already gone for vetting procedure at OHR, according to EuroBlic. |
| Ivanic: Foreign Ministry not responsible for BiH Presidency members inability to agree on ambassadors
| Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Tihic’s positions sometimes look like rumours’, pg 5 ‘Foreign Ministry not responsible for BiH Presidency members inability to agree on ambassadors’ – In a response to Sulejman Tihic’s criticism against BiH Foreign Ministry officials absence from the Presidency sessions, BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic said that certain BiH ambassadors had not been appointed not because of this absence but because of a lack of agreement on the issue amongst the Presidency members. |
| Feral Tribune on names of streets in Mostar, BiH
| Feral Tribune, pgs 18-19 ‘Mile Budak’s alleys’, by Ivan Lovrenovic – amid requests aimed at erasing of names of streets in Mostar, which were named after Mile Budak and Jure Francetic (Ustasha officials during WWII), the author argues that the requests are overdue, not devoid of daily politics prior to local elections and exclusively raised by the Bosniak side, which shows typical Bosnian feature, lack of self-criticism. Still, the author says that, in principle, the requests do not diminish the political, historic and ethic justification to erase the names of the streets. The author also notes that the Croat political mentality and the public in general is not showing signs of changes because it “still lives in a closed world of historic shadows and political ghosts”, since no public, political, intellectual or religious figure had enough political intuition and moral intelligence to explain to the public that the selection of Budak and Francetic for national heroes is fatal and idiotic. |
| D. Stojanov elected Prime Minister of Alternative Government
| Dnevni List pg 9 ‘Dragoljub Stojanov Alternative Prime Minister’, mentioned on cover, by D. Polovina-Mandic and Vecernji List pg 4 ‘D. Stojanov Alternative Prime Minister’ by mem – During yesterday’s session of the Alternative BiH Presidency Dragoljub Stojanov was elected a Prime Minister of the Alternative Government. Chairman of the Alternative BiH Presidency Mersed Serifovic stated that they decided to take this step since the current authority is implementing reforms very slowly and it has not found the way out from the current difficult economic and social situation. Stojanov himself did not want to talk about the first moves that he will take as a Prime Minister of the Alternative Government since he does not have the Alternative Government yet. |
| SB op-ed on Bakir Izetbegovic as top Bosniak/SDA leader
| Slobodna Bosna cover splash ‘How a leader of Bosniaks emerged’, pgs 4-5 ‘Bakir Izetbegovic: How a leader of Bosniaks, in a quite but planned way, emerged?!’ op-ed by Senad Avdic – Editorial examines political career of Bakir Izetbegovic, a son of late BiH President Alija Izetbegovic. It reminds that both son and father had always denied that Bakir has any political ambitious, claiming that the truth is that “Alija Izetbegovic subjected everything to one and only cause: to create such system or such chaos out of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosniak people in which, after he would leave the authority, nobody will be able to rule but his son Bakir!” Avdic also accuses Bakir Izetbegovic of criminal activities, and of using his father’s rule to create a power in which nobody could in the past 10 years could become rich without “Bakir’s blessing.” Article concludes that Alija Izetbegovic dedicated the last few years of his life placing ambitious, but non-competent, officials in SDA making a space for party to be headed by his son. “It is absolutely irrelevant when that would happen officially: Today, Bakir Izetebgovic, on billions of grounds and criteria, is a Chief of SDA and new leader of SDA’s, that is of majority, part of Bosniak population!” |
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| Economic/social issues |
| BiH House of Peoples accepts differentiated VAT rates
| Herceg BosNA Radio, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Support to three VAT rates’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘There is no amnesty for war crimes’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Support to VAT Law’ by Agencies; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘A passing grade to Tax’, FENA – BiH House of Peoples on Thursday supported the principles of the draft Value Added Tax (VAT) Law, which foresee differentiated tax rate, in accordance with the recommendation of the Parliament’s Commission for Financial and Administrative Affairs. This means that instead of a single tax rate, as proposed by the BiH Council of Ministers, there will be three tax rates – standard, lower and zero. The heights of the tax rates have not been defined. They should be known after the relevant commission prepares a new report in the period of 15 days, taking into consideration parliamentary discussion and the new amendments that might be submitted in this period. Dnevni list, pg 4 ‘Extended list of goods with lower VAT rate’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic also reported that the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament supported the principle that the future VAT in BiH has three different rates. The chamber left 15 days for submitting of additional amendments and proposals related to the rates, especially because the chamber adopted its commission’s proposal on standard rate fixed at 20% and lower rate at 10% (BiH HoR proposes standard rate of 18% and 8% respectively). Osman Brka, Hasan Cengic and Halid Genjac were against the decision of the HoP, believing that the Law on VAT should be enacted in its entirety as soon as possible. The HoP also extended the list of goods that is to be taxed at lower rate. The list includes detergent, shampoo, soaps, children footwear, used cars etc. |
| EC still supports a single VAT rate in BiH
| Herceg Bosna Radio, Dnevni Avaz pg 4‘No one can guarantee the prices will be lower’ – European Commission delegation believes that introduction of a single VAT rate is the best for BIH.According to the EC, several rates and too many tax free transactions will increase necessary administration and make VAT implementation even more complicated. EC emphasises that if certain products have 0 rate in order to help most vulnerable social categories it does not necessarily mean the product itself will be cheaper. In most cases it will mean that the profit of companies that deal with 0 rate products will increase. Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Protection of poor people but bigger possibility of fraud at the same time’, mentioned on cover ‘Bigger possibility of fraud’ carried EC Spokesman Frane Maroevic’s statement on the issue. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Many rates just opens space for tax evasion’ quotes economic experts including Izudin Kesetovic, who is also a deputy to the FBiH Parliament, and Mehmed Jahic, Director of the FBiH Bureau for Accounting and Audit, who bacsicaly support initial introduction of a single VAT rate. |
| RS/Serbian press: Reactions to adopted VAT Law principles
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 4 ‘Several levels of VAT make more space for frauds’ by N. Krsman, I. Simundza;EuroBlic RSpg1 ‘Two eggs can be double-taxed’ by Nedeljka Breberina – Frane Maroevic, the Spokesperson of the European Commission to BiH, yesterday stated that “EC is of the view that the most efficient VAT rate would be the one with 0 rate for import solely. The process of tax exemption would be in accordance with 6th Directive of the EU on VAT. Several rates would only complicate the process of VAT introduction.” Maroevic also noted that several-rates VAT system would increase possibilities for tax evasion and frauds. NN brings some comments on VAT. Dragoljub Stojanov, Professor with Sarajevo Economic Faculty, is of the view that the BiH Parliament has reached a good decision. He noted: “Discord of the international community with this decision is their full right, which is grounded on their picture of us as incompetent and ignorant. A single VAT system represents collection of tax over the backs of people. Accordingly, those who love the people would not make such a decision.” Rajko Tomas, economic analyst, is of the view that decision of BiH Parliament is of political nature, even very wise during pre-election activities. He noted: “The fiscal theory says that VAT has better effects if the rate is single. It can be implemented with several-rate system, but then effects are not so good and malversations become more evident.” Dusko Jaksic, Director of the Economic Institute in Banja Luka, is of the view that introduction of three-level VAT in BiH would represent a blow to budget incomes, noting that this measure is not so bad since it represents a sort of social protection of citizens. He notes it is not a problem to make any correction (regarding VAT Law) after first implementation results are seen. (EuroBlic RSpg 1 ‘Jaksic: Burden from citizens transferred onto the budget’) According to EuroBlic, Borislav Bjelic, external associate at the Banja Luka Faculty of Economic, is of the view that: “A single VAT rate would be a right solution under conditions that BiH’s gross national income would equate with or be close to those at EU states. Since we do not have it, our Parliament made a right decision.” (Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘One rate, calm sleep’ by N.Z. – GS carries report on press release issued by EC, wording the statement reported above by Frane Maroevic.) |
| Mobilkom
| Dnevni List, front and pg 3 ‘Interest in Eronet is still there’, by Jurislav Petrovic – the daily learns from Dubravka Jusic, the head of Corporative communications at VIPnet (a GSM operator in Croatia, in majority ownership of Mobilkom Austria), that the President of Management of Mobilkom Austria, Boris Nemsic, visited Sarajevo yesterday where he had meetings with principals of the FBiH Government to present them the Mobilkom Austria’s plans of investments into BiH. DL also reminds that Mobilkom Austria was interested in buying shares in ‘Eronet’ a few months ago prior to the decision on issuance of the 3rd GSM licence, and goes on to say that Ms. Jusic confirmed that Mobilkom Austria was still interested in buying the shares. Inset in DL’s article entitled ‘Toby Robinson: We are obliged to appeal’ – announces that the Supervisory Board of ‘Eronet’ will be meeting today and one of topics on the agenda will be a decision whether to appeal to the decision on issuance of the 3rd GSM licence to the HT Mostar with the BiH Court. DL carries the Provisional Administrator for Hercegovacka bank, Toby Robinson, as saying that the Supervisory Board is obliged to appeal because it is in the interest of ‘Eronet’, its shareholders and clients. |
| HNC teachers to go on strike on September 27?
| Dnevni List pg 14 ‘General strike on September 27’,mentioned on cover, not signed, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘General strike in HNC schools’ by O. Cvitkovic and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16‘Professors stinted’ by Z. Zekic – Representatives of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Trade Unions of Primary School Teachers who work according to both, the Bosniak and Croat curriculums, stated at the press conference held yesterday that they will go on a general strike on September 27 and the main reason for the strike are the salaries’ coefficients which are minimal for teachers. The dailies remind that the HNC Assembly passed the decision to form the Commission which would equate coefficients of all budgetary beneficiaries, however, the HNC Government have not implemented this decision. The dailies also say that the Trade Unions will send its demands to the HNC Government and if the Government meets their demands they will give up the strike. |
| RS Pensioners to go on protest 25th September
| EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘On protests on 25 September’ by M.S. – RS Pensioners Association announced that pensioners in RS would go on protest on 25th of September.Pensioners will be on the streets of every city in RS and send a message that their patience is approaching to its end. Chairman of management board of RS Pensioners Association Rade Rakulj says that the Government can postpone the protests by meeting some of their demands. He said that most important ones are to re-distribute the rate of contributions to the advantage of pensioners and to abolish payment of pensions to those pensioners who received pensions before |
| Update to Telekom Srpske
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Zeljko Racic elected President of Steering Board’ by D.R.; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘President is Zeljko Racic’ by D.M. – The Steering Board of Telekom Srpske yesterday elected Zeljko Racic as President of this Board. The Board also decided to issue a vacancy for selection of new General Manager of Telekom Srpske. Racic is a graduate economist working with Banja Luka Faculty of Economics. |
| SD on Kuwaiti loan
| Slobodna Dalmacija front and pg 17 ‘Mostar burdened with Kuwaiti loan too’ by Z. Tulic carries an article on the Kuwaiti loan amounting to 17 million KM that Prime Minister of former Republic of BiH Haris Silajdzic and former Mostar Mayor Safet Orucevic took from the Kuwaiti Government in order to reconstruct infrastructure in former Mostar Municipalities with the Bosniak majority. The author says that since the Mostar Municipalities ceased to exist the whole city of |
| FBiH Govt on Law on privatization of companies
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Law on privatization of companies remains the same’, by M. Batarello, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 9 ‘No changes to Law on privatization’, by D. Pasic – The FBiH Government, which held a session yesterday and was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gavrilo Grahovac, rejected a proposal of the SDP regarding changes and amendments to the Law on privatization of companies. The proposal envisages a mandatory restructuring of companies that are of interest to the FBiH in the pre-privatization period, to which the FBiH Government responded by saying that the current laws already enable privatization of parts of companies, which in reality means restructuring. |
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| Security/investigations/legal proceedings |
| Oslobodjenje: Njegus in SIPA?
| Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Njegus in SIPA?’ E. Kamenica – Radomir Njegus, the current RS Police Director, will soon assume new duty in State Information and Protection Agency (SIPA) in |
| Njegus be heard before Police Director Selection Board on Thursday
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Hearing of Njegus next week’ by D. R.; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Questions for Njegus’ by G.D.; EuroBlic RSpg2 ‘Njegus asked to explain his acts’ by N.B. – The RS Independent Board for Selection of the RS Police Director will interview Radomir Njegus, RS Police Director, on Thursday regarding the statement he made on 20 August. Nusreta Sivac, Vice President of the Board, stated that yesterday’s session of the Board discussed this issue and went through video-material from the press conference, noting that final decision on this will be made after the Board hears Njegus. This Independent Board is consisted of seven members (five legal experts and police officials). |
| Dani on alleged Njegus links with organised crime
| Dani pgs 24-26 ‘Radomir Njegus: RS Director’ by Dzenan Karup-Drusko – “Radomir Njegus, RS Police Director, is a protector of organized crime in smaller BH entity!” reads the introduction of the article which further accuses Njegus of being connected to drug mafia, theft of vehicles, and protection of Radovan Karadzic. Despite all his crimes, says Dani, Njegus “purges” police removing all those opposing him. Article connects him to the irregularities in the work of RS Interior Ministry laid down in the audit report, and reminds of his recent clash with journalist. Calling him the “most important official in RS” Dani wonders who protects Njegus, adding that “it is known that for more than a decade this high police official in RS has permanent support of both OHR and SDS.” Commenting to his recent statement that soon charges will be pressed against those who “lead dirty hunt against him with an aim to destabilize RS MoI”, article concludes that the main target is a leader of the opposition in RS, Milorad Dodik, who recently accused Njegus of criminal activities adding he has evidences for such claims. “Affairs around RS Police Director last for months now. Longer than police investigations in this country. So far, it seems, only |
| SFOR releases Borovina
| Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘SFOR released Veljko Borovina’, by bs – Veljko Borovina, a former driver of Milovan Cicko Bjelica, was released by SFOR on Wednesday night and handed over to Sokolac authorities. He was arrested by SFOR on August 31 under suspicion that he was engaged into anti-Dayton activities. Borovina stated that SFOR interrogated him about events between 1992 and 1998, when he was Bjelica’s driver, and that SFOR treated him correctly. Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘They questioned him about events from 1992 to 1998’ by SRNA; EuroBlic RSpg 5 ‘They were interested in events from 1998’ by SRNA also covered the issue. |
| ITA conducts investigation re cement imported to BiH
| Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Thousands tons of cement for oil-wells which do not exist’ by E. Medunjanin – The BiH Indirect Tax Administration is investigating information about big import of cement for BiH oil-wells. According to ITA Director Kemal Causevic, large amounts of cement are being imported in BiH, which does not have a single oil-well. Causevic added that relevant documents and evidence on the sugar affair were submitted to the State Prosecution and they will judge whether there is ground for issuing of bills of indictment against responsible ones. Causevic added: “I do not know whether the state Prosecutor will issue the bills of indictment or not, however, if he does not do it I will not be the ITA Director any longer.” |
| ‘Vakufska bank’ denies links with terrorism
| Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Vakufska bank has nothing to do with financing of terrorism’, by Arijana Beus – amid reports that say that one Yassin Kadi, whose name was published by the US authorities as one people suspected of being connected to Al Qaeda and who has a share in the ‘Vakufska bank’ of Sarajevo, DL carries a reaction by the bank, which says that it is no secret that Kadi is one of shareholders, noting that his share in the bank is legal, as confirmed by the competent bodies in BiH. The bank also says that its operations are legal and transparent and that the Financial Police and other bodies never detected any irregularities in the bank’s operations, especially the ones about ‘money laundry and funding of terrorism by the bank’ as media reports suggested. |
| VL: ‘M. Dodik transferred 744 000 KM without authorization?’
| Vecernji List pg 3 ‘M. Dodik transferred 744 000 KM without authorization?’ by bs – SNSD President Milorad Dodik stated yesterday that by filing criminals charges against him the RS Ministry of Interior wants to divert attention from the scandalous audit report on financial operations of this institution. VL explains that the Police suspects that Dodik transferred 744 000 KM from the RS budget on the account of ‘Banjolucka Banka’. |
| RS MoI versus auditors
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Assault against RS police’ by D. Risojevic; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Procurement with coverage’, EuroBlic RSpg2 ‘Media also accused’ by Nedeljka Breberina – According to press release yesterday issued by the RS Interior Ministry, RS MoI assessed that publication of the Audit Report on this institutions represents an orchestrated assault against RS MOI. Ministry also accused some media of biased reporting on this issue. Ministry also accused Auditors of having performed several mistakes during the audit. Ministry also clams that BiH Council of Ministries has allowed Ministry not to conduct tenders for procurement related to organisation of Pope’s visit to |
| SD: search after terrorists in BiH?
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 ‘Information from Russia caused investigation’, mentioned on cover, by A. Martincevic – According to a source from the BiH Prosecution, this institution is investigating whether some humanitarian organizations, banks and companies in BiH are a part of the chain which finances terrorist network Al’Qa-id. SD says that the investigation was launched after a Russian News Agency published that a message of Osama bin Laden in which he announced the last terrorist attack on |
| Robbery in Semberija
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 2 ‘112 thousand BAM intended for pensioners stole ‘ by S. Karic; Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Surprise attack from the cornfield’ by S.R.T. – 4 persons wearing masks robbed a vehicle of Srpske Poste and took 112,108 KM intended for payment of pensions in Semberija region. The robbers intercepted the vehicle on the road Bijeljina-Raznjevo. An investigation is underway. Officials in Srpske Poste are sure that the police will solve at least one of 60 robbery cases that happened to Srpske Poste in the last 2.5 years |
| Dnevni Avaz: RS did not fulfil
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘RS has not fulfilled |
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| Miscellaneous |
| Oslobodjenje: RS Government does not have money for reconstruction of Aladza mosque in Foca
| Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 7 ‘They are reconstructing Hilandar, but they do not have money for Aladza’ Az. Kalamujic – According to the author, the RS Government has not fulfilled its obligation from the Dayton Agreement’s Annex 8 to allocate money for preservation of the remains and the site of the war-destroyed Aladza mosque in Foca, which represents an unique sample of the Ottoman Empire’s architecture in BiH. That is why the issue of saving the sacral facility has been transferred to a group comprising the BiH Presidency members, BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic, and the Entity Prime Ministers Dragan Mikerevic and Ahmet Hadzipasic. But, at the same time, the RS Government has managed to find some KM 60,000 as its contribution to the reconstruction of the Hilandar Orthodox Monastery in |