| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Meeting in Aluminium | OHR and CoM on PBS | SFOR inspection in Zenica | EC assistance approved |
| Classes start in HBH | Licence for GSM operator | Brcko Prosecutor | RS Telecom |
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| Energy for Aluminium | EC assistance for RTV |
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| Guatanamo case | Investment in Lukavac |
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| Oslobodjenje | Privatisation Agency denies statements by the international officials: The story on failed privatisation is a stupidity; Bulldozer Commission: Holidays’ Law – a reform; |
| Dnevni Avaz | Dissatisfaction over Defence Ministry: Prime Minister demands Nikolic’s removal; Paddy Ashdown announced: Law on PBS by 15 December |
| Dnevni List | Hadzipasic: Electricity for Aluminij will not get dearer; Situation in City administration is three times more serious than in Government |
| Vecernji List | Elections in Croatia shake HDZ BiH; There is no increase of price of electricity for Aluminij |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | British to get new concession for phones?; The electricity price will not go up |
| Glas Srpske | Framework plan of the Republika Srpska Government : A billion in budget |
| Nezavisne Novine | Session of Telekom shareholders interrupted: Removals at Telekom postponed; Second phase of Bulldozer Commission commences: 50 new reforms delivered to BiH authorities; New law on PBS by 15 December: A new chance offered to public broadcasters to get EURO 1.5 million; Republika Srpska: In spite of opposition of OHR, IMF and WB payment of increased pension commenced; Banjaluka: Students announce they would lock university |
| Blic | Pensioners’ action: Signatures for discount on heating and electricity; Dragomir Ljubojevic: ‘To define property of local communities’; Standard: Lowest labor price is 82 KM, payment by November 21 |
Public Broadcasting Reforms | |
| Aahdown, Humphreys: 1.5 million Euros of assistance to be given
| CRHB, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 2 ‘A new chance offered to public broadcasters to get EURO 1.5 million’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Everybody gets its screen’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7 ‘Investing in PBS continues’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘PBS will get 1,5 million Euros’, Blic p 13, ‘1,5 million € on air’, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Nevertheless, PBS got 1,5 million Euros’, Oslobodjenje cover, pgs 4&5 ‘Law on Public Broadcasting by 15 December’ – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown and the Head of European Commission Delegation Michael Humphreys told at the press conference in Sarajevo on Monday that the measures undertaken by BH authorities and the PBS Steering Board satisfied conditions for 1,5 million Euros of EC assistance to the PBS. They also stressed that the BiH Transport and Communications Ministry was given deadline until 15 December to produce draft Law on the public broadcasting. Ashdown said that the agreement on the principles of the public broadcasting system’s reform, signed by the Prime Ministers, and ‘the measures announced by the PBS Executive Commission fulfil condition for OHR to continue with its engagement in the process of public broadcasting system’s reform in BiH’. FTV, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Law on PBS by 15 December’, pg 4 ‘By 15 December, a Law on BiH PBS’ – ‘We have received all needed assurances that the money of European taxpayers will not be spent wrongfully. The one of the main reasons for PBS weakness has been solved, and that is the lack of political agreement on PVS structure in according with Dayton agreement and European standards on the high-ranking level. We got that, as well as the letter in which PBS Steering Board commits itself to carrying out the measures which will decrease further costs of the system. They will start with the work on the basis of BBC plan, having in mind extremely bad financial situation in order to avoid the collapse.’ – stated Ashdown at the press conference. Daily also writes that three Prime Ministers agreed on appointment and dismissal of members of the Steering Boards to be done by the Parliament, after the consultations with the Communications Regulatory Agency. RTRS – As for subscription, EC Head Humphreys confirmed it would be equal on the BH territory, while the Law would determine how much will each broadcaster receive. |
| Dokic on draft Public Broadcasting Law
| BHTV 1 – Regarding to the new Law his ministry is supposed to draft by mid December, BH Transport and Communications Minister Branko Dokic said: ‘We have already used proposals by OHR and we will use them further as basis for our solutions.’ Conditions for future assistance of 3 million Euros EC set condition to have new legislation by mid December and implementation of the PB system restructuring action plan to start as of January 1. Ashdown found that governments made sufficient progress on reform, but he required further reduction of costs. |
| SD on EU assistance for PBS | Slobodna Dalmacija front, pg 17 ‘British to get new concession for phones?’ by Blazica Kristo – SD learns from a source close to the European Commission that the 1,5 million Euros that the EC is going to donate to the PBS in BiH to upgrade the current broadcasting infrastructure will be indeed used for the purpose, however the daily adds that, once improved, the infrastructure can be used for setting up of a telephone network in BiH, which can be a competition to the state-owned companies. SD goes on to say it would be no surprise if some of the big international players in BiH get more active and facilitate the possibilities of the new, improved infrastructure, speculating that the Great Britain, which has been in the author’s opinion the most ‘vocal’ in the PBS restructuring, might use the opportunity. |
Increase of RS pensions and salaries | |
| 6% increase pensions being distributed in RS | CRHB, FTV, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Payment of increased pensions started’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Distribution of pensions started in RS’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 2 ‘RS Government met requests of pensioners’, FENA – Despite the objections from OHR, the IMF and the World Bank, the distribution of 6% increased pensions has commenced in RS on Monday. Average pension in RS is 143 KM. |
| RS Gov’t increases pensions | RTRS, Blic p 13 ‘Labor price 82 KM, payment by November 21’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Payment according to new accounting settlement to budget beneficiaries’; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Salaries according to new principle’ – RS Prime Ministers Dragan Mikerevic stated that entity Government has officially adopted decision on lowest labour wages, in the amount of 82 KM, to be paid to all budget users by November 21. |
| IMF, WB and EC oppose pensions increase | Dnevni List front,pg 4 ‘Proposals of RS Government threat whole of BiH’ , Slobodna Dalmacija back page ‘Increase of salaries threat to financially break BiH’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Republika Srpska has no resources to provide pension and salary increases’,Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘RS Government causes social tensions’ – The IMF, World Bank and European Commission have concluded that the RS Government lacks the resources to implement its package of proposals to increase pensions and salaries by 20 percent by the end of the year and to pay these amounts through 2004. If the government goes ahead, it will likely be unable to pay the proposed increases through 2004, causing new payment arrears, disruption to government operations, and further social stress. For these reasons, the increases will violate BiH’s international agreements with the IMF and other institutions, after which BiH will lose at least over 300 million KM in lending and grants. Without these funds, both entities will not be able to meet even the current levels of pension, salary and other social commitments. ‘The RS proposals could therefore potentially undermine the economic stability not only of the RS, but of the whole of BiH.’ – reads the press release. Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 2 ‘Republika Srpska Government met requests of pensioners’ – OHR remains faithful to its initial stance not to approve of pension increase. NN was told at OHR Banjaluka Regional Office that “OHR does not announce its further steps”. This is a response to press question regarding eventual steps OHR may take on this issue. |
| RS Government to negotiate pension increase with IC | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Continuation of negotiations on permanent pensions increase’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Negotiations on permanent pension increase’, FENA – Goran Radivojac, Spokesperson of Republika Srpska Prime Minister, yesterday announced that the Republika Srpska Government will resume negotiations with the officials of the international community, in order to find a model on permanent pension increase, which would be acceptable for both sides. Radivojac explained that: ‘The RS Government does not want to jeopardise macro-economic stability of BiH. |
| RS Trade Union criticises IC re increase of salaries and pensions | Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘We are under OHR presure’, Blic pg 13 ‘The Trade Union defends the Government’, FENA – The RS Trade Union President, Cedo Volas, requested from OHR, World Bank and IMF to stop applying pressures on the RS Government with an aim to lower Labor price and small increase of pensions. The Trade Union demand implementing the labor price as it was three years ago and they remind OHR and International financial institutions that dissatisfied and hungry workers and pensioners cannot build macroeconomic stability. |
Economic issues | |
| Hadzipasic: Electricity price for Aluminij will not increase
| BHTV 1, CRHB, FTV, Vecernji List front ‘There is no increase of price of electricity for ‘Aluminij’, pg 2 ‘Electricity for Aluminij will not go up after all’, Dnevni List front, pg 5 ‘Hadzipasic: Electricity for Aluminij will not get dearer’, Slobodna Dalmacija front, pg 17 ‘The electricity price will not go up’, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Aluminij will not pay for even a pfening more expensive electricity’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘No increased electricity prices for Aluminij’ – Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic and Deputy Prime Minister, Dragan Vrankic, had a meeting with the management of the Aluminj company and its manager, Mijo Brajkovic, in Mostar on Monday. At the press conference after the meeting, Dragan Covic said that the talks focused on the current situation in the Aluminium and the problem of price of the electricity supply for this company. Covic stated: ‘We agreed that the production in Aluminij must not be threatened due to some connections and relations which appear on the market when it comes to the price of electricity. Often, that is the topic for political discussions. Our intention is to keep Aluminij at the current level, not to threat its intention to become one of the strongest manufacturers in the region.’ Ahmet Hadzipasic agreed that the company must not be put in the position where the price of the electricity is raised and production threatened. Furthermore, the development of production in the Aluminium is supposed to be one of basic projects at the Investment Conference scheduled for February 2004 in Mostar. Aluminij Director Brajkovic said that the development concept was adopted during the meeting, which will be presented on 15 December. The concept envisages Aluminium to become one of the leading aluminium producers in Europe, with several thousands new jobs. Currently, Aluminij covers 25% of the overall state export. |
| Bulldozer Commission presents 50 new reforms | BHTV 1, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 5 ‘50 new reforms delivered to BiH authorities’, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Law on holidays – reform’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ’50 new reforms promoted’ – Srecko Boras, a coordinator of the Bulldozer Commission, handed over on Monday in Sarajevo a package of 50 new economic reforms, drafted by the Bulldozer Commission, to the FBiH and RS Prime Ministers and to the Brcko District Deputy Mayor. Four Emergency Reform Units (ERU) have been presented on Monday as well, the ERUs are tasked to coordinate dialogs between the private sector and relevant bodies, as well as to forward the reports on implementation of proposed reforms directly to the prime ministers. Boras pointed out on the occasion that he expected the proposed reforms to be implemented by the end of 2003. RTRS – Members of ERU are the state officials representing their departments of the state administration in order to ensure efficient implementation of the 2nd phase of reforms. According to the BH CoM Adnan Terzic those units represent connection between private sector and authority. Together with entity PMs, he estimated that the first phase was very successful, in the course of which 50 reforms for the economic improvement and removal of numerous administrative obstacles for business development were removed. Three PMs have obliged to adopt these new initiatives within legal deadline, and that establishing of the better dialogue with the business community is needed, and that governments will do in their power to ease business. Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Another 50 reforms for implementation before domestic authorities’ – Coordinator of the Unit for Urgent Reforms, Mirza Hajric, says: “A new structure called Unit for Urgent Reforms was promoted today. There are 4 tasks of those units, and they are to implement what 7 regional Bulldozer Commissions agreed and presented to the state Bulldozer Commission.” |
| FBiH Privatisation Agency denies allegations privatisation failed | CRHB, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 6 ‘The story on failed privatisation is a stupidity’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Tender buyers to date invested 341 million KM’ – Chairman of the FBiH Privatisation Agency Steering Board Bozo Matic denied on Monday the allegations made by some international officials who said that the privatisation is a failed process, calling such statements a ‘stupidity’. At the press conference held on Monday, the representatives of the FBiH Privatisation Agency announced that some 5 billions, out of 13.5, of the state capital were privatised. They concluded that although the environment for the privatisation is better than it used to be, still the main obstacles have been the present ambience and existing legislation. Agency’s Director Resad Zutic acknowledged that the privatisation process faces many difficulties, especially regarding some 30 companies, where investors are not in position or not willing to fulfil their obligations and activities for annulling of those contracts are currently on course. Zutic also acknowledged that the process was ceased for some time, but added that the privatisation started again: ‘Privatisation was started by OHR, the World Bank and the governments, who now for the first time develop strategy on the state level. We are looking for the model for the companies are freed from debts, not onl of those we have to sell but those already privatised.’ The working group will also look into the possibilities for establishing insurance fund for those workers being left without a job following the privatisation. |
| Update on Telekom Srpske
| RTRS, Oslobodjenje p8 ‘To chose new leadership’, Glas Srpske ‘End before the beginning’, Blic pg 13 ‘Director by December’, Vecernje Novosti pg 21 ‘Makeup examination for Telekom’ – At the session in Banjaluka on Monday, shareholders of Telekom Srpske postponed the implementation of RS Government’s decision (regarding removals of management and election of new management through open competition), since the session was interrupted after it was confirmed that the Court in charge did not register the increase value of the firm for BAM 135 million in Court Registry. Dragan Solaja, RS Minister of Traffic and Communication, yesterday commented on this sudden interrupted of session by saying that “this interruption represents another event in a series of such, when Government decisions cannot be implemented owing to court inefficiency”. He said he would seek from shareholders Assembly to schedule continuation of this session, which should take place prior to deadline of 21 days as stipulated by the Statute of Telekom. Zoran Vujanovic, President of Steering Board, denied that session interruption represents an attempt of Telekom management to buy some more time. Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 3 ‘Removals at Telekom postponed’, – According to NN, the OHR Spokesperson, Oleg Milisic, said that OHR finds it positive that Government recognised the need to remove the current management of Telekom Srpske. He wonders as to whether Government has failed to remove the management, since it identified problems. Also, Zoran Glusac, Spokesperson of RS Ministry of Internal Affairs, said that RS police received instructions from Banjaluka Prosecutor’s Office to investigate into claims presented in special audit report on Telekom. He explained that police is compiling evidence and taking statements, noting that no further details can be released at this state, owing to ongoing investigation. |
| Austrian investor bought Holiday Inn
| BHTV 1, CRHB, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Austrian company plans to invest in total 120 million KM’, Oslobodjenje cover, pgs 4&5 ‘In addition to Holiday Inn, a sky-building of 22 floors’ – Austrian investor Alfa Bau management bought hotel Holiday Inn in Sarajevo for 44,5 million KM. Privatisation contract was signed on Monday with Sarajevo Canton privatisation agency. This investor was the only one who applied during the bidding and it met all preconditions. In addition, Austrian owners promised some new investment in new building of 22 stores and 32000 m2. All 400 workers will keep their jobs in next three years. |
| EC on appointment of ITA Chair of Steering
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘European Commission strongly against partisan candidates’ by A. Bajric – The most objections of the draft Indirect Taxation Law were directed at the article which determines that the first chairman of the ITA Steering Board cannot be BiH or citizen of a state from former Yugoslavia. SNSD in advance said they would not support the Law if article were not cut out. However, spokesperson for EC in BiH Frane Maroevic says that ‘the first chairman of Steering Board should be foreigner, the person without party connections, without nationalists biases, and which would with her/his experience and expertise help the development of this institution.’ He also said that ITA is the type of the institution that never existed in BiH before therefore it would be useful to rely of foreign experience. As for the vacancy of the ITA Director, authorized Commission will start interviewing the best candidates already tomorrow. |
| SDS on ITA | Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Delegates in favour of squandering instead of money collection’ – Head of SDS Caucus at BiH House of Representatives, Momcilo Novakovic, yesterday confirmed that the Serb delegates at this House concluded it was necessary to establish seven instead of planned four regional ITA offices in BIH. European Commission delegation assessed this request to be unacceptable. However, the fact is that one of Parliament Finance Commission, namely Filip Andric, changed his mind in the meantime and said that ‘he made a mistake by voting on this.’ |
| NN editorial on ITA | Nezavisne Novine pg 7 ‘Directly into indirect taxation’ editorial by Almedin Sisic – The author writes about all those political games and war raging in relation to indirect tax commission. In his view, the inter-party war for as good positions as possible has overlapped with political clash with the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, which commenced when HiRep opposed to the nomination of Fuad Kasumovic, believed to be loyal to Hasan Cengic, as the first man of ITA. The clash has deepened since SDS proposed addenda to ITA Law, according to which there should be seven instead of four ITA regional offices, because this organisation would ensure entity border inviolability. The author wonders into reason why HiRep has so far failed to react on these SDS requests. Maybe because he is too busy with PBS and some current affairs in BiH. The author concludes that it is clear to everybody that if SDS won on this, customs and tax evasions would not stop, but instead expand in the interest of small group of people. |
| BHTV1 on 3 GSM licence | BHTV 1 by Lejla Redzovic – Once again, the Council of Minister could not agree on the issue of third GSM licence and its’ possible award to Eronet. Reporter commented that ‘it seems that ministers could not agree on evaluation of 20 million KM for licence and it seems some ministers were representing private, but not public interests.’ Serb and Bosniak ministers opposed the low price of the licence, while Croat ministers were in its favour. BH Transport and Communications Minister Branko Dokic only commented by saying that ‘a part of ministers is not satisfied with a revision and price set.’ BH Security Minister Barisa Colak commented that he did not see reason ‘why should we reject expert opinion on price of licence.’ Minister opposing this proposal say licence should correspond with telecom operators’ annual profit of 300 million KM. If EroNet is not awarded with the licence by end of year, CRA will be forced to cease its future operation. |
| SDS on Law on VAT | Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Tax for concern’ – Cvijetin Nikic, SDS Vice President, expressed hope on Monday that the postponement on reaching final decision on Law on VAT for ten days would be enough to re-consider amendments to this Law, which refer to the establishment of the organisational centres for VAT inside boundaries of Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
Security and military issues | |
| Beecroft: BiH to join PfP in mid 2004
| BHTV 1, CRHB, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘The minimum of criteria to joint PfP fulfilled’, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Defence reform in BiH is the expression of compromise’, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘BiH to enter Partnership for Peace in 2004?’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘BiH at the door of PfP’, Blic p 13 ‘You should not gamble with your chance’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Next year into PfP’, FENA, ONASA – Head of OSCE in BH, Robert Beecroft met with the RS President Dragan Covic in Banja Luka on Monday, and said that was realistic to expect BH to join the Partnership for Peace by mid next year. However, Beecroft added this could be done only under the condition that there are no political games around the BH Defence Reform Commission’s report. Head OSCE also said that the report was a carefully balanced and it reflected the internal structure of BH satisfying the minimum of requirements for accession to the PfP, adding he was encouraged with the activities concerning the report to date. RS President Dragan Cavic said that the proposed solutions in regard to the defence reform are the product of compromises and represented the combination of the fulfilling the international obligations and local needs. He added: ‘In someone thinks that not accessing PfP is good for BiH, they should ask themselves why all those European countries, including Russia are the members of PfP.’ |
| Ivanic on wiretapping affair, crime | FTV, BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ministry of Foreign Affairs: No reactions’ – BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic said he had not received information on alleged wiretapping of British citizens. At the press conference on Monday, Ivanic said: ‘I have no information on spying of 30 British citizens from British Council…it is difficult to speculate about such information since we have not received any complaints yet.’ Oslobodjenje cover, pg 2 ‘Criminals from RS get Schengen visas through BiH Foreign Ministry’ – Mladen Ivanic confirmed that Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducts disciplinary procedure against one person in consular department, who apparently illegally issued 5 Schengen visas. Interior Ministry is checking into these allegations and MFA has changed procedures for official requesting of those visas. Ivanic repeated that sending BH troops to Iraq and thus getting closer to the USA will not influence its position towards Europe. RTRS – Ivanic commented his previous statement [given in Belgrade that only Bosnaiks were behind the lawsuit of BH against SCG and that no Serb representative supports it] stating that this was his opinion as a politician. |
| FBiH Police Administration on wiretapping affair | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Cvrtak: We worked in accordance with court’s order’ – Spokesperson for FBiH Police Administration Robert Cvrtak stated for DA that FBiH Interior Ministry working in accordance to the Law, regarding the latest wiretapping affair. Asked whether this means that FBiH MoI bugged 30 foreign diplomats residing in Olomanka building in Sarajevo, Cvrtak only commented: ‘We worked in accordance with the court’s order.’ According to DA, the real reason for SFOR’s raid into Zenica Court and Prosecutors’ Office was to find the legal order for bugging signed by judge Nermin Tesnjak, following the request from Prosecutor. |
| Terzic on SIPA HQ location
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Sarajevo authorities will offer us several locations’ – In two days, the Council of Ministers will discuss at its session the conclusions of the Department for Political Issue regarding the HQ of the State Information and Protection Agency. Chairman of CoM Adnan Terzic confirmed for DA that the discussion will focus around the proposal of Lukavica being the HQ, however he added that this was not acceptable to him. ‘The most probably, Sarajevo authorities will offer us by Thursday several locations, that is buildings in Sarajevo.’ – said Terzic adding that SIPA HQ must be located in Sarajevo. |
| DA: Hadzipasic to demand Nikolic’s removal
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Prime Ministers demands Nikolic’s resignation’, pg 2 ‘Prime Minister Hadzipasic demands Nikolic’s resignation’ – Daily claims it learned that the FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic will send the proposal for removal of FBIH Defence Minister Miroslav Nikolic to the FBIH President Niko Lozancic and Vice President Desnica Radivojevic. Hadzipasic did not want to comment Lozancic’s statement [reported on Monday] that a number of officials could possibility be dismissed as they ‘cannot cope’ with the situation. However he did confirm there would be proposal for Nikolic’s dismissal, without stating further details. Avaz’s sources that Hadzipasic will raise the issue of ‘trust towards Nikolic’, after he failed to prevent further existence of the parallel structures within the FBiH Defence Ministry. |
| WB on upcoming demilitarisation
| CRHB, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘World Bank against payment of severance pays’ – Director of the World Bank in BiH Dirk Reinermann stated that as governments of BiH prepare for a new round of reductions in defense expenditures, including the demobilization of 7.500 soldiers, the World Bank is increasingly concerned that previous approaches to this problem through KM 10,000 severance packages and ‘tool kits’ are not a cost-effective means for labor redeployment, and do not result in sustainable income earning opportunities. Reinerman added WB supported the Pilot Emergency Labor Redeployment project that has now completed with the redeployment of 5, 790 ex-soldiers into civilian employment. When considering possible strategies for further reductions, BiH decision-makers would benefit from the experience of the World Bank-financed project, which enabled redeployment of the 30% military personnel reduced under the Madrid Agreement reached in 1998. |
Political issues | |
| Tihic met with Humphreys | Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘With Feasibility Study to the European standards’, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘To reach solution for Mostar through political consensus’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7 ‘PBS reform’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Through consensus of all parties to the solution for Mostar’, FENA – BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic and European Commission Delegation to BiH Head Michael Humphreys discussed reform of the RTV system, assessment of the Feasibility Study, adoption of the Law on Indirect Taxation at the state level and the status of Mostar in Sarajevo on Monday. Tihic underlined the importance of the results that the Feasibility Study will show. He also said that they would provide guidelines for further activities towards meeting all European standards in order for BiH to join European structures, the BiH Presidency stated. They also discussed the need to pass the Law on Indirect Taxation at the state level by the end of the year, as well as the need to pass other reform laws. As for the issue of Mostar, Tihic supported effort aimed at reaching a solution on the future organisation of Mostar and expressed confidence that the solution would be reached through political consensus of all parties. |
| Terzic on upcoming EU answer in regard to BiH accession
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘I hope for a call from Brussels with some conditions’ by S. Numanovic – On 18 November, the EU is expected to bring a decision on its stand towards BiH aspirations to access the European Union. A day later, the EU representatives are expected to visit a country with official respond to BiH authorities. In this regard, Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stated for DA that he believed that the EU answer would be positive to BiH, however that it would also carry certain conditions. Previously, BH authorities were given a set of 346 questions to answer for EU, and Terzic adds that BH authorities implemented almost 90% of the demands form Feasibility Study. BiH hopes to join EU in 2009. |
| RS Inmates Ass. demands elections and resignations in the Gov’t | Blic p 13, ‘Camp inmates request resignations and elections’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Inmates demand resignation of Prime Minister and disbandment of RS Parliament’ – Because of an inappropriate behavior of the current RS authority, the RS Association of Camp Inmates requests from RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic to resign, they request from RS President Dragan Cavic to dismiss the RSNA and they request signing out of early elections at the same time of holding local elections. The Deputy President of the Association, Slavko Jovicic, stated that otherwise the camp inmates would organize mass protests in front of the Government and RSNA buildings on December 10. The President of the Association, Branislav Dukic, says it is unacceptable to have the entire military and political top of the RS and Yugoslavia in the Hague, while there are only two Bosniaks in the same position. Dukic claims there would be no peace in BiH until the whole truth on sufferings of Serbs as well is made public, not only on suffering of Bosniaks and Croats. |
| SDA opposes population census
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Jahic: Population census would be legalization of ethnic cleansing!’ – BiH House of Representatives Speaker Nikola Spiric says in an statement for DA that out of ruling parties, his proposal on census is not supported by SDA while HDZ still did not voice its stand. ‘Latest census from 1991 suits to SDA, are we supposed to wait for another 50 years for this job to be done. Without census we don’t know how many citizens we have, nor we can determine GDP or any other relevant data.’ – explains Spiric. However, Vice President of SDA Elmir Jahic claims that census is acceptable only after the full implementation of DPA Annex 7 that guarantees refugees and DPs to return to their pre-war homes. Otherwise, Jahic says census would legalize the results of ethnic cleansing in BiH. |
| Bosniak caucus on HNK crisis | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Crisis again to be solved in Sarajevo?’ – Delegates from the Bosniak caucus of the Herzegovina-Neretva Cantonal Government will, at the session to be held on Wednesday, discuss the situation following SDA and Party for BiH’s walkout of the HNK Gov’t session provoked by the language remark. President of the Bosniak caucus Enver Mujala said that all issues must be solved as soon as possible, not only at the cantonal level but also in parties’ headquarters in Sarajevo. |
| VL editorial on SDA actions in Mostar
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Alone against everyone’ by Milan Sutalo – Claiming that the SDA is showing its true colors in Mostar by not wanting to unify the city, by not giving up the three Bosniak majority municipalities, the author notes that the behaviour of SDA in Mostar has confused its members, caused a rift in the party pinnacle and entered into conflict with not only the Croat parties, but the Bosniak parties too, as well as with the IC. In that context, VL says that even Safet Orucevic, a former leader of SDA in Mostar, because all of this decided to continue with the Party for BiH, which advocates that Mostar be organized as one unit of local self-government, with single budget and city administration. |
| Oslobodjenje editorial claims SDA in favour of BiH division | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘An excuse’ editorial by Mirko Sagolj – ‘Definitevly: SDA is also in favour of Mostar division, meaning at the same time it is for the division of entire BiH. All cards have been disclosed: ruling nationalists parties are for BiH division. SDS never hide it, nor doest it hide today… HDZ sometimes goes quite, without mentioning ‘Croatian self-rule’, but every now and than, someone discloses the ultimate intentions of this party – division of BiH.’ Editorial further reads that SDA actions in Mostar lately showed that this party has the same aim, however carries out the activities on it differently letting HDZ and SDS to be obvious ‘division talkers’, while they work towards creation of Bosniak entity. |
| VL: Three leading opposition parties agreed cooperation | Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Is new Alliance being formed?’ by E. Medunjanin – VL carries that opposition parties from the RS and FBiH announce that by the end of the month they should sign a platform on political cooperation, at least when issues on which they have similar stands are in question. So far, SDP, NHI and SNSD leaders reached the agreement on political cooperation. VL says that this list might be bigger since the invitation for cooperation was sent to all parties that have their representatives in the legislative bodies of the entities and the state. SNSD President Milorad Dodik stated: ‘It is important to underline that this is about the document, that for the first time after the Dayton Peace Accord, will be signed by the parties from the RS and FBiH without the initiative of the International Community representatives.’ |