Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on
RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
Ivanic, Ashdown to attend | Yasser Arafat dies |
FBiH Government in session | HR interview for VoA |
BiH MoD delegation visiting | Ivanic, Ashdown to attend |
TV news broadcast on
RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
CIA on BIH population | Arafat’s death | HIV testing in Mostar | Apology to Srebrenica vic. |
Terzic’s dismissal rejected | SFOR search in Mokro | Apology to Srebrenica vic. | Terzic’s dismissal rejected |
HNC schools on strike | Terzic’s dismissal rejected | Terzic’s dismissal rejected | Miroslav Bralo surrendered |
Party agreements in Brcko | Attack against mosque BL | Invest. Promotion Strategy | SFOR search in Mokro |
Oslobodjenje | Government apologized to Bosniaks for crime |
Dnevni Avaz | Adnan Terzic: I am prepared to make some personnel changes |
Dnevni List | 29 Mostarians tested on AIDS |
Vecernji List | Agrokor wants to purchase Hepok |
Slobodna Dalmacija | Croat students stubbed by knife |
Glas Srpske | Rain and snow halt tractors: Price of corn falling down |
Nezavisne Novine | Cedomir Jovanovic: Hague indictees from BiH are in |
Blic | Families of Srebrenica victims to file lawsuit against RS: EURO 2 billion for the suffered pain |
Vecernje Novosti | Truth about Serbs murdered in BiH capitol: 5873 Serbs murdered in Sarajevo |
Belgrade’s Nacional | Features Serbian related topics |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
FBiH Government in session | Herceg Bosna Radio News at 1200 – FBiH Government is in session today when it will be discussing 14 draft laws, proposals of decisions and opinions. The Government will, among other things, discuss issues pertaining to employment laws, administrative lawsuits, ways of disposal of real estate that are being used by the FBiH MoD. |
BiH MoD delegation visiting Turkey
| Herceg Bosna Radio – Delegation of the BiH MoD, led by Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, is paying a two-day visit to Turkey, where they will be guests at a military exercise on fight against terrorism. Two BiH military officers will take active part in the exercise. |
Old foreign currency savers sue domestic, international banks, institutions
| Herceg Bosna Radio – Steering Board of Association for protection of old foreign currency savers has filed lawsuits with Municipal Court of Sarajevo and European Human Rights Court at Strasbourg today. Lawsuits have been filed against several banks, states and foreign officials. According to Amila Omersoftic, a member of the said Steering Board, lawsuits with the Sarajevo Municipal Court have been filed against banks that were active in BiH back in 1990 and against “Nova Ljubljanska Banka of BiH”, against the FBiH, RS, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro, Peace Implementation Council Steering Board, the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, and the IMF. When it comes to the Strasbourg Court, lawsuits will be filed against BiH, Slovenia, Croatia, SiCG, Macedonia, France, Italy, Germany, UK, Russia and Turkey. |
Political developments | |
BiH Presidency rejected Terzic’s resignation
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover ‘Minister Halilovic might be removed from the Government?!’ by V. Zivak, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Premier Terzic’s resignation rejected’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Survival of current authority in hands of Party for BiH’, mentioned on front ‘Green light to Terzic for reconstruction of FBiH Government’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Reconstruction of CoM up to Terzic’ by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Terzic’s resignation was not accepted’ by D. Pasic, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘Terzic announced removal of Halilovic’ by M. Cubro; EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Resignation results in confidence’ by D.S.; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Terzic’s demand rejected’ – The BiH Presidency on Wednesday rejected Adnan Terzic‘s request for resignation as chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers. Terzic was asked to cooperate more closely with the BiH Parliamentary Assembly and to continue working on reforms. The resignation (request for dismissal) was not accepted and, after the meeting with representatives of political parties, the BiH Presidency gave Terzic freedom of action to use his discretion and reorganize the cabinet if necessary. According to BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic, reforms in BiH must be continued. “This decision is, among other things, also a result of yesterday’s (Tuesday) meeting, during which representatives of the political parties that make up the parliamentary majority gave their unambiguous support to Prime Minister Terzic and the present members of the Council of Ministers; only one party lent conditional support. We believe we will emerge stronger from this situation,” Tihic told journalists after the Presidency session. According to Oslobodjenje, it is not hard to conclude that the possible reconstruction of the CoM refers to Safet Halilovic and his Party for BiH. On Wednesday, Halilovic was not informed by Terzic on his possible removal as Terzic himself did not exclude possibility that Halilovic is removed if he does not provide necessary support to reform processes. Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘I am prepared to make some personnel changes’, pg 5 ‘I do not exclude possibility that some ministers be dismissed’ – “BiH Presidency gave support not only to me but to a more accelerated implementation of reforms,” said Terzic in an interview with the daily commenting on the BiH Presidency decision to reject his request for being relieved of duty. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Session of the Interstate Council postponed’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Agreement on Ploce Port does not exist any longer’, mentioned on front, by I. Glibusic and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Session of Inter-State Council for Cooperation between Croatia and BiH postponed’ by D. Pasic, – The Presidency also made a decision, in cooperation with Stjepan Mesic, President of the Republic of Croatia, to postpone the session of the Intergovernmental Council scheduled for November 19 due to insufficient preparation. Property rights relations, the status of the port of Ploce, as well as the passage through Neum remain open bilateral problems. The BiH Presidency annulled the decision on the appointment of Dragan Bozanic as BiH ambassador to the Council of Europe. A new candidate for the ambassadorial position will be discussed at the next session. |
NN op-ed on Terzic’s actions
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Love towards the power’ by Mirza Cubro – The author is writing about Adnan Terzic, saying that we have all known we would remain the BiH COM Chair. He claims that well-informed people knew very well from the very beginning that Terzic’s demand for resignation was actually a call for more discipline of delegates at BiH Parliament. According to him, the only news following five-days peripeteias is that ruling parties remain in coalition. |
Crisis in the Federation Government
| Oslobodjenje, pgs 4-5, ‘Mandates at disposal of party’, by A. Terzic – President of the SDP Caucus in the FBiH Parliament, Karlo Filipovic, reiterates that SBiH’s ministers in the FBiH Government should leave the said Government if they are unhappy with the work of it since it would be the best solution to overcome one in the series of crisis in the work of this executive body. On the other hand, the FBiH Minister of Trade and Tourism, Maid Ljubovic (SBiH), told Oslobodjenje that he and his party colleagues, namely Ramiz Mehmedovic, Gavrilo Grahovac and Izet Zigic, have put their ministerial mandates at disposal of the SBiH. “I did what I should do. I offered the ministerial mandate to the party that had appointed me and it is down to the party leadership to decide on my future in the FBiH Government. I am ready to leave the Government if the party asks me to do so and if such position is reached”, says Ljubovic. Ljubovic stresses that he comes to work on daily basis and does his job, however he will not be attending sessions of the FBiH Government. Oslobodjenje, pg 7, mentioned on front, ‘Rapporteurs instead of ministers?!’, by A. Terzic – The FBiH Prime Ministers, Ahmet Hadzipasic, believes it is not good to transfer the ‘alleged crisis’ in the FBiH Government to the FBiH Parliament, noting it is a matter primary for the Government itself. Hadzipasic notes that he is yet to receive anything in writing from the SBiH’s ministers about reasons of their dissatisfaction, and goes on to say that he has sent the SBiH’s ministers Ljubovic, Mehmedovic, Grahovac and Zigic a letter in which he asks them to appoint authorized rapporteurs, who would be attending sessions of the Government. “The rapporteurs would present projects that the FBiH Government would discuss, but they would not have the right to vote. However, this is not the best solution, and the best thing would be that SBiH’s ministers return to sessions of the Government (…) I expect from SBiH’s ministers to inform me in following days whether the rapporteurs will be appointed and who they will be”, says PM Hadzipasic. Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Silajdzic’s representatives will demand removal of Government’ by eme reports that the resolving of the Federation of BiH Government crises will take place next week since SBiH will demand at the first, next session of the FBiH House of Representatives the discussion on the work of the FBiH Government and on the demands of SBiH Ministers regarding privatization. VL says that in case that their demands do not get support (which is very likely to happen), SBiH representatives will initiate removal of the FBiH Government and they will withdraw their ministers. The article concludes that in that case, SDA and HDZ will keep the majority thanks to support of a few smaller parties. Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Session op FBiH Government without SBiH Ministers’ by N. Bise carries that SBiH Ministers will not attend the session of the FBiH Government that is to take place on Thursday. |
Interview with Niko Lozancic (crisis in FBiH Governement)
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Crisis is a permanent term in the work of the Federation of BiH Government’ by R. Cengic – in a lengthy interview, the Federation of BiH President Niko Lozancic has stated that the crisis at the Federation of BiH Government, caused after ministers of the Party for BiH have left a session, is ‘a standard situation’ and he added that ‘crisis has become a permanent term in functioning of the Federation of BiH Government’. He does not think the Party for BiH would withdraw from the authority at all levels. Asked to comment whether the new crisis at the Federation of BiH Government would have an influence on results of the executive or legislative authority, Lozancic said ‘this cannot have an influence on results of the authority as long as Paddy Ashdown and Donald Hays are functioning’. He also said the Government is only formally confirming projects that were actually developed outside the Government. |
Ashdown met with US officials
| Dnevni Avaz, pg 5 ‘Lack of cooperation of RS with The Hague endangers BiH’s progress’, mentioned on front ‘Rumsfeld hands out award to Ashdown’, by S. N. – The High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, was yesterday (Wednesday) talking to officials of the US Administration about efforts of the BiH authorities to ensure the accession to the Partnership for Peace programme, when he underlined the measures he had taken in order to de-block the path and solve problems related to lack of cooperation with The Hague Tribunal. According to Avaz, HR Ashdown noted the progress in areas of defence, war crimes trials, developments related to domestic judiciary, SIPA becoming operational, however all these have been endangered owing it to incapability of the RS authorities to cooperate with the ICTY. HR Ashdown was yesterday awarded with a special award of the US Defence Secretary for his dedication to service, an award which was previously given to such laureates as former US President Bill Clinton and former NATO Secretary General George Robertson. HR Ashdown will be addressing the UN Security Council today (Thursday). Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘RS must correct nine-years of mistakes in the following three weeks’ by VOA – High Representative Paddy Ashdown has stated US State Secretary Colin Powell was very clear when he stated there is a possibility for RS to be accused of violating the Dayton Agreement, because of which it will suffer serious consequences unless it arrested Hague indictees. During his visit to Washington and New York, where he is consulting American officials and officials of the World Bank and UN, the High Representative has stated that entire BiH is suffering because of the lack of cooperation of RS with the Hague Tribunal. HR Ashdown on Wednesday met with Colin Powell’s Advisor for War Crimes Issues Richard Prosper and World Bank President James Wolfenson, and today he will address the Security Council of UN. |
Ivanic, Ashdown to attend UN Security Council session in New York today
| Herceg Bosna Radio, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Transfer of mandate from SFOR to EUFOR’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘BiH delegation at session of UN Security Council’ by NINA – BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic will be a Head of the BiH delegation at the UN Security Council’s session, that is to take place on Thursday (today). In his address Ivanic will talk about recent achievements in the area of economic and legal reforms and meeting conditions for signing of the Agreement on Stabilization and Accession. During this session High Representative Paddy Ashdown will submit a regular 6-month report. DL also says that it has been envisaged that the transfer of the SFOR’s mandate on EUFOR takes place at this session. |
EC Humphreys on SAA negotiations
| BHT, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Humphreys foresees that negotiation on association with EU will start next year’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Brussels is still foo far away’ by N. Z., FENA – The Head of the European Commission Delegation to BiH, Michael Humphreys, on Wednesday expressed an expectation that BiH could start the negotiations on signing Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU in the course of the next year. “We have still not reached the phase of being able to negotiate Stabilization and Association Agreement, but I hope that we will reach this goal during the next year”, said Humphreys in his address at the opening of the conference “EU and the Western Balkans”, which has gathered the youth from the entire Europe. Humphreys was not able to specify when BiH will join the EU, but noted that this would definitely not happen in 2007, when Romania and Bulgaria, and probably Croatia, are expected to join the EU. He underlined that great progress in implementation of reform had been made in BiH over the past two years, but he added that it was necessary to do much more so that a country could be capable of becoming EU member. Humphreys stressed that EU is enhancing its presence in BiH in a very visible manner. Apart from the EC Delegation, the EU Special Representative, Paddy Ashdown, and the EU Police Mission, the EU military forces will be taking over the competencies from SFOR in the next month. “All this indicates a substantial EU commitment to BiH. It is our goal to insure that this country becomes a participating state of the EU”, underlined Ambassador Humphreys. The conference “EU and Western Balkans”, which was organized by the Sarajevo branch of the European Students’ Association, has gathered some 40 young people from the entire Europe so that they could be informed about the current relations between the region and the EU, and the situation in BiH. |
DA: Solana and Paten firmly demand state MoI
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Solana and Paten firmly demand state MoI’ by S.N. – One of members of the Police Restructuring Commission says that only two out of five Serb members of the Commission oppose to the establishment of a single police force at state level, noting that “we are still to decide on allocation of regional centres”. Javier Solana from EU said: “EU stressed the importance of the rule of law and safety in BiH, as one of key requirements of admission into EU. Crime is something that raises extreme concern not only amongst BiH citizens, but also EU as well.” In a press release issued on 28th October after the session of Police Restructuring Commission, Solana said: “PRC was asked to make a model of a single state police force in BiH. It means that control over police force should be under the authority of BiH Ministry of Security.” |
War crimes | |
RS Government apologizes for the crimes in Srebrenica
| BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 2 ‘RS Government apologized to Bosniaks for crime’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘RS Government apologized for crimes in Srebrenica’, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Crime in Srebrenica will not be unpunished’ and pg 2 ‘We will punish criminals’ by N.N.; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘An example for the others’ by G.D., Vecernji List pg 2 ‘RS Government apologized for Srebrenica’, mentioned on front, by Fena and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7 ‘Apology for Serb crimes in Srebrenica’ by F, FENA – The RS Government on Wednesday issued the conclusions regarding the Srebrenica Commission’s Report in which it sympathizes with the pain of families of Bosniaks murdered in the operation of RS Army, and expresses regret and apologies for this tragedy, which happened in the area of Srebrenica in the period between July 10 and 19 in 1995. Namely, this is the first apology to be made by RS officials for the Srebrenica tragedy, when 7.800 Bosniaks had gone missing. The RS Government has previously accepted the Final Report of the Srebrenica Commission and adopted certain conclusions that, among other things, says that the Government is prepared to “bring all perpetrators of war crimes to justice”. The conclusions, which were presented to the public on Wednesday, also state that “no crime, regardless of who had committed it, must go unpunished“. The conclusions state that the Srebrenica Commission’s Report with attachments represents a good platform for investigating, documenting and prosecuting crimes. The RS Government is requested to swiftly conduct exhumation and identification of missing persons so that the entire process could be completed. “The method and the manner of working by the Srebrenica Commission should become a example for the necessary further investigations into the war crimes committed in these areas, regardless of who had committed them and when”, was concluded by the Entity Government. Namely, the Srebrenica Commission focused on consolidating 34 different lists with the names of missing persons from Srebrenica, and has created a new list with 7.800 names of the missing Bosniaks. |
EU Ambassadors on the Srebrenica Commission report
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Truth leading to reconciliation’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Example for future investigations into war crimes’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Commendation to Commission’ by FENA, FENA – The Heads of Mission of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina warmly welcome the opinion of the Human Rights Commission of the Constitutional Court concerning the report of the RS Srebrenica Commission whose courageous work has brought about commendable achievements. They consider this report, which has been endorsed by the RS Government in its entirety, as a frank recognition of the atrocities which took place in July 1995 and invite the RS authorities without delay to take all necessary steps to implement fully the conclusions of the report, including fresh efforts to locate mass graves, to identity victims and to bring those responsible for crimes to justice. They also express the hope that the Commission will be a model for future investigations into war crimes and its report the beginning of a wider process of genuine truth and reconciliation, covering the war crimes committed by all parties involved in the war that raged throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. Only then the basis can be laid for a common future, directed towards future membership of the EU, which contributes to peace and stability in the region and to prosperity for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovine. |
Reactions to RS Government apology
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Tihic: This admission must not be over-estimated’ by A.M. – Sulejman Tihic, member of BiH President, commented on Srebrenica Commission Report by saying that it is important that RS Government has admitted crime of genocide was committed against Bosniaks in the protected zones of Srebrenica, adding: “However, we should not over-estimate this admission. Its importance may be valorised after we see what RS Government would do now.” Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Apology is welcome, but not sufficient’ by E.S. – Amor Masovic, President of F BiH Commission for search after missing persons, welcome an apology of RS Government (over Srebrenica crimes), noting the apology itself is insufficient act. He adds: “This apology has not been made in conj8nction with proper terms, such as the term of genocide, which report itself indictees. My view is that conclusions lack provisions saying that necessary measures RS Government needs to undertake now in order to see all those persons mentioned in the report prosecuted.” Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘As lonm as Karadzic is at large, they do not trust written deceptions’ by A. Hadzic – Hajra Catic, President of the Association “Women of Srebrenica”, commented on the RS Government apology by saying that: “If a true apology were addressed to us, the families of Srebrenica victims, RS Government should demonstrate it in the near future… Until the last of “Karadzic’s” is arrested, we do not trust statements and announcements, that are deceptions on a piece of pape |
Lawsuit against RS Government to be filed
| EuroBlic cover pg splash and RSpg 1 ‘EURO 2 billion for the suffered pain’ by Dusanka Stojanovic – Munira Subasic, President of the Association “Mothers of enclaves of Srebrenica and Zepa” has announced the Association would file a lawsuit against RS and also SiCG for the crimes committed at Srebrenica and demand compensation of EURO 2 billion for the suffered pain. She added that RS Government has admitted developments at Srebrenica were planned and organised. She noted that they now expect fromRS to start with arrests, because there are still many names and surnames of people who committed crimes and are still at large. |
VN on murders of Serbs in Sarajevo
| Vecernje Novosti cover pg splash and pg 24 ‘5873 Serbs were killed in Sarajevo’ not signed – Three NGOs from RS – “Istina”, Association of Former Camp Inmates and Association of Families of Missing Persons from Serb Sarajevo have collected data and developed a list containing names of 5873 persons of Serb nationality that were either killed or went missing during the war in Sarajevo. They also compiled a list of 384 names of people who have committed crimes over Sarajevo Serbs. The article describes a number of murders, as in accordance with statements of witnesses. |
ICTY confirms surrender of a Bosnian Croat war crimes suspect
| Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Miroslav Cicko Bralo surrendered’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 Miroslav Bralo surrendered to SFOR’, Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘BiH: Miroslav Bralo Cicko turned himself in’ by H and Dnevni List last pg ‘ ICTY Indictee Mirolsav Bralo turned himself in in BiH’ not signed,Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Miroslav Bralo surrender to The Hague’ by Sn. K.,SRNA – The spokeswoman of the chief prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal, Florence Hartmann, confirmed to SRNA late on Wednesday that Miroslav Bralo, indicted by the ICTY for war crimes against Bosniaks in the River Lasva valley in 1993, had voluntarily surrendered to SFOR. The Hague Tribunal has indicted Bralo, 37, former member of the HVO’s Dzokeri (The Jokers) unit, for illegal detention of civilians, inhumane and cruel treatment, torture, murder and multiple rape in villages in the River Lasva valley in central Bosnia between April and June 1993. |
SFOR raided a house in Mokro, RS
| BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘House of Radenka Bucevac raraided into’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8, FENA – The SFOR multinational forces early on Wednesday carried out a raid on the house belonging to Radenka Bucevac in Mokro. The operation was carried out within the framework of the SFOR mandate to verify whether the person in question was gathering information for locals who may have been trying to secure support for war crimes indictees. A number of items were confiscated in the raid, which will be investigated in detail in order to establish if any activities in contravention of the Dayton Agreement had taken place. A SFOR statement said that the operation was part of the ongoing process of lending support to the Hague Tribunal and BiH authorities in their efforts to arrest war crimes indictees. SFOR pointed out that providing support to war crimes indictees was illegal and immoral, and confirmed that NATO was determined to continue to maintain security and stability in BiH and to pursue war crimes indictees and members of their support network. |
Serbian DS’ Jovanovic on cooperation with ICTY
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash and pgs 2-3 ‘Hague indictees from BiH are in Serbia’ by Z. Kusmuk – Former Serbian Deputy Prime minister and senior official of Democratic Party (DS), Cedomir Jovanovic, in a statement to NN, claims it is true that indictees from BIH are hiding in Serbia and that 90% of people from the black list of HR Paddy Ashdown sat in the first row of the election convention of Kostunica’s party. Jovanovic says that those who were hiding Ljubisa Beara for 10 years in Serbia are hiding Mladic, Karadzic and other ICTY indictees. He notes it does not surprise at all that Vojislav Kostunica is not cooperating with the Hague Tribunal, since Kostunica said during pre-election campaign he does not support cooperation with the ICTY. Jovanovic stresses: “I am of the view that the RS has always been depending on the guilt created by Belgrade. Such was at the times of Slobodan Milosevic, and so is nowadays.” He noted that the RS must think of its future, and politicians in RS must improve economy, which should result in more efficient health service, education services and police and judiciary. |
Serbian officials on Kostunica and cooperation with ICTY
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Kostunica promised to socialists he would not send anybody to The Hague’ by V. Popovic – Zarko Korac, President of the Social-Democratic Union of Serbia and former Serbian Vice Premier, says that Vojislav Kostunica and Serbian Government do not give any statement (regarding the information that list with nine addresses where Hague indictees are residing was handed to them), because they have given the promise to Socialist Party of Slobodan Milosevic they would not arrest and extradite a single person. Korac added: “I find claims of Miloard Dodik as being serious.” Former Serbian Minister of Justice, Vladan Batic, states that RS President, Dragan Cavic, notified Serbian Premier, Vojislav Kostunica, in October on addresses of 9 ICTY indictees from RS that are hiding in Serbia, adding that meeting Cavic-Kostunica was difficult and unpleasant, since people from RS “acknowledge their future depends on cooperation with the ICTY, unlike officials from Serbia, who do not want to do that”. (Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Kostunica got the addresses’) According to NN inset ‘SDS about addresses of Hague indictees’, SDS Presidency at Wednesday session discussed this issue and also to take a stance regarding publication of Srebrenica Commission Report. There has been no press release issued afterwards. |
Economic/social affairs | |
Conference on preparing BiH agricultural sector for EU takes place in Sarajevo
| BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘State Ministry necessary’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Preparations of BiH agriculture for integration in EU’ by NINA,Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Agriculture under one hat’; EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Agriculture at BiH level as well’ by SRNA ,FENA – Numerous problems in the agricultural sector in BiH can be avoided through the administrative and legal changes and they must be dealt with so that the country could have an agricultural policy and a programme for accessing the processes of European integration. In addition, it is clear that the establishment of a state-level ministry of agriculture would resolve many of these problems. The Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, made this statement in his address at the opening of one-day conference “Preparing BiH agriculture for EU integration”, which was jointly organized by the OHR, the EC Delegation to BiH and the BiH Council of Ministers, with the aim of finding the guidelines for institutional development of the agricultural sector and agro-business in the period between 2005 and 2010. “We must all be aware that over a half of the population in BiH live in the rural areas, in poverty, and that they have serious problems with a low employment rate. The new system of registering land, which will facilitate privatization and transfer of ownership on agricultural land, has already been developed and I think that certain solutions are on their way,” said Hays. He added that the aim of the international community is to, through different manners, such as the campaign “Agriculture and profit” and the “Bulldozer” initiative, stimulate the young returnees and DPs from the rural areas into viewing agriculture a means of making their return sustainable. BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic stressed that agriculture in BiH is a matter of crucial importance, and reiterated that this sector can bring a greater well being to the citizens of BiH. He reiterated that the agricultural production currently makes up to 12 percent of the GDP in BiH, that agriculture participates with 18 percent in the total employment and that BiH is the country that has the lowest subventions in Europe. The Head of the European Commission to BiH, Michael Humphreys, said that the EU is prepared to help the reform of the agricultural system in BiH, reiterating that the country must finally have a single ministry that will speak on behalf of all agricultural producers. |
GS on agriculture
| Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Price of corn falling down’ by D.Z. – The story is about the problems the farmers are faced with, namely the rain and snow, which have stopped the process of harvest. |
VL: ‘Agrokor’ wants to purchase ‘Hepok’
| Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘Agrokor wants to purchase Hepok’ and pg 16 ‘Agrokor purchases Hepok from Mostar? by Z. Kresic carries that the Croatian concern ‘Agrokor’ has shown the biggest interest in purchase of 67 % of shares in the agricultural company ‘Hepok’ from Mostar. VL says that they failed to receive the official confirmation of this information, however, according to their sources, representatives of 2 companies have met a few times and discussed this possibility. |
Spiric critical of ITA
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Spiric: I will demand removals’ by M. Cubro – Nikola Spiric, Deputy Chair of the BiH House of Representatives, on Wednesday stated that he would demand removal of the Director and Steering Board of the ITA over their refusal to implement the Law on VAT (value added tax), noting: “ITA it attempting to place itself above the Parliament, which is scandalous and somebody must take responsibility for that.” |
BiH HoP Speaker says ruling political parties to support single VAT rate | Oslobodjenje pg4 ‘Support to a single VAT rate’ – Goran Milojevic, the Speaker of the BiH House of Peoples, told Oslobodjenje on Wednesday that the representatives of the ruling political parties had promised they would support draft law with a single VAT rate when the issue be on the agenda of the House. |
No support to VAT single rate, NN says
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Support to Terzic does not stipulate voting for a single VAT rate’ by M. Cubro – Regardless of the fact that ruling parties have expressed confidence in the work of Adnan Terzic, they still do not support his proposal for a single VAT rate at BiH level, according to the author. The author notes that Terzic does not have a support within his own party of SDA. Senior party officials of SDA did not want to make comment on this, neither were other political party’s officials willing to do that, bar Momiclo Novakovic from SDS who said: “If SDS President Dragan Cavic supported the BiH CoM composition, it does not necessarily mean SDS supports a single VAT rate.” |
SNSD on VAT
| Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘A single rate is behind game on VAT’ by V.P – The SNSD on Wednesday released a press statement, saying that the SNSD stance regarding VAT is clear and remains unchanged (support to differentiated rate with zero and 17% rate). SNSD is of the view that the behaviour of the ruling parties (SDS, PDP, SDA, HDZ and Party for BiH) related to enactment of VAT Law is a pure farce. |
Judiciary/legal proceedings | |
Update on Hercegovacka Banka case
| Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Only Jelavic and Medic are responsible for granting of loans’, mentioned on front, by E. Mackic and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16 ‘Nobody demands paying back of loan’, mentioned on front, by Z.Tulic carry that the trial on the Hercegovacka Banka case continued on Wednesday when another 4 witnesses were questioned regarding housing loans of the Federation of BiH Ministry of Defence at that time. One of the witnesses was former President of the Commission for granting of housing loans Ante Colak, who stated that they used to work of the Book of Rules identical to the one used by the Croatian Defence Ministry. According to Colak, Ante Jelavic, who was FBiH Defense Minister at that time, signed the Book of Rules. According to this Book of Rules, only the aforementioned Commission could pass the decision on granting of housing loans but also the FBiH Defense Minister could grant the loan self-willingly to whom he wanted. Asked by Prosecutor John McNair as to why they re-wrote the Croatian Book of Rules, Colak said that they did it because the Croatian Government donated funds for granting of housing loans. According to Colak, only the FBiH Defense Minister or the person he authorized (in this case Ivan Medic) could sign the decision on granting the loan. Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Jelavic was approving housing loans as we’ll,’ Dnevni Avaz pg 9, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Ante Jelavic was making decisions who would get a loan’ by A.D. also covered the issue. |
Ashdown demands investigation related to PBES operations
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 8 ‘Ashdown demands from Mikerevic to undertake an urgent investigation regarding payment of money at Mandic’s bankA. Sisic – High Representative Paddy Ashdown has asked from RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic to launch an urgent investigation on payments from public funds to PBES, which were made in spite of warnings of the international community on insolvency of the bank and on possible malfeasant acts in business conducting. Inset ‘The Government without an answer’ reads that no official of RS Government was willing to explain payments from public funds to PBES on Wednesday. The Ministry of Finances claims that, at that time, the Banking Agency has sent no official act that would have served as a confirmation of insolvency of the bank. On the other hand, Banking Agency Director Dusanka Novakovic claims the Government has a duty to check on banks in which it intends to deposit funds. |
Mandic got Montenegrin citizenship | Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Mandic got Montenegrin citizenship’ – A reliable source told the daily that a month ago Momcilo Mandic was registered as the Montenegrin citizen in the Budva municipality. |
Miscellaneous | |
Croat students stabbed by knife in front of school in Uskoplje
| FTV, Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pg 12 ‘Croat students stubbed by knife’ by J. Senda reports that 3 young men of Bosniak nationality stabbed by knife 2 students of Croat nationality in front of a Secondary School (the school works according to the principle 2 schools under one roof) in Uskoplje on Tuesday. One of wounded students has been kept in hospital and his condition is stabile, while the other wounded student was sent home since his injuries are not that serious. SD says that the reasons of this attack are still unknown and that the young men of the Bosniak nationality are not students of this school. SD also says that the whole incident has disturbed citizens in Uskoplje a lot and the investigation on this case has been underway. Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘School closed after fistfight amongst students’ also reported on the issue. |
Update on death of young girl from Ukraine who died of AIDS
| Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 49 ’29 Mostarians tested on AIDS’ not signed carries that the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Ministry of Health held a press conference on Wednesday regarding a young girl from Ukraine, who died of AIDS in Mostar last week, during which it was stated that, so far, 29 persons underwent medical examination on AIDS in two Mostar hospitals. On the same issue Vecernji List pgs 18 and 19 ‘Panic caused by AIDS is spreading’, mentioned on front ‘Girls from Posusje keep aloof from young men’ by J. Babic and M. Jovic reports that panic caused by AIDS is spreading in the whole region where the girl from Ukraine was working as a prostitute. Slobodna Dalmacija pg 20 ‘Another 2 pimps were brought in’ by A. Vlaho carries update on the investigation on the aforementioned case. |