| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18:00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19:00 hrs) | FED TV (19:30 hrs) |
| CoM session | Ceremony in Potocari | CIPS computer stolen |
| HVIDRA on its work | BiH News Agency | Ceremony in Potocari |
| France on Mladic | Iraqi issues | Explosion in Bihac |
| Sljivancanin before ICTY | Buk Bijela power station |
|
Due to technical problems, BORAM was not able to provide RTRS summary.
Oslobodjenje | Scandalous – the Federation Army without water and electricity; Bih parliament – higher daily allowances requested as well as mobile phone payments; Bicakcic disappointed with the disgrace of the court; Halilovic openly to Izetbegovic – Srebrenica is your fault |
| Dnevni Avaz | Slovenians tried to take 480 BiH companies; Potocari – prayer by 20,000 people; ICG report – war indictees and criminals rule in Belgrade; |
| Dnevni List | Is Commission for Devising of Statute for the City of Mostar collapsing – Damir Sadovic is no longer member of the Commission; Izetbegovic, you sold Srebrenica; More than 20,000 people will see off Srebrenica victims |
| Vecernji List | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Dissatisfaction in Brussels – Ashdown’s mandate will not be extended; Chief of Special Forces spied on and blackmailed |
| Glas Srpske | The European Parliament – Ashdown under magnifying glass; Italian ‘Panorama’ warns of terrorist plans – the war against European race; John Shearer’s soap opera |
| Nezavisne Novine | Criminal charges submitted to BiH Prosecutor’s Office for deaths of Merima Kamic and Elvedina Agic from Sanski Most – families claim that doctors are responsible for the death of their children; Barisa Colak, BiH Security Minister – there is no Mafia and terrorist organisations in BiH; Audit of the RS Ministry for Refugees and DPs – houses built even without a tender; Banja Luka – a CIPS computer with invalids’ database stolen; Sefer Halilovic sends an open letter to former SDA President – Alija Izetbegovic betrayed and sold Srebrenica; Following freezing of the accounts of 14 individuals from the black list – 40,000 KM on frozen accounts |
| Blic | As of August 1 taxes according to the place of import; Serbia prepares lawsuit against Federation because of military apartments |
| Slobodna Bosna | The emperor is naked – Go home Paddy! |
| BH DANI | Jergovic – BiH is country of great cretins and great people |
| LJILJAN | Bosnian ambassador in Russia trafficking women and in Kuwait trading whisky; Are Croats in Sarajevo endagered |
|
| HR Ashdown |
| Will HR Ashdown’s mandate be extended? | Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 1 and 19 by – reports that certain diplomatic circles and diplomats serving in Sarajevo, foremost from Germany and France, are not happy with the way High Representative Paddy Ashdown conducts his work. In that context, SD says that considering the fact these two countries play very important role in the EU HQ in Brussels and because of the dissatisfaction, it is possible that the HR’s mandate, which expires in May next year, will not be extended. According to the daily, the rumor in Sarajevo is that Ashdown is an irrelevant figure and that Chief OHR Spokesperson, Julian Braithwaite, is the main man in the office. SD goes on to say that Ashdown’s main advisory center is in Belgrade. “Namely, what Charles Crawford, former British Ambassador to BiH, currently on duty in Serbia and Montenegro, conceives, it gets realized in Braithwaite’s office, and only after that Ashdown organizes press conferences and imposes law amendments or proclaims certain amendments.” The author also compares HR Ashdown’s practice to that of former HR Wolfgang Petritsch, saying unlike Petritsch, who allegedly before taking important decisions consulted all international envoys, HR Ashdown exclusively takes advice of his British associates ‘somewhat flirting with Americans, since they are still the strongest factor in BiH’,concludes the author. |
| Remarks to Ashdown’s work | Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘Sharp remarks to Ashdown’s work’ – a SENSE report on the debate that took place before the European Parliament on Wednesday and Thursday. The key topic was the role, authorities and practical actions taken by HR Ashdown. Several issues dominated the debate – whether the manner in which the IC was manages Bosnia was problematic, whether such management by the HR creates uneasiness by Europe too, whether HR has overstepped his duties, does the OHR need 700 employees and what are they doing. In the debate so far, however, the key question has not been answered – whether the problem is in the HR as a personality or authorities given to him by the Bonn meeting. So far, the BiH authorities have had a positive view on the work of the OHR, while many European parliamentarians and a few BiH Parliament reps had sharp remarks to the work of the HR. Glas Srpske cover page – Chairperson of the Board for South-Eastern Europe, Doris Pack,expressed her personal fear that many people in BiH were afraid to take part in political life of the country and were afraid of Paddy Ashdown’s criticism as they believed that they might be kicked out from public life by a decree. High Representative’s Political Advisor, Ed Llewellyn,recalled that the High Representative answered to the Peace Implementation Council, members of which were democratic countries. As for ‘decrees’, Ashdown’s Advisor said that the High Representative seriously thought over every single decision he had made, and made them only after serious and deep analyses. As for the most recent example of decision-making in that manner, Llewellyn mentioned the EU ban list. |
| BH DANI on Ashdown | BH DANI pg. 6 – ‘Bosanski Barometar’ column this week carries two short comments on HR Paddy Ashdown. The first has been graded with two black dots, meaning a terrible move. The first move the magazine criticized the HR for is the decision on the PBS. The article criticizes Shearer’s work in BiH, the OHR for creating pre-conditions for the PBS to face bankruptcy and for appointing the worst people t run it. It concludes however that the only thing Ashdown could not be blamed for was that the local authorities listened obediently and implemented every move by the OHR. The second article refers to the recent article published by the British based Guardian and has been graded with three black dots – a catastrophic move. The magazine tells how the mentioned article got the entire OHR going and OHR Communication Director Braithwaite did smth he would never do in London – get angry and defend this critically written text. Goes on to say that no reaction was ever issued by the OHR to a number of critical texts in the local media. On pg. 36 and 37 the magazine carried in full the Guardian article and the OHR’s reaction to it. |
| SB on Ashdown | SB pgs. 5 – 9 ‘Will Ashdown proclaim readers of Guardian fools, as he did with the reads of SB?’ – the first three pages of the article refers to different excerpts from an essay prepared by ESI members – Gerald Knaus and Martin Felix. “In Sarajevo, at the beginning of the 21 century, just like in Calcutta in 19 century, foreigners play the role of sophisticated despots,” reads the report. Amongst some of the moves by the IC that earn no praise, the report includes the removals of local politicians without issuing any explanations even to those who were removed. As for Braithwaite’s reply to the article, the magazine first and foremost emphasizes that the article did not refer to any ESI report, but an essay written by people who are employees of the ESI. Furthermore, the magazine describes past ESI reports as ‘serious, penetrating and useful, which are being distributed in international organizations, financial institutions, amongst international reps who influence the shaping of the global policy, as well as the European government’. The essay is to be published in the ‘Journal democracy’ publication. On pg. 10 and 11 entitled ‘Clerks appointed by Ashdown earn three times more than normal administration employees’ – the article again refers to the mentioned essay, as one of the key remarks was on the IC’s work was the overuse of power, the epidemics of establishing new, expensive institutions sponsored by the IC. The same institutions, without any public discussion are eventually become the problem of BiH taxpayers in terms of support. “By rule, these newly established institutions have employees who are formally part of the BiH Administration, but enjoy a special status and privileged budget treatment that does not compare to the treatment and status of the rest of clerks elected by the local authorities.” |
|
| Political Affairs |
| CoM session | CRHB at 15:00 hrs by Zana Rebo – the Council of Ministers discussed the plan of reform activities for the period between 15 September 2003 and 15 February 2004. The aim of this action plan is the implementation of the most important reforms within those six months, and has been jointly prepared by the office of CoM Chairman and Coordinator for Development Strategy who would be also suggested to be in charge of its implementation. BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees, Mirsad Kebo, stressed that it was concluded that three boards for internal affairs asked for further elaboration on certain issues in the plan. Action plan was harmonized with entity prime ministers at a meeting of the Coordination Board for Economic Development held on 14 June this year, and includes 133 measures with set deadlines. At its session, the CoM also discussed a proposal for the establishment of BiH news agency, so called BiH Press. In that regard, the CoM different opinions from the Minister of Finance and Treasury, Minister for Traffic and Communications and Justice Ministry. Based on these, the CoM will inform of its position on the issue the BiH Presidency. The FBiH government urged the CoM to bring decision on seven public cultural institutions of state importance. The CoM also considered a proposal for the regulation of purchases in FBiH with an aim of ensuring transparency of money expenditure by defining procedure and conditions of this process. After a discussion, the proposal was returned to the Ministry of Finance for elaboration. BHTV at 19:00 hrs by Mirela Cosic – the BiH Council of Ministers will demand an explanation from their Chairman Adnan Terzic for measures determined by the Program for Emergency Reforms for the period between July 2003 and February 2004. The Program is consisted of 133 measures that consider reforms in fiscal system, national debt, business reforms, public administration and privatisation. FTV at 19:30 hrs by Spomenka Ljubic – the BiH Council of Minister has accepted the proposal for negotiations with the Russian government on international road traffic issues. Concluding this agreement would bring a significant improvement to trade relationships between these two countries. The proposal will be submitted to BiH Presidency. Blic pg. 7 ‘Realisation until July 2004’ – the CoM also discussed a proposal for the establishment of a BiH news agency, so called BH Press. According to Kebo, the CoM is more inclined to privatise the existing news agencies then to form a new one. Also reported by Avaz pg. 2 ‘The voting on the BH Press postponed again’. |
| Eastern Herzegovina heads meet | CRHB at 15:00 hrs – on Thursday, 11 heads of municipalities of Eastern Herzegovina held a meeting with representatives of regional offices of international organizations and discussed measures to be taken in regard to region’s economic recovery, judiciary, rule of law and the implementation of property laws. Participants also discussed fight against organized crime and corruption, and other issues. Meeting was held as a part of international community’s efforts to assist recovery and further development of these municipalities. New OHR coordinator for this region, Anatolij Viktorov, said that an initiative had to come from the local authorities, while the international community would assist them any way it could. |
| Fed. govt. session | BHTV at 19:00 hrs by Marina Boskovic – the Federation government has submitted a request to the Council of Ministers for managing the legal aspects of the status of seven public cultural institutions in BiH that carry social significance. According to Federation Minister of Culture and Sports, Gavrilo Grahovac, none of the institutions have a chairman or management board legally assigned, since the legal basics have not yet been established. The Federation government has decided to support domestic agriculture manufacturing with 12 million KM fund. Federation Agriculture Minister, Marinko Bozic, proposed the future funding for the agriculture development to be provided with the tax collection for the excise agricultural products. FTV at 19:30 hrs by Zlata Behram – reported on the session. Avaz pg. 4 ‘Illegal management boards in seven institutions’ – reported on the session. |
| OSCE on the pay increase for delegates | FTV at 19:30 hrs – the OSCE mission has condemned the Parliamentary decision to increase salaries of reps. The OSCE has invited all delegates to reconsider this decision according to the economic situation. OSCE Spokeswoman, Zinaida Delic, stated the following. “The pay increase has no justification. It opposes promises on rational use, costs reduce and the improvement of services for the citizens. This decision questions obligations to which the BiH authorities have committed before the Implementation Council in Brussels.” The OSCE mission has also given a comment on a report by RS inspectors, which assessed the costs of the RS military forces exceeded the available funds in the amount of 6 million KM. Slobodna Dalmacija back page ‘MPs salaries raised by 400 KM will additionally shake the trust of public in representatives of authority’ – “Although appropriate financial compensation is important as a guarantee for the best representatives not to lose stimulation to occupy high-ranking positions, such decisions must be consistent with what BiH and its citizens can afford. The decision brings into question the commitments which BiH authorities took upon themselves before the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) in Brussels last March,” Delic said. |
| Avaz commentary | Avaz pg. 3 ‘The right blow to corruption’ by Armin Zeba – the author thinks that the most recent decision by the FBiH Constitutional Court to revoke immunity rights to 24 former senior officials represents one of the most significant moves made so far in the course of fight against corruption. Zeba thinks this should be a signal that prosecutors could, without a fear of politicians, send the Financial police or tax inspectors to raid, for example, companies that had been protected so far by Lagumdzija’s power. |
| Audit of the RS Ministry for Refugees and DPs | Nezavisne Novine pg. 4 ‘Houses built even without tenders’ – the RS Supreme Auditor’s report on the work of the RS Ministry for Refugees and DPs says that the Ministry made numerous illegal actions during the course of last year. The auditors found out the Ministry had done construction works without even scheduling a tender and that some companies won tenders in illegal way. The auditors have also realised that it was impossible to determine the real situation when it came to donation of projects carried out by the Ministry and international organisations. |
| CRO media on Mostar re-structuring | Dnevni List pg. 1 and 4 – learns from a source close to the cantonal Board of the SDA in Mostar that Damir Sadovic, an SDA representative in the Mostar Commission, left the Commission just prior to the beginning of last night’s session of the Commission submitting a written resignation. Reportedly, a reason behind Sadovic leaving the Commission is the HDZ’s disagreement with a text of the future organization of Mostar that was proposed by the CD Coalition. DL claims that the text itself lacks seriousness and is not in harmony with the principles submitted by the High Representative Paddy Ashdown, meaning it is a step back that fortifies divisions in Mostar to an extent that it makes the Central Zone of Mostar a new unit of local self-government. DL’s questions whether this is Sadovic’s personal decision or the SDA is leaving the process too also wondering what the OHR’s reaction would be. Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 5‘Officials of international community impose solutions for Mostar by non-democratic methods’ and Dnevni List pg. 13 ‘The SDP’s ideas not favorable to International Community’ – a report from yesterday’s press conference of the SDP of Mostar during which President of the SDP Mostar, Sead Djulic, stated the following. “Some officials of the IC are exerting pressure against members of the SDP and other citizens in various ways in order to make them accept the concept that the International Community has for Mostar. They have power to impose it by using back stage games that have nothing to do with democracy that they are always talking about. During these ‘confidential’ talks many things are being promised to some people, some people are being threatened and various kinds of pressure are being exerted against some people in order to make them change the political opinion. This is coming from high-ranked officials of the IC. We shall not be talking about their names today, however, if this continues we shall state their names at the next press conference regardless of any kind of sanctions.” Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 17 ‘Herzegovina is media hole to FTV’ – an interview with Vice President of the HNZ and an MP in the Federation House of Peoples, Mate Bandur. Questioned about the position of the HNZ on the issue of Mostar restructuring, Bandur said the following. “It is a view of my party that this should be a unified city with one administration, and in light of that the OHR offered eight principles, but Bosniaks started interpreting that their own way so one of positions of the HNZ was to organize a public referendum with a question – what city did they want? When citizens declare themselves and it gets implemented, Mostar can move forward.” |
| Money transfers from frozen accounts | Nezavisne Novine pg. 3 ’40,000 KM on frozen accounts’, Glas Srpske pg. 3 ’30 accounts frozen’- a statement by Director of the RS Banking Agency, Dusanka Novakovic, that some 40,000 KM were found on the accounts frozen following the High Representative’s decision. She stated for SRNA news agency that the RS Banks transferred that money to special accounts open by the BiH Central Bank. NN reports that the OHR, however, is not surprised with such small amounts found on the accounts. The OHR claims that the purpose of freezing of the accounts is not the amount of money on them, the basic intention is to prevent those individuals to use these bank accounts for further financial transactions. |
| Interview with Colak | Nezavisne Novine pg. 9 ‘There is no Mafia and terrorist organisations in BiH’- an interview with BiH Security Minister, Barisa Colak, in which he said that BiH should have the Interior Ministry at the state level. According to Colak, the BiH has well organised state border service and office for cooperation with Interpol. As for the fight against crime, Colak said that the BiH Council of Ministers is determined to do the best it can. Colak said that there was no organised Mafia in BiH and that we did not have criminal network, similar to the Zemun clan in Serbia. |
|
| Military Issues |
| HVIDRA | CRHB at 15:00 hrs – at a session held in Livno on Thursday, the Association of Croat Homeland War Invalids of Herceg-Bosna Republic (HVIDRA) discussed the structure of employees at the FBiH Ministry for Veterans Issues. HVIDRA’s press release reads that the national structure of employees of this Ministry does not suit the interests of Croats. “We strongly protest and ask from all responsible officials, coalition partners in authorities, Office of High Representative and Ombudsmen to change the current way of the work of this Ministry, for which we established to have 90% members of the BiH Army, while members of the Croatian Defence Council were left out.” HVIDRA requested a meeting with the Federation Prime Minister and his Deputy to discuss this issue. |
| RS audit | CRHB at 15:00 hrs – A report published by the RS auditor on the RS Army and RS Defence Ministry confirmed previous OSCE’s warnings on the serious overspending of budget in both the army and ministry. Report says that they were 6 million KM over the budget. It also tasked the RS government to urgently undertake appropriate measures and said the RS Minister of Defence should be held responsible for both overspending and failure to act to harmonize purchases and budget laid down. Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘The RS Army overspent by 6 million’ – on the report by the RS Audit and a comment by the OSCE that the overspending obliges the RS NA to undertake an immediate action and call the defence minister on responsibility for the breach of the Law on Public Purchase, as well as for failing to adapt defence structures to the budget norms. Blic pg. 7 ‘Warnings from OSCE’ – the OSCE expects an immediate action on behalf of the RS authorities in order to bring an end to the overspending practice in the defence sector. |
| Federation Army without water and electricity | Oslobodjenje pg. 1, 4 and 5 – the biggest front-page story labelled as scandalous informs that in five out of six and two military barracks of the Federation Army have been without water and electricity due to unpaid bills. The Federation Defence Ministry on Thursday wrote to relevant officials in BiH and Federation informing them of a difficult situation in the Army due to the electricity and water supply cut offs and also due to problems with food supplies. The letter was signed by federation defence Minister, Miroslav Nikolic, and was sent to members of the BiH Presidency, Tihic and Covic, Federation President and Deputy, Lozancic, Dzihanovic and Radivojevic, as well as Federation PM and Deputy Ahmet Hadzipasic and Dragan Vrankic. |
| Serbia to sue Federation | Blic pg. 7 ‘Serbia to sue Federation’; Vecernje Novosti pg. 5 ‘Succession thwarted’ – Chief of Department for Systematic and Status issues within the Serbia-Montenegro Defense Ministry, Colonel Grozdan Arsenijevic, said on Thursday that Serbia and Montenegro would sue the Federation because it refused to return military apartments to military personnel expelled from the Federation. “Governments of Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia and Slovenia have respected the agreement on succession when it came to the return of military apartments to pre-war owners, but that was not the case with the Federation and Croatia,” Arsenijevic said. According to his words, Serbia and Montenegro will sue the Federation before the European courts, due to disrespect of the agreement on succession and violation of human rights. |
|
| Srebrenica anniversary |
| Srebrenica victims | CRHB at 15:00 hrs – a total of 882 graves will be at the Potocari memorial centre following tomorrow’s burial of 282 mortal remains. A DNA program of analysis, conducted by the International Commission for Missing Persons, was the means of identifying the remains. “The DNA analysis allowed us to identify so far approximately 3,000 victims, and half of them are Bosniak victims killed in Srebrenica in 1995,” said Chief Commission Gordon Bakon. BHTV at 19:00 hrs by Samir Kahrovic – the Organisation Team stated that all preparations for the ceremony have been completed. It is expected that over 20,000 people will be present at the ceremony and pay their tribute to the victims. BiH officials, as well as many IC representatives, announced their presence at the ceremony. RS Ministry of Interior representatives, with the help of SFOR, will secure the ceremony. FTV at 19:30 hrs by Arijana Saracevic Helac – Paddy Ashdown did not announce his arrival. Former US President Bill Clinton will officially open the Potocari Memorial Centre two months from now. Avaz pg. 1 and 4 – the RS government yesterday appointed their delegation, to be headed by RS PM Mikerevic, to attend the burial. There will a direct broadcast of the event. Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘The funeral for 282 victims today’ – the main prayer will be led by ef. Ceric. Nezavisne Novine pg. 5 ‘282 Bosniaks will be buried today’ – carried the report on the burial. Dnevni List pg. 1 and 5 – Head of Srebrenica Municipality, Abdurahman Malkic, yesterday stated that all foreign ambassadors serving in BiH, representatives of IC and all levels of domestic authority announced their arrival to the ceremony. Also reported in Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 7 ‘Survivors from Srebrenica sue Holland and UN’, Jutarnji List pg. 12 ‘Last farewell for another 282 victims or tragedy’. Vecernje Novosti pg. 18 ‘Funeral of Bosniaks’ – brief report on tpday’s burial. |
| EUPM | CRHB at 15:00 hrs – EUPM Spokesperson Alun Roberts said the EUPM had been monitoring security plans prepared by the RS MoI for Friday’s commemoration of the Srebrenica victims in Potocari. Roberts says that preparations were made to cover a wide spectrum of security measures and traffic control. |
| Halilovic vs. Izetbegovic | Oslobodjenje pg. 1 and 8 – Sefer Halilovic, former Commander of the BiH Army, currently Hague indictee, sent an open letter to Alija Izetbegovic accusing him that he in fact betrayed and sold Srebrenica. Halilovic gives several reasons why Izetbegovic is to blame for the fall of Srebrenica, some of them being the decreasing supply of weapons to the area between 1993 and 1995 (which was after Halilovic was removed from the post), ordering Oric and 18 officers from Srebrenica to withdraw just before the Serbs attacked, refusing halilovic’s suggestion to form the eight, Eastern Bosnia corps. Nezavisne Novine pg. 5 ‘You betrayed Srebrenica!’ – Halilovic reminds Izetbegovic that he signed a secret agreement with Momcilo Krajisnik, on division of BiH on three ethnic republics and that in September 1993, at the Bosniak Congress in Sarajevo, Izetbegovic suggested the proclamation of the Bosniak Republic (Bosniak National State) without Srebrenica. Halilovic also said that Izetbegovic was offering the exchange of Srebrenica for Vogosca. Dnevni List pg. 1 and 5 – “Richard Holbrooke on several occasions mentioned that in January 1995 you expressed readiness to give up Srebrenica ‘in the context of a wider peace issue,” reads the letter. |
| Avaz commentary | Avaz pg. 2 ‘Intention’ by Zija Dizdarevic – the first two paragraph are a short breakdown of facts surrounding the Srebrenica tragedy, The final, third paragraph reads that the ‘genocidal’ intentions are still present, which is made clear by a slogan in the RS ‘Knife, wire, Srebrenica’. The slogan, according to Dizdarevic, speaks of the foundations of the entity. He adds that similar message is being sent by Chairman Paravac who did not even bother to pay final respects to Srebrenica victims recently in Sarajevo. |
| Masovic | DANI pg. 20 and 21 ‘Eight years later’ – a short interview with President of the BiH Commission for Missing Persons. Amongst other things, Masovic said that the first victims of the Srebrenica genocide were exhumed seven years ago and some are just being buried, while others will be buried in the next year or year and a half after the DNA results arrive. Also, on pg. 22 the magazine carries a report on the recently presented Srebrenica dossiers and the role of the IC factor in the tragedy. The article entitled ‘Why they did not prevent evil from happening’ carries a statement by the author of the publication, Hasan Nuhanovic, who refuted the IC thesis about them not responding in Srebrenica when necessary because they had no clue what was going to happen. |
|
| Economic Affairs |
| RS government on sales tax
| BHTV at 19:00 hrs by Boris Grgic – the RS government has adopted a proposal for the modification of the Law on Sales Taxes in order to harmonize the sales tax policy in the entire BiH. The Law will be applied as of August 1st. According to the RS government, the change of location for the collection of sales tax for excise tax goods will bring new incomes to the budget. According to RS Finance Minister, Branko Krsmanovic, the entity budgets have been damaged for millions of KM because of the insufficient tax collection for excise tax goods. The operations of the Health Insurance Funds have been revised, and the resignation of the director of the Fund is expected. The RS government Spokesman Goran Radivojac confirmed legally suspicious actions and OHR’s involvement in this procedure. FTV at 19:30 hrs – shortly reported on the issue. Blic pg. 7 ‘More money in the budget’ – Spokesman of the RS Prime Minister Goran Radivojac said that the Government decided to announce vacancy notice for the post of director of RS Health Insurance Fond. He said that the vacancy notice would be open in 14 days. |
| Buk Bijela power station | BHTV at 19:00 hrs by Gvozden Sarac – According to an OHR report on the RS Elektroprivreda business dealings, the construction of the Buk Bijela hydroelectric power station is not justified. The construction of the Buk Bijela hydroelectric power station would cost $400 million, the period of the construction is five years. Experts anticipate that it would product approximately 1,400 GWh of electric energy. The construction would include over 2,000 workers. The OHR’s report states that the tender for the station construction has been set for the benefit of the London-based company EFT, and that hydro potentials in the area do not justify the project. For that reason, the Board has named 17 members Expert Team, consisted of experts from the RS, Serbia and Monte Negro. Experts evaluated the project as justified. |
| OHR on Brcko Law on Securities | HIT TV – the Brcko District Law on Securities does not include provisions on the eventual establishment of a stock exchange, therefore there is no need to change any regulation regarding that issue – the Brcko OHR reminds. OHR Spokesperson, Suzana Pejcic, says that Brcko Supervisor Henry Clarke attended a meeting of the Council for Capital Market of BiH and supported the establishment of the BiH unified market of capital and government’s securities. He also agreed with a conclusion that there was no need for the establishment of a stock exchange in Brcko and explained that the Brcko authorities did not have intentions to establish it. “The Brcko Draft Law on Securities is not a mistake. Securities can be currently issued only according to entity laws, but privatisation in Brcko cannot be completed unless the District Brcko is not able to issue securities for its companies in privatisation. That’s why the Brcko Law on Securities is necessary and this Law is harmonized with laws in both entities. Also, securities issued in Brcko can be traded everywhere,” Pejcic said. |
|
| Media Affairs |
| Glas Srpske on Shearer’s decision | Glas Srpske pg. 5 ‘John Shearer’s soap opera’ by Milenko Sajic -the author says that thanks to the recent decision of the High Representative’s Broadcasting Agent, John Shearer,the door is open for the RTRS and FTV to become only local TV centres and logistic support to one central television, with a seat in Sarajevo. According to Sajic, Shearer’s decision is full of legal absurdities and controversies This strange decision was made without any discussion in the parliaments and it seems that the High Representative and his agent have taken the right to interpret wishes of the public. By doing so, Ashdown and Shearer just confirmed claims of those who said that BiH was protectorate and that the international community neither respected the legitimate requests of the public nor the reality itself, wrote Sajic. |