| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Croat Self-Rule case trial | Del Ponte reports to EU | Croat Self-Rule case trial | A medicine withdrawn |
| Trial of Milosevic | Beara in ICTY | Serbs oppose DPA change | EU warns SCG, BIH, CRO |
| EUFOR arrives on 2 Dec | Croat Self-Rule case trial | FBiH Govt on BH Steel | Audit of RS institutions |
| BIH-SCG Business Council | Trial for “Lukic” murder | Reduction of min. salary | Constitutional Commission |
| Oslobodjenje | Serb delegates against |
| Dnevni Avaz | Del Ponte: RS authorities assist in hiding Karadzic; Jelavic claims he did nothing against his country; Finci: we chose capable, not obedient to the Civil Service Agency |
| Dnevni List | Appointment of 91 heads of municipalities under question mark |
| Vecernji List | Croats do not want to go to |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Indictment flawed, prosecutor unprepared |
| Nezavisne Novine | |
| Glas Srpske | Supporters of SiCG from RS to be guests of SICG team members: “Blue boys” are great |
| EuroBlic | Gligoric and Kunic prevented discussion on change of Constitution |
Judicial and police issues | |
| Jelavic and others enter pleas in Croat self-rule case, insist they are not guilty
| RHB, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Jelavic claims he did nothing against his country’, mentioned on cover, by M. Kukan, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Nobody feels guilty about Croat Self-Rule’, mentioned on cover, by A.N., Dnevni List, pgs 4-5 ‘Defendants say they are not guilty’, mentioned on front, by Erna Mackic, Slobodna Dalmacija, front and back pg ‘Indictment flawed, prosecutor unprepared’, by Zlatko Tulic, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Jelavic: I did not jeopardise BiH’ by A. Durmo– Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce, Ivo Andric Luzanski, Marko Tokic, Zdravko Batinic, Petar Milic and Dragan Curcic appeared for the first time before the BiH Court on Monday to enter pleas to the charges related to the Croat self-rule case. All the defendants, apart from Milic, pleaded not guilty before judge Guy van Craen, and Milic too will enter plea next week once his lawyer gets acquainted with the indictment. Vecernji List, pg 3’Jelavic: I wanted to reshape Dayton BiH in non-violent manner’, mentioned on front ‘Trials to self-rule starts’, by Dejan Jazvic – VL carries a statement by Jelavic, who repeated what he had stated during the Hercegovacka bank trials: “I had not undertaken anything which would compromise the territorial integrity of my country or compromise its defense capabilities. My activities were targeted at non-violent reshaping of the FTV, BHT 1 – Jelavic’s lawyer Josip Muselimovic stated that this trial has no any purpose. “I don’t understand how one politician can be on trial for having an opinion different from someone’ else’s. After all, what Mr. Jelavic was telling 4 years ago now can be heard from anyone, starting from representatives to the High Representative,” said Muselimovic. |
| Update to trial for murder of Novica Lukic
| RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Court will interrogate Kalinic, Djeric, Njegus, Lukac’ by M. K., Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Njegus did not let operation be aborted’, Dnevni List pg 39 ‘Special Police members were not allowed to refuse to carry out unorganised action’ by V. Pusic – Trial against Drazen Bojic and Vedran Purisic accused of Novica Lukic’s murder resumed Modnay before Serb Sarajevo District Court. Members of anti-terrorist team of RS MoI took a stand, testifying that after established action was not doable according to agreed plan, RS Police Director, Radomir Njegus, ordered team leaders of “B” and “C” teams (in charge of security and logistics) to arrest Milan Lukic. Witnesses testified that according to the new Law, not a single subordinate employee can disobey the order of Police Director. |
| SD: ‘Ashdown removes Police Minister?’ | Slobodna Dalmacija pg 12 ‘Ashdown removes Police Minister?’ by Z. Tulic – The Independent Board with the Federation of BiH Ministry of Interior addressed High Representative Paddy Ashdown demanding from the HR to remove the current FBiH Minister of Interior Mevludin Halilovic. SD explains that the Independent Board is a body, which is in charge of appointments at crucial positions in the FBiH MoI with consent of the OHR. The letter sent to the HR says that Halilovic obstructs the work of the FBiH Police Administration, does not cooperate at all with Director of the FBiH Police Administration Zlatko Miletic and states many other irregularities in Halilovic’s work. |
Political issues | |
| BiH HoR Constitutional Comm. discusses initiative for change of BiH Constitution: Serb delegates left the session
| RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Tihomir Gligoric and Petar Kunic lef thte session’ by H. Orahovac, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Serbs left session of Commission’, mentioned on cover, by N. Bise, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘RS versus constitutional changes’ by R. Cengic; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘A devil from the bottle’ by N. Zelenovic; EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Attempted discussion on Constitution failed’ mentioned on cover ‘Gligoric and Kunic prevented discussion on change of Constitution’ by D.S. – On Monday, the BiH House of Representatives’ Constitutional Commission discussed the initiative of the HDZ-Demo Christians Caucus for the changes to the BiH Constitution. After a long debate the proposal of amendments to the BiH Constitution put forward by representatives Elmir Jahic and Mirsad Ceman, as well as the proposal of amendments put forward by Jozo Krizanovic, were taken of the agenda. Commission members Petar Kunic and Tihomir Gligoric left the session even before the vote on the agenda rejecting the possibility of changes to the BiH Constitution because, as they put it, the RS and that majority of its citizens reject them. Kunic stated that the current Constitution is the best solution for BIH. Croatian and Bosniak members of the Commission on the other hand do not see the reason not to initiative constitutional changes. BHT 1 – “We left the session because, you see, in past two or three years some people have been creating the climate for constitutional changes in BiH. And RS does not accept that,” said Kunic. Commission’s President Mirsad Ceman on other side stated that this issue is unavoidable. “We should not run away from it. [I will] repeat once again: consensus is a way to constitutional changes, if there would be any constitutional changes,” Ceman underlined. FTV – Commission concluded that in the next two months there should be analysis of the functioning of the state in light of constitutional solutions. HDZ representative Martin Raguz said that ignoring discussion and a need for dialogue is politically irresponsible. “We reject any possibility to discuss changes of Constitution. One entity does not accept that,” Kunic said. Without Kunic and Gligoric, Commission voted on initiative for discussion on eventual changes of constitution. Representatives supporting the constitutional changes believe that this will come one way or another. “I expected that things would go this way. This will last for months, but it is important that there is dialogue in this House about this issue,” SBiH representative Beriz Belkic said. RTRS – “I fear that an unprincipled coalition is on the scene again. Maybe this is strict but I’m afraid on unprincipled coalitions in these parts”, Kunic commented. Gligoric also wants to know why the will of Serbs has been ignored in this process, adding that there should be a referendum to see what is the public opinion on the issue. RTRS concludes that no one from the authorities or the Commission has actually bothered to ask the citizens what it is that they want when it comes to their Constitution. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 7 ‘Serb delegates against Dayton changes’ by V. Zivak – SDS representative, Momcilo Novakovic, did not appear at the session, and sent a letter to the Commission informing its members that he doesn’t want to participate the discussion which did not include the will of one people. |
| VL on constitutional changes
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Constitutional changes’ by M. Vasilj carries that High Representative Paddy Ashdown gave a green light and the race regarding new, constitutional changes can start. The author states proposals of Serb and Bosniak sides when this issue is in question and says that the Church, ruling Croat parties, as well as, those in opposition agree that the Federation of BiH should be abolished however, they do not know yet how to organize the state after the FBiH is abolished. The author goes on to say that for this reason the Forum of BiH Croats should be established as soon as possible and it should decide as to what Croats want. The author concludes that it will not be easy to reach a consensus having in mind previous failed attempts but according to him interests of political parties should be left aside this time. |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed criticizes Solana’s objection to constitutional changes
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Solana’s low blow’ op-ed by Zija Dizdarevic – The editorial refers to the statement by EU High Representatives for the Foreign Affairs and Security, Javier Solana, in which he opposed to the change of Dayton Peace Agreement. Noting that Solana’s statement was given at the time when Venice Commission, a key EC’s body on constitutional issues, discusses this issue too and when both US and UK have agreed that current constitutional structure is an objection to BiH’s accession to EU and NATO, and when even the High Representative Paddy Ashdown change his attitude on this. Stating that BiH Constitution is discriminatory in a number of ways, author is of belief it produces a negative and confrontational political situation between the entities, the entities and the state and ethnic groups. Thus, author concludes that Solana’s attitude stands against constitutional emancipation and democratisation of BiH. “Solana’s objection… coincides with his efforts to solve problem of Kosovo. It was not a coincidence that |
| OHR and EC on last Draft Law on PBS | RHB, BHT 1, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Another Draft Law on PBS ‘failed’ ‘ by NINA – The EC delegation in BiH and OHR discussed the last Draft Law on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and concluded that in some of its segments it does not meet conditions from the agreement signed by Prime Ministers in November 2003 and it will not meet a condition from the Feasibility Study. DL carries contents of this condition, which says: “To harmonize the Law in accordance with European standards and the Dayton Peace Accord and take measures which would secure long-term sustainability of the independent and unified PBS in terms of finances and editorial policy whose constituent broadcasters will be sharing joint infrastructure.” |
| SDS recognizes SNSD to be competition
| RTRS by Daliborka Predragovic – According to the assessment of the SDS Presidency, the party has won the elections but is in the serious competition with SNSD. Acting SDS Chairman Dragan Cavic says that SDS will be consolidated, and the new measures to achieve that will be presented at the next session. “Our priority will be to turn to ourselves and solve the internal organisation; to improve the ability of the party to compete with other political participants in the new political, economical and social circumstances in the political life of RS and BIH”, Cavic explained. Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Session of the SDS Congress by the end of this year’ by SRNA – Cavic stated that it is evident SDS Congress will have taken place by the end of this year, which should see the election of the new president and vice presidents, change of Statute and adoption of political stance on major issues. |
| PDP disbands Banja Luka Board
| Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 8 ‘Banja Luka Main Board disbanded’ by V. Popovic – The PDP Presidency has disbanded the Banja Luka Board of this party owing to discontent over election results. The session held on Sunday evening also demanded that composition of Main Board and election of the new PDP Presidency be reviewed. The PDP press release reads that the Presidency session on Sunday discussed bad election results of this party in some municipalities, noting that Banja Luka Main Board was disbanded with an aim to consolidate this party. Rodoljub Trkulja, President of Banja Luka Main Board, has given his mandate at the disposal of the party, because he feels somewhat responsible for party’s bad election result in Banja Luka, stressing: “I do not oppose party stance and I will accept decision it passes. I will not run away from responsibility.” RTRS brings also that the work of PDP Board will be reviewed. |
| Ivanic: There is no perspective for Serbs without RS
| EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Ivanic: Srpska as priority’ by G.Dj. – Mlasen Ivanic, PDP President, stated on Sunday in Kotor Varos that “there is no perspective for the Serb people in this region without Republika Srpska”. He stressed that PDP members have an obligation to protect the interests of the Serb people and prevent the announced changes of BiH Constitution. He noted that the political scene of RS presently sees objectively weak SDS and SNSD, noting that the activities of the PDP are burdened with the environment aimed at destroying RS. |
| DL: ‘Appointment of 91 heads of municipalities under question mark’
| Dnevni List, front and pg 3 ‘Appointment of 91 heads of municipalities under question mark’’, by Fazlija Hebibovic – DL claims it is only 45 candidates for heads of municipalities that have won the necessary amount of votes (50%+1) to be declared winners before the official results have been announced, whilst all other candidates, 91 of them, will have to wait for the official results. In this context, DL claims it is possible that the High Representative for BiH plays a role of an arbiter, although the BiH Election Commission insists it is a matter for them. DL carries a comment by the President of the BiH Election Commission, Vehid Sehic, who notes it is possible that heads of municipalities are not elected even after the relevant procedure has been applied, meaning that no candidate receives the necessary majority. Because of that possible situation, Sehic says the BiH Election Commission has sent the FBIH Parliament a memo, asking it to solve the problem. “We hope they will adopt changes and amendments to the Law on direct election of heads of municipalities in an urgent procedure, which would solve the problem”, says Sehic. Inset entitled ‘OHR without position’ carries an OHR spokesman, |
| DA int with Jakob Finci on BiH Civil Service Agency
| Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘We are choosing the most capable, not the most obedient servants’, mentioned on cover ‘Finci: we chose capable, not obedient to the Civil Service Agency’ by Husein Orahovac – Director of the BiH Civil Service Agency, Jakob Finci, in an interview to DA, states that it has been difficult for people to adopt to entirely new situation in which positions even at the deputy ministerial level are being advertised. He adds he believes that politicians also are getting used to the Agency and its work, aware of the fact that it must be that way. Finci adds that the Agency supports transparent employments. |
| Oslobodjenje says a criminal appointed to the honorary consul of
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘A criminal named honorary Congo’s consul in BiH’, mentioned on cover, by Az. Kalamujic – Daily writes that the “owner of casinos in Belgrade, Europe tradesman in diamantes, convicted pre-war criminal and a person with a police dossier in Croatia”, Milorad Majkic received approval by the Council of Ministers to be appointed to the position of honorary Congo consul to BiH. The decision, published by the Official Gazettes, reads that privileges and immunity are to be applied to Majkic. Daily comments that “Majkic finally managed to obtain diplomatic immunity, which, according to his crime dossier, he needs very much.” Daily lists a number of accusations on Majkic, adding that spokeswoman for BiH Foreign Affairs Ministry, Lepa Babic, stated that there were no legal objections to approving his appointment. It also carries the statement by CoM Chair, Adnan Terzic, who denies that he signed the approval adding that he was not present in the session this issue was discussed and that Mladen Ivanic signed it. |
| BiH CoM to discuss new Proposal of law on higher education
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Language and financing of universities still not harmonized’, not signed – The daily announces that the BiH Council of Ministers will be discussing a new, amended Proposal of law on higher education after the original law was ‘toppled’ by the BiH Constitutional Court with regard to the issue of use of language(s) at universities. VL notes that the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs, representatives of BiH universities and IC representatives are working on the Proposal, however the daily says that a complete consensus is not in sight yet, especially when it comes to the issue of use of language(s). Other disputable issue is the issue of funding of universities in BiH, since the HDZ and Croat institutions are against the solution according to which the funding would be entrusted to the entities. The Croats’ representatives fear that in that case, the only Croat university in Mostar would find itself in an unequal position. On the other hand, the BiH Minister of Civil Affairs, Safet Halilovic, believes that the Croat representatives’ proposal is not feasible because the State does not have the necessary funds, adding that such model of funding could be in place after the introduction of the VAT. |
War crimes / Security issues | |
| Del Ponte: Karadzic still enjoys support from RS authorities at all levels; ICTY under huge pressure
| BHT 1, FTV, RTRS, Vecernji List pgs 10 and 11 ‘Gotovina condition for EU’, mentioned on cover, by Z. Bajt, Slobodna Dalmacija pgs 2 and 3 ‘Gotovina must turn himself in’ by H,Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Non-cooperation with the Hague seriously jeopardises further course towards Europe’ mentioned on cover ‘Further course towards Europe in serious jeopardy’ by Agencies; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Call for surrender’ by Agencies– ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte delivered a report to the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, and stated that the countries of this region have not fulfilled its promises on cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. The best proof for that is the fact that prime suspects – Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and Ante Gotovina – are still at large. Ministers called on Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 3 ‘RS authorities assist in hiding Karadzic’ by |
| Update to Beara case
| Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Beara before the Court today’, mentioned on cover, by Onasa, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Beara to enter plea today’ mentioned on cover ‘Colonel Ljubisa Beara located on basis of information from the Hague’ by Borjana Radmanovic – Ljubisa Beara will appear before the Hague Tribunal today and enter the plea on charges against him. According to NN correspondent, it is still unclear whether Beara voluntarily surrendered or was arrested in Glas Srpske pg 9 ‘Carla revealed the address’ – According to GS, referring to B 92 (which referred to its sources close to Serbian Government), Belgrade authorities did arrest Beara. BHT 1 – Serbian Justice Minister Zoran Stojkovic claims that Beara voluntarily surrendered.Apparently, Beara said to Stojkovic that he wanted to surrendertwo year ago when indictment was raised, but that local authorities wanted to transfer him to Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Beara arrested based on Covic’s list that Del Ponte submitted to Belgrade’ by E. Sarac – DA reads that Serbian authorities are trying to ensure pre-trail release for Beara by claiming that he surrendered voluntarily, while he was arrested based on the information Carla Del Ponte submitted to Serbian authorities when she visited Belgrade last week. According to DA, the list containing the names and address of the 11 ICTY fugitives has been given to the Chief Prosecutors by RS President Dragan Covic. In return, Covic asked Del Ponte to ease with the pressure against RS as they cannot do anything having in mind that all 11 indictees were hiding in SCG. |
| Update to Naser Oric trial; HR to meet Mothers of Srebrenica
| RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Graphologist from Holland testified’ by Onasa, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Judget Agius warns prosecutor Jan Wuben’ by Almasa Hadzic, pg 4 ‘Tribunal continued to follow distorted picture on events in BiH in Oric’s trial’ by A. Hadzic – Media report on the continuation of the trial of Naser Oric, suspect for war crimes committed in Srebrenica region. Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Trial of Oric trying to equalize the crime’ by by S. Smajlovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Trial of Naser Oric is a farce’ by E. H. – As on every 11th in the month, women from Srebrenica protested in Tuzla seeking the perpetrators of the crimes to be brought before the justice. They also stated that the trial of Naser Oric is nothing but the farce. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa with Ashdown tomorrow’ by E.S. – DA brings that the Association ‘Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa’ will meet with the High Representative Paddy Ashdown on Wednesday. They will discuss the final report of the Srebrenica Commission, the process of Bosniak return to Srebrenica and the arrests of the war crimes suspects at large. |
| EU foreign ministers approve EUFOR mission as of 2 Dec
| BHT 1, RTRS, Dnevni AVaz pg 2 ‘The biggest military operation starts on 2 December’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Non-cooperation with the Hague seriously jeopardises further course towards Europe’ mentioned on cover ‘Further course towards Europe in serious jeopardy’ by Agencies – On Monday, the EU foreign ministers approved the Operational Plan for taking over the military operation in BiH from NATO, and the European forces will take over the SFOR mission on December 2 this year. The operation “Althea” is so far the largest military mission to be undertaken by the EU. |
| NN op-ed on EUFOR | Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Reasons for concern’ by Josip Blazevic – The author claims that as the day when EUFOR would take over the mission in BiH from NATO, the impression is getting tighter that BiH ahs many reasons for concern, since withdrawal of NATO does not solely bring down the American military interest for BiH, but also the political interest as well. He is critical of EU view that a progress has been achieved in BiH, stressing that if progress had been achieved indeed, there would not be need for any military mission in BiH. He notes as long as there is a need for any sort of military presence in BiH (even European presence, according to him) no progress has been achieved. |
| VL says small salaries quarrel BiH soldiers and BiH authorities
| Vecernji List, front ‘Croats do not want to go to Iraq for 65$’ and pg 5 ‘Croats do not want to risk lives in Iraq for 65$’, by Zdenko Jurilj – The daily notes that there was a working-consultative meeting between representatives of the BiH Defence Ministry and members of a BiH de-mining team that is to go to Iraq. According to VL, the meeting that took place last week ended up in quarrels between the BiH MoD’s representatives and the soldiers, and subsequently some ten soldiers of the Croat nationality even walked out from the meeting. Apparently, the reason behind the quarrels is demands that were put forward by the BiH authorities to the candidates for the |
| VN int with RS Defence Minister Stankovic
| Vecernje Novosti pg 2 ‘No more military service’ by M. Labus – This is a brief interview with Milovan Stankovic, RS Defence Minister, who speaks about current property of RS Army (a great part of military facilities have already been given to disposal of civilian structures) and defence reform (saying there is no longer military service, but a training). He notes that 2300 people have been sacked from Army and RS Army currently numbers 4 thousand members. |
| Ivanic meets Head of OSCE Davidson, promises significant changes in cooperation with the ICTY
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Ivanic: Until the end of year, significant changes in cooperation with the ICTY’ by Fena, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Cooperation with the ICTY is still a problem’ – On Monday BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic briefed the OSCE Head of Mission to BiH, Douglas Davidson, on the political situation in BiH and the achievements in the post-Dayton era. Davidson stressed that BiH is realizing visible progress, commended the organization of Municipal Elections in BiH, and added that BiH still needs to resolve the problem of establishing full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. BiH diplomatic chief said that full political consensus exists on the need for cooperating with ICTY, and added that he expects significant changes to happen in this sector by the end of the year. |
| Cavic on Srebrenica Commission report | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Report will stop speculations’ by Fena – RS President, Dragan Cavic, stated in Banja Luka on Monday that it is good that Srebrenica Commission will submit the annex to the final report assessing this will “certainly stop the speculations on the number of victims of events in Srebrenica in 1995.” Srebrenica Commission will submit the annex to the report which will contain the list of missing persons form Srebrenica in mentioned period. Covic told journalists he believes that impacts of the Srebrenica Commission will be positive in a sense of very similar or identical approach when it comes to other places in FBIH and RS. |
Economic and social issues | |
| Business Council of BiH and
| Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Joint presentation of 2 countries at third markets’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Working groups by end of month’ by f, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Improvement of cooperation ahead’ by N. Krsman; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Trade without boundaries’; EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Agreement on improvement of cooperation with SICG’ by D.S. – A Business Council of BiH and Serbia and Montenegro held its first session in Sarajevo on Monday. Apart from harmonizing a text of a Book of Rules, the delegations of two countries led by Ministers of Economic Relations agreed to form working groups, which would be working more operatively on improving of total trade. RHB – BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Dragan Doko said that arrangements have been made to establish joint task forces for the sectors of trade and tourism, investments, appearing on third markets, and agriculture. These task forces will work on identifying the modalities and measures for improving the economic relations between the two countries, said Doko. BHT 1 – BHT 1 comments that the information on trade exchange between those two countries shows that SCG smartly used the Free Trade Agreement. On other side, BiH export has been in decrease every year. Representatives also noted the possible violations of the agreement. FTV – BiH and SCG representatives also signed the agreement on mutual carry out of court decisions in penal proceedings. Agreement is significant, as it will enable citizens of one country, sentenced in the prison in other country, to be transferred to serve the sentence in its own country. RTRS – SCG Minister for Interior Economic Relations Amir Nurkovic said that the exchange between the two countries should be improved by developing new forms of cooperation through mutual production activities, appearing on the third markets, etc. Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘BiH lost 190 million Euros in Kosovo’ by A. Omeragic – Doko stated that BiH has lost about 190 million Euros in Kosovo because of the violations of Free Trade Agreements. Nurkovic denied breaches of FTA adding that SCG authorities did impose the special tax on BiH products in agreement with UNMIK. |
| FBiH Govt to discuss the sale of BH Steel
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Extraordinary [session] on Zenica steel factory’ – The FBIH Government holds an extraordinary session today in order to discuss the sale of BH Steel company. FTV – The Government is expected to bring conclusion on the topic. The project will brings 80 millions KM of investments and employment for almost 1500 persons. Workers deemed as surplus will receive compensations in amount of 7000 KM. FBiH Minister for Energy and Mining, Izet Zigic, Director of the FBiH Privatisation Agency Zeljko Rebac and other members of team appointed by the FBiH Government to prepare sale of “BH Steel” will receive 8000 Euros as an award for their efforts. FTV found out that expenses of this process, including the draft of the business plan by the Economic Institute, reaches 100.000 of Euro. |
| RSNA’s Econ Board to discuss the audit reports in RS budget for 2003
| Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Ceko to face with Krsmanovic’ by D. Risojevic – NN received a confirmation from the RS NA Board for Economy and Finances that this Board would discuss audit report into RS budget for 2003 on 4 and 5 November. Branislav Stojanovic, President of the Board, said that two-day public session would see debate between Bosko Ceko, RS Chief Auditor, and Branko Krsmanovic, RS Finance Minister. Stojanovic added: “Both sides would present their arguments. However, being aware of the so far practise, I believe that Ceko’s report would be accepted by the Board and forwarded for adoption at RS NA.” RTRS by Sinisa Mihajlovic – According to RTRS, the irregularities mentioned most in the report were noted in procurement, debts and exceeds of budget. The audit report on RS budget in 2003 shows that only 3 budgetary beneficiaries presented their costs correctly that is the office of RS President, RS Parliament and the Water Management Direction. Financial reports not presenting the accurate situation have been submitted by the Defence Ministry, Interior Ministry, Education and Culture Ministry, Ministry for Labour, Veterans issues and Disability protection, and the Ministry for refugees and DPs. Defence Ministry and MoI had the biggest budget exceed. Goran Radivojac, spokesman of the RS prime minister, commented that the Government hasn’t not yet considered the completed audit report. He adds that the Government is disappointed with the intentional and partial information offered to the public on this matter. Radivojac says that the individual audit reports were already published this year and this consolidated report is nothing new. He further says that it can be noted that a significant progress has been made when compared to the last year. Negative mark in the audit reports was also given to the municipalities Bijeljina, Srpski Brod and Lopare. |
| DA on audit of cabinets of President and Vice Presidents of FBiH
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Illegally increased salaries in cabinets in Lozancic, Dzihanovic and Radivojevic’ by Ad. H. – DA reads that the FBIH Audit Office has completed the control of the budget use in the office of FBiH President and Vice Presidents in 2003. Following the analysis, auditors warned Niko Lozancic that employees in his office receive salaries under the higher coefficients than those employed in other institutions, which is not in accordance with the law. In addition, Lozancic approved payments worth about 100.000 KM without any criteria. The same irregularity of increased salaries has been noted in the offices of both Desnica Radivojevic and Sahbaz Dzihanovic. |
| Update to the issue of 3rd GSM licence
| Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Awarding of GSM licences today’, by J. P. – The daily learns that 3 GSM licences will be awarded today at the RAK (Communications Regulatory Agency) building in Sarajevo. The licences will be awarded to the BH Telekom, HT Mostar and Telekom Republike Srpske. According to the licence contract, the three operators are to pay 140 million KMs each in next 10 years. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Mobilkom offer worth 100 million KM?’ by Ad. H. – DA brings that FBiH Government has decide to equally treat the HT Zagreb’s Memorandum on Understanding and offer from Austrian company Mobilkom with regard to ownership structure and relations in HT Mostar and Eronet. The Government will decide at its next session which company will receive the approval for purchase of shares. |
| Protest of EP HZ HB Trade Union to take place on Wednesday
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Half an hour protests tomorrow’ by Fena,Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Protest on Wednesday’ by M. Skobic and Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Protest of EP HZ HB Trade Union’ by vr – Independent Union of HB Elektroprivreda employees will organise protests on Wednesday. They are protesting because of the intentions of International community and some domestic representatives to abolish the only profitable Croat electro-energetic company. The |
| Oslobodjenje on FBiH Law on Internal debt
| Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Thrift depositors again dissatisfied with Government’s proposals’ by S.Se. – Daily writes that FBiH House of Representative will not again vote on the amendments of the FBiH Government to the draft FBiH Law on Internal Debt. Last week, the Government rejected all amendments proposed by the delegates, and promised the new set of amendments on the old foreign currency deposits. However, the daily notes that these amendments do not solve the key issues of dispute between Association of thrift depositors and the Government. Apparently, instead of compensation in cash of shares, Government still offers a number of ‘paper solutions’. The Speaker of FBiH HoR Muhamed Ibrahimovic, who was expected to schedule an extraordinary session dedicated to this issue, has stated that “before he does so, he will leave delegates with some more time to think about this issue once more.” |
| On issue of old foreign currency savings
| Oslobodjenje pg 17 ‘Savings for apartments and shares’, mentioned on cover, by B.S., Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘November 22 ultimate deadline’ by D. Pasic reports that citizens who want to participate in the privatization process in the Federation of BiH, that is, to buy flats with a tenancy right or shares and property of companies on the ground of claims for the old foreign currency savings should sign in the FBiH Ministry of Finance an irrevocable statement which says that they want to use their old foreign currency savings for that purpose. SD also says that according to the FBiH Privatization Agency the deadline for giving the aforementioned statement expires on November 22. |