| CROAT RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Changes FBiH Constitution | Military deployment in Iraq | Brcko Mayor accused | Ashdown on pensions |
| SFOR destroys weapons | OHR on pensions | HR on RS decision | Mikerevic insist on wages |
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| Mikerevic does not give up | Agriculture production |
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| Students locked University | Unions on privatisation |
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| Oslobodjenje | Bosmal secured initial 300 million needed; Indictment raised against Hota; Edhem Besic did not disclose secrets; Steering Boards of Poste and HT legally appointed |
| Dnevni Avaz | Atif Dudakovic: I asked for investigation and help from SFOR; Ashdown: That is a ‘lethal’ decision!; Ian Eric Oja: Politicians must get used to criticism |
| Dnevni List | Reconstruction or fall of Federation Government; Mostar: Fire at branch of Raiffeisen Bank |
| Vecernji List | Republika Srpska financially crushes BiH; Bank burned in Mostar |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | SDA requests urgent removal of Defence Minister; Fire at Raiffeisen Bank |
| Glas Srpske | Ultimatum of Paddy Ashdown to the Republika Srpska Government : Pensions backwards!; Croatia: Clinton protects Gotovina |
| Nezavisne Novine | Protest of students in Banjaluka: “Padlock” at Faculties; OHR gave ultimatum to the RS Government: Paddy Ashdown says: Decision on pension and salary increase to be withdrawn by Saturday; Milorad Dodik: Crime at Telekom Srpske linked with top of SDS and PDP |
| Blic | Robert Beecroft: ‘War criminals are obstacle for integration’; Ashdown demands: ‘RS Government to withdraw the decision on the increase’; Protest of students: Padlock!; Milorad Dodik: ‘Organized crime had the support of the authority’ |
RS pensions and salaries | |
| Ashdown and Hays warn RS to withdraw decision on pension and salaries increase
| RTRS, BHTV 1, CRHB, FTV, Glas Srpske cover page story Pensions backwards!’, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg. 3, ‘I will call for responsibility for brining BiH at collapse’, Vecernji List front ‘Republika Srpska financially crushes BiH’, pg 4 ‘BiH will pay for decisions of Mikerevic’s Government’, Blic p 13 ‘Difficult consequences threat’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Mikerevic must withdraw decision on increased pensions’ – At the press conference held on Tuesday, the High Representative Paddy Ashdown stated that unless RS cancels its decision on increase of salaries for civil servants and pensions, BH would become the first country that has breached stand-by arrangement with IMF. He also reiterated that because of this decision the IMF would not grant 17 million US dollars worth of credits to BiH. ‘This decisions represents a ‘lethal’ danger for financial stability and the European future of BiH, since the RS has not the funds it pledged at its disposal’ – stated Ashdown explaining that breach of the agreement with IMF would lead to the situation where, without IMF’s approval, no country in the world would invest in BiH. The existing ones would withdraw their investment leaving BiH without international financial assistance. He also added RS does not have resources, but would only transfer the money from taxpayers to the state official deceiving the public. Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays stated this was the most cynical case he has ever encountered ‘It is cynical to promise something to people knowing that it would not be possible to honour it in two months… They count from some means out of succession process but that can be only short-term solution.’ Ashdown called competent RS authorities to withdraw decision by Saturday and to make proposal for redistribution, according to which increase would take place in some future time. In the case this does not happen, Ashdown stated that they will be forced to take certain measure, but he did not want to precisely say which. All this could, according to Ashdown, leave BiH without hundreds of millions of dollars of international aid and investments, and it would be very hard to re-establish cooperation with the IMF. Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Ashdown: That is lethal decision’, pg 2 ‘Dragan Mikerevic given deadline till Saturday, otherwise penalties will follow’ – Asked why he did not reacted the same way when Parliamentarians increased their salaries, Paddy Ashdown commented those ‘did not breach international agreements and threaten to the future of this country. In my opinion that decision was not wise, but the one that RS Government wants to apply is lethal.’ Donald Hays added that BiH needed ‘208 million KM to implement set reforms, which cannot be done without the assistance of the international community.’ Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Ashdown threatened Mikerevic’ / ‘FBIH will also suffer consiquences’ – Ashdown added that in case RS Government proceeds with the decisions and carries out the increased payments, citizens of FBiH will also suffer the consequences of the decision by Mikerevic and RS authorities, wondering whether RS ‘think they have gold mines or oil fields.’ High Representative was strong in his message to pensioners: ‘They deceive you, they lie and make you fools. They do not have money for those increases.’ |
| Mikerevic: RS will proceed with a decision on increase | BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg. 3, ‘I will call for responsibility for brining BiH at collapse’ – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic stated that RS Government will not give up on its decisions to increase the lowest labour wages and pensions. In his statement made on Tuesday in Banja Luka, Mikerevic said he hoped to prove that RS Government has resources for this, adding that he is disappointed with the international officials saying the decisions opposes stand-by arrangement. He also rejected possibility to reconsider the decision and announced these additional expenditures would be covered by better tax collection and internal reserves. Prime Ministers added he would proceed with the decisions willing to take a risk to be dismissed. Mikerevic also said the international community does not give evidences as to how stand-by arrangement could be violated by such increase of minimal salaries. |
| NN editorial by Hays on RS Gov’t decision | Nezavisne Novine pg. 7 ‘Yellow brick road’ editorial by Donald Hays– In the editorial, PDHR Donald Hays comments on the Republika Srpska Government decision regarding salary and pension increase. He warns the public that there are just pure promises of Government, which it will not be able to accomplish. Accordingly, the promises are also illusions. PDHR further warns Republika Srpska public of the fact that in order to be able to regularly pay out increased pensions and salaries, Government will have to find the way to increase budget inflows. And this is the most likely to be achieved through collection of increased taxes. He expressed readiness of international community to provide assistance to Government to find the way for gradual increases of pensions and salaries, which would equate with the level of savings and economic potential. |
| October pensions not all increased | RTRS – Distribution of October pensions in Republika Srpska has commenced on Tuesday, however not all pensioners received an increase. RS Pension Fund stated that increase is not certain for the next 2 months, adding that if the collection of all contributions and taxes is not increased for 5-6%, there will be no increase of pensions. Dnevni Avaz [pg 2 ‘Payment started yesterday’] reported on the beginning of pension dissemination. |
| Ian Cliff meets Mikerevic | Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Increases cause headaches’, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Solutions for increased pensions and salaries are being looked for’ – In the talks with RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic held on Tuesday, UK Ambassador to BiH Ian Cliff raised concerns about the problems that could be caused with the stand-by arrangement due to decisions of the RS Government on boosting of salaries and pensions. In presenting of arguments in support of the RS Government’s decisions, Mikerevic stressed that they would not jeopardise macroeconomic stability. Mikerevic also indicated the fact that the level of public expenditures in the RS is below 50 percent of the National Product, while on BiH State level it is estimated at 65 percent. Mikerevic said there are manners for resolving these problems and that talks are currently in progress with international financial institutions. Mikerevic and Cliff also talked about reforms in progress, and UK Ambassador commended the results achieved in the domain of the defence system, indirect taxation and public administration. |
| FBiH Pensioners on RS decision | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Let RS be responsible, not the entire country’ – President of the FBiH Pensioners Association Jozo Ljiljanic stated for DA that pensioners of FBiH would not accept consequences following the RS decision on increase. ‘We do not accept that, because if we have respected all international financial institutions why to bear consequences… FBiH pensioners sympathize with RS pensioners… Our pensions are also low, and we keep asking from the government to find a way to pay three overdue pensions and not to be prevented by IMF. The local authorities must be more courageous in this regard, and be responsible towards most vulnerable category of population.’ – stated Ljiljanic. |
Economic and social issues | |
| Elektroprivredas meet Spiric on privatisation
| BHTV 1, FTV, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Unions in favor of restructuring, but without redundancies’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Presidents of energy Unions on privatization’, Blic pg 13 ‘Support to demand of Trade Unions in BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Restructuring in accordance with Slovenian Model’, Nezavisne Novine pg 14 ‘Syndicalists against offered privatisation of power utility’ – Unions of Elektroprivreda companies in BiH demand for the privatisation of whole system together to be carried out. They want implementation of the agreed action plan on privatisation, but they want sell of as single holding company. Speaker of BiH House of Representatives Nikola Spiric and representatives of the BiH Trade Union off Electric-Power Workers, Independent Trade Union of Employees of the public company Elektroprivreda HZ Herceg-Bosna and Trade Union of Workers of Power Sector of RS met to discuss recently signed agreement on the mutual cooperation and joint activities. The agreement should underlined activities for Elektroprivredas to prepare for upcoming privatization. Spiric commented: ‘We should follow same method as Slovenians did regarding privatisation. They sold entire energy potential and made a profit of 100 million. These are our most valuable assets and everyone should benefit out of it.’ President of the BiH Trade Union of Electric-Power Workers Mensud Krljes said that all three trade unions agree on the re-restructuring of the electric-power system, but that they do not accept that the surplus of workers appears in that process. |
| Bosmal claims it will proceed with Vc project | Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Bosmal is still in game for construction of Corridor Vc’, Vjesnik pg 2 ‘Bosmal claims they secured necessary money’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 15 ‘Bosmal secured 300 million Euros’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Misunderstandings about banking guarantees solved?’, , pgs 4&5 ‘Bosmal claims CoM did not ask for banking guarantee’ – Leaders of Bosmal company Nijaz and Edin Sabanovic met with the Minister Branko Dokic and Deputy Haris Basic and said they agreed on further steps and cooperation regarding the implementation of Vc corridor project. Nijaz Sabanovic stated in a press release: ‘It was agreed that Bosmal and ministry would proceed with the cooperation in all next phases towards successful and quick beginning of the project implementation.’ He also claimed that the misunderstanding about securing funds for the project was solved, explaining that the Council of Ministry initially did not ask for bank’s guarantees, but ‘the evidence on secured financial means.’ Sabanovic adds Bosmal gave such proof to the CoM only a month after such demand. Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘Bosmal secured initial 300 million’- Following the meeting, Branko Dokic gave a statement: ‘There were no some special conclusions from that meeting. We are going further with the activities which should lead us towards moving into concrete actions regarding building Vc corridor as soon as possible. If Bosmal was not able to fulfill the conditions by 23 November, there are other possibilities to be considered.’ Oslobodjenje pgs 4&5 ‘Designers given deadline by 17 November’, ONASA, HINA – In a follow up to the Croatian offer to participate in the implementation of Vc corridor, Croatian designers were given deadline by 17 November to submit the proposal for participating in the competition for draft of project and study documentation for Vc. |
| Dodik accuses SDS and PDP of crime | RTRS, Blic pg 13 ‘Dodik: the authority supports crime’, Vecernje Novosti p 21 ‘All directed’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Dodik accuses SDS and PDP for crimes’, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg. 4 ‘Crime at Telekom Srpske linked with top of SDS and PDP’; Glas Srpske, pg. 2, ‘Removals are the remedy’ – At the press conference held on Tuesday in Banjaluka, Milorad Dodik, SNSD President, stated that the affair at Telekom proves the best that the top officials of PDP and SDS – Mladen Ivanic, Branko Dokic, Zeljko Jungic, Dragan Kalinic and Mirko Sarovic – are closely linked with organised crime at this firm. He further said that PDP controls Republika Srpska Interior Ministry, owing to which reason the fight against organised crime does not bear fruit. |
| RS Telekom accepts vacancy announcement | Nez avisne Novine pg. 5 ‘Election of new leadership in compliance with Government conclusions’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Forcible vacancy’, Blic pg 13 ‘Telekom accepts vacancy notices’ – Telekom Director Zoran Vujanovic stated that the Steering and Supervising Boards of this firm have decided to change the firm’s statute by implementing the provision of signing out vacancy notices. He said that the members of the both Boards had expressed will to do so, although legal advisors had warned them that they were not familiar with any case of appointing members of a Steering and Supervising Boards through vacancy notices. |
| FBiH Gov’t session – Ombudsmen’s recommendations rejected | Oslobodjenje cover, pgs 4&5 ‘Government decided that steering boards of HT Mostar and Poste are legal’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Ombudsmen recommendation on illegal dismissal of steering boards rejected’ – At its session on Tuesday in Mostar, the FBiH Government did not accept recommendations of the BiH Federation Ombudspersons of October 31 this year on the abolishment of the decision on dismissal and appointment of temporary steering and supervising boards of the public companies BH Poste Sarajevo and HT Mostar. The Government believes that individual responsibility of members of the boards cannot be estimated during making decisions on dismissal, and therefore this kind of responsibility cannot be separated from collective responsibility. The FBiH Ministry of Traffic and Communications has been instructed to continue the procedure of election of the new steering and supervising boards in these companies. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Ombudsmen too late’ – FBiH Transport and Communications Minister Nedzad Brankovic stated for a daily that the Government did not receive Ombudsmen recommendation, but only ‘acknowledged’ it. ‘Unfortunately, the recommendation came too late, two months after we made decision on dismissals. The objects of ombudsmen were adopted and in future we will implement them.’ – stated Bankovic. |
| Ombudsmen comments on FBiH decisions on Steering Boards | Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Ombudsman send the case to Parliament’ – The daily sought a comment to the FBiH Government’s decision to reject the Ombudsman’s recommendation from one of the FBiH Ombudsman, Branka Raguz. Raguz says the Ombudsman cannot make a comment until they receive an official notice from the FBiH Government and only then the Ombudsman will declare themselves. Raguz however notes that the Government is obliged to make a written report why the recommendation is rejected, adding that the Ombudsman are to send the case to the (FBiH) Parliament, which is to decide whether to adopt or reject the recommendation. Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Kukic announces lawsuit against FBiH’– Former President of HT Mostar’s Supervisory Board, Slavo Kukic, says he will wait for a reaction of the FBiH Ombudsman adding that he hopes that the OHR will react too. Kukic announces that he would also protect his rights with the BiH Human Rights Chamber and European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg. |
| FBiH Gov’t did not dismiss leaders of Financial police | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Dervisevic and Vidovic not dismissed’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Dervisevic and Vidovic remain’– FBIH Government rejected a request of the FBiH Finance Minister, Dragan Vrankic, to remove the Chief Inspector and Deputy Chief Inspector of FBiH Financial Police, Zufer Dervisevic and Miroslav Vidovic respectively. In his request, Finance Minister Vrankic claimed that the Financial Police, among other things, rejects to submit a report on its work, does not carry out assigned tasks and submits majority of criminal reports against Croat companies, institutions and officials. Dnevni List front, pg 5 ‘Reconstruction or fall of Federation Government’ by De. L. – notes that Minister Vrankic got consent from the OHR for his request to have Dervisevic and Vidovic removed. The daily learns from an anonymous source that the failure to remove Dervisevic and Vidovic and Bosniak usurpation of the FBiH Tax Administration, FBiH Treasury etc. are reasons for Vrankic to submit resignation from his post in the FBiH Government. |
| Commission to examine privatisation fraud established | Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Commission for privatization frauds established’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Commission for privatization frauds formed’, FENA – BiH Trade Union issued a press release saying that the Presidency of Association of Independent Trade Unions of BiH formed the Commission for collection of facts on corruption and privatization frauds. An appeal was sent to all members of the Trade Unions and organizations to contact the Commission with regard to all possible information that they have on the cases in their areas. Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Next week already the first list of suspiciously privatized companies’ – President of BiH graphics Union Amer Toskic was appointed as the head of the commission. He stated for DA: ‘The list of the companies where individuals through different criminal actions achieved enormously large capital, with arguments, will be sent to the FBiH Government and OHR. From them we expect adequate reaction in a sense of revisions and cancellation of questionable sales, as well as prosecution of those involved in the corruption and frauds.’ |
| DL on candidates for ITA Director
| Dnevni List back pg ‘Candidates are Causevic, Prusina and Gavrilovic’– The daily learns from a “source close to Indirect Tax Commission and Joly Dixon’s Office” that candidates for the office of Director of Indirect Taxation Commission are Kemal Causevic, Dragan Prusina and Ilinka Gavrilovic. The troika has been apparently summoned to Banja Luka for interviews today. |
| Protest of Banja Luka students | Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Lock down the University for 10 minutes’, Blic pg 17 ‘University locked’, Vecernje Novosti pg 21 ‘Only a warning’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 2 ‘Padlock at Faculties’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Time is running out’ – Banja Luka University students symbolically locked the University on Tuesday at five minutes before the noon. The students demand their requests be met and urge Republika Srpska authorities to sign the document on reform of high education. Zarko Malinovic, President of RS Students’ Union, announced that students would block the University on Friday unless Government their requests. Blic pg 17 ‘Ambassador supports youth’ – The UK Ambassador to BiH Ian Cliff had held a lecture at the Banja Luka University, after which he stated that the protests of students were in context of including young people in all social streams. |
Security and military issues | |
| SCMM considers BiH troops redeployment in Iraq; adopts report on defence
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘BiH volunteers going to Iraq?’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Transport Unit going to Iraq’ , BHTV 1 – Standing Committee for Military Matters discussed sending of BiH soldiers in Iraq at the meeting on Tuesday. They have instructed a working group to prepare a framework plan and schedule for troops’ redeployment. SCMM Secretary General Enes Becirbasic said: ‘Initially we planned to send a transport unit, but we may also provide logistics, medical and some other troops. These troops would go there on voluntary basis.’ Due to gaps in national legislation it would not be possible to send these troops in next 18 months. Proposal by the working should be prepared by end November, and should report on financial and legal aspect of BH troops redeployment. US have provided 1 million dollars for establishing of these units within entities’ Armies. RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Partnership in spring’ – At the session, the Standing Committee for Military Matters in BH also adopted the report by the Defence Reform Commission, also suggesting to the authorities to adopt the set of laws on defence reforms by November 30, which would enable BiH to access Partnership for Peace in April 2004. BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Are sons of the Presidency members going?’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Will members of the Presidency send their sons and daughters?’ – Public and opposition parties do not support sending BiH troops to Iraq. Opposition leader from USD Sejfudin Tokic asked: ‘Are presidency members going to send members of their families to Iraq? It would be explicit support for US and UK in invasion of sovereign state.’ |
| Ashdown sent letter to Terzic on SIPA | FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘By 1 December a building must be found for SIPA HQ’, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘SIPA HQ determined’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3, ‘Ashdown wrote to Terzic’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Terzic should together with ministers work more in interest of BiH’ – In a letter that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, sent to the Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, the HR says that he read with a concern statements of SDA members including Terzic with regard to the recommendation of the Government’s Inter Resource Commission to place a new seat of the State Agency for Information and Protection (SIPA) in Srpsko Sarajevo. HR further reminds that although SDA was aware of all developments, SDA stated its objections in the current phase, 4 months after the Commission started with its work. At the end of the letter, the HR expresses hope that Terzic and his colleagues in the CoM will conclude that it would be the best for the interest of this country to adopt and support recommendations of their own Commission in order to avoid additional prolonging. |
| FBiH Gov’t adopts Constitutions changes re: defence reforms
| CRHB, BHTV 1, FTV – Resuming its 38th session in Mostar on Tuesday, FBiH Government finalised proposals of the amendments to the FBiH Constitution and sent them to the parliamentary procedure. The amendments are made in regard to the reform of the defence system in BH, providing with a single military chain of command at the state level and control over the Army, which is a precondition for BH’s acceptance to the Partnership for Peace. |
| Beecroft on BiH accession to Pfp | Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Accession to NATO questionable’, Blic pg 13, ‘Beecroft: Criminals are obstacle for the Partnership’, RTRS – Head of OSCE to BH, Ambassador Robert Beecroft, following the meeting with RS leadership held in Banja Luka on Tuesday, stated that all relations between BiH and NATO could become questionable, since suspects for the war crimes are still at large. He also stated that he was at the same time pleased for the support defence and education reforms gained, as well as some other, adding BH is on a good path to become member of the Partnership for the Peace, under the conditions that all recommendations given by the Commission for Defence Reform are adopted with minimum changes in the Parliaments. Beecroft met with Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic, RS NA Speaker Dragan Kalinic, RS Vice Presidents Ivan Tomljenovic and Adil Osmanovic, and SNSD President Milorad Dodik. |
| Dodik: Cavic deceives public with defence reforms | Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 4 ‘Crime at Telekom Srpske linked with top of SDS and PDP’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Removals are the remedy’ – At the press conference regarding the RS Telekom, leader of SNSD spoke of defence reform. Milorad Dodik said that the Republika Srpska President, Dragan Cavic deceives the public by saying that a single army is a pre-requisite for BiH admission into Partnership for Peace. |
| Dudakovic asks for SFOR’s assistance in appointment issue | Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘I asked for investigation and SFOR’s assistance’, pg 2 ‘I asked for investigation and help from general Packet’ – Commander of Joint FBiH Army Command Atif Dudakovic stated that he asked for SFOR assistance in solving the issue of reappointment of 6 ‘self-rule’ officers in Croat component of the army, who were returned to their posts following the instruction signed by BH Presidency member Dragan Covic. Those 6 officers in March 2001 voluntarily left the army however were return to their job at the time when 7.500 people are to be dismissed and without any prior consultations with the Command or with the member of BH Presidency Sulejman Tihic, claims Dudakovic. |
| Former FOSS director Besic not to be investigated | Oslobodjenje cover ‘Edhem Besic did not disclose secrets’, pg 5 ‘Besic did not misuse position and disclose secrets’ by D. Pavlovic – Despite the decision of Sarajevo Municipal Prosecutors’ Office that Edhem Besic, former executive director of Federation Security and Intelligence Agency [FOSS], that there be no investigation against him, he still did not manage to return to his job. Besic was suspended by FBiH Prime Minister after the FOSS affair where confidential information were published in media. Following the prosecutors’ decision, Besic wrote to Hadzipasic however to date never received an answer. |
War crimes | |
| New indictee for war crimes committees in Grabovica | BHTV 1, FTV, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 3 ‘Indictment against Hota raised’, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6 ‘Bill of indictment because of massacre over Croats in village of Grabovica’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Mustafa Hota charged with murders in Grabovica’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Mustafa Hota held accountable for murder of two Croat civilians’ – Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecution issued a bill of indictment against a former member of the BiH Army, Mustafa Hota, who is suspected of committing a war crime over the Croats in village of Grabovica, near Jablanica, in 1993. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 “Soon 70 or 80 new pages of evidences in case of Grabovica’ – Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecutor Mustafa Bisic said that new 70 to 80 pages with evidences and facts will be send to the ICTY on the case of Grabovica. |
Political issues | |
| Brcko Mayor Kisic accused for misuse of office
| Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Indictments against Kisic and seven associates confirmed’, BHTV 1, FENA – Brcko District Mayor Sinisa Kisic, who has been charged by the Brcko magistrates’ court of misuse of office by overstepping his authority, has said that he ‘believes in the fairness of the judiciary and the democratic principle in line with which a person is innocent until proven guilty’He said that he and a team of lawyers have been studying the case and the charges filed against him and that he believes that his colleagues, who have also had charges filed against them, have taken the same stand on the manner in which the case proceeds. Basic Court in Brcko District on Tuesday confirmed the indictment against Kisic and seven of his associates, accusing them of crime in the building annexes to existing building Brcko town. |
| Update on Mostar Commission | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Big differences in parties’ proposals for the election of councillors’ – Members of the Mostar Commission headed by Norbert Winterstein held a session on Tuesday discussing the election of councillors in the City Council. Representatives of all parties had a chance to present their own system of the election of councillors, and DA claims that there are large differences between them, therefore Witnerstein will draft the proposal of election process by the next week. Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Silajdzic and Orucevic – ‘Bosniak Judas’’ by V. Kljajic – The author reminds of a statement by former Mayor of Mostar and former leader of SDA in the city, Safet Orucevic, who is now a member of the Party for BiH (SBiH), that “the SDA betrayed the idea of unified Mostar”. The author believes that the real weight of Orucevic’s statement could result in the SDA and SBiH never forming the CD Coalition again, the Coalition which was, in the author’s opinion, created only to fight the HDZ. |
| Tensions between SDA and Party for BiH | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘It is time for SDA and Party for BiH to reconsider their relationship’ – President of the Party for BiH Safet Halilovic has accused SDA of self-centred actions, while SDA responded by saying it was equally dissatisfied with the cooperation with the coalition partner. ‘Everything Halilovic has to object to SDA can actually be said for Party for BiH’ – stated SDA official Seada Palavric. Halilovic said that SDA established the authorities in Central Bosnia Canton without participation of Party for BiH, and that it also took all Bosniak places for the positions of ambassadors. Palavric answered saying that Party for BiH often breaks personnel and legal solutions promoted by SDA. Both agreed that both parties must ‘become serious and accept the responsibilities towards the voters.’ |
| Hadzipasic on removal of Nikolic | Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘I asked from Nikolic to halt parallelism’- In an statement for Oslobodjenje, FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic said that he officials never asked for the dismissal of the Defence Minister Miroslav Nikolic, but he also did not reject possibility of doing so in the future. He said that he was not satisfied with the work of ministers in FBiH Government, however he was limited by different parties’ and other influences over some ministers. Hadzipasic did not give further comments on this, but as for Nikolic he said that the Defence Minister was asked to halt the parallelism in the Ministry and FBiH Army. ‘Parallelism is one of the key reasons for dissatisfaction, however not the only one. I asked many times for it to be stopped, nut never saw any serious steps forwards in that regard.’ – stated Prime Minister. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Covic’s decision set at the lower level’ – FBiH Defence Minister Miroslav Nikolic stated that he become aware for the first time that there was an initiative for his dismissal reading media reports on that issue. ‘I know nothing about it, really. Nobody told me anything.’ – said Nikolic. |
| DL: dismissals in the FBiH government | Dnevni List front, pg 5 ‘Reconstruction or fall of Federation Government’ by De. L. – DL says that attempts by the FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic and FBiH President, Niko Lozancic, to carry out a silent reconstruction of the Government are failing. Apparently on top of request to remove the Defence Minister Miroslav Nikolic, Labour Minister Radovan Vignjevic and Interior Minister Mevludin Halilovic, now Hadzipasic is requested to remove the Communications Minister, Nedzad Brankovic, who is reportedly supported by the SDA hard line and Dragan Covic’s lobby since the Croat Ministers voted in favour of Brankovic’s proposal on Ombudsman’s recommendation, whilst the Bosniak Ministers abstained and PM Hadzipasic was against. |
Broadcasting reforms | |
| Dokic on agreement on PB system
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Everybody gets what is his’ – Speaking of 6th November agreement on PBS reached between entities’ Prime Ministers and the Chairman of Council of Ministers, BiH Minister of Traffic and Communication Branko Dokic stated on Tuesday that the existence of three independent public broadcasters is the most important part of the Agreement on principles for public broadcasting system reform. He added that much work has still left to be done, in order to observe other advantages and omissions of this document. |
| FBiH Gov’t supports PB system reforms | CRHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 inset ‘Support for the PB system reforms’ – At the session of FBiH Government held in Mostar delegates discussed the proposal of OHR for model law on public broadcasters, and gave the support to the concept which envisages one system, one licence and a single infrastructure. |
Legal issues | |
| DA interview with HJPC Head, Jan Erik Oja | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Politicians must get used to criticism’, pg 5 ‘Politicians in BiH must get used to criticism and than they will not sue media every day’ by Husein Orahovac – In an interview to DA, Chairman of High Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils, Jan Erik Oja said that the process of appointments of the prosecutors and judges in BiH will be finished on 31 March 2004, which will require High Representative to extend their mandate [expiring at the end of this year]. Commenting SDA’s accusations that HJPC is discriminating Bosniaks [due to a small number of Bosniaks in RS judicial and prosecutorial institutions], Oja said that such allegations were not grounded and that the only reason for this was a small number of Bosniaks applying for positions. Answering to the questions of the credibility of several members of HJPC [Stevan Savic and Svetlana Maric] and why there are no Bosniak members in the Council, Oja said that the High Representative should be asked these questions as he made those decisions. Regarding a number of charges filed against media by politicians for reporting against them, Oja said that politicians must get used to criticism instead of ‘running to prosecutors’ office and file charged against media for writing on them’. |