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| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Croat self-rule trials postponed | BiH HoR on BiH budget and VAT | BiH HoR’s in session |
| BiH HoR on budget for 2005, VAT | | BiH Farmers announce protests |
| Paravac-Wnendt meeting | Sports | Update to Ante Gotovina case |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| VAT Law harmonized | IC and BiH MoD on Mladic | OHR/EUFOR on Mladic | Trebinje budget blocked |
| Cavic met with Leakey | Cavic, Leakey on Mladic | MoD conducts investigat. | VAT Law harmonised |
| Farmers announce protest | Milosevic trial resumed | Cavic, Leakey on defence | Tadic new Cavic’s advisor |
| OHR on BIH budget | Naser Oric trial resumed | Milosevic trial resumed | SDS supports Bukejlovic |
| Oslobodjenje | Paddy Ashdown fails Radovanovic to makeup test |
| Dnevni Avaz | New Kuwaiti investment creates 10.000 jobs |
| Dnevni List | VAT of 17 % definitely |
| Vecernji List | Gotovina offering agreement |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Croatian citizenship cannot be taken away |
| Glas Srpske | One does not run away from good |
| Nezavisne Novine | Prices of basic consumers’ goods will increase; Doctor is culpable of death of baby; One of Trebinje Municipality accounts was blocked |
| Blic | New crisis in RS because of the Government; Paddy Ashdown and EUFOR are hiding evidence on Ratko Mladic; |
| Vecernje Novosti | Less money for Brcko |
| Belgrade’s Nacional | We were slaves of Goran Jelisic |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| BiH HoR in session
| BH Radio 1, RHB – BiH House of Representatives has adopted the information on the execution of the state institutions’ budget for 2004. In the continuation of today’s session, BiH HoR is expected to discuss the draft 2005 budget of the state institutions, and the report by the BiH Parliament joint commission on harmonization of the text of VAT Law. HoR also requested from the BiH Defence Ministry to submit to delegates its report on allegations that Ratko Mladic was in Veliki Zep last summer before submitting to the OHR. Nikola Spiric asked HoR to call on CoM Chair, Adnan Terzic, to explain current situation of the Council of the Ministers and to report on actions undertaken to solve the issues. |
| Croat self-rule trials postponed
| RHB, BH Radio 1 – Trials of Ante Jelavic and six other former Croat officials, who are charged with events related to the ‘Croat self-rule’ case, which was supposed to take place today (Wednesday), has been postponed for February 14 because Jelavic is pre-occupied with ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case. This is a result of appeal lodged by Jelavic’s lawyer, Josip Muselimovic. |
War crimes/cooperation with ICTY | |
| EUFOR reiterated it has reliable information on Mladic’s stay in Han Pijesak
| BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Mladic stayed in Han Pijesak’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘EUFOR, OHR still claim Mladic was in Han Pijesak’, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Evidence that Mladic was in Han Pijesak’ by E. Medunjanin, FENA – The EU Force (EUFOR) still claims that they possess reliable proof that the indicted war crime suspect, Ratko Mladic, resided at the military base near Han Pijesak in the summer of 2004, as well as before that. The spokesperson of EUFOR, Bridget Rise, made this statement at a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday when asked to comment on the allegations by the BiH Defence Ministry’ investigative team that the RS Army command units did not receive the request or an order for hiding any indicted for crime suspects in their facilities. Rose was unable to present the details of those information or their sources due to operational reasons. When asked whether EUFOR is not sharing information with BiH authorities because they do not trust them, Rose said that information are shared when this not jeopardizing the security of their sources, and underlined that this does not concern any lack of trust. EuroBlic, cover ‘Paddy Ashdown and EUFOR are hiding evidence on Ratko Mladic’ and pg. RS2 ‘EUFOR and Ashdown are hiding evidence’ by Tijana Veselinovic and Dusanka Stanisic – EUFOR Commander David Leakey and RS Minister of defense Milovan Stankovic on Tuesday stated a unit of EUFOR was sent to “Crna rijeka” military complex near Han Pijesak in order to confirm no Hague indictee is hiding at this location. |
| OHR demands MoD to investigate Veliki Zep ‘episode’ by 14 February
| BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs4-5 ‘Paddy Ashdown fails Radovanovic to makeup test’ by Az. Kalamujic – “Office of the High Representative possesses reliable information on indications that RS Army helped hiding Ratko Mladic in Veliki Zep location in June last year,” states OHR spokesman, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘EUFOR and OHR still claim Mladic was in Han Pijesak’, mentioned on cover, by E.S. –M.Dr. – also brings statement by Brkic. |
| MoD: Investigation on alleged Mladic’s presence in Veliki Zep continues until 14 Feb
| BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Investigation on Mladic’s haven continues’ by A. Prlenda, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘No information for public before 14 February’ by E.S. – BiH Defence Ministry stated they would continue with the investigation on indications of the HR Paddy Ashdown according to which Ratko Mladic was provided with haven in Veliki Zep. MoD said the report on investigation will be submitted to OHR by 14 February, as requested, adding it will make no further comment on this issue by than. “BiH MoD will also continue to carry out investigation to conclude which steps are necessary to make in order to ensure that management and command over BiH Armed Forces at the state level are functional; and to systematically prevent possible assistance of the BiH Armed Forces’ members to war crimes suspects still at large,” reads statement by MoD. |
| NN op-ed on OHR, Ratko Mladic
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Whom to trust?’ by Aleksandar Sekulic – The author notes that the game hide-and-seek regarding possible hiding of Ratko Mladic at Han Pijesak last summer continues, and the public won’t most likely ever find out the truth about this issue. The author further reminds of statements of BiH Defence Ministry and OHR both persistent in contrary claims. He notes one side is telling the truth, wondering which one. If – by any chance – proved that OHR was wrong, it would turn out that the most powerful organisation in BiH, was making deliberations roughly. On the other side, if proved BiH Defence Ministry was wrong, it would turn out that so much praised and united Ministry is incapable of performing the simplest task. He further notes that the motive for OHR to bring up this information was to stimulate RS police and military structures, OHR was wrong. He further raises the question as to why NATO and EUFOR, who proved to have possessed “reliable” information on Ratko Mladic’s and Radovan Karadzic’s crossing of borders, have failed to apprehend them? |
| RS Government has still not established a body to analyze Srebrenica Commission’s documentation
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Task force to analyze documentation still not formed’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Task force for Srebrenica not established’, FENA – The Chief of the RS Government’s Bureau, Cvijeta Kovacevic, on Tuesday told Fena that activities are in progress on forming the task force that will analyze the documentation of the Srebrenica Commission. This task force has not yet been formed, and Kovacevic said that the public would be timely informed about its establishment. The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, has warned the RS authorities, especially the Government about the obligation of forming the said task force, which among other things needs to identify the persons mentioned in the Srebrenica Commission’s Report that might be responsible for the crime. |
| ICTY transfers seven cases to Brcko prosecution
| RHB, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘A class for seven more indictees’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘7 cases for crimes committed over Serbs’ by A. Beus, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘New materials from The Hague received’by f , SRNA – The Brcko District prosecution service has received seven class A cases from the Hague Tribunal, public prosecutor Zekerija Mujkanovic has told SRNA. He went on to say that the district’s prosecution service has a total of 13 such cases which will be handled with the highest priority. “The cases are at different stages and additional time is needed to complete investigations for some of them, while others are at the stage before indictments are issued,” Mujkanovic said. In line with the rules of procedure, Mujkanovic declined to divulge the identity and the nationality of the persons in question, and pointed out that all of them concerned individual responsibility for war crimes. Mujkanovic refused to confirm the identity of the war crimes suspect who was arrested on 28 December in Brcko, although the media has already identified him as Konstantin Simeunovic-Kole. “The suspect is being detained for one month and his identity will be made public only once a possible indictment is issued against him, “ Mujkanovic said. |
| Gotovina’s lawyer says his client ready to surrender himself under Gotovina’s terms
| Vecernji List, front pg splash and pgs 10-11 ‘Gotovina offering agreement’, by Drazen Klaric – VL claims to be in possession of a letter that General Ante Gotovina’s lawyer, Luka Misetic, sent to the Chairman of EU Council, the Luxembourg Foreign Minister, Jean Asselborn, on January 5, 2005, in which Misetic notes that his client is willing to “go before the court if he is allowed to be tried before a domestic court in Croatia”, in other words if the case be handed over to the Croatian judiciary, in accordance with the 11 bis rule. The Luxembourg Foreign Ministry confirmed it had received the letter and forwarded it to the ICTY. According to the ICTY Prosecution’s spokeswoman, Florance Hartmann, the ICTY will not negotiate with people who are on the run. “The letter by people who represent themselves as Gotovina’s lawyers is another attempt to politicize the case. General Gotovina must surrender”, says Hartmann. |
| DL: Dario Kordic will serve sentence in
| Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on front, ‘Dario Kordic will serve sentence in |
Economic/social issues | |
| Draft Law on VAT harmonized, single rate of 17 percent proposed
| RHB, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘VAT Law harmonized’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘A single VAT rate of 17 percent harmonized/agreed’, Dnevni List front pg splash ‘VAT of 17 % definitely ‘and pg 3 ‘Definite introduction of VAT of 17 %’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Text of Law on VAT harmonized, rate amounting to 17 %’ by F, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 15, mentioned on front, ‘Rise in prices soon’ by Z. Rerig,FENA – The joint commission of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly on Tuesday has harmonized the text of the Law on VAT, according to which a single VAT rate of 17 percent will be imposed, member of the joint parliamentary commission, Seada Palavric, told Fena. “The commission’s report on Wednesday will be presented to the House of Representatives, and afterwards to the delegates of the House of Peoples”, said Palavric. The Law on VAT was recently adopted in both Houses of the Parliamentary Assembly, but in different texts. The House of Representatives adopted the bill with a differentiated rate of zero and 17 percent, while the House of Peoples adopted the law with a single rate of 17 percent. Due to the fact that the Law was adopted in different texts, the relevant commission was formed to reach an agreement on the single text, and on Tuesday it has decided to support the text with a single rate of 17 percent. Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3 ‘Prices of basic consumers’ goods will increase’ by M. Cubro – apart from reporting on the harmonization of VAT laws before the joint commission of HoR and HoP of BiH Parliament, the article quotes the Commission Chairman Halid Genjac, as saying that the introduction of a single VAT rate would result in an increase of prices of basic consumers’ goods. The article also carries a statement of Mesud Lakota, the Secretary of the Association of Consumers, saying that the state has done nothing to protect the poorest category of the population from the increase in prices. |
| Reactions to harmonization of VAT law
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Kumalic: Stabile tax system’ not signed carries BiH Deputy Minister of Finances and Treasury Jusuf Kumalic who comments on harmonization of Law on VAT as saying: ‘VAT offers a stabile tax system, it is easier for application because it implies smaller administration and there is a big probability that it will contribute to more significant reduction of corruption, that is, tax evasion.’ Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Shameful decision to damage of people’ not signed SDP President Zlatko Lagumdzija stated that this decision is shameful and it shows that the SDA-HDZ-SDS Coalition is functioning without mistake. Also, Lagumdzija does not believe that the HoR will confirm such shameful decision and he expects more serious discussion on this issue. Dnevni List pg 3 ‘VAT will not affect pensioners during 2005’ not signed – FBiH Minister of Labor Radovan Vignjevic stated that most probably VAT will not affect pensioners during 2005 since it has been expected that VAT comes in force as late as in summer or autumn 2005. Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Stojanov: Strike on poor people’ not signed – Prime Minister of the Alternative BiH Government Dragoljub Stojanov opposed the aforementioned harmonization of the Law on VAT and he added that this decision shows that protection of pensioners and poor peoples was not taken into consideration in BiH. Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Rob us completely!’ by M. Karacic carries an editorial in which the author says that by introduction of VAT amounting to 17% politicians definitely decided to take from citizens little money that BiH citizens still have. According to the author, VAT will affect BiH pensioners the most. |
| OHR says failure to adopt the BiH Budget would jeopardize functioning of state institutions
| RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘To adopt budget for work of new institutions’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Adoption of the state budget necessary’, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Non-adoption of budget would endanger work of institutions’ by NINA’, FENA – Unless the draft budget is adopted by the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, temporary funding would have to be allocated on the basis of last year’s budget, and that would mean that institutions – in particular the newly established institutions, including SIPA, the Defence Ministry and the ITA – would not have enough money to operate, the spokesperson of the OHR, |
| Silajdzic negotiates on new Kuwaiti investments in BiH
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘New Kuwaiti investment creates 10.000 jobs’, pg 2 ‘Kuwaiti investments in energy sector would create 10.000 jobs’ by E. Sarac – The founder of Party for BiH, Haris Silajdzic, told DA that Kuwaiti Investment Agency [KIA] is willing to continue investing in BiH under the condition old mistakes do to not repeat. Silajdzic added that he currently negotiates with KIA on possibilities to invest in the energy sector, which would create 10.000 new jobs. |
Political developments/reforms | |
| RS President against further defence centralization
| RHB, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Cooperation with The Hague necessary’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘RS must fulfill obligations towards The Hague Tribunal’, SRNA – RS President Dragan Cavic on Tuesday informed EUFOR Commander General David Leakey of the RS’s stance – contained in the agreement of the RS parliamentary parties – that the status of the RS Defence Ministry and RS Army could not be changed within the BiH defence system. “In this respect nothing else can be expected, apart from the complete implementation of the coordinated and adopted defence system reforms,” Cavic said. The RS president’s information service said that during the meeting Cavic underlined that he expected cooperation and partnership, rather than forced solutions. Gen Leakey emphasized the RS’s needed to carry out obligations towards the Hague Tribunal and welcomed the results of the implemented defence reforms. EuroBlic, cover ‘Paddy Ashdown and EUFOR are hiding evidence on Ratko Mladic’ and pg. RS2 ‘EUFOR and Ashdown are hiding evidence’ by Tijana Veselinovic and Dusanka Stanisic, Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘Cooperation, not imposing’ by N. Diklic and M. Dzepina, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘No change of status of the Ministry of Defense and RS Army’ by D. R., Dnevni List pg 4 ‘To continue with defense reform’ by NINA also reported on the meeting. |
| RS President Cavic says SDA, SDP, Party for BiH not to be part of new RS Government
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘RS Government without SDA-nominated ministers’ by O. Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘There will be no room for SDA, Party for BiH, SDP in the new RS Government’, FENA – The non-participation of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) in the future RS Government will not result in political consequences, RS President Dragan Cavic said in Banja Luka on Tuesday. Cavic said at a press conference that none of the RS (Serb dominated) political parties were taking part in the Federation of BiH Government and “no-one sees this as a problem”, while there is a desire to portray the Serb Democratic Party (SDS), SDA and the Party of Democratic Progress (PDP) as being joined together in government by an “umbilical cord”. “The SDA will not be part of the new RS government due to the current political circumstances,” Cavic said, reiterating that the Social Democratic Party of BiH and Party for BiH will also not be part of the government due to their support for the abolishment of the RS. On Tuesday, Cavic appointed Ognjen Tadic of Serb Radical Party ‘Vojislav Seselj’ as his political advisor. Tadic’s priority task will be to work on the implementation of the Agreement on Coordinated political Action signed by six RS (Serb-dominated) political parties. Glas srpske, pg. 2 ‘Pressures after the agreement’ by N. D., EuroBlic, pg. RS1 ‘Obstacles in wheels’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, inset ‘Ognjen Tadic will advise President Cavic’ also reported on appointment of Tadic. FTV, RTRS, EuroBlic, cover ‘New crisis in RS because of the Government’ and pg. RS1 ‘Obstacles in wheels’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Glas srpske, pg. 2 ‘Pressures after the agreement’ by N. D., Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘There must be an election of new RS Government’ by D. Risojevic – RS President Dragan Cavic held a press conference on Tuesday, at which he stated: ‘Ever since I have appointed new RS Government designate, numerous political manipulations are on stage, as well as forming of a climate in which SDS is again the main and only culprit for everything’. He expressed his opinion that those who fail to vote for the new designate and his cabinet, would actually support the old Government. He says the Government is capable of continuing with its technical mandate but it is in nobody’s interest to deepen the crisis. |
| SDS on RS PM designate Bukejlovic
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Sooner the better’ by N.D. – SDS on Tuesday released a press release, in which it has called on RS PM-designate, Pero Bukejlovic, to work on bringing together all the signatory-parties of Agreement on principles of political actions. SDS has called on PM-designate to form the Government asap, that would enjoy a strong parliament support. The best solution, according to SDS, would be if all signatory-parties of the Agreement were represented in Government. SDS views statements of SNSD President concerning Bukejlovic as unbalanced and insulting. (Also reported by Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘There must be an election of new RS Government’ by D. Risojevic, inset ‘Support of SDS to designate) |
| SRS on Bukejlovic
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Support with reserve’ by N.D. – Milanko Mihajlica, President of RS Serb Radical Party, on Tuesday announced that SRS would support the nomination of Bukejlovic, but under conditions that representatives of SDA, Party for BiH and SDP of BiH were not included into Government composition. Mihajlica also said that PM-designate should define its approach towards the international community, meaning that the Government with the large parliament support is formed and that Government should become a partner, not a subject of the international community. |
| Reactions of citizens to nomination of Pero Bukejlovic | Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘Bukejlovic is a bad selection’ – carries reactions of 6 citizens who all criticised the idea of having Pero Bukejlovic as the new RS Government designate. |
| GS op-ed by HR Paddy Ashdown
| Glas srpske, pg. 5 ‘Mistakes are not allowed’ – GS carries an op-ed wrote by High Representative Paddy Ashdown, in which he, among other, stated: ‘The vast majority of people in this country want to join the European Union because it means their children will have a secure future as part of a stable and prosperous international community. That means no more standing in line for visas. But of course it means much, much more than that. It means political stability – EU membership will lock this country firmly into the democratic mainstream. It means access to EU development funds that can help turn the economy around. It means more foreign investment, creating more jobs. It means European standard justice. It means that – in the run up to membership – BiH politicians will have to show common sense and legislate the huge number of laws that are required to bring BiH into line with European standards. Each of those laws will help initiate improvements in living standards. To make this possible the RS leadership must do better. I believe it can do better. In the coming months the RS must work intensively to improve it’s record of cooperation with ICTY. Their failure so far, to do so is a failure to fulfill our international obligations and is a direct breach of the Dayton Agreement, in which the peace of the whole country and the existence of the RS itself depends’. |
| DL Statement of Day: HR Ashdown | Dnevni List pg 2 carries in its ‘Statement of Day’ High Representative Paddy Ashdown as saying: ‘I see BiH as |
| SD on public statements by HR Ashdown
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 14 ‘Sarajevo an Islamic centre for Europe?’, by Marin Erceg – Commenting on public statements and interviews that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, has made recently, the author notes that “Paddy is successfully doing his slalom between the Balkans and European capitol cities and media. In Belgrade he promises that he would not abolish the RS, in Sarajevo that he would continue with reforms to Police and defence system, meaning that he would take away two important competences of the ‘state’ of RS, and in Banja Luka for the hundredth time he says he is not against the RS ‘if it is respecting Dayton’, and in the Prague-based Pravo daily he says BiH ‘could be good something like Belgium’”. The author goes on to say that the HR’s statements are contradictory because if one abides by the DPA, then BiH cannot become |
| Patriarch Pavle invited representatives of Serb parties to attend a meeting in | Glas srpske, pg. 2 ‘Pressures after the agreement’ by N. D., inset ‘Patriarch’ reads that RS President Dragan Cavic has confirmed he had received an invitation from Patriarch Pavle to attend a meeting in Belgrade together with presidents of other Serb political parties, but he explained he would not be able to attend the meeting due to some technical reasons. |
| SDHR Wnendt visits Mostar
| Dnevni List, pg 13 ‘There is no political crisis in Mostar’, by Sanja Bjelica – Reports that Senior Deputy High Representative, Werner Wnendt, visited Mostar yesterday (Tuesday) when he met the Mayor of Mostar, Ljubo Beslic, and President of Mostar City Council (MCC), Murat Coric, who informed the SDHR about the current problems the authorities in Mostar are facing, including the failure to adopt a decision on temporary funding of the city. Following the meeting, SDHR Wnendt stated that there were no political crises in Mostar, noting that the implementation of the Statute was being implemented successfully. “When it comes to decision of temporary funding, I am convinced that the Mayor and City Council will solve the problem and that the budget will be adopted on time. I believe there is absolutely no crisis”, said SDHR Wnendt. Talking about the temporary funding of the city, Mayor Beslic stated that the issue would be solved next week, when a session the MCC is scheduled. “We will not go to the session until we agree upon everything. Although I cannot be a proponent, the item will be proposed by one of caucus of peoples”, said Beslic. He also warned of likely financial difficulties the city would be facing when the two Elektroprivredas (Herceg Bosna and BiH) stop paying compensations to the city budget as of April 2005, especially having in mind the downsizing of the Mostar administration and severance pays that will have to be paid out to the surplus employees. In that context, Mayor Beslic stated: “We hope that the IC will have the understanding and extend the decision”. SDHR Wnendt also visited the |
| Mayor Beslic sends HR Ashdown letter, claims SDA and SBiH are obstructionists
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Beslic: SDA and SBiH are paralyzing Mostar!’, mentioned on front ‘Mostar is hostage to SDA SBiH’, by Zoran Kresic – Reports that the Mayor of Mostar, Ljubo Beslic, has sent the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, a letter in which he wants the HR to undertake measures in order to overcome the financial crisis caused by obstructions of councilors of the SDA and SBiH in the Mostar City Council, and in the same time, Mayor Beslic requested changes in the Mostar Statute that will result in Mostar not needing a “permanent tutorship”. “SBiH and SDA councilors, by abusing the Statute’s provisions, have struck a blow not only to the Mayor of Mostar, they too prepared a complete paralysis to life in Mostar. If you add to that the problems that are expected due to stopping of financing of the city by the two Elektroprivredas, it is possible that Mostar in the next six months becomes a centre of crisis we currently have, because of other reasons, at the state level”, reads Beslic’s letter. |
| On wartime past of BiH candidate for Croatian Ambassador in
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6, mentioned on front ‘Kesic did not take part in destruction of churches’ by A. Macanovic – Director of the Construction Bureau Cedo Savic denied that candidate for a BiH Ambassador in Croatia Branko Kesic was a wartime Director of the Construction Bureau and that Kesic could influence destruction of mosques and churches in Banja Luka. Savic said that Kesic used to be a Director of Finances in this Bureau and he could not influence passing any kind of decisions. |
| Miksic’s supporters on alleged deceits in BiH during elections for Croatian President
| Dnevni List pg 9, mentioned on front, ‘Sanader, Covic and Consul Maricic in election deceit’ by V. Soldo – Slaven Kozul and Ivan Beslic, who are Heads of the Election Headquarters in BiH of candidate for Croatian presidential elections, Boris Miksic, stated at the press conference held on Tuesday that the aforementioned elections held in BiH were not regular. They accused Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, Croat member of the BiH Presidency |
| Competition for the RS Police Director
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Competition for the Director’ by V.J. – The Independent Board in charge of appointing the RS Police Director has announced a vacancy for this position. This was confirmed by the Board Chairman, Ilija Lukic, who noted that all of the Board members had agreed with the contents of the announcement, which contains all conditions prescribed under the Law on internal affairs. This announcement will be published in Glas Srpske, Oslobodjenje and the RS Official Gazette. All applications will be reviewed by Board+ members who will interview candidates and then make a recommendation to the RS Government with regard to the names of persons that they believe meet conditions for this position. |
Legal proceedings/human rights | |
| Update to Alijagic case
| BHT, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘One of Trebinje Municipality accounts was blocked’ and pg. 3 ‘Alijagic brothers have received first 13,000 KM of compensation’ by V. Duka, Glas srpske, pg. 3 ‘Trebinje Municipality’s account was blocked’ by M. Bestic – Upon the order of Trebinje Regional Court, Trebinje Municipality account at “Nova Banjalucka Banka” in Trebinje was blocked on Tuesday, while 13,000 KM from this account were paid to the account of Salih Alijagic. This is the first blockade of a municipal account after the |
| RS Government’s Radivojac on Alijagic case
| Glas srpske, pg. 3 ‘Government’s hands are tied’ by D. V. M. – Upon the blockade of Trebinje Municipality’s account, Spokesperson of RS Prime Minister Goran Radivojac has stated that the RS Government cannot directly influence the execution of a court sentence. ‘One of democratic princliples is that a private interest cannot be above a public interest. In this case, an interest of an individual was put above interests of Trebinje citizens. We will try indirectly, through our legal advisors to protect interests of Trebinje citizens’, Radivojac has stated. |
| Serb citizens of Sanski Most claim they are discriminated
| Glas srpske, cover page story ‘One does not run away from good’ by P. S. – the article carries the information there were approximately 7,000 Serbs in Sanski Most three years ago, while today the number is cut by half. “Moj zavicaj” Citizens’ Association from Sanski Most met with Prijedor Mayor Marko Pavic on Tuesaday in order to inform him on their problems. The President of the Association, Gojko Mijatovic, claims the Municipality has so far confiscated approximately 300 property units at the center of the town from Serb people. (Also reported by Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ‘Marko Pavic: New ethnic cleansing is on the scene’ by D. Kovacevic) |
| Croats will not be deprived of double citizenship if
| Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pg 15 ‘Croatian citizenship cannot be taken away’ by M. Landeka – With regard to media speculations which says that BiH Croats might lose double citizenship (BiH and Croatian) when Croatia becomes an EU member, SD says that these claims are not correct since there is an EU principle according to which Croats in BiH who have Croatian citizenship cannot lose double citizenship when Croatia joins the EU. Also, the Croatian Constitution says that none can be deprived of the Croatian citizenship. |
| Terrorists threaten Turkish Embassy and Consulates in BiH
| Vecernji List pg 3, mentioned on front, ‘Terrorists threaten Turkish institutions and personnel in BiH’ by R. Soldo – Turkish Ambassador in BiH Melek Sina Baydur alarmed security services in BiH as early as on Saturday because of threats about possible terrorist attacks on their Embassy and Consulates in BiH. According to VL, the Mostar Police Administration confirmed that they received an official letter from the Federation of BiH MoI which says that ‘there is a danger of attacks on the Turkish Embassy and Consulates’. VL says that it has been supposed that these threats are related to the war in |