OHR BiH Media Round-up, 12/1/2006

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

FBiH police raids police/ government’s premises in HNC

RHB, BH Radio 1 – Within the investigation conducted by the BiH Prosecution and at the order of the BiH Court , officers of the FBiH Police Administration, in cooperation with the EUPM and EUFOR, are raiding several facilities and confiscating documentation in the HNC. Raids are being carried out in the seat of the HNC government, three Police Administrations, nine Police Stations and in offices of ‘Croatia Hercegovina auto Mostar’. In the same time, part of documentation of the HNC Government is being confiscated.

Hartmann: Mladic under protection of military intelligence

BH Radio 1 – ICTY Spokesperson Florence Hartman stated that Serb authorities have never even tried to arrest Ratko Mladic, as there was no political will for that. Hartmann adds Mladic is hiding in facilities under protection of a part of military intelligence service.

Stankovic on Mladic’ health file

RTRS – Zoran Stankovic, Serbian Defence Minister, stated that the VMA (Military and MedicalAcademy in Belgrade) provided medical documentation of Ratko Mladic, adding that this documentation would be submitted to the SiCH Council for Cooperation with the ICTY.

Issue of RS Government

SNSD submits an initiative on casting of vote of no confidence to RS Govt signed by SNSD, PDP, SNS, SDA

FTV by Marina Marjanovic – SNSD Caucus on Wednesday presented the RS National Assembly speaker Dusan Stojicicwith the initiative for convening a special session of the Entity Parliament with only one item on agenda: casting of a vote of no confidence to the current Pero Bukejlovic’s Government. Head of the SNSD’s Caucus Krstan Simic stressed that they expect Stojicic and the RS President Dragan Cavic to assess this initiative in an urgent procedure. “We have sent the initiative to the RS President, and we expect him to assess whether a crisis has been created in functioning of the RS Government, and call on Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic to resign”, explained Simic. Although Simic did not say how many representatives’ signatures SNSD have gathered, FTV reporter unofficially learns that 18 SNSD representatives, 9 PDP representatives and 1 SNS representative signed the SNSD’s initiative. “We have enough signatures to launch the initiative… We will discuss the issue of new Government after we cast a vote of no confidence to the current RS Government”, added Simic. Although representatives of DNS and Socialist Party have not signed the initiative, representatives of those two parties stated that they would give their support to SNSD at the special session of the RS NA. SDS stated on Wednesday that they would not support the initiative as they do not see the ‘real arguments for such move’. After he received the document with representatives’ signatures, Stojicic stated that the special RS NA session should take place by the January 25. Before that, RS Government has ten days to take a stance on the SNSD’s proposal. BHT1by Boris Gagic – BHT says it is questionable whether the SNSD is able to establish the new RS Government. “It is not good to start this procedure if we do not have (necessary) 42 votes. I think that it is not good for RS. But if there are 42 votes, this should be finished with as soon as possible”, stated Stojicic. BHT speculates that the news parties would consist of SNSD, PDP, SDP, SBiH, partly DNS and SPR, with SDS, Radicals and SDA as the opposition. According to some unofficial information, SDA will support SNSD’s initiative; this party would even support the new RS Government if it gets the ministerial positions for Bosniaks. “Since I am politically active in RS there was no such complicated situation. I believe that SDA will profit in any case”, stated SDA’s Tarik Sadovic. RHB, PINK, HAYAT, RTRS, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Initiative for removal of RS Government’ not signed, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Discussion on voting confidence to Government’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘About confidence vote in RS Govt until 25 January’ by V.Popovic, EuroBlic RSpg 1 ‘Political game’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – also reported on the issue.

DA: DNS turns back to Dodik; Stojicic: attempt to deceive public that majority could be established without Bosniaks

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘DNS turned back to Milorad Dodik’, mentioned on cover, by N.Diklic – In regard to SNSD initiative for casting of a vote of no confidence to RS Government, RSNA Speaker Dusan Stojicic stated that DNS and SPRS have not signed the initiative despite Milorad Dodik’s announcements. “It is clear that by hiding the signatures of certain parties, and SDA signed it, there is an attempt to deceive the public that the majority could be established without Bosniak parties,” commented Stojicic. As for other parties Dodik has been mentioning as his supporters in this case, DA carries that they claim not being approached by SNSD. DNS officials Jovan Mitrovic said he has no intention to call on the RS Government to resign, accusing Dodik of announcing similar initiatives and wasting party’s time. SPRS representative Nedjo Djuric agrees with DNS, however his party’s leader Petar Djokic claims that misunderstanding has occurred due to great amount of holidays, which were cause that no one from SNSD could contact SPRS. Djokic stated that they are in favour of replacing the RS Government. Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘SNSD launched initiative for replacement of Government’ mentioned on cover by Orijana Vukovic – SNSD Vice-President Krstan Simic said that SNSD is ready to take over authority in RS and BiH institutions. SDA representative Tarik Sadovic said his party support SNSD’s initiative being the first to sign it.

SDS to become opposition at state level if no-confidence voted to RS Govt; comments

BHT1by Damir Simic – As several SDS officials stated, if the RS Government falls down, SDS would become opposition at the state level as well. However, leading parties and opposition in BiH Parliament claim such move would not have too big influence at the parliamentary majority. SDS announced that it would not support the state budget, which would transfer the crisis from entity to the state level. “Not a single Serb in the Commission supported this budget. We have proposed quite a few amendments, they were rejected, and therefore SDS did not vote for the proposed budget. Now, the budget is before the state parliament, and we will see what is going to happen”, stated SDS President Dragan Cavic. SDA claims that SDS has five representatives in state Parliament, which means that if they went into opposition, Council of Ministers would not lose the parliamentary support. SNSD has three representatives in the BiH Parliament, but, according to BHT reporter, it is still not clear how would they conduct themselves if they become the ruling party in the RS. “I personally believe that the main goal of the crisis in RS is to interfere with the work of the CoM and BiH Parliament. But I don’t believe that they will succeed in it”, stated SDA Caucus member Elmir Jahic in a statement to BHT. SDP believes that SNSD’s initiative is ‘understandable’, but not very clever only half a year before the elections. “We have the crisis somewhere almost every day, in some municipality or a canton, or one of the entities. Crisis seem to be completely normal thing in BiH political life, and I would say that current governments are surviving very well thanks to those crisis”, stated representative of the SDP Caucus Jozo Krizanovic. PINK– Commenting the crisis in the RS, Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair believes that BiH should not allow any kind of governmental crisis since it could affect its way to Europe. According to Terzic, SDS Chair should do everything in order to prevent transfer of crisis from RS to the state level and holding up reforms in our country. EuroBlic RSpg inset ‘SDS “understood situation”. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Tesanovic: Government is culpable’ by V.P. – also reports.

PDP’s Tesanovic rejects SDS accusations

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Tesanovic: Government is culpable’ by V.P. – The PDP Wednesday rejected accusations of the SDS Presidency (that accused PDP of having caused institutional crisis in RS, threatening to be transferred onto the state level). Zoran Tesanovic, PDP Main Board member, stressed that the PDP is not responsible for the current situation, noting PDP has withdrawn its support to RS Government since it had failed to do anything in a year of its mandate.

NN op-ed critical of RS politicians

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Defending the homeland’ by Pero Simic – The author criticizes the political officials in RS, accusing them of raising the issue of the RS protection whenever it suits them, i.e. support to a majority is withdrawn or akin. He notes that “greater the fuss is, bigger the possibilities are to remain on power, which is – at least here – one of the prosperous professions.”

Economic and judicial issues

BiH HoR to discuss SDP/ Terzic amendments to VAT law on Jan 16

FTV by Zeljko Tica – SDP still demands introduction of the zero rate for the VAT in BiH to be applied on basic goods such as food, medicines, publishing and newspapers, as well as the products that would stimulate primary agriculture production. For the third time, SDP caucus in the BiH House of Representatives submitted the proposal of the changes to the VAT law, which should be discussed at the session on January 16. SDP justifies their move with the fact that even the BiH Council of Ministers submitted the proposal of the changes to the VAT law, which foresees that publishing sector to be exempted from the VAT. “The CoM’s request is in fact only one segment of our proposal of the changes to the VAT Law”, explained Head of the SDP Caucus in the BiH HoR Jozo Krizanovic. FTV reporter speculates that SDP’s support to the CoM’s proposal will depend on CoM’s attitude towards SDP’s proposal. Krizanovic stressed that Trade Union, non-governmental organizations, experts; trade chambers and 150,000 BiH citizens (who signed the petition for differentiated VAT rates) support their proposal. SDP also does not believe that the announced controls of the prices will have some effect.  Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Law on VAT to be put in agenda’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘VAT would be the end of citizens’ by R.D., Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘SDP of BiH again demands good be exempt from VAT’ by R.C., Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘ SDP doesn’t quit demand on change of Law on VAT’- also carried.

SDS will not support state budget and will oppose exemption of publishing sector from VAT

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘SDS will not support state budget draft’ by H.Orahovac – SDS‘ representative to BiH House of Representatives Momcilo Novakovic said his party would not support the state budget if their amendments were not adopted. He also added that SDS would oppose exemption of publishing sector from VAT.

Price monitoring teams in entities: VAT respected in RS municipalities; FBiH merchants use it for unjustified price increases

RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Bakers respected legal regulations’ by P.Klincov, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Bread according to regulations’ by N.Breberina, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘First report filed’ by D.V.M., Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘First results revealed in RS, FBiH inspectors didn’t work’ by Z.Persic – Price Monitoring Teams in both entities presented the preliminary results of the audits conducted. RTRS reports that while FBiH has noted irregularities, the monitoring team has not registered problems in about 20 municipalities it has been to. PINK– reports that Association for Consumers’ Protection “Plava Sfera” controls prices and informs authorized institutions of the irregularities. BHT1– The price monitoring team in FBiH established that merchants misuse and unjustly increase prices of basic goods, especially bread and its products. The penalty for violating regulations on trade margins for bread, milk, flour and cooking oil ranging from 200 to 1,000 KM for the first violation to closing down the shop anywhere from 3 to 12 months in case of second violation, explained Head of the FBiH Price Monitoring Team Ibrahim Tirak. The special price monitoring teams, composed of finance and work inspectors and the representatives of the ITA, will be formed on a meeting scheduled for Thursday in Sarajevo. FTV– brings report on increase of medicine prices, whereas the prices of some medicines have increased even more than expected 17 percent, which is to be controlled by the monitoring teams. Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Terzic accused pharmacies for increase of medicines’ prices’ by ra – BiH CoM Adnan Terzic has demanded from the authorized Ministry to limit the margin for pharmacists, stating this should also limit price increases. FTV – Head of the RS Market Inspection Zoran Vuckovac announced that the results of the inspections of other basic groceries ’ prices should be published on Thursday. Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘First results published in the RS, in FBiH inspectors did not work’ – also reported.

OHR announces PDHR Butler’s visit to Klas, new initiative to help returnees

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Up to KM5, 000 grant for returnees’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Sub fond for self-sustainable return is being formed’ not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘’Klas’ did not increase prices’, by Z.Zekic, Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Help to returnees in whole of BiH’, by F – Spokeswoman of OHR South, Sanela Tunovic, announced on Wednesday that Principal Deputy High Representative, Larry Butler, would be visiting the ‘Klas’ factory on Thursday to discuss current strengths and weaknesses in BiH’s business environment. He will also discuss the company’s approach to the introduction of VAT, since the company did not increase their prices of flour and bread. Tunovic also announced that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, would together with the BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees, Mirsad Kebo, launch a new initiative aimed at helping returnees, which would secure 5.000 KMs to returnees from the intervention fund so they could buy basic tools for the forthcoming agricultural season.

‘Covic and others’ case: Defence attorneys question Nikolic’s credibility

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Key witness admits illegal doings’, by Dejan Jazvic – Reports from trials in the ‘Covic and others’ case, which continued with questioning of the ‘key witness’, Zoran Nikolic, before the BiH Court on Wednesday. Defence attorneys were interested in information that seriously undermine Nikolic’s credibility, for example, that he owes money to different people, including the Gasi family (38.000 KMs) from Sarajevo that is known for criminal showdowns in the Sarajevo underground, and that he practiced law in law firm of Dzevad Pazelj, although he is not qualified for it. (similar reports in Slobodna Dalmacija, pgs 14-15, mentioned ‘Witness did not return 38.000 KMs of loan’, by Zlatko Tulic, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Nikolic connected to criminal milieu’, by Erna Mackic, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Defence tried to deny statements of Zoran Nikolic’ by S.T, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Nikolic denies Vikic’s notes’ by A.N. – also reported. )

Danas: ‘Circle around persons participating in Soko privatization is tightening’

Danas cover pg splash ‘Circle around persons participating in Soko privatization is tightening’ and pgs 14-17 ‘Pravdic admitted privatization robbery in Soko-Trade’ by M. Malic says that Slobodna Pravdic has recently reached a settlement with the Prosecution by which he pleaded guilty for illegal privatization of company ‘Soko-Trade’, that is a part of the illegal privatization of ‘Soko’ company, which according to media writings was run by HDZ President Dragan Covic (who was a Director of  ‘Soko’ at that time). Danas says that since other parts of ‘Soko’ company were privatized in the same way as ‘Soko-Trade’, court verdicts on the ground of which their privatization would be annulled as well have been expected. Also, processing of leading people of this illegal privatization Dragan Covic, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Prime Minister Miroslav Coric etc. has been expected.

DA: Ante Jelavic has no grounds for complaint as long as he is in the run

Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Fugitive Ante Jelavic doesn’t have grounds for appeal’, pg 2 ‘Ante Jelavic has no grounds for complaint as long as he is in the run’ by S.T.– BiH Prosecutor’s Office has addressed BiH Court proposing not to take into consideration appeal of Ante Jelavic as long as he is in the run. Jelavic has been sentenced to ten years in prison for multimillion frauds at the time when he was FBiH Prime Minister, but escaped from the country before serving the sentence.Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Jelavic in borrowed flat in Zagreb’, by E. Mackic – DL reports Jealvic is in Zagreb.

Issues of HDZ BiH Bi issues

Relota: HDZ Croatia lobbied for HDZ BiH’s expulsion from EPP

FTV – HDZ Spokesperson Miso Relota confirmed that European Peoples’ Party on Tuesday brought decision to freeze HDZ’s observer status in this strongest right-center political group in Europe. The status is frozen until the end of trial against HDZ President Dragan Covic in the Lijanovici case tried before the BiH Court, where he has been suspected of embezzlement and abuse of position. Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘HDZ Croatia lobbied for expulsion of HDZ BiH’, mention on cover, by A. Omeragic –Relota stated for daily that “representatives of HDZ Croatia have lobbied for expulsion of HDZ BiH from EPP, but this hasn’t happen.” Relota stressed that HDZ Croatia’s intention has not realized thanks to German parties within EPP. HDZ’s Anton Ril commented that HDZ from Croatia and its Chair Ivo Sanader had strong influence to relations between HDZ BiH and EPP. “Speaking about events in HDZ BiH, Chair of EPP Wilfred Martens said that he had long consultations with Sanader”, stated Ril. Relota commented that stances of HDZ Croatia are not clear, being that party is devided in its relation toward HDZ BiH. He explained that this ‘misunderstanding’ is lasting from elections in Croatia, when HDZ Croatia rejected to nominate candidates proposed by HDZ BiH. RHB, BHT1, HAYAT, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Two fractions, two interpretations’ by M.Cubro – also reported.

DL: European Parliament might proclaim Covic a persona non gratae

Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Covic persona non grata’ by M.B. – The European Parliament might discuss the situation within HDZ BiH and according to unofficial information coming from the sources close to some European parliamentarians the Parliament might proclaim HDZ President Dragan Covic a persona non grata. DL learns that the session of the European Parliament might take place from January 16 to January 19. 

EPP Secretary: Decision on freezing relations with HDZ remains in force until Covic leaves and new HDZ Convention takes place

Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pg 6 ‘EPP suspended relations with Covic and his supporters’ by V. Vegar, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Current HDZ leadership in isolation’ by A. Beus carries a Secretary of the European People’s Party (EPP) Kostas Sasmatzoglou as saying: ‘EPP has passed the decision on freezing relations with HDZ President Dragan Covic and the HDZ Presidency. However, EPP did not abolish the HDZ’ status of an observer exclusively because of the healthy part of HDZ led by Bozo Ljubic with his associates. This decision would be in force until Covic leaves the position of the HDZ President and until organization of a new HDZ Convention takes place.’ Sasmatzoglou added that all EPP members unanimously supported aforementioned conclusions.

Raguz: HDZ to be isolated as long as Covic leads it 

Dnevni Avaz pg4 ‘New warning for Covic from EPP’ by F. Vele, mention on cover- Former member of HDZ Presidency and Co-Chair of BiH HoR, Martin Raguz believes that freezing of relations with HDZ Chair Dragan Covic and current leadership leads toward complete isolation of HDZ. “Until Covic’s resignation HDZ will be completely excommunicated. Among other issues, that is the response to violence that happened on last session of the Main Board”, said Raguz.  HDZ Spokesperson Miso Relota stressed that EPP’s decision is related only to the trial to Dragan Covic and that it will be withdrawn after the end of trial. “If EPP is against Covic they would expel us”, said Relota.

DL: Merdzo still thinks about his future political engagement

Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Merdzo still thinks about his political engagement’ by Z. Jukic – Commenting on the information that he might join HSP Djapic-Jurisic, Josip Merdzo confirmed that he had received certain political offers, including the offer of HSP Djapic-Jurisic, but he has not decided anything yet. He added that after all developments within HDZ he wants to take a rest and then he would decide on his political engagement. DL says that since Merdzo has not passed the decision on his political engagement yet it is still possible that he might join Martin Raguz and Bozo Ljubic in establishment of a new party. DL inset ‘Still there is no decision on establishment of new party’ carries that Ljubic denied the information according to which he was going to establish a new party as early as this weekend. 

VL: After ban on his political engagement had been lifted Ivo Andric Luzanski returned to HDZ

Vecernji List pg 3 ‘After shameful ban Luzanski returns’, mentioned on cover ‘Luzanski has returned into politics’ by Z. Kresic – Former FBiH President Ivo Andric Luzanski has returned into the BiH political life after many years of the ban on his political engagement due to his participation in the project called Croat self-rule. According to the article, Luzanski joined the HDZ Central Board at the last session of this body. VL also says that the ban of the political engagement is one of the biggest sins of the international administration in BiH that High Representative Paddy Ashdown partly suspended after many criticisms coming from the international public, Council of Europe and even the EU bodies. 

War crimes

ICTY prosecutors files appeal on acquittal of  Sefer Halilovic

FTV – ICTY Prosecution has lodged on December 16, 2005 a complaint on the acquittal verdict in the case of former BiH Army commander Sefer Halilovic. Prosecution claims the Court’s Council wrongly concluded that Halilovic did not have the control over the perpetrators of the crimes committed in Grabovica and Uzdol. FTV reporter briefly reminded about some facts regarding this case: ICTY concluded in the verdict that 13 people were killed in Grabovica, although, according to the indictment, the real number of victims was much bigger. The ICTY Prosecution also requested that the indictment against former BiH Army Commander Rasim Delic includes the crimes committed in Grabovica and Uzdol.  “We still do not know exactly what will the ICTY Prosecution request, but in any case, there is the possibility that the indictment against Delic will be expanded”, explained ICTY Outreach Officer Mathias Hellman. RHB, BHT1, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Prosecution complained on releasing verdict for Halilovic’ mentioned on cover by A.O., Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Appeal in the Hague: Prosecutors demand new opening of case’, mentioned on cover ‘Renewal of trial to Sefer Halilovic’ by V. R., Fena, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Prosecution files appeal on sentence of Sefer Halilovic’- also carried the report.

Mladic’s documents exist in RS MoD Archive

FTV – The existence of two documents related to former RS Army Commander Ratko Mladic is confirmed in the Archive of the former RS Ministry of Defence. ICTY Prosecution demands those documents – the decrees on Mladic’s appointment and dismissal from the army – from officials in Belgrade. Head of the RS Government’s Public Relations Bureau Cvijeta Kovacevic confirmed for news agency FENA that those documents have been earlier delivered to The Hague. Since the defence system in BiH has been transformed recently, those documents would be delivered to the Serbian authorities as soon as they submit a request to the BiH Ministry of Defence. Serbia-Montenegro President of National Council for cooperation with the Hague Tribunal Rasim Ljajic earlierannounced that Belgrade will ask RS authorities to deliver the decree on Mladic’s dismissal from the army. RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg3 ‘ICTY asking for Mladic’s health file’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Decree on Mladic’s dismissal from Army demanded’ by ra,Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Decision on Mladic discharge will be requested from RS’, not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Decision on Mladic’s dismissal from Army made in Banja Luka’- also carried Ljajic. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Two documents delivered to the Hague‘ – carries Kovacevic. EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Kidney stone leading to Mladic’, pg 3 ‘Medical file is a lead to Maldic’ by Tanja Nikolic-Djakovic – In a statement to daily, Florence Hartmann, said of Ratko Mladic: “He was subject to medical treatments in many places, including Belgrade, it is a proof the state was covering up for him. Anyone with insight into Mladic’s file would know where he hides. The file reads whether his health state demands regular check-ups…” Nezavisne Novine pg 8, announced on cover ‘Search after documentation on discharge of Mladic from service’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘We are not hiding anything’, EuroBlic pg 3 inset ‘He broke kidney stone at VMA’ – also reported.

EUFOR investigation on Rogatica events to be completed by end of week

PINK, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Investigation is still ongoing’- EUFOR still has not completed the investigation on incident which had occurred last Thursday in Rogatica, when its troops attempted to arrest Dragomir Abazovic, war crime indictee. Abazovic and his son were injured in EUFOR’s action while Abazovic’s wife died due to sustained injuries. EUFOR said the investigation is expected to be finished by the end of this week. RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘A call to General Chiarini’- Mladen Ivanic, BiH Foreign Minister said he would demand from EUFOR Commander Gian Marco Chiarini to publicly report to the public on the incident that happened in Rogatica. EUFOR investigation on Rogatica events to be completed by end of week. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘International institutions don’t believe domestic police’ not signed – Ivanic said that if EUFOR acts besides SIPA and RS Ministry of Interior and police, it has only one message, and that is that international institutions don’t believe neither SIPA nor domestic police force. BHT1, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘They do not let me see my father’ by SRNA, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Goran Abazovic banned from visiting his father’ by D.Stanisic, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Not good of permit’ by Z.D. – Abazovic’s son Goran Abazovic was not permitted to visit his father in Sarajevo hospital though he had permission of BiH Prosecutor’s Office. FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘EUFOR investigation not yet finished’ by S.S. – also report on this issue.

SCG agent in BiH lawsuit Stojanovic: SCG had no intention to destroy Muslims

Oslobodjenje cover splash pgs 4,5 ‘SCG did not intend to destroy Muslims’ by Az.Kalamujic – SCG legal agent in the case of BiH lawsuit against SCG before the Court of Justice in the Hague, Radoslav Stojanovic, stated for Oslobodjenje that he would defend SCG with thesis that “no one can prove SCG had intention to destroy Muslim people. If there is no intention, then there is no crime of genocide. If there were individuals who had such intention, then they have to face the Court.” Stojanovic said that SCG would have ten high IC officials, UNPROFOR commanders and foreign diplomats as witnesses, and among them José Cutileiro. Stojanovic stressed that it would be better solution for both sides if the case would be solved out of court, for he has fear about which he says: “When two brothers start to sue each other, brotherhood seizes to exist. Whatever the verdict might be, it would ruin neighbourly relations.” Dnevni List pg 2 ‘There is no evidence for genocide’ not signed – also carries similar statement by Stojanovic.

Other political stories

On the eve of resumption of talks on const. Changes: PDP to probe its further participation over demands of SDA and S BiH

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘PDP’s participation on talks on constitutional changes uncertain’ by N.Krsman – Vinko Radovanovic, member of PDP Presidency, Wednesday confirmed that the PDP will probe its further participation in talks on constitutional changes if representatives of the SDA and Party for BiH continued insisting on its hard stances. He also claims that insistence on abolishment of entities resulted in  large distance between stances sides in talks take. Sulejman Tihic, SDA President, Wednesday stated he is aware of reality reflected through two entities, stressing he does not want to strengthen them. Party for BiH’ Safet Halilovic and Tihic reiterated their demands for one president.

Topcagic confirms BH Presidency to discuss SAA negotiating platform at Wednesday session

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘BiH Presidency to adopt negotiating platform’ by M.C. – Osman Topcagic, Director of the BiH Directorate for European Integration, confirmed that at its session next Wednesday, the BiH Presidency should discuss the negotiating platform of BiH with EU on SAA, adding: “The first round of talks is on 25 January, and we have enough time to adopt platform until then. Really, there is no reason for any concern since we are keeping pace with the scheduled course.”

DA: Davidovic, Topcagic in Brussels for consultations

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Davidovic and Topcagic on consultations in Brussels’ by T. Lazovic– BiH chief negotiator in EU talks on Stabilization and Association Agreement, Igor Davidovic confirmed for DA that BiH’s platform for negotiations would be prepared and passed by first round of negotiations, which starts in two weeks. “There is no obstruction in that process. Normal procedure is in process, after document was passed in CoM”, stated Davidovic. Director of BiH Direction for European Integrations Osman Topcagic stressed that all preparations are going regularly. “We are going to perform some working consultations before the beginning of first round of negotiations”, stated Topcagic. Davidovic stressed that there is enough time to finish reparations. He stressed that names of members of working groups are known and that these proposals are being discussed.  

Schwarz Schilling in BiH

PINK, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Schilling has been already preparing in Sarajevo for new duty’ by D. Polovina-Mandic – Christian Schwartz Schilling, successor ofHigh Representative Paddy Ashdown arrived to Sarajevo in order to do preparations for transfer of duty, which should be held on January 31.

Grahovac, Vignjevic on Thursday’s session of FBiH Govt: budget not to be discussed

Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Session invoked, budget not in prospect’ by A.Terzic – FBiH Vice Prime Minister Gavrilo Grahovac confirmed for Oslobodjenje on Wednesday, that FBiH Government would hold session on Thursday, stressing that issue of the budget for 2006 is not in agenda. Grahovac expressed his belief that budget draft would not change, compared to one proposed by FBiH Government. Inset, ‘We expect Heco is appointed by mid January’ – Grahovac stated that SBiH hopes their candidate Vahid Heco to be appointed for FBiH Minister of Energetic by mid January. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘No disability allowances nor help for pensioners in January!?’ FBiH Minister of Labour and Social Policy Radovan Vignjevic stated for Oslobodjenje that FBiH Government could not be able to pay disability allowances or help for pensioners [due to alleviation VAT effects] in January, for the budget for 2006 has still not been adopted.

Silajdzic slams back RS politicians

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Cavic protects Bosnia’, mentioned on cover, by by N.Idrizovic – Commenting the harsh statements by the RS politicians which followed the proposal by the Islamic Community leader Mustafa effendi Ceric for SBiH leader Haris Silajdzic to establish BiH without entities, Silajdzic said the most reactions come from those who want to bring BiH down. “If they were sure in what they are saying, and if they would believe it they would have elect me for president,” concludes Silajdzic.

Education inspectors in control at Law Faculty in E. Sarajevo over Lukic case

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Inspectors were checking whether Lukic was working’ by G.M. – Acting upon order of the RS Ministry of Education and Culture, three education inspectors Wednesday performed control at Law Faculty in East Sarajevo in order to determine whether Radomir Lukic left the position. One of inspectors, Xlatko Kelecevic, explained: “Inspectors will report on the situation and if determined Lukic is still working, they would issue an order on removal that needs to be implemented by the Faculty Council.”

NN op-ed raising few issues regarding “Lukic” case: why Lukic refuses to leave position

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘”Lukic” case’ by Sasa Cavrag – Writing about the issue of Radomir Lukic, the author claims Lukic still assumes the position of Law Faculty Dean in East Sarajevo, raising several questions in regard to this case, such as: Why Lukic persistently does not want to leave position; are there some muddled deeds that should not be exposed; maybe the war crime indictee Karadzic is financed from Faculty’s vault; who is afraid of Lukic. On the latter one, he responds it seems like everybody is afraid of Lukic, bar journalists, who are trying to resolve “Lukic” case.