OHR BiH Media Round-up, 1/2/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Del Ponte visits BiH today

Stojicic on police reform

BiH COM to hold session

CoM session takes place today

Genocide not committed inDarfur

Del Ponte visiting BiH

1^st session of Restitution Commission

Violence in Iraq

Bileca villages covered by snow

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs)

FED TV (19,30 hrs)

RT RS (19,30)

HR on police organization

HR on police organization

HR on police organization

EU black lists 9 persons

DRC in session

HR addresses DRC

FBiH MoI on police regions

HR on police organization

Nikolic on defence reform

EUFOR searches vehicles

ICTY sentences Strugar

Reactions on police reform

Del Ponte in Sarajevo

EU urges coop. w/ ICTY

Halilovic trial commenced

EU urges coop. w/ ICTY

Oslobodjenje

Hope in consensus for 10 police regions; It is not certain whether Bukejlovic has support; Terzic will seek release of Algerian group from Guantanamo ; Terzic: I don’t talk with ministers through media

Dnevni Avaz

List of unwanted expanded; State police will be more efficient

Dnevni List

Organization of Police erases entity borders

Vecernji List

Organize Police in ten regions

Slobodna Dalmacija

Herzegovina still under snow

Nezavisne Novine

Ministers from BiH, Croatia and SiCG signed Declaration: 300 thousand refugees waiting for return; Police in BiH will be organised in 10 regions: Regions erase entity line; PDP ministers in resignation will attend BiH CoM’s session; Carl Bildt: Dayton left the possibility for the change of BiH Constitution; BiH Court upheld charges against Hasan Cengic

Glas Srpske

HR and police reform in BiH: Paddy erases border; Reactions: Still, the imposition

EuroBlic

Police forces in BiH divided into regions: Ashdown supports pre-war divisions; The Hague Tribunal: Prosecutor: I will prove Halilovic’s guilt

Vecernje novosti

Features Serbian related topics

Nacional

Features Serbian related topics

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

Matijasevic reiterates no consensus reached in PRC

BH Radio 1 – RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic believes that HR Paddy Ashdown’s recommendations suggesting new form of police organisation in BiH do not reflect the essence of the work of Police Restructuring Commission. According to the RS MoI press release, the PRC ended its work without consensus on the issue. Therefore Ashdown’s recommendations can only be seen as an attempt to contribute to the resolution of this important issue, according to the release. 

Stojicic says HR-proposed police reform solutions not acceptable

BH Radio 1 – RS National Assembly Speaker Dusan Stojicic said that future organisation of police forces in BiH in ten regions was not final solution to the issue. Stojicic emphasized that the organisation of police announced by HR Paddy Ashdown on Monday represented a form of the abolishment of entity interior ministries’ structures, which could not be accepted in the RS institutions. Stojicic added that the HR-proposed solution would be further discussed in coming days within the RS Government and authorized RSNA bodies. 

RS NGOs demands RSNA to reject HR’s proposal

SRNA – The Coordination Board of 11 NGOs in RS demands from the RS National Assembly to reject the recommendation of the HR Paddy Ashdown regarding the future police organization.

Del Ponte to meet Matijasevic today

SRNA – Srna news agency learns from the RS Interior Ministry source that the Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, will meet with RS Interior Minister, Darko Matijasevic, today in Sarajevo . The topic of the discussion has not been disclosed.

Police and defence reforms

HR proposes future police territorial organization in 9+1 regions

RHB, Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 5 ‘Organization of Police erases entity borders’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Organize Police in ten regions’ and pg 3 ‘Ten Police regions’, by Eldina Medunjanin, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 7 ‘Drag Police from hands of politicians’, by Zdenko Rerig, Nezavisne Novine cover ‘Regions erase entity line’ and pg 3 ‘BiH police in ten regions’ by M. Cubro; Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Paddy erases border’ by N.Z.; EuroBlic cover ‘Ashdown supports pre-war divisions’ and RSpg 1 ‘Ashdown has chosen the map’ by D.S.– Paddy Ashdown, on Monday recommended to the Police Restructuring Commission Chair, Wilfried Martens, the territorial organization of BiH police on basis of nine areas and the special area of Sarajevo. The centers of future regions would be in Sarajevo , Bihac, Banja Luka , Doboj, Tuzla , Foca, Mostar, Livno, Travnik and Zenica. The Sarajevo region would include municipalities of the Sarajevo canton and East Sarajevo , while other regions would also cross entity borders.

FTV – “Map with nine areas plus Sarajevo gives operational efficiency that is not possible with the map with 5 areas. This way significant savings could also be made,” said Ashdown. “In this phase, we believe that the best solution is the one chosen by the HR,” said EUPM Commissioner, Kevin Carty. The HR underlined that the final solution cannot be imposed and reiterated again that decision on abolishment of entities MoIs and reform implementation lies in the hands of local authorities.

Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘Hope in consensus for 10 police regions’ by Antonio Prlenda – “If we fail to reach consensus, those who would be against [the proposal] should be aware of the consequences,” said Ashdown. He also announced that PRC has no completed recommendations which will be presented to the public on Wednesday.

BHT 1 – According to the proposal, the state would be in charge of both financing and management of the police.

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 State police in ten regions will be capable of standing against criminals’, mentioned on cover ‘State police will be more efficient’ by S.N. – Asked what will happen with entities MoIs, Ashdown said that it is clear that the police authorities must be at the state level. Commenting on whether this means that the Council of Ministers will form new ministry for the police, Ashdown again said this was up to BiH authorities to decide.

Colak: This structure will enable high professional level

BHT1, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Colak supports, Terzic disappointed’, by Zoran Kresic – Carries the BiH Security Minister, Barisa Colak, as backing up the HR’s proposal: “This solution is the best from the technical and professional point of view. One must not forget that there had been nine police centers even before the war”, said Minister Colak. He also believes that this solution is most acceptable because of links between the Police and judiciary because the Police regions must match the courts in BiH.

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘ This kind of structure will enable high level of professionalism’ by F. Vele – Colak also stated: “This police structure offers perspective in which the police will be organized highly professional. Looking from political point of view, it could be spoken of the multi-ethnicity envisaged by this proposal.”

Terzic disappointed with rejection of 5-regions map

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Terzic: Ashdown decided on the politically optimal solution’ by F.C. – “I am sorry that HR Paddy Ashdown missed an opportunity to accept technically the best solution that map of 5 regions was offering. Obviously, he went for politically optimal solution. I hope that in the next stage of implementation of PRC report, there will be no attention paid to this profession and not politics,” stated CoM Chair, Adnan Terzic, commenting to the 10 police regions proposed by the HR. 

Halilovic: ‘This is a step towards unification of police, abolishment of entities MoIs’

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Step towards abolishing entities MoIs’ – FBiH Interior Minister, Mevludin Halilovic, said that the 9+1 police regions is the solutions towards the establishment of the single police structure. He added that this solution was not as effective as the map with 5 regions. He also commented that it is still too early to speak of the abolishment of the entities MoIs, but added that this division of police in 10 regions was a step towards that direction.  

FTV – Halilovic also believes that newly proposed police model would make police operation more difficult. “Regarding new concept, nine plus one, there are no objective indicators based on which this was decided for. Especially, due to number of citizens, geographical area, crime characteristics in those areas, infrastructure, as well as links between parts of those regions. I think, what is good at this moment is that this proposal leaves possibility for agreement and harmonisation in terms of finding the best solution in regard to the number of regions,” stated Halilovic.

RS MoI: recommendations do not reflect core of PRC work

RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Darko Matijasevic to state his attitude today’ by E.S. – RS Interior Ministry, Darko Matijasevic, stated that today he would hold press conference to present his opinion of the police structure proposed by HR. This was confirmed to DA by Matijasevic’s spokesperson, Zoran Glusac.

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘RS MOI: Ashdown proposal is unacceptable’ – RS MoI on Monday evening released a press statement, saying that the recommendations for the new organisation of police forces in BiH did not reflect the core of PRC’s work. The release stressed that the proposals on exclusive authority of BiH over all police duties “cannot be accepted as credible basis for any sort of discussion in further police reform talks”

Reactions to ’10 regions’ proposal [Miletic, Mikes, Radojicic, Spiric, Mihajlica, Sakan]

BHT 1 – BHT 1 brings several comments to the HR recommendations regarding the future police territorial organization in BiH. FBiH Police Director Zlatko Miletic said: “We had to find some kind of bilateral solutions with certain police organizations, so to make our own way in order to operate. According to the new structure, there would be single management system.” SPRS representative Miroslav Mikes: “I think that entities’ MoIs present neither advantage nor disadvantage, nor they present any kind of obstacle to police efficiency, I think that these are nothing but political motifs so to abolish entities’ borders and to create political presumptions for entities to be abolished.” SNSD representative Igor Radojicic said: “Any kind of structure which encroaches upon RS and BiH Constitution is unacceptable.”

RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘RS MOI: Ashdown proposal is unacceptable’- Radojicic feels that the proposed regional division is not a fait accompli and expects that this proposal will be discussed before the RS National Assembly.

Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Still, the imposition’ by V.J. – Milanko Mihajlica, President of RS Serb Radical party, has stated that this party views police division maps as unacceptable, since those “abolish RS Interior Ministry in a perfidious manner”. Nikola Spiric, member of SNSD Executive Board, has stated that police reform is too much alike defence reform, which – following HR’s decision – should result in final abolishment of entities’ defence ministries. Velimir Sakan, President of RS NA Board for surveillance over police and security bodies, has stated that “we in RS are obligated by the Constitution and Law, and nobody can ask from us to violate them”.

RTRS features Mihajlica and Sakan.

DRC holds inaugural session

RHB, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘The aim is single command’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Schook: Our aim to bring BiH to NATO’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Establish single defense command’, mentioned on front, by D. Polovina-Mandic, Vecernji List pg 21 ‘Financial collapse threatens BiH’ by H, Slobodna Dalmacija ‘Ashdown: BiH cannot afford to have 3 Ministries’ by Z. Rerig, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Transfer of authority onto the state level’ by A. Sisic; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘We just complete the work’; EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Commission must fulfil its task’ by SRNA  – The Defence Reform Commission(DRC)held an inauguration meeting regarding a new mandate for this year. High Representative Paddy Ashdown stated that the previous work of this Commission has been successful and added that there will be no money for defence structures in BiH this year and expressed fear that there will be a great crisis in entity budgets by September. Ashdown warned that the Commission has to send to the Parliament suggestions on new defence reforms by April.

BHT 1 carries the HR as saying that the DRC had to accomplish its task in accordance with the measures he had brought, because of BiH’s entrance to NATO and because of the fact that BiH is unable to finance three Ministries of Defence.

FTV comments on this meeting as saying that a difficult task to find the way to abolish entities’ Defence Ministries during this year is ahead of this Commission. BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic: “When it comes to financing system during this year, it is obvious that a very demanding task is ahead of us, to find internal reserves that will together with regular funds enable us to achieve some results in this year.” NATO Commander in BiH Steven Schook stated: “What the DRC is ready to do is to assist in making the draft law that would deal with this issue and to assist in implementation of that decision if adopted. But it is not up to the DRC to decide on this and I think this should be clear. Schook said that the main aim of the commission to bring BiH closer to the membership to NATO.

Stankovic: RSNA to decide on his membership to DRC

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Parliament to decide’ by M. Dz. – Milovan Stankovic, RS Defence Minister, has stated that his membership at the DRC would depend on the view of RS NA. He explained this by saying that Monday’s session of DRC discussed modalities of implementation of decision of HR Paddy Ashdown, regarding the abolishment of ministries and general staffs.

FBiH Defence Minister Nikolic supports abolishment of entity MoDs

RHB, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Too busy with survival’ by A. Prlenda, Dnevni List, pg 6, mentioned on front ‘New redundancies in Defence Ministry to follow’, not signed, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 13 ‘There will not be place for all’, by F – The FBiH Defense Minister, Miroslav Nikolic,said on Monday that he backed the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown’s,decision on dissolution of the entity defence ministries in BiH. “We are aware of the situation being serious and complex and deadlines being short, but we support that decision. Therefore, I have already issued to my associates some instructions leading in that direction, and one of the priority issues is taking care of the FBiH Defense Ministry personnel,” Nikolic told journalists in Sarajevo . According to Nikolic, there are many high quality people in the FBiH Defense Ministry who could take up responsible posts at the BiH Defense Ministry, but unfortunately there will not be place for all of them. The FBiH Defense Ministry also endorsed the part of the decision regarding strengthening of the Joint HQ of the BiH Armed Forces.

VL int with Nikolic: HVO must remain

Vecernji List, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘HVO must remain one of military components in BiH’, by Zoran Kresic – Carries an interview with the FBiH Defence Minister, Miroslav Nikolic, in which he mostly speaks about the financial difficulties the FBiH MoD/Army is faced with, which could affect normal operations. Asked to comment on the journalist remark that rumours on abolishment of military components in BiH started after statements of Raffi Gregorian (co-chairman of Defence Reform Commission), Nikolic says: ”In order to fully implement the reform, the only pre-requisite is to have the three military components in the BiH armed forces: The HVO, BiH Army and RS Army”.

Political issues

Resignations of PDP ministers in CoM final

BHT1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Ivanic, Dokic and Tesanovic’s resignations are final’ by E. Sarac, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Ministers will not withdraw resignations’ by Fena, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Resignations of PDP Ministers definite’ by M.K., Slobodna Dalmacija pg 14 Terzic and Ivanic are asking Ivanic to come’ by D. Pasic, Nezavisne Novine cover ‘PDP ministers in resignation will attend BiH CoM’s session’ and pg 4 ‘PDP ministers would attend session’ by M. Cubro; EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Resignations are final’ by Rajna Radosavljevic; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Resignations as final’ by N.Z. – The PDP Presidency has tasked its Ministers in the BiH CoM to attend the sessions, but only during the period as stipulated for election of new RS Government (30 days). At the session which took place in East Sarajevo , PDP Presidency concluded that the resignations PDP Ministers have filed at BiH CoM are final.

Terzic not yet sure whether resignations will be made final at CoM session today

RTRS – The Chair of the Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, welcomes PDP decision regarding tomorrow’s CoM session.

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘I don’t talk with ministers through media’, mentioned on cover, by V.Z. – Terzic says that he will make resignations filed by PDP ministers in CoM official at the today’s session of this institution. “I don’t talk with my ministers through media,” said Terzic to Oslobodjenje.

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘PM doesn’t want to talk with ministers through media’ by Srna – carries similar statement.

Jahic, Novakovic on CoM session

BHT 1 – Commenting to the issue of attendance on the 1 February session of the Council of Ministers, SDA representative Elmir Jahic said: “Reconsidering the fact that extremely important laws are going to be discussed during tomorrow’s session, by not attending the session, BiH’s way to Europe can be endangered. I hope that intelligence is going to prevail [on 1 February], and that all ministers are going to come to the session.”  SDS representative Momcilo Novakovic said” “When it comes to SDS’ participation in the Council with no PDP, it presents a brand new position and we are going to bring our decision during PDP Main Bard session.” 

Bukejlovic completes consultations on RS Government

Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘DPS against the Government with SDA, SBiH and SDP ministers’ by Fena, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Consultations on composition of new Government completed’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘DPS supports government without SDA’ by V.P.; EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Consultations resume’ by R.R.; Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Support but under condition’ by N. Diklic – PM-designate Pero Bukejlovic held talks with the DPS representatives on Monday. DPS Chairman Predrag Radic said that DPS will support the RS Government if it doesn’t include the ministers from SDA, SBiH and SDP.

Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘It is still not certain whether Bukejlovic has support’, mentioned on cover, by Orijana Vukovic – These talks marked the end of the consultations on the new RS Government Bukejlovic lead in the past few days.  Daily comments that it is still not certain whether he has ensured majority, or whether he will commence the second round of talks before the 17 February which is a deadline to address the RS National Assembly.

RTRS – Bukejlovic also met with members of Farmers Association who expect a better cooperation with the Government. Cedo Grbic Chairman of Party of foreign currency savers says that they can help Bukejlovic in gaining parliament majority but they want changes to the law on foreign currency savers.

SDS says Bukejlovic has majority support

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Bukejlovic will be Premier’ by V.P. – Slavko Pivasevic, SDS Spokesperson, has stated that Pero Bukejlovic, RS-PM designate has parliament support of 42 Serb votes and that Dragan Mikerevic will be convinced it is true. He has rejected claims of Dragan Mikerevic (that concept on new government comspoition is unacceptable) as ungrounded.

IFIMES proposes HR removal

Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Where are the funds invested into work of OHR?’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Too little democracy in OHR’, by Valentina Rupcic – The IFIMES (Ljubljana-based International Institute for Middle east and Balkans Studies) notes that even the OHR has contributed to the economic collapse that is threatening BiH. IFIMES among other things notes: “IFIMES… raises the question of what was the basic aim of enormous funds provided mainly by the EU and USA taxpayers for the functioning of OHR and the HR and where were those funds spent. Due to the non-transparency of activities carried out by OHR and the HR, the IC has namely never been informed of the costs of the OHR mission to BiH incurred so far. The IFIMES… is of the opinion that OHR has significantly reduced its authority in the eyes of the public of BiH, especially during Lord Paddy Ashdown’s term of office. It would therefore be reasonable for the PIC to consider his replacement. The new HR should assume this position as soon as possible in order to start the process of reforming OHR and its role in BiH”.

DL op ed on IFIMES report

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Where’s the money?’, by Arijana Beus – Carries an op-ed in which the author agrees with the IFIMES’ allegations. “Perhaps they (the OHR) do not have the need or they are not obliged to submit reports about their expenses, however, if they can interfere into everything in our state, why cannot we ask them where’s their money and can we know how much money has been invested into the work of this institution in our state”, concludes the author.

NN Int w/ Carl Bildt: ‘ Dayton left the possibility for the change of BiH Constitution’

Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 13 ‘Dayton left the possibility for the change of BiH Constitution’ by D. Risojevic – In an interview to NN, Carl Bildt, Swedish diplomat and formerly High representative to BiH, is of the opinion that possible constitutional changes must have a support of the entire society of BiH, without interference of international community. One of creators of the Dayton Agreement does not believe that Constitution can be subject to changes by any high representative. On this, according to him, the local politicians must agree on. He claims that BiH can hardly expect to see EU door opened for it, if OHR “is still hanging” above it.

War crimes / cooperation with ICTY

EU black list expanded with 9 names

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘EU black list expanded’ by P.K.  – The EU Council Monday expanded the list including the names of persons banned from entering and crossing through EU states. The list has been expanded with nine new names, belived to be assisting war crime suspects. The black list now also includes the names of: Milorad Bilbija, Predrag Jovicic, Milomir Malis, Milorad Maric, Zoran Ostojic, Petko Pavlovic, Cedomir Popovic, Nada Radovic and Mrksa Skocajic. The black list now includes the total of 36 names. The EU Foreign Ministers also expressed the support to the measures by the HR Paddy Ashdown aimed at ensuring the full cooperation with the ICTY. They also called on the BiH, especially RSD, to continue with implementation of the reforms needed to start with SAA negotiations

RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘EU black list expanded’ by P.K.  – also reported on the EU black list being expanded. 

BHT1, FTV – EU Foreign Affairs Ministers also called again on intensifying the efforts to extradite Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and Ante Gotovina to the ICTY.

Del Ponte meets Ashdown to discuss strategy for arrest of Karadzic, Mladic

BHT1, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Carla Del Ponte arrives in Sarajevo today’- The ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte will in the next three days visit Sarajevo, Podgorica and Brussels, it was announced by the ICTY Prosecution on Monday. On Tuesday, Del Ponte will meet with the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown. “The purpose of this meeting is to design a common strategy for apprehending the main indictees”, read the ICTY Prosecution’s press release. On February 3, Carla del Ponte will be in Brussels to participate in the meeting of the BiH Peace Implementation Council and to meet with the EC President, Jose Manuel Barroso, and the EU HR for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana. The EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn on Monday stated that he expected the Chief Prosecutor to brief Barroso on cooperation of the Western Balkans countries with the ICTY. 

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘A detailed strategy for apprehension of Karadzic, Mladic is being prepared’ by E. Sarac – Del Ponte’s spokeswoman, Florence Hartmann, stated for DA that Chief Prosecutor will meet only with the HR Ashdown while in Sarajevo, and that the topic will be preparation of the detailed strategy for arrest of Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. 

BiH Court to ICTY: BiH is ready to take over war crimes cases

Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘BiH prepared to take over (war crime) cases’, mentioned on cover, by Fena – The BiH Court has reacted to recent requests that certain ICTY cases initially planned to be transferred to the BiH Court’s War Crimes Chamber be handed over to judicial institutions in the neighboring countries, the Registry’s Office stated. BiH Court President Medzida Kreso sent a letter to ICTY President Theodor Meron on January 28 reiterating the readiness of the BiH Court to take over processing of cases of war crimes committed in BiH. “It needs to be said that the BiH Criminal Code stipulates that BiH criminal legislation is applied to all those who commit a criminal act in the BiH territory, which clearly refers to the mentioned war crime cases as well. Furthermore the BiH Court now fully meets the requirements for processing those cases. Moreover, I can hardly imagine that the victims and witnesses, who would be requested to testify in the mentioned cases, would be prepared to appear before courts in the neighboring countries”, Kreso said. The copy of this letter was also sent to ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte and BiH Minister of Justice Slobodan Kovac.

FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘I oppose transfer of war crime cases to Belgrade and Zagreb ’ also report on Medzida Kreso’s letter.

Trial of Safer Halilovic commenced

EuroBlic cover and RSpg 3 ‘I will prove Halilovic’s guilt’ by BETA; Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Trial against Halilovic commences’ by Agencies – The trial against Sefer Halilovic, the former BiH Army Commander, has on Monday commenced before ICTY.

Also widely reported by both electronic media and Sarajevo press.

Judicial issues

Terzic to seek release of Algerian group from Guantanamo base

FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘Terzic will request release of Algerian Group from Guantanamo’, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Terzic to launch initiative for release of Algerian Group’, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Kovac refuses to sign release papers’, by Mensud Zorlak, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Families request extradition of imprisoned Algerians’, by dj, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 14 ‘Government will ask release from USA’, mentioned on front ‘Terzic grants requests’, by Z. Rerig, FENA – Nadja Dizdarevic, the wife of Boudelle Hadzz, a member of the so-called Algerian Group, which have been imprisoned at the U.S. Army’s military base Guantanamo in Cuba for the past three years, on Monday announced that the BiH Council of Ministers Chair, Adnan Terzic, would on Tuesday submit an initiative for releasing the members of the Algerian Group from the prison. “If the BiH Council of Ministers rejects the initiative, Terzic will personally submit the request via the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo”, Dizdarevic told the press. She talked with Terzic during the peaceful protest rally that was organized on Monday in front of the BiH institutions building at her initiative. The rally was attended by some 200 persons. Members of the Algerian Group having BiH citizenship who are imprisoned in Cuba include Mohammed Neshle, Mustafa Ati Idir, Boudelle Hadzz and Bumedian Lagdar. In January 2002, the mentioned persons were handed over to the US forces, and transferred to military base Guantanamo in Cuba afterwards.

BHT 1 – BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac commented: “I will personally ask for an application on extradition of eligible persons… to be submitted. BiH Security Ministry would be in charge of bringing back the others.” Chair of BiH Helsinki Committee Srdjan Dizdarevic said: “It seems as if here we are dealing with some kind of division in state authorities due to certain politicians’ ethnicity.” 

Jelavic trial continues

Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Sokovit given 30 million kunas from the FBiH Defence Ministry’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘There is no evidences that Sokovit was producing weapons’, Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Sokovit bought stocks in Vitezit with funds of Defence Ministry’, by Erna Mackic – Carries a report from continuation of trials to Ante Jelavic in the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case. A former inspector of the FBiH Financial Police in Mostar, Rusmir Roksa, was interviewed in capacity of prosecution witness. Among other issues, Roksa noted that the ‘Sokovit’ Company (the company which is allegedly close to HDZ) used money that was transferred onto it by the FBiH Defence Ministry during 1997 and 1998 in order to buy stocks in the ‘Vitezit’ Company of Vitez (military industry).

Jozo Ivankovic interrogated in Lijanovici case

Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘Prosecutor Mattson interrogated Jozo Ivankovic for five hours’, mentioned on cover, by F. Vele – The Prosecutors of the Special department for organized crime, economic crime and corruption, Mat Mattson, interrogated Jozo Ivankovic-Lijanovic for five hours, in continuation of the investigation on custom frauds and bribe receiving in ‘Lijanovici’ case. The suspects in the case are member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, president of the BiH Constitutional Court, Mato Tadic, justices in the FBiH Supreme Court, Mile Pavic and Danka Sain, as well as a number of other persons. 

Cengic’s indictment upheld

Nezavisne Novine cover ‘BiH Court upheld charges against Hasan Cengic’ by M. Cubro – Mlacolm Simmons, the State Judge, on Monday upheld bill of indictment brought against Hasan Cengic for office abuse.

Return and economic issues

Regional return conference looks into ways to accelerate return

FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Declaration on joint solving the issue of refugees singed’ by A. Terzic, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Three states together solve the issue of refugees’ by L. Sinanovic,Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Resolving of refugees’ problems prerequisite for stabilization in region’ not signed, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Big number of refugees are waiting for resolving of status’ by ra, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7 ‘Return of refugees by 2006’ by D. Pasic, Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 5 ‘300 thousand refugees waiting for return’ by M. Rener – The Declaration on regional settlement of issues related to refugees and displaced persons was signed on Monday in Sarajevo at the Regional Ministerial Conference. The aim of the conference was to make assessment on the progress and solve remaining refugee-displaced persons’ issues between BiH , Croatia and Serbia-Montenegro. The Declaration also obligates authorized Ministries to prepare separate activity plans to accelerate the return of around 300.000 refugees in the region.

BHT 1 – BiH Minister of Human Rights and Refugees, Mirsad Kebo, stated: “The aim of this Conference was to accelerate two-way regional return in our countries, as well as to consider most appropriate solutions for those who choose local integration as permanent solution instead of return.” Croatian authorized Minister, Bozidar Kalmeta, stated: “That initiative is fully in accordance with policies and program of the Croatian Government and that is additional contribution to full normalisation of the relations in this part of Europe.”  SiCG Minister of Human and Minority Rights, Rasim Ljajic, stated: “In Montenegro, 4,5% of population are refugees and internally displaced persons; 140.000 refugees and more than 10.000 displaced persons live in Serbia according to last registration.”

CoM, ITA, IC mark first results of customs reforms

Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘BiH must have VAT until 2006’ by A. Omeragic – Commending BiH authorities to pass the law on single rated VAT, the chair of the ITA Governing Board, Joly Dixon, stated that implementation of this tax has to start in BiH before the 2006. The high ranking officials of ITA, the Council of Ministers and the International Community gathered to Monday to celebrate the first results of the customs reforms, stressing however the there much was still left to be done. “It is great improvement for BiH to have single customs administration under European standards, but I am still not satisfied. Introduction of VAT is a huge task,” said Terzic. The head of EC delegation to BiH, Michael Humphreys, said that the EC is also satisfied with the progress of customs reforms, calling it one of the most important one for stabilisation and accession of BiH to EU.