OHR BiH Media Round-up, 12/4/2004

Oslobodjenje

Silence following the stealing from refugees; How many years more needed for RS to face truth?!; Radovanovic: I will keep generals far out of politics and parties’ reach!’

Dnevni Avaz

Terzic: Croatia cannot hold monopoly in BiH; Nadarevic: Harmonisation of the [veterans] law is completed; Aluminij gets someone else’s electricity

Nezavisne Novine

Floods in Banjaluka, Srbac, Ribnik: Easter celebrated; Heads of SIPA warn – SIPA has no working conditions nor money; Warning from “Putevi RS” – RS loses BAM 15 million on false road tax payments; Sports

Floods

Floods threaten areas of Vrbas, Sana, Neretva

FTV, Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 7 ‘Floods in Herzegovina and Bosnian Krajina’, Nezavisne novine cover, pg 2  ‘Great floods imminent’ – Water level of almost all rivers in BiH may become critically high, as it is already a case with rivers Vrbas, Sana, Vrbanja and Zena. The most critical situation is in Delibasino village near Banjaluka, where level reached 397 cm and in Banjaluka it is 347 cm. Sana river floods Sanski Most municipality for the second time in a month and Vrbanja causes floods in Bihac region.

BHTV 1 – BHTV 1 also reports on state of alert in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, as Neretva right water level substantially increased. Also, Laktasi settlement in RS suffered significant damage due to flooding.

RTRS – RTRS reports that several hundreds of residents of villages Sipovo, Jezero and Ribnik had to be evacuated from their homes due to floods. Also, floods in Prijedor area have reached the critical level.

Economic and social issues

Terzic announces changes in BiH Foreign Trade Ministry 

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 5 ‘Croatia cannot have monopoly in BiH’ by Sead Numanovic – In an interview to DA, the chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic says that agriculture workers in BiH were right in many things they demanded from the authorities. Despite “those who try to use those protests… BiH agriculture workers are right for two reasons: [special taxes regimes] introduced to assist them were of least use for them. The biggest part of those means were ‘eaten’ by other budgetary users: army, police, etc… On the other hand, in 2000 the Free Trade Agreements were signed, and those who signed it did nothing to prepare its implementation,” says Terzic. He also adds “BiH is stupid victim of devastating impact of the most different lobbies. Through measures of previous authorities, we completely opened doors to our market, where everybody could [do] as pleased… These were mostly huge lobbies, and now all that is very hard to change… I have to admit, I am very dissatisfied with actions of [BiH] Foreign Trade Ministry in this regard… That doesn’t mean I am dissatisfied with the Minister… there could be some big changes in ministry.” 

FBiH Refugees and DPs Ministry prevents expenditure of 1,89 mil KM

Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 5 ‘Silence following stealing from refugees’ by E. Kamenica – Oslobodjenje carries comment by thee FBiH Refugees and DPs Minister Edin Music on the latest report by FBiH Government which also mentions halt of cooperation between this ministry and seven companies delivering construction material: “Official institutions of this country still did not voice their attitude on legality of these companies.” Daily says that these companies were pointed to by OHR’s special audit report for 2003, and Music explains that while the ministry did not terminate the contract with those companies, they were in status of non-operational approach. Asked wasn’t a year enough to check OHR’s special auditor’s concerns, Music says: “I also posed that question to financial police and prosecutor, but I never received an answer from them.” Minister explains that special auditor also pointed to extremely high transportation costs for these companies, and Oslobodjenje claims that companies would charge transportation costs several times higher than they spent in reality.  

Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Spending of 1,89 million KM disabled’ – FBiH Ministry of DPs and Refugees has corrected the contracts with the suppliers of construction material, and following additional offers it has issued requisitions to the most advantageous suppliers, which has prevented the unnecessary expenditure of 1,89 million KM.

[Note: Oslobodjenje comments to this that its seems that even official investigation, OHR special auditor did their job well, which caused this action by Ministry.]

Nadarevic: Harmonisation of FBiH Veterans Law completed

Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Harmonisation of the law in completed’, pg 2 ‘Harmonisation of the law is completed, and that is the last word’ – FBiH Minister for Veterans, Ibrahim Nadarevic states that “harmonisation of [veterans] law has been completed, and it is final. In next few days, the proposal Law will go for voting procedure before FBiH Government.” Nadarevic also comments that law foresees members of HVO [Croat Defence Council] receiving the same amount as other veterans in FBiH. Asked why Croat members of law expert team demanded the audit of the veterans lists that would last for two years, Nadarevic explains: “We have to talk about of members of armed troops in BiH, and everything else is against the law. Such audit yes, but audits to please someone are ridiculous… I advocate revision, but only one defined by law.” Minister also adds that “OHR and World Bank finally expressed fair attitude towards this field”: “There is no more of that cruel attitude that users of this law can claim their rights through 275 million KM available. We reached an agreement for 310 million KM.

Elektroprivreda BiH doesn’t deliver electricity to Aluminij

Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Aluminij gets electricity from others’, pg 3 ‘Aluminij doesn’t get electricity from Elektroprivreda BiH anymore’ by F.C. – Senior official of the Elektroprivreda BiH’s, Boro Bjelobrk, stated for DA that Elektroprivreda BiH has stopped delivering electricity to Elektroprivreda HZ Herceg Bosna for Aluminij company as final user. Bjelobrk says this was done after the contract expired on 1 April. According to decision by the High Representative Paddy Ashdown made on 31 December, says Belobrk, Elektroprivreda BiH kep Elektriprivreda HZHB informed on the electricity surplus, but apparently this was not enough for EP HZHB, who later looked for additional security quantity for Aluminij with other companies. Bjelobrk adds that EPBiH will no find electricity surplus before the end of this year. Author concludes that even though it looked differently two months ago, it appears that there are other companies that can accommodate Aluminij’s needs, while it is certain that they do not sell electricity at such low prices as EPBiH.

RS loses 10-15 million on false road tax payments

Nezavisne novine cover, pg 5  ‘RS loses BAM 15 million on false road tax payments’ – RS loses 10-15 million per year because of fraud, claims RS Roads Director, Nemanja Vasic. According to him, impostors from insurance companies and sales agents are using Srpske poste seals. RS Government Special Commission controlled police stations and found payment slips with no Budget account number. That indicates that money was never sent to the Budget, Vasic said. 280.000 vehicle owners in RS pay 50 marks every year for road tax.

RS Health workers union demands 25 million KM for health institutions

Nezavisne novine page 6 ‘Health workers union requests BAM 25 million from RS Government’ – RS Health workers wants Government to provide extra 25 million for Health institutions in RS. Union instructs directors not to sign inadequate contracts on financing with Health Insurance Fund, said Union President, Milenko Granulic. 48 of 72 heath organisations have signed contracts so far. Banjaluka Clinical Centre has not sign contract yet. ‘Health Insurance Fund has offered 20.5 million while our minimal needs are 36 million. They didn’t calculate 26 million of debt’, Banjaluka Clinical Centre Director, Dragan Kostic, stated.

Defence, security and legal issues

Radovanovic on pace of defence reforms

Oslobodjenje cover ‘I will keep generals far out of politics and parties’ reach!’ by Antonio Prlenda – In an interview to Oslobodjenje, BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic said that he did not believe there was an obstacle for BiH’s admission to Partnership for Peace programme that could not be removed. Asked whether he believes that Radovan Karadzic, top war crimes suspect at large, could be in The Hague Tribunal before the NATO’s summit in Istanbul in June, Radovanovic says: “I definitely could not comment that. Defence Ministry is not in position, neither through its strength or legal jurisdiction, to participate in that process.” Answering to journalist question as to whether expects the problems to raise between future BiH army generals, since they fought on different sides in the war, Radovanovic says that he expects his Ministry, alike every other institution, to face certain difficulties at the beginning. He adds that “military officers have a capacity to respect hierarchy, as it is something present in their career all the time. On the other hand… I believe they all have enough of experience in joint work and logical approach enabling them to work professional and respectful of each other.”  Radovanovic also says that even though generals have been proposed by political parties, which he estimated to be usual practice, there will be a number of mechanisms available to prevent politicisation of their positions Mechanisms include broader competencies of the minister, joint commander and BiH Parliament’s Defence Commission.   

Terzic on OSA

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘If I was asked, Dzuvo will be director’ – BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic states for the DA that he expect for the “BiH Law on Intelligence and Security Service to be published on 15 or 16 April. With this, the procedure on establishing Intelligence and Security Agency [OSA] would be started, and that law envisages a deadline of two years for the Agency to be founded.” Asked whether Almir Dzuvo will be appointed to the head of the Agency, Terzic answers nothing was certain: “There are procedures for selecting director. If I was the only person to ask, than Dzuvo would be appointed as director. But the procedure will be respected, there will be plenty of consultations carried out and only than we will know who will be leading OSA. [Note: Last week, Oslobodjenje daily published that US Ambassador Clifford Bond was opposing to Dzuvo’s appointment for his alleged connections with Hasan Cengic.]

SIPA encounters financial problems

Nezavisne novine cover, pg 3  ‘SIPA has no working conditions nor money’; SIPA can not become fully operational by mid this year, as EU requests, because BiH institutions have not provide even 1/10 of money necessary for that. This is written in a memo, which was sent to BiH authorities by Heads of SIPA. Director, Sredoje Novic and his deputies, Dragan Lukac and Emir Bijedic claim that Budget will give them BAM 6.6 million for this year while SIPA needs 50-60 million. SIPA is one of 16 conditions listed in EC Feasibility Study. ‘Lack of accommodation and recourses are main reasons for slow implementation of SIPA law. It slows fight against crime and corruption as well’, heads of SIPA stated. Budget for this year does not plan money for purchasing of equipment or vehicles. 6.6 million are enough for payments in one department only. BiH Council of Ministers Chair, Adnan Terzic, said that some of SIPA activities should be postponed for next year. ‘Agency was asking for ten times more money than country has’, Terzic said

Coup d’etat affair

Nezavisne novine page 4  ‘Ashdown responsible for Coup d’etat affair’ – Faruk Balijagic, lawyer from Tuzla sued FBiH for wiretapping which he claims was carried out by FOSS [FBiH Intelligence Service]. Balijagic demands 1 million KM as compensation. He claims that HR Paddy Ashdown is responsible for Coup d’etat affair. “Head of FOSS Special Operations, Krisitna Silic, has ordered expensive equipment for tapping of mobile phones to be moved and hidden. She is an extended arm of Alister Sommerland and British agents led by Paddy Ashdown. She does what they want her to do. They are responsible for Coup d’etat affair. They have installed people under investigation in commissions that are establishing state intelligence agency”, Balijagic stated.

BiH Prosecutor initiates hearing of RS Health Miniser

Nezavisne novine page 3  ‘Minister Kvaternik on hearing soon’ – State Prosecutor, Jasmina Gafic, announced that she will call for hearing of the RS Minister of Health, Marin Kvaternik and his associates. She is interesting in issuing of import licences for acetic acid anhydride from Netherlands. Prior to that she wants to get report from Netherlands on BiH companies which imported acetic acid anhydride.

War crimes

Health condition of priest Starovlah improved

RTRS – Priest Jeremija Starovlah and his son Aleksandar, seriously injured in SFOR operation in Pale on 1 April, are still in serious condition, however the priest has started to show some progress. Tuzla hospital senior staff member, doctor Mirsada Praso said that after the priest was taken off the breathing machines he has started to breathe on his own and to communicate. However, she warned that due to grave injuries of his lungs, further complications are expected. Doctor Praso said that medical tests of Aleksandar were good, but still unconscious. Orthodox Church has opened a website which contains photo documentation and written material on SFOR action in Pale.

Association of Srebrenica and Podrinje mothers on Srebrenica Commission

Oslobodjenje cover, pg 3 ‘How many years more needed to RS to face the truth?!’ –  Article brings comment from Mothers of Srebrenica and Podrinje regions, gathered in Tuzla as every 11^th day in a month to protest demanding a truth on Srebrenica, on the recent statement by RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic, who said Serbs must face the truth. “Do they need nine years to face the truth? If the report [by the Srebrenica Commission] doesn’t correspond to real truth, we will demand from the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, to impose sanctions against Republika Srpska”, comments Hajra Catovic, chairwoman of the Association.

Cekic on Srebrenica Commision report

Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Cekic: There are things which cannot be talked about’ – Following the article published by DA on Sunday which says that RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic asked RS police to provide protection to Srebrenica Commission Vice President Smail Cekic, DA brings today that Cekic also confirmed this information, but did not want to disclose the details. As for the Srebrenica Commission final report, Cekic stated hat the deadline is too short: “Commission works on drafting preliminary report to be submitted to the Office of the High Representative on 14 April. In this, we will, among other things, seek an extension of the deadline.”

Political statements

Kalinic on RS, OHR accusations, Karadzic, SFOR action on Pale

Blic Saturday to Monday Easter edition cover ‘Srpska is jeopardized’, pgs 16&17 ‘RS is jeopardized from both outside and inside’ by Marija Jandric – In an interview to Blic daily, SDS President Dragan Kalinic says that SDS will fulfil demand by the High representative Paddy Ashdown and submit its financial report to OHR by 19 April. “Additionally, we will also submit to HR answers to his difficult and controversial political and legal explanations for freezing our accounts. But, if this event escalates further, we will be pressed to seek legal protection… as this that has been going on in RS in past ten days is [unheard off],” says Kalinic. Asked to comment Ashdown’s accusations against SDS regarding the financing of Radovan Karadzic, Kalinic says: “Long time ago, our party… finished with war past, but we cannot go into the will of citizens and SDS members to express their sympathies and support to those marked as war criminals by ICTY.”

In the light of the latest SFOR action carried out in Pale on 1 April, Kalinic says that Republika Srpska is jeopardized, “from both inside and outside, more than even before since its establishment 12 years ago.” Commenting SFOR action, Kalinic stated: “A number of international conventions were breached, and it is a responsibility of not only RS but BiH… to ask Brussels leadership to appropriately sanction those responsible for events in Pale. If something like this happens again, God forbids, no [politician] will be able to control anger of citizens. Something like that can cause consequences for peace, stability and post-war development in BiH.”

Stating that SDS is committed to BiH’s path towards Europe, but not through centralised BiH, Kalinic said he was certain that SDS will not lose at upcoming elections.

Interview concludes with Kalinic’s reaction to initiatives to change the name of RS: “[Sulejman] Tihic plays with fire, and with his statements he jeopardizes all that has been achieved in post war period… Nobody should think that Serbs in RS are ready to be silent and peacefully accept going back to 1992… RS was and will be able to respond to such initiatives and challenges through democratic way, using all legal and political means.”