OHR BiH Media Round-up, 12/5/2004

Oslobodjenje

Due to non-adoption of the state Higher Education Law – BiH loses 12 million dollars

Dnevni Avaz

Checking on candidates for Intelligence Agency heads – Dzuvo, Zaric got approved

Dnevni List

Mujic: Hotel Tuzla returned to pensioners by court decision

Vecernji List

BiH stays without loan worth 12 million dollars

Slobodna Dalmacija

Floods from Trebinje finishes Ravno off

Glas Srpske

Gerhard Sontheim demanded investigation into crimes committed against Serbs in Brcko: Justice to be executed

Nezavisne Novine

Banjaluka: 40 patients with symptoms of Q fever; Warning of RS Police Director: Number of crime acts in Republika Srpska increased for 50%

Blic

RS at the edge of Q-fever epidemic

Education

World Bank withdraws loan for BiH education reforms

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 6 ‘BiH remains without 12 million dollars’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘BiH lost 12 million dollars’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘BiH lost US $ 12 million loan’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Millions locked’, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg ’12 million dollars withheld from BiH’, by Zlatko Tulic, Vecernji List, front pg and pg 3 ‘BiH stays without loan worth 12 million dollars’, by Eldina Medunjanin – The World Bank has decided to withdraw its offer of a 12 million dollars loan for the reform of BiH’s education system, the head of the bank’s office in Sarajevo, Dirk Reinermann, told reporters on Tuesday. Reinermann said the decision was the direct result of the fact that BiH’s parliament had refused to endorse a new law on higher education. The government-sponsored law was endorsed by the parliament’s lower house, but the upper house rejected it at the request of Croat deputies, who referred to the need of protecting vital national interests. According to the Croat deputies, primarily those from BiH’s Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ BiH) party, there are no mechanisms protecting the Croatian culture and language in the Croat-Bosniak entity because Bosniaks outnumber Croats, nor a way to implement constitutional rights in practice. HDZ BiH advocated that higher education be arranged and funded on the state level, which RS authorities (Serb representatives) resolutely rejected in the wish to retain entity autonomy in this field. As a result, the World Bank labelled the Croat and Serb sides equally responsible for obstructing the reform of the education system. The decision to withdraw the loan is all the more damaging given that the funds will no longer be available, since on July 1 BiH loses the status of a post-conflict country and the right to assistance under favourable terms.

International organizations: Failure to pass the Higher Education Law betrays students

FTV – The Office of the High Representative, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the World Bank and the Council of Europe expressed their regret today on the failure to pass the Higher Education Law within the agreed deadline and outlined the unfortunate losses that have begun and will continue to mount. 

Politicians in the State Parliament are holding up a law that will, if and when passed, put BiH into the European Higher Education Area.  They are denying every student the chance to gain qualifications in BiH that would be recognized throughout Europe and following the World Bank’s decision today, their prevarication has lost this country millions of dollars in international assistance.  BiH’s hard-pressed universities now have been denied 12 million USD – the equivalent of 1.7 million USD for every university in this country.

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Money and EU diplomas lost’, by D. Pasic, Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘BiH students at loss’, by I. Tabucic – the OSCE Mission to BiH and OHR are disappointed over the failure of BiH authorities to adopt the Higher Education Law. According to an OHR spokesperson, Mario Brkic, the decision of the World Bank should be a wake-up call for responsibility of domestic politicians.

SDS, Party for BiH on Education Law

Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Soon a decision on loan worth 34 million dollars’, by Renata Radic, carries the President of SDS Caucus in the State Parliament, Momcilo Novakovic, who rejects the responsibility of the Serb MPs for the failure to adopt the law. “The Serb MPs voted for the law and we gave our contribution to fulfill the pre-requisites for getting the loan. As for the Croats not being in favour of the law, for reasons understandable to them, that cannot be ascribed to us, and the responsibility cannot be shared. When we did not accept the law, the responsibility was exclusively ours”, says Novakovic. DL also carries a reaction by Beriz Belkic (SBiH) who says the greater damage than getting the loan is the fact that the BiH politicians could not reach a consensus in the matter. Belkic also believes that the financial institutions that decide on financial aid to BiH have a belittling attitude towards BiH, which they do not consider as a partner.

Commission of BiH HoP fails to reach solution on Higher Education Law

Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Constitutional Court will decide on Framework law on higher education’, by D.P.M., Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Without solution to higher education’, by B. Kristo – three-member commission of the BiH Parliament’s House of Peoples did not reach a solution regarding the statement of the Croat Caucus that the Proposal of framework higher education law is endangering Croat vital national interests at its session held yesterday. According to the Book of Rules, the commission will inform the House of Peoples that it did not reach a solution and the Speaker of the chamber will forward the complete material to the BiH Constitutional Court, which will be taking a decision in the matter.

HSS on Higher Education Law

Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Lesser monthly compensations to HVO victims’, by E. Mackic, Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Step towards modernization of BiH’ – Deputy President of the Croat Peasants’ Party (HSS), Dubravko Lovrenovic, comments on the opposition of the Croat MPs to the Framework law on higher education: “University of Mostar (west-Croat predominant) is not put in question with the new law, it can be checked in a way by checking the current way of financing of the University of Mostar and by checking where the children of the Croat politicians, who deny the law, study”.

Economic/social issues

Presentation of the new tourism strategy

BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘BiH has what to offer’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Countryside toursim represents a big opportunity for BiH, mentioned on cover ‘Tourism is a tremendous chance for BiH’, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘To use resources for development of tourism’ by I. Tabucic, FENA – Relevant and well-organized forms of tourism, which are based on competitive advantages and various resources, can benefit BiH economically, ecologically, socially and culturally, and provide for creating the new jobs, was emphasized on Tuesday at the presentation of the new BiH tourism strategy at the ambiance of Svrzina House in Sarajevo. The analysis of BiH tourism strategy in development was designed by TEMPUS – the European Commission’s tourism group in BiH, under auspices of the institutions dealing in tourism in BiH, Italy and Great Britain, including the universities in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, and under coordination of the Metropolitan University in London. “The study, which includes the status and possibilities of tourism development in BiH, concludes that BiH has solid basis and clearly defined resources for development of this sector, and that a great deal can be achieved through proper structuring and defining the tourism development policy in BiH”, said Head o the EC Delegation to BiH Ambassador Michael Humphreys. BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic and the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, spoke about the current strategy of promoting tourism as a potentially strong sector in BiH economy and the source of new jobs. “Tourism in BiH will not be developed by the relevant ministries and tourist agencies, although their contribution is necessary, but instead this will be tourist entrepreneurs, especially the young people, whose ideas must be put in practice”, said Ivanic, underling BiH’s advantages in the fields of winter tourism and specific natural wealth. The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, said that on the occasion of visiting the European capitals in mid-May, they would attempt to present BiH as an attractive tourist destination including the specificity of natural riches, fascinating mixture of Eastern and Western civilization and culture, and the hospitability of its citizens. This tour will also be an opportunity, he added, to present the progress BiH has achieved in the post-war period. Ashdown also stressed the need for classification of hotels, and for the programmes of environmental protection, which is one of the key preconditions for development of tourism industry.

Terzic on BiH’s road to Europe, economic reforms

Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Investments of a billion KM by the end of the year’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘BiH’s European road unstoppable’, FENA – BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic said in Sarajevo on Tuesday that the BiH movement towards Europe was now unstoppable and that how fast we were moving almost entirely depends on us. “The international community is already viewing differently our results and I think that we have established a relationship and good partnership and trust, ”, Terzic said at the American Chamber (AmCham) working launch speaking on the issue “Road Towards European Structures”. “Out of 46 laws that need to be adopted 20 have already entered parliamentary procedure 11 of which have been entirely adopted while the remaining 11 are waiting approval by one or both Houses. The BiH Council of Ministers is also completing the preparation of 17 draft laws while working groups need to intensify their work on another eight draft laws in order to finalise and send them to the Council of Ministers for adoption and further parliamentary procedure”, Terzic said. About the reform of the BiH economy Terzic said that following the latest meeting between the three Prime Ministers in Mrakovica work has started on establishing necessary mechanisms for creating a single economic space within a clearly defined period of time. He said that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development concluded in its annual report that BiH has transformed from a post conflict into a transition country and that among 16 transition countries it had the best results on all transition tasks. He also reminded that “Mobis” gave BiH a B3 positive banking system rating with a clear projection of BiH readiness to move into a higher grade if it continues with the implementation of ongoing reforms.

Interview with Director of FBiH Tax Administration Midhat Arifovic

Vecernji List pg 5 ‘120 million KM was evaded last year’, mentioned on cover’, by Z. Kresic, carries an interview with Director of the Federation of BiH Tax Administration Midhat Arifovic, who says that during the last year, inspectors of the FBiH Tax Administration filed 190 criminal charges against 646 persons on the ground of suspicion that these persons evaded taxes and other public incomes amounting to about 120 million KMs. Arifovic also said that taxes collected on traffic of high-tariff goods in 2003 amount to 271 million KM and this is 71 million or 35 % more than in the previous period. According to Arifovic, application of Law on Traffic of Products and Services influenced this increase. He also denied accusations that Croats are discriminated in the FBiH Tax Administration since large number of tax offices in the Croat majority areas are being closed down and added that none is discriminated in the FBiH Tax Administration.

Q fever in Banjaluka

BHTV, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ’40 patients with symptoms of Q fever hospitalised’ mentioned on cover ‘40 patients with symptoms of Q fever’; Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Epidemic of Q fever’, Dnevni Avaz pg 10, Blic, front ‘RS at the edge of Q-fever epidemic’, pg. 13 ‘Doctors too are worried’ By Rajna Radosavljevic – At the epidemiology department of the Banjaluka Clinical Centre, 40 patients with the symptoms of Q fever have been admitted. The doctors expect that the number of the patients will increase in the coming days.

Dr Zeljko Rodic, epidemiologist at Banjaluka Clinical Centre, said that: “First patients approached us at the end of April, while majority of them have been hospitalised over the past weekend. Those infected are mostly from the area of Banjaluka and the surrounding areas.”

He further explained that medical analyses should determine whether Q fever is an adequate diagnosis.

The Veterinary Inspector at the Banjaluka City Hall yesterday issued an order, which banned nomadisation of sheep in the town.

NN editorial on Law on rights of veterans

NN editorial op-ed pg 7 ‘Fight for fighters’ by Tihomir Gligoric – He is commenting on the adoption of the Law on rights of veterans, military invalids and families of the fallen soldiers. He starts the article by saying that: “My darkest foreboding has come true. Government of bankers, financial tycoons and board directors has enacted the Law on rights o veterans, which is at the measure of their creditors and bosses. Because it is obvious that Prime Minister took care only of their interests and mentioned them when explaining why such Law was to be enacted.”

No protests of Association of families of fallen soldiers for the time being

Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘No protest for the time being’; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Parliament taking the measure’ – Radojka Boric, President of the Association of the fallen soldiers, yesterday stated that the Association Presidency yesterday decided it would not hold any protest for the time being. The Presidency decided to hold a session on 28 May, when they should decide on further activities related to possible protests. RTRS also covered the issue.

Nacional on sale of Hercegovacka Bank

Nacional weekly from Zagreb, pgs 55-56 ‘Hercegovacka bank bought to save Croat money’, by Tanja Simic – according to sources close to (presumably Croatian) Government, the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, and the Croatian Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader, talked during their last meeting in Zagreb about joint approach of Croatian companies in order to buy the ‘Hercegovacka bank’, when HR Ashdown asked PM Sanader to encourage several prominent private Croatian companies to respond to the tender on sale of the bank, because deposits of many Croat companies and Croats from BiH were blocked in the bank. Nacional also reads that HR Ashdown, on basis of reports, ordered the Provisional Administrator for Hercegovacka bank, Toby Robinson, in December 2002 to sell the bank and its assets in the interest of its clients and local economy.

BiH CoM stimulates domestic production 

Dnevni List page 2 ‘Amendments to Law on Customs Tariff in order to increase domestic production’ by E. Mackic carries that during the yesterday’s session of the BiH Council of Ministers a proposal of Law on amendments to BiH Law on Customs Tariff was defined. BiH Minister Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Dragan Doko stated that these amendments to the Law have been harmonized with representatives of the Associations of Framers and representatives of entity Ministries and this is what meets their needs. All other BiH media also reported on the session. 

Defence

BiH HoR confirms appointment of four generals to joint army

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Candidates for generals confirmed’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Appointment of four generals confirmed’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Candidatures of four officers of BiH Army confirmed’, Vecernji List page 3 ‘Commanding positions are still vacant’ by E. Medunjanin and Dnevni List page 4 ‘Appointment of 4 candidates for generals’ positions confirmed’ by D. Polovina-Mandic,SRNA – The House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly on Tuesday confirmed the list of four candidates for the post of generals in the state defence institutions, as was proposed by the BiH Presidency. According to this decision of the House of Representatives, the following appointments have been confirmed: Brigadier Rizvo Pleh for general inspector in the defence Ministry, Col Miladin Milojcic for deputy chief of the Joint Staff of the BiH Armed Forces in charge of resources, Col Mirko Tepsic and Brigadier Sakib Foric for deputy commander of the Operational Command of the BiH Armed Forces for operations and resources. Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic briefed the deputies about the procedure for nominations and with results of SFOR checks according to which out of 19 candidates for the post of general, only seven passed. Radovanovic said that despite these results of checks and certain delays, it would be possible to meet the conditions for BiH’s membership of the Partnership for Peace at the NATO summit in Istanbul in June and that governments of NATO countries had assessed that the meeting of the so-called technical conditions was proceeding satisfactorily. The defence minister said that today’s parliamentary decision was important also for the overall defence reforms and for meeting conditions for membership of the Partnership for Peace. The House also adopted draft law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council.

BiH Minister of Defence Appointed Co-Chair of DRC

FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘Radovanovic appointed Co-chair of the Commission’, Dnevni List last pg ‘Radovanovic appointed co-chair of Defence Reform Commission’ not signed and Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Nikola Radovanovic co-chair’ by B. Kristo – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, on Tuesday appointed BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic as co-chair of the Defence Reform Commission (DRC). The High Representative made this appointment based on a recommendation from current DRC Chairman James Locher. The High Representative concurred with this proposal noting that, “ultimate responsibility for implementing the DRC’s recommendations lies with the BiH authorities, this appointment reflects that fact, while the DRC and its international representatives remain in place to assist and monitor progress.” Minister Radovanovic has shown a proactive approach to defence reform and has been an important driving force in achieving speedy and tangible results ahead of NATO’s Istanbul Summit scheduled for June this year. The appointment of Minister Radovanovic to co-chair the DRC also signals the growing role of the BiH authorities in setting the agenda for future defence reforms, which will bring this country closer to Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Locher on defence issues

Herceg Bosna Radio, Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘BiH will meet all pre-requisites from domain of defence reforms for Istanbul Summit’, by Renata Radic, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Attitude towards The Hague an obstacle to NATO’, by Dejan Jazvic, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ’13 reform steps by NATO Summit’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Defence reform will not be obstacle to BiH’s accession to PfP’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Non-cooperation with The Hague is the biggest obstacle for PfP’, Blic, pg. 14 ‘Through the Hague to Istanbul’ By J. D.– the Chairman of Defence Reform Commission, James Locher, believes that 13 pre-requisites from the area of defence will be met by end of May providing that the current plan is observed. According to him, large obstacle to BiH joining the Partnership for Peace programme is inefficient cooperation with the ICTY, which is the only political pre-requisite the NATO has set out. On the other hand, Locher assesses the results achieved in reforms to the defence as very positive, claiming that considerable progress has been achieved in the process of reduction of size of entity armies.

Security/investigations/crime

Checking on candidates for BiH Intelligence Agency heads

Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Dzuvo and Zaric approved’, pg 3 ‘Dzuvo and Zaric approved, Alpeza rejected’ – Almir Dzuvo and Risto Zaric have passed through OHR vetting procedure and got consent to appointed Head and Deputy Head of the BiH Intelligence-Security Agency. The Croat candidate for the Agency’s Chief Inspector, Mladen Alpeza, has been rejected, the daily learns.

SFOR conducts “routine inspection” of RS telecom in Sokolac

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘SFOR raided Post Office’, Telecom’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Telecom Srpske in Sokolac raided’, Blic, pg. 12 ‘SFOR searched apartment of Director too’ By J. D. and Vecernje novosti, pg. 7 ‘Suddenly in Telekom’ not signed’,Vecernji List pg 2 ‘SFOR in inspection of RS Telekom’ by Fena, FENA – SFOR members on Tuesday completed a routine inspection of the Post Office and Telekom Srpske premises in Sokolac and searched the flats of Telekom employees, which are situated in the same building, it was confirmed to FENA by Srpsko Sarajevo public security centre spokesman Radovan Pejic. He pointed out that, according to his information, the flats of Telekom employees, which are in the same building, were searched. He recalled that SFOR members sealed off the RS Post Office and Telekom building in Sokolac with seven vehicles, asking for assistance from members of the police station in Sokolac, after which two policemen, who did not participate directly in the operation, directed traffic and movement of persons around the Sokolac Post Office and Telekom building. He said that, according to a SFOR statement, a routine search was conducted in the building in question in order to verify if the Dayton Agreement was being applied. Pejic told FENA that, according to information at his disposal, no documents or equipment were taken away during the search. 

Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘SFOR controlled tapping devices’ – SFOR yesterday raided once more the premises of “Telekom Srpske” in Sokolac. The employees at this unit are of the view that the target of SFOR raid might be tapping devices. Also, some employees live in the same building (their apartments are above the premises of Telekom”). SFOR also raided their apartments.

Slavica Suput, Spokesperson of “Telekom Srpske” yesterday could not make any comment into the raid.

Crime acts ratio in Republika Srpska

Nezavisne Novine cover and pg 3 ‘Number of crime acts increased for 50%’ – NN got hold of a document signed by Radomir Njegus, Republika Srpska Police Director, which reads that in comparison with the period of first three months last year, the first three months this year in Republika Srpska saw the increase of general crime acts for 51%, while the police success in disclosing and identifying executors of those crime acts has significantly reduced.

Njegus has sent this document to Police Administration, Crime Department Administration, Special Police and all Public Security Centres on 29 April.

On security affairs, he said that the assaults against non-Serb population and returnees have special dimension.

Also, Njegus said that the response of police units in the field is most often unprofessional and inadequate. He is of the view that a qualitative analysis of the situation in micro-areas is not performed. 

Update to Trbojevic case

Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Prosecutor’s Office demanded additional expert analysis’ – The Banjaluka District Prosecutor’s Office is still engaged in investigation into the death of the Banjaluka Basic Court Judge, Mirjana Trbojevic.

Gordana Mijatovic, Prosecutor in charge of this case, said that the investigation has not completed as yet, noting no details regarding the case can be revealed.

NN learnt at Prosecutor’s Office that: “Owing to distrust towards current facts and failure to perform all expert analyses, concrete reasons of the death cannot be determined.”

Alun Roberts, EUPM Spokesperson, yesterday told NN that EUPM is monitoring the police investigation on this case.

According to NN inset, Mirjana Trbojevic was yesterday buried in Banjaluka. The commemoration session took place before the funeral.

Blic, pg. 12 ‘Findings of experts and police are being waited for’ By Tijana Veselinovic, mentioned on cover ‘Findings of experts are crucial’, Vecernje novosti, pg. 16 ‘Safety wire hides secret’ By. M. Labus also covered the issue.

Vecernje novosti, pg. 16 ‘Safety wire hides secret’ By. M. Labus also carries unofficial information that a safety wire of the bomb has not been found, as well as that there are some other details that indicate this was not the case of a suicide. Nevertheless, Banja Luka police did not confirm the accuracy of this information. 

Vecernji List, pg 23 ‘It is not certain whether judge killed herself’, by bs – not even three days after the tragic death of the Banja Luka’s Basic Court judge, Mirjana Trbojevic, it is not yet certain whether it is about suicide or murder. Despite the Police releasing a statement that Trbojevic killed herself, Prosecutor of the Banja Luka County Prosecution, Gordana Mijatovic, says it is premature to say whether it is a suicide or murder. “The investigation, which includes the pathologist and other forensic experts, is ongoing, and the Prosecution does not want go out with any sort of assessments before the completion of investigation”, says Mijatovic.

EUPM Commissioner visited Trebinje

Blic, pg. 15 ‘EUPM Commissioner in visit’ By M. Z. – EUPM Commissioner Kevin Karty yesterday visited Trebinje Centre for Public Safety and local unit of the State Border Service. Commissioner Karty also met the Head Trebinje Field Office of the State Border Service, Miodrag Kundacin, and a discussion with journalists was foreseen to take place at Ivanica border crossing point yet, the Commissioner failed to come so journalists of approximately 15 editorial staff left the border crossing point. Oslobodjenje pgs. 4-5 ‘Journalists boycotted press conference’ also reported on the issue.

Political developments

Session of Mostar City Council interrupted

Dnevni List, pg 14 ‘New conflict between HDZ and CD Coalition at sight?!’, by V. Soldo – the 24^th session of the City Council of Mostar (CCM), which was to, among other issues, elect Deputy President of City Council and working bodies of the CCM, was interrupted yesterday because the councillors could not agree on Proposal of Rules of Procedure of the CCM. Apparently, the councillors could not agree on the issue of number of votes that are needed for the act to be adopted. According to the President of Caucus of CD Coalition in the CCM, Suad Hasandedic, “the article 204 of the Rules of Procedure speaks about enactment of the new Statute and about changes and amendments, and it says that the adoption requires a two-thirds majority. Representatives of the HDZ were against that point, requesting that it should require a simple majority”. Hasandedic does not see a reason for such behaviour of the HDZ councillors, foremost because the issue was, according to him, agreed upon with representatives of the OHR. This triggers Hasandedic to say it is about obstructions, foremost in the sense that city boards that would be working on the City budget cannot be appointed, having in mind that the budget needs to be adopted by May 31. According to the President of CCM, Ivan Musa, the continuation of the session is expected to take place in two days.

Stojicic on OSCE audit at SDS

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Auditor analysing books’ – Dusan Stojicic, SDS Spokesperson, yesterday confirmed to Glas Srpske that the Special Auditor of the OSCE has already completed the audit at the SDS Banjaluka Board, noting that the main SDS bank account is currently under analysis. He said that: “We hold the status of the suspect. We expect this process to be implemented in a professional and correct manner and without a political prejudice. Also, SDS and the public should be informed of results asap.”

He also warned that the audit cannot complete in a relatively short time frame, which may have serious consequences on democracy of election process.

Austrian official on changing of Balkans borders

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘New borders in the Balkans’ – The official of the Austrian Defence Ministry, Erich Reiter, yesterday at Vienna assessed that the solution for Kosovo problem should not exclude the possibility of changing the borders in the Balkans region.

He said that: “It should be considered to give Kosovo independence and offering the possibility to the northern part of the province to be united with Serbia. Referendum in Republika Srpska on its unification with Serbia should also be held.”

NHI and HSS announce merging

Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘NHI and HSS again announce merging’, by F – the New Croat Initiative (NHI) and Croat Peasants’ Party (HSS) yesterday confirmed their earlier intention on the merger between the two parties because of their similar programmes and views about BiH. During a press conference of the two parties from yesterday, they could not be precise as to when the merger will take place.

War crimes

Vlado Cosic from Ahmici group arrested in Croatia

Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Vlado Cosic from Ahmici group arrested’ by I. Nevescanin, B. Svilicic – Vlado Cosic, one of 4 Croats from the so-called ‘Ahmici group’ from central Bosnia, was arrested in Zadar yesterday on the ground of an international arrest warrant and because of suspicion that he committed war crimes against civilians in central Bosnia. SD says that together with his family, Cosic was living in the area of Zadar under false name and according to SD sources he was arrested on the ground of the information given to the Police during a visit that he was paying to family in Zadar. SD says that the ICTY did not issue a bill of indictment against Cosic.

Brcko Deputy Supervisor’s order

Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Justice to be executed’, Vecernje novosti, pg. 20 ‘Records on crimes’ By M. Draganic – Gerhard Sontheim, Deputy Supervisor for Brcko District, yesterday requested the Brcko Public Prosecutor, Zekerijah Mujkanovic, to launch an investigation into war crimes committed against Serbs in and around Brcko.

Former Chief ICTY Prosecutor Arbour says NATO was not intending to arrest Karadzic and Mladic

Vecernji List, pg 19 ‘NATO does not want to arrest Karadzic and Mladic’, by zb – former Chief ICTY Prosecutor, Louise Arbour, accused international forces in BiH of not being sincere when it comes to arrest of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. Arbour stated that she was never fully convinced that the attempts to arrest the two would give results because the plans were created with intention to fail. “The plans were never realistic. There were exaggerations in risk evaluations and difficulties. I sometimes thought I was spinning in an enchanted circle. When I spoke to people who were dealing with operational issues, for instance to NATO officers on the ground, I would always get the same story ‘We are getting orders from our political masters and if we get the task, we will do it’ And then, when I talked to those on the political side, they’d always say the same thing ‘We are giving tasks to our people on the ground based on their information about what’s feasible’. Who could I talk to then?”