Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 12 June
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) |
| Peljesac bridge meeting | ‘Mittal’ workers protest in |
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| ICTY Prosecution on PIFWCs funding | EU on Montenegrin independence |
TV news broadcast on 11 June
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| | Zelenovic before the ICTY next week | Tihic on RS and Serbian agreement |
| Co-capitalisation of Energopetrol | Robinson will testify on Monday | RS MoI report on Mladic |
| BiH to export drinking water | Conf. on victims held in Potocari | Conference in Srebrenica |
| RS MoI on ICTY indictees | 95 ILO Conference in | Zelenovic in ICTY |
| NTV HAYAT (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| Conference in Potocari | Conference in Srebrenica | Ivanic on special relations with |
| Anniversary of | Zelenovic in ICTY | Report on return to Vozuca |
| Report on return to Odzak | Ljutacka valley exodus marked | Nikiforov regarding Zelenovic |
| New business project in Travnik | RS MoI report on Mladic | Nikiforov regarding Karadzic |
| Oslobodjenje | It would be interesting to see how will RS react to Kosovo [Louis Weber] |
| Dnevni Avaz | Lobbying for faster entrance into Partnership for peace [ |
| Dnevni List | |
| Vecernji List | Rebellion in HVO because of moving (BiH Armed Forces troops against moving of barracks from Mostar to Livno and Capljina) |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features football World Cup related headlines |
| Nezavisne Novine | Hague investigates breach of RS into SRY monetary system |
| Glas Srpske | Vandals are destroying graveyards [Orthodox graveyard in Gorazde in F BiH often desecrated] |
| EuroBlic | Talking about “those things” only when a problem occurs [No school in RS has a course on sexual education] |
| Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
War crimes | |
| Conference ‘Justice for victims’ held in Potocari gathers families of Srerbenica victims, authorities, NGOs [Serbian too], ICTY
| Hayat by Asim Beslija – Association of Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa Enclaves on Sunday in Potocari organized conference on justice for the victims of war crimes committed in BiH. About 100 representatives of various organizations from all parts of |
| RS MoI submits report on Mladic case to BiH Prosecutor: nothing new
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| ICTY’s Nikiforov: No info on Karadzic’s whereabouts, nothing being done to change that | Hayat – ICTY Spokesperson Anton Nikiforov said there are no information on ICTY indictee Radovan Karadzic’s whereabouts, adding that nothing is being done to change that. ‘We believe that it is an obligation of RS and |
| ICTY suspect Zelenovic before the ICTY next week
| PINK – ICTY indictee Dragan Zelenovic, who has been transferred from the BiH Crout to |
| War crimes indictee Zelenovic might be transferred back to BiH to stand trial before
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Zelenovic might return to Sarajevo’ by Sense – The article reports war crimes indictee Dragan Zelenovic would present his statement on his indictment in next several days before ICTY and reads that depending on his plea he might be transferred back to Sarajevo. If Zelenovic pleads not guilty he would be transferred back to |
| ICTY investigates breach of RS into monetary system of former SRY/part of funds reportedly used to aid Hague fugitives
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Hague investigates breach of RS into SRY monetary system’ and pg 3 ‘Hague launched investigation on breach of RS into SRY monetary system’ by P. Klincov and M. Kusmuk – According to information Nezavisne Novine got, the Hague Tribunal had launched an investigation on BAM 230 million RS took in 1997 through breaches in the monetary system of then SR Yugoslavia. ICTY Spokesperson Antun Nikiforov had confirmed the investigation was launched and added Hague investigators are working together with investigation bodies of RS in this investigation. A source close to ICTY has stated there are indications that a part of these funds had been used to help Hague fugitives. |
| Continuation of trial against six from Zvornik for war crimes against Bosniaks
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Continuation of trial for crimes in Zvornik’ by Onasa – Belgrade County Court will continue Tuesday the trial against six persons indicted for war crimes against Bosniaks in Zvornik [BiH]. Five Bosniak witnesses are to testify in period 13-16 June. Former Zvornik municipality ‘Provisional Government’ Chair Branko Grujic and former Head of Zvornik Armed Forces Branko Popovic [aka Marko Pavlovic] denied they knew about crimes of Zvornik armed unit ‘Yellow Wasps’ which committed the crime of killing 19 Bosniak men in 1992. ‘Yellow Wasps’ members Dragan Slavkovic, Ivan Korac and Sinisa Filipovic plead not guilty, while Dragutin Dragicevic used silence as defense. This case is the first one ICTY accredited Serbian judiciary with. Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Continuation of crimes in Zvornik in 1992’ – also covered. |
| NATO Commander Weber: RS needs to improve cooperation; if NATO/EUFOIR knew where were PIFWCs at large they would be arrested | Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘It would be interesting to see how would RS react to Kosovo’ by Antonio Prlenda – In an interview to daily, Commander of the NATO headquarters in Sarajevo, general Louis Weber, said the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, did not explicitly asked from EUFOR/NATO to say whether Radovan Karadzic was in BiH or not as was reported, but instead she did talk to them on the issue. Weber added that if NATO knew ICTY suspects at large where in BiH, they would certainly undertake action: “It is important for people to understand that NATO/ EUFOR are determined to use any opportunity to arrest them if they are in BiH.” He stressed the |
Political issues: referendum, defence reform, other issues | |
| BiH Presidency Chair Tihic: RS officials cannot sign agreement on special relations btw RS and
| BHT1 by Svjetlana Todorovic – The BiH Presidency Chair Sulejman Tihic stated that RS officials couldn’t have signed a new agreement on special relations between the RS and |
| OHR: Schwarz-Schilling to lobby for faster entrance into PfP and liberalization of visa regime during visit to
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Lobbying for faster entrance into Partnership for Peace’, pg 2 ‘Schwarz-Schilling lobbying for faster entrance into PfP’ by S.Numanovic – The High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling would use his visit to Germany to lobby for faster entrance of BiH into Partnership for Peace [PfP]. OHR Chief Spokesperson, Chris Bennett, said the HR would also receive ‘Manfred Worner’ medal awarded by the German Defence Ministry, whose also laureates include EU’s Javier Solana, ex Deputy to the HR Gerd Wagner [killed on duty on September 17, 1997] and otehrs. Bennett explained that HR would use this opportunity to lobby for faster entrance of the BiH to the NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, established Manfred Worner. Schwarz-Schilling would also meet German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeble: “They would discuss what HR strives for from the beginning: more liberal German visa regime toward BiH citizens.” Inset ‘Not going to meet Angela Merkel’ – As DA learns, while the HR would visit a number of officials and NGOs representatives, the meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel has not been planned. |
| NATO’s Weber: It will be interesting to see how will RS react to Kosovo; NATO satisfied with progress of defence reform
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4-5 ‘It would be interesting to see how would RS react to Kosovo’ by Antonio Prlenda – Asked whether statements of the RS PM Milorad Dodik on RS referendum create security concerns, Commander of the NATO headquarters in Sarajevo, general Louis Weber, said: “From the security aspect, no. That is, first of all, a political issue. And EUFOR presence is pretty solid in its task of protection of the surroundings. There are no indications that some groups would lean toward instability.” As for Kosovo, Weber said it was more of an issue for EUFOR Commander: “Kosovo is different from BiH both in sense of time and geography. Thus it doesn’t evoke any negative aspects in security sense. But, it will be interesting to see how will people in the RS, or other parts of BiH, react to it,” said Weber. He also said problems in police reconstruction cannot endanger defence reform: “NATO is satisfied with how defence reform is developing…I am getting necessary support on any step from both politicians and leaders of different communities. I haven’t heard anyone say there is a negative aspect of this reform.” He informed of the upcoming discussion on final structure of the BiH Armed Forces and plan of stationing units, and talks between BiH Defence Ministry and BiH Presidency. Inset ‘This week on Fund leader’ – General also informed of the meeting between NATO and EU officials schedule for this week when the issue of a country to manage the Trust Fund would be deployed would be solved. |
| Soldiers object to announcements that Mostar barracks will move to Capljina and Livno
| Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Rebellion in HVO because of moving’, and pg 3 ‘Rebellion in HVO?’, not signed – following some reports/announcements that troops of the BiH Armed Forces currently stationed in Mostar (former HVO troops) will be moved to Capljina and Livno, VL claims it has been contacted by many soldiers, who expressed dissatisfaction with the announcement. Troops say they will object against the plan, saying it is continuation of belittling of role of Mostar as the centre of BiH Croats also suspecting that some people want to take over the premises the troops are accommodated in (barracks are situation in southern, industrial zone of Mostar). |
| Former PDHR Hays: Dodik’s call to referendum detrimental for his image and for image of his party
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘“Referendum” is strengthening the radicals and harms Dodik’s image’ by VOA – Former PDHR |
| Slovakian Ambassador Mojzita: stories on referendum are unnecessary
| Nezavisne Novine pg ‘Road to the European Union is a strategic goal for BiH’ by D.Muminovic– In a brief interview to NN, Ambassador of Republic Slovakia to BiH Miroslav Mojzita commented on recent statements in regard to possible referendum in RS and said: “Issues of a type as to who is minority, who is majority, whether we rightfully dealt with the borders, or stories about referendum are unnecessary. Everyone in the EU, even large German peoples is a minority. You are on the way to association into most successful integration in history of a mankind, so that the term of minority or of majority is relative. I think that future should be observed in such manner.” |
| Party for BiH appealed on parties at RS Govt to reassess their support to RS Govt / | EuroBlic pg RS2, announced on cover ‘Party for BiH is testing its support’ by R. Radosavljevic – The Party for BiH issued a press statement [along the same lines with SzBiH’s Safet Halilovic’s interview given to Dnevni Avaz, see OHR BiH Media Round-up: June 11], in which they invited all parties that are participating in the work of RS Government to reassess the justification of the support they are giving to RS Government, due to statements of SNSD leader and RS PM Milorad Dodik with regard to the referendum. Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Time for reassessment’ by Srna – also carries Party for BiH’s statement. |
| Leader of
| Vecernji List, pg 6 ‘Dodik should be banned from politics’, by Miroslav Vasilj – carries an interview with the President of |
| CoM Chair Terzic: CoM to appoint Sa Comm. members this week / HoR Deputy Chair Spiric: Serb delegates to return to work
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2, announced on cover ‘Appointment of Sarajevo Commission members this week’ by M.Cubro – Chair of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic confirmed on Sunday BiH CoM would, in the course of this week, surely appoint members of the Commission for Investigation of Sufferings of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and other citizens of Sarajevo during the past war. Deputy Chair of BiH House of Representatives Nikola Spiric confirmed Serb delegates would continue with their work after BiH CoM appoints the Commission members [Serb delegates had refused to participate in the work of HoR until the Commission is established]. |
| Mostar authorities have by June 20 to fulfil conditions set by the HR
| Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Why demands of Schwarz-Schilling aren’t fulfilled’ by F.V.U – Daily reads that out of three conditions set by the High Representative Christian Schwarz-Schilling in May, Mostar City Administration has fulfilled only one, which is adoption of the Budget. As for the unification of the utility companies and systematization of City Administration, these issues are still resolved. Daily reminds the HR requested for these obligations to be fulfilled by June 20; in contrary, Schwarz-Schilling said he would name officials as ‘incompetent to manage the city’ in his report to the Peace Implementation Council. However, DA learns remaining issues could be resolved at upcoming session of the City Council. |
| VL: SIPA Director Novic should have retired long time ago, he was appointed by fmr. HR Ashdown
| Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Sredoje Novic must retire after all’, by Zoran Kresic – VL claims that the issue of appointments of officials is heavily abused in BiH, which is most evident in case of the SIPA director, Sredoje Novic, who according to VL was not eligible for the office in the first place because he should have been retired since he had met the criteria (for retirement) long time ago. Inset ‘Key person for liaison with Belgrade’ notes that former HR, Paddy Ashdown, used his vast authorities and appointed Novic, who was according to VL a key |
| Oslobodjenje op-ed: Spreading fear is only method of ruling the state actual structures are apt to
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Rule of fear’ op-ed by Dragan Stanojlovic – Condemning BiH political and religious leaders for spreading fear in order to preserve their power, editorial reads: “Amount of fear we have been covered with, is proportionally [increasing] with getting closer to October elections… Spreading fear is actually the only method of ruling the state and citizens actual structures are apt to. We are talking about parties that haven’t came up with a single major development project uniting all BiH peoples and citizens since the Dayton was signed… while we are concentrated on our own misery, they have been coming as the only saviours, implying without doubt who we must vote for at the October elections.” |
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| Osl on situation in
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘For a good stomach’ op-ed by Svjetlana Salom– Commenting on the fact that Vice President of Serbian |
Economic issues | |
| RS PM Dodik pays visit to
| RTRS – The RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik pays visit to |
| Mittal Steel workers on Monday to protest in
| Hayat By Semsudin Skejic – Demobilized veterans employed in ‘Mittal Steel’ and ‘Zeljezara Zenica’ steel companies will protest in the front of FBiH Government building in |
| ILO conference: BiH marks progress in meeting conditions under ILO Constitution
| PINK – The conference of the International Labour Organization is being held in |
| FBiH Govt’s commission and INA-MOL reach agreement on co-capitalization of company, FBiH Govt to decide next week
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| PDHR
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Budget too small for deputies benefits’ by M. Kavaz Sirucic– Daily carries that the proposal of the Law on Rights and Obligations of the BiH Parliamentarians should be discussed by the BiH Parliament immediately after MPs start working again [RS MPs boycott the Parliament because of the failure of the Council of Ministers to establish the Sarajevo Commission]. Author is particularly critical of the proposal to allow retirement of MPs at age of 55, i.e. 53 in case of women after only 2 years of work in the Parliament. If approved, they would be granted a pension of approx. 1800 KM. Principle Deputy to the HR, Lawrence Butler, warns the law would seriously affect fiscal sustainability of the country as the international obligations, internal debt and restitution costs is already enough for BiH to bankrupt. He also noted that setting this age of retirement is contradictory with trends in |
| DL: Political parties receiving more money from budgets than law allows | Dnevni List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Parties ‘stealing’ money from taxpayers’, by D. P. Mandic – DL warns that according to annual reports on funding of BiH political parties for 2005, political parties received as much as 15 million KMs from budgets at all levels. However, what worries DL the most is the fact that parties received 846.322 KMs more than the law allows. |
| BH Telecom’s Director Katica comments announced sale of RS Telekom: it is too early to sell telecom operators in BiH
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘No reason for accelerated sale of telecom operators in BiH’ by S.Skuletic – The Director of the BH Telecom, Hamdo Katica, believes it is too early to award a concession to another telecom operator in the country, stressing time for that would be when BiH market is developed, which would also influence the price. He called upon BiH Parliamentarians to reconsider the sale of telecom infrastructure, since this is of the essence for the BiH. Katica emphasized the RS Government has damaged both BH Telecom and HT Mostar by bidding with the price of KM800 million for sale of the RS Telekom. “That is a wrong move. First of all, figure that was presented is too low. Three billion euros is a real price of BH Telecom that needs to be fought for at the market. In comparison to us value of ‘Telecom Srpske’ is 1.5 to 2 billion KM,” said Katica. |
| BiH Finance Minister Maric:
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘For clearing of the debt Russians offer us goods and services’, mentioned on cover by T.Lazovic– In a statement for DA, BiH Finance Minister Ljerka Maric confirmed that Russian Federation is offering to settle the clearing debt toward BiH, in amount of $125 million, with a compensation through goods or services. Maric stressed that representatives of |
Judicial issues | |
| PBES Provisional Administrator Robinson to testify at the trial to Mandic, Bjelica, Govedarica and Sarovic
| PINK – The Provisional Administrator of the ‘Privredna Bank Eastern Sarajevo’ Toby Robinson should testify before the |
| BiH Court Appellate Council to discuss complaints regarding first-degree verdict to former BiH Presidency member Jelavic
| Hayat – The BiH Court Appellate Council will discuss complaints regarding the first-degree verdict to the former BiH Presidency member Ante Jelavic on Wednesday [June 14]. According to the law, the Appellate Council has three options: to confirm first-degree verdict, change it, or revoke it and schedule a new court trial. On |
| BiH CC held BiH CoM, entity and Brcko District Governments for non-enforcement of Court’s decisions
| Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Criminal law responsibility for non-enforcement of decisions’ by E.Kamenica – BiH Constitutional Court [BiH CC] has prepared a decision on failure to carry out its decision, which points out to criminal liability of the BiH Council of Ministers, entity Governments and Brcko District Government for non-enforcement of these decisions. BiH CC official Faris Vehabovic said that this resolution would be submitted to the BiH Prosecution, adding that Prosecution has no right to analyze Court’s resolutions but to launch an investigation: “Our decisions are not being analyzed, but implemented.” Vehabovic said BiH CoM is responsible for malfunctioning of Institute for Missing Persons at the first place: “[Institute] has no data base nor Help Fund is functioning.” |
| BiH Presidency member Paravac: BiH CC asking for something that doesn’t exist since was passed outside regular procedure
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Asking something that doesn’t exist’ by G.Dakic– Serb member of BiH Presidency Borislav Paravac stated he was unpleasantly surprised by the behavior of BiH Constitutional Court regarding the constitutionality evaluation of the BiH’s Lawsuit against |
| RSNA to adopts law on salaries for judiciary previously imposed by HR, which would enable passing amendments
| Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘First the law then changes’ by G.Dakic– RS Government has established a law proposal on salaries and other benefits for judges and prosecutors and submitted it into RS National Assembly in urgent procedure. RSNA would discuss this law proposal on session, scheduled for June 14. as it was explained by the RS Justice Ministry, text of the law proposal is the same as text of the law imposed by the High Representative on |
| NN op-ed: priority of RS Govt should be creating of pre-requisites for work of Special Prosecutor’s Office
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Special Prosecutor’s Office’ by Dragan Risojevic – The author says the issue of establishing of the RS Special Prosecutor’s Office should be resolved this week if official announcements on resolving of the dispute between RS Government and HJPC are true [i.e., RS Government should define its stance during this week on the stance of HJPC that the prosecutors should be selected through a public vacancy notice]. He notes that the priority of RS Government should be providing with adequate premises, equipping of the Special Prosecutor’s Office and creating of other pre-requisites needed for the functioning of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, in order to have jails full of criminals instead of courtrooms full of orchestrated trials. |
| VL: Doubrovnik court clears ex HR Petritsch of charges pressed by removed judge of Mostar court Gvozdic | Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Dubrovnik court frees Petritsch’, by Zoran Kresic – The District Court of Dubrovnik (Croatia) rejected charges that former judge of Mostar Municipal Court, Nino Gvozdic, pressed against former High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, who removed Gvozic 4 years ago. The court noted that Petritsch, as a former UN official in BiH, enjoys diplomatic immunity. On the other hand, VL notes that this ‘disgraceful’ decision was made after Croatian authorities exerted pressures against the court and Gvozdic to drop the charges. (Gvozdic was removed on |
Elections | |
| BiH HDZ asked from
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘They cannot run at the elections because of the theft of the name’ by D. R. – BiH HDZ had asked from BiH Court to ban HDZ 1990 – Croat Unity from running at the elections and claims BiH Central Election Commission ( |
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| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Without greater surprises’ by H.Orahovac – Deadline set by the BiH Central Election Commission to registers coalitions for upcoming elections expires on Tuesday, and daily comments there would be no surprises this year. Author says most interesting are Croat parties: |
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| Dnevni List, pg 9, mention on front ‘Elections at any cost’, by Danka Polovina-Mandic – carries an interview with member of BiH Central Election Commission, Lidija Korac, is which she warns of a deficiency of the BiH Election Law, which does not foresee postponement of elections even in cases of natural disasters, dangers related to war etc. Furthermore, Topic warns that the BiH Constitution contains provisions related to election of BiH Presidency members and members of the BiH House of Peoples that are in collision with protocol 12 of the European convention on human rights and freedoms, which BiH ratified last year (Korac did not go into details) |
| DA: HDZ to go into coalition with smaller parties to win elections in FBiH
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Covic’s HDZ with smaller parties to the power in FBiH’ by H.O.– The HDZ Spokesperson Miso Relota told DA that HDZ Presidency would meet on Monday to discuss possible coalitions for the upcoming elections. However, DA unofficially learns that on FBiH territory HDZ would go into coalition with Milenko Brkic‘s |
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| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Do not want into coalition with neither HDZ’ by Fena – The Chair of |