| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| BiH HoR on PBS Law | Beara before ICTY | 3rd GSM licence issued | EU on BiH relation w/ ICTY |
| FBiH Civil Service Agency | Trial of Slobodan Milosevic | BiH HoR on PBS Law | Srebrenica Com. report |
| 3rd GSM licence issued | BiH HoR on PBS Law | CoM in session | Beara before ICTY |
| Beara before ICTY | RS Army destroys guns | EU on BiH relation w/ ICTY | BiH HoR on PBS Law |
| Oslobodjenje | BiH Bishops: Tihic wants to shut out mouths; Beara called on indicted comrades to surrender; Paravac and Ivaic pushing Bozanic to CoE; Radomir Njegus answers to journalists: ‘Crime has not been solved’ |
| Dnevni Avaz | Tihic: I did not blame |
| Dnevni List | Interview with HR: |
| Vecernji List | Interview with D. Covic: We will expel mole that divides HDZ BiH |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Even Petritsch to be defence witness? |
| Nezavisne Novine | The Law on RTV system was rejected; The police commenced an investigation on a loan “Telekom Srpske” has taken from EBRD; No institution got a satisfactory mark; Tihic’s statements are against catholic Church |
| Glas Srpske | Distribution at sight |
| EuroBlic | Car-Mafia still exists in Srpska; Candidates for Mayors run the second election round; “Posavina” facing a liquidation |
Political issues | |
| BiH HoR rejects draft law on Public Broadcasting system, adopts Law on BHT
| FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Draft law on public RTV system rejected’ by V. Zivak, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Law on RTV system ‘fall down’, Law on RTV service adopted’ by H. Orahovac, Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘Television’ not signed – BiH House of Representatives rejected the Draft Law on public broadcasting system in BiH which defines relations between three public TV stations in BiH and Corporation of public RTV systems as the fourth legal entity within the system. At the same time, HoR adopted the Law on Public RTV system in BiH, i.e. the Law on BHRT (BHT1), but without HDZ-HNC-CCD Coalition who left the session. Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2 ‘The Law on RTV system was rejected’ by R. Cengic – CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic said that BiH authorities have failed to respect its own deadline for fulfillment of 16 priority pre-requisites for the start of Stabilization and Accession Agreement. RHB – After 6 amendments proposed by SDA delegate Seada Palavric were rejected, SDA Caucus voted against the draft law on public broadcasting system. According to RHB, Serb representatives expressed the opinion that SDA has thus complicated the situation even further. BHT 1 – HDZ announced filing for the protection of vital national interest, concluding that the draft Law on public broadcasting system in BiH is shameful for failing to protect Croats. They left the session of BiH HoR after amendment by Filip Andric suggesting BHT to have three channels in three languages failed to receive majority support. If HDZ claims vital national interest protection, RTRS – Momcilo Novakovic from SDS says that representatives from FBIH didn’t support the law on the public RTV system although RS transferred a lot of authorities from broadcasting area to the BIH level. BiH Minister of Traffic and Communications Branko Dokic says that all regulations under the proposed laws on public RTV system and service are in accordance with standards of the European Commission. Dokic says that the special emphasis was given to independence of broadcasters. Dnevni List pg 4 ‘PBS without Croat channel’, mentioned on cover, by I. Glibusic and Vecernji List pg 7 ‘Organization of public RTV system still questionable’ by E. Medunjanin – DL carries HDZ representative Ivo Miro Jovic who stated: “Voting on the proposal of the Law on Public Broadcasting Service was done without us and the proposal was adopted since we left the session. The reason because of which left the session is non-adoption of the amendment submitted by representative Filip Andric for which we found ground in the first proposal of the Law in which it was offered that RAK issues frequencies to public RTV service for 2 radio stations at the BiH level and one at the entities level and frequencies for 3 TV outlets and none of them will be in Croatian language.” |
| EC, OHR comment to BiH HoR session
| Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2 ‘The Law on RTV system was rejected’ by R. Cengic – On the failure of BiH HoR to adopt the aforementioned Law, EC Spokesperson Frane Maroevic, stated that BiH is now ‘at a half way’, and explained that EC can wait for progress in BiH next year as well. He explained that the amendments SDA has submitted to the law were in accordance with recommendations EC has sent to all parties several months ago. ‘The Law will now be returned to CoM and we expect from it to integrate necessary changes to the Law that would strengthen authorisation of corporation, simplify decision-making process within the system of three broadcasters and Corporation and that would clearly define the system of financing’, Maroevic stated. In inset ‘OHR is disappointed with the decision of the Parliament’, OHR Spokesperson |
| BiH Bishops Conference sent letter to Tihic condemning his statements on Church
| RHB, Oslobodjenje cover splash ‘Bishops of BiH: Tihic wants to shut our mouths’, pg 7 ‘Tihic’s statements irresponsible, but not naïve’, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Dangerous Tihic’s lie’, mentioned on front ‘Tihic stuns bishops’, by Dejan Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 19 ‘Catholics destroyed their own churches’, mentioned on front, by Z. Zekic, F, Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Tihic calls Catholic Church to account with ground for it’, mentioned on front, by De. L. – BiH Bishops’ Conference on Tuesday sent an open letter to the chairman of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, condemning his recent statement that the Catholic Church had encouraged resettlement of Croats out of BiH or within the country. In the letter carried by the Catholic press agency KTA, Conference Secretary General Ivo Tomasevic conveyed expressions of “deep shock” from BiH bishops at the statement Tihic had made late last month during his visit to Zagreb when he told reporters that the Catholic Church should bear some of the responsibility for the resettlement of people, which was encouraged by political parties, because it should have said that it was not in the interests of the Croats. The BiH bishops saw this statement directed against the whole church, “from the parish priests to the Pope”. “Is the Catholic Church or the Holy Father, Pope John |
| Tihic: My statements were wrongly interpreted
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Tihic: I did not blame Catholic Church in BiH’, pg 5 ‘I did not declare Catholic Church responsible’ by A. Malagic – DA brings the comment of the BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic to the letter sent to him by BiH Bishop Conference. “I express my sincere sorrow for the way some media interpreted my statement given on 26 September in |
| DL op-ed on Tihic statements
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Why was ‘Cardinal of Bosnia’ attacked’, by Ivica Glibusic – DL editorial refers to Sulejman Tihic’s statement given in Zagreb, saying the attack on the Catholic Church came after Cardinal Puljic spoke about the unequal status of the Croats-Catholics in BiH. The author also reminds that Tihic is forgetting that bishops in BiH were advocating against the war and calling for return of all refugees. |
| DL int with HR Ashdown: Dayton Constitution has been changed already
| Dnevni List front and pg 3 ‘Dayton Constitution has been already changed’ by D. Polovina-Mandic carries an interview with High Representative Paddy Ashdown. Commenting on an increased number of initiatives for change of the BiH constitutional and legal structure, the HR says that the change of the Dayton Constitution started when representatives of 3 constituent peoples agreed to transfer competence over the armed forces on the state level and when they agreed to introduce a value added tax system. The HR added: “Regardless of the things that people say in the Parliament, we have already started to change the |
| VL int with Dragan Covic on constitutional changes, HDZ internal elections
| Vecernji List, front splash ‘We will expel mole that divides HDZ BiH’ and pg 5 ‘Mole in HDZ Presidency divides the party’, by Jozo Pavkovic – VL carries an interview with the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, in which comments about the possible constitutional changes in BiH which, according to the journalist, could start as early as next month. Covic says that one can clearly see in the constitutions of the RS and FBiH that the Croats are not equal in BiH. What Covic hopes for is talks on future restructuring of BiH, which will not be highly complicated with 5 levels of authority and which is too expensive to afford. In that context, Covic reckons the state with three levels of authority is the way to go (state, regions, municipalities). Talking about the situation in the HDZ BiH, Covic says the time is right to sort out the situation in the party, announcing internal party elections, which will help build the hierarchy in the party. Covic notes that a mole in the Presidency of HDZ BiH needs to be removed, the mole which has been systematically working on the weakening of the party. |
| CoM negotiates with IMF | Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Next year budget increases for 40 million KM?’ by V.Z., Nezavisne Novine, pg. 8 ‘They want an increase of the budget amounting BAM 50 million’ by N. Krsman – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown, the representatives of the European Commission and the US Embassy to BiH attended the Tuesday’s session of the Council of Ministers in order to offer their support to the ministers in finding the funds solving the issue of location of new state institutions. The Deputy BiH Minister for Transport and Communication, Haris Basic, told journalists: “The representatives of the IMF which keeps stopping us from projecting the budget of the BiH institutions for the next year have arrived today to BiH. We have established new institution, and they require new people, and they again need new offices and salaries. We need increase of the budget for 30-40 million KM which IMF currently denies.” Basic further explained representatives of the IC supported CoM in the eve of negotiations with IMF, and CoM has adopt the plan to find the space for new ministries. COM Chair, Adnan Terzic, is obliged to report to the Peace Implementation Council at the session to be held in December as to what has been done in this regard. |
| FBiH Civil Service Agency inaugurated
| RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘Professional and political independent officials’ by S. Rozajac, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Wnendt: It is important to have credible officials’ by J.S. – The FBiH Civil Service Agency was officially inaugurated on Tuesday in the presence of senior FBiH officials, representatives of OHR and UNDP and domestic and foreign guests. The key institution for the process of the Public administration reform in BiH will work towards creating an impartial and professional administration, improving the quality and effectiveness of public administration services so it could contribute to political, social and economic development of BiH. FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic said that the Government is determined to create a professional, efficient and quality administration. FBiH State Service Agency Director Enver Iseric said that there are more than 9.000 people in the administrative structures of the entity authority in the Federation, not counting the army and police. When cantonal and municipal administrations are added to this the figure rises to tens of thousands. Senior Deputy High Representative Warner Wnendt said that a professional civil service is one of the steps towards |
| Oslobodjenje on appointments of BiH ambassadors
| Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Paravac and Ivanci ‘pushing’ Bozanic to CoE’ by Az. Kalamujic – Daily reads that members of the BiH Presidency today discuss the appointments of 11 new ambassadors of BiH to some of European and Asia countries. Journalist claims that according to the unofficial information, members of the Presidency – Borislav Paravac, Dragan Covic and Sulejman Tihic – are far from agreeing on this issue. Presidency also held meeting with the BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic, who allegedly once again mentioned the appointment of the current BiH Ambassador in |
War crimes | |
| Beara invites ‘comrades in arms’ indicted by ICTY to surrender
| RHB, BHT 1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Beara invited comrades to surrender’, mentioned on cover, by Almasa Hadzic, Nezavisne Novinepg 2 ‘Ljubisa Beara calls on indictees to surrender’;Glas Srpske pg 11 ‘Beara refuses to enter plea’- Ljubisa Beara, a former high-ranking intelligence officer of the RS Army and one of the principal indictees in the Srebrenica massacre, on Tuesday called on his comrades in arms accused of war crimes to surrender to the ICTY. He also asked the court to postpone his entering of plea to the charges of the indictment for 30 days. While Serbian authorities and Beara claim that he surrendered voluntarily, ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte state that was not a truth. She explained that she forwarded the information on Beara’s whereabouts to Vojislav Kostunica, Serbian Prime Minister, a week ago. After that police surrounded his house and he had no choice but to surrender. Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Beara called on indicted comrades to surrender’ by Sense – “I would like to tell my comrades-in-arms who are indicted and at large to surrender voluntarily and as soon as possible so as to remove the mill-stone around the neck of our country and all others in our neighborhood,” said Beara at his first appearance before ICTY judges on Tuesday. |
| Bjelica: ‘Albright offered Karadzic to leave RS’
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Albright offered Karadzic to leave RS” by Fena, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Asylum offered to Karadzic’ – Milovan Cicko Bjelica stated to ATV programme “Dossier”that Madaline Albright, former US Secretary of State, informed the then RS President, Biljana Plavsic in 1997 about the stance of the US Administration that Radovan Karadzic should leave RS and that previous arrangement with Richard Holbrooke (that the ICTY would not be looking forKaradzic) would be deemed as valid. Bjelica said: “At that time, Albright offered to Karadzic to go to |
| EU Foreign Ministers on cooperation with ICTY
| FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje gp 4 ‘Invitation for extradition of war criminals’ – In the press release, EU Foreign Affairs Ministers called again on all regional countries, especially Serbia and Montenegro, to hand over Ratko Mladic, Radovan Karadzic, Ante Gotovina and all other ICTY indctees at large to the Hague Tribunal without any delay. After Tuesday’s presentation made by ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte who talked about the cooperation with the ICTY, EU Council of Foreign Ministers reminded of guarantees given by the countries of the region on Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2 ‘Solana: European Union is concerned over lack of cooperation with the Hague’ by Fena – The EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, stated that the EU Council has noted with great concern the presentation by the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, who underlined the need for improving cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. ‘The Council calls on the guarantee that was given by the countries from the region on December 9, 2003, at the meeting of the Western Balkans Forum that they would fully and clearly cooperate with the Hague Tribunal, particularly in extraditing the indicted war crime suspects and delivering documentation and witnesses’, Solana said. |
| DA op-ed praises Del Ponte’s address to EU Foreign Ministers
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Clear determination of Carla Del Ponte’ op-ed by Edina Sarac – Referring to the address of the ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte to EU Foreign Ministers, author notes that Del Ponte was never so explicit in describing “unbearable financial and political pressures under which ICTY works for the past few months.” Underlying Del Ponte stated that despite all the problems, both of political and financial natures, Tribunal will not give up on its work, author says that this is a clear message for political leaders in RS, |
| Update to Srebrenica Commission final report
| RTRS– A session of Srebrenica Commission, at which the annex to the Final Report of the Commission would be discussed, commenced in Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2 ‘Considering of the annex to the final report has commenced’ by Srna – NN reads that the Chairman of the Commission, Milan Bogdanic confirmed that the annex would contain a list of victims, but he could not give precise details regarding the number of victims. EuroBlic, pg. RS2 ‘Alive people were included to lists of missing persons as well’ by M. J. – EuroBlic quotes Deputy Chairman of the Commission Djordje Stojakovic as saying that the Commission would forward the final version of the annex to the report to RS Government by Friday. ‘I cannot say how many names there are on the list, I can only say that there were many illogical things at the first version. Some people who had been registered as missing persons were found to be alive, while not even their relatives knew they were alive. Some of them have changed their names and now live abroad’, Stojakovic said. Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Bacon: The list of killed people of Srebrenica is not final’ by S.S. – Commission Deputy Chair, Gordon Bacon stated that the commission has prepared the list of killed people of Srebrenica based on 30 different sources, and that the aim was to prepare the most complete the list to date. He adds that the Commission has succeeded in that, however denied the statement by the RS President Dragan Cavic who said that the Commission will produce the final list of victims. |
| ICTY investigators analyze Herceg | Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘The Hague wants decision on freezing of HDZ’, by Zdenko Jurilj – The daily notes that the ICTY investigators are asking representatives of the Croats’ authorities in BiH and the Croat liaison officer to the ICTY to submit the document, which temporarily froze political activities of the HDZ BiH during the war. According to VL’s anonymous source, the Herceg Bosna documents that were recently transferred to |
Economic issues | |
| CRA awards 3rd GSM licence to HT Mostar
| RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Licences for 3 GSM operators handed over’ by A. Malagic, Oslobodjenje pg 10 ‘Eronet stayed without the licence’ by Az.K.,Vecernji List pg 3 ‘RAK issued licenses’ not signed and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 ‘Licenses for 3 operators’ by M. Landeka – The dailies carry the Communications Regulatory Agency issued new GSM licenses for the BiH territory to Telekom Srpske, BH Telecom and HT Mostar in Sarajevo on Tuesday. On this occasion Director of HT Mostar Stipe Prlic stated that the next step is signing of the agreement on cooperation between HT Mostar and Eronet. Dnevni List pg 5 ’GSM licenses issued to BiH operators’, mentioned on cover, by J. Petrovic – In an inset to the aforementioned article under headline ‘Eronet operates legally’ DL carries that asked whether Eronet operates legally since RAK stated that all licenses issued before are being abolished, President of the Eronet’s Supervisory Board Robert Gavranovic stated that this company still operates legally. RTRS – The Agency reminds that all operators are obliged to cover 80% of BIH population and 80% of length of individual roads. BHT 1, FTV – HT Mostar was officially awarded with the third GSM licence in BIH. Majority owner of HT Mostar is FBiH Government with 63% of shares, and the rest is held by HT Zagreb. This company is interested to give their part of shares to Eronet. On another side, Austrian Mobilcom recently expressed interest for this licence. FBiH Government will discuss the Memorandum on Understanding offered by Mobilcom. This company is ready to invest 150 millions of Euros in infrastructure in entire BiH. HT Mostar would remain an owner of licence and would receive annual compensation in amount of 5 millions KM and 20% of new company’s profit. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Mobilkom partner to HT Mostar’, mentioned on cover, by A. Hadziarapovic – DA says that FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, and his deputies Gavrilo Grahovac and Dragan Vrankic already met with the representatives of the Mobilkom. DA learns that members of the Government unanimously assessed the offered Memorandum on understanding as positive as it would regulate the work of both HT Mostar and Eronet. DA’s source says that Mobilkom’s offer is much better than the one submitted by HT Zagreb. |
| Reactions to Audit on budget spending by RS institutions in 2003
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ‘Mikerevic: the report was never better’ by D. Risojevic and A. Sekulic – The highest RS officials on Tuesday denied that the latest audit reports on financial reports of RS budget for 2003 have revealed numerous violations of laws within domestic institutions. RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and RS Minister of Finances Branko Krsmanovic emphasised they were satisfied with the report. ‘The report was never better’, Mikerevic has stated. He claims media have “twisted” the entire issue and he stressed that certain newspapers reports on this were inappropriate because only bits and parts of reports were used. Minister Krsmanovic claims a surplus amounting BAM 23 million was found. He also said certain irregularities in public procurement process will need to be removed. Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Finance Ministry cancelled 12 tenders’ by O.V. – Daily also carries Krsmanovic’s statement on the audit report. In addition, he explained that RS Finance Ministry has cancelled 12 tenders where complaint of the bidders was received. He explained budget was exceeded because special accounts (through which budget beneficiaries acquire their incomes) exist. BHT 1 – RS Government accepted the Audit Report on budget of RS institutions for 2003. RS Chief Auditor Bosko Ceko noted irregular presentation of costs in some institutions and problems with procurement procedures. According to Ceko’s report, RS institutions had surplus of approx. 3 million KM, and deficit of 42 million KM which is total amount of all frauds disclosed in previous reports. Darjo Lazic from Transparency International is concerned, because justice administration didn’t do anything about frauds discovered by the auditors. Audit Report also reveals the cases of overspending the budget. RS authorities claim that this information is false. Transparency International emphasized the importance of transparency in spending the budget. Audit Report on the RS institutions’ budget will be discussed next month at session of RS National Assembly’s Economic and Finance Board. |
| Krsmanovic on IMF stand-by arrangement
| FTV, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Nothing without signature’ by D. Vrhovac Mihajlovic - At Tuesday’s press conference in Banja Luka, Branko Krsmanovic, RS Minister of Finance, said that although RS Government is close to fulfilment of requirements set by IMF (regarding stand-by arrangement of US $ 50 million worth), the issue of merging of statistics remains disputable. According to him, Government strongly opposes this unification until a serious political issue of census in BiH is resolved. |
| Hadzipasic meets Dyole on stand-by arrangement
| Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Talks on conditions of new Stand by Arrangement’ by NINA and Slobodna Dalmacija pg 17 ‘Talks with IMF delegation’ by D. Pasic – During Tuesday’s meeting between F BiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic and the IMF delegation led by Peter Doyle the conditions for reaching a new Stand by Arrangement were discussed. Hadzipasic stated: “In the future, in accordance with strengthening of state institutions negotiations on financial arrangements with IMF should be led at the state level with cooperation of entities.” Also, during the meeting the Law on meeting of internal debt in the Federation of BiH was stressed as one of the crucial issues for IMF. |
| OHR on Statistics Agency
| BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Necessary reforms in the field of statistics’ by Fena, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Economic planning in BiH on ground of speculations’ by D. Polovina-Mandic– OHR stressed the needs to commence with the reforms in gathering of the statistics and inspections in BiH, and warned that their neglecting could bring economic recover of BiH into question. OHR Spokesperson |
| CoM codify economy related laws
| FTV – BiH Council of Ministers on Tuesday codified the Law on the Tax for Traffic of Products and Services. This law is aimed at supporting the establishment of a single economic space, developing and implementing of indirect tax policy in BiH, introducing harmonized tax rates and insuring efficient collecting and distributing of indirect taxes in the budgets of the State, the Entities and Brcko District, was announced. The Council has also codified the Law on Excises in BiH, which establishes a single rate for taxing the traffic of excise products such as oil derivatives, tobacco producers, alcohol, beer, vine and coffee. The CoM also considered the execution of budget in state institutions in first six months of this year. According to report, BiH paid off 116 millions KM of external debt. |
Police and judiciary | |
| CoM adopts Law on traffic security
| RHB, RTRS, BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Driving allowed up to 0,3% of alcohol level in blood’ by V.Zivak, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Driving with only 0.3% alcohol in blood’ by F.C., Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Level of alcohol in blood decreased’, mentioned on front, by Erna Mackic, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘0,3% of alcohol in blood allowed to drivers’, mentioned on front, by Dejan Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘Drivers allowed to have 0,3% in future’, by Zdenko Rerig – The BiH Council of Ministers determined a Proposal of law on basic traffic security on roads in BiH. According to the BiH Deputy Minister of Traffic and Communications, Haris Basic, the Proposal lowers the allowed level of alcohol in blood of drivers from the current 0,5 to 0,3%. The Proposal also includes additional measures, including more severe fines up to 8.000 KMs for legal entities and 3.000 KMs for physical person. |
| Njegus answers journalists’ questions
| Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Crime has not been solved’, mentioned on cover, not signed, Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘The police commenced an investigation on a loan “Telekom Srpske” has taken from EBRD’ and pg. 5 ‘Investigation on a loan “Telekom Srpske” has taken from EBRD’ by S. Karic, Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘Njegus answered to journalists’ by V. J. – On Tuesday, RS Police Director Radomir Njegus answered in writing to 47 journalists’ questions asked on 27 August. He provided with answers regarding the extradition of war crimes indictees, attempt of assassination of Nezavisne Novine owner Zejko Kopanja, murders of Risto Jugovic, Zeljko Markovic and Ljubisa Savic – Mauzer, audit reports on Elektroprivreda, Srpske Sume, Telekom Srpske, drug smuggling etc. RTRS – BIH Coordinating body of Journalists Associations feels that the response is a good example of respect of the Law on free access to the information. When it comes to answers to concrete questions regarding murders, robberies and other criminal acts NJegus answered that most of them are still under investigation. Njegus also denied that he bought an apartment in |
| Update to Croat Self-Rule case
| Slobodna Dalmacija front and pg 7 ‘Even Petritsch to be defence witness?’ by Z. Tulic – With regard to the Croat self-rule case, SD carries that the President of the BiH Assembly Martin Raguz, the Federation of BiH President Niko Lozancic, a Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic, Mostar Bishop Ratko Peric etc. are among the defence witnesses in this case. The article also says that the name of former High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch is also mentioned in a context of possible defence witnesses. According to SD, on the other hand the Prosecution witnesses are mostly political opponents of the suspects and those who became representatives of the Croat people ‘thanks to Barry’s Election Law’. SD also says that the trial in this case should continue around Christmas. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Mijo Anic interrogated in the BiH Prosecution’, mentioned on cover, by M. Kukan – Former FBiH Defence Minister Mijo Anic has been interrogated on Tuesday in the BiH Prosecution in the capacity of witness in the case of Croat Self-Rule. This was confirmed by prosecutor in the case, John McNair, while the defence lawyer for Ante Jelavic, Josip Muselimovic, says that such investigation after the indictment was raised is illegal and interrogation of the witness is being carried out outside of the court. |
| VL int with Dragan Covic on charges against him
| Vecernji List, front splash ‘We will expel mole that divides HDZ BiH’ and pg 5 ‘Mole in HDZ Presidency divides the party’, by Jozo Pavkovic – In an interview with VL, Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, was asked to comment to criminal charges against him. Covic answered that the process has been going on ever since the change of power in 2000. In that context, he recalls that when he, in capacity of the FBiH Finance Minister, removed the Chief Inspector of the FBiH Financial Police and his deputy, the then High Representative for BiH overturned the FBiH Government’s decision, and that’s when the hunt for him started. Covic goes on to say that anyone who can read the then laws realizes that he did not violate the law and legal provisions. |
| Round-table on police service in BiH: Police divided, criminals connected
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Police in BiH divided, and criminals connected’ by Fena, Nezavisne Novinepg 13 ‘Police Restructuring Must Be Launched by Citizens’, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 22 ‘Police divided, criminals joined’, by F – A round table entitled ‘Police as service to community’ was held in Sarajevo on Tuesday gathering security officers of BiH, representatives of NGO sector, security experts and representatives of the IC, who discussed issues pertaining to level of services the Police is offering in BiH and models how to improve the situation. Chairman of Police Reform Commission, Wilfred Martens, stressed that police in BiH must see themselves as the service to community. He also noted that the recently presented EU study had shown that the police structures in BiH were divided, with too many employees and little resources, and in the same time not able to establish an appropriate cooperation with other Police forces in the region. According to Martens, unlike the Police, criminals in BiH are connected among each other, with good resources, and able to be active outside state borders undisturbed. Glas Srpskepg 5 ‘What is Martens up to?’ – The police reform is one of the requirements set in the Feasibility Study. It still remains unclear whether there will be one Interior Ministry at the sate level. According to GS,Martens finds this the best solution. On the other hand, RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic claims he supports the police reform on condition that this reform is implemented in accordance with the Constitution. |
| Matijasevic visits PSC Srpsko Sarajevo
| RTRS – RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic visited Public Security Center Srpsko Sarajevo. He stated that RS MoI is determined to develop professional, modern and efficient police forces. He noted he was pleased with the work of PSC Srpsko Sarajevo and added that he will continue with the activities to improve the situation in this region. He also visited the family of former chief of this PSC Zeljko Markovic, stating that MoI is determined to discover who murdered Markovic and stressing that activities in that direction have been intensified. |