Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 13 October
RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1(12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
FBiH HoP on police reform | NATO carries out action in Pale | NATO search in Pale |
NATO action in Pale | 16 injured after match in | OHR on police |
17 fans injured in | World news | Terzic visiting Brod Refinery |
TV news broadcast on 12 October
RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
Bird flu prevention in FBiH | Burns visits BiH | Soccer match BiH vs. SiCG |
Bird flu prevention in RS | OHR on passing of police agreement | Burns visited |
EU: no import embargo on | Obligations of SIPA and Prosecution | BiH Prosecution-SIPA cooperation |
Puljic criticizes work of IC in BiH | Aid to High Judicial and P. Council | Cases of illegal immigration |
NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
Football game- | Soccer match BiH vs. SiCG | Burns on constitutional reforms |
BiH Politicians on “Maracana” | Burns visited | OHR on passing of police agreement |
Burns visits BiH | Simeunovic sentenced | EUPM on police meeting in Mostar |
US Ambassador on Gotovina’s arrest | Excavation in Liplje | EC assists HJPC with € 2, 5 million |
Oslobodjenje | Karadzic, Mladic and Gotovina must go to |
Dnevni Avaz | Paddy Ashdown’s message to politicians: Seize this opportunity! |
Dnevni List | Process of reform of Constitution begins in Washington (Burns in BiH) |
Vecernji List | Smuggling at 400 illegal border crossings |
Slobodna Dalmacija | To world at 230 kmph with Talgo (FBiH Railways plan to buy new trains) |
Glas Srpske | Osama is not a terrorist (Maoca village story) |
Nezavisne Novine | Residues of Ferhadija at a waste site (fragments of Ferhadija mosque discovered) |
Blic | Blue team had support of 8000 fans from RS (football match btw. SiCG and BiH) |
Vecernje Novosti | |
Srpski Nacional | |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
NATO raids company in Pale owned by Karadzic family
| BH Radio 1, |
FBiH HoP holds extraordinary session to discuss police reform
| BH Radio 1 Ljiljana Radl, RHB – FBiH House of Peoples is to commence an extraordinary session today with only one agenda item – the discussion on the Agreement on police reform. Reporter commented that FBIH HoR has already endorsed the agreement despite very strong criticism, however the HoP’s vote is uncertain due to announcements by the Croat caucus that they will not give their support. |
OHR on SAA, future EU diplomatic presence in BiH
| RS Radio – At today’s press conference in Banja Luka, Ljiljana Radetic, OHR Spokesperson, stated that OHR calls on BiH HoR to adopt Agreement on police reform at Friday’s session in Sarajevo. She also said: “There is a firm hope that by the end of next year the OHR could transform into an EU led mission. This could happen as early as the next elections, in October 2006. Adopting this agreement will open the way for the launch of SAA negotiations and put BiH on the road to the EU – a road already taken by Serbia and Montenegro and all the other countries in the region. The PIC last week affirmed that this process of transition is tied to actual progress in BiH, and that one clear indication to the Steering Board that BiH is indeed firmly on the road to Europe will be when it has qualified for negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU.” |
Political Developments/Reforms | |
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BiH Presidency members Tihic, Paravac, BiH CoM Chair Terzic meets US Under Secretary of State Burns
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘To establish a commission for truth and reconciliation in BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Gratitude to BiH people (for hospitality towards US soldiers and sending troops to Iraq)’, FENA – BiH Presidency members Sulejman Tihic and Borislav Paravac on Wednesday received a senior delegation of the United States headed by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns. The meeting was also attended by BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic. Expressing sincere gratitude for the great support and engagement of the United States in preventing the war and establishing peace in BiH, Tihic, Paravac and Terzic informed Burns about the successfully implemented reforms in all important domains, by which BiH has obtained realistic chances for accessing Euro-Atlantic integration processes, according to a press release issued by BiH Presidency. The officials at the meeting once again underlined the need for bringing to justice all persons indicted for war crimes, especially Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. They also agreed that a commission for truth and reconciliation should be established in BiH. Burns invited the BiH Presidency members to visit Washington on November 21 when the U.S. administration will organize the ceremony of marking the 10th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords. Nezavisne Novine pg 2 inset ‘Burns with Radovanovic’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 reported on Burns’ meeting with Nikola Radovanovic, BiH Defence Minister, which focused on defence reform in BiH. The meeting was also attended by Douglas McElchany, US Ambassador to BiH. |
Ashdown: Politicians should grab this chance!
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Politicians, grab this chance!’, pg 5 ‘We can catch up with SCG’ by Sead Numanovic – The HR Paddy Ashdown urges FBiH and State parliamentarians “not to waste time”, but to “grab the chances” and adopt the Agreement on police reform without changes by Tuesday, adding “one should not wear out oneself with details and sacrifice such award.” In this case, explains Ashdown, the EC would be able to say on 7 November that BiH has done everything about the police and public broadcasting reforms, followed by record 6-week timeframe needed for EU to put together a team which will negotiate with BiH. “If all this happens, the EU Foreign Ministers could give green light for opening [SAA] talks on 12 December,” says Ashdown. Talking about the police reform agreement, the HR points out that this reform does indeed needs five years to be implement having in mind it is to be the most expensive and the biggest reform every carried out in BiH. “Already at the beginning of next year, we can start with establishment of database, making [police] cards, founding of the state forensics institute… Even though a majority of things from the Agreement have to wait September next year, some things can be done now and I don’t think we should waste time,” concludes the HR stressing obstructions will not be tolerated. Inset ‘I support justice Kreso’s stance’ carries that Ashdown said he supports the stance of the BiH Court’s president Meddzida Kreso, who announced upcoming decrease of a number of the international judges. Inset ‘Full cooperation of RS with the ICTY’ – Talking about the meeting with the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Nicholas Burns, Ashdown said they have discussed the police reform and the cooperation with the ICTY. He pointed out that RS authorities at this moment fully cooperate with the ICTY, but more has to be done to ensure Karadzic and Mladic are in the ICTY. |
OHR urges FBiH HoP to adopt police reform agreement on Thursday
| Pink, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Europe is closer and closer’, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 20 ‘Space for joining EU opened’, by Z. Zekic – OHR has welcomed the passing of the agreement on police reform in FBiH Parliament’s House of Representatives, stating that they expect that FBiH House of Peoples and its Representatives will show their orientation towards Europe as well during the session on Thursday. OHR’s Spokesperson Sanela Tunovic stated at a press conference in Mostar on Wednesday that OHR expects all relevant bodies/politicians in BiH not to obstruct passing of this agreement, which will open doors for starting of negotiations on SAA with EU. |
NN op-ed on police reform and collaboration btw. Cavic and Dodik
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘All the presidents’ men’ by Pero Simic – Writing about police reform, the author notes nothing is now clear to him as it is not clear to many persons in RS regarding this issue. Commending the fact police reform concept has been adopted, he hides no surprise over the fact it has come from Dragan Cavic and Milorad Dodik, who collaborated on its preparation. He adds by saying that since no explanation has been provided for this aspect, speculation of all sorts, especially for those curious ones, are possible. |
HDZ’s Madunic: Agreement on police divides BiH in two where there is no room for Croats!
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Agreement on police divides BiH in two where there is no room for Croats!’ by M.K. – Head of the HDZ Caucus in the Federation of BiH House of Representatives Ivan Madunic stated that HDZ would not support the agreement on the police restructuring and he added: ‘Between the lines of the agreement one can see an absolute wish and willingness to preserve the RS and the division of BiH in 2 parts is impossible since in that case there is n room for Croats.’ He added that in the whole story the most dangerous is an open game, which says: ‘The RS is not questionable in spite of what all others think’. He added that HDZ was against the agreement also because there have been attempts to find the solution for the police reform for a year, however, all these attempts failed because of obstruction of Serb politicians. |
Cardinal Puljic: Croats deprived of their rights
| RHB, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Catholics in BiH faced with extermination’ by NINA – Cardinal Vinko Puljic at his speech in Vatican stated that BiH Catholics are faced with some kind of extermination. He further commented that BiH became an IC’s protectorate in which Catholics are deprived when language and religious rights are in question as well as the right to return to their homes. Puljic stated that the IC supports arrogance of Muslim’s majority, adding that the result of such politics is the fact that young Catholic families are leaving BiH, reported Catholic World News. |
HDZ’s Lozancic, Covic urge constitutional changes at public discussion: If RS survives, HDZ will not give up on third entity
| Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘BiH – the country of dissatisfied’ by A.O. – Talking at the HDZ public discussion held in Sarajevo on Wednesday, FBiH President Niko Lozancic said that the constitutional changes must be introduced in BiH and added not only Croats were dissatisfied with the current situation: “If one country has this many dissatisfied people, than something is wrong. Than, we need more just country.” HDZ leader, Dragan Covic, addressed about 100 gathered citizens and presented them with the HDZ’s concept of the constitutional changes. HDZ is in favor of three levels of authorities, but Covic stressed that most of Croats would be happy with only state and local authorities. However, Covic said that there was no chance that the RS could be abolished. “They received message from US, Britain and even Brussels that there will be no erasing of borders if they accept police reform,” Covic said and underlined Croats will not give up on third entity if RS also survives. HDZ also advocates for the establishment of another two state ministries, of agriculture and education, and propose the abolishment of the House of Peoples deeming this institution is inadequate to protect anybody’s rights. Daily comments HDZ has no clear concept, and its only strong stance is opposition to RS existence. |
Danas: Germany warns Covic to drop the 3rd entity story
| Danas, pgs 14-17, mentioned on front ‘Drop the story about third entity’, by Zvonimir Jukic – Reports that a junior delegation of Federal Republic of Germany visited the HDZ HQ in Mostar on October 6 when it clearly warned the HDZ President, Dragan Covic, to give up the story on establishment of a third, Croat entity in BiH. Jukic underlines that the very fact that a junior delegation visited the HDZ shows that official German policy, like the rest of the EU, believe that the current HDZ is an unacceptable partner due to the fact that the HDZ leader is a person charged with criminal acts. Inset ‘Escape from isolation through entity’ argues that the current HDZ leadership led by Covic is using the story about the third entity in order to regain the electorate’s trust, and on top of it, Covic wants to use the third entity issue as an excuse for charges that are pressed against him. |
BiH in the EU – How and When round=-table discussion held in Sarajevo
| Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Talsk on SAA (to start) at the end of the year’ – ‘BiH in the EU – How and When’ was the subject of the round table, held at the Sarajevo University’s Schoo of Economy on Wednesday. The participants were addressed by Deputy Head of EC Mission to BiH, Renzo Daviddi who said that real work was ahead of BiH. Daviddi stated that process of decision-making in BiH was too slow and that the police reform, as one of the conditions for the association with the EU, was just a part of the job that needed to be done. Daviddi said that it was more important for BiH to focus on the reforms themselves and their quality than on the date of its accession to EU. Daviddi sees pretty different political vision of BiH among politicians as one of the big obstacles on that road. |
OHR might close by end of 2006 – senior OHR official
| Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Without High Representative as of next year’, by D. Kozina, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘BiH without OHR by end of 2006?’, by H – Head of the OHR Political Department Edward Llewellyn stated that BiH would not need a presence of the High Representative if its signed the SAA with the EU soon. He added that in that case the OHR might be closed down by the end of 2006. OHR spokeswoman, Sanela Tunovic, explained that the OHR would transform by end of 2006, meaning it would have new authorities and structure of work. Inset in DL ‘Mandate marked with removals’ comments on the tenure of High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, saying that the tenure has been marked with numerous impositions of laws and removals of senior officials. It concludes that due to impossibility to revise HR Ashdown’s decisions, some European politicians called Ashdown the ‘uncrowned king’ |
BiH HoR Deputy Speaker Raguz: DPA cannot secure building of democratic BiH
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17 ‘Dayton has become weight around neck’, by Tomislav Zoric – Carries an interview with the Deputy Speaker of BiH House of Representatives, Martin Raguz, who comments on the recent meeting dedicated to the 10th anniversary of DPA, its results and perspectives, which was organized by Foreign Policy Board of the European Parliament. Raguz says he underlined in his address that the DPA played a historic role in stopping the war, however it does not give possibilities regarding building of a democratic and European BiH. Furthermore, Raguz says that participants of the meeting realized that the DPA has become an obstacle to BiH’s progress, and that there is an opinion that the Annex 4 to the DPA i.e. to the BiH Constitution, needs to be changed. In that context, Raguz says that even Minister Branko Dokic (PDP) stated that the Serb parties were ready to open the issue of constitutional changes. |
BiH Minister Dokic on Brussels session about 10th anniversary of DA
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Srpska is not in question’ by SRNA – Daily reports on statement Branko Dokic, BiH Minister of Transport and Communication, gave to SRNA regarding Brussels discussion on 10th anniversary of DA. He says that Brussels session voice out the view BiH Constitution needs to be changed, noting that majority of participants assessed BiH Constitution needs to b be changed in order to satisfy the criteria of Venice Commission (related to human rights). He says that constitutional changes are possible with the assent of all three peoples in BiH, noting that the concept of federalism was mostly mentioned. He also notes that session concluded use of Bonn power by HR to BiH should stop. According to him, he has pointed out some decisions of HR have jeopardized basic human rights, including autonomy of University, stressing that experts engaged by European Parliament and Venice Commission stated that the issue of RS survival must not be brought in jeopardy. |
DA: Covic will not meet Marten/EPP’s demands
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Covic will not meet Martens’ demands’ by F.V. – The HDZ spokesperson, Miso Relota, told daily that beside the written responded sent last week, the party will not do “anything special” about the objections sent by the Chair of the European People’s Party, Wilfred Martens. Asked whether a number of requests by the strongest European group of rightist parties, including call for renewed elections of HDZ’s leadership, will be met, Relota answered: “Oh, please…” At the same time, Bozo Ljubic, Covic’s opponent at the party’s elections who filed the complaint to the EPP, said that the current leadership couldn’t ignore Europe’s demands |
Leaders of NHI, HSP Djapic-Jurisic meet Ambassador Vrbosic, dailies says Sanader is turning his back on HDZ BiH
| Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Organization: Satisfy needs of Croats in all areas’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Support of Republic of Croatia to HSP-NHI coalition’, by Miroslav Vasilj, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 21, mentioned on front ‘Rightists instead of HDZ to be partners to Sanader in BiH?’, by Z. Zekic – Leaders of HSP Djapic-Jurisic and NHI, Zvonko Jurisic and Kresimir Zubak respectively, met with the Croatian Ambassador to BiH, Josip Vrbosic, on Wednesday, to discuss issues pertaining to constitutional changes. HSP presented its position on the issue, which includes cantonal organization of BiH, the idea that was supported by the Ambassador. SD and VL however underline that it would appear that official Zagreb, namely the Croatian PM and President of HDZ of Croatia, Ivo Sanader, is turning his back on the HDZ BiH, since relations between the sister parties have gone cold. Both SD and VL notice that official Zagreb is interested in activities of the Croat opposition in BiH following the European People’s Party’s letter to HDZ BiH (that requests new internal party elections). |
SDS Presidency to hold special session on Friday
| Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Members dissatisfied with Cavic’s agreement on/concept of police reform’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Financing of party and work of Cavic on agenda’ by V.P. – Reporting that Dragan Cavic, SDS President, ahs scheduled SDS Presidency session for Friday in Banja Luka, daily notes referring to SDS source that agenda will include discussion on financing of party, expressing fear that HR might launch further actions and measures against SDS and its Boards. Source also notes that some members of the party close to Cavic expects that HR will reduce sanctions against SDS, owing to Cavic’ involvement in police reform. Same source also adds that SDS Presidency may raise the issue of responsibility of Cavic, bearing in mind that a large number of SDS Boards, especially from east RS, is not satisfied with the RS NA decision on police reform. Hence, the SDS Boards from east RS demand issue of Cavic’ culpability be analysed. |
Danas: SDP leader Lagumdzija received US Democrats’ support for his 7-point agenda
| Danas, pgs 32-33, mentioned on front ‘Seven SDP’s priorities for election victory’, by Marijana Malic – Reports that the SDP President, Zlatko Lagumdzija, spoke to leaders of US Democrats, including the leader of Democrats, Howard Dean, during his recent visit to the US. Apparently, Lagumdzija presented SDP’s 7 priorities that BiH need to fulfil in order for the country to prosper, which received the Democrats’ backing. Apparently the priorities included arrest of Karadzic and Mladic; completion of defence and police reform; constitutional reforms; lowering of tax rates of basic provisions; building of Corridor Vc; fight against organized and economic crime and education reform. Danas concludes that it is clear that the Democrats will support the SDP and its partners both politically and financially in order to win next BiH elections, underlining that the pendulum, when it comes to IC’s support, is swinging towards the SDP, HSS, NHI and SNSD, especially having in mind that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, will leave the country soon.. |
Crime/Legal Proceedings/Security/Judiciary | |
| Vecernji List, pgs 2-3 ‘ |
RS Govt. with NGO’s urge establishment of Institute for investigation of crimes against Serbs
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘To found Institute for investigation of crimes against Serbs’ by D.R. – Wednesday’s meeting between RS Government and several NGO’s concluded that it is necessary to strengthen activities aimed at establishment of Institute for investigation of crimes committed against Serbs in BiH and a separate Commission for suffering for Serbs in Sarajevo. The RS Government’s Coordination Team in charge of this issue and NGO’s, dealing with issues related to suffering of Serbs during the war in BiH, agreed that the Sarajevo Commission should be working in line with the method Srebrenica Commission did. |
BiH Prosecutor’s Office confirms it received Srebrenica Report | Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘BiH Prosecutor’s Office received Report on Srebrenica’ by R.Cengic – BiH Prosecutor’s Office Wednesday confirmed that it has received Report on Srebrenica, without announcing any further detail. Daily reminds of previous statement from Prosecutor’s Office announcing investigations. |
SIPA, BiH Prosecution signed agreement on mutual cooperation
| RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Special reams for investigation into war crimes’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Revealing of war criminals above all priorities’ by M. Zorlak, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Police agents would be working with prosecutors on war crimes investigations’ by eme, Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Joint investigations on war crimes agreed’ by A.Sisic – SIPA Director Sredoje Novic and BiH Chief Prosecutor Marinko Jurcevic signed the Memorandum of mutual cooperation between these two institutions in investigations into war crimes and organized crime. The Memorandum should make easier work and cooperation between these institutions. |
EC continues financially assisting HJPC
| RHB, Pink, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Euros 2.5 million as support to judiciary in BiH’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Humhreys: Efficient judiciary crucial for EU membership’, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘BAM 5 million for reform of Courts and education’ by R.Cengic, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘EURO 2.5 million to judiciary’ by D.S. – The Head of Delegation of the European Commission in BiH, Ambassador Michael Humphreys, and Director of Secretariat of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, Elmira Pasagic signed the contract on continuation of EC assistance to HJPC valued at € 2,5 million. This donation is a support in processes of modernization and reforms in BiH and strengthening BiH institutions in order to become a reliable partner to IC. |
Prosecutor McNair: ‘Jelavic will be arrested and handed over to BiH authorities’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Jelavic will be arrested and handed over to BiH authorities’ by F. Vele – Commenting on the Ante Jelavic case Prosecutor John McNair stated that: ‘We believe that Jelavic will be arrested and handed over to our authorities so that he can serve his term in BiH.’ McNair refused to say on which information he based this statement since the Croatian authorities sent a clear message that they would not extradite Jelavic. McNair also said that the Prosecution does not have an official confirmation that Jelavic is in Croatia at all. He added that they primarily rely on information coming from SIPA, that SIPA established contacts through Interpol Zagreb and that the Prosecution expects new information. |
Croat parties fail to adopt statement that would support Jelavic
| Dnevni List, pg 3 ‘Request to support Ante Jelavic denied’, by V. I. – DL learns from an anonymous source that during the last meeting of Croat parties held on Monday, which was dedicated to the issue of constitutional changes, Zeljko Koroman from the Croat Rightists’ Blockwanted the Croat parties to issue a statement supporting Ante Jelavic, which was supported by Rade Bosnjak (HDZ), however following intervention by the leader of NHI, Kresimir Zubak, who resolutely said that no support will be given to Jelavic, because the meeting is dedicated to constitutional changes, the initiative was dropped. |
VL: Processes against Croat officials are politically motivated
| Vecernji List, pg 6 ‘Justice in shadow of persecutions’, by Petar Grubisic – Carries an op-ed in which the author, whilst commenting on processes conducted against BiH Croat officials, argues it is not justice that is the ultimate goal of the processes, instead it is about political prosecution of people who are standing in the way of some plans. To back his claim up, Grubisic underlines that expert witnesses’ findings have cleared Dragan Covic of any wrongdoing, however the prosecutor in charge does not want to drop the charges. |
DA: ‘Matijasevic and Andan undermine FBiH MoI’
| Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Matijasevic and Andan undermine FBiH MoI’ by E. Sarac – According to DA well-informed sources, only a few days after the agreement on the police reform had been adopted RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic and RS Police Director Dragomir Andan started an offensive whose goal is undermining the FBiH MoI grounds and survival of the RS police. The source added that in order to implement this plan the two of them found like-minded persons in Ministers of Interior and Police Commissioners of the Cantons with the Croat majority (DA describes that as ‘exponents of the politics that aspires to bring back in life the so-called Herceg Bosna’) and their meeting held in Mostar two days ago should be seen in this context. According to the source, it is not coincidence that the host of this meeting was the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Minister of Interior, Tomislav Martinovic, since during the sessions of the Police Reform Commission he supported the Matijasevic’s stand to preserve the current situation in the police area. Commenting on this issue Spokesperson of the FBiH Police Administration Robert Cvrtak said that they support the joint work of the police in prevention of the organized crime, however, he also added that it is surprising that the meeting was organized contrary to the legal provisions and that the FBiH Police Administration, which is according to the law competent for prevention and revealing of criminal acts, terrorism etc., was bypassed in this case. RHB, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Crime is not regional problem’ not signed, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Illegal meeting of police officials’, by NINA, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 23 ‘Amazement over meeting that is contrary to regulations’, by F carried FBiH MoI/police administration press release on the issue. |
EUPM surprised with unannounced meeting in Mostar attended only by RS and some FBiH Cantonal Ministers of Interior
| FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Carty: What is the purpose and motive for the meeting in Mostar’, FENA – The EUPM must express its surprise with a meeting held on Tuesday in Mostar that was organised and attended by the Minister of Interior and Director of Police from the Republika Srpska and by the Ministers of Interior of four of the Cantons in the BiH Federation – Canton 6, Canton 7, Canton 8 and Canton 10. The meeting was supposedly held to discuss co-operation on fighting serious and organised crime, EUPM said in a press release issued on Wednesday. The EUPM wishes to emphasise that it was neither informed nor invited to participate or observe at the meeting. According to reports in media the EUPM notes that the meeting discussed and agreed several forms of co-operation between the various police institutions of BiH in a more effective fight on organised crime. If this was the objective EUPM must wonder why senior representatives of SIPA, the SBS, the BiH Federation Ministry of Interior, the Brcko District Police, as well as the Police Commissioners from the seven other Cantons of the BiH Federation were not invited? |
VL warns of porous BiH borders
| Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Smuggling at 400 illegal border crossings’ and pg 4 ‘One official for eight kilometres of borders’, by Eldina Medunjanin – According to VL’s information, there are between 250 and 400 illegal border crossings in BiH, and on top of that, VL claims there are cases where one State Border Service officer is covering 8 kilometres of BiH borders, which makes their tasks almost impossible. |
Brcko authorities visit village of Gornja Maoca | Glas Srpske cover pg splash ‘Osama is not a terrorist’ by M.Djurdjevic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Vehabis claim they did not threat to Croats’ by pg 3 ‘Vehabis claim they did not threat to Croats’ by N.T. – Dailies report on Wednesday’s visit of the members of the press to the village of Gornja Maoca near Brcko, following publication of report in “Vecernji List” (claiming this community is a threat to Croats). Reports carry statements of few tenants, including Enes Mukovic, unofficially chief of Islamic community in this settlement, who denies all claims against tenants of this village, noting that they are not Vehabis, but instead Sunies. Mukovic did not allow any pictures of him be taken, but just wanted to give a statement. He also qualified all allegations against Osama bin Laden fabrications, adding that Laden and his followers are fighting for freedom and their rights. Mukovic also confirmed they have heard HDZ Brcko filed a suit against them, announcing counter-suit against HDZ Brcko and its President Ante Domic. The visit of journalists to the village was organized by Ivan Krndelj, Brcko Assembly Vice President and HSS delegate, who stated at the end of visit that: “we came here to calm down tensions that have been stirred up lately. I have seen these people live hard lives and have no appropriate living conditions. They seem to be friendly and that we can have good relations with them.” RHB, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni List, pg 4, mentioned on front ‘’Wahhabi’ announce lawsuit against HDZ’, by M. Batarello also covered the issue. |
Economic/Social Issues/Education | |
FBiH Railways planning to buy modern trains by 2009
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pgs 16-17 ‘To world at 230 kmph with Talgo’, by Dinko Pasic – The article notes that the FBIH Railways are planning to buy 9 modern trains with coaches from the Spanish ‘Patentes Telgo’ company, which should be made operational in 2009. Memorandum of Understanding was signed last year. |
VL on situation in Zepce elementary schools, Croat parents want textbooks in Croatian language
| RHB, FTV, Vecernji List, pg 5 ‘Politicians in quarrel, children in school’, by Branka Janko – VL notes that Croat pupils of the 1st and 2nd grade that attend elementary schools in Zepce according to the new 9-year curriculum have not been going to classed for 10 days and it looks likely that it would continue until the Parents’ Council’s request are met. Namely, the Council wants that children use textbooks printed in Croatian language. In the same time, the Head of Municipality, Mato Zovko, is calling on the parents to send their kids to school, and the municipal authorities are pointing the finger at the Zenica-Doboj Canton Government for not providing the textbooks in Croatian on time. |
Professor Lukic affair: Professors at Banja Luka, Eastern Sarajevo Law Faculties support University’s autonomy
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Remember Dorothy Gott’ by M.Filipovic/Z.Domazet – Daily carries statements of Professors from Law Faculties from Banja Luka anad East Sarajevo, Nikola Mojovic, Mile Dmicic, Miodrag V. Orlic, commenting on the issue of Radomir Lukic. They all share the view that University autonomy and academic freedom should be respected, stressing that University Council, not RS Government, is the only one in charge of appointments and removals from Office. Orlic gives an example of a secondary school professor from Germany, who was dismissed over her membership at communist party, who filed suit with Strasbourg Court and won it, getting compensation. EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Government and OHR in favour of removal of Lukic’ by Mirna Soja – Daily learns at the Secretariat of Law Faculty in East Sarajevo that the Council of Law Faculty East Sarajevo will hold a session on Saturday and discuss request of RS Government regarding removal of Radomir Lukic from the position of Law Faculty Dean. |