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| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Police officer in | FBiH Government in session | Tihic-SDA on situation on RS |
| 100.000 died of overdose in EU | Workers of Agrokomerc protest | BiH HoR convened |
| | Fire kills 16 children in | Outgoing RS Government convened |
TV news broadcast on
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| BIH HoR in session | VAT Law text adopted | BIH HoR in session | Situation in Trebinje |
| BIH Presidency in session | Robbery in | VAT Law text adopted | Srebrenica donations |
| Covic met with Leakey | Story on abandoned baby | Law on excise tax | Murder in Pale |
| Farmer’s protests | Croatian Self-rule case | Power plant projects | Islamic office robbed in BL |
| Oslobodjenje | Confidential sources are the biggest chance to capture indictees |
| Dnevni Avaz | The World Bank did not asks us to give up |
| Dnevni List | Self-rulers’ to confront each other!? |
| Vecernji List | 10.000 people in BiH get sick with cancer each year |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Mysterious deaths of Konjic Croats |
| Glas Srpske | Petar pours, Petar serves |
| Nezavisne Novine | Indictment for embezzlement of 166 million KM will be brought soon; Bukejlovic’s “Real partners’ has not made a single business deal in the course of two years; Neighbors claim a wrong person was killed; “Nezavisne” exclusively publish parts of Biljana Plavsic’s book “I testify” |
| Blic | Terrorist from |
| Vecernje Novosti | Blockades of accounts have started; Delic was writing the order |
| Nacional | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| FBiH Government in session
| BH Radio 1 – Following the session today, the FBiH Government has submitted the draft laws on the changes to the FBiH Crime Code and the FBiH Law on Pardons. The text of the laws are the same as pronounced by the High Representative on |
| Osmanovic on RS political situation; SDA officials hold mtg in
| BH Radio 1, RS Radio – RS Vice-President, Adil Osmanovic, believes that the political situation is this entity is getting too much complicated, especially due to the statement of RS President, Dragan Cavic, who said there is no place for SDA, SBiH or SDP in the new RS Government. “That statements shows arrogant stance towards Bosniak people,” said Osmanovic in |
| Agrokomerc workers still protest
| BH Radio 1 – By Mirza Sadikovic – After yesterday’s negotiations with the FBiH Energy, Industry and Mining Ministry failed, the workers of Agrokomerc company from Velika Kladusa resumed protests today. They seek from the FBiH Government to re-launch production process and to appoint new management, refusing announcement of the Government that the session of shareholders is to take place in February. Workers said that unless the Government responds to their requests by the end of this week, new protests will be held on 17 January. |
| Dismissed customs workers protest | BH Radio 1 – About 30 dismissed customs officers are protesting at Kamensko border crossing demanding from ITA to inform them on the criteria applied in process of dismissing the staff members. |
Political developments/reforms/cooperation with ICTY | |
| HR Ashdown int with Oslobodjenje
| Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 3 ‘Confidential sources are the biggest chance to capture indictees’ by A. Prlenda – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, says that he would not disclose confidential information on war crimes suspects’ whereabouts, adding these sources are the best chance to capture them. Commenting the accusations coming from RS that he breaches BiH Constitution by asking for abolishment of entities defence ministries, HR says he would respect the decision of the |
| VL announces interview with HR (whole interview to be published on Friday)
| Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Paddy Ashdown: Ratko Mladic was in Han Pijesak’, mentioned on front, ‘Mladic was hiding in Han Pijesak’ by Z. Kresic announces an interview with High Representative Paddy Ashdown which will be published on Friday. VL says that, among the other things, the HR stated in this interview that Ratko Mladic was in Han Pijesak last year and added: ‘I know that Mladic was there. He was there and I have clear evidence about it, although I cannot reveal the source in public. The investigation will show how this happened and what should be done that this does not happen again.’ VL also says that in this interview the HR did not exclude a possibility of sanctions for hiding and helping war crime indictees. Ashdown also said: ‘We shall see what the investigation will reveal.’ |
| Statement of Day: HR Ashdown | Dnevni List pg 2 carries in its ‘Statement of Day’ High Representative Paddy Ashdown as saying: ‘ |
| Bosnian Presidency members Tihic and Covic held separate meetings with EUFOR Commander Leakey
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Full support to EUFOR’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Full support to EU forces’ by NINA, SRNA – The Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, and EUFOR Commander David Leakey stressed at Wednesday’s meeting in Sarajevo the need for speeding up the defence system reforms. Tihic’s office says that they discussed the current political situation and EUFOR’s tasks in BiH. One of the priorities emphasized by EUFOR was the search for and arrest of war crimes suspects, which will, as Leakey pointed out, continue to be a condition for BiH’s membership of the Partnership for Peace [programme] and signing of the EU’s Stabilization and Association Agreement. Leakey assessed that the fight against the support network for war crimes suspects and organized crime was equally important, as these two networks were closely linked. In this respect, EUFOR will intensively collaborate with the SIPA (State Information and Protection Agency), Intelligence-Security Agency, Indirect Taxation Administration, as well as the police and other structures in BiH. Tihic voiced his full support for EUFOR in carrying out its mission in BiH, the statement said. RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Together against crime’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Covic talked with EUFOR Commander’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Close cooperation between authorities and EUFOR is necessary’ by eme, ONASA – BiH Presidency member Dragan Covic held talks in Sarajevo on Wednesday with the EUFOR Commander, British Major-General David Leakey, on implementation of defence and police reforms in BiH. BiH is an important stability factor, not just in the Southeastern Europe but in a broader region, hence the speed of implementation of the defence and police reforms, which are underway, as well as full cooperation of local authorities with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and apprehension of persons indicted for war crimes are extremely important, agreed both Cavic and Leakey. In the sense, they stressed the need for close cooperation between BiH institutions and EUFOR, the BiH Presidency said in a statement. During talks on mission and perspectives of EUFOR in BiH, the interlocutors assessed that EUFOR ought to continue to take part in creation of safe environment in the country. They also stressed the role the EUFOR will play, in cooperation with relevant local authorities, in fight against organized crime. According to Covic, successful fight in that field would assist commitment of local authorities to strengthen democratic state which endeavours to overcome the difficult economic situation in the country. FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Apprehension of war criminals an EUFOR priority’ also reported on the meetings. |
| BiH Presidency appoints new ambassadors
| RHB, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Branimir Mandic appointed new ambassador to Hungary’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, FENA – The BiH Presidency relived of duties on Wednesday Mirsa Muharemagic as the BiH Ambassador to Hungary and appointed Branimir Mandic as the new ambassador to that country, BiH Presidency member Dragan Covic told a press conference in Sarajevo on Wednesday. The BiH Presidency gave approval for the appointment of Ibrahim Dikic as the Ambassador to the OSCE in Ashgabat, the capital of Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘Covic: I will investigate on claims on Kesic’s wartime role’ by A. S., Glas srpske, pg. 3 ‘Kesic is not disputable’ by Srna also reported on the session quoting Covic as saying he would investigate into the war past of Branko Kesic the newly-appointed BiH Ambassador to Croatia. |
| BiH Presidency again postpones discussion on BiH Ambassador in
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Ivanic asks for Vasilije’s removal; Topic takes investigation to beginning’ by Azhar Kalamujic – The BiH Presidency on Wednesday again postponed the discussion on the request by BiH Foreign Minister in resignation, Mladen Ivanic, to remove Krunoslav Vasilj from position of BiH Ambassador in Jordan. The discussion was postponed upon request of Dragan Covic, and with an approval of Borislav Paravac. Instead, the Presidency again ordered CIPS to investigate whether Vasilj illegally accessed the BiH visa database, despite the fact that the Ministry’s investigation team [according to daily] already concluded that Vasilj did commit such breach. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Lepa Babic, underlines Ivanic will not give up on his demand, adding that he still sticks to the findings presented in the report. However, Ivanic’s Deputy, Lidija Topic, says that there is a need to make a detailed revision of Embassy’s work in |
| Croat member of the BiH Presidency Covic on issue of RS Prime Minister designate
| Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Covic: I do not wish for failure of RS Prime Minister designate’ by M. Zorlak – Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic stated at the press conference which was held after the BiH Presidency session on Wednesday the following: ‘We could talk about the situation in the RS only if the RS Prime Minister designate proposed by the RS President does not get the majority in the RS National Assembly. The crisis in the RS would have been emerged in this way and I do not wish for it at all.”Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘Dragan Covic: it is possible the crisis would prolong’ by A. S., Glas Srpske, pg. 5 ‘Even deeper crisis?’ not signed also carried the statement. |
| NN on Bukejlovic
| Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘Bukejlovic’s “Real partners’ has not made a single business deal in the course of two years’ and pg. 4 ‘Bukejlovic’s “Real Partners has not made a single business deal’ by P. Klincov – Several collocutors of Nezavisne Novine have confirmed that Pero Bukejlovic have been unsuccessfully attempting for two years to bring foreign investors to RS. He, with help of two Italian firms, has established “Real Partners” firm for consultancy and services with a seat in A collocutor from RS Government claims they have held many meetings at RS Government and Privatization Agency, which gave no results. |
| NN op-ed on Bukejlovic, HR
| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 7 ‘Dead-end street’ by Pero Simic – the author criticizes the appointment of Pero Bukejlovic and says it is no wonder a majority of people think Ashdown’s support to Cavic is actually a story on the easiest method of throwing RS on its back. ‘Ashdown could deny this by seeking for smarter partners for our better future, instead of those who have brought us to the edge of a cliff. Unless he intends to make Albania, instead of Belgium as he announced, out of BiH’, the author says. |
| Trade Unions on Bukejlovic
| EuroBlic, pg RS2 ‘Syndicate defends Pero Bukejlovic’ by M. DJ. – The representatives of the Syndicate of “RS Railways” and Doboj Company of “Trudbenik” regard the attempts to discredit the RS-PM designate Pero Bukejlovic as inadmissible. “Trudbenik” Syndicate denied claims that “Trudbenik” was producing mines for the opposed side during the war. Simic said that at the time Bukejlovic was Director of this Company, the company had recorded good business results. |
| RSNA Speaker Stojicic says RS PM-designate secures parliamentary majority without SDA, raises issue of confidence to CoM
| Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Confidence to Terzic under question’, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 14 ‘Raise the issue of confidence to Terzic’, by A. Macanovic,Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘We have a majority for the election of RS Government’ by V. Popovic, Glas srpske, pg. 5 ‘First the Government, then the rest’ by D. Z., ONASA – The new Republika Srpska prime minister-designate, Pero Bukejlovic, has already secured support from the necessary parliamentary majority, without the ruling Party of Democratic Action (SDA), RS National Assembly Speaker Dusan Stojicic said, without naming the parties that voiced their support. “I do not wish to speak of the parties that support Bukejlovic at this time. Certain political parties have made statements guaranteeing the existence of parliamentary majority, excluding the SDA,” Stojicic said, adding that he expects the PM-designate to present his cabinet and a programme of the new government’s activities within 40 days. Commenting on the situation at the BiH Council of Ministers, Stojicic said “it is obvious that the institution is in a crisis”. According to Stojicic, the appointment of the new RS government will determine the “political approach” to resolving the crisis at the Council of Ministers. Stojicic said that a solution to the problem is opening of the issue of confidence to the present Council of Ministers and its chairman Adnan Terzic in the BiH parliament. |
| VL editorial on BiH CoM
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘BiH CoM to meet as late as in 60 days’ by dj says that the next session of the BiH Council of Ministers might take place as late as in two months. VL also says: ‘Although Chairman of the BiH CoM Adnan Terzic is trying to reduce the extent and consequences of the authority crisis it is more than obvious that the halt in the work of the BiH CoM might completely stop processes of reforms. Proposals of laws drafted by Ministries cannot be sent to the parliamentary procedure without the consent of the BiH CoM. The whole crisis might finally result in prolonging the beginning of negotiations on stabilization and accession with the EU.’ |
| Blic on CoM, political crisis
| EuroBlic, pgRS1 ‘Hiding of crisis’ by Rajna Radosavljevic and Nedeljka Breberina – The article quotes Spokesperson of CoM Chairman Bojan Zec Filipovic as saying ‘Considering the fact that the entire reform package, which is being implemented in BiH, is based on a full cooperation between entity governments and CoM, it is very important for RS Government to be established as soon as possible, in order for BiH to be able to continue fulfilling pre-requisites for the admission to EU’. The Head of SDA Caucus at RS NA, Tarik Sadovic, thinks the Parliament too might soon enter a crisis if the CoM does not become functional again. PDP is of the view that hesitation of CoM is actually a consequence of calculations of other parties. PDP delegate Velimir Sakan refused to comment on whether partnership relations between SDS, PDP and SDA would be put in jeopardy at the state level if SDA Ministers fail to become a part of the new RS Government. |
Economic/social affairs | |
| Hadzipasic denies WB demands form FBiH Govt to give up on changes of privatization law
| Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘The World Bank did not asks us to give up’, pg 3 ‘WB did not asks us to give up on the changes of Privatization Law’ by M.K. – FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, in a statement to DA denies allegations published by Zagreb based Nacional according to which FBiH Government has received the letter from the World Bank with a warning that the law regulating changes to the privatization must be postponed. Nacional wrote that WB asked from Government to do so until there is an endorsement of an action plan on corporate restructuring and privatization management to be lead by the World Bank in a 20 million KM worth project. Hadzipasic also explains that the WB and FBiH Government both work on the restructuring of economy in the Federation, however the project of the joint, coordinated program has not been defined. |
| BiH HoR adopts BiH Budget, VAT Law
| RHB, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 6,mentioned on cover ‘A single VAT rate of 17 percent adopted’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘VAT Law, 2005 Budget adopted’, by F. Cardzic, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Realistic budget for state institutions adopted’ by J. Petrovic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Because of new institutions in BiH budget to be bigger by 30 %’ by E. Medunjanin, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘2005 budget was adopted’ by M. Cubro, FENA – The BiH House of Representatives adopted on Wednesday the draft budget of BiH institutions and international commitments for 2005, which totals 581,3 million KM. 336,7 million KM will be used for financing institutions and 244,5 million KM for servicing foreign debt. The Intelligence-Security Agency has been included into the Budget for the first time. Most of the budget revenues, 251,5 million KM, are planned from the account of the Indirect Taxation Administration. Representatives also adopted the law on the implementation of the BiH Budget. In the course of the session, the House adopted the Report of the joint harmonization commission, which had harmonized the text of the Law on VAT foreseeing imposition of a single VAT rate of 17 percent. Nineteen representatives voted in favour of the Report, 11 voted against, and three representatives abstained. |
| Trade Union leaders Biber and Volas on VAT
| Dnevni List pg 7 ‘VAT will cause social unrest’ by A. Beus – President of the BiH Trade Union Edhem Biber and President of the RS Trade Union Cedo Volas sent a letter to the BiH Parliamentary Assembly and the BiH Council of Ministers in which they stressed that the VAT introduction will directly cause rise in prices and fall of living standards of BiH citizens. Dnevni Avaz pg 12 also carried the statement. |
| Director of
| Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 12, mentioned on front ‘Group of politicians smuggled four trucks full of Marlboro’, by Blanka Magas – Carries the CEO of Banja Luka tobacco factory, Dubravko Prstojevic, as saying that the hastily adopted law on excise taxes on cigarettes has, among other issues, revived the smuggling of tobacco and cigarettes. Prstojevic said that he was personally informed with a fact that four trucks full of ‘Marlboro’ entered BiH illegally three days ago, and he accused some politicians and MPs in the BiH Parliament of being involved in the scam. Prstojevic said he would reveal their names in case a new law on tobacco and excise tax is not adopted within 60 days. |
Legal proceedings/judiciary | |
| BiH Interpol deputy director Fazlic gets another custodial sentence
| Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘Fazlic again in custody’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Asim Fazlic must again go to custody’, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2 ‘A detention was again ordered for Fazlic’ not signed, SRNA – The Court of BiH passed another custodial sentence on deputy director of BiH’s Interpol Asim Fazlic, who failed to attend the resumption of his trial on Wednesday. According to Fazlic’s defence lawyer Senka Nozica, the tribunal for hearings in absentia annulled last December’s decision by the court council – presided by Susan Moller – on granting Fazlic bail. Nozica informed the court council that Fazlic was admitted to the |
| Trials in ‘Croat self-rule’ postponed
| Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘’Self-rulers’ to confront each other!?’, by Erna Mackic, Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Postponement until February 14’, by zk, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 4, mentioned on front ‘Trials to ‘self-rule’ postponed because of Jelavic’, by Z. Tulic – Trials to Ante Jelavic, Ivo Andric Luzanski, Zdravko Batinic, Petar Milic, Miroslav Prce, Dragan Curcic and Marko Tokic in the ‘Croat self-rule’ case has been postponed for February 14. The decision was taken yesterday (Wednesday) by a Panel of Judges of the BiH Court, presided by judge Pietro Spera, at the request of the defendants. According to one of defendants’ lawyer, Josip Muselimovic, the postponement was requested because this case coincides with the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case in which Jelavic is involved too, and it requires extra time to prepare the defence. (NB: Despite the headline in DL reads ‘’Self-rulers’ to confront each other!?’, the article itself does mention any possible conflicts among the defendants) |
| DL editorial on engagement of foreign judges in BiH judiciary
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Objectivity of trials’ by E. Mackic carries an editorial in which the author criticizes the fact that foreign judges are working on the most serious court process in BiH such as the Hercegovacka Banka and Croat self-rule cases. The author concludes that they actually occupy positions that only BiH citizens can occupy and in this way they violate both, the BiH laws and the BiH Constitution. |
| Update on Alijagic case
| Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Court ordered payment of war compensation amounting to millions KM to Salih Alijagic’ by NINA – With regard to the fact that the Trebinje Municipality account was blocked since on the ground of the court decision all funds are being directed on the account of Salih Alijagic (as the compensation for the damage caused to his company during the war), the Head of the Trebinje Municipality Dobroslav Cuk stated that the Trebinje Municipality will ask High Representative Paddy Ashdown to pass the decision on postponement of execution of the aforementioned court decision until the law which will define the way of meeting the debt towards Alijagic is passed. Cuk added that in case that they do not get help with regard to this case they will call Trebinje citizens on civil disobedience. Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ‘Another account was blocked’ by V. Duka and D. Risojevic – the article reports another account of The account of “Metalac” firm was blocked too, but there was no money at the account. In the meantime, RS Government has requested from HJPC to reconsider the decision of EuroBlic, pg. RS2 ‘The Government too is facing a blockade’ by Tijana Veselinovic and Vedran Mihojevic – carries a statement of Salih Alijagic: ‘I expect from the competent court in Banja Luka to block the account of RS Government as well in the next several days, since it is obliged to pay compensation to me’. BHT, RTRS also covered the issue. |
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| Nezavisne Novine, pg. 6 ‘Accounts of Vlasenica Municipality were blocked as well’ by V. P. – Vlasenica Mayor Dragomir Stupar has confirmed that the account of the Municipality was blocked because of verdicts in favor of five Bosniaks to which the Municipality has to pay 310,000 KM as compensation for property that was destroyed during the war. |
| RS Elektroprivreda case
| Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3 ‘Indictment for embezzlement of 166 million KM will be brought soon’ by A. Sisic – BiH Prosecutor’s Office Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption has confirmed that an indictment will be brought soon against former “RS Elektroprivreda” officials Bosko Lemez and Svetozar Acimovic and their associates, who are suspected of embezzlements amounting in millions of KM. International Prosecutor Johnatan Ratel has confirmed the Prosecutor’s Office is conducting an investigation on several organizations and agencies that have had business relations with “RS Elektroprivreda”. He refused to reveal any details. |
Miscellaneous | |
| Wnendt visits Faculty of Islamic Studies
| Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Wnendt visited Faculty of Islamic Studies’ by E.S. – The Senior Deputy High Representative, Werner Wnendt, on Wednesday visited the Faculty of the Islamic Studies in Sarajevo and meet with the dean Enes Karic to discuss the development of the inter-religious dialogue, building of BiH, etc. Dean also informed Wnendt on a series of classes to be introduced in order to educate the students on religion and society. SDHR said he would support school’s intention to ensure a part of the finances from Sarajevo Cantonal Ministry of Education. |
| VL: ‘Malignancies become BiH’s plague of 21st century’
| Vecernji List, front pg splash ’10.000 people in BiH get sick with cancer each year’ and pg 5 ‘’Malignancies become BiH’s plague of 21st century’’, by Marko Bandzic – According to medical doctors’ estimates and statistics data, some 10.000 people in BiH get diagnosed with malignancies each year. According to VL’s information, malignancies are caused because of the stress accumulated during and after the war and because of low-quality food in BiH. |
| SD: Konjic is dangerous place for local Croat population
| Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 13 ‘Mysterious deaths of Konjic Croats’, by Danijel Ivankovic – The author notes that Konjic has become a dangerous place to live in if you are a Croat, saying that there were 8 mysterious deaths of Croats in the municipality in 2004. SD goes on to say that the most mysterious was the death of one Viktor Celic, on whom Dr. Ilijas Dobraca from |