| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Macedonian PM in BiH | Macedonian PM in BiH | Macedonian PM in BiH | Details of plane crash |
| Details on plane crash | SFOR’s responsibility | SFOR’s responsibility | Minister of Defence? |
| SFOR’s responsibility | Mostar conference | Ljiljana Karadzic int | PDP Press- Conference |
| Macedonian Govt statmnt | Privatisation – a mistake | Independence Day | Ljiljana Karadzic int |
| Oslobodjenje | “You are flying low, you have to lift up now!”; Ashdown’s message to authorities: Politicians intimidating people are a danger for BiH |
| Dnevni Avaz | Bosniaks were greatly overlooked; French flight control will have to give statement; Independence Day: Referendum used for aggression |
| Dnevni List | Flight control cannot escape investigation; Beecroft: Discrimination must not be tolerated anywhere; Officers with secondary school education must leave army |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | A letter of Nenad Balaban to HJPC: Malcolm does measurements and cuts |
| Nezavisne Novine | Macedonian Premier visited the site of plane crash: Crvenkovski demands full investigation; Rade Rakulj: Pension increase or protests in Republika Srpska; Audit at Banjaluka Tobacco Factory: Privileged contracts at their own cost |
| Blic | Prime Minister Crvenkovski accuses SFOR: Disputable place of analysis of the black box; The Federation does not want pensioners from RS |
| Vecernje novosti | Controllers ‘flew away’ |
Macedonian plane crash | |
| Macedonian PM arrives to BiH; SFOR’s responsibility in accident widely speculated
| FTV, Dnevni Avaz cover, entire pg 4, Nezavisne Novine cover, pgs 2 & 3 ‘Crvenkovski demands full investigation’ – Macedonian Prime Minister, Branko Crvenkovski on Sunday visited the scene of the plane crash, which took place on Thursday killing the Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and other eight persons. Crvenovski was joined in this visit by Macedonian Interior Minister Hare Kostov and Justice Minister Idzet Memeti and accompanied by the Chairman of Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic. Bodies of victims are expected to be taken to Macedonia this week. Crvenkovski talked with BiH authorities about the causes for the plane crash. BiH, Macedonian and SFOR experts listened to the taped conversation between flight control and crew. RTRS – The tapped conversation between the flight control and plane crew was reported to be a secret, as according to Macedonian Director for Civil Air Traffic, Ilir Memedi, all participants had to sign a statement obligating them to keep it a secret. Oslobodjenje cover splash, pgs 4&5 “You are flying too low, you have to lift!” – However, according to Oslobodjenje source, the taped conversation lasted for 25 minutes, also including unexplained seven minutes of pause. Source, who on Thursday night listened to the tape, said that the last order given by flight control was: ‘You are flying too low, you have to lift now!’ Oslobodjenje also claims that about half an later after the accident, two other planes carrying participants of the International Investment Conference landed in the Mostar airport, meaning that SFOR control by that time still did not close the airport for further traffic. [Media widely reported that] French flight controller left the country the very same day of the accident, while SFOR explained that his mandate expired. BHTV 1, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 5 ‘Must the ‘black box’ go to Paris?’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Response at black box’ – Crvenovski also said that the Macedonian Government has expected the report on correspondence between BiH authorities and SFOR on 26 February, date of plane crash. BiH Prime Minister, Adnan Terzic, announced investigation into the contradictory information that lead investigation to wrong direction. He added that retrieved black boxes, which were previously reported to be sent to Paris, will probably be investigated in Germany, as USA and France were interested sides, one as a country of plane’s origin, and other as the country of flight controllers. RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘To establish all facts about the accident’, Dnevni List front splash, pgs 4&5 ‘Flight control cannot escape investigation’ –Macedonian Prime Minister, Branko Crvenkovski met with BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak, BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic and with Mostar Mayor Hamdija Jahic and his Deputy Ljubo Beslic, with whom he discussed the details of the plane accident and results of investigation. |
| Crvenovski claims SFOR admitted communication mistakes following crash; SFOR denies mistakes | FTV, BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz cover, pg 4 ‘French flight control will have to give statements’, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘To establish all facts about the accident’, Nezavisne Novine cover, pgs 2 & 3 ‘Crvenkovski demands full investigation’, Dnevni List front splash, pgs 4&5 ‘Flight control cannot escape investigation’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Response at black box’, Blic front, pg 6 ‘Disputable place of analysis of the black box’, Vecernje novosti front, pg 11 ‘Departure of controllers’ – Boris Crvenovski stated that the French flight control could not be excluded from the investigation into the plane crash. Crvenkovski said: “I do not have the information if the flight control is in France or BiH, but they cannot escape the investigation. Their statements will be taken, and recording with conversations between the pilot and flight control will be listened to”. According to agreement between SFOR and BiH, SFOR troops cannot be hold criminally responsible, including the flight control. In this regard, Crvenkovski said that there are international rules about plane crashes that no one can avoid. “SFOR admitted some contradictions, which disrupted investigation”, said Crvenkovski, and added that this also referred to the channelling information to the public. Macedonian PM said this was admitted by the SFOR Deputy Commander Simon Young. RTRS – SFOR Spokesperson, Dave Sullivan, denied that SFOR admitted mistakes in communication and stressed that SFOR was not to be blamed for the accident. BiH Ministry of Transport and Communications said that there is no place for any kind of speculations about this accident. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘SFOR denies Macedonian Government claims SFOR made a mistake’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘There was no mistake’ – Dave Sullivan, SFOR Spokesperson, yesterday denied these claims saying that: “It is absolutely wrong. SFOR is not the main communication agency, but Federal Interior Ministry.” Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Not informed about SFOR’s mistakes’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Comprehensive investigation requested’, pg 5 ‘DNA analysis carried out by expert teams in Republic of Croatia’ – Chairman of BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic said that BiH Government will do everything to find out the truth. Tihic added that BH Presidency will seek SFOR’s explanation as to why BiH authorities were not allowed to participate in the investigation at first. Dnevni List pg 4 ‘French flight control not on BiH territory any more?’– carries an SFOR spokesperson, Dave Sullivan, as saying that the Deputy Commander of SFOR, Simon Young, informed the Macedonian PM Crvenkovski about the complexity of the whole situation. According to Sullivan, safety of rescue parties was the priority: “Had we let the teams to go ahead, knowing that the ground is mined, and if the people trod on them and died, we would be asked why we had not taken the responsibility. This was about safety and responsibility. Had we let the Federation Army or some other team’s choppers to take off and later on to crash, you would ask why we had not taken responsibility and why we allowed those people to fly”, said Sullivan. RHB – Chairman of Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic stated that he is to meet with SFOR Commander Virgil Packett, in order to analyse the events around the investigation of Macedonian plane crash. |
Political issues | |
| Paravac: 1 March means nothing to Serb people; Bosniak politicians mark Independence Day
| RTRS, FTV, SRNA, Slobodna Dalmacija back pg ‘1st of March holiday means nothing to Serbs!’- BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac believes that Serb people do not regard March 1 as their national day nor the day bears any significance to them. “On contrary, it is the day that brings back negative memories in our people of the Bosniak-Croat referendum on secession of BiH from Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia”, Paravac told SRNA commenting the significance of BiH Independence Day. He said that the referendum, held in 1992, had been scheduled “ignoring Serb people’s will”. RHB, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3, Dnevni Avaz entire pg 2,Dnevni List pg 15 ‘Mostar Mayor Jahic congratulates Independence Day’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘A road towards lasting peace’– On Monday, BiH celebrates its Independence Day. Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, FBiH Prime Minister Ahmed Hadzipahic and BiH Civil Affairs Minister Safet Halilovic, and Mostar Mayor Hamdija Jahic congratulated the citizens. Blic pg 13 ‘Private celebration’ – “The invitation of the Chairman of BiH CoM, Adnan Terzic, to the reception that will be organized on the occasion of the BiH Independence Day on March 1 can be seen as a deliberate political provocation that does not contribute to the stabilization and development of political relations, which we all plead for”, as the Deputy Chairman of the BiH Parliament HoR, Goran Milojevic, has stated. “This date brings uncomfortable memories on tragic conflicts in BiH to Serb people”, Milojevic pointed out and added that, until an adequate law on holidays is adopted at BiH level, he would treat such celebrations and manifestations as private. |
| Editorials on Independence Day | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘BiH Independence Day’ op-ed by Faruk Cardzic – Author reminds of 1 March 1992, when BiH voted in favour of its independence at the referendum widely boycotted by Serbs. Noting that this ethnic group still did not celebrate this day, author said that the reason for this might be that they were still hoping of achieving their unification with Serbia whenever through peaceful way. Noting that, regardless to those opinions, 1 March is true BiH Independence Day, author concludes: “Sooner opponents of independency accept that, people in BiH will start living better that it is the case today.” Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘For one’ op-ed by Ibrahim Prohic – Author notes that it was a sad fact that half of the state did not mark BiH Independence Day and that only Bosniaks congratulated the citizens. Using this as paradigm for the political situation in BiH, editorial concludes that rotation in BiH presidency will not bring nothing new or any improvements. |
| Ashdown: Politicians intimidating people are a danger for BiH | Oslobodjenje cover, pg3 ‘Politicians intimidating people are a danger for BiH’ by Senka Kurtovic – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown estimated that, regardless to fact that there were eights month to local elections, BiH was already in ‘hot period’, claiming that this period for some politicians and political parties was used to return BiH into past. Ashdown met with editors of several BiH media, and said that “politicians in BiH these days have been competing numbering casualties, stressing sufferings of their ‘own’ national groups, complaining of being endangered.” Ashdown said: “The easiest thing is to scare people. But, that is destructive and a big danger for BiH.” He specifically stressed the campaign lead around the issue of equal representation of Bosniaks in judiciary, condemning all trials to make a pressure against high judicial and prosecutorial councils, while he said that Croat people keep stressing bad situation in education. “These are dangerous trials in which fear is ace card used to play dangerous game. And all that with an aim to win voters. They try to intimidate people with past events”, stressed Ashdown. |
| Tihic: Bosniaks are greatly overlooked and not equal | Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Bosniaks were greatly overlooked’, pg 5 ‘Bosniaks were greatly overlooked and in addition are unequal’ by Faruk Cardzic – In an interview to DA, Chairman of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic said that his new position would enable him to launch more initiatives and to deal with coordination of body’s activities. Asked whether he believed that BiH would fulfil all demands for Partnership for Peace, Tihic said he was optimistic that on Monday Council of MInister would appoint state Defence Minister and he added that other appointments to the BiH armed forces would be completed soon. As for the representation of Bosniaks in judiciary and police, Tihic said: “I am talking about that since last year, especially when it comes to security structures. I clearly point that in RS everything is mono-ethnic, and that persons responsible for war crimes or those who did not prevent war crimes… were included in structures over there. I informed High Representative and EUPM who are these people exactly. As for judiciary, I am firstly in favour of equal representation of all peoples, which is not the case right now, especially when it comes to highest positions. Bosniaks were greatly overlooked there, and in addition they are unequal.’ Following journalist’s comment that statements like that were seen by OHR as pressure against judiciary, Tihic said: “This, and my previous statements, were not any kind of pressure as some from the international community try to deceive the public. That is not the pressure against those institutions… But, it is my constitutional obligation to protect equality of all peoples, including Bosniaks.” |
| VL: Bosniaks hold three of five crucial offices in BiH’ | Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Bosniaks hold three of five crucial offices in BiH’ by Dejan Jazvic – Noting that the Bosniaks are at the moment holding three of five crucial offices at the state level [chairman of BiH Presidency, of BiH CoM and Speaker of BiH House of Peoples], the author notes that it is “interesting, and bit absurd, that this happens at the time when Bosniak political leaders push for the alleged inequality of Bosniaks in state institutions and judiciary.” |
| DL on naming streets and squares in BiH
| Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Give Alija a street’ by Ivica Glibusic – The author argues that the public in BiH is wasting too much time on whether Sarajevo and other cities in BiH will be getting streets that would carry the name of late Alija Izetbegovic, and instead, reckons the author, the public in BiH should be focusing on economic issues. However, Glibusic notes if people decide to erect a monument or pay tribute to someone by naming a street, be it in Sarajevo or Mostar, that should not trouble anyone. The author goes on to say that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, consciously or not, fell for the media noise and banned the changes to names of streets in Mostar, thus breaking democratic principles. Glibusic says: “When it comes to naming of streets and squares in east Mostar after Alija Izetbegovic, I believe if the majority wants it, nobody should mind it. Same, if the Croats in west part of the city want to rename streets or squares after Franjo Tudjman or Mate Boban, let them do it. It is democracy, is it not.” |
| Mikerevic participates round table on European integrations held in Trebinje | Blic pg 13 ‘Mikerevic: To preserve the identity of RS’ – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic has assessed during his visit to Trebinje that the primary goal of the RS Government was to preserve the identity and subjectivity of RS within the constitutional structure of BiH, as well as that the RS should be an element of stability and not an element of disturbances in BiH. Mikerevic has participated at the public tribune in Trebinje titled ‘RS and BiH at the path of European integrations’. He emphasized that the general guidelines of the RS Government for this year were economic reforms, further democratization of the society and reform of the rule of law. |
| SDS Main Board to discuss resignation by party’s presidency | RHB, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Today about resignations at SDS’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Resignations on the table’ – Session of the SDS Main Board has been scheduled to take place on Monday evening in Srpsko Sarajevo. According to the SDS Spokesperson, Dusan Stojanovic, the Main Board will discuss the resignation filed collectively by SDS Presidency, which they submitted after the Decision of High Representative, Paddy Ashdown to dismiss Mirko Sarovic. |
War crimes | |
| Radovan Karadzic’s family on his whereabouts | RTRS, FTV, Dnevni List pg 11 ‘Radovan is warm and he eats well’ – Last Saturday’s edition of the Italian-based “Corriere della sera” carries an extensive interview with Ljiljana and Sonja Karadzic, the wife and daughter of Radovan Karadzic, titled “We, the Karadzics, are still at war”. The two claim that Radovan is warm, that he is in touch with a big number of people and in good hands. His wife Ljiljana adds that Radovan is busy writing his self-defense but declined that he intends to surrender. She also says that he knows it is his people that keep him alive. |
| Srebrenica Commission update | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Hague will submit all information’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Hague Tribunal will submit all documents requested’, Blic pg 12 ‘PDP: we expect the truth on crimes’, FENA – Chairman of Srebrenica commission, appointed to reveal the truth about events that took place in 1995, Marko Arsovic, stated for FENA on Sunday that the ICTY will submit to Commission all its relevant documents. Reminding that two Commission members recently visited the Hague Tribunal, Arsovic explained that documents should be received by 4 March: “They expressed full will to submit everything they have about Srebrenica tragedy to the Commission.” Arsovic also said that the commission teams were already on the field, working on collecting information in area of Srebrenica, Vlasenica and other towns. Commission is also expected to start with interrogating witnesses soon. |
| PDP on Sarajevo War Crimes Commission | RHB, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘PDP: commence with investigation in Serb suffering’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘PDP seeks Commission for crimes in Sarajevo’ – Jelina Djurkovic, the PDP delegate to BiH House of Representatives, stated that she expected the Commission investigating the truth about Serb suffering in Sarajevo will reveal what was happening in BiH capital during the war. At the press conference held in Banja Luka, Djurkovic said that Council of Ministers will establish this commission by June, which should complete its work by the end of the year. The Commission should also deal with crimes committed against other ethnic groups, including Jews. |
Economic and social issues | |
| Updates on Mostar Investment Conference | BHTV 1 – International Investment Conference held in Mostar announced arrival of foreign capital to BiH. Large Europian companies confirmed their interest in some of the projects that were presented. “MobilCom” from Austria is interested in privatisation of BiH telecommunication companies and offered to be the third mobile operator in the country. Foreign companies also showed interest in privatisation and reconstruction of hotel “Neum” and former Olimpic mountains. Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Foreign investors showed interest’ – In a brief statement to NN, Branko Dokic, BiH Minister of Traffic and Communication, says that the foreign investors have showed a large interest for the industries of transport, communication and telecommunication. Commenting further on Mostar conference, he says that “a large number of the stakeholders are supportive of highways. Foreign investors concretely showed interest for several projects.” Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Development based on foreign investments’ – Coordinator of the BiH Development Strategy Zlatko Hurtic estimated that BiH could be proud of the Mostar conference, and added that it has been clear that donors aid in BiH was decreasing and that the country cannot anymore rely on it for further economic development. Hurtic also said that so far there was no big interest of foreign investments for BiH, while authorities now had a change to change that: “We said that there were a number of issues that make BiH competition ability more difficult. Looking at the countries in the region, we are not much of a competition. Establishment of the companies here takes of time, and is very expensive, electricity is very expensive, telephone impulse is very expensive and everything will have to be advance in order to make this area much more able for competition for foreign investors.” Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘We should not expect investors would rush in BiH’ – The joint assessment of several participants of Mostar conference [Mirza Hajric, Director of FIPA, Dragan Vrankic, Federal Finance Minister, Nijaz Sabanovic, General Manager of Bosmal] is that it should not be expected that effects of Mostar conference would be observable in a day or so. According to them, it was a perfect opportunity for them to present their firms to foreign investors. And everything mainly depends on foreign investors. |
| Session of Circle 99 concludes privatisation process a failure | BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Privatisation as dogma’ – Association of the Intellectuals ‘Circle 99’ held its session on Sunday, focusing on the issue of privatisation process and impact it had on BiH economy. General conclusion was that privatisation, so far, destroyed BiH companies and the only way out of an unpleasant situation was revitalisation, high-quality management and prevention of the political influence on economy. FTV – “Transition plan was frivolous. It was impossible to change economic situation during a night. The only thing privatisation made possible was a robbery”, said conference participant Dragoljub Stojanov. |
| DL int with Beecroft on equality in employment | Dnevni List front pg, pgs 8&9 ‘Beecroft: Discrimination must not be tolerated anywhere’ by Nermin Bise – Questioned to comment on the situation that some companies in Mostar, such as “Aluminij” and “Tobacco factory”, are not employing their pre-war employees just because they come from line of other peoples, the Head of OSCE Mission to BiH, Robert Beecroft, says that no discrimination must be tolerated. “The OSCE mission to BiH has in the past nine years actively worked with BiH authorities and citizens to ensure the respect for the human rights, through giving support to development of reliable and efficient institutions that deal with protection of human rights. In order to achieve that, we in the OSCE have developed a programme called ‘Equality in work and employment’, the aim of which is to raise awareness about standards of discrimination and rights of workers. But, equality in work and employment can only become reality when leaders in BiH show respect and mutual tolerance and focus on quality and virtues”. |
| NN int with President to RS Pensions association | Nezavisne Novine cover, pg 9 ‘Pension increase or protests in Republika Srpska’ – In a brief interview to NN, Rade Rakulj, President of the Republika Srpska Association of Pensioners, says that if February pensions were not increased, the RS pensioners would organise mass protests. After RS PIO Fund announced pensions would not be increased, Rakulj said he expected the entity Government to do the same, stressing that RS pensioners felt they were cheated once again, while their living status is getting worse. |
Defence issues | |
| Appointment of BiH Defence Minister
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Terzic says: Dumic is closest to appointment; Dumic says: I do not know I am a candidate’, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Minister at the door’ – the Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, confirmed that he may today appoint Dragan Dumic as the first defence minister of BiH. However, Dragomir Dumic, attorney from Bijeljina and SDS member, claims “no party official, nor any official of BiH joint institution informed him he was a candidate”. |
| VL says there were illegalities in FBiH MoD | Vecernji List pg 4 ‘Minister Nikolic orders checks, nobody obeys’, by Ivan Kaleb – Arguing that new affairs are shaking the FBiH MoD and FBiH Army, VL reports that the Office for audit of FBiH budget, which carried out a complete audit of financial reports belonging to the FBiH MoD with the closing date of 31 December 2002, prepared a 35-page report on 11 July 2003. VL goes on to say that on basis of the report and conclusions and proposals passed by the Board for defence funds, the FBiH Defence Minister, Miroslav Nikolic, on 9 September 2003, took a decision instructing various sectors and public attorney to carry out inquiries and establish responsibility in case of illegalities. Apparently, the report completed by the Office for audit of FBiH budget detected several illegalities worth millions of KMs. VL concludes the piece by saying that the last deadline on December 31 (2003) has passed, and that nobody obeyed Minister Nikolic’s decision. |
| FBiH Army on discharge of troops | Dnevni List front, pg 3 ‘Officers with secondary school education must leave army’ by Ivica Glibusic – The Head of Information Department of the FBiH Army, Brigadier Hamza Visca, told DL that there were efforts to complete list of soldiers for discharge, by March 15, in order to discharge a determined number of soldiers by March 31. In that context, Visca says the BiH Presidency is expected to sign a decision on future structure of the military and pursuant to that, to take a decision on deployment of the FBiH Army troops. Brigadier Visca notes there aren’t many volunteers for the discharge, which is specially a case with senior officers with secondary education who are aware that they cannot stay in the army. |