| RADIO HERCEG BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| BiH Presidency Session | Candidate for MoD | Decisions of F Government | Appointment of BiH MoD |
| BiH HoR session | Reforms issues | Appointment of MoD | Round Table in Banja Luka |
| FBIH Govt Session | BiH Hor in session | BiH Presidency agenda | RS Government Session |
| IC Concern | CoM in session | BiH HoR in session | BiH HoR session |
| Oslobodjenje | Tihic to leave office of SDA President!? |
| Dnevni Avaz | Bakir Izetbegovic: There is no conflict (inside SDA), there are different judgements |
| Dnevni List | Terzic: Bosnia and Herzegovina will enter Partnership for peace within set deadline; New names on list of Karadzic’s associates; RTV subscription through telephone bill |
| Vecernji List | Four ministries again moving to Mostar!; Bank robberies: Nova banka robbed, robber of Hypo bank (on picture) still at large |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Serbs get defence, Croats get ‘SIPA’, Bosniaks get ‘OSA’ |
| Glas Srpske | Draft law on ban of smoking at public places: Penalties to extinguish cigarettes; Directorate for privatisation: Skrbic and Kovacevic to leave!? |
| Nezavisne Novine | Following agreement between SDS, SDA and HDZ: Branko Stevic as defence minister, Almir Dzuvo as OSA Director; New dramatic warning of OHR: BiH authorities obstruct reforms; Clifford Bond: Three American agencies compiled “black list”; Bosko Siljegovic: SDS may leave executive authority; Republika Srpska Government : Officials of Republika Srpska Directorate for Privatisation dismissed; Fight against smoking in Republika Srpska: No smoke in coffee bars |
| Blic | Mladen Ivanic: Europe is still far away; ‘Blic’ investigates: Vehabijas in BiH and Serbia |
| Dani | Whom arrested Deputy Director of Interpol Asim Fazlic protected? Zijad Turkovic was a member of a gang that stole 4 million KM in Germany |
| Ljiljan | Exclusive report: Eid in Bam; University professors: Bosnian professors do not exist in the world of science |
| Slobodna Bosna | What is behind SDA campaign to change the name of Sarajevo main street: the murders of Marshall Tito |
Political developments/reforms | |
| BiH Presidency agrees to NATO force being replaced with EU force
| BH Radio 1, Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg. 6, mentioned on the front page ‘De-miners from BiH go to Iraq’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Negotiations to be launched on sending BiH troops to Iraq’, Vecernji List page 2 “Replacement of SFOR accepted”, by d.ja.Dnevni List, page 3 “Transfer of authority from NATO to EU supported”, by E. Mackic – At a session in Sarajevo on Thursday, the BiH Presidency endorsed a report on the further presence of international forces in our country, and concluded that their presence was still necessary and that the peacekeeping force should in the future have a mandate similar to that of SFOR. The Presidency also adopted a schedule of its members’ visits abroad, and a report on three important conferences which will be held in BiH. The Presidency believes it is acceptable that SFOR be replaced with the EU force, but would like its mandate to be defined by a UN resolution. It also believes that a way must be found within the mandate of this force to maintain the presence of the US forces. This is what was decided at the session, among other things, Presidency member Sulejman Tihic says, adding that the future peacekeeping force should have the following tasks: “To reorganize and make operational the defence institutions at the state level, and to support the effort to meet the conditions for the Partnership for Peace. To train the armed forces of BiH to carry out their tasks stipulated by the constitution, the defence law and the defence policy of BiH. To adopt standards for equipment and training, and arrest war crimes suspects.” The Presidency decided to authorize the secretariat of the Standing Military Committee to appoint a liaison officer with the command of the US forces in Iraq, so that the negotiations on the engagement of BiH in the military mission in Iraq could begin. “This is not a set condition, nor is it an instance of blackmail by the USA. It is the implementation of a previous decision by the BiH Presidency that our troops should take part in other peacekeeping missions, just as we decided today that they be sent to Eritrea. As far as I know, a mine-clearance unit could be sent to Iraq,” Tihic said. The BiH Presidency decided that the conference of the presidents and prime ministers of the Cooperation Process in Southeast Europe should be held on 21 April. This would be the end of BiH’s chairing the organization. One of the most important events for BiH this year would be the opening of the Old Bridge in Mostar, Tihic said. He added that, among the visits by foreign statesmen to BiH, one of the extremely important ones would be the visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which should take place in the first half of this year. |
| Round table discussion on Dayton held in Banja Luka | Herceg Bosna Radio, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Dayton as Pandora Box’, Vecernje Novosti p 5 ‘Only from the Dayton’, Blic p 12 ‘The Dayton holds BiH’, FENA – The RS National Assembly organised a roundtable titled “Is Dayton BiH Sustainable” in Banja Luka Thursday. RS National Assembly Speaker Dragan Kalinic said in the opening address that the “Dayton Accords and the BiH Constitution, as its integral part, are not an obstacle for advancing authorities of BiH and its entities and that because of this there is conviction in the RS that the opening of the package called Dayton would be equal to opening the Pandora’s box. This is why the overwhelming view on our part is that the Dayton BiH is sustainable and that it can as such enter the EU together with other neighbouring countries in the region”. RS President Dragan Cavic also expressed confidence that the BiH constitutional structure defined by the Dayton Agreement does not pose an obstacle for BiH accession to the EU and Euro-Atlantic structures. He said that it is in the interest of all BiH peoples to start taking responsibility for their future. “Paddy Ashdown is the last High Representative, foreigners will then leave and we will stay by ourselves”, Cavic said. He reminded that BiH is not the only complex state and cited the example of Cyprus, which despite of not having common institutions joined the EU. Nezavisne Novine pg. 2 ‘Possible superstructure of Dayton’; Glas Srpske pg. 2, ‘Dayton is not tight’ also reported on the issue. According to RS dailies, Slobodan Kovac, BiH Justice Minister, stated that there is no consensus of all three constitutive peoples of BiH to initiate the change of Dayton Peace Agreement. He said that Dayton Agreement could only be built on. Miloard Dodik, SNSD President, is of the view that Republika Srpska should be affirmed as a part of BiH, while initiatives for change of DA from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina officials should be regarded as “personal views of those individuals”. |
| BiH HoR session | BHTV, Herceg Bosna Radio, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg. 8 ’12 measures stopped at the very beginning’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 – After House of Peoples, the House of Representatives of BiH Parliament has accepted the proposal on establishment of the special commission, which will investigate the conditions under which the arrestment of Ante Jelavic and Miroslav Prce was conducted. FBiH Parliament has rejected this, because they thought this would present the interference in Judicial work). BiH HoR has also accepted the Law on Production of Arms and Military Equipment, by which the control over this is organized at the state level. This Law predicts that the licence for arms production can be issued only by BiH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations. The Deputies have also accepted the changes of the Law on Conflict of Interests, by which the circle of state officials’ close relatives who can’t be employed by the Government is narrowed. According to Nikola Spiric, Chairman of HoR this Law is maybe unnecessary in other countries, where everyone knows what the conflict of interests presents, but BiH is country in transition and this Law will be helpful. |
| OHR warns Mostar statute must be implemented | Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Obstruction of legislation’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 4 ‘It is about call on obstructing state legislation’, FENA – “To reject the High Representative’s decision enforcing a law is an active call to obstruct the BiH legislature, since the High Representative’s decisions are part of the legal framework of BiH,” OHR spokesman Vedran Persic said on Thursday, commenting on the decision of Mostar North municipality to reject the decision on the organization of Mostar imposed by the High Representative. “Law implementation is an obligation of all state officials,” Persic said. |
| Officials of Mostar Municipality North do not give up self-rule | Dnevni List (page 8, “Paddy Ashdown must correct his decision?!”, by V. Kljajic) carries that members of the Venice Commission will arrive to Sarajevo today and, among other things, they will discuss with leaders of the Federation of BiH Parliament shutting down of local self-rule in Mostar. DL says that spokesperson of the Mostar Municipality North, Miralem Gluhovic, confirmed this information. DL also says that yesterday SDA Mostar officials met with lawyers in this Municipality in order to discuss a modus according to which conclusions from the last session of the Municipal Council of the Mostar Municipality North should go to the parliamentary procedure at the level of the FBiH. Gluhovic also said that they put their hopes on the Constitutional and Legal Commission of the FBiH Parliament and the Venice Commission adding: “We want correction of the decision passed by High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, but in a democratic way, without any kind of force but through a dialogue. I believe that a favorable solution can be reached.” DL says that various associations and non-government organizations in this Municipality are exerting pressure against local politicians not to accept the imposed solution for Mostar. According to DL information, some groups are even ready to provoke incidents such as blockade of roads. Gluhovic said: “I am afraid that in case that the HR does not respect the decision and will of citizens, I believe that that none would like to be in this area when people take matters into their own hands.” |
| IC/BiH representatives meeting on reforms | Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, Dnevni List front page splash and page 4 “Terzic: Bosnia and Herzegovina will enter Partnership for peace within set deadline”, by Erna Mackic, Vecernji List, page 2 “Too slow for conditions for NATO and EU”, by E. Medunjanin, Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘BiH authorities obstruct reforms’, Oslobodjenje pg. 7 ‘Reforms too slow, BiH missing train for PfP, EU’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 8 ‘Accession to PfP by the end of the year’ – Senior representatives of international organizations working in Bosnia and Herzegovina met the principal authorities of the State of BiH and the Federation of BiH, at the OHR in Sarajevo on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays and Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt. A complementary meeting will be held with the RS authorities in Banja Luka on Friday. Hays called on the BiH authorities to make additional efforts in order to qualify BiH for accessing the Partnership for Peace and satisfy the preconditions established to begin negotiations with the European Union on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Time for implementing the planned activities is running out and it is necessary to invest maximal efforts so that BiH could join PfP at the NATO Summit in Istanbul and fulfil over 40 new conditions set by the EU, warned Ambassador Hays at a press conference, which was organised after the meeting of international and BiH officials. Ambassador Hays said that all participants of this meeting at OHR expressed readiness to do their utmost in order to provide for the timely realisation of all activities in carrying out the two mentioned priorities of BiH. The OSCE Head of Mission, Ambassador Robert Beecroft, and the Senior Deputy High Representative, Werner Wnendt, also indicated the necessity of respecting the underlined deadlines, stressing that this also refers to the fiscal and education reforms, as well as the reforms of the intelligence-security sector and public administration. They stressed that the process of accessing Euro-Atlantic integration represents a “two-way street” in which the candidate-countries must satisfy the necessary standards, instead of only expecting to gain certain benefits. BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic called on all participants of the political process in BiH to contribute to realisation of the Action Plan, which was harmonised with the European Union. Similar messages were also made by FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, who stressed that implementation of the reformatory plan requires full coordination and synchronised activities of the legislative and executive authorities. |
| Lozancic meets with EC’s Humphreys | Herceg Bosna Radio, Oslobodjenje pg. 4 ‘EU is key BiH’s challenge’, Dnevni Avaz pg. 5 ‘Self-sustainable state key challenge for BiH’, FENA – FBiH President Niko Lozancic met on Thursday with the Head of the European Commission Delegation to BiH, Ambassador Michael Humphreys. They exchanged information on implementing the Feasibility study and fulfilling the conditions set for beginning the negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union. They emphasised the requirements for strengthening the State institutions, building of defence structures compatible with NATO standards, the rule of law and continuation of launched economic reforms. Talks also focused on functioning of different authority levels in BiH, Mostar Statute and others matters of mutual interest. Dnevni Avaz pg. 5 ‘Implementation of reforms will have to be accelerated’ – In an interview with the newspaper, Humphreys presents EC positions regarding the current political situation in the country and ongoing reforms. |
| Interview with Mladen Ivanic
| Blic front page and p 13 ‘Europe is far away’ carries a full-page interview with Mladen Ivanic in which he gave his position regarding BiH integrating into military integrations, BiH image in the international circles, revision of the Dayton Agreement, diplomatic appearances in public, military engagement of the international forces in BiH in future, visa regime, the case of Darko Trifunovic and terrorism presence in BiH. Asked when BiH would become independent, Ivanic stated: ‘BiH will never be without the presence of international institutions. Nevertheless, I expect that the mandate of direct and strong role of the High Representative and strong military troops should expire by the end of 2005. Ten years after the war, there is no need for a subordinate position of BiH and such role of the High Representative’. He is also of an opinion that even after this time, a high representative will still be present, without the right to impose laws and replace politicians but only to supervise the situation. |
| Cavic on future activities of SDS | Blic p 12 ‘Cavic: I will not resign’, Nezavisne Novine pg. 4 ‘Resignations at SDS are irrevocable’ – ‘The irrevocable resignation of the SDS leadership automatically implies holding of an election session of the party, at which the president, deputy president and members of the SDS Presidency would be elected. The session will be held in the second half of February’, Dragan Cavic has stated. He has also stated that it had not crossed his mid to resign from the position of the RS President ‘because party positions have nothing to do with positions at the authority institutions’. |
| Siljegovic on SDS | Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 4, ‘SDS may leave executive authority’ – In a brief interview to NN, Bosko Siljegovic, member of SDS Chair Board and SDS delegate at BiH House of Peoples, says that “SDS may soon leave the executive authority”. He underlines that the resignation of SDS Presidency was followed with serious political crisis in Republika Srpska. He added that: “SDS Congress could announce we no longer want to be a part of the Republika Srpska Government, where we are subject to constant pressures and restrictions.” |
| NN editorial on SDA | Nezavisne Novine editorial by Mirza Cubro, pg. 7, ‘Tihic’s empty shot’ – The author is wiring about current rifts at the SDA, resulting from the failure of Sulejman Tihic to remove Ahmet Hadzipasic from the position of Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also refers to recent statements by Bakir Izetbegovic, who was critical of Tihic. The author concludes that by having confronted Tihic, Bakir Izetbegovic has ensured his victory at the coming elections. The author also claims that Hasan Cengic and Omer Behmen would also play the crucial role in this clash, because two of them firmly believe that only one Izetbegovic could succeed Izetbegovic. |
| Oslobodjenje: Tihic to leave post of SDA President!? | Oslobodjenje front page, pgs. 4-5 ‘Tihic to leave post of SDA President!?’ – A few members of the SDA Presidency are seriously thinking about to propose to SDA President Sulejman Tihic to resign from the office, learns the newspaper from the source close to the party top leadership. Dnevni Avaz front page, pg. 3 ‘There is no conflict (inside SDA), there are different judgements’ – SDA Vice-president Bakir Izetbegovic denied existence of any serious political conflicts inside the party leadership (between him and Tihic). He said that it was just about different opinions/assessments re certain issues. |
| Belgrade’s Nacional on Ashdown | Nacional Belgrade daily p 6 ‘Ashdown favours Muslims’ carries an article with the subtitle: ‘Worrying analysis of the intelligence information of the USA Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministry are available for public’. Among other things the article reads: “Paddy Ashdown had come to the position of the High Representative after the removal from the position of the leader of the British Liberal Party and he had used an opportunity to ask to be introduced to nobility (Lord Ashdown), yet he had also brought history of favouring Muslims and their goals. His deputy, American Ambassador Hays, who owes his carrier to the Clinton administration, especially to then American representative to UN Richard Holbrooke, had openly supported Muslim leader Alija Izetbegovic, although it has been proven that Izetbegovic had actively participated in providing Al-Q’aida with help in the attacks against USA on September 11. In October 2003, Hays escorted his former boss Clinton and Richard Holbrooke through Bosnia, representing him as ‘the next USA Secretary’, supposedly after a victory of democrats at the presidential elections. Holbrooke and Clinton had been providing Izetbegovic with a great support. Now it seems as if the attempt of Hays to cover up USA relations with Al-Q’aida and Iranian clerics has been directed towards selecting relations of the Clinton’s administration with the terrorists that had participated in the attack on September 11. Clinton now supports the presidential (almost) candidate Wesley Clarke, his chief commander who had followed his orders to attack and bomb Yugoslavia. Albanians in USA and other parts of the world had generously financed both of Clinton’s candidacies and now they are financing Clarke, as it has been published at his Internet page.” The article goes on to explain that three main groups of mujahedeens have been established in BiH during the past three decades, and it also reads that all groups use funds gained through drug smuggling controlled by Albanians or Muslims of Bosnian or Serbian origins. |
| Ljiljan on reforms | Ljiljan pgs 36&37 ‘Europe or catastrophe’ by Mugdim Hasanovic – Reminding of the HR Paddy Ashdown’s warning that acceleration of the reforms in BiH was an imperative for European BiH future, author wonders “will our politicians really lead us to Europe?” Outlining the main conditions laid down by EC before BiH, author analyses “the reason for which our politicians could obstruct our future” nothing: “Simply, the politicians from Serb entity are deciding based on their interests for a long time, as the survival of RS as the unit functioning without state institutions was more important than reforms. And the EU institutions want to have a contact only with state institutions in all fields, because they are not interested in state parts. On the other hand, there are Bosnian Croat politicians… interested in strengthening of political and economic powers of Federation, but also the strengthening of their powers in the state institutions, if possible. When it comes to Bosniak politicians, everything is in such a mess. There is no doubt, their interest is in strengthening of state institutions… and that interest is stronger from interests of Serb and Croat politicians. However, it is not understandable, and it is truth, that certain Bosniak politicians also obstruct the implementation of 16 conditions.” Author concludes that the road before BiH in order to join Europe is a hard one, nothing: “Europe wants state of BiH in Europe, and not the politicians with party’s and geographical interests.” |
Economic/social issues | |
| FBiH Government on RTV tax
| BHTV, Herceg Bosna Radio, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List front and page 5 “RTV subscription through telephone bill”, by Miso Relota, Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘Collection of fees at the model of a single bill’ – At a session in Sarajevo on Thursday, FBiH Government brought a decision about the payment of RTV taxes and ordered BiH Telecom and HT Mostar to sign a contract with PBS and FTV on the issue. The RTV subscription fee will be specified on one bill together with fixed phone costs. Adoption of this decision means fulfilment of one of the conditions from the EC feasibility study, as well as assurance of the PBS financial independence. Although month and a half late, this decision of FBiH Government will equalise the ways of RTV subscription payment in FBiH and RS. European Commission is satisfied with this decision, which, according to EC Spokesperson Frane Maroevic will ensure the existence of financially independent PBS, like it is the case in other democratic countries. |
| Diplomatic Forum: Economic Reforms and Enhancing Competitiveness | Oslobodjenje pg. 5 ‘Government delays reforms’, FENA – Governmental officials, representatives of the international community in BiH, economic associations, independent intellectuals and representatives of the public gathered on Thursday at the Fourth Diplomatic Forum, which is dedicated to economic reform and strengthening of BiH’s competitiveness. Participants of the Forum discussed the steps that must be taken by the state institutions in the sense of improving the business environment and the economic image of BiH, and boosting the concurrency of BiH’s economy. Reforms, according to Principal Deputy High Representative Donald Hays, should liberate the potentials for new visions and boosting of concurrency. Hays reiterated the obligations of authority officials and the deadlines that must be obeyed on the road to European and international organisations. He stressed the importance of further reform implementation in the field of indirect taxation and preparations for introduction of VAT. “The capabilities of politicians who are committed to implementation of reforms will be judged, not by their wishes, but the ability to implement them”, said Hays. Representative of BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs Djordje Latinovic emphasised that the state-level lacks an economic analytical unit capable of monitoring different processes, which would create platforms for any state strategy. BiH, he added, does not even have “state marketing”, i.e. a designed approach to impose its competitive advantages to the world. Diplomatic Forum is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and German Foundation Friedrich Ebert, which is aimed at gathering officials, independent intellectuals and representatives of the public in attempt to define BiH’s position in regard to important foreign-policy matters. |
| RS Privatisation Directorate officials removed | Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Skrbic and Kovacevic to leave!?’; Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2, ‘Officials of Republika Srpska Directorate for Privatisation dismissed’ – The Public Administration Agency has proposed to the Republika Srpska Government to dismiss 16 servants from their positions, since they do not meet necessary requirements to assume those positions. Such list includes the names of Goran Skrbic, Director of Republika Srpska Directorate for Privatisation, and Milan Kovacevic, his assistant. The agency established two of them have not passed their state exams and gave them deadline until 9th January to do so. According to NN, the Republika Srpska Government has already removed Skrbic and Kovacevic from their positions, since they failed to pass state exam by the date set. Namely, they were removed on Tuesday. |
Defence/security | |
| Minister of Defence
| BHTV, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List front “Croat at head of SIPA” and page 2 “Croat at head of SIPA!?”, by Miso Relota, Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘Branko Stevic nominated as Serb candidate for Defense Minister’ – According to agreement reached on Wednesday by BiH Political Parties’ representatives the new BiH Minister of Defence will be the representative of Serb people, Chief of Joined Command of Military Forces will be the representative pf Bosniaks and Chief of the Operational Command of Military Forces will be Croat. This agreement was reached on Wednesday in Banja Luka and it was also agreed that new Director of Intelligence- Security Agency will be Bosniak and Director of State Information and protection Agency (SIPA) will be Croat. The SDS candidate for the position of Minister of Defence will be Branko Stevic from Bijeljina. This was confirmed by Stevic himself, even though he didn’t want to speak in front of cameras. Branko Stevic is lawyer and he has served in two mandates as Chief of the Police and at the moment he is the Deputy Head of Bijeljina Municipality. Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 3, ‘Branko Stevic as defence minister, Almir Dzuvo as OSA Director’ also writes on nomination of Stevic. As NN learnt, two more persons are mentioned in this regard, and those are Slobodan Radulj and Dragan Kapetina, both advisors to Borislav Paravac. The RS Parliament Speaker, Dragan Kalinic, and the Republika Srpska President, Dragan Cavic, yesterday did not want to make any comment on this. Regarding distribution of other most senior positions at OSA and SIPA, NN claims that Almir Dzuvo has been proposed as the first director of OSA, and Risto Zaric as his first deputy. Chief Inspector would be Mladen Alpeza. On SIPA, Terzic said that these appointments will follow in a couple of months or so. According to Oslobodjenje pg. 9 ‘Generals cannot in seats’, the BiH political leaders agreed that the military generals are appointed deputies of the future BiH Defence Minister, which is not in compliance with the BiH Law on defence and usual practice in democratic countries. |
| Terzic expects names of defence minister candidates by 13 February | Nezavisne Novine pg. 3, Dnevni Avaz pg. 2 ‘Minister of Defence by the end of February’, FENA – The BiH Council of Ministers chairman, Adnan Terzic, told journalists on Thursday in Sarajevo that he is expecting to receive the names of candidates for the post of defence minister and two deputies by tomorrow, after which he will be submitting them to the OHR for approval. Terzic expressed his satisfaction with the agreement of the political parties on the allocation of key positions. “The procedure is that I carry out the appointments and forward them for confirmation to the House of Representatives in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly. I believe that everything, concluding with the appointments, will be completed within 10 days. I presume that the House of Representatives’ session is to be held at the end of February and by then we will officially have a defence minister for BiH,” Terzic said. |
| SB on candidate for director of BiH Intelligence Service | Slobodna Bosna pgs 30-32 ‘Does Ashdown know that Risto Zaric will be Karadzic’s man leading OSA?!’ by Suzana Andjelic – Article writes that OHR last week approved the list of candidates [Almir Dzuvo, Mladen Alpez and Risto Zaric] for future leadership of the state Intelligence and Security Agency [OSA], noting that while other two candidates are not appropriate for heading OSA “the most shocking is that OHR approved Serb candidate Risto Zaric, currently director of RS Intelligence [OBS]” despite the fact that OHR was submitted with the material on the illegal activities carried out by OBS in the last several years. “Our magazine learns from confidential sources with SDS, Zaric’s choice for one of the leading positions with the future intelligence service was agreed personally by RS and SDS President Dragan Cavic with the HR Paddy Ashdown during his recent visit to Banja Luka… However, upon return to Sarajevo… he was harshly criticised by US diplomatic core and warned of Zaric’s ‘anti-Dayton past.’ “ Article also reads that Zaric was involved in wire-tapping of former RS President Biljana Plavsic during her rule, of her associates and family members, but also international diplomats in BiH, SFOR, OSCE, OHR, IPTF, etc. and that the same practice was continued by Zaric upon return of SDS on power. |
War crimes/organised crime | |
| OHR/SFOR on Karadzic’s whereabouts
| FTV, SRNA – The Office of the High Representative does not know the whereabouts of Radovan Karadzic, OHR spokesman Vedran Persic said on Thursday in Sarajevo at a news conference for journalists of international organizations. When asked to comment on the particular paradox which follows from statements given by SFOR commander Virgil Packett that “SFOR is tightening the ring around Karadzic”, and the chief prosecutor of the Hague tribunal, Carla Del Ponte, who said that Karadzic and Mladic were hiding in Belgrade, SFOR spokesman Dave Sullivan said that he was not willing to speculate on this or anything else. |
| Jelavic urges Croatian parliament to discuss his case | Herceg Bosna Radio, Oslobodjenje pg. 6 ‘Manipulations with distribution of aid must stop,’ FENA – Josip Muselimovic, lawyer of the former member of the BiH Presidency, Ante Jelavic, on Thursday sent an official letter to Croatian Speaker Vladimir Seks, asking for an extraordinary session of the Croatian parliament to be convened. To prevent any further manipulation regarding the way the Republic of Croatia’s aid to the Croat people in BiH was received and distributed between 1991 and 2001, Ante Jelavic would like to ask for an extraordinary session of the Croatian parliament, a statement by Josip Muselimovic says. Jelavic would like to talk at the session about the way the funds had been spent in joint operations of the Croat forces (the Croatian Army [HV] and the Croat Defence Council [HVO]) in northwestern and southwestern Bosnia and the operations during the final liberation of the Republic of Croatia, the statement says. Dnevni List last page, by V.K., Vecernji List page 10, “Jelavic demands session of Croatian Parliament”, by Z.K. and Slobodna Dalmacija (last page, “Jelavic demands emergency session of Croatian Parliament”, by Fena) also carry this letter. |
| Ambassador Bond announces US black list will be extended | Dnevni List (page 7, “New names on list of Karadzic’s associates”, by Nina) – the US Ambassador to BiH, Clifford Bond, announced in an interview given to the FTV that more persons would be placed on the US “black list” of the war crime suspects’ associates. Bond said: “We continue to consider information that we have in order to decide whether other individuals should be placed on that list. We shall also continue activities in order to narrow space for Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.” Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 5, ‘Three American agencies compiled “black list”’ – Clifford Bond, US Ambassador to BiH, last night stated that “black list” with ten names of persons from Republika Srpska, suspected of aiding war criminals network, was compiled on the basis of reports from three US Government agencies. He said that American Administration has extremely strict procedure that needs to be applied during the compilation of “black list”. He also said that this action was not directed against SDS or Republika Srpska, but against persons on this list. He also said that owing to “sensitivity of information”, PIC could not have been informed of this intention previously. |
| SD on removal of Sarovic and others | Slobodna Dalmacija (page 17 “Resignations in HDZ and SDA?”, by Marin Erceg) – the author notes that people who appoint and replace people are true rulers and according to that, the author argues that the true rulers in BiH are the US Ambassador Clifford Bond through the High Representative for BiH and Radovan Karadzic through the SDS. SD goes on to say that one of members of the SDS Presidency said that Karadzic sent a letter from Belgrade ordering the SDS Presidency to resign because there were too many decisions that were accepted, the decision that had been detrimental to the Republika Srpska. SD continues to say that the High Representative and US Ambassador to BiH are now facing a mission impossible: how to continue ruling in BiH when there are democratic institutions without representatives of the strongest Serb party, “which means there is a crisis that can only be resolved through new elections. But the thing is that the new elections would only give the same or even greater support to the SDS and other national parties”. |
| Pecanin criticises sanctions against Sarovic without presenting evidences | Dani pg 3 ‘Yesterday ‘Algerian group’, today Sarovic, and tomorrow?’ op-ed by Senad Pecanin – In a light of US and OHR imposed sanction against persons accused of helping war crimes suspects, author reading that banning Mirko Sarovic from performing any public duty in BiH, is a disputable decision due to many reasons. “Unquestionably, US Government has a right for making their own ‘black lists’, but is utterly unacceptable for BiH citizens to be deprived of basic human and citizens rights in their own country without involvmenet of authorized BiH institutions. Secondly, in this way verdicts against BiH citizens are issued in the processes before, to them, invisible institutions, withouth presentation of the accusations and evidences, without a right of appeal. Thirdly, if [Paddy] Ashdown has evidences on Sarovic’s involvement in helping hiding of Radovan Karadzic, than he is obligated to present them to the authorized prosecution, whose staff members were exactly appointed by Ashdown’s commission. If, however, Ashdown doesn’t have a trust into professionalism of the prosecutors he appointed, why would citizens have? It is not questionable that Ashdown’s decision presents violation of European convention on human rights… and human rights of a citizen Mirko Sarovic. The trouble with human rights is that they cannot be partial: they are either … respected or not of all, including a member of SDS.” |
| Ljiljan on role of RS intelligence in hiding Karadzic | Ljiljan pgs 35&36 ‘Ten unwanted Serbs’ by Elirija Hadziahmetovic – The article refers to sanctions imposed by the US Government and OHR against the ten persons accused of helping the war crimes suspects. It stresses the alleged role of the RS Intelligence and Security Service [OBS] in providing assistance to Radovan Karadzic: “[This is because] the way OBS functions is to have one officer in … every settlement, and than this person has a network of its own people, so such service knows where Radovan Karadzic is at any given moment. And [the service] is not there to know where is Radovan in order to fulfil ICTY’s request, but to know where he is so they ensure him [hiding places]. Therefore,… certain person living on the north of Serbia and misinforming Carla Del Ponte that Karadzic was hiding in Belgrade is a well-though move (and a notorious stupidity). During his clandestine, he never crossed the border with Serbia. He always moved in the area of Eastern BiH, that is around Foca.” |
| Dani on persons listed to assist war crime suspects | Dani pgs 22-24 ‘Karadzic’s protector in US diplomatic jip’ by Snjezana Mulic-Busatlija – A day before US Government the name of ten persons accused of providing assistance to war crimes suspects, Dani talked to one of them, Radomir Kojic, who denied such allegations. Article brings detailed review of his activities which include owing and managing demining company in RS, and its claims that that he used IC assistance for demining to provide assistance to Karadzic. It further reads that the cooperation between Radovan Karadzic and Kojic was successful for years, especially as Kojic assisted in transferring Karadzic, even using vehicles with diplomatic licence plates. Dani also bring that indictment for another listed person, Predrag Kujundzic, for war crimes committed in Doboj filed by Zenica Cantonal Prosecution was approved by the ICTY. In addition, Dani reviewed indictment against Radomir Kojic, filed by Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecution for genocide and war crimes against civilians, and which is still waiting for ICTY approval to be processed. Magazine claims that Tomo Kovac, another listed, has also been indicted for war crimes in Sarajevo region. |
Other issues | |
| Draft law on ban of smoking at public places
| Glas Srpske, cover page story, ‘Penalties to extinguish cigarettes’; Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 9, ‘No smoke at coffee bars’ – If Republika Srpska National Assembly adopts the draft law on prevention of smoking at public places, the smokers will be faced with money penalties if they violate this Law. According to Vesna Zuber, Spokesperson of the Republika Srpska Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the reason for passing this law is to protect the health of Republika Srpska citizens. |