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| SARS in Tuzla Canton? | Bosnalijek in BiH entities | UNDP on social segment | RS Army Day |
| Nicholl on domestic credits | BiH development strategy | World Bank | War veterans |
| New WB Director in BiH | Drought in Semberija | Nicholl on comm. banks | Trebinje MoI |
| UN poverty study |
| FBiH MoI files 11 charges | WB delegation – Terzic |
| Oslobodjenje | SDP President called on the OHR and investigative bodies – establish exactly how much ‘Ars Creativa’ earned; After Nikolic’s guilt plea – women of Srebrenica will sue the RS government; New criminal charges – ensure citizenship via misuse |
| Dnevni Avaz | Terzic – the highway will cost three billion Euro; Paddy Ashdown in Bosnalijek – we have successful stories in BiH; |
| Dnevni List | Lagumdzija sent a letter to most responsible structures of the BiH authorities – media lynch organized by ruling structures; Terzic – $30 million for the support of private sector; Miroslav Coric – names of proposed candidates are known |
| Vecernji List | Tuzla – false alarm because of SARS; Rebac under strike of domestic Mafia; Mladen Ivankovic Lijanovic: staple- foods should be released of value added tax |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | 5,000 km for 26 months of prison!?; One third of stones for Old Bridge goes to religious communities; Peter Nicholl received BiH citizenship |
| Glas Srpske | Dragica Miletic pressed criminal charges against Tihomir Gligoric – who caused the budget loss? |
| Nezavisne Novine | Deadline, which Travnik-Herzegovina clan set for Director of the FBiH Customs Administration – Zelimir Rebac rejects Mafia ultimatum; Bijeljina – police questioned Mirko Blagojevic; BiH Prosecutor’s Office announces new steps in regard to trafficking in people – BiH will seek extradition of the Milakovic family; |
| Blic | After drought hail threatens, SFOR disturbs hail defence racketeers; The Republika Srpska government’s economic plan without support |
Political Affairs | |
| Terzic on Vc corridor
| Avaz pg. 1 and 2 – CoM Chair, Adnan Terzic, stated it was possible to decide on the state level to allocate certain percentage from every sold litre of fuel for the construction of modern highways. “Former government kept talking about the construction of highways, but did nothing about it. Now it’s up to do something and quickly approach preparations for the construction of highways, especially the Vc corridor,” said Terzic. |
| Avaz survey | Avaz pg. 3 – conducted a survey asking subjects whether they supported the imitative by Tihic to change the current BiH Constitution in order to improve the functioning of the authorities. 67% said yes, 12% said no and 21% replied they did not know. |
| Tihic | Vecernji List pg. 2 ‘Tihic: Dayton has been surpassed, corrections are necessary’ – Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, believes that the Dayton Peace Agreement and the BiH Constitution have been surpassed and their urgent corrections are necessary. Tihic proposes organizing of a special international conference during which the issue of the BiH Constitution revision would be reconsidered. |
| Jahic | Avaz pg. 4 ‘The Commission’s work is too important for the city of Mostar’ – a statement by Mostar Mayor, Hamdija Jahic, who has been target of many accusations in relation to the reconstruction of the Mostar City. As for the most recent accusations by the SBiH that initial criteria for the Commission establishment were not followed, Jahic stated this was not the case and that all parties took part in the preparation for the Commission establishment. Added that full support was received in the process from the OHR and the City Council. As for the withdrawal of an SBiH rep, Bakir Krpo, Jahic stated that he heard that even Krpo, during the talks with OHR reps, expressed surprise and disappointment with the decision made by his party’s city council. An insert ‘Citizens’ interest above all’ – the OHR Mostar had no official information on Krpo’s withdrawal. Their Spokesperson, Avis Benes, said it was up to local political parties and their determination that the work of the Commission depended on, and not on the collection of political points. |
| Lagumdzija
| Oslobodjenje pg. 1 and 3 – SDP President, Zlatko Lagumdzija, called on the OHR and respective investigative bodies to conduct a revision of the state owned companies and private companies that conducted business dealings with the state owned companies. Thus, to stop using his wife’s company ‘As Creative’ for the purposes of political showdowns. “In the course of last week, while I was away on a trip to Washington, I was a subject to a new series of organized attacks that included heads of ruling establishment – Tihic, Colak, Palavric, Lozancic and Halilovic.” Avaz pg. 8 ‘Lagumdzija claims that Amina worked in accordance with the law’ – Lagumdzija sent the above request in a letter posted to the BiH Presidency, chairmen of the CoM and BiH parliamentary assembly, BiH Court and Prosecution Office, OHR and ambassadors of the PIC member countries. Also, ont eh same page Avaz carried another articles related to Lagumdzija entitled ‘Why is Zlatko hiding the sudden profit of hi wife’s company from around 1,5 million KM’ – another article by that offers proof that the company of Lagumdzija’s wife was not acting in accordance with the laws and established much higher profit that Lagumdzija could admit. Dnevni List pg. 1 and 7 – Lagumdzija believes that behind the whole affair is the intention to sell the third GSM license for peanuts. Nezavisne Novine pg. 7 ‘Political conflicts and orchestrated assaults’ – Lagumdzija is of the view that media accusations against his wife are used for political purposes against him. |
| Commentary in Oslobodjenje | Oslobodjenje pg. 2 ‘War for officials’ by Zija Dizdarevic – starts off by recalling that it was a sharp letter by HR Ashdown that prevented the FBih Parliament to adopt the Law on Civil Service. The author then goes on to list some of the means that the SDA and HDZ have been using in a battle for appointing their civil servants. The SDA accused the OHR of wanting to keep Lagumdzija’s people, and the HDZ said it could not be expected from MPs to be turned in some sort of a service. They went on to intensify attacks against Lagumdzija through Avaz, Ljiljan, Walter and by using Fatmir Alispahic as their mouthpiece. The author further claims that the SDA has been exerting pressure on the police, judiciary, free media and the public by acting rather destructively against political and media atmosphere. |
| VL on threats against Rebac | Vecernji List pg. 1 and 3 – everybody believes that the BiH and not Russian Mafia threatened Head of the Federation of BiH Customs Administration Zelimir Rebac. According to unofficial information, Crime Department of the Federation of BiH Ministry of Interior identified certain individuals close to business-political lobbies against whom criminal charges were supposed to be filed soon due to violation of customs regulations. According to VL, the political structures, that have had a negative attitude towards the work of the FBiH Customs Administration, believe that Rebac made up the whole affair in order to protect his place of work. The article also says that well-informed circles believe that the Rebac case served as a political polygon for a showdown between the old cadres of the Alliance for Changes and national parties that are currently in power. |
| NN on Rebac | Nezavisne Novine pg. 1 and 3 – although the deadline, which Travnik-Herzegovina clan set for Director of the FBiH Customs Administration, Zelimir Rebac, (to withdraw from the office) expired last night, Rebac did not meet the ultimatum. As an NN source at the FBIH Interior Ministry confirmed, Rebac received another anonymous threat on Sunday evening. “It is a great pleasure to see how much support people of Mostar and Sarajevo, but also from international community, offered me,” said Rebac. He also expressed great satisfaction over a meeting with FBiH PM, Ahmet Hadzipasic, who promised a full police support and the protection for Rebac and his family. |
| Request by US Croats | Vecernji List pg. 3 – the Association of American Croat(ian)s handed over a letter to officials of the Upper and Lower Houses of the US Congress and Senate’s Board for International Relations and Foreign Policy in which they demanded support to newly elected Croat authorities in BiH and a Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Covic in the implementation of economic and welfare reforms in BiH. “One of our basic conclusions is that the Croat coalition, that is currently in power in BiH, has to be a full partner together with the US and the IC in the establishing of the legitimate authorities with a clear vision of the market economy in BiH,” reads the letter. |
| CRO press on HNK govt. | Dnevni List pg. 1 and 3 – seven months after the elections, HNK (Herzegovina Neretva Canton) PM designate, Miroslav Coric, has submitted to Mostar-based OHR a proposal for the new cantonal government composition. The OHR has been requested to do the vetting procedure of candidates as soon as possible so that the new government could be established. DL reminds of Mr. Coric’s statements that he could not propose the government composition due to non-cooperation of parties in terms of reaching agreement on possible candidates. Saying that the Bosniak side requested the right to appoint two ministers who were not members of the ruling parties, the daily also reminded that the OHR had warned the SDA to accept the reality and not to have maximal demands and even the OHR intervention was announced. DL reports that in his letter to Ambassador Jean-Pierre Bercot, Mr. Coric wrote the following. “Not even after months long negotiations between the political parties on the formation of the government have we established the executive authority in the Canton. Taking my constitutional role into consideration, with the aim of normal functioning of the executive authority for the benefit of citizens, I hereby propose candidates for the ministerial positions in the HNK government with the respect of constitutional provision on representation of the constituent peoples and Others in line with the 1991 census”. On the same issue, Slobodna Dalmacija pg. 17 ‘The government of nine ministers’ – quotes Avis Benes, OHR-South Spokesperson, as saying that the HNK government can only consist of nine members: the PM and eight ministers. SD reminds of the High Representative’s Decision from 6 October 2002, which harmonizes the composition of the Federation of BiH and cantonal bodies of authority with the Constitutional Court’s Decision on constituency of peoples, according to which positions of deputy PM, deputy ministers, governor and deputy governor were abolished. |
| Miletic case | Blic pg. 7 ‘Gligoric: we will check the disputable appointment’ – the OHR has denied they made a decision on the suspension of Dragica Miletic, former RS Deputy Public Attorney, from the RS Property Verification Commission as Sunday’s press release of the Republic Administration for Geodetic and Property Issues claimed. As Blic learns, the Administration is not sure whether the High Representative or the OSCE suspended Miletic. They further claim that executors of the suspension were the ministries of refugees and justice. Spokesperson for OHR Banja Luka, Sonja Pastuovic, says the OSCE does not have mandate to remove local officials and that only the High Representative can do it, which was not the case this time. In the meantime, Miletic has been appointed as BiH Public Attorney. Director of the Republika Srpska Administration for Geodetic and Property Issues, Tihomir Gligoric, says that the question of appointing Dragica Miletic as BiH Public Attorney will be addressed at today’s session of the Republika Srpska National Assembly. Glas Srpske cover page story ‘Who caused budget loss?’ – former Acting Head of the Public Attorney Office of Republika Srpska, Dragica Miletic, responds to Gligoric’s accusations by pressing charges against him. The charges Miletic pressed against Gligoric include misuse of office and irresponsible conduct. Apart from pressing criminal charges against Gligoric, Miletic yesterday also filed a lawsuit against him, accusing him of slander and seeking compensation of KM 200 thousand. |
| RS NA session | Blic pg. 2 ‘PDP for, SDS is still pondering’ – today’s special session of the Republika Srpska National Assembly will discuss the government’s proposal on economic policy for 2003. According to some announcements, it may happen that the government will not gain the parliamentary majority’s support for the proposal, which may endanger the function of the executive authority. What is sure is that the PDP will support the proposal, which has been confirmed by a PDP delegate Nevenka Trifkovic. SDS Spokesman Dusan Stojicic says that the SDS will support the proposal only if priorities of work until the end of year are clearly defined. The SNSD will not support the proposal, because, as SNSD delegate Nada Tesanovic says, there is nothing to support. Vecernje Novosti pg. 19 reports about the Republika Srpska National Assembly’s special session. |
| DL editorial | In light of frequent debates and initiatives on the change of the Dayton Constitution, Dnevni List pg. 6 by Slavo Kukic editorial says it is not disputable that the current constitutional structure is untenable and that there are two ways out – one that would persevere in maintaining the status quo and thus lead to the definite dissolution, and the other one which, engrossed in the integration of the state and society, can only end up in the constitutional reorganization of the country. Nationalists will, in Kukic’s view, persevere in maintaining of, or slightly modifying, the Dayton state of affairs. Status quo suits followers of the Great Serbia project as it means preservation of the Republika Srpska (RS) and that is why they will try to make impossible any debates on the constitutional restructuring. Instead of entity organization, Croats have advocated canonization on ethnic principle and parity in the institution of the central authority. Yet, from the perspective of the integration of the state and society, as well as of the realisation of all the individual and collective rights, nothing would be gained as this would lead to connecting cantons on ethnic principle and the result would be the same – status quo and dissolution. Kukic also finds the alleged civic philosophy, which neither knows nor acknowledges differences, which are reality, and equally dangerous for this country’s future. Differences should not be forgotten or, possibly, deliberately omitted in debates on changing the Dayton Agreement. The author concludes by saying that this country’s Constitution cannot be based on supremacy of either civic or national principle, but there must be a constitutional balance between them. |
Economic Affairs | |
| HR Ashdown in ‘Bosnalijek’
| Avaz pg. 1 and 3 – HR Paddy Ashdown yesterday visited ‘Bosnalijek’. “I came here to remind all of us that we have successful stories in BiH, and ‘Bosnalijek’ is one of them,” stated HR. He was informed of problems that the company encounters with the export of their products, and HR Ashdown stated that obstacles of such sort are in the process of being removed through the Bulldozer Commission. An insert ‘State authorities of the RS’ – as for a commission in the RS that is in charge of checking the registration of medicines, HR Ashdown stated he would check whether the existence of such commission was in line with the DPA. Oslobodjenje pg. 3 ‘Experts from Serbia in the RS commission for medicines’ – Edin Arslanagic, company Director, informed HR with problems they have with selling their products in the RS. Out of 14% participation at the local market, this company sells nothing at the RS. |
| Ashdown’s help for Bjelasnica and Igman | Avaz pg. 3 ‘Ashdown will help to turn Bjelasnica and Igman into European tourist centres’ – HR Paddy Ashdown yesterday expressed readiness to personally get involved in efforts to turn Bjelasnica into a tourist spot throughout a year. For the purpose, Ashdown established the Board for Coordination of Bjelasnica to use the enormous economic potentials of that mountain and Igman mountain, but to preserve their ecological purity at the same time. |
| Kalantzopoulus – Terzic | Vecernji List pg. 4 ‘Another 30 million $ of loan by 2007’ and Dnevni List pg. 1 and 4 – after a meeting with Head of the World Bank and Regional Coordinator for Southeast Europe Orsalia Kalantzopoulus, Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic stated that in the period between 2004 and 2007 BiH will be able to count on another $30 million that the BiH authorities want to spend for the strengthening of the private sector. Kalantzopoulus said that the best way that the World Bank preserves its interest in BiH is the successful implementation of projects that were being realized through the World Bank. Blic pg. 7 ’$30 million to private entrepreneurs’ – the World Bank will help the development of a private sector in BiH in the next four years with providing $ 30 million. Terzic said after the meeting that they discussed issues that had to be opened in order to enter the new period of relations between the World Bank and the BiH. |
| RS Union Trade of Energy Sector | Vecernje Novosti pg. 19 ‘State must be the major shareholder’ – the RS Trade Union of Energy sector workers warns the RS NA, as well as High Representative Paddy Ashdown of possible catastrophic consequences in case RS does not become the major shareholder of the RS Elektroprivreda after the privatisation of the company. The Union emphasizes that it has accepted all directives from the EU, which indicate that it supports the restructuring of the energy sector, which will bring profit to the country, and not an introduction to useless privatisation. Due to that, the government’s stands on of the Action Plan for Restructuring and Privatisation of Energy Sector and amendments to the Law on Privatisation are unacceptable. The Trade Union requests the process of restructuring of the sector to be completely separated from the privatisation process. |
| Economic Development Board sesison | ONASA – Adnan Terzic, CoM Chair, said the Coordination Board for Economic Development and European Integration on Monday held its 12th session and discussed measures for the realization of economic reforms in BiH. He stated the key document discussed was the second draft of the Development Strategy for BiH, which is due for a public discussion. Added that functioning of the Veterinary Office was in the focus of interest of the BiH CoM, as well as some 80 sub-laws that would enable BiH manufacturers to export food to the European Union. Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Mila Gadzic, said the Development Strategy was being prepared for some 15 months and that ‘one of the basic goals was to reach consensus of all social groups’. BiH Federation Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, said that the government had pledged to create favorable climate and the development in businesses. He added that activities so far, in the field of legal regulations, were being harmonized with the RS government. RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, stated that changes and addenda to the entity privatization laws were also agreed at the session. “The privatization results have failed the expectations in BiH and significantly slowed down the efforts to create a market that would function successfully and positively influence the living standard of BiH citizens,” Mikerevic said. Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, said that measures discussed on Monday required ‘political will and cooperation between the entity and state governments, and it was also necessary to stop the imbalance in payment operations’. New Director of the World Bank in BiH and Regional Coordinator for South-Eastern Europe, Orsalia Kalantzopoulos, said that the Development Strategy had solid foundations and that it could lead to the sustainable growth and poverty reduction in BiH. She added that the public sector was ‘huge’ and needed restructuring. |
Police Affairs | |
| FBiH Commission for Defence and Security
| Avaz pg. 4 ‘Munja’s tapes to be forwarded for a parliamentary procedure’ – yesterday’s session of the FBiH Commission for Defence and Security that was attended by FBIH Minister of Interior Mevludin Halilovic. Concluded that in the next next few days a special session should be held to discuss the security situation in the Federation. Also, to include this on the agenda of the next session of both FBiH houses of parliament. A member of the Commission, wanted to stay anonymous, said that within the security issue they agreed present tapes that show illegal trade of intelligence info by Alibabic, as well as threats made against Rebac. |
| Trebinje PSC | Avaz pg. 8 ‘Criminal charges submitted against Acimovic and Vukovic’ – the Trebinje Public Security Centre (PSC) submitted charges against former General Director of the RS Elektroprivreda, Svetozar Acimovic, and his former Deputy Rajko Vukovic due to grounded suspicion that they damaged the company for 169,000 KM. So far, in the course of the revision of the RS Elektroprivreda business dealing, the Trebinje police submitted charges against 10 persons. Nezavisne Novine pg. 5 ‘Acimovic and Vukovic caused the RSEP a deficit of 169,000 KM’ – Acimovic and Vukovic signed a deal with the AD ‘Energoprojekt company from Belgrade, as a contractor for modernization of the technical equipment at the Thermal power plant Buk Bijela and Hydroelectric Power Plant Trebinje. The contract was signed 481,000 KM, but 650,000 KM was paid to the account at the Cyprus Bank. Blic pg. 6, Vecernje Novosti pg. 18 – informed the Trebinje PSC filed charges against Acimovic and Vukovic. |
| BiH Law on Border Protection | Nezavisne Novine pg. 3 ‘BiH to get the Law on Border Protection’ – Barisa Colak, BiH Minister of Security, announced that experts of the BiH Ministry of Security must work out a draft Law on the protection of BiH borders until July this year. The draft is to be worked out within the battle against organised crime. |
Military Affairs | |
| SDS on army reform
| Avaz pg. 4 ‘Changes on the army only within the DPA’ – the SDS yesterday announced they were supporting the defence reform process in the RS and FBiH. As for the character and the level of reforms, the party stated the DPA, BiH Constitution and RS Constitution represented a legal-institutional frame of defence reforms. |
| Stankovic and Cavic at the RS Army Day ceremony | Nezavisne Novine pg. 4 ‘Stankovic: military reform according to Constitution’, Glas Srpske pg. 3 ‘Guarantee to survival of Srpska’ – Milovan Stankovic, Republika Srpska Defence Minister, yesterday stated that the Republika Srpska authorities in charge would pass all decisions regarding the reform of the RS Army (with a final aim of being admitted into the PfP) in accordance with the constitutions of BiH and RS. After placing wreaths and flowers at the Soldiers’ Memorial Graveyard ‘St. Pantelija’ in Banjaluka. President of the [Bosnian] Serb Republic (RS) Dragan Cavic said this evening at a ceremony marking the Day of Serb Republic Army (VRS) in Banja Luka that the time has come for the armies in Bosnia-Hercegovina “to be seen as guarantors of peace, and not as potential reasons for conflict within Bosnia-Hercegovina”. SRNA – Cavic said that requirements for reforms of the armed forces in Bosnia-Hercegovina and entry into the Partnership for Peace [PfP] were of ‘strategic interest’ for the RS Army. He also noted that the two armies in Bosnia-Herzegovina ‘emerged as a necessary measure for protecting individual nations’. |
| People’s Party for Prosperity | Dnevni List pg. 6 ‘BiH does not need Army when SFOR is present’ – People’s Party Working for Prosperity issued a press release saying that they supported reforms in the army, however, these reforms should not take none of proposed directions. “We do not need Army at all under the current circumstances… The presence of SFOR and other international military bodies along with the local police can guarantee security of BiH citizens. For this reason we propose professional army of a high standard and quality.” |
Humanitarian Affairs | |
| Srebrenica women | Oslobodjenje pg. 1 and 7 – following the guilt plea by Momir Nikolic for war crimes in Srebrenica, mothers of enclave of Srebrenica and Zepa announced a lawsuit against the RS government that was headed by Mladen Ivanic. Nikolic admitted to partaking in the killing of 7,000 Srebrenica men, while the RS Bureau for Relations with The Hague published in their shameful report that only 2,000 Srebrenica people were killed. |