Headlines in Print Media |
Dnevni Avaz: Kostunica calls for war; Council of Ministers – a decision passed on oil quality
Jutarnje Novine: Yugoslav President still dreams a Great Serbian dream; US Senate adopted resolution on BiH – Full support to the BiH’s integrity
Dnevni List: Session of the HNC Government interrupted – Education workers still without salaries
Vecernji List: Following statements form Kostunica’s headquarters on the unification of RS aqnd Serbia – Sarajevo tightens relations with Belgrade
Glas Srpski: Dragan Mikerevic comments the event in Ustikolina – Serbs welcomed with Allahu ekber (Muslim religious slogan); Prijedor – arrests in Kozarac
Nezavisne Novine: BiH Council of Ministers – Decision on oil fuels quality adopted; New strategy of the property laws implementation in BiH – Fight against obstructions to return
Blic: Orao denies allegations on exports; Incident near Ustikolina: Throwing rocks at Serb returnees
Vecernje Novosti: Kostunica: “I have not changed position; There is no need to react on allegations from Sarajevo”
Slobodna Bosna: Oscar winner Danis Tanovic – I request Reis Ceric and SDA not to manipulate with my name
BH Dani: Names of the persons accused by FOSS of criminal activities during the aggression on BiH – Alibabic and 40 logistic officers
Reactions Kostunica statement |
Vojislav Kostunica stated in New York. (Dnevni Avaz, front page and p 3, Vecernje Novosti, p 2, Oslobodjenje, p 6) Blic, p 3,reports that Kostunica saidhis statement “on the RS being temporarily separated from Yugoslavia has been interpreted incorrectly and maliciously”.
At an extraordinary press conference in Sarajevo on Thursday, the Party for BiH founder and presidential candidate, Haris Silajdzic, again fiercely reacted to the Kostunica’s statement. He rejected all the Belgrade’s territorial aspirations towards BiH assessing that such the dangerous statements were jeopardizing hardly achieved peace in BiH. “We will take all measures that are needed to protect the BiH sovereignty and integrity, as the Party for BiH always did,” Silajdzic emphasized. (Dnevni Avaz, front page, p 3)
According to Glas Srpski (p 3), Kostunica stated in New York that the process of dissolution of the former Yugoslavia is completed and that any future attempt to change borders would represent an introduction into another drama in Balkans. Kostunica also stated that in Balkans, ethnic problems and so-called national issues are linked and that solution applied in one case, should be applied in all other cases. The daily quotes Kostunica: “If the Dayton Agreement is created on the principles of multi ethnic, multi religious and multi cultural community, it is not possible to accept the results of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and create national state. If that happens, the entire region will feel the consequences.”
“The Board of Principals (Head of the international organizations having their operations in BiH) is deeply concerned by the remarks made on Wednesday by a senior official of the political party led by the President of Yugoslavia. We consider this to be the worst form of cheap and irresponsible electioneering, and contrary to the policy of the Yugoslav Government. We further consider the remarks made by President Kostunica in Sarajevo at the meeting of the three presidents to be his authoritative position on the matter. In that statement he solemnly committed himself and his country to the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Chief OHR Spokesman Julian Braithwaite told Fena referring to the statement made by Dragan Marsicanin, the head of the Vojislav Kosunica Democratic Party’s election headquarters. (Dnevni Avaz, p 3, Vecernji List, p 3, Dnevni List, p 4)
“The future for Bosnia and Herzegovina lies in a unified and stable state, within its internationally recognised borders, moving towards closer European integration. This will be a state based on democracy, rule of law, and prosperity; a state which will able to bring justice and job opportunities to all its citizens equally. The European Union will assist Bosnia and Herzegovina in making this vision a reality. There is simply no other way forward. The neighbouring countries will undoubtedly support our efforts. This vision of Bosnia and Herzegovina is also in their long-term interest and respect for international obligations is a precondition for their progress towards closer ties with the EU. The future of Bosnia and Herzegovina will, however, not be decided in Brussels, Belgrade or Zagreb. That is the responsibility of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. And I call upon all of them to seize the opportunity on 5 October to make the European vision a real possibility. To vote and to vote for reform,” the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana said in a statement given with regard to recent frequent media speculation on the possible BiH’s partition. (Dnevni Avaz, p 2, announced on the front page, Oslobodjenje, p 6)
On Thursday, the BiH Embassy in Belgrade expressed “deep dissatisfaction and protest” over the statement of the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), Vojislav Kostunica, who said he viewed the RS as “a part of a family which is dear and close to us and temporarily separated”. (Vecernje Novosti, p 2)
The BiH Ministry for Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Amer Kapetanovic, stated on Thursday that the Ministry still has not received the response of the Yugoslav authorities whether the statement of President Kostunica was trustworthy. Kapetanovic also stated that the statement of Marsicanin was “another insult to efforts made to build trust in relations of these two countries”. (Blic, p 3, Vecernje Novosti, p 2)
Vecernji List (front and page 3, by Dejan Jazvic) also carries reactions to the statement by Dragan Marsicanin, Head of FRY President Vojislav Kostunica’s pre–election staff, who said that the long term of the Serb people was joining of Serbia and Republika Srpska.
Dnevni List (page 4) carries reaction of the Forum of the Parliamentarians of BiH in which they ask from Serbia and Yugoslavia to publicly apologise for Kostunica’s statement, because the Forum sees it as direct territorial claims against BiH. In case that they refuse to do that, Forum proposes to Presidency of BiH to freeze relations between the two countries and to proclaim Vojislav Kostunica and Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic as ‘persona non grata’.
OHR/international community activities; IC-related commentaries |
At a press conference in Sarajevo on Thursday, SDHR Gerhard Enver Schrömbgens, OSCE Head of Mission Robert Beecroft, UNHCR Deputy Chief of Mission Udo Janz, CRPC Executive Officer Steven Segal and UNMIBH Head of Civil Affairs Jaque Grinberg announced a New Strategic Direction for the full implementation of the property laws by end 2003. Seven years after the Dayton Peace Agreement was signed, over 110,000 families are still denied repossession of their own homes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “It has become clear that the reason for such widespread human rights violations is selective enforcement of the property laws. Property laws have not been enforced in a uniform, efficient and transparent way. Even in some of the best-performing municipalities, local officials still violate the law in order to allow privileged groups—such as judges, politicians, police and war veterans—to remain illegally in other people’s homes. Many local authorities throughout the country still fail to meet their legal obligations to find alternative accommodation and then use this failure as an excuse to refuse to meet their legal obligations to evict temporary occupants according to legal deadlines. This selective implementation of the property laws must stop now. The authorities must ensure that all pre-war owners or occupancy right holders repossess their claimed property in a timely manner and receive equitable treatment in the processing of their property claims,” the PLIP agencies said in a press release issued on the occasion. (Nezavisne Novine, p 2, Oslobodjenje, p 4, Dnevni Avaz, p 9)
In line with the commitment made by the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, when he took up his duties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the OHR is increasing the number of BiH citizens in its staff, including its senior staff. This policy reflects the International Community’s effort to streamline its operations and normalise the ratio of foreign and national staff in international organisations. “From now on, all advertised vacancies at the OHR will be open to BiH citizens. Where a BiH citizen and a foreign citizen applying for the same post are considered to be of equal merit, qualification and experience national applicants will be preferred,” OHR said in a press release issued on Thursday. (Oslobodjenje, p 5, Dnevni Avaz, p 2, Dnevni List, p 12)
Vecernji List (front and page 2, by Faruk Vele) reads that Dzevad Aletic, a student of Islamic sciences at Cairo University, was arrested on Wednesday morning around 0300 h and was subsequently released 19 hours later after being interrogated at SFOR base at Butmir. VL adds that following the interrogation, Aletic was left on (mount) Trebevic from where he had to walk back to his home at Dobrinja (Sarajevo district) in his pyjamas. Aletic was told that there were suspicions that he had been linked to terrorism. VL unofficially learns that Bosniak intellectuals also got involved in the case, requesting Aletic’s release and that even reis-ul-ulema Mustafa ef. Ceric contacted SFOR HQ. SFOR spokesperson, Yves Nanier, confirmed in Sarajevo yesterday that SFOR arrested two persons for whom SFOR ‘had information that they were linked with terrorism’. “A person under name Dzevad Aletic was arrested based on information that he is personally linked with Hose Padila, a proven terrorist who is currently in prison in the US. Two of them do not represent a security risk for BiH. They have been released and they could resume their normal activities even leave the country if they wish to do so”, said Vanier. (Oslobodjenje, p 3, Dnevni Avaz, p 11)
Dnevni List (page 5) reads that BiH Minister of Foreign Trade Azra Hadziahmetovic, together with co-ordinators of the Office for Development Strategy presented Program of Development Strategy to the High Representative Paddy Ashdown. “We fully support Program of Development Strategy and we consider this document to be very important and we express readiness to support this study”, Ashdown stated.
“Even though more than a month has passed since the FBiH Supreme Court judge Jasminka Putica resigned, we still have no official information of the reasons why she did it. What remains is the official explanation that she was led by “private and health business”. However, the information we have recently obtained from the sources in the Federation Prosecutor’s Office might, if proven correct, make major political and media sensation from the resignation of Ms. Putica. The sources in the Federation Prosecutor’s Office, namely, say that Ms. Putica decided to withdraw from the Supreme Court following the enormous pressure, even threats, from the Office of the High Representative for BiH, more precisely from the OHR Anti Fraud Department. Right before the resignation, Muhamed Susic, one of the closest colleagues of the Head of this OHR Anti Fraud Department Manfred Dauster talked to her on behalf of OHR. The conversation that took several hours was very difficult, while Mr. Susic, our sources say, had no qualms to openly threaten the judge Jasminka Putica,” said an article published in this week’s Slobodna Bosna (undersigned by SB initials – the editorial signature)
BH Dani gave two black dots (very bad move) on the Bosnian Barometer pages to the Principal Deputy High Representative, Donald Hays, with regard to a press conference he had held on behalf of the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, on occasion of first 100 days of his mandate. “Hays has been completely convinced the non-adoption of the veterinary law is a bigger problem than the nationalism in the country. Not diminishing the significance of the veterinary law, only politically naïve persons may in such a way ignore the nationalistic orgies in the country in which they are working,” the magazine concludes.
BH Dani awarded NATO Secretary General George Robertson with two stars (very good move) since he reminded the inert domestic politicians that the common military structure was a structure at the state level that would unavoidably include the establishment of the state defense ministry.
Dnevni List (page 2) announces that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, will deliver a speech at the inaugural session of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils of BiH and both entities (HJPC) on Saturday. According to Oleg Milisic, an OHR spokesman, the Councils will appoint all judges except the judges of constitutional and misdemeanour courts and will conduct processes against judges who commit disciplinary offences. (Dnevni Avaz, p 2)
Dnevni List (page 5) reads that the OHR warned the Federation Government and Minister of Urban Planning, Ramiz Mehmedagic, that the annulment of all contracts on privatisation of military apartments struck between 1991 and 1992 would violate a ruling passed by BiH Human Rights Chamber. “Human Rights Chamber confirmed that those privatisation were legal and that those retroactive moves would violate the Chamber’s ruling on article 3a”, said an OHR spokesperson Oleg Milisic. (Oslobodjenje, p 4, Dnevni Avaz, p 9)
Vecernji List (page 2, by E. Medunjanin) carries a report from a two-day conference “Illegal migrations and people trafficking” that sees participation of ministers of interior from countries of the former Yugoslavia. The aim of the conference is to come up with ways how to combat illegal migrations and human trafficking and other forms of trans-national crimes. The participants of the conference agree that it is impossible to completely eradicate the problem stressing that the growth rate could be stopped.
Bosnian Council of Ministers adopts decision on quality liquid fuel derivatives |
Mikerevic stoned near Foca, Podrinje Canton police denies media reports on the incident |
A RS radio/ media report that a group of 70 Serbs and Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Dragan Mikerevic were stoned on Wednesday is a misinformation, Onasa quoted the Interior Ministry of Podrinje Canton on Thursday. Head of the cantonal police department Dzevad Begovic said that Mikerevic was all the time during his visit to Foca/Srbinje municipality under security of police from Ustikolina police department, with two police vehicles of Republika Srpska Interior Ministry. “Although Mikerevic’s arrival was not announced, his visit to Foca municipality went with no incident at the area covered by Foca-Ustikolina police department,” Begovic said. The International Police (IPTF) has also gained the information on alleged incident in Ustikolina, but also reverse information from the cantonal Interior Ministry. (Oslobodjenje, p 3, Dnevni Avaz, p 5)
The PDP party sharply condemns stoning of the bus with returnees in Ustikolina two days ago. The PDP party thinks that the media and politicians from the Federation of BiH have created an atmosphere suitable for such incidents by their acting. They also think that the incident shows a level of tolerance and democracy in the Federation of BiH, and that it shows where the biggest opponents to the return are hiding. (Blic, p 2)
RS developments |
The Speaker of the RS National Assembly, Dragan Kalinic, informed the delegates that the RS Government withdraw the proposal of the Law on Ministries from the agenda, upon the veto of the Bosniak members of the RS Constitutional Commission (Glas Srpski, p 3). The RS Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic, assessed that such proposal of the SDA represented direct obstruction of the work of RS National Assembly. Both Banja Luka dailies report that the High Representative to BiH, Paddy Ashdown, will address the RS National Assembly today, at 11:00 hrs.
Nezavisne Novine (pages 5, 6)carries an extensive interview with the RS Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic in which he stated that the RS Government never discussed the report in Srebrenica and that the report is made by the Bureau for relations with The Hague. Also, Ivanic stated, the report was never publicized and the media opened the entire issue. According to Ivanic, the pre-election campaign is not the proper time to discuss the issue of Srebrenica.
Affairs/disputes in the Federation |
Oslobodjenje reports on the front page that (continued on pages 4-5) that the vaccination of the children with DTP vaccine imported from Australia was stopped on Thursday in the BiH federation because the medicine was not packed properly.
Slobodna Dalmacija (page 15, by Z. Tulic) carries an update to the trials in the Leutar case. SD says that according to defence teams, the case should be finished by mid October when an investigative judge of Sarajevo Cantonal Court, Vladimir Spoljaric, should be sitting on the defendant’s bench for illegal concealment of files from the defence teams for three years. As far as the trail goes, SD reports that a videotape of protected witness number 30 showing sites of preparation and execution of the assassination was shown, the tape which had no audio which triggered the defence team to protest and say that there’s a possibility of rigging. SD reiterates the story about involvement of “untouchables” from the Bosniak circles and goes on to say that Arman Jasarevic, who volunteered to testify to IPTF, was right in saying that Bakir Izetbegovic ordered the assassination through Ismet Bajramovic Celo, only to have his statement disregarded as unfounded.
Headlines in Electronic Media |
- Javier Solana rejected ideas on division of BiH
- International community condemned statement of the President of Yugoslavia
- UN General Assembly: Bush calls for removal of Saddam Hussein
- New strategy of implementation of property laws in BiH adopted
FTV 1 (1930)
- Due to rumours, only in Sarajevo Canton vaccination of children reduced from previous 99% to on third
- If the world community does not adopt certain measures, USA will attack Iraq alone
- EU and Heads of International Organisations in BiH condemned statement of Vojislav Kostunica regarding RS
- 110 thousands of families still awaits repossession of their properties; from October 15 there would be no more selective implementation of property laws
RTRS (1930)
- RS National Assembly first day discusses the agenda. The revision of budget will be discussed tomorrow.
- 15th October is deadline for return of properties
- Council of Ministers decided on quality of liquid oil fuels
- Operation against Iraq is unavoidable if Baghdad fails to disarm