OHR BiH Media Round-up, 13/9/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Police reform talks interrupted

Brod Refinery workers still on strike

RS NA in session

Serb returnees to protest in Drvar

RSNA in session

NGOs on police reform

HDZ delegation visits Jajce

World news

Serbia on Kosovo

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Reactions to situation in Glamoc

Final round of police negotiations

First joint border crossing opened

Inter-ethnic relations in Jajce

Session of Igman’s Initiative

Police reform negotiations resumed

Final round of police negotiations

Law on tax on companies’ profit

BiH citizen arrested in Germany

New SBS officials took over duties

RSNA passed several drafts of Laws

The case of “Mostar grenades”

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Traffic accident near Sarajevo

Little girl killed in car crash near SA

Police Reform talks in Banjalka

Final round of police negotiations

BiH citizen arrested in Germany

Solana and Scheffer on police reform

Comment on police negotiations

Police reform negotiations resumed

RS teachers on “white strike”

World News

Dispute over donations

RS NA in session

Oslobodjenje

Talks interrupted, new chance (offer coming) from Brussels

Dnevni Avaz

Dzihanovic and Lozancic should resign

Dnevni List

Russians in game for Soko and Aluminij

Vecernji List

7000 policemen to lose job

Slobodna Dalmacija

Church does not hide Gotovina and it is not going to look after him!

Glas Srpske

Thieves disgraced themselves [report on attempted robbery near Laktasi]

Nezavisne Novine

SNSD is convincingly the strongest political party in BiH

Blic

Professors were silent in classrooms

Vecernje Novosti

Features Serbia related headlines

Srpski Nacional

Features Serbia related headlines

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

RSNA regular session held, special session on police reform begins

BH Radio 1 By Brana Markovic, RS Radio – The RS National Assembly is to commence with the special session to discuss the offer by the Brussels on police reform at 13.00. Until then, the RSNA holds regular session discussing the housing of the veterans, which has not been going as planned, especially due to slowness of the municipalities to deal with the issue, says the information presented to the delegates by the authorized Ministry. Delegates will also discuss the situation in education sector.

NGOs on police reform

RS Radio – The RS Veteran’s Association and Coordination Centre of 11 NGO’s from RS oppose to the proposed concept of police reform, stated representatives of these two organisations at today’s press conference. Slavko Jovicic, member of the Coordination Centre of 11 NGO’s from RS has announced that if RS NA today adopted police reform, Centre will organize protests and block RS institutions. He said Centre will not give up on maintenance of RS MOI, since its abolishment will be followed with abolishment of RS.

Refinery Brod in strike

BH Radio 1 – After several days of protests within the facilities of the Oil Refinery in Bosanski Brod, company’s 1400 workers have decided to hold protests in the city downtown asking for their demands to be met. The workers request the situation in the Refinery to be solved as soon as possible, especially concerning payments of their belated salaries, benefits and company’s debt which should ensure resuming the production. 

Helsinki Human Rights Committee on education

BH Radio 1 – The Helsinki Human Rights Committee issued statement warning that the division in the schools in BiH has escalated to such extant which enables an open practice of the segregating and apartheid in BiH. Committee also called on rights committee calling on BiH public to voice its stand against these practices. 

Serb returnees announced protest in Drvar

RHB – About 8000 Serb returnees announced a blockade of the roads in Drvar in order to draw attention of the public on the HVO and Croatian Army military operation ‘Meaestral’ which was carried out in Drvar 10 years ago. In this way the returnees want to express their support to the demand of the Serb political parties in the Drvar Municipal Assembly according to which ‘Maestral’ should be proclaimed a criminal military operation. 

Political Developments/Reforms

Brussels offering green light for start of SAA talks if agreement on police reform is signed in 48 hrs

BHT, FTV, RTRS late news, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘For signing the agreement Brussels offering start of talks with EU’, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 2 ‘Talks interrupted, new chance (offer coming) from Brussels’ – Another round of talks on police reform at the institutional level was held in Banja Luka on Monday. According to media reports there was certain progress made in the course of the talks: after the intervention from Brussels, RS Government decided to send to the parliamentary procedure the agreement on the police reform proposed by the Council of Ministers on the mountain of Bjelasnica. If that agreement is adopted without any amendments until September 15, European Commission is ready to start the negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement with BiH, said BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic. According to Terzic, this agreement includes three basic EC principles; police reform will be implemented in the next three to five years, and that process will include defining the institution that will help transfer of the authorities from entity to the state level. RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic said that RS Government does not have the mandate to sign the proposed agreement. He added that the extraordinary session of RS National Assembly would probably be held on Tuesday, to discuss the BiH Council of Ministers proposal.

RHB Stanko Smoljanovic – Fifth, final round of police reform negotiations commenced in Banjaluka at 1700 on Monday. BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) Chair, Adnan Terzic, stated that representatives of the RS, after four round of talks, are still not ready to accept three principles set by the European Commission, but they are also not ready to reject them, reporter quoted Terzic. Asked about implementation of police reform, Terzic said that this process will last 3 to 5 years. BiH Minister of Security Barisa Colak expressed his expectation that compromise will be reached during this meeting and that reform proposal will be accepted. Negotiators from RS are still at position that it is possible to respect 3 European principles respecting at the same time existing Constitutions. If agreement is reached on Monday’s meeting, it would have to go before Entities’ Parliaments during next three days. RS Minister of Finance, Svjetlana Cenic stated that it will be very difficult to explain agreement, which would be reached most likely during this meeting, having in mind RS National Assembly’s position on this issue. “That is the most conflicting part and that is where we are looking for solution. No one here said that BiH should stay out of Europe,” she said. The OHR and the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) reiterates that Europe won’t wait. “ RS leaders are called to show necessary flexibility in continuation of negotiations, in order to reach agreement which would respect those (European) principles),” said the OHR’s spokesman, Mario Brkic . 

BHT, Pink, FTV, Hayat RTRS prime time news, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Agreement on police reform certain?’ by N.B., Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘RS Government “pushing brakes” regarding the public security’ by V. Popovic, EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Not everthing has failed’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘no signatures’ by Z. Ma.broadcast/carried similar reports on start of police reform talks on Monday including the statements of some of the participants made before the meeting.

Solana says police reform fully in accordance with Dayton

RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Police reform does not violate Dayton’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Police reform is in accordance with the Dayton’ – European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana stressed out in Brussels that police reform in BiH is fully in accordance with Dayton Peace Agreement and that he expects agreement on the issue is reached in order for negotiations on Stabilization and Association Agreement to start. Solana confirmed that if police reform principles are accepted, EU will be ready to commence those negotiations.

11 RS NGOs ask Serbian President Tadic to declare himself on ‘unconstitutional’ police reform in BiH

RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘They ask Taic, Kostunica, Nikolic for help’, Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘Tadic, help RS!’ by M. L., EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Tadic, help’ bnot signed, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Tadic, help’ by G. K. – Coordination Centre of 11 RS non-governmental organizations asked Serbian President Boris Tadic to state his position (declare himself) in relation to imposing unconstitutional solutions in police reform process in BiH. They stated that RS people feel this process is designed to abolish RS. 

VL on issue of surplus of policemen after end of police reform

Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘7000 policemen to lose job’ by Z. Jurilj – According to estimations of international representatives, domestic officials and police trade unions there would be between 6000 and 7000 extra policemen after the end of the police reform. VL says that this issue is the reason as to why police trade unions from the FBiH, RS and Brcko District have made a proposal of measures for taking care of surplus of policemen. President of the FBiH Police Trade Union Hamdo Melez stated that in principle and not officially they made familiar EUPM, OHR and domestic authority representatives with these measures and they are planning to involve the World Bank in this project. VL also says that if their proposal was not fully implemented the trade unions announce other forms of struggle such as protests, blockades of roads and authority institutions. 

IRI public opinion survey: SNSD the most popular party, Dodik the most popular politician

Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash SNSD is convincingly the strongest political party in BiH’ and pgs 2-3 ‘SNSD is convincingly the strongest political party in BiH, Dodik is the most popular politician’ by A. Sisic – The International Republican Institute (IRI) conducted a public opinion survey during August and September on a sample of 1523 citizens. The survey results (for BiH level) showed SNSD is the most popular political party in BiH (11,4%), and it is followed by SDA (10,9%), SDP (9,5%), Party for BiH (6,4%), SDS (4,1%), HDZ (3,5%), BOSS (2,3%), PDP (2,1%), SRS (1,9%) and SPRS (1,1%). With regard to RS population results, the most popular party is SNSD (27,9%), SDS (10,1%), SRS (4,9%), PDP (4,6%) and SPRS (2,7%). In the areas of BiH with majority Bosniak population, SDA would won the most of the votes (21,6%), while HDZ, PDP, SNSD, SDS and SRS would get less than 1% of votes each. The most popular politician is Milorad Dodik (28%) and is followed by Haris Silajdzic (27%), Zlatko Lagumdzija (25%), Dragan Cavic and Mladen Ivanic with 21% each and Ivo Miro Jovic (11%).

Serbian Assembly Security Board Chairman Mircic: IC wants to erase defence and security system of RS

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘They work what they want’ – Milorad Mircic, President of the Security Board of Serbian Parliament, warns that “the international community wants to completely erase defence and security system of RS”, adding: “Army was destroyed previously, and the same model of work is now applied on police force, since some processes, not only by Paddy Ashdown but also the ruling coalition and individuals on power are being accelerated.” He assessed that warning on SDS ban is a further proof that RS is an occupied territory, while HR, whom he calls “an occupier” “is implementing the self-will of the international community which is the guarantee of the Dayton Agreement.”

Banja Luka attorney Mikes criticizes ICG report

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘They live on chaos’ by Z.Markovic – Commenting on the latest ICG report, Miroslav Mikes, Banja Luka attorney, is of the view that ICG’ stances are not objective, noting: “The name International Crisis Group is appropriate. It is obvious their stances only deepen the crisis and then their name makes a sense.” Mikes notes that the IC finds it suitable to maintain the so-called crisis of low intensity in order to ensure its representatives stay here as long as possible. Commenting on police reform, he stresses it is evident RS is not obstructing police reform, “is partially serves as means of settling accounts with SiCG”.. He also brings in connection situation in BiH and Kosovo, noting that “whenever things go wrong in Kosovo, they turn to us”.

Former British Minister Michael Meacher accuses US and British intelligence agencies of collaboration in formation of terrorist cells tasked with de-stabilising of former Yugoslavia

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Danger of seeing secret services cover their traces’ by D.Raduski – In the op-ed in the British “Guardian”, Michael Meacher, former British Minister of Environment, accuses the British and US intelligence agencies that terrorist cells in the world have been created “with their knowledge and collaboration”. Referring to the 2002 Dutch government report on Bosnia, he notes report makes clear, the US provided a green light to groups on the state department list of terrorist organizations, including the Lebanese-based Hezbollah, to operate in Bosnia – an episode that calls into question the credibility of the subsequent “war on terror”. Op-ed further reads: “For nearly a decade the US helped Islamist insurgents linked to Chechnya, Iran and Saudi Arabia destabilise the former Yugoslavia. The insurgents were also allowed to move further east to Kosovo. By the end of the fighting in Bosnia there were tens of thousands of Islamist insurgents in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo; many then moved west to Austria, Germany and Switzerland.”

Ivo Miro Jovic heading BiH delegation at UN General Assembly session

RHB, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ivo Miro Jovic to attend a meeting of a few statesman’, Oslobodjenje pg 2 – BiH Presidency Chair Ivo Miro Jovic will head the BiH delegation at the 60th session of the UN General Assembly, which will take place from September 14 to 28 in New York. Jovic will address to UN Assembly on Thursday. During his visit to New York , Jovic is also planned to meet with the other chiefs of states. Jovic will also participate in so-called Bill Clinton’s initiative, a gathering of statesmen who will debate the current situation in the world.

Izacic border crossing opened

RHB, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Izacic border crossing opened’, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘BiH, Croatian customs officers under one roof’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Modern border crossing for better connection between BiH and Croatia’ by R. Karat, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘First joint inter-state border crossing opened’ by F, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 9 ‘Border crossing Izacic opened’ by M. Mulic – Izacic, the first interstate border crossing at which the customs officers of BiH and Croatia will be working under the same roof, is opened on Monday. FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, Croatian Minister of Finance Ivan Suker, BiH Indirect Taxation Administration Director Kemal Causevic and Director of Croatian Customs Administration Mladen Barisic have officially opened Border Crossing. Twelve million KM was invested in building the border crossing, 25 percent of which was provided by the FBiH Government. The rest of money was ensured through a World Bank’s loan.

Newly-appointed SBS heads assume duties

RHB, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Dumancic and Alagic assume duties’,Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Vinko Dumancic took over duty of State Border Service Director’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 5 ‘Finally end to anarchy in SBS’ by D. Jazvic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16 ‘Dumancic took over duty of State Border Service Director’ by D. Pasic, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Dumancic assumed duties’ by Srna– Vinko Dumancic on Monday assumed the duty of Director of the BiH State Border Service (SBS), while Vahid Alagic assumed the duty of SBS Deputy Director. They both have extensive working experience in police institutions.

SDA Stolac condemns initiative for establishing new municipality of Stolac

Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘SDA condemns the initiative’ by V. C. – Stolac SDA condemned the initiative of two Bosniak and one Serb Association with regard to request for establishing of a new municipality of Stolac. ‘SDA pleads for peace and coexistence and it does not support any new divisions. It is true violation of human rights exists in Stolac, yet these issues should be resolved in frame of the existing state institutions’, Deputy President of Stolac SDA Zlatko Hadziomerovic has stated.

FBiH Government crisis/Appointments/Pardons

Halilovic: Crisis proves lack of cooperation btw Lozancic, Dzihanovic

Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 2 ‘Dzihanovic and Lozancic should resign’ by A. Malagic – Chair of the SBiH Presidency, Safet Halilovic, believes that he crisis in the FBiH Government due to ministerial appointments must be solved as soon as possible, otherwise the leading political figures should resign. “All this happening demonstrates the bad or absence of any cooperation between the [FBiH] Vice President and President, Sahbaz Dzihanovic and Niko Lozancic respectively. They are guilty that the Government cannot function properly,” says Halilovic adding that SBiH, which nominated Dzihanovic, has nothing to do with this crisis.

Dzihanovic still opposes ministerial appointments by Lozancic; says there is no reason for FBiH Govt to be in halt

Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Sahbaz Dzihanovic insists on procedure’ by Fena – FBiH Vice President Sahbaz Dzihanovic on Monday reiterated in a statement to Fena that he would approve the two ministerial appointments in the FBiH Government after stipulated constitutional and legal procedure has been carried out. Dzihanovic added that he has not received none of the necessary information that the ministerial candidates need to deliver together with their signed biographies and that the written opinion of FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic has not been acquired, although it is necessary. Two candidates proposed by FBiH Niko Lozancic are Zahid Crnkic as Minister of Veterans’ Issues, and Vjekoslav Mandic as Minister of Health. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Dzihanovic doesn’t give up on consultations’ by M. Kukan – DA comments that the conflict between Dzihanovic and Lozancic is not fading away, which only deepens the crisis in the FBiH Government. However, Dzihanovic comments that there is no reason for FBiH Government not to hold sessions: “There are no formal of legal issues that would prevent the Government to be in session. Anyways, the Government was also holding sessions when all HDZ ministers left it. This is entirely Lozancic’s responsibility.” FBiH Vice President, Desnica Radivojevic, says he approved the appointments as suggested by Lozancic and comments: “I have gave consent because I don’t believe that anybody would apply if they do not meet criteria… I don’t know why Dzihanovic insists on this procedure when we did not apply it when we appointed Ministers that now occupy positions in the Governent.”

BHT, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Government with 2 new Ministers soon’ not signed also carried Dzihanovic’s statement.  

Lozancic on his mtg with Dzihanovic

Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Lozancic: Dzihanovic must de-block Government’s work urgently’ by D. Jazvic – FBiH President Niko Lozancic stated that he and his Vice President Desnica Radivojevic had signed the decision o appointment of 2 new Ministers, and they demanded from another FBiH Vice President Sahbaz Dziahnovic to do the same and de-block the FBiH Government’s work in this way. Lozancic added that Dzihanovic insisted again on some procedures that according to Lozancic did not exist at the time when the current composition of the FBiH Government was appointed. Lozancic stressed that there is no a single rational reason because of which Dzihanovic would refuse to give his consent for appointment of 2 Ministers.

SD comment on non-appointment of 2 Ministers

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 ‘New Ministers by Thursday’ by Z. Tulic comments on the situation emerged due to non-appointment of 2 Ministers in the FBiH Government. The author also says that the last FBiH Government’s crisis is just pouring oil on the fire and it reveals the fact that this is only about personal interests within the parties. SD concludes that even if the agreement on appointment of 2 Ministers was reached it is questionable whether their appointment would be confirmed in the Parliament. According to the article it has been speculated that Croat representatives would not support a candidate for the position of FBiH Health Minister Vjekoslav Mandic. 

Lozancic pardoned General Bahto as well

Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Lozancic pardoned General Bahto as well’ by A. Durmo and R. Cengic – As according to F BiH Official Gazette”, F BiH President Niko Lozancic granted pardon on July 27 this year to retired General of BiH Army Hamdija Bahto. Bahto was sentenced because of smuggling of weapons to Kosovo and Lozancic had got consent of Deputy Presidents Sahbaz Dzihanovic and Desnica Radivojevic on the decision on pardon.

War Crimes

EU, NATO: Karadzic, Mladic must be in The Hague by Dayton ’s anniversary

FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Karadzic and Mladic must be in The Hague by Dayton’s anniversary’, Oslobodjenje pg 2, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Karadzic and Mladic in The Hague before 10^th Dayton’s anniversary’ by ra, Glas srpske pg 2 ‘Two obstacles remained’ by Beta, Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Karadzic and Mladic in the Hague before the Dayton anniversary’ by Beta – Top European Union and NATO officials stated that former Bosnian Serbs’ leaders Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic must be extradited to the ICTY before the tenth anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement, in mid-December. That is the condition BiH has to fulfill if it wants to get closer to Partnership for Peace and the European Union, according to EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheeffer.

Siroki Brijeg Guardian: Church does not hide Gotovina

Slobodna Dalmacija cover pg splash and pg 7 ‘Church does not hide Gotovina and it is not going to look after him!’ by D. Ivankovic – With regard to speculations that ICTY fugitive Anto Gotovina hides in Herzegovina, SD carries spokesperson of the West Herzegovina Canton Police Administration Damir Cutura who says that they do not have such information. SD also carries Siroki Brijeg Guardian Father Branimir Musa who commented on the claims that the Franciscan priests hide Gotovina and he said: ‘The Church does not want to deal with politics and even less with fugitives. I would ask if there are smart people within the protectorate structures in BiH to deal with the things that they are tasked to do and please leave Church alone.’  

SIPA searched houses of Stupar and Dzinic in Sekovici and Vlasenica

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘SIPA searched the houses of Milos Stupar and Brane Dzinic’ by D.M. – Bijeljina PSC Monday confirmed that acting upon an order of the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, the SIPA members have been engaged in investigative activities in the areas of Sekovici and Vlasenica. Daily learns from the sources close to the RS MoI that the houses of Milos Stupar from Sekovici and Brane Dzinic from Vlasenica, against whom BiH PO is running investigation on war crimes, were searched.

BiH Court Council ordered arrest and detention for Kenan Dervic

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘BiH Court Council ordered arrest of suspect’ by D.Muminovic – Biljana Simeunovic, BiH State Prosecutor, confirmed to daily that tri-partite Council of BiH Court Monday decided to pass one-month detention to Kenan Dervic, suspected of having committed criminal act of placing persons under international protection in jeopardy (NOTE that it is about a threat to US Embassy in Sarajevo) . She also confirmed that Monday afternoon, Court Police was deployed to locate the suspect and apprehend him. If he is not found, international wanted warrant will be issued after him.

Economic/Social Issues

US Embassy-organized conference on tax reform in BiH held in Sarajevo

Pink, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 11 ‘New law to abolish double taxation, attract foreign investors’, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Revenues from income tax remain in entities’ by N. Bise – Law on tax on companies’ profit should start with implementation at the beginning of next year and draft of this Law was prepared by experts of Entities’ Governments in cooperation with experts from the IC and technical assistance of the US Government. New Law will unite current three taxation systems in BiH and will exclude double-taxation. In practice this means that taxpayers that operate in RS and in FBiH will be submitting only one application and pay taxes in only one place. As charge de affairs of the U.S. Embassy, Tina Kaidanow stressed at a conference on tax reform in BiH organized by US Embassy on Monday that tax reforms will attract foreign investors and improve business atmosphere in BiH. Advisor to RS Minister of Finances, Miodrag Kudic stated that goal of this project is to harmonize regulations in both entities and harmonize them with principles of the EU. Kudic also stressed that RS has carried out the reform of direct taxations in 2001. Assistant to FBiH Minister of Finances, Hajrudin Hadzimehanovic stated that FBiH is preparing the Law on taxing of physical subjects, which should eliminate inequalities of Cantonal regulations. PDHR Lawrence Butler has stated that there is no reason for this Law not to be passed by the end of the year.

FBiH Tax Admin. Deputy Director on future work of this institution

Dnevni List pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Tax Administration continues with work and it would have bigger authorities’ by I. Rozic carries in interview with Deputy Director of the Federation of BiH Tax Administration, Vinko Krizan, who talks about activities of this institution and the problems that they are faced with. Among the other things, Krizan says that authorities of the FBiH TA would be certainly extended. He added that they expect that the Law on Income Tax would be passed by December 31, 2005.

DL: Russians interested in ‘Aluminij’ and ‘Soko’?

Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Russians in game for Soko and Aluminij’ by M. Zorlak, M. Karacic says that the Russian Embassy in BiH has been preparing organization of a business forum, that should take place in the BiH Foreign Trade Chamber at the end of November or beginning of December. DL also says that since Russian Ambassador Constantin Shuvalov is giving advantage to the companies in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton because of successful companies for production of aluminium the question arises whether the Russian Embassy lobbies among leadership of companies ‘Aluminij’ and ‘Soko’ to show up at the aforementioned business forum in order to start talks on possible privatisation of these companies. A representative for Economic Issues with the Russian Embassy in BiH, Alexander Shevchenko, stated that they could not say which companies from BiH are interesting to Russian businismen at the moment, that they study the whole process of possible coming of the Russian companies and that all options are open. DL inset ‘People in Aluminij still do not think about Russians’ carries an anonymous source from Aluminij who stated that they do not want to think about Russians at them moment and he added: ‘We are focused on privatisation of the company and problems that we are faced with on a daily basis.’  

Education

BiH Presidency member Tihic meets with OSCE’s Davidson to discuss education issues

FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Dividing children on ethnic basis unacceptable’, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Ethnic divisions in schools not solution’, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Against ethnic division’ by Srna – Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic discussed with the Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Douglas Davidson the problems in the BiH education system. They underlined that the solution is not in division of schools on ethnic basis; they believe that BiH needs a structure that will provide common education and enhance state-level control of education.

DL op-ed implying that all BiH pupils do not have same rights

Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Pupils finally in school’ by I. Glibusic welcomes beginning of a school year in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and the author says: ‘Bosniak pupils in Capljina and Rama have realized the rights that they have according to the law. One should pose a question whether Croat pupils in Zenica, Tuzla, Sarajevo etc, will have the same possibility as Bosniaks in Capljina, Rama or Stolac. Has the time come to finally start to apply the same rules for all children all over BiH?’

RS education workers held strike on Monday, some schools did not support it

EuroBlic cover pg splash ‘Professors were silent in classrooms’ and pg RS3 ‘Silence as warning’ by Zeljka Knezevic and EuroBlic team – According to information of the RS Education Trade Union, approximately 80% of teachers supported the strike held on Monday. The article lists schools that did not support the strike and carries statements of teachers who teach in those schools – they all agree pressures on competent authorities should continue but they find this kind of strike was inappropriate and harmful from pupils’ point of view. Inset ‘Possible general strike’ – carries a statement of the Trade Union member, Dragan Milosevic, who says should RS NA fails to meet demands of education workers they will shorten classes and he did not exclude the possibility of organizing a general strike.

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Raise is crucial’ by G. Dakic inset ‘White strike’ – also reports the strike was held.

RS NA discussed education problems, Minister Pecelj is not satisfied with material position of education workers

RTRS, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Raise is crucial’ by G. Dakic – RS NA on Monday discussed the situation in education in RS. A general conclusion of the discussion was that the RS education was in a difficult position while the reforms that are underway have not showed the expected results. RS Minister of Education Milovan Pecelj submitted a report on the situation in education and emphasized he was not satisfied with material position of education workers. SRS’s Milanko Mihajlica opposed possible transfer of education competences on state level, while SDA’s Tarik Sadovic said goals set in curriculums were good but problems occurred during realization of goals in practice. RS Minister of Finances Svetlana Cenic said the only way to help education workers was to reduce funds of other budgetary beneficiaries and transfer those funds to education workers.

EuroBlic pg RS3 ‘Delegates are aware it is difficult to please education workers’ by N. B. – also reports on RS NA discussion on education.