OHR BiH Media Round-up, 14/12/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

Peace round-table in Mostar

PIC session in Paris

The Hague wants Mladic

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Steinmayer on Schwarz-Schilling

RS Police searching for hidden arms

Karadzic visited Bijeljina in 2001

PIC meeting

War crimes against Serbs in FBiH

Investigation on Vucurevic launched

Conference on DPA in Mostar

Mladic located?

Martic’s trial started at ICTY

Hays on constitutional changes

Cenic, Matijasevic on ICTY fugitives

Regional News

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Obstacles on BiH’s path towards EU

ITA on VAT introduction

Radovanovic meets Chiarini

PIC meeting in Paris

FBiH Price Monitoring Team

Arrest of ICTY indictees

ITA on Value Added Tax

FBiH HoR in session

Trial of Martic

BiH citizens on VAT introduction

RSNA in session

Trial of Milosevic

Oslobodjenje

Arrest of Karadzic and Mladic is priority

Dnevni Avaz

Did Tihic miss the target?

Dnevni List

Schilling best solution for Croats

Vecernji List

Unknown virus killed foreigner (on death of Moldavian girl in Sarajevo)

Slobodna Dalmacija

Robbed part of works of art of holdings from Art Colony Pocitelj

Glas Srpske

Recipe for extortion (proposal for abolishment of E. Sarajevo Clinical Centre)

Nezavisne Novine

Tihic: Ashdown’s pretension

Blic

Forged papers to lead to plates (140 suspicious cars seized so far in RS)

Vecernje Novosti

Serbia related headlines

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

FBiH HoP in session

RHB – FBiH House of Peoples is in session today. The chamber should be discussing amendments to the FBiH Constitution related to transfer of defence authorities from the entity onto the state.

NHI on constitutional changes

RHB – On the occasion of 6^th meeting of Croat parties about the constitutional changes, scheduled for December 16, NHI has sent the organizer of the meeting, the HNZ, a letter confirming its participation in the talks, however the NHI minds the organizer because it did not allegedly treat proposals of other parties in the same way. NHI insists that no resolutions can be adopted without equally treating all proposals and opinions of all parties. The party also warns of promise made by the HDZ BiH President, Dragan Covic, to Donald Hays, that the number of cantons in the FBiH should be reduced to 3, arguing that the NHI would never agree to it.

Political Developments/Reforms/Cooperation with ICTY

Tihic accuses OHR of cancelling his participation at ENP summit; HR says Tihic making wrong conclusions

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Did Tihic miss the target?’, pg 2 ‘I think that the behaviour  of your office is unacceptable’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Ashdown cancelled Tihic’s participation at Summit’ – SDA Chair Sulejman Tihic sent an open letter to HR Paddy Ashdown claiming that his participation at summit of European national party chairs in Brussels was cancelled by OHR diplomatic department. Tihic reminds that European National Party invited him to participate at the summit that is scheduled for Thursday. Tihic stressed that the behavior of OHR is not acceptable and added that no one has the right to cancel his appointments.

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Thic again making wrong conclusions’ – HR responded to the letter and stressed that Tihic is making wrong conclusions since OHR had never made any contacts with the office of ENP .

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Who cancelled Tihic’s participation at meeting in Brussels?’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Ashdown cancelled Tihic’s participation at EPP Summit’ by eme, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 11 ‘Ashdown: Tihic makes wrong conclusions again’ by F,Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 20 ‘OHR calls off Tihic’s departure to Brussels’, by B. Kristo, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pg 2 ‘Tihic: Ashdown’s pretense’ by M.Cubro, EuroBlic RSpg 4 ‘Tihic accused OHR of banning him to go to Brussels’ by T.V., Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Without my approval!’ by FENAcarried both Tihic’s letter and HR’s response.

BiH delegation, HR Ashdown participate at PIC session in Paris today

Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘New era in development of BiH’, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Election of Ashdown’ successor’ by N.N., FENA – The Political Directors of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) will meet in Paris on Wednesday, December 14, the OHR said on Tuesday. The BiH authorities, led by Chairman of the BiH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic and Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic, will participate in part of the meeting. This meeting of the Political Directors will be the first since the launch of Stabilization and Association negotiations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union; and will take place ten years to the day since the Dayton-Paris Peace Accords were signed. There will be two communiqués – one will be issued at the conclusion of commemorative session in the morning and will focus on the progress that has been made in the last 10 years and the broad policy priorities that now exist. The second communiqué will be issued on the conclusion of the afternoon session, which will look at the detailed policy issues connected to BiH’s strategic transition to a new phase in its post war recovery and Euro-Atlantic integration. BiH Presidency Chair Ivo Miro Jovic, Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic, Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic and the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, are planned to address the PIC session. During their visit to Paris, the BiH delegation is also planned to meet with the Speaker of the French Parliament, Jean-Louis Debre, and French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, according to OHR.

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat – The Political Directors of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) will gather in Paris on Wednesday, December 14^th, on a meeting organized on a tenth anniversary of signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. The representatives of BiH authorities are already in Paris, where they will participate in the first PIC meeting since the beginning of the negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union. It is expected that the name of the High Representative in BiH Paddy Ashdown’s successor should be officially announced during the meeting in Paris. In fact, according to media reports, it would be announced that German diplomat Christian Schwarz-Schilling would become new High Representative in BiH.

BiH MPs Jukic, Milojevic on possibility that Schwarz Schilling becomes next HR and HR’s decision to transfer certain authorities at state institutions

Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘Schilling best solution for Croats’ by A. Vrebac speculates that, most probably, Christian Schwarz Schilling would be the next High Representative. Commenting on this possibility Chairman of the BiH HoP Velimir Jukic stated that he expects that Schwarz Schilling would be respecting more demands coming from representatives of the Croat people. Deputy Chairman of the BiH HoP Goran Milojevic stated that it is realistic to expect that Schwarz Schilling would be the next HR although Milojevic believes that other candidates also stand a chance to be elected. He added that nevertheless the most important thing is that the HR’s mandate finishes as soon as possible and that we start to take care of ourselves. DL inset ‘Politicians welcomes Ashdown’s decision’ carries that Jukic and Milojevic welcomed the decision passed by High Representative Paddy Ashdown to transfer certain authorities at state institutions.

Interview with French Foreign Minister: Arrest of Karadzic and Mladic is priority

Oslobodjenje cover pg splash ‘Arrest of Karadzic and Mladic is priority’ pgs 4-5 ‘Arrest of Karadzic and Mladic is the main issue’ by Edin Krehic – Philippe Douste-Blazy, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in an interview to Oslobodjenje that the institutions DPA established have helped BiH to go through a difficult part of its history but he thinks the complexity of these institutions is not compatible with the perspective of admission to EU. With regard to constitutional changes, the Minister stated strengthening of CoM and role of the president would be useful, but he noted his primary concern is to have BiH citizens to act as initiators of reforms as well as that citizens should be the ones to decide on these matters. Asked whether BiH with two entities was sustainable, the Minister said the problem of BiH is more related to weakness and complexity of its central institutions. Asked to say whether France had ever dealt with the allegations that its officers from the international forces had been tipping off the actions aimed at arrest of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, the Minister replied these allegations were not made with regard to “officers” but with regard to “an officer” back in 1998 and he added France had never denied there had been a possibility he might have done so, but he pointed on the fact French contingent in BiH had done much to apprehend approximately 1/3 of the arrested Hague fugitives in BiH. He also said he pleads for the arrest of Karadzic, Mladic and their associates and he says he had even warned Serbian authorities the extradition of remaining Hague fugitives remains the top priority.

Nezavisne Novine pg 5, announced on cover ‘BiH needs stronger central institutions’ by D.Risojevic also carried the interview.

Avaz interview: HR Ashdown on priorities until end of his mandate

Dnevni Avaz, pg 5 ‘I have to carry out 11 more tasks before I leave’, by Sead Numanovic – carries a whole page interview with the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, in which he outlines his priorities in the remaining 6 weeks of his tenure in the office (HR leaves on January 31). HR Ashdown says that his priorities, among other issues, will be to have the Law on Obligations adopted, and in that context, the HR expects the RS authorities to stop with obstructions, not only in that segment, but also in issues related to transfer of authorities from the entity onto the state when it comes to defence and law on conflict of interest. He also expects the RS Government to solve the issue of destiny of Avdo Palic. HR Ashdown’s other priorities also include, among other issues, accommodation for SIPA and making law on police and election law clearer. On RS’s cooperation with the ICTY, inset entitled ‘Sanctions against RS’, HR Ashdown says the ultimate assessment whether the RS cooperates with the ICTY rests with the Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte. “I am in contacts with del Ponte and if she deems there is no cooperation or it is not good enough, I will react pursuant to my authorities”, says Ashdown. Inset ‘I will not remove Seada Palavric’ carries the HR as saying that he will not remove Seada Palavric from the office of a BiH Constitutional Court judge. The HR explains it is not about Palavric, it is about procedure pertaining to the appointment. Ashdown hopes that the shortcomings in the procedure will be removed.

BiH Security Ministry calls on entity and cantonal governments to nominate candidates for Executive Board of Police Reform Directorate

Dnevni Avaz, pg 8 ‘Security Ministry requests names of candidates’, by E. Sarac – The BiH Ministry of Security called on the entity and cantonal governments to forward names of candidates for positions in the Executive Board of Police Reform Directorate as soon as possible. Similar appeal also came from the OHR. Avaz explains that a 5-member team of the BiH CoM will select the best 10 candidates that are to be subsequently appointed by the BiH CoM. The FBiH PM, Ahmet Hadzipasic, comments it is the FBiH Interior Minister, Mevludin Halilovic, and Director of FBiH Police Administration, Zlatko Miletic, who will be proposing candidates (on behalf of the FBIH Govt): “If they submit names, the Government will forward them to the Council of Ministers after its session on Thursday”.

OHR urges for nomination of candidates for Police Directorate

RHB, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Candidates for Police Reform Directorate to be known today’ by M. Zorlak, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Proposal of candidates for Directorate today’ by SRNA – OHR called on FBIH Government to propose candidates for the positions in the Directorate for police reform. OHR spokesman Mario Brkic stated at a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday that Cantonal authorities were also invited to nominate their candidates.

OHR warns Entity Governments of need to adopt amendments to Law on Courts, Minor Offences

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘To fully implement Minor Offences Courts reform’, FENA – The OHR warned the Entity governments on Tuesday that they needed to adopt the amendments to the Law on Courts and Law on Minor Offences. “In order for the entire Minor Offence reform to be fully implemented, with the financial support of international donors, two important Laws currently before the Entity governments must be passed”, the OHR spokesperson, Mario Brkic, told a press conference on Tuesday. Until these laws are adopted, the minor offences courts cannot be merged with the regular court system and HJPC cannot appoint any judges to minor offences courts the OHR said.

Cenic: Karadzic and Mladic are not financed from the RS budget / Matijasevic: no new information on Karadzic and Mladic’s whereabouts

Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘RS officials do not know who are Mladic’s bodyguards from Kalinovik’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘There is no money for Karadzic and Mladic in budget’ by A.Sekulic, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘We do not know of their whereabouts, Government is not paying them’ by Nedeljka Breberina, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Nothing secretly from the budget’ by Lj.Cicic  – Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are not financed from the RS budget, RS Minister of Finance Svetlana Cenic stated on Tuesday in Banja Luka. Cenic stressed that she does not know whether someone finances them from their own house budgets, but added that the RS entity budget is not allocating any funds for them whatsoever. RS Minister of Finance added that, by confirming that no money from the RS Budget is transferred directly or indirectly to Karadzic, Mladic or any other ICTY fugitive, she fulfilled the obligation Defence Reform Commission co-president Raffi Gregorian set before RS authorities. RS Minister of Interior Darko Matijasevic stated that he does not have any information on possible new location of two most wanted ICTY fugitives, adding that RS MoI is conducting operational activities, which are too delicate to be publicly announced. Matijasevic confirmed that he would respond to Gregorian, who asked RS MoI to investigate the role of former RS President Mirko Sarovic in Mladic’s retirement; Minister Matijasevic once again reiterated that RS MoI would do its best to completely fulfil the obligations towards The Hague Tribunal.  

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘We do not have information on Mladic’, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘RS MoI does not know location of indictees’ by NINA,Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 21 ‘Karadzic and Mladic are not in BiH’, by A. Macanovicalso carried Matijasevic’s statement.

Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Cenic: Money from RS budget does not go to Karadzic’ by bs, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 21 ‘Cenic: The Hague indictees are not financed from budget’, by A. M. also carried Cenic’s statement.

RS President Cavic says apprehension of ICTY indictees an RS obligation

BHT – RS President Dragan Cavic believes that Ratko Mladic, Zlatko Tolimir, Goran Hadzic and Stojan Zupljanin are not in BiH, but he emphasized that it remains the obligation of RS MoI to work on their arrestment and cooperate with all relevant institutions, especially with ICTY. Cavic emphasized that the completing of this task is difficult and painful, but that process must be finished.

EuroBlic claims Kostunica is under pressure of Carla Del Ponte to apprehend Mladic

EuroBlic pgs 2-3, announced on cover ‘Carla’s prospectors in Serb team for hunt after Mladic’ by Tanja Nikolic-Djakovic – Daily’s source close to the ICTY claims that Vojislav Kostunica will do all he can to apprehend Ratko Mladic, since this is condition and price for his power, including infiltration of foreign intelligence agents into local teams in search after Mladic. Daily also notes that some parts of domestic intelligence agencies are still trying to prevent seeing former RS Army Commander going to The Hague alive, since his appearance would jeopardize Slobodan Milosevic’ interests.

RS NA session showed there is no parliament majority

Pink, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Information on cooperation with The Hague refused’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘MP’s rejected all Government information’, announced on cover ‘Adoption of RS budget uncertain’ by V.Popovic, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Crisis straining’ by Rajna Radosavljevic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘They rejected everything’ by G.Dakic – RS NA Tuesday failed to support any Information or proposal submitted by RS Government, proving there is no parliament majority. Namely MP’s did not approve of the following Information: on launched initiative of BiH Central Bank (regarding transfer of power over banking supervision at BH level), Information on realization of Action Plan for cooperation with the ICTY, Information on realization of contract on bank’ sales and Report on work of RS Banking Agency for 2004, etc.

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘More money to police and pensioners’ by A.Sekulic, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Ministers promised salary increases’ by N.Breberina– Svetlana Cenic, RS Finance Minister, Tuesday presented Draft budget of RS for 2006, which is to be discussed during Wednesday’s resumption of Parliament session.

Party for BiH nominates MP Heco for new FBiH Industry Minister

Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Vahid Heco nominated to replace Izet Zigic’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Vahid Heco at Zigic’s position’, FENA – The Party for BiH Presidency, in accordance with the agreement on the composition of the FBiH Government, nominated Vahid Heco for the position of FBiH Minister of Energy, Industry and Mining. Heco has been nominated to this position following the resignation by Izet Zigic. The FBiH Constitution specifies that every vacant ministerial position is to be filled under the same procedure as was used for appointments during the establishment of the Government. Pursuant to this the Party for BiH forwarded its proposal to FBiH President Niko Lozancic and Vice Presidents Desnica Radivojevic and Sahbaz Dzihanovic. Heco is a mechanical engineer and currently holds the position of the FBiH House of Peoples Deputy Speaker.

Dodik: I would take the duty of Prime Minister, but under my own terms

Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘I would take the duty of Prime Minister, but under my own terms’, announced on cover ‘I would accept the duty of Prime Minister’ by N. Diklic – SNSD President Milorad Dodik confirmed on Tuesday the coalition with SDS is possible if this party decides to start fighting organized crime. He also noted he would accept the duties of Prime Minister, but under his own terms.

BiH Lawsuit against SCG for Aggression/Genocide

Oslobodjenje on BiH lawsuit against SCG

Oslobodjenje pg 5, announced on cover ‘Lawsuit against SiCG is disputable because of RS’ by A. Omeragic – the article refers to the decision of BiH Presidency member Borislav Paravac to initiate the assessment of constitutionality of BiH lawsuit against SiCG before BiH Constitutional Court  over the part of the lawsuit that reads ‘RS is a surogat that had been created on genocide and ethnic cleansing’. Paravac’s legal advisor Slobodan Radulj says this was the key reason for launching such an initiative and added he believes the lawsuit was not aimed only against SiCG but he thinks it was aimed against RS as well. Paravac’s office did not deny that one of the reasons for launching this initiative was Tihic’s initiative for abolishment of name of RS. Radulj added that BiH should have accepted the offer of SiCG to withdraw the lawsuit while Serbia would, in return, construct Ferhadija mosque and pay reparations to Srebrenica people. BiH legal representative Sakib Softic says he is concerned that one party – SDS – opposite to any procedure demands that the International Court is informed on the Paravac’s initiative at the moment when the date of the first hearing is already known.

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘What Softic failed to disclose’ by Z.Markovic – Daily carries statement of Slobodan Radulj, legal advisor to Borislav Paravac, criticisng Sakib Softic for having violated BiH Constitution on some counts in relation with BiH suit against SiCG (in his recent interview to Dnevni Avaz), including no referral to protest against suit filed by Zivko Radisic and akin.

SDA on Paravac challenging BiH’s lawsuit against SCG

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 23 ‘Sarajevo: SDA condemns Paravac’s attempt to contest BiH’s lawsuit against SCG”, by F, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Suit is legal and legitimate’ by SRNA– SDA Tuesday released a press statement, condemning dispute of BiH suit against SiCG for aggression and genocide, launched by Borislav Paravac. SDA statement assessed that this suit is in line with the Constitution, hence legal, legitimate and in the interest of BiH citizens.  This party is of the view that the ruling ICJ in The Hague is the sole one to put an end to this suit.

NN op-ed critical of SDS/Paravac late reaction on BiH suit against SiCG

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘A suit’ by Natasa Krsman – The author is critical of the SDS and its policy run in the region over the past ten years. She also highlights Borislav Paravac could have initiated dispute of BiH suit against SiCG two years ago when he assumed the post at the BiH Presidency, but he failed to do so.

Economic/Social Affairs

ITA ready for the VAT introduction

Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Citizens should not be afraid of VAT’, Dnevni List pg 25 ‘Unified VAT rate only remedy against corruption’, Vecernji List pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Living costs would increase by 7 KM’, by E. Medunjanin, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Additional BAM 400 million will not be spent by administration’ by M.Cubro/N.Krsman  – Indirect Taxation Administration (ITA) is ready for the Valued Added Tax (VAT) introduction, stated President of the ITA Steering Board Joly Dixon. He stressed that BiH citizens should not be afraid of VAT, because it is a modern and economic tax, which is used in all European Union member countries. VAT is the tax that stimulates investments and creates fair market, ITA Director Kemal Causevic said. VAT introduction should provoke the increase of the prices, but entity governments will form the monitoring teams that should prevent merchants of gaining some extra or illegal profit, ITA and BiH CoM representatives said at a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Zlatko Hurtic, Advisor to Chair of BiH Council of Ministers, stated that both entity governments have adopted draft budgets, which include about 50 million KM to alleviate possible consequences of VAT.

Hayat: BiH citizens on VAT introduction

Hayat Zumra Arnautovic – While representatives of the Indirect Taxation Administration claim that they are ready for the Value Added Tax introduction, BiH citizens are not so well prepared: most of them claim that they do not have enough information, and the only thing they all know is the fact that prices will go up once the VAT is introduced. NTV Hayat interviewed citizens of Sarajevo , and the sellers in some big shopping centres. Although they are convinced that almost everything will become more expensive, ordinary citizens are not thinking of buying reserves in food, partially because they do not have enough money to do that. Workers in shopping centres claim that they have not noticed any “unusual” behaviour of their customers, and that the demand for basic life groceries is at the same level as in December 2004.

Hayat, ATV: VAT introduction in RS

Hayat ATV Banja Luka – The announcement that the basic life groceries and communal services will become more expensive causes anxiety among BiH citizens: for example, it has already been announced that the price of water would be increased for 16.4 percent in Canton Sarajevo. The situation is not much different in other BiH entity, although according to ATV Banja Luka reporter, there is one big difference: the CoM’s Monitoring team for the control of possible unjustified increase of the prices have not even set foot in the RS. The meeting on which the working strategy should have been established was cancelled. “They are constantly talking about some monitoring, but we hear about it only through media reports… I don’t know, maybe they believe that we have regulated this issue”, stated Chief RS Inspector Zdravko Milicevic.

FBiH HoR accepted the Law on the Development Bank

RHB, FTV, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 – The FBiH House of Representatives on Tuesday accepted the Bill on the Development Bank in FBiH. Representatives also accepted two amendments, which prescribe that parliament should have the control over the operations of the Development Bank.

VL: Candidate for Director of FBiH Investment Bank gave up his appointment because of threats

Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Candidate gave up because of threats’ by D. Jazvic carries that the FBiH Investment Bank Steering Board elected Zlatan Jugo for its new Director. VL says that this decision was passed after appointed acting Director Hamdija Behric had announced that he could not accept the position of the Director since a day after the decision on his appointment had been passed he was exposed to certain unpleasant things. VL learns unofficially that the whole situation is a result of lobbying by former Director Asim Omanic who tried to influence the work of the bank even after he had submitted the resignation. President of the FBiH IB SB Zdravko Lucic confirmed that Behric refused the appointment and as a reason he stated the unpleasant things that he was exposed to.

BL Professor Tomas: Dayton Agreement has almost no economic dimension

Vecernje Novosti pg 17 ‘Dayton is not an obstacle’ by Slobodan Pesevic – This is part one of interview Rajko Tomas, University Professor from Banja Luka and imminent economist, gave to daily, where he says that Dayton Agreement has almost zero economic dimension, stressing that the new economic system of BiH must ground on freedom of enterprising, rule of law in the field of economy, unified economic sector and unified macro-economic coordination.

Crime/Security/Terrorism/Legal Proceedings

Carty on terrorism in BiH

BHT, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Arrests show terrorist activities were being planned in BiH’ – EUPM Commissioner Kevin Carty stated for FENA that the recent arrestments are showing that some kind of terrorist activities were planned in BiH. BiH prosecution hasn’t yet raised charges against one of the arrested persons. Asked if the terrorists had arrived in BiH during the war, Carthy said that persons from Middle East were coming to BiH, and they were given BiH citizenships. However, Carthy warned that it wouldn’t be right to generalize and say that all of these persons are terrorists.

SD: ‘ CIA revealed 5 camps for training of terrorists in BiH’

Slobodna Dalmacija pgs 18 and 19, mentioned on cover ‘CIA revealed 5 camps for training of terrorists in BiH’ by Z. Tulic carries that according to intelligence information that US agents have at their disposal currently there are 5 locations in the FBiH at which training of terrorists takes place and there is suspicion that this number is even bigger. SD says that known locations are Smoluca, Gornja Maoca, then the locations in the Central Bosnia and Bosanska Krajina while the exact location of the fifth camp is not known to SD.  

BiH Prosecution raises indictment against Sarovic, Govedarica, Bjelica and Mandic

Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz, pg 3 ‘Indictment against Sarovic, Mandic, Govedarica and Bjelica raised’, by S. T., Nezavisne Novine pg 3, announced on cover ‘Sarovic, Mandic, Govedarica and Bjelica charged’ by A.Sisic, EuroBlic RSpg 4 ‘Sarovic, Mandic, Bjelica charged’ by SRNA– Avaz learns from the BiH Court that the BiH Prosecution has raised an indictment with the BiH Court against former member of BiH Presidency, Mirko Sarovic, former Director of RS Reserves, Milorad Govedarica, former President of Municipal Council of East Sarajevo, Milovan Cicko Bjelica, and wartime RS Justice Minister, Momcilo Mandic, who are charged with illegalities related to the ‘Privredna Banka of East Sarajevo’. Avaz also writes that considering the fact that prosecutor Jonathan Rattel, who is charge of investigation, is on leave, the daily could not find out whether the indictment was extended on other persons, such as the current RS Deputy Justice Minister, Mladjen Mandic. The indictment also includes a request to extend detention to (Momcilo) Mandic, since the current detention order expires tomorrow (Thursday).

BiH Defence Minister Radovanovic received Chiarini/Radovanovic on terrorist threats, arrest of Karadzic and Mladic

Dnevni List pg 3 ‘There were no terrorist threats because of Iraq’ by D. Polovina-Mandic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Karadzic and Mladic are priorities’ by SRNA, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘The Hague at first place’ by D.S. , Sarajevo media – BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic stated on Tuesday that his Ministry does not have at its disposal the information that would refer on any terrorist threats to BiH, the BiH Ministry of Defence or to members of the BiH armed forces because of the engagement in Iraq. He also received on Tuesday EUFOR’s Commander Giano Marco Chiarini and after the meting Radovanovic stated that the priority is the arrest of Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. Radovanovic also reminded that the last session of the Defence Reform Commission has been scheduled for Friday and the DRC ’s mandate would not be extended since it has successfully completed its task and competent institutions have been established.   

VL: Update on alleged conflict btwn British and Germans in EUFOR

Vecernji List pg 3 ‘British launched their own media campaign’ by D. Jazvic – VL says that they bring new details regarding the alleged conflict between Germans and British within EUFOR (see yesterday’s OHR BiH Media Round-up) and the article says that that shutting down of ‘PsyOps’ (Psychological Operations) would mean a loss of considerable support to the BiH economy since in this way many BiH media outlets used to receive considerable funds from EUFOR. VL also learns that British have launched their own media-propaganda project that should compensate shutting down of ‘PsyOps’ and the crucial segment of that project are video letters.

Interpol: We take credit for Gotovina’s arrest/Gotovina used passports stolen from Cro Consulate in Mostar

Dnevni List pg 3 ‘Interpol played crucial role in Gotovina’s arrest?!” by Hina, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 7 ‘Interpol crucial in arrest of General’ by H – At its official web page Interpol announced that its Spanish office takes the credit for the arrest of Croatian General Ante Gotovina. Interpol also reminds that the passport used by Gotovina is one of those stolen in the Croatian Consulate in Mostar in 1999.