OHR BiH Media Round-up, 14/5/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

World news

Suicide attempt in Banjaluka

Incident in Banjaluka

Pilgrimage to Bleiberg

Ivanic in visit to Portugal

Lawsuit against Holland

HSP members in Bleiberg

BiH CoM’ session postponed

BiH soldiers goes to Iraq

Croat channel in BIH

BiH foreign-trade exchange

BiH help to Iraq

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Suicide attempt in Banjaluka

Incident in Banjaluka

Self-burning incident in Banja Luka

Strike in “Krivaja’

BiH CoM postponed its session

Dayton Agreement seminar

Regional News

HDZ left Assembly session in Brcko

OHR on Cavic’s statement

BiH CoM’ session postponed

Feature on return to Srebrenica

Cvjetinovic on protests

Oslobodjenje

Who are first indictees from list of BiH Prosecution: ‘Abdic’s people’ and soldiers of HVO and ARBiH on the list

Dnevni Avaz

Dragac Lukac for Dnevni Avaz: SIPA is blocked, there could be serious consequences

Dnevni List

Trials to Bosniak officials for smuggling of weapons: Interior Minister was giving instructions

Vecernji List

Scandal: BiH makes money on erasing of its citizens

Nezavisne Novine

Mico Maric clinically dead: Three police officers in critical condition

Reforms, Political Developments

Gathering in Banja Luka on DPA, HR Ashdown

Pink TV – Participants of the science gathering “RS – 10 years after Dayton Peace Agreement” agreed that there were no justified reasons why the agreement and BiH Constitution should be revised, as well as that there was no need for having OHR any longer. The Chair of Science and ArtsAcademy, Rajko Kuzmanovic said that the DPA should be preserved the way it was. Kuzmanovic added that the participants agreed that such BiH system, with two entities should be preserved, since mechanisms for admittance to Euro-Atlantic integration could be built upon. Political analyst from Washington, Obrad Kesic, said that the gathering was of extreme importance, since all sectors of society should take stance on this issue, now after RS and BiH were at historical crossroad. RTRS – Participants of the seminar feel that the HR Paddy Ashdown violated BIH Constitution by imposing laws and dismissing officials. Kuzmanovic stated that the HR had exceeded his authorities in certain decisions he made. RS Vice President Ivan Tomljenovic agrees that certain decisions made by HR were not democratic but they are necessary because politicians, especially from RS, slowly implement reforms. The Academy will print all reports from the seminar. (also reported by Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘High Representative no longer needed in BiH?!’, not signed, Dnevni List, g 3 ‘BiH no longer needs High Representative’, by NINA)

Avaz op-ed on Banja Luka gathering

Dnevni Avaz, pg 3 ‘Who has problem with High Representative in RS’, by Admir Malagic – Commenting on the gathering as reported above, the author says it is not difficult to conclude what the aim of the gathering really was: to send a message to the people that the DPA is perfect, without shortcomings, and that the High Representative is not needed because BiH politicians can agree on everything.

OHR to Cavic: Implement reform that lead BiH closer to EU

RTRS – RS President Dragan Cavic stated on Thursday that BIH did not need a High Representative with authorities above all levels of government but a special representative of EU that will have certain kind of supervision without the mandate to intervene. This statement was commented for RTRS by an OHR spokesperson Ljiljana Radetic: “If Mr. Cavic wants to see a special representative of EU in BIH the quickest way to do that would be to implement reforms that will lead BIH closer to EU and that certainly includes police reform”.

Oslobodjenje: IC will insist on 9 plus 1 regions map

Oslobodjenje, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘International Community in favour of 9 plus 1 map’, by Az. Kalamujic – Oslobodjenje learns that the Commission for making of maps of police regions on Friday submitted leaders of political parties in BiH three proposals of future territorial organization of the future BiH police (5, 9 plus 1 and 11 regions) together with significantly different comments of experts to the maps. Oslobodjenje notes that although the map with 5 regions enjoys the biggest support of the BiH public and police experts, it is already clear that representatives of the IC will insist during the resumption of police talks, scheduled for May 16 at the Konak residence in Sarajevo , on the 9 plus 1 proposal, believing it is a compromise solution. Allegedly, the consent about it was reached at an informal meeting of ambassadors of countries that are members of the Peace Implementation Council, and the proposal has the backing of the HDZ and NHI. Aware of the fact that the map with five regions will not go through, it is expected that representatives of the SDA and SBiH will ask for correction of the 9 plus 1 map, foremost in the Sarajevo area.

DS, SRS on reforms, police issues

RTRS – Members of DS and SRS Vojislav Seselj warn that members of national parties cannot carry the concept of reforms in BIH. They feel that the difficult situation in the country is intentionally created by international factors with the help from local politicians. According to a research of the Partner agency, around 70% of citizens feel that current police forces are not efficient in fight against crime and that politics are too much involved in their work. DS feels that opposition parties should enter the Government so solution for making of current and future reforms would be found easier. Member of SRS Mirko Blagojevic says that SDS is confusing the public with its stance towards police reform.

RS NGOs announce protests for May 17

BHT – HQ for protection of RS constitutional position (consisting of 11 non-governmental organizations) will demand from the RS NA on May 17 to preserve constitutional order of this entity in the future police reform in BiH. “Mr. Cavic, Dodik, Ivanic, Spiric, Djokic and the others, do not allow or sign the abolishment of RS, because RS Association of camp inmates prepares the new breach for May 17”, said Branislav Dukic, an HQ member. “I believe it is very important for us that the process of stabilization and association to EU be opened and that is the issue on which we are focused at this moment”, said RS President Dragan Cavic. “It is not understandable that we defend constitution from the people who took an oath to defend the constitutional position”, said Slavko Jovicic, an HQ member. “Those non-governmental organizations want to keep RS in the period when Radovan Karadzic was leading it, and want this entity to remain out of all processes”, stated Adil Osmanovic, RS Vice-President, and added that they should not allow that. RTRS – Chairman of the HQ, Savo Cvjetinovic, stated that second phase of protests will follow if messages from the protests scheduled for 17^th of May do not reach RS authorities. Cvjetinovic stated that the second phase might lead to 5^th October in RS. (Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Politicians must not sign abolishment of RS’, by A. Beus – carries Dukic’s statement, Nezavsine Novine, pg 6 ‘Announcement of ‘new breach’’, by Bi. G – Carries Dukic, Cvjetinovic statements)

Oslobodjenje op-ed: State of emergency in BiH

Oslobodjenje, pg 9 ‘Emergency situation’, by Gojko Beric – Commenting on the recent events regarding the police reform, the rejection of the talks from Vlasic by the SDS Main Board in particular, Beric says: “If one cannot call this a collapse of one freakish political system and its international tutorship, I do not know what else needs to happen before the situation is declared as emergency. The threshold of tolerance, which Paddy Ashdown keeps on building up, has been crossed by the violation of the talks on reform of police”.

BiH CoM postpones session, still no agreement on director of SIPA

FTV, BHT, Hayat TV, RTRS, Nezavsine Novine, pg 3 ‘SIPA still without director’, by M. C. – A session of the BiH Council of Ministers (CoM), which was scheduled for Friday, has been postponed due to BiH CoM Chair, Adnan Terzic’s,obligations. BiH CoM did not appoint SIPA Director at its session on Thursday and the discussion on that issue was scheduled for Friday. The officials who have been nominated for that position are former SIPA Director, Sredoje Novic,and FBiH police official Dragan Lukac. Oslobodjenje, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Ivanic does not let go of position of director of SIPA’, by V. Z. – Oslobodjenje’s sources claim that the session has been postponed because there is still no agreement regarding the appointment of director of SIPA. Daily reiterates that BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, who was in Portugal on Friday, insists on having Sredoje Novic as the director, whilst the BiH Security Minister, Barisa Colak, wants to see Dragan Lukac in the office. Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘SBS without director as of Monday?’, by E. Sarac – Avaz notes that the BiH State Border Service could be left without the director and deputy directors since their mandates expire on Monday, May 16. The appointments rest with the BiH CoM.

Lukac says SIPA is blocked

Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash and pg 2 ‘SIPA is blocked, there could be serious consequences’, by F. Vele – Carries an interview with a candidate for office of SIPA director, Dragan Lukac, who comments on the process of appointment of SIPA director. “This has gone beyond every limit, the issue of appointment of leaders of SIPA is being prolonged indefinitely. In the meantime, SIPA is completely blocked. There is no one to sign acts, criminal report, an order…Simply no one is authorized…OHR never extended (Sredoje) Novic’s mandate! His mandate had been extended in accordance with the Law on ministerial appointments, once, for a period of 60 days. The mandate expired on April 23 and since then his mandate cannot be extended, so the OHR did not do it”.

Jurkic: Croat MPs in BiH HoP should turn down latest PBS proposal

RHB – Stjepan Jurkic, the initiator of petition for Croat channel in BIH, feels that Croat representatives in BIH House of Peoples have to protect vital national interest when law on public RTV system is voted on. Jurkic says that the latest adoption of amendment by BIH Parliament Commission for transport and communications gives exclusive rights to Serbs and Bosniaks to the existing entity channels and services and in the regional centres Banja Luka , Mostar and Sarajevo they would also participate regionally with Croats.

Media experts on latest PBS proposal

BHT – Experts from media claim that the amendment to Draft law on BiH Public Broadcasting System (PBS) is a path toward national division of PBS. According to this law, PBS will have regional centres and the program will be produced and broadcasted equally from those three centres. BiH PBS Steering Board believes that the adoption of law with such amendment would overthrow the plan of re-structuring of PBS, which is created in accordance to BBC standards.

Mikerevic: SDS and PDP parting

Nezavisne Novine, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘PDP and SDS facing final separation’, by V. Popovic, S. Cakarevic – According to a senior official of PDP, Dragan Mikerevic, the President of Municipal Assembly of Doboj, Svetislav Vasiljevic (PDP), was removed yesterday (Friday) at the order coming from the President of SDS, Dragan Cavic. Mikerevic says the aim is to install the SDA into the majority instead of the PDP. He also says this is a final separation between the SDS and PDP, believing that the situation will have a reflection at the RS level.

Brcko: HDZ councillors leave Assembly session

FTV – HDZ representatives left the Brcko District Assembly’s session on Friday. FTV says that the reasons for that are changes and amendments to the law on agricultural land and that their initiative for passing this law was rejected. It was not said for how long they will leave the Assembly’s sessions. (also in Nezavisne Novine, pg 5 ‘Coalition partners let HDZ down’, by N. Tanasic)

War Crimes

Cantonal Court in Bihac and Mostar to conduct several war crimes cases

Oslobodjenje, front pg splash and pg 5 ‘‘Abdic’s people’ and soldiers of HVO and ARBiH on the list’, by A. Omeragic – Reports that war crimes that were committed by former officials of the “autonomous province of western Bosnia” and members of HVO and BiH Army from Mostar are the first cases from the jurisdiction of the state judiciary that will be not, after all, tried by the BiH Court. The BiH Chief Prosecutor, Marinko Jurcevic, stated that amongst 206 cases that the BiH Prosecution assessed as “sensitive”, there were indictments against 12 people that had already been confirmed by cantonal courts. Because the indictments have been confirmed, Oslobodjenje says the trials will be conducted by (cantonal) courts in Mostar and Bihac, although the trials should end up before the BiH Court because of the label “very sensitive” . According to the BiH Registrar’s official Edita Pejovic, the list includes Zlatko Jusic, Ibrahim Jusic, Serif Mustedanagic and Cazim Behric (Bihac) and Mate Anicic, Zeljko Dzidic, Slobo Maric, Mirsad Cupina, Mirsad Handzar and Bosko Previsic (Mostar). Pejovic could not reveal indentities of other two indictees. (also reported by Dnevni Avaz, pg 12 ‘Cantonal Court in Mostar and Bihac confirmed ten indictments’, by Aj. D., Dnevni List, pg 5 ‘State Prosecution will not take over Mostar processes’, by E. Mackic, Nezavisne Novine, pg 2 ‘Court will not take over ten ‘very sensitive’ indictments’, by N. N., BHT)

BiH Court : Maktouf remains in custody

FTV, BHT, Oslobodjenje, pg 44 ‘Proposal to cancel detention to Maktouf rejected’, by A. N., Dnevni Avaz, pg 12 ‘Court rejects proposal that Maktouf defends himself from outside’, by Aj. D., Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Request for release from prison rejected’, by rt  – The Court of BiH Council rejected a proposal of Abdulathim Maktouf’s defence team to release Maktouf from custody. He is indicted for committing war crime against civilians in Travnik.  Defence offered 800 000 KM as a guarantee for his releasing. The continuation of trial is scheduled for May17.

Two families sue Dutch Government

BHT – Mirela Cosic – Preliminary hearing of the former Dutch UNPROFOR representatives, (their names were not mentioned) before The Hague District Court, in the case of lawsuit of two Srebrenica families against Holland is very important step toward justice, claims Hasan Nuhanovic, one of persons who started this legal procedure. Nuhanovic lost his father, mother and brother in July 1995 in Srebrenica. He believes that the Dutch Government is partially responsible for their deaths. That is why he started this procedure three years ago. Nuhanovic claims that statements of the former Dutch UNPROFOR representatives in The Hague will have the greater importance than any other report until now.

Exhumation near Bratunac completed

FTV – Exhumation of body remains from a mass grave in settlement Suha, municipality Bratunac, has been finished. 30 body remains of Bosniaks were found. According to statement of Tuzla Department of Commission for Missing Persons Chief, Murat Kurtic, all of the bodies were in the bags of former Yugoslav Army.

RS’ Spaic: No money yet for families of indictees that turned themselves in

Nezavisne Novine, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘’Volunteers still have not received 50.000 KMs each’, by S. G. – The director of RS Secretariat for relations with the ICTY, Jovan Spaic, confirmed that no family of ICTY suspects, who voluntarily turned themselves in, has received 50.000 KMs as was stipulated by the RS Government’s decision from December 2004.

Economic/Social Issues

RS PM Bukejlovic on economic regions in BiH

RTRS – A round table on model of organising economic regions in BIH was held in Banja Luka on Friday. Conclusion was reached that the model (with 5 economic regions in BiH) does not reflect the position and needs of RS and therefore it cannot be accepted. RS Prime Minister Pero Bukejlovic stated that RS Government made a decision not to accept the model of organising the economic regions according to European Commission project.   He adds that the entire process has become too politicised and that it is dangerous to talk about regions without stressing that they are only economic ones. Representative of European team for BIH economical development Gerard Enis (spelling) says that the policy of economic regional development is one of most important polices of EU. He stresses that the regions are economical and adds that they are not interested in politics. Enis denied allegations that local experts were not introduced during the establishment of 5 economic regions model. He concludes that the final decision on the regions will be made by BIH authorities. Pink TV notes the round table was organized by RS Government, Chamber of Commerce and Institute of Economy. (Oslobodjenje, pg 7 ‘Bukejlovic not comfortable even with five economic regions in BiH’, not signed, Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘Bukejlovic has problems with economic regions’, by Srna, Nezavisne Novine, pg 12 ‘Economic regions in BiH unacceptable’, by Srna)

BiH marks positive trend in foreign trade balance

Pink TV – Dragana Erjavec – According to BiH Foreign-Trade Chamber, positive trends in foreign-trade exchange have been continued in the first four months of 2005. The exchange rate has been increased by 13 %, in comparison to the same period last year. Croatia, SCG, Germany, Slovenia and Italy are one of the most relevant BiH partners. According to the Vice Chair of the Chamber, Petar Milanovic, in first four months of 2005, export rate has increased by 26.34 %, while import rate has been increased by 8.4 %. In terms of regions, in April, Banjaluka exported the most, while Tuzla Canton, Sarajevo Canton and Herzegovina-Neretva Canton follow.

RS Government on economic situation

RTRS, Nezavisne Novine, pg 2 ‘Action plan is necessary’, by N. N. – Report by Momcilo Ostojic – RS Government discussed the situation in industry in the first 3 months of 2005. It has concluded that a new action plan is necessary so economy would be revived. RS Minister of Economy, Energy and Development Miladin Gligoric stated that in the next period the RS Government would work on affirmation of domestic production. Initiative will be submitted to BIH authorities for a change of customs tariffs especially in textile, leather and other industries. Gligoric stated that there was a low level of capacity usage in most of RS companies and level of debts is high. He adds that reasons for that are high costs of production, old technology and lack of capital. Gligoric concluded that despite all these information, growth of industrial production had increased in the last 3 months.

FBiH PM Hadzipasic on co-capitalization of Energopetrol

Dnevni Avaz, pg 5, mentioned on front ‘We will not allow monopoly on oil market’, by Mirela Kukan – Carries an interview with the FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, in which he denies “conviction of big part of public” that the FBiH Government has succumbed to pressures and lobbies when it decided to hold talks with INA-MOL consortium regarding the co-capitalization of ‘Energopetrol’. PM Hadzipasic rules that option out saying the Government decided to hold talks on basis of a report that was prepared by the Commission for selecting of strategic partner. Hadzipasic says that the FBiH will not allow anyone to enjoy monopoly in retail sale of oil and oil derivatives.

SDA does no accept Minister Nadarevic’s resignation

FTV, Dnevni Avaz, pg 9 ‘SDA does not accept resignation of minister Nadarevic’, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘SDA does not accept Nadarevic’s resignation’,  – SDA does not want to accept resignation of FBiH Minister for Veterans’ Issues, Ibrahim Nadarevic.  SDA believe that Nadarevic carries out his duty very successfully. SDA Vice-President, Seada Palavric said that SDA understood his reasons for submitting resignation, but SDA request from Nadarevic, FBiH Government and Parliament to find the way for coordination of law on rights of BiH veterans with the constitution.

Miscellaneous

Illegal occupant of apartment in Banja Luka sets himself and police officers on fire

RTRS – Report by Radoslav Banovic – 9 persons were injured in the eviction process of the Maric family in Banja Luka. Temporary apartment user Mico Maric poured gasoline on himself and several policemen and his wife Dragojla had lit the match. Maric is in critical condition at the moment, whilst policemen sustained grave injuries. Dragojla is arrested due to attempted murder and attack on police officials. Her son Radoslav has also been arrested. The entire story started when Banja Luka court annulled the exchange of apartments between the Maric family and Anton Misoni. RS Minister for Refugees and Displaced Persons Jasmin Samardzic stated that the Ministry provided Maric with the accommodation but he refused to move. Reporter states that they tried to contact family Misoni but without success. Chairman of Zajedno do Istine Association Dane Cankovic states that the guilty parties in this case are Ministry of Refugees and Displaced persons and court authorities.  According to latest information only one policeman remained in critical condition. BHT – Dragojla and Mico Maric should have left that apartment earlier but the eviction was postponed several times due to Maric’s threats. (also covered by Pink TV, NTV Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje, pg 43, mentioned on front Mico Maric sets himself and two police officers of fire’, by O. Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz, g 3, mentioned on front ‘Mico Maric poured gasoline on police officers and himself, whilst wife Dragojla threw match at them’, by J. Stojanovic, Dnevni List, pg 34, mentioned on front ‘Mico Maric poured gasoline on himself, whilst wife sets him on fire’, by Nermin Bise, Vecernji List, pg 3, mentioned on front ‘Burned himself against eviction’, by Branka Stevandic, Nezavisne Novine, front pg splash ‘Mico Maric clinically dead: Three police officers in critical condition’ and pg 3 ‘She threw match on her husband and police officers soaked with gasoline’, by D. Risojevic)

SDA on Andan’s statements

RHB – SDA Vice President Seada Palavric stated that the SDA judges as irresponsible and intentional statements of RS Police Director Dragomir Andan that terrorist attack in Madrid was prepared in BIH. Palavric added that SDA expected that the BIH Prosecution, SIPA and OSA would declare their positions regarding Andan’s allegations as well as allegations made against him that he participated in crimes committed over civilians in Grbavica, Sarajevo and Srebrenica genocide.

BiH armed forces unit to go to Iraq on June 1

BHT – BiH Armed forces unit has returned from Iraq. Their mission was to prepare details for departure of 36 BiH soldiers to peacekeeping mission to Iraq. BiH Presidency needs to decide on exact date of their departure. They should leave on 1^st of June. In the meantime, the soldiers have signed the contract on their departure to Iraq . BiH Armed forces unit goes to western part of Iraq . USA soldiers will offer them logistical and military support. 36 BiH soldiers will be engaged on destroying of armament.

Trials to Mehmedovic and Korajlic resume

Dnevni List, front pg splash ‘Interior Minister was giving instructions’ and pg 36 ‘Instructions were given by Interior Minister Bakir Alispahic’, by Zeda – Reports from continuation of trials to former senior police officials from Zenica-Doboj Canton Semsudin Mehmedovic and Nedzad Korajlic, who were charged with unauthorized distribution of 500 automatic rifles in the Zenica and Tesanj area in 1996. Former senior police official Fadil Jaganjac stated that the then chief of Zenica Police Sefik Dzaferovic informed him about the storing of arms in Zenica, for which he allegedly received the necessary consent and instructions of a former RBiH Interior Minister Bakir Alispahic. (also in Nezavisne Novine, pg 4 ‘Defence rolls out last five witnesses’, by Zeda)

VL on erasing of citizens from BiH citizenship

Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Scandal: BiH makes money on erasing of its citizens’ and pgs 6-7 ‘Disgraceful erasing in BiH’, by Dejan Jazvic – VL notes it is disgrace that BiH is charging 1700 KMs for erasing from the BiH citizenship. VL also notes that so far some 27.000 people have renounced the BiH citizenship, however BiH got almost 46 million KMs for the “administrative costs” out of it.