OHR BiH Media Round-up, 15/10/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

PIC meeting

BiH HoR passed police agreement

Jovic addresses Croatian Summit

Jovic on 3^rd entity

Jovic on reforms in BiH

BIH HoR on police reform

Bird flu prevention

Ivanic on SAA negotiations

OHR/UK Embassy on Airport’s name

BIH HoR session

OHR on renaming of Airport

442 exhumed from Liplje gravesite

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

HR banned renaming of Airport

BIH HoR on police reform

HR suspends renaming of airport

BiH HoR passed police agreement

Jovic addresses Croatian Summit

RS politicians on renaming airport

On Terzic’s visit to Refinery

Energopetrol recovery update

BIH HoR session

FBiH Government on “Energopetrol”

Underground garage affair update

Cavic on police reform agreement

Oslobodjenje

Dragan Covic: We do not need in BiH small states based on ethnic principle

Dnevni Avaz

Ashdown: I have not changed opinion about Izetbegovic

Dnevni List

Abolish double citizenship, prevent running away of criminals

Vecernji List

Before he died Tito wanted to see priest

Nezavisne Novine

Fake blank forms of all BiH institutions found

On renaming of Sarajevo airport

HR suspends decision on renaming Sarajevo International Airport after Alija Izetebgovic/HR condemned Paravac’s letter to Solana

BHT 1, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash ‘Ashdown: I have not changed opinion about Izetebegovic’ and pg 2 ‘It is too early to name airport after Izetbegovic’ by S. Numanovic, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Ashdown annulled decision on renaming of airport’ by A.O., Nezavisne Novine pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Airport cannot be named after Alija Izetbegovic’ by S. Gojkovic, Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on cover; Decision on renaming suspended’ not signed – The High Representative Paddy Ashdown today announced a Decision to suspend the decision renaming Sarajevo International Airport. At the same time, he sharply condemned as “offensive” a letter released by Presidency Member Borislav Paravac today to the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary-General of the Council of the EU Javier Solana. Following the Decision, the HR made the statement, which, among the other things said: ‘It is one of the most difficult Decisions I have taken in my time here, for as everyone knows, and as I said at his funeral in October 2003, I have great respect for Alija Izetbegovic, whom I regarded as a friend and whom I acknowledged as the father of his people and recognized as a brave and resourceful leader of his country… In the next ten days I will be announcing a new procedure to ensure that all of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s international airports can only be renamed in a transparent manner, with genuine consultation and with the approval of a competent BiH institution at state level that includes representatives from all constituent peoples across Bosnia and Herzegovina.’

Hayat: HR explaining his decision on Sarajevo airport

Hayat By Lejla Hadzifejzovic – High Representative Paddy Ashdown was the guest of the Hayat Central News regarding his decision to ban renaming of the Sarajevo airport after Alija Izetbegovic. The HR asked a reporter to imagine the situation in which the airport in Banja Luka would be named after Radovan Karadzic or if Croats in Mostar would name the airport after Mate Boban, wondering what would that say to the world. “To be very clear, I am not comparing Izetbegovic to Karadzic. Izetbegovic is a much respected leader of this country, while Karadzic is an indicted war criminal and that is not the same…but the damage that would be done to image of this country would be very great”- stated HR.  Asked weather he will now change the name of the bridge in Capljina, or names of streets in the RS and western part of Mostar the HR said that when it comes to Mostar he has made the decision in special circumstances two years ago, regarding the Square of Mate Boban, but the HR stressed that difference between the bridge in Capljina and airport is that the bridge does not affect the international reputation of the country. Asked why he did not act this fast when it came to the police reform or education the HR said that he did, but that these are two different issues, being that the police reform had to be made by domestic politicians, or BiH would not be able to associate with the EU and the HR stressed that this is what happened at the end, because the RS realized the damage which would be made if they do not accept this. The HR said that the question is when the HR acts, adding: “HR acts when the smooth functioning of BiH institutions is faced with a risk or when international reputation of the country if endangered and because of that I have reacted today in a manner that I have”. 

OHR’s statement on Sarajevo airport issue

Pink, BHT 1, FTV, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘OHR does not allow to name airport after Izetbegovic’ mentioned on cover ‘Diplomats against airport Alija Izetbegovic’ by D. Jazvic carries the OHR statement given on the Sarajevo airport issue before the HR Paddy Ashdown passed the decision on this issue. Reports carry OHR spokesperson Mario Brkic as saying that the OHR does not consider wise the plans to rename the Sarajevo airport after Alija Izetbegovic since obviously there is no consensus on this issue. In addition to this statement VL carries its speculations saying that certainly the OHR would not react and prevent the intention of the Sarajevo authorities.

PIC SB Ambassadors pr: Concern about change of name of Sarajevo airport after Alija Izetbegovic

RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘PIC: Concern about change of name’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Ashdown annulled decision on renaming of airport’ by A.O., Nezavisne Novine pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Airport cannot be named after Alija Izetbegovic’ by S. Gojkovic, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘OHR does not allow to name airport after Izetbegovic’ mentioned on cover ‘Diplomats against airport Alija Izetbegovic’ by D. Jazvic – The Steering Board Ambassadors issued a press release which says: ‘The Steering Board Ambassadors are fully aware and respect of Alija Izetbegovic’s contribution to shaping the country that BiH is today. However, some key Steering Board ambassadors – today noted their deep concern about the recent decision to rename BiH’s main international airport and the airport that serves its capital.  In a multi-ethnic country like BiH that has been through a tragic war, this decision will not contribute to the reconciliation process, but rather will undermine it. It will not contribute to the growth of Sarajevo airport as the country’s major international hub, it will diminish it. And it will not contribute to the international reputation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but in fact it will erode it.’

Tihic on Sarajevo airport issue: ‘Obviously there are double standards when Bosniaks are in question’/Reactions by Palavric, Simic

BHT 1, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Obviously there are double standards’ not signed, carry a reaction of Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic to the HR’s decision to suspend renaming of Sarajevo airport after Alija Izetbegovic. Tihic says that he is surprised by such stand of the International Community representatives, first of all, since they have not reacted with regard to the names of streets, squares and institutions named after war criminals and chetnik Commanders. Tihic added that, obviously, ‘there are double standards, ones for Bosniaks Moslems and other for all the others’.  BHT 1 also carries that Seada Palavric, delegate at the BiH HoR agreed with the statement issued by Tihic. She added that this decision was approved and adopted by all three peoples in BiH, disagreeing that renaming of the airport wouldn’t have contributed to the process of reconciliation.

Krstan Simic, deputy Chairman of SNSD, welcomed the HR’s decision adding that SNSD expected this kind of reaction. He stated that Alija Izetbegovic was a controversial person adding that he was on the ICTY list as a war crime indictee and two of his closest generals, charged with ordering and committing war crimes have been processed before the ICTY. He agreed that monuments to cetniks and fascists should be removed.

Serb politicians’ letter opposing renaming of Sarajevo airport/Paravac sent letter to Solana and Humphreys on same issue

Pink, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Provocative message to Serb people’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Name of Alija Izetbegovic inappropriate for airport and Square of Liberty’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Airport cannot be named after Alija Izetbegovic’ by S. Gojkovic, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Sarajevo is sending provocative message’ not signedcarry a letter issued by Serb politicians (Borislav Paravac, Dragan Cavic, Pero Bukejlovic, Dusan Stojicic, Nikola Spiric, Mladen Ivanic, Milorad Dodik, Milanko Mihajlica etc.) in which they condemned the decision to rename the Sarajevo airport after Alija Izetbegovic. They qualified this decision as a very impudent and provocative message to the Serb people ‘coming from the BiH capital which should be a symbol of tolerance and mutual respect of all 3 peoples’. Reports also carry that Paravac sent a letter on the same issue to High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary-General of the Council of the EU Javier Solana and Head of the EC delegation in BiH Michael Humphreys.

Milojevic and Spiric on attempts to rename Sarajevo airport after Alija Izetbegovic

Nezavisne Novine pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Airport cannot be named after Alija Izetbegovic’ by S. Gojkovic carries Deputy Chairman of the BiH House of Peoples Goran Milojevic strongly opposing an attempt to name the Sarajevo airport after Alija Izetbegovic. Chairman of the BiH HoR Nikola Spiric believes that this is an open provocation that one should respond to in the same manner. He added: ‘According to this logic we should name streets and squares after Radovan Karadzic and Mate Boban.’

Orthodox Church to lodge appeal before BiH CC opposing renaming of Square of Liberation after A. Izetbegovic

Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Orthodox Church to sue Canton’ by E. Mackic carries that the decision to rename Square of Liberation in Sarajevo after Alija Izetbegovic will end up before the Constitutional Court since the Serb Orthodox Church is going to file an appeal before this court and in this way they would oppose the Sarajevo Canton Assembly. They beleve that such decision was passed on purpose since the Orthodox Church is Sarajevo is placed on this location.

Police reform/Constitutional changes/Other political issues

BiH HoR adopted police reform agreement

RHB, Pink, BHT 1, Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘Police reform agreement adopted’ by H. Orahovac, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Police reform agreement adopted’ by V.Z. F., Nezavisne Novine pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Police reform agreement adopted’ by M. Cubro, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Police reform agreement adopted’ by T.D., Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Verification of police reform agreement is being waited for’ by eme – At its session held on Friday the BiH House of Representatives adopted the agreement on police restructuring. 2 representatives were against the agreement, while one representative abstained from voting.

Cavic, Palavric and Simic on police reform

RTRS – RS President Dragan Cavic stated that agreement on police reform was a critical and difficult step towards the EU. He also stated that the agreement was the only possible compromise at the moment and added that other suggestions would have been impossible to accept by all negotiating sides. Cavic also stated that SDS will participate in the so called Dayton project with another 7 parties from BIH. This project is managed by former Principal Deputy to HR Donald Hays and Cavic stated that SDS will declare on it accordingly.

BHT 1 – Seada Palavric, delegate in the BiH HoR stated that the adopted agreement on police reform is not consistent adding that at the moment the issue of Inter-Entity Boundary Lines (IEBL) is more important. She said that fighting the crime should not end before the boundary line and that a body of 18 Ministries of Interior, that are not cooperating, presents inadequacy to fight the crime.

BHT 1 – Krstan Simic, deputy Chairman of SNSD, stated that BiH has made a big step forward by adopting the police reform agreement that endorses 3 EC principles. Simic added that it is too early to anticipate the process and outcome of the implementation of the police reform agreement. Simic evaluated that the entire story relating to the police reform has been politically manipulated adding that the issue of IEBL is less relevant when it comes to the establishing uncorrupted and professional police.

SDS Presidency: OHR should de-block our accounts/ SDS Convention on November 10

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘They expect de-blockade of account’ by V.P. – At its session held on Friday the SDS Presidency concluded that they expect from High Representative Paddy Ashdown to de-block their account since there is no reason for their sanctioning after the police reform was adopted. NN carries SDS President Dragan Cavic as giving this statement. He added that he expects that the OHR will positively judge financial transactions of the SDS Boards in Doboj, Pale and Sokoloac. Cavic also said that he received an unanimous support of the SDS Presidency for the police reform agreement rejecting claims that this issue caused a rift and that he gave in under the IC pressure. NN says that the SDS Convention during which a new SDS Main Board will be elected will take place on November 10.

Interview with HR/HR on measures taken against SDS, arrest of war criminals

Oslobodjenje pg 28 of its Saturday’s addition ‘NATO helicopters are not angels of justice to land down and arrest Karadzic’ by A. Omeragic carries an interview with HR Paddy Ashdown. Asked to comment on the measures taken against SDS, the HR says that it would be unserious to say that SDS did not feel these measures and he added that his job is not to abolish SDS but to secure to improve the cooperation with the ICTY, resolve the problem of security structures and public funds. He added; ‘When I become certain that these things were respected these measures can be abolished. I will tell you something that I have already said: if SDS does not reform itself it will simply die, not by a hand of the HR but by a hand of its voters.’  Talking about the arrest of war criminals the HR said: ‘I claim that on the ground of the accessible information we have successfully stopped coming of money to Radovan Karadzic many times. Of course I do not want to say that we have eliminated all funds, but will have eliminated a considerable amount of them and the facts that Momcilo Mandic is in prison, that the SDS account has been blocked as a guarantee that public funds will not go as assistance for Karadzic, show it.’

OHR: Unified police in BiH in 5 years’

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Unified police in BiH in 5 years’ by Srna carries OHR spokesperson Mario Brkic as saying that in 5 years BiH will have a unified and integrated police structure under competence of the Security Ministry and there will be no Ministries at lower levels. He added that Cantonal and entity Ministries of Interior will have the same destiny in the police reform.

HNC MoI on Mostar mtg of police officials/EUPM: We were not invited at meeting

Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘EUPM representatives were not invited at meeting’ by E.S. carries a reaction of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Ministry of Interior against the article published in DA under headline ‘Matijasevic and Andan undermine FBiH MoI’ regarding the police officials meeting held in Mostar a few days ago. The reaction says that the only motive of the meeting was the current security situation in the areas where these police units are acting and efficient struggle against the crime. The press release also says that EUPM representatives attended the meeting. Commenting on this statement EUPM spokesperson Zinaida Ilarija stated that EUPM was not invited at the meeting and it was not informed that the meeting would take place, however, since EUPM representatives were in the HNC MoI building (where the meeting was held) at that moment they attended the meeting and therefore it was a coincidence that EUPM was present at the meeting. 

Interview with D. Covic on const. changes, third entity

Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4 and 5 ‘We do not need in BiH small states based on ethnic principle’ by A. Omeragic carries an interview with HDZ President Dragan Covic who says that HDZ stands for 3 authority levels and says that in this way the administration in BiH would be reduced by 50 %. Explaining the HDZ view on the middle authority level, Covic says that for instance Herzegovina can be one region, which would also include the eastern part of the RS and in this way in this region we would have all 3 peoples Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats. Covic added that all of them would recognize themselves as a nation in that region and none of them would be turned into a national minority. Asked whether they count on the third entity, Covic says: ‘No we do not. We are just sending a clear message that IC and RS authority representatives strongly advocate survival of the RS. When we say that we demand the same right for the others if the RS would exist then we give enough encouragement or provocation to others to say that BiH can be arranged in a different way.’

Jovic at Zagreb Summit: ‘With Dayton Constitution we are not welcome in Europe’

RHB, Pink, BHT 1, FTV, RTRS, OsLobodjenje pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘With Dayton Constitution we are not welcome in Europe’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘BiH wants to EU, however, it is not welcome’ by news agencies, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘If RS was not abolished Croats to demand entity’ by Hina, Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Reforms damage Croat people in BiH’ not signed – While addressing attendants at the Summit of Central European Countries’ Presidents in Zagreb on FridayBiH Presidency Chairman Ivo Miro Jovic said that BiH has exerted many efforts in all segments of  the society as set conditions to start of negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement. “Unfortunately, standards of reforms applied in BiH are not always equal to the standards in Europe. In the name of democracy, we have been offered the solutions that were not democratic and righteous at disadvantage of Croats who are minority in BIH” said Jovic. VL carries that Jovic also criticized a statement given by US Undersecretary for Political Issues Nicholas Bruns who said that BiH should have one President, and Jovic said that this could not function along with the survival of the RS. 

British Ambassador Rycroft on const. changes

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘BiH Constitution must be changed’ by new agencies, Dnevni List pg 16, mentioned on cover ‘UK supports constitutional changes in BiH’ by S. Djuderija carry that British Ambassador to BiH Matthew Rycroft met with students and pupils in Mostar on Friday within the Nansen Dialogue Centre program called ‘Two-way street’. On this occasion Rycroft stated that by the beginning of negotiations with the EU, the BiH Constitution will have to changed and he added: ‘However, these changes will not depend on the IC and the IC would not be imposing radical solutions. It is up to BiH politicians to reach an agreement and meet EU pre-requisites.’

M. Ivanic: ‘BiH will meet conditions for EU’

Pink, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘BiH will meet conditions for EU’ by Srna – At the Friday’s meeting of Southeast Europe Foreign Ministers in Greece, BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic stated that the beginning of the BiH’s negotiations on SAA with the EU will completely change a political climate in BiH. He also said that BiH will meet pre-requisites from the Feasibility Study and that the negotiations will start by the end of the year.

Martens will not meet with Covic/EPS does not give up new elections in HDZ

Dnevni List pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Martens does not give up new elections in HDZ’ by M. Karacic – The European People’s Party (EPS) denied that its President Wilfred Martens is going to meet with HDZ President Dragan Covic as some media reported. A DL source also said that EPS keeps insisting on organizing new HDZ elections. 

HR on ceremony in ‘Omarska’

Hayat – Being a guest at Hayat, where the HR Paddy Ashdown was mostly explaining his decision on the Sarajevo airport (pls see the report above), he was also asked about the Saturday’s ceremony in former PoWs camp “Omarska” where Serbs will celebrate liberation of Prijedor the HR said: “I wasn’t aware of this and I will have to look at this. I have visited some of the camps, during the war, I gave evidence against the perpetrators, including Slobodan Milosevic and I expect that when Radovan Karadzic is in Hague, I will be giving evidence against him”. 

Economy

FBiH Government decided: INA/MOL best strategic partner for co-capitalization of Energopetrol

RHB, BHT 1, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 8, mentioned on cover ‘MOL and INA become strategic partners of Energopetrol’ by M. Kukan, Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Consortium INA-Mol wil co-capitalize Energopetrol’ by A. Avdic, Nezavisne Novine pg 4, mentioned on cover ‘Energopterol in hands of Consortium INA-Mol’ by N.N., Dnevni List pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘INA-MOL majority owner of Energopetrol’ by S. Bjelica – At its session held on Thursday, the FBiH Government passed the decision according to which the Consortium INA-MOL is the best strategic partner for co-capitalization of Energopetrol. Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Instead for 400 millions KM, we are selling oil company for 10 millions KM’ by M.K. carries Deputy FBiH Prime Minister Gavrilo Grahovac, who only opposed the aforementioned decision at the Friday’s session, as saying that this is a damaging decision for the FBiH. He believes that in this way instead for selling this company for 400 or 500 millions KM, it is being sold for 10 millions KM. 

Judicial issues/Crime

DA speculates that upon McNair’s order FBiH MoI, SIPA would arrest Jelavic in Croatia

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Barbaric claims that he is not in contact with Jelavic’ by F.V. carries Ante Jelavic’s lawyer, Dragan Brabaric, as saying that he is not in contact with Jelavic, however, he also confirmed that Jelavic is in Croatia. DA also says that it has been speculated within the BiH intelligence circles that Prosecutor John McNair might order the FBiH Ministry of Interior, SIPA and other intelligence agencies to arrest Jelavic on the territory of Croatia. Allegedly, the Croatian authorities would be aware of this action and they would give their tacit consent to such scenario for the sake of their own interests. Spokesperson of the Croatian Ministry of Interior Zlatko Mehun did not want to comment on this possibility, however, he stressed that it is not realistic since sovereignty of other state would be affected in this way. 

Chief BiH Prosecutor M. Jurcevic: Problem of extradition of BiH citizens with double citizenships should be resolved as soon as possible with SCiG and Croatia

Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 3 ‘Abolish double citizenship, prevent running away of criminals’ by M. Zorlak says that according to SCiG and Croatian Constitutions these two countries are not obliged to extradite their citizens and this creates a problem for BiH when extradition of BiH citizens who also have citizenship of one of these countries is in question. Chief BiH Prosecutor Marinko Jurcevic stated this is completely unacceptable and he added that this issue should be resolved as soon as possible. He believes that this issue is not a legal issue any longer but a legal-political issue. According to Jurcevic, the EC should also involve in resolving of this issue and he believes that bilateral agreements with these 2 countries are the only solution. N.B. the headline is misleading, Jurcevic did not give statement from headline in the interview itself.

Illegal printing house revealed in centre of Banja Luka

RTRS, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Fake blank forms of all institutions in BiH found’ and pg 3 ‘ They were printing fake blank forms of all institutions in BiH’ by B. Risojevic – A secret printing house for falsifying documents of all BiH bodies and even the ones from the EU countries was revealed on Friday morning in a very centre of Banja Luka. 3 persons were arrested and the investigation on this case has been underway.