15.12.2004

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 15/12/2004

Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on15 December 2004

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

FBiH HoR in session

RSNA in session

Greek bus hijacked

TV news broadcast on 14 December 2004-12-15

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs)

FED TV (19,30 hrs)

RT RS (19,30)

HoP adopts law on VAT

HoP adopted law on VAT

Warrant against 4 persons

Is Pandurevic in ICTY?

Beslic new Mostar mayor

Statement of Mehmed Zilic

PRC session

Srpske Sume audit

Bralo pleaded not guilty

McElhaney in RS

Wilfred Marten’s letter

RS NA in session tomorrow

Mikerevic met Rainerman

Mostar Mayor elected

Statement of McElhaney

HoP adopted law on VAT

 

Oslobodjenje

A single VAT rate of 17 percent adopted

Dnevni Avaz

Will the sanctions be avoided by Government’s resignation?

Dnevni List

TAX: Life more expensive by 17 percent

Vecernji List

Old food on sale

Slobodna Dalmacija

Ljubo Beslic: Historic moment for Mostar

Glas Srpske

He was guarding to steal; Pandurevic is (not) in the Hague

Nezavisne Novine

Abolishing of entity polices was foreseen; Ljubo Beslic is the Mayor; RS authority blocked path of BiH to Europe; 85 million KM have “disappeared” from Srpske Sume

Blic

They have cut forests in RS and looted millions; Offer of USA : Either Karadzic and Mladic or sanctions

Vecernje Novosti

Features Serbian related titles

Belgrade’s Nacional

Features Serbian related titles

 

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

FBiH HoP session

 

 

 

 

BH Radio 1 – FBiH House of Representatives holds the extraordinary session today, at which they have agreed with the terms of three IDA credits for employment and social sector offered to the Federation by the World Bank. IDA credits for employment and social sector. They also adopted the information on the credit loans taken by the Federation of BiH. Representatives also adopted the conclusion with the regards to the apartments that were not claimed and ordered the temporary halt of the evictions of current occupants. HoR also obliged CIPS Directorate to extend the deadline for the change of personal documents in those areas where there is such need.

RSNA adopts draft 2005 budget

 

BH Radio 1 – At the extraordinary session, RSNA has passed the draft budget for 2005. RS Finance Ministry says that the budget, which is approximately 950 million KM, has been draft under the assumption that as of 2005 the single account and the law on the excise goods will be implemented.

RSNA discusses Srpske Sume audit

 

BH Radio 1 – At the regular session of the RSNA being held today, the delegates discuss the audit report on the company ‘Srpske sume’. The report notes a number of irregularities in the management of the company and its finances. RSNA also adopted the three draft laws related to the operation of the insurance companies, and proposed the establishment of the Agency which would control the work of these companies in the territory of RS

 

Police reform

Dnevni Avaz: Will the sanctions be avoided by Government’s resignation?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover splash, pg 4 ‘Will punishment be avoided through resignation of the Government?’ by E. Sarac – DA writes that the “countdown in RS has started. Another 24 hours remain before HR Paddy Ashdown announces decision on the measures he intends to carry out due to this entity’s non-cooperation with the ICTY.” DA says that at this moment there are speculations in RS that there is a list with 15 officials HR would dismiss. Journalist also analyses warning of the 11 NGOs in RS to Ashdown that they would demand resignation of the Government and withdrawal of Serb representatives from BiH institutions if he introduces abolishes Ministries of Interior and Defence. Author says the role of these associations is to keep the RS institutions, which is united stance of both opposition and position, “thus demands for removal of the Government and extraordinary elections should… be seen as one of possible solutions to the current situation.” DA further writes that if Government resigns, it can perform its duties in the technical mandate and reminds that when Nikola Poplasen was removed Dodik stayed in the same mandate for next two years, adding it is not impossible for this Govt to the same and stay in the office until 2006. “In that case, removals of the individuals would be useless, there would be confusion and one would not know who is responsible for the cooperation with the ICTY.” In second case, DA says Cavic could decide to appoint opposition leader as Prime Minister designate to ensure parliamentary majority, which could prevent extraordinary elections.

OHR: Ashdown to announce sanctions against responsible individuals/institutions in RS tomorrow

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Ashdown announces sanctions for those responsible in RS tomorrow’ by M. DrinjakovicIrena Guzelova, OHR Director of Communications, says that HR Paddy Ashdown will announce the beginning of the process which will keep going until the next NATO summit: “There were a number of speculations far from reality… Current cooperation with the ICTY is not even close to the one demanded from BiH… I cannot talk about individual measures that this process will include as they are still being finalized.” Guzelova also added that as for the police reform, message of the EU was clear: “authorities for the law enforcement to be transferred to the state level… BiH or RS authorities’ rejection to adopt these recommendations will block BiH progress towards European integrations.”  Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘Stricter measures towards RS to follow tomorrow’ by S. G. also carried OHR Guzelova’s statement on the issue. When it comes to the police reform, stresses Guzelova, Ashdown doesn’t intend to interfere with the Feasibility Study, which also includes the police reform: “BiH has to meet that condition from the Feasibility Study on its own if it wants to get closer to EU.”

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 18 ‘Measures to be announced on Thursday’, by B. Kristo – Carries an OHR spokesman, Vedran Persic, as saying at a press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday that the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, is still considering possible measures related to BiH’s failure to join the Partnership for Peace programme. Persic could not confirm whether the measures include sanctions or other measures, noting that the HR would address the public on Thursday, December 16.

Statement of Day; Dragan Mikerevic

Dnevni List, pg 2 carries in its ‘Statement of Day’, the RS Prime Minister, Dragan Mikerevic, as saying: “I do not believe Ashdown will remove me”.

RS NGOs announce protest rallies for tomorrow

 

Dnevni List, pg 8 ‘Citizens of Republika Srpska protesting tomorrow’, by Arijana Beus, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘We will remove the Government if Ashdown imposes sanctions’ by V. P. – RS Coordination Board of 11 NGOs will demand from RS Government to resign and will demand from Serb representatives at joint institutions to withdraw from their position if HR Ashdown imposes unconstitutional sanctions in RS, as the President of the Board, Branislav Dukic, has stated. He also announced a possibility that the Board would organise peaceful protests in Banja Luka on Thursday if HR Ashdown imposes sanction.

Milanko Mihajlica resigned

 

Nezavisne Novine, pg. 3 ‘Milanko Mihajlica filed a resignation’ by V. P., Glas Srpske, pg. 5 ‘Resignation of Mihajlica’ by N. D. – President of SRS Milanko Mihajlica resigned from the position of a member of the Board for supervision and control of the work of defence and interior affairs institutions. He supported the demand of the Coordination Board of 11 NGOs who have asked from RS Government to resign by Wednesday, December 15.

Martens warns RSNA delegates of EC stance

 

FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘What message Martens sent to RSNA delegates?’ by E.S. – The Chair of the Police Reform Commission, Wilfred Martens, was prevented to go to Banja Luka on Monday due to weather conditions, thus sent a letter to heads of clubs in RS National Assembly introducing them to the stance of EC Commissioner Chris Patten on minimum of future police structure in BiH. European Commission demands single structure and authorities transferred to the BiH Security Ministry. DA further says that third days of PRC’s session also has not brought anything new – Darko Matijasevic sticks to RSNA conclusions fighting for RS MoI. BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak told journalist on Friday that “it will definitely take several weeks to put the discussed concept on the paper”, notwithstanding PRC finishes its session today. He did not want to speculate on possibility of HR Paddy Ashdown imposing the solution adding he hopes that Commission wil do that.

Entity, Cantonal Interior Ministries to be abolished

 

BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Commission abolishes entity, cantonal interior ministries’ by A. Prlenda, Dnevni List, pg 4, mentioned on front ‘Police will be divided in regions’, by De. L., NINA, Nezavisne novine, cover and pg. 3 ‘Abolishing of entity polices was foreseen’ by M. Cubro, Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘Critical stage of negotiations’ by Srna – Session of Police Reform Commission has been continued in Sarajevo. Member of BiH Police Reform Commission Mehmed Zilic said that the existing BiH police structures are going to be changed completely. Cantonal and entities’ interior ministries will be abolished, while the future police in BiH is going to be organized on state and regional level. The number of the regions is still being discussed.  There are two proposals: the first one includes 5 police regions, while the other one proposes police to be organized in 9 regions and Sarajevo, as a separate one, according to Zilic. Issue of police management has also not been solved. There are two proposals; the first one proposes a state director to be in charge with BiH police, while according to the second one that should be the task of a body comprising regional directors. EU Police Mission Commissioner Kevin Carty did not want to comment on the work of the Commission. BIH Minister of Security Barisa Colak said that the Commission was going to end its work on Wednesday. He emphasized that a progress had been made in talks but that there was still no agreement on all the issues.

Hafizovic on Police reform, meeting with Ambassador McElhaney

 

Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Americans support single Police’, by De. L. – Deputy Speaker of the RS NA, Sefket Hafizovic, stated following his meeting with the US Ambassador to BiH, Douglas McElhaney, that the US Ambassador supported the work of the Police reform Commission and that he stressed that recommendation of the PRC Chairman and EU and NATO ought to be respected.

VL: Political parties agree upon distribution of key security posts

 

Vecernji List, pg 3 ‘Croat to lead SIPA’, by Zoran Kresic – The author writes that leaders of ruling parties have agreed upon the distribution of key posts in three state-level security agencies in BiH, namely SIPA, OSA and State Border Service (SBS). According to claims on anonymous officials, a Croats should be leading SIPA, a Serb should lead OSA and a Bosniak should lead SBS. VL also notes that the current director of SIPA, Sredoje Novic, is bound to work for OSA, since the British and US intelligence community in BiH want Novic to lead OSA. They believe Novic is a person who would actively participate in the fight against Islamic terrorism, and on top of that, they are not happy with the work of the current OSA director, Almir Dzuvo, who is believed to be in too close contacts with Hasan Cengic and radical circles around the SDA.

 

Political developments/cooperation with ICTY

NATO’s Schook calls for additional defence reform in Bosnia

 

 

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Revelations on continued support to Mladic by parts of RS Army are disturbing’, Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Schook: Defence reform will prevent continuation of support to ICTY indictees’, by De. L. – The commander of the NATO headquarters in Sarajevo, Steven Schook, believes that additional reform of BiH defence institutions is needed, NATO spokesman Dwight Mood told reporters in Sarajevo on Tuesday. “Schook is very disturbed by revelations of continuing support extended to war crimes indictees by elements of the armed forces,” Mood said, noting that reform was necessary to ensure that such flagrant violations of Dayton were not repeated. He conveyed Schook’s assessment that the authorities of BiH and the RS had not taken a single step against the network supporting war crimes indictees.

US Ambassador McElhaney in Banja Luka

 

BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pg 3 ‘US Ambassador McElhaney: RS Government responsible for a lack of cooperation with The Hague’ by O. Vukovic, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘RS is the only one in the region not cooperating with The Hague’ J. Stojanovic,Nezavisne Novine, cover and pg. 2 ‘RS authority blocked path of BiH to Europe’ by A. Sekulic and D. Risojevic, Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘Hague is the key obstacle’ by D. Zec – US Ambassador Douglas McElhaney met with RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic and RS NA representatives in Banja Luka on Tuesday. He stated that RS, due to non-cooperation with ICTY, is blocking BiH entrance in Euro-Atlantic integrations. McElhaney said that RS authorities are not succeeding in arresting war crime suspects and that can negatively influence not only RS citizens but the entire European future of the country.

Nedeljni Telegraf interview with HR Paddy Ashdown on RS cooperation with ICTY

 

Nedeljni Telegraf, pgs. 17-18 ‘I am not abolishing Republika Srpska’ by D. Milinkovic – this is a two-pages long interview with High Representative Paddy Ashdown, in which he spoke about possible economic and political measures in RS, arresting of war crimes indictees, changes to Dayton Agreement etc. Asked to answer the following question: “RS President Dragan Cavic has – by delivering addressed of the ICTY fugitives to the Belgrade authorities – directly transferred responsibility for non-cooperation with Hague to the Belgrade. Does this mean that official Belgrade will be held responsible for what happens to the RS in future?”, High Representative Paddy Ashdown has stated: ‘The RS authorities are responsible for what happens in the RS. President Cavic for one has done much to change attitudes in the RS, and for the first time RS institutions recognize the need to meet international obligations. An example is the RS Government’s Srebrenica Commission Report. President Cavic has said that he doesn’t want the RS to be the roadblock on BiH’s path to Europe. The problem is that individuals and institutional structures in the RS that are doing just this. This situation cannot continue’.

Ashdown denies allegations from HDZ letter

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘BiH Court must be allowed to try anyone’, Dnevni List, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘BiH Court must work without political interference’, by M. Batarello – The High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, replied to the open letter that the HDZ BiH addressed to the OHR, PIC member countries’ ambassadors and other representatives of the IC in BiH, in which the HDZ requested that the persecution of the elected Croats’ representatives be stopped (see OHR media Round Up, Dec 14, 2004). In his reply, the HR agreed with the HDZ’s claims that there was a need for building of democratic institutions in BiH, however HR Ashdown denied the HDZ’s claim that there were international forces in BiH that undermined state institutions and senior officials in BiH. Claiming that the biggest priority of the IC in BiH is to establish the rule of law, HR Ashdown says: “That’s why we have especially focused our efforts in the last two years on establishing of the BiH Court. The BiH Court must be able to process anyone and it has to make sure that the justice is implemented in accordance with highest standards, without political interference”.

Dragan Covic further explains HDZ’s open letter from Tuesday

 

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 18, mentioned on front ‘BiH’s future tailored without Croats’, by Zlatko Tulic – Carries the Croat member of BiH Presidency and Vice President of HDZ BiH, Dragan Covic, as further explaining the contents of the open letter the HDZ sent to the OHR, PIC member countries’ ambassadors and other representatives of the IC in BiH. Covic says the aim of the letter is to “send a clear message to the domestic and world public that the final solution, when it comes to future of BiH, cannot be reached without the participation of the Croat people and its representatives in the authorities, who have been democratically elected in the elections. We have recognized achieving of such intentions at the green table through the clear scenario that has been going on, the scenario that does not include legally elected representatives of the Croat people at all levels of authority in BiH”.

Ljubo Beslic appointed Mayor of Mostar

 

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Ljubo Beslic appointed Mayor’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8, mentioned on cover, Nezavisne Novine, cover ‘Ljubo Beslic is the Mayor’ and pg. 6 ‘Beslic is the Mayor’ by V. Coric,Slobodna Dalmacija, front pg splash and pg 15 ‘Ljubo Beslic: Historic moment for Mostar’, by M. Landeka, Dnevni List, pgs 12-13, mentioned on front ‘Ljubo Beslic new Mayor of Mostar’, by Nermin Bise, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Ljubo Beslic finally become Mayor of Mostar’, mentioned on front ‘Beslic the Mayor of Mostar’, by Miso RelotaLjubo Beslic, a member of the HDZ BiH, was elected yesterday (Tuesday) the Mostar Mayor. The former Mostar Deputy Mayor won 21 councillors’ votes of 35 members of the Mostar City Council, including seven votes of the SDA. Although SDA leader, Sulejman Tihic,said after Monday’s meeting with the party’s members in the City Council that all 10 councillors had signed a statement to back Beslic up, the promise was fulfilled by only seven councillors. After signing a statement on taking over the duty, Beslic thanked the councillors on the support provided and stressed that his activities in the upcoming period would be based on citizens’ needs. “I hope to justify the trust and expectations of those who voted for me today. I also hope this will be satisfaction to citizens because I want Mostar truly to become a cultural, sports, economic and every other centre of Herzegovina,” Beslic said. As priorities in work Beslic underlined urgent appointment of heads of departments and services in the City Administration of Mostar (CA), so the CA could finally start functioning in full capacity.

Herceg Bosna Radio, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 15 ‘Ashdown: Continue with unification of city’, by M. L., Dnevni List, pg 13 ‘Ashdown congratulates councillors and Beslic’, by NINA – The High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, congratulated the Mostar City Council members on their decision to elect the new Mayor of Mostar, noting that this is the first time that the city of Mostar will have a joint mayor since the end of the war.  “I commend the decision of the MostarCity Council and their leaders. City councilors have finally started to do the job they were elected to do,’’ said the High Representative. The High Representative noted that the newly elected mayor would play a leading role in implementing the Mostar Statute. “This is a time for celebration but not for too long. This is not a time to rest. The new mayor will have to work together with the councilors and City Administration in order to achieve the complete unification of the city of Mostar,’’ said the High Representative. “The citizens of Mostar have the right to become a normal, functioning European city. A unified city is our joint promise to the citizens of Mostar,’’ HR Ashdown added.

DL on election of Mostar Mayor, situation in Mostar

 

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Mayor of two-faced city’, by Nermin Bise – Commenting on the election of Ljubo Beslic for the Mayor of Mostar and all events that followed the election, the author notes that the only news the election brings is that Mostar will in the future have only one Mayor without the “’double’ that used to be called the Deputy Mayor”. The author argues it is not realistic to expect that a new, unified, divisions-free Mostar will be born overnight, claiming that events surrounding the election of Mayor have shown all the hypocrisy. “To be more exact, the hypocrites are, apart from few exceptions, the people sitting in the City Council”, concludes the author.

BiH Presidency members visits BiH Islamic, Serb Orthodox Communities leaders

 

BHT, Oslobodjenje pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘Serb Orthodox Church expects return of property’, FENA – BiH Presidency Chair Borislav Paravac on Tuesday stated that the work of the BiH Inter-religious Council was interrupted and that the Presidency members together with the representatives of religious communities in BiH would attempt to reactivate the Council. During the visits to the BiH Islamic Community and the Mitropolija Dabrobosanska (Serb Orthodox Community), Paravac and Presidency members Sulejman Tihic and Dragan Covic talked about the functioning of the Inter-religious Council with the top religious officials. Stressing that the Council plays significant religious and also political role, Paravac said that the Presidency members wished to hear opinions of the representatives of religious communities on how to improve and activate the work of the Council. Reisu-l-ulema of the Islamic Community Mustafa Ceric said that the Inter-religious Council is now in a “passive state” and that the Presidency members had come “to help us transit into an active phase”. After the meeting with BiH Presidency members, Mitropolit Dabrobosanski Nikolaj expressed hope that the Inter-religious Council would resume activities and that its members would meet to define the relevant conditions. He underlined the importance of returning properties to the Orthodox Church in BiH, especially the Bogoslovija Building in Sarajevo .

 

Economic/social affairs

HoP adopts a single VAT rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘A single VAT rate of 17 percent adopted’ by Vedrana Zivak, Dnevni Avaz pg 10 ‘VAT with a single rate of 17 percent to be introduced on July 1 2005’, Dnevni List, front pg splash and pg 5 ‘TAX: Life more expensive by 17 percent’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Prices of bread will be under strict control’, by eme, Slobodna Dalmacija, back pg ‘VAT rate of 17 percent adopted’, by B. Kristo, Nezavisne Novine, pg. 4 ‘17% VAT rate’ by M. Cubro, Glas Srpske, pg. 2 ‘Single rate was adopted’ not signed – The draft law on value added tax with a single rate of 17 per cent was passed by an absolute majority in the BiH House of Peoples on Tuesday. Since the BiH House of Representatives earlier adopted the law in different text foreseeing a differentiated VAT rate, a commission was established in an attempt to coordinate various texts of the lawl. Twelve out of the 13 House of Peoples representatives in attendance voted in favor of the law. The law was passed with the provisions which the sponsor of the law, the BiH Council of Ministers, had submitted to the BiH Parliamentary Assembly for adoption. The provisions refer to a single value added tax rate of 17 per cent and a zero rate for exports. The law envisages that value added tax become effective on 1 July next year and sets the threshold for the registration of companies and firms at KM 50,000. BiH CoM Chair Adnan Terzic addressed Tuesday deputies in the BiH Parliamentary House of Peoples in the course of a discussion on a draft law on value added tax (VAT). Terzic said the BiH Council of Ministers endorsed the draft law that provides for introduction of the VAT on 1 July 2005, with a single rate of 17 per cent, and a zero rate for exports. He added that accent in the public, as well as in the debate on the VAT in the BiH House of Representatives, had been put on the need to pass a law that would ensure a higher level of social welfare protection for all those categories of less well-off citizens that might be hit by possible increase in prices of basic provisions. In that sense, the state and entity prime ministers signed recently a statement citing they are ready to define, together with their respective governments, social welfare measures for the most endangered categories of population, that are due to take effect simultaneously with the VAT. Terzic assessed that different rates of the VAT were far more suitable to well-off citizens, since they had more buying power and spent more. “Also, different rates would also be good for smugglers, organized crime and expansion of grey economy,” said Terzic. According to Terzic, there are not guarantees that bread will not go more expensive even in case of the zero rate on basic provisions, and analyses pointed out there are no special causes for rise in prices even under the conditions set by the single VAT rate.

NN op-ed on VAT

 

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘A serious politician’ by Tanja Topic – the author is critical of Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, who had recently said a serious politician tenders his resignation only once. She expresses her appreciation to politicians thinking with their heads and remaining faithful to their cause, instead of being non-persistent in his demands. She also makes a reference to the recent announcement Terzic made that he would place a veto on the appointment of Radomir Njegus at BiH Security Ministry, and later on changed his mind that said “there are no legal restrictions to the appointment of Njegus”. She concludes by saying that “a serious politician never blackmails his voters with resignation – a serious politicians immediately leaves the position after acknowledging that he is incapable of fulfilling given promises and undertaken duties.”

Bulldozer Project managing transferred to BiH Employer’s Association

 

FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 17, mentioned on cover ‘Coming to better businnes environment through lobbying’, Dnevni Avaz pg 15 ‘Employers took over Bulldozer Project’, Dnevni List, pg 9 ‘Domestic employers take over managing of Bulldozer’, by Erna Mackic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 16 ‘Bulldozer in Association of employers’, by B. K., FENA – The OHR has transferred the competencies for managing the Bulldozer Initiative to the BiH Employers Association in the beginning of November, and on Tuesday the transfer was made official.  The Project Bulldozer was launched by the High Representative in November 2002 with the aim of allowing the entrepreneurs in BiH to participate in proposing the measures for overcoming the obstacles and omissions to successful business and creating new jobs. “Two phases of the Bulldozer Project have already been completed and preparations are in progress for presenting 50 new measures that will be forwarded to the Council of Ministers on December 23, which will represent the third cycle of the Project”, said the Bulldozer team leader Alija Remzo Baksic at the ceremony. According to the Head of the OHR Economic Department, Patrice Dreiski, the international community will continue supporting the project, and the funds have already been insured for implementation of the Project over the next several months. 

PDHR Hays in BL, Srpske Sume case

 

Nezavisne Novine cover ‘BAM 85 million “gone missing” from “Srpske Sume”’ and pg 5 ‘BAM 85 million “gone missing’ by P. Klincov; EuroBlic cover ‘They cut forests in RS and plundered millions’ and RSpg 1 ‘They plundered millions’ by Tijana Veselinovic; Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Polcie after the auditor’ by G. Dalic Dragan Mikerevic, RS Premier, and Donald Hays, PDHR, on Tuesday concluded that during the control into financial dealings of “Srpske Sume” Company for last year and one part of 2004, the Special International Auditor detected numerous abuses, exceeded expenditures and corruption, owing to which the profit had been achieved for less than BAM 85 million. Mikerevic said that millions intended for RS citizens had ended in the private pockets or “were lost over incompetence of the management structures of “Srpske Sume” company”. He also assessed that the dealings cited in the report of international auditor but also previously in the report of RS Audit Office had greatly damaged the forestry status and contributed to weakening of the entire forestry sector in RS.,

PDHR Hays said the Company “Srpske Sume” had been run as if it had been a private firm, stressing (according to NN and GS): “Unfavourable contracts were signed, expenses were exceeded, number of products were underestimated and reserves were not registered. The result of this is the lost of tens of million of BAM.”

Bosko Ceko, RS Chief Auditor, announced new audit at “Srpske Sume” Public Company for the end of springtime in 2005, reminding that the audit for 2002 established the Company might have achieved better profit for at elast BAM 10 million.

Regarding the audit report, RS Premier on Tuesday instructed the establishment of an experts’ team, that is to work out the activity plan for “Srpske Sume” aimed at imposing modern structures of management at the company.

According to NN inset 1 ‘Mikerevic ordered investigation’, RS PM Mikerevic stated that he had instructed RS MoI to conduct an investigation into possible criminal acts conducted by the management of “Srpske Sume”.

According to NN inset 2 ‘MP’s about audit’, RS NA is to resume 21st regular session Wednesday to discuss Report of RS Chief Auditor on “Srpske Sume” Public Company for 2002.

According to EuroBlic inset ‘Trkulja announces resignation’, Rodoljub Trkulja, RS Minister of Agriculture, Waters and Forestry, announced it was not excluded he would tender his resignation if RS MP’s at Wednesday’s session failed to vote on the changes to Law on Public Companies and supported measures of RS Government related to Srpske Sume, adding: “It is clear that there is a strong lobby, in whose interests it is not to accept measures of RS Government “. He did not want to specify who are members of that lobby.

BHT, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Corruption leads to losses of tens of million of marks’, by NINA, Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘Plundering decreases profit’, by B. S. also covered the issue.

Oslobodjenje on spending of BiH Presidency in 2004

 

Oslobodjenje pg 5 ’70.000 KM paid for Paravac’s “Audi”’, mentioned on cover, by Az. Kalamujic – Daily brings that, according to the audit report for 2004, BiH Presidency, with agreement of the BiH Council of Ministers, this years spent more than 100.000 KM from the budget reserves to compensate for the costs made previously. The report, says author, shows that Presidency was not able to make its financial dealings more serious following last year’s “catastrophic” findings. The majority of the money, 70.000 KM, was spent for a car, “Audi”, for Borislav Paravac, which was bought in 2003. Chair of the CoM, Adnan Terzic, says he was not too much worried with this sum of the money which CoM had to approve as the obligation was made earlier, but that CoM was facing difficulties paying out millions KM of costs for Old Bridge opening ceremony, Pope’s visit, Mostar investment conference, etc and adds Presidency should be concentrated to reformatory process in BiH and new ministries to be founded, not millions KM worth manifestations.  

OHR Spokesperson Persic on spending of budget

 

Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2 ‘Two thirds of funds for budgetary users’ by Srna – Two thirds of collected funds in BiH is earmarked for needs of budgetary users because of an enormous size of the administration, as OHR Spokesperson Vedran Persic stated at a press conference on Tuesday. He reminded that Slovenia spends 34% of the budget, and Albania spends 40% of the funds, for the same purposes.

Bad food in BiH stores?

 

Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Old food on sale’ and pg 5 ‘Trade people changing expiry dates on groceries’, by Zdenko Jurilj – The Association for protection of consumers in BiH is warning the citizenry in BiH to be careful during the Christmas and New Year holidays because the BiH market is being flooded with food, whose expiry date has expired or is about to expire in few days. Allegedly, people in the trade business are changing expiry date labels on all sorts of food products.

Buk Bijela update

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Possible construction of Hydro Power Plant “Buk Bijela” in RS’; EuroBlic RSpg 4 ‘Declaration protects Tara River canyon’ by Beta – MP’s at Montenegrin Parliament at Tuesday session passed Declaration on protection of Tara River, which bans any construction works in the canyon of this river. 35 MP’s voted pro, while 25 voted against the adoption of this Declaration.

Zdravko Milanovic, Assistant to RS Minister for Energy, confirmed that it was possible preparation of project, including construction of Plant in RS, were possible.

 

Crime/security/legal proceedings

Update to Mandic and Popovic case

 

 

 

Nezavisne novine, pg. 4 ‘Mandics to get 29 months, Popovic to get 20 months in prison’ by A. D. – the article carries an announcement on proclamation of verdicts in case of Aleksandar Mandic, Drazenko Mandic and Dragoslav Popovic, who were accused of committing an economic crime in frame of the work of PBES. The article also claims agreements were reached on Tuesday, by which Aleksandar Mandic agreed to the sentence of 14 months in prison, Drazenko Mandic agreed to 15 months in prison, while Dragoslav Popovic agreed to 20 months in prison.

SD: Ashdown blackmailed with wartime connections with Karadzic?

 

Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 17, mentioned on front ‘Ashdown blackmailed with wartime connections with Karadzic?’, by Zlatko Tulic – Commenting on deals that Drazenko Mandic, Dragoslav Popovic and Aleksandar Sasa Mandic (son of Momcilo Mandic) have cut with the BiH Prosecution, the deals that are according to the author scandalously mild (between 15 and 20 months imprisonment), the author writes that many people inside and outside the BiH Court also believe that the deals are scandalous. Comparing the deals that other people have cut with the BiH Prosecution (Miroslav Prce who agreed to 5,5 years imprisonment), the author wonders whether the deal between the Prosecution and the above mentioned persons is aimed at protecting the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, because of his “dishonest” works with Radovan Karadzic during the war. In that context, the author reminds of a recent statement by Momcilo Mandic, who stated that he was ready to talk about links between Karadzic and Ashdown only when his son got out of jail.

Serbian Minister Vukcevic on Karadzic and Mladic

 

EuroBlic, cover ‘Either Karadzic and Mladic or Sanctions’ and pg. 5 ‘Sanctions as of January 20’ by Lj. B. and D. V. – Serbian Minister for Diaspora Vojislav Vukcevic stated on Tuesday there is a possibility that Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic would stand trial in Belgrade. He also said USA have asked from SiCG to allow Dr. Borko Djordjevic to act as a mediator in finding Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.

Dr. Djordjevic has stated there would great chances for Karadzic and Mladic to stand trial in Belgrade if Serbia accepted this plan. ‘Should Serbia refuse to accept this plan, Americans will have no choice and on January 20, when the President is inaugurated, they will impose new sanctions in Serbia, Djordjevic claims.

Pandurevic update

 

Nezavisne Novine, pg. 2 ‘Mistery continues’ by S. Karic, Glas srpske, cover page ‘Pandurevic is (not) in the Hague’ by V. J. – Former General of RS Army Vinko Pandurevic, as according to Beta agency, was transferred from Banja Luka to the Hague on Tuesday. No person has confirmed this information. The Hague Tribunal has stated they were not expecting Pandurevic’s arrival, EUFOR has stated they were not participating in Pandurevic’s transfer, not they were informed on this event and NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo too were not able to confirm the information.

ICTY: Bralo pleads not guilty

 

Herceg Bosna Radio, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List, pg 6 ‘Bralo pleads not guilty’, by De. L., Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 8 ‘Bralo does not feel guilty’, by H, Vecernji List, pg 4, mentioned on front, ‘Bralo: I’m not guilty’, by Goran Jungvirt – Bosnian Croat defendant Miroslav Bralo pleaded not guilty on Tuesday [14 December] before the UN tribunal in The Hague to charges of committing war crimes against Bosniaks. Bralo answered “not guilty” to all 21 charges read out against him at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Among other charges, Bralo has been charged with multiple rape of a Bosniak woman and killing of Bosniak prisoners.

GS cover page story on indictments against Banja Luka policemen

 

Glas Srpske cover page story ‘He was keeping guard in order to steal’ by V.J. – The Banja Luka District Prosecutor’s Office has filed two indictments against a police officer Adis Sabic (22), employed at Banja Luka Police Station 1. Sabic has been charged with illegal production and trade in arms or explosive devices and serious thefts. Senaid Ibrahimefendic, Banja Luka District Prosecutor in charge of the case, confirmed this to GS. Both indictments have been upheld by Banja Luka Basic Court. Sabic has been in detention since 3rd November. He admitted thefts at RS Police Academy. During the raid of Sabic’s apartment in Banja Luka, police also found some arms. After going through files at Sabic’s computer, the police found the pictures of Osama bin Laden, as well as the photos of bridges and some facilities in Banja Luka (including CIPS facility, RS NA, National Theatre, RS Archive, Banski Dvor, Post Office, Hotel “Bosna”, Restaurant “Abasador”, Children’s’ Home, etc).

Update on alleged plans of secret Muslim police

 

Nacional pg 12 ‘Paddy’s aggression against Republika Srpska’ by Dusan Maric – This is a part 2 of article firstly published on Tuesday, about the secret plan for abolishing of RS. According to this article, the third phase of measures of a secret Muslim police includes two feints against SFOR or international police, both of which would take part in the eastern part of RS, as close as to Serbian border, believed to be a hide-out place of Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. The aim of the feints would be to accuse Serbs for attacks.

The fourth and most extreme activity would include the repetition of Sarajevo Markale, most likely in Srebrenica, in front of the mosque.

Source at the F BiH MoI claims that the Muslim political top almost unanimously supports the plan, with differentiated views when it should be carried out.

According to inset, the same source claims that CIA has been familiarised with the plan from the very beginning through its moles at Muslim political and police top leadership.