OHR BiH Media Round-up, 1/5/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Two dead in a traffic accident

Bus accident near Zvornik

Two died in traffic accident

Meeting of Croatian Catholic Youth

1^st of May protests inSarajevo

Consequences of BiH HoR decision

Commemoration in Jasenovac

Action of RS Trade Union

Posters in Sarajevo on const. reform

Zrinski-Frankopan anniversary

Accounting conference ends in BL

Speculations on Mladic’s arrestment

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Deadline for Mladic’s arrest expired

Two died in traffic accident

Bus accident near Zvornik

Interview with Rasim Ljajic

Memorial for Brcko victims

Increase of oil prices

14^th anniversary of a crime in Brcko

Protests in Prhovo

Action of RS Trade Union

Two dead in a traffic accident

Naletelic to be sentenced next week

Confederation Union on capitalism

Constitutional and police reforms

BiH Chief Negotiator says failure of const. Reform would not halt SAA talks, but EU may impose ‘silent sanctions’

RHB – The BiH Chief Negotiator in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union, Igor Davidovic, said that the failure of the BiH Parliament to endorse the constitutional changes would not affect the dynamics of the negotiations, and already-agreed financial assistance from the EU. However, Davidovic emphasized that there are many different mechanisms for implementation of so-called ‘silent sanctions’ against BiH. He confirmed the SAA negotiations would resume on May 12^th. Citing ‘unofficial sources close to European Commission and domestic authorities’, Banjaluka-based Nezvisne Novine reported that the EU would impose silent sanctions to BiH, because of the failure of constitutional reform. According to those reports, EU could use so-called ‘Albanian model’, meaning BiH would be allowed to continue negotiations with the EU, but it would not be allowed to make any significant steps towards the European integration. BHT1 – also carried, adding Davidovic believes that EU may use ‘silent sanctions’.

MP Dzaferovic hopes failure of const. reform will not stop SAA process, SBiHs Belkic certain IC would not impose sanctions

BHT1 by Boris Grubesic – BHT1 comments once again that the decision of BiH House of Representatives not to endorse the proposed amendments to BiH Constitution has caused a great disappointment in the international community. BiH HoR MP Sefik Dzaferovic says the adoption of proposed constitutional changes would have lead to a faster process of association with the EU. He expressed a hope the rejection of amendments to the BiH Constitution won’t stop the SAA process. SBiH’s Beriz Belkic doesn’t believe the decision of BiH HoR is going to result in any sanctions against BiH. As Belkic explained, the disappointment of the international community has been even greater in other situations, and there were no major consequences then either.

RS SP Djokic: Const. reform used for pre-election campaign

RTRS – RS SP Chair Petar Djokic stated that constitutional amendments were not adopted because of upcoming October elections, as certain parties are basing their pre-campaign based on that issue.

BHT1: Situation further complicated with slow-down in police reform; PRD Steering Board meets on Wed

BHT 1 by Boris Grubesic – Commenting the failure of the constitutional reforms and possible sanctions by the international community, Grubesic notes the situation has been further complicated by slow-down in the process of police restructuring reform. RS officials say that they are not going to accept any solution on police restructuring that is not based on consensus. They also vehemently reject any solution leading to abolishment of RS Ministry of Interior. On the other hand, FBiH officials demand abolishment of entity MoI’s and organisation of police forces at two levels, state and local level. Since a consensus couldn’t bee reached, Steering Board of Police Restructuring Directorate will vote on draft decision on police restructuring next Wednesday. As member of the Board Sead Lisak explained, this draft decision regulates the united police forces organised in two levels, with single budget and single law on police. As reporter stressed, a halt in police reform might lead to a suspension of Stabilisation and Association Process with the EU. RS President Dragan Cavic stated that an agreement on this issue must be reached by February 28^th 2007 , in accordance with the agreed phases. Otherwise, warned Cavic, the SAA might not be signed at all. A delegation of BiH Directorate for EU Integration will travel to Brussels on Tuesday. It is expected that the official stances of the EU regarding the rejection of constitution changes should be known by then.

RS PM Dodik: RS Govt would not accept abolishment of RS MoI

PINK, RTRS – RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik stated that he doesn’t oppose police reform but added that RS Government will not support the reform without reached consensus. Dodik stressed that RS Government will not accept the abolishment of RS police.

War crimes

SEE Stability Pact Busek: Mladic to be apprehended by May 10; NATO urges arrest 

RHBWar crimes indictee Ratko Mladic should be extradited to The Hague by May 10, Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact in Southeast Europe Erhard Busek stated in an interview for German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, citing ‘source from the Serbian authority’. Busek emphasized that Serbia should finally get down to work, and arrest Mladic. NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, also urged Serbia to finally apprehend Mladic, and find a positive solution for Kosovo, in order to assure the membership in this organisation. PINK also carried Busek. BHT1 carried both officials.

EU’s deadline for Mladic apprehension expires; EU to halt SAA talks with SCG ?

FTV by Zinaida Hamidovic – The deadline for Serbia and Montenegro to arrest Ratko Mladic set by the EU will expire on Sunday.  Failure to arrest Mladic might lead to a suspension of negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement between SCG and EU. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn stated earlier for “Deutsche Welle” that the situation is completely clear. “If Mladic is not in Hague by the end of this month, there will be no other possibility but to stop the negotiations”, said Rehn. OSCE Chair and Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel de Gucht warned Belgrade that the failure to arrest Mladic before the deadline expires might prevent the improvement of relations between Serbia and the rest of the Europe. Final decision on future of SAA negotiations between SCG and EU will be made on May 3^rd, after the meeting of EU officials with the ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte. Hayat by Asim Beslija – “I saw different speculations on new deadlines, such as May 3^rd or 11^th, but those speculations have nothing to do with the only real deadline – and that is the end of April”, stated Advisor to the Chief ICTY Prosecutor and acting Spokesperson of the Office of the Prosecutor Anton Nikiforov. Asked to comment whether the Chief ICTY Prosecutor will accept some other form of cooperation, but without the apprehension of Ratko Mladic, Nikiforov once again emphasized that Mladic is an absolute priority for the Tribunal.

Hayat int with Rasim Ljajic: SCG authorities uncover Mladic’s support network

Hayatby Semsudin Skejic – NTV Hayat brings live telephone interview with Rasim Ljajic, SCG Minister for Human and Minority Rights and President of National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, who stressed that, although they failed to arrest Ratko Mladic, Serbia-Montenegro authorities managed to almost completely uncover the network of his supporters, adding that about 130 persons provided help to Mladic during different phases of his hiding. “Unfortunately, at this point those information were not enough to bring us to the ultimate information, the one about Mladic’s whereabouts”, stated Ljajic. He explained that many of those 130 persons were members of RS Army and army of former Yugoslavia, as well as intelligence agencies in Serbia. Asked to comment various statements by international representatives, who mostly claim that SCG progress in negotiations with EU depends on the cooperation with The Hague Tribunal, i.e. the apprehension of Ratko Mladic, Ljajic said that all those statements point to the fact that SCG would probably become the member of the Partnership for Peace as soon as Mladic is extradited to The Hague. “We expect to finalize the negotiations of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement in October. Any other development would be catastrophic for this country, because the path of SCG towards European integration would be blocked”, said Ljajic. “In any case, this obstacle must be removed, because the whole country is a hostage of just one man; the whole country suffers the consequences of the fact that Ratko Mladic has not yet been transferred to The Hague”, concluded SCG President of National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal; however, he was not able to say when one could expect the apprehension of Ratko Mladic.

Economic issues

RS Trade Union launches ‘Stop illegal labour’ campaign

PINK by Milka Mrdja – RS Trade Union organised a campaign under the name ”Stop illegal labour” that will commence on 1^st of May. Action will include petition signing, round tables and meetings with competent institutions as well as establishment of open telephone lines for anonymous calls against employers violating labour laws. Chair of RS Trade Union Ranka Misic called upon inspections to be more efficient so illegal labour can be stopped. Misic also stated that it is impossible to estimate how many people in RS work illegally and added that the state is partially to blame since it tolerates the non payment of social contributions to certain companies for years. Misic concluded that workers in RS can accomplish their rights only through their Unions and Union fight which in Misic’s opinion should become more radical.  FTV, RTRS – also covered.

10 NGOs hold protests in Sarajevo on May 1

PINKby Ljubisa Davidovic – Ten non-governmental organisations will organise mass protests on 1^st of May in Sarajevo. According to Chair of organisation board Ranko Bakic participants of the protests will gather at Vrbanja bridge before walking streets of Sarajevo ending their walk outside of Council of Ministers building. Bakic also stated that around 10 000 people are expected at the protests.

Croatian PM Sanader: Issue of Peljesac bridge to be agreed with BiH authorities

FTV – Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader stated that the importance of Peljesac bridge is vital for Croatia , adding that the construction of this bridge is unquestionable. However, Sanader stressed that all problems regarding the constructions are going to be solved in agreement with BiH authorities. He emphasized that Croatia has the right to connect the Peljesac island with the mainland, but also that BiH has the right for free access to the open sea.