15.05.2005

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 15/5/2005

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TV news broadcast onMay 14, 2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Bleiburg anniversary

Leakey & Schook in BiH Presidency

3 persons killed in car accident

Leakey & Schook in BIH Presidency

BiH Economic Board in session

Schook, Leakey in BiH Presidency

Economic Board session

Novic on SIPA appointments

Grave injuries after eviction in BL

Journalist cooperation round table

Guarantees for Mitar Rasevic

Commemoration to Bleiburg victims

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

3 persons killed in car accident

3 persons killed in car accident

Serious car accident

Lukac on SIPA work

Agreement on Sarajevo City Council

Leakey & Schook in BIH Presidency

SDA, SDP, SBiH on SCC

Parliamentary crisis in Brcko District

Novic on SIPA appointments

Maric’s condition critical

BiH Fiscal Council to be established

Update on self-burning incident

 

Oslobodjenje

Three parties agree on establishment of Sarajevo City Council: Semiha Borovac remains Mayor

Dnevni Avaz

Sudden visit by generals: What did Schook and Leakey ask from Presidency

Dnevni List

Aubrey de Grey, maker of cure against aging: Old people returning to youth

Vecernji List

Features Croatia related headlines

Nezavisne Novine

DNA laboratory in Sarajevo : More than 7000 missing persons identified

 

Reforms/Political Developments

Generals Schook and Leakey meet BiH Presidency to talk about Bileca/Manjaca events

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BHT – EUFOR Commander, David Leakey, and NATO HQ in BiH Commander, Steven Schook, met on Saturday with members of the BiH Presidency in order to present their professional view on possible solutions for the situation caused by incidents in Bileca and Manjaca. “It was a private conversation. We expressed our professional positions. Events in Manjaca and Bileca were our only subject,” said Schook after the meeting. Member of the Presidency, Sulejman Tihic, said that Leakey and Schook called on Presidency to consider the report submitted by the RS Ministry of Defence and then to decide on appropriate measures against responsible persons. “They gave concrete remarks on proposed measures, expressing dissatisfaction, and suggested measures that should be undertaken,” said Tihic and addedthat participants in the meeting agreed not to talk in public about details of agreed things.

RTRS – Schook and Leakey expect a new report from BIH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic and scheduling of military committee session. Leakey and Schook stated that they both had a private conversation on events in Manjaca and Bileca when they concluded that the measures taken were not appropriate. They also suggested that BIH Presidency should make certain decisions, which would be in accordance with professional army norms. Tihic also stated that both him and Presidency Chairman Borislav Paravac expressed their opinions regarding the measures and added that those opinions are different. Croat member of BIH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic was not present at the meeting so his military advisor Slavko Marin took his place. Dnevni Avaz, front pg splash ‘What did Schook and Leakey ask from Presidency’ and pg 2 ‘Generals Scook and Leakey want sharper measures’, by A. M. – inset under headline ‘Djukic cannot stay in current position’ Avaz unofficially learns that the generals sent a clear message that the Chief of the RS Army General Staff, Novak Djuric, could not stay in his current post. Reportedly, the same measure was not asked to be applied on the RS Defence Minister Milovan Stankovic.

(also reported on the meeting by RHB, Pink TV, FTV, Oslobodjenje, pg 3 ‘Schook and Leakey want stronger sanctions for incidents at Bileca and Manjaca’, by A. Omeragic, Nezavisne Novine, pg 3 ‘Leakey and Schook propose sanctions for events at oath taking ceremony of RS Army’, by Srna)

Novic on appointment of SIPA director

 

BHT, Pink TV, RTRS – State Information and Protection Agency (SIPA) Director, Sredoje Novic, doesn’t want to comment on situation regarding the appointment of head of this Agency, stating that the BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) had enough of time to make the appointment. After BiH CoM postponed again appointment of SIPA director last Friday, Novic said for Srna news agency that CoM had 8 months to solve this situation. Novic’s mandate as SIPA Director expired about 10 days ago.

Ivanic insist on Novic as SIPA director, offers Croats to head SBS

 

Dnevni Avaz, pg 8 ‘Mladen Ivanic offers that Croat becomes first man of SBS’, by A. Malagic – The BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, will insist that the director of SIPA should come from the line of the Serb people, namely Sredoje Novic. In a statement for Avaz, Ivanic says it is unacceptable that there are no Serbs in the most senior posts in SIPA (according to Ivanic that’s in 4-5 posts), and in the same time he says it is possible to appoint a Croat candidate as the new director of State Border Service (as a part of new shuffle).

Hayat feature on police maps

 

Hayat TV – Report brings a feature on three proposals on police maps. On May 12, Commission on Police Maps analyzed three proposals. According to the first proposal, issued by Stranka za BiH and SDP, there should be 5 police regions: Sarajevo, Tuzla, Banjaluka, Mostar and Zenica, namely Zapadna (West Region) in Banjaluka, Juzna (South region) in Mostar, Sjeverna (North Region) in Tuzla, Istocna (East Region) in Sarajevo, and Centralna (Central region) in Zenica. HDZ and NHI would accept this proposal if the area of Travnik would be adjoined to Mostar, and if Odzak and Brcko would be adjoined to Zenica. RS representatives do not accept this proposal. According to HDZ and NHI there should be 9 plus one region, namely, Bihac, Banjaluka, Livno, Mostar, Doboj, Tuzla, Zenica, Travnik, Foca and Sarajevo District. RS representatives find this proposal unacceptable as well, due to the fact that it neglects entities borders. SDA, SDP and Stranka za BiH would accept this proposal if Zepce would be adjoined to Zenica, if Brcko would be adjoined to Tuzla; Trebinje, Nevesinje and Gacko to be adjoined to Foca, and for Ilijas, Trnovo, Istocno Sarajevo, Pale, Gorazde, Han Pijesak, Sokolac, Rudo and Cajnice. According to RS representatives’ proposal, there should be 5 local police regions, namely Banjaluka, Doboj, Bijeljina, Foca, and Trebinje. Commission representatives from FBiH find this map unacceptable, since the proposal does not respect European Commission principles and agreements made in Vlasic. The three proposals are to be discussed by political parties’ leaders, OHR and EUPM, on Monday.

Mihajlica says no to police reform

 

RTRS – RS SRS Chairman Milanko Mihajlica stated that this party would not accept police reform agreement since interests of the RS were not represented in the reform. He called on political parties to decline the agreement on police reform.

Alternative BiH government on police reform

 

FTV – Alternative BiH Government believes that single police structure should be established in BiH and that administration and supervision system should be de-centralized. Alternative Government propose establishment of State Ministry of Interior instead of BiH Ministry of Security. This Ministry should have jurisdiction over the police forces and the State Border Service, while SIPA would be under State Prime Minister or BiH Presidency jurisdiction, stated Alternative BiH Government Minister of Interior, Anto Pranjic. (also reported by BHT, Oslobodjenje, pg 2, mentioned on front ‘Drawing up maps leads nowhere’, by H. Arifagic)

SDA, SDP and SBiH agree on new composition of Sarajevo City Council, positions of Mayor and President of City Council

 

BHT – SDA, SDP and Party for BiH leaders reached agreement on Saturday on basic principles of establishment of the Sarajevo City Council. Official signing of this agreement is scheduled for Tuesday. Agreement was reached after the BiH Election Commission annulled the establishment of the Sarajevo City Council. “The best thing in this is the declarative will of all three political parties to fully respect principles of constitutionality, peoples equality,” said Party for BiH President, Safet Halilovic. “Every constituent people will have at least 20% of seats in the City Council and none of the constituent peoples will have absolute majority in the City Council,” said SDP president, Zlatko Lagumdzija. “We expect to sign the final agreement on Tuesday afternoon, and we expect that municipal boards’ sessions will be held by the 26 May and City Council established,” said SDA President, Sulejman Tihic.  It is agreed that representatives of parties’ Cantonal Boards will make the lists of their candidates for councillors. FTV – The parties agreed that the Mayor would be from the SDA while the City Council Chair will be from SDP. These two will come from lines of two different constituent peoples. (also reported by Hayat, Oslobodjenje, front pg splash and pg 3 ‘Semiha Borovac remains Mayor’, by A. Becirovic, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Sarajevo City Council will be constituted by May 26’, by A. M., Nezavisne Novine, pg 3 ‘About new delegates on Tuesday’, by S. L.)

FTV: Possible crisis in Brcko District authorities

 

FTV – After HDZ representatives left the last session of the Brcko District Assembly and representatives of Party for BiH refused to support draft law on executive authorities, parliamentary crisis in Brcko District is mentioned often, reports FTV. There are also indications that the HDZ’s support to Brcko District Assembly majority is under question if this party doesn’t get the position of Deputy Mayor. “I don’t believe that there will be tensions in parliamentary majority. Of course, everyone wants the best position they can get,“ said Brcko District Mayor, Mirsad Djapo, and added that initiative for Deputy Mayor position for HDZ came from the International Supervisor, Susan Johnson, and that this issue will continue to be subject of discussion. Introduction of Deputy Mayor position for HDZ means change of Brcko District Statute. If this doesn’t happen, HDZ representative, Anto Domic, announce that HDZ won’t guarantee for majority in District Assembly.

 

Economic Issues

Fiscal Council of BiH formed

 

 

 

Pink TV, RHB, BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Fiscal Council will limit public expenditures’, by Fena, Nezavisne Novine, pg 2 ‘Fiscal council of BiH formed’ – The Chair of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, chaired a session of BiH Coordinating Board for Economic Development and European Integrations, at which entities’ Prime Ministers, BiH Minister of Finance, entities’ Ministers of Finance, Brcko District Mayor and Director to European Integrations Directive took part. The Board has decided to establish BiH Fiscal Council and it has adopted its book of regulation. The Council will guide and supervise consolidated yearly budget balance in order to strengthen fiscal system in BIH.

Hadzipasic: Framework solution on Aluminij reached

 

Dnevni Avaz, pg 4 ‘Hadzipasic and Brajkovic agree on maximum protection of workers of ‘Aluminij’’, mentioned on front ‘Maximum protections of workers of ‘Aluminij’, by M. Kukan – Avaz learns that the FBiH Prime Minister, Ahmet Hadzipasic, representatives of ‘Aluminij’ company of Mostar, small shareholders and workers that used to work for the company until 1991 and 1992 agreed upon a framework agreement that will solve the ‘Aluminij’ issue that has been dragging for years. PM Hadzipasic could not reveal details of the agreement, however he did say that an agreement had been reached regarding the ownership structure between small shareholders and state capital and time and way of privatization (of the company). The issue should be discussed by the FBiH Government soon.

Hayat feature on problems in meat industry

Hayat TV – Guests of the ‘Face to Face’ were the manager of “KOKO DZADA”, chicken meat factory, Reuf Sokolovic, and the Chair of Supervisory Board of “Lijanovici” company, Jerko Ivankovic Lijanovic. Sokolovic accuses “Lijanovici” company of importing meat without having customs paid, and that they were allowed to do so by BiH officials, namely the Chair of BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic and former member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, etc. Sokolovic accuses Lijanovic of importing already made products, which were being sold by extremely high prices after being repacked. Lijanovic Ivankovic denies these allegations and says that “Lijanovic” company manages to survive in such difficult situation due to the quality of their products. Lijanovic said that a lot of products were being imported from SCG and Croatia and that the situation had to be changed. He added that domestic producers had to be stimulated and that free trade agreement had to be changed.

 

War Crimes

RS Government gives ICTY guarantees for Rasevic

 

Pink TV, BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje, pg 5 ‘Guarantees to Tribunal for Mitar Rasevic’, Dnevni Avaz, pg 5 ‘Guarantees given for release of Mitar Rasevic’, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘RS Government gives guarantees for release of Mitar Rasevic’, by NINA – RS Government issued guarantees to the ICTY in order  secure a pre-trial release for Mitar Rasevic. Rasevic surrendered voluntarily to the ICTY, on August 8, 2003. He is being charged with war crimes, which were committed during the war in the Foca area.

Buriel of 150 victims from Prijedor on June 25

BHT – Organisation Board for funeral of Prijedor war victims will organize collective funeral of identified victims on 25 June in Kozarac. Around 150 complete and incomplete body remains are identified in the identification hall in Sejkovaca near Sanski Most.

 

Miscellaneous

Update to Mico Maric case; HR Ashdown congratulates police officers for commitment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink TV – Condition of Mico Maric, who set himself on fire on Friday whilst he was being evicted from an apartment in Banja Luka, is still critical, and doctors are to declare his death during the evening. Out of three police officers, who were also injured in the incident, one is feeling well at the time, while conditions of the other two are still critical. Dragojla Maric, Mico’s wife, is feeling well at the time. The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown expressed regrets due to the incident and congratulated policemen for being committed to their work and expressed his hope for their speedy recovery. BHT – Indictment against Dragojla will be raised on Monday, for attempt of murder, attack on police officers and causing of danger. (also reported by Hayat TV, Oslobodjenje, pg 2 ‘Ashdown commending three RS police officers’  carries HR Ashdown’s statement, pg 40 ‘Apartment was more valuable than life to refugees from Zagreb’, carries a summary of the case, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘Ashdown congratulates police officers and wishes them speedy recovery’, carries HR Ashdown’s statement, Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Ashdown wishes police officers speedy recovery’, carries HR’s statement, and pg 13 ‘Maric is alive, but without hope to recover’, by De. L., Vecernji List, pg 2 ‘No hope for Mico Maric’, by Branka Stevandic – carry update to Maric’s health

Oslobodjenje: Banja Luka Prosecution has problems in wrapping up ‘Kristal bank’ case

 

Oslobodjenje, pg 11 ‘Bank sold for one Euro, RS damaged for 18 million KMs’, mentioned on front ‘RS damaged for 18 million KMs’, by V. Zivak – The daily got a confirmation from a source close to the Banja Luka County Prosecution that the investigation into the ‘Kristal bank’ case will not be completed until autumn because the Prosecution is trying to find an expert witness (on financial issues) that would complete a final report, without which the investigation cannot be wrapped up. According to the source, nobody from BiH wants to do the expert witness’ job in this case, which triggered the Prosecution to try and find one abroad. Oslobodjenje reminds that the investigation is looking into roles of former RS Finance Minister, Milenko Vracar, and former RS Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic, into the sale of the bank.

Nezavisne Novine feature story on DNA lab in Sarajevo

Nezavisne Novine, front pg splash and pg 13 ‘DNA laboratory in Sarajevo: More than 7000 missing persons identified’, by Selma Lemo – Carries a feature story on the work of the DNA laboratory in Sarajevo, which has worked in last three and a half years with the International Committee for Missing Persons (ICMP).