15.06.2005

OHR BiH Media Round-up, 15/6/2005

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Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 15 June

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

Session of BiH HoP Comm. cancelled

Del Ponte on arrests of PIFWCs

US’ Burns on Mladic

FBiH HoP on law on welfare today

New conflicts possible in the Balkans

RS PM on Srebrenica documentation

HDZ established National Council

G77 summit started inQatar

Marovic on Srebrenica crimes

TV news broadcast on 14 June

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Appeal of HNC journalists

HR and BiH PM in Brussels

Report on a bomb in Holiday Inn

HDZ Presidency session

Slobodan Davidovic imprisoned

Asim Fazlic acquitted

Nay meets Jovic

Hartman on war crime indictees

Terzic and Ashdown in Brussels

HR in Brussels

ICTY investigators in Zenica

HDZ on Public RTV System

 

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

Bomb hoax in Holiday Inn

Sipad Export-import’s problems

HR in Brussels

HR and BiH PM in Brussels

Asim Fazlic acquitted

Bomb hoax in Holiday Inn hotel

Reactions on Ivanic’s removal

Croat self-rule debate delayed

Case of stillborn baby

Slobodan Davidovic imprisoned

Reports on a bomb in Holiday Inn

Alijagic case

 

Oslobodjenje

False warning on a bomb planted at Holiday Inn hotel

Dnevni Avaz

Terzic can appoint Ivanic’s successor!

Dnevni List

Bomb tip (Holiday Inn Hotel in Sarajevo receives bomb hoax)

Vecernji List

Serbia offers BiH 1000 hectares of territory

Slobodna Dalmacija

Minors getting drunk over weekends

Glas Srpske

Oak on four wheels (story on a vehicle made of wood)

Nezavisne Novine

“Bombs” on the eve of concert

Blic

Doctors accused of baby’s death (in Banja Luka)

Vecernje Novosti

Features Serbia related headlines

Nacional

Features Serbia related headlines

 

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

Del Ponte calls on US to increase pressure on authorities to arrest PIFWCs

 

BH Radio 1 – In a speech delivered at the US Institute for Peace in Washington, the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, said that the arrests of Ratko Mladic, Radovan Karadzic and Ante Gotovina is still a key condition for integration of the Western Balkans countries in the Euro-Atlantic structures. Del Ponte added the “US Administration remains the firm supporter of the Tribunal” calling on the US authorities to increase the pressure on governments to arrest the war crimes suspects at large and to use their troops present in BiH to intensify searches for them. 

US’ Burns says Mladic must be arrested by Srebrenica anniversary

RS Radio, RHB, BH Radio 1 – The US Under Secretary of State, Nicholas Burns, stated that the USA wants to see General Ratko Mladic handed to ICTY by 11 July. He added that pressure against Serbia has been intensified in order to fulfill this. Burns also said that USA is encouraged with reports arriving from Belgrade , saying that Serbian authorities want to see Mladic tried for crimes in The Hague .

RS PM Bukejlovic says Srebrenica documentation handed to OHR

RS Radio – Pero Bukejlovic, RS Premier, stated in Banja Luka today that the documentation related to Srebrenica is being handed to the OHR. He said “we have a deadline set by the end of this week and we will respect it”. He also stressed that the institutions in RS wants to see the truth about Srebrenica disclosed asap and to complete this case.

Former heads of states call on EU not to give up on enlargement plans or risk violence

 

BH Radio 1 – UK-based Financial Times reports that the former heads of state and government will call today on the European Union’s present leaders not to give up on enlargement plans, or risk a return to ethnic tensions and violence in the former Yugoslavia and Albania . In a letter to arrive before this week’s Brussels summit, the elder statesmen ask the EU to keep open the prospect of membership for the troubled states of Albania and the former Yugoslavia . Otherwise the region could return to the massacres of the 1990s, warns the letter. 

FBiH HoP in session

 

BH Radio 1 By Ljiljana Radl, RHB – FBiH House of Peoples has commenced the session this morning. The agenda includes the discussion of the draft law on the changes and amendments to the Law on social protection, protection of civil victims of war and families with children in urgent procedure, which would postpone the implementation of the Law until 1 January 2006 . On 1 June, the FBIH House of Peoples has asked from the FBiH Government to offer the proposal on rebalance of the budget within 45 days in order to ensure the implementation of the Law which came into force on 1 January this year but has not been carried out due to the lack of finances. HoP will also discuss the draft Law on rights of the war medals recipients and their families, adopted previously by the House of Representatives. Report says that the law not expected to win the support, as its opponents are Croat parties.

G77 summit commences

 

BH Radio 1 – G77 consisting of 132 developing countries has started its second summit in Qatar to discuss the development of the South, consequences of the globalization and reforms of the United Nation. BiH delegation is lead by Borislav Paravac.

Session of Commission for Foreign and Trade Policy postponed

 

RHB – The session of the Commission for Foreign and Trade Policy of the BiH HoP scheduled for today did not take place because of the lack of quorum. Namely, members of the Commission coming from the line of the Croat people, Velimir Jukic and Anto Spajic, did not appear at the session. Chairman of the Commission Hasan Cengic stated that Jukic and Begic explained that they did not come at the session since they have to make additional consultations with regard to the law on public RTV system, that the Commission was supposed to discuss today.

 

Political Developments/Reforms

OHR: Ivanic in technical mandate until successor appointed

 

 

Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Terzic can appoint Ivanic’s successor!’, pg 2 ‘OHR finds it acceptable for Terzic to appoint Ivanic’s successor’ by H.O. – After BiH Council of Ministers have submitted a legal explanation for the Adnan Terzic’s acceptance of the resignation tendered by Mladen Ivanic six months earlier, OHR has concluded it would be acceptable for Terzic to nominate Foreign Minister’s successor and send his proposal in the parliamentary procedure, said OHR Spokesperson Mario Brkic . He did not comment upon a fact that the legal explanation was submitted by Terzic’s Cabinet and not by the Legal Office in the CoM which is authorized to issue such legal opinions.

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 inset ‘Technical mandate’ – Inset carries Terzic confirming he intends to nominate Ivanic’s successor and to ensure at the next Parliament’s session a support for the appointment. OHR Chief Spokesperson, Irena Guzelova, additionally explains that for OHR Ivanic could stay in technical mandate until his successor is appointed. RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘OHR: Ivanic remains until election of new minister’, EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Ivanic is Minister until election of new one’ by R.R. also carry statements by OHR spokespersons saying that Ivanic will perform his duties until the new Minister is appointed.

Ivanic performed ministerial duties on Tuesday

 

Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Mladen Ivanic performed ministerial duties on Tuesday’ by V.Z. – Daily carries that Ana Trisic-Babic on Tuesday performed her usual duties of the bilateral affairs assistant in the BiH Foreign Ministry, and not of the Acting BiH Foreign Minister. Despite announcement by the BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic that Trisic would be Acting Minister until new one is appointed, Mladen Ivanic worked in his ministerial capacity on Tuesday.

Ana Trisic Babic awaiting for Civil Service Agency view

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘OHR: Ivanic remains until election of new minister’ – Ana Trisic Babic, assistant to BiH minister of foreign affairs for bilateral affairs, stated: “I am a civil servant and I cannot act without opinion of the Civil Service Agency. Until it gives its view on this issue, I will keep doing my duties.”

RSNA Speaker Stojicic criticizing Terzic’s decision to remove Ivanic

 

Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Terzic’s self-will’ by G.D. – RS NA Speaker Dusan Stojicic on Tuesday expressed disagreement and concern with the “illegal” removal of BiH Foreign Affairs Minister and BiH Council of Ministers Deputy Chair Mladen Ivanic. In a letter addressed to members of the BiH Presidency, both Houses of the BiH Parliament, Chairman and ministers in the BiH Council of Ministers, Stojicic warned that the decision of BiH CoM’s Chair Adnan Terzic to accept Ivanic’s seven-month old resignation represents “the most drastic example of violation of principles of legality”. The RS NA Speaker said that because of Terzic’s decisions “for which he bares full personal responsibility, BiH and its institutions have suffered great damage, and that such decision in a Dayton BiH seriously undermine the principle of equality of three constitutive peoples and two entities”. Stojicic said that damage is especially reflected in the eyes of the international community and BiH has been hastily pushed from the track of reforms into a political and institutions crisis with inconceivable consequences. He noted: “I therefore think that competent institutions, which have the responsibility for creating and leading the BiH foreign policy, need to take adequate measures to stand in the way of the authoritarian and destructive behaviour of the BiH Council of Ministers Chair.”

EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Ivanic is Minister until election of new one’ by R.R., Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Stop Terzic’s caprices’ by Srnaalso covered the issue.

BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic, SDP Chair Zlatko Lagumdzija and BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic find BiH CoM Chair Adnan Terzic’s decision to remove Mladen Ivanic valid

 

TV Hayat – The Chair of BiH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic has removed Mladen Ivanic from BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs post, but Ivanic keeps appearing in his office. OHR informed that Ivanic was going to act as BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs until the Parliament was not to appoint new minister. Report brings a feature on stances of BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic, SDP Chair Zlatko Lagumdzija and BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Safet Halilovic regarding the removal. “In terms of the crisis, it is nothing unusual. Crisis came out as a product of incomplete Constitutional system, and as long as such Constitution is to exist we are only going to pass from one crisis to another. Terzic’s decision to remove Ivanic is valid, regardless of how certain persons perceive it”, said Tihic. “I am afraid that self-continued crisis is on-going and that certain persons do create the crisis on purpose, in order to avoid answering and solving the right issues”, said Lagumdzija. “The resignation has been legally issued, as well as Terzic’s decision to accept it. it is up to legal institutions in charge to bring final decision”, said Halilovic.

Terzic, Ashdown discussing obstacles on BiH’s road to EU in Brussels

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Halts at the road to Europe must be removed’ by S.N. – The High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, and the BiH Prime Minister, Adnan Terzic, met with the EU High Representative, Javier Solana and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn in Brussels on Tuesday. Terzic stated for DA that officials discussed the current halts at the BiH’s road to EU and ways to overcome this: “According to current timing, we cannot launch the negotiations on Stabilisation and Association Agreement this year. Now, we have also seek in what way European Commission, and especially BiH authorities, can do to contribute to creating a framework in which launch of SAA negotiations could happen at the time of marking 10th anniversary of Dayton Peace Agreement.” Following the meeting with Solana, Teric said that message from Brussels is clear: “everything lies on BiH authorities’. Issue left to be solved are police reform and public broadcasting legislation, says Terzic, adding they have also discussed the defence reform. CoM Chair also met with the president of the European People’s Party, Wilfred Martens, who chaired the commission on police reform in BiH. Chair of CoM said Martens offered assistance in overcoming current blockade in police reform. Finally Terzic concluded announcing preparatory meeting to be held on Thursday with the Prime ministers from the Netherlands , Italy , Greece , Luxembourg , Croatia , Slovenia , Slovakia , Turkey , Serbia and BiH in eve of a European Council session on EU Constitution.

RHB, Pink, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Risky moves by RS’ by A.O., Dnevni List, pg 7 ‘Talks about punishments against Republika Srpska’, mentioned on front ‘Punishments against Republika Srpska’, by M. Batarello, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Topic of talks is sanctions against RS’ by M.Cubro – OHR Spokesperson, Oleg Milisic , told press conference on Tuesday that Ashdown discussed with Brussels the current situation in BiH following the RSNA’s vote on police restructuring, and the future implications that BiH’s isolation in the region will bring. Officials will note position taken by the RS government is not risk free. 

Possible sanctions against RS were discussed in Brussels on Tuesday – Ashdown

 

BHT Elvir Bucalo – We did not come to receive sanctions for the RS, but to receive award for the more cooperative BiH entity, stated BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) Chairman Adnan Terzic, who is currently in Brussels along with the High Representative (HR) in BiH Paddy Ashdown. “I was shocked when I heard the information about economic sanctions that will be imposed against the RS. BiH is today an unique economic space, so the idea of imposing sanctions to just one part of the country is nonsense”, said Terzic. But, according to the HR Ashdown, the sanctions were discussed in Brussels on Tuesday. “The issue of sanctions is of course one issue that must be considered, but I hope that we will manage to avoid it. The European Commission should consider some of the programs that could be implemented if RS chooses isolation instead of integration”, added Ashdown.

EuroBlic: Talks on police reform uncertain

 

EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Everybody awaiting for Government’ by Rajna Radosavljevic – Writing about police reforms, daily notes that RS has said what it will not accept, and now it is time for the RS to say what it actually wants from police reform. Political parties and their leaders (Stanko Pivasevic from SDS, Gavrilo Antonic from PDP, Krstan Simic from SNSD, Petar Djokic from SPRS, Milanko Mihajlica from SP RS) share the view RS Government is to make a move and prepare new concept of police reform. According to inset ‘Bukejlovic rejected proposal’, daily reports referring to its source that Monday meeting of the RS NA Collegium also held bitter debate on this issue, having majority of parties demand from RS Government to prepare a concept, but the RS Premier, Pero Bukejlovic, rejected that, saying that RS Government does not want to take part in this – hence it has brought RS into stalemate position, according to the source.

WEU Assembly makes positive assessment on situation in BiH

 

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Positive assessment on situation in BiH’, by NINA – On the first day of session of the Assembly of Western European Union in Paris, the Defence Minister of Luxembourg (which is currently chairing the EU), Luc Frieden, made a positive assessment on the situation in BiH underlining that BiH was an example of success of the EU’s joint foreign and defence policy. He also stressed that BiH was more and more en route to long term stability and that it was in the interest of the EU that BiH becomes one of factors of stability in the region.

McElchany: Change the Dayton yourself

 

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Change the Dayton yourself’ by N. ZelenovicUS Ambassador to BiH Douglas McElhaney has stated that the crisis of CoM should resolved in frame of BiH and its political leadership. He strongly denied America was behind CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic’s decision to remove Mladen Ivanic. With regard to the Dayton Agreement, Ambassador McElhaney emphasized that, in his opinion, the Agreement had served its purpose and domestic authorities should present their stance on whether it should be changed or not. ‘Everyone in BiH must deal with the issue of changing the Constitution, since this issue is again current in BiH’, Ambassador McElhaney has stated.

Sarajevo City Council established in line with Constitution

 

RHB, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Semiha Borovac remain Mayor, Marin Ivanisevic elected Chair (of the Council), Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Authority crisis in Sarajevo resolved’ by Hina, Vecernji List pg 4 ‘M. Ivanisevic Chairman of City Council’ by eme, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Decision on constitutionality of peoples respected’ by N.Krsman Semiha Borovac was elected as the new Mayor of Sarajevo at the repeated inaugural session of the Sarajevo City Council on Tuesday. Her deputies are Josip Jurisic, as the representative of Croat people, and Predrag Mitrovic, as the representative of Serb people. Marin Ivanisevic of the Croat nationality was elected as the City Council Chairman, while his deputies will be Aida Habul (Bosniak) and Tatjana Ljujic-Mijatovic (Serb). The new elections were held after the BiH Constitutional Court had declared the previous election procedure invalid. 

HDZ bodies established

 

RHB, BHT, Hayat, Dnevni List, pgs 4-5 ‘Introduction of nine year education postponed’, by Ivica Glibusic, Vecernji List, pg 4 ‘Nine year elementary education postponed’, by Miso Relota, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 6 ‘Channel in national language not questionable’, by Zoran Zekic, Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘We can solve crisis in Council of Ministers’, by F. Vele – Under chairmanship of the HDZ president, Dragan Covic, the Main Board, High Court of Honour and National Council of HDZ were formed in Mostar yesterday (Tuesday). The National Council (NC) held its first session at which it discussed issues pertaining to Public RTV system and service at BiH level, nine year elementary education and law on laureates of war decorations. The NC requests an establishment of a channel and programming in the Croatian language, and Covic stresses that HDZ will maintain such position in talks with representatives of the EC and Bosniak and Serb parliamentary parties. As for introduction of nine-year elementary education, the NC noted that there were no technical pre-requisites to introduce it in schools with Croat curriculum as of next school year (2005/2006). As for the issue of law on laureates of war decorations, Covic says the HDZ MPs will try to reach an agreement with the Bosniak MPs, which would ensure equality of the Bosniak and Croat laureates. Covic stressed that decisions of the NC were obligatory for all members of the HDZ, including the MPs and ministers in the FBiH Government and BiH Council of Ministers. Inset in DL’s article entitled ‘Crisis because of constitutional changes’ reads that Covic, whilst speaking about the crisis in the state authorities, stressed that the crisis was evident and that it could be in connection with the forthcoming constitutional changes. Covic noted: “If the crisis goes on, there will be no Council of Ministers, after which the crisis would transfer into the parliament”.

Dnevni Avaz, pg 2 ‘We can solve crisis in Council of Ministers’, by F. Vele – Carries Covic as saying that he will, in course of next four days, hold talks with representatives of SDA, SDS, PDP and SBiH in order to overcome the evident crisis in the BiH CoM. “If there are conditions to hold a joint meeting of all leaders of these parties after bilateral meetings have been held, it will be done so. It is a necessity. If not in this parliamentary majority, then it will be in some other (form of majority) because I am convinced there will be no early elections”, said Covic.

Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Against nine-year education’ also covered the issue.

BiH Presidency member Ivo Miro Jovic with SDHR Martin Ney on PBS Law

 

RHB, Hayat, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Appeal for support to Law on PBS’ by SRNA, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Television at everybody’s measure’ by N.Z., Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Speed up reforms of education and PBS service’ not signed, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Ney called on Jovic to support the law on public broadcasting system’ – Martin Ney, Deputy High Representative, on Tuesday appealed on member of BiH Presidency, Ivo Miro Jovic, to support the Proposed law on PBS during discussion on this issue at the HoP of BiH Parliamentary Assembly. This Law will be discussed at today’s session of the HoP’s Commission for Foreign and Trade Policy. Ney stated that the proposed Law would ensure that RTV services at the level of BiH and entities broadcast programmes in three languages.

HDZ to launch procedure of protecting the vital national interest in order to prevent adoption of law on PBS

 

BHT Marina Boskovic, Angela Cvitanovic – Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) will start the procedure of protecting the vital national interest, in order to prevent the adopting of the law about BiH Radio-television System. The House of Peoples’ Commission will discuss this law, which foresees three regional centres, on Wednesday’s session. In the meantime, “Hercegovacka televizija” Mostar requested from the European Commission (EC) to be included in the Public RTV System, and by doing so become the part of the program that will be broadcasted in Croatian language. “We did receive the Hercegovacka televizija offer to join the Public system, but we cannot judge whether it is something that is really necessary”, stated Frane Maroevic, from the EC mission in BiH. Although Hercegovacka televizija leaders are convinced that they should join the Public RTV System, some of the political analysts, according to BHT reporter, believe that such television would not protect the interests of Croats in BiH, but the interests of HDZ members and officials. Also, this proposal could mean the introduction of a single-national television channels in BiH, because Federal Television in Mostar will broadcast its program in Croatian language, FTV Sarajevo in Bosnian, and RS Television in Serbian language.

DL on new HDZ ministers in FBiH Govt, BiH CoM

 

Dnevni List, pg 4 ‘Jerko Pavlicevic is new Federation minister’, by Zvonimir Jukic – DL learns from an anonymous source that the FBiH Minister of Agriculture, Marinko Bozic, will be replaced by Jerko Pavlicevic from the HDZ of Prozor-Rama, who used to be a minister in the Canton 7 Government. DL notes that Bozic’s ‘sin’ was that he openly supported Bozo Ljubic at the recent HDZ Convention, after which he fell into Dragan Covic’s grace. DL reiterates that the BiH Foreign Trade Minister, Dragan Doko, will be replaced by the FBiH Finance Minister, Dragan Vrankic, and the author reckons the aim of the move is to improve trade relations with Croatia, which in turn would improve HDZ BiH’s relations with the HDZ of Croatia and its president Ivo Sanader. Inset entitled ‘Minister Nikolic leaving too’ reads that some sources claim that the FBIH Defence Minister, Miroslav Nikolic will be removed too since he is not one of Covic’s ‘trusted people’.

Brcko Arbitration Tribunal: Should the District participate in reforms too?

 

BHT, Dnevni Avaz pg 13 ‘Should the District too participate in reforms?’ by E. R. – A session of the Arbitral Tribunal for Brcko, at which the status of Brcko District and its relation towards the entities and state was discussed, ended in London Tuesday. The Tribunal held the session upon an initiative of OHR and it should also resolve dilemmas with regard to differences in interpretation of the Final Award, since offices of OHR in Sarajevo and Brcko interpret the Final Award in different ways, which occasionally leads to misunderstandings in reform issues – in which the District participates but does not present its stance as entities do. According to unofficial information, during the conference it was discussed whether Brcko institutions should participate in reforms, or BiH institutions can do this instead of it. According to information in possession of DA, the London conference was agreed upon in January this year, during the visit of Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal Roberts Owen to the District. Owen demanded from the participants of the conference not to give any press statements.

VL: Serbia offers BiH exchange of territories

 

Vecernji List, front pg splash ‘Serbia offers BiH 1000 hectares of territory’ and pgs 2-3 ‘Serbia wants to gift BiH 1000 hectares of territory’, by Valentin Rupcic – Conveys a report originally published in the ‘Srpski Nacional’ according to which Serbia is offering BiH an exchange of territory, in which Serbia would gift BiH 1000 hectares of land. In exchange, Serbia wants BiH to give Serbia 140 hectares of land around the ‘Zvornik’ and ‘Bajina Basta’ hydro power-plants that would enable a normal work of the power-plants. According to the President of BiH Commission for Borders, Zeljko Obradovic, the BiH Commission never got such a proposal from the SCG authorities. He explains that talks on border-related issues stopped after SCG refused to sign an agreement on borders. “First, it is necessary to sign an agreement on borders, only then there can be talks about correction of borders and territories around the borders”, says Obradovic.  

 

Organised Crime/Legal Proceedings

Former BiH Interpol Deputy Director Fazlic cleared of all charges

 

 

 

 

BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Fazlic acquitted’, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Asim Fazlic not guilty’, Dnevni List pg 6 ‘Asim Fazlic released, one year in prison to Kobilic because of blackmailing of Petar Corluka’ by E. Mackic, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘BiH Interpol Deputy Director released’ by rs, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 20 ‘Former Head of Interpol BiH acquitted of charges’ by F, Glas Srpske pg 13 ‘Fazlic acquitted, Kobilic imprisoned’, Nezavisne Novine pg 37 ‘Fazlic acquitted of charges’ – The Trial Chamber of the Court of BiH acquitted the Deputy Director of BiH Interpol Asim Fazlic clering him of all the charges. Fazlic was indicted for misuse of power and authority, because he revealed and kept confidential information of Interpol, for accepting bribes, illegal mediation and failure to report criminal acts. “We’ve got what we wanted, although many people, many media and a part of international community were against us. But this is just the first victory, because Prosecution could file an appeal”, stated Fazlic’s attorney Senka Nozica. “We intent to review the reasons for the verdict, and than consider whether it discloses the grounds for an appeal”, said Head of the Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crimes and Corruption at the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, John McNair. The second accused, Senad Kobilic, indicted for misuse of power and authority and illegal mediation, was found guilty for an attempt to blackmail businessmen Petar Corluka and was sentenced to one year in prison.

Trials in ‘Croat self-rule’ case postponed

 

Dnevni List, pg 2 ‘Jelavic’s defence: Possible withdrawal of indictment’, mentioned on front ‘Possible withdrawal of indictment’, by E. Mackic – The BiH Court, at a request of Ante Jelavic’s lawyer Josip Muselimovic, postponed the trials in the ‘Croat self-rule’ case until July 8. Muselimovic claimed that his client is not able to properly follow the trials in this case, since he is fully engaged in another case, namely the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case. Prosecutor John McNair stated he had nothing against the proposal, under condition that the defence team does not abuse the postponement later in the trials (referring to duration of trials). DL also reports that Muselimovic noted that letters that he had sent to the High Representative, EUFOR and NATO commanders would contribute to the withdrawal of the indictment against his client (DL does not explain the contents of letters). Vecernji List, pg 32 ‘Friar Tomislav Pervan will be Ante Jelavic’s defence witness’, by Zoran Kresic, Slobodna Dalmacija, pg 14 ‘Jelavic too tired’, by Zlatko Tulic, Sarajevo dailies also reported on the issue.

“Elektrokrajina” Supervisory Board elected new leadership of this company

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 4, announced on cover ‘Kopuz re-elected Director, Govedarica tenders resignation’ by A.Sekulic – Shortly after the re-election of Slavko Kopuz as Director of “Elektrokrajina” Tuesday, Milorad Govedarica, President of the Supervisory Board at this company, tendered his irrevocable resignation. NN source close SDS confirmed that in this manner, the scenario – according to which the role of Govedarica was to ensure re-election of Kopuz,. Close to SDS President – was accomplished and Govedarica tendered resignation . Kopuz was Tuesday re-elected in spite of opposition to his election by representatives of Club of Centre at RS NA, who demanded review of information regarding criminal denunciations against Govedarica.

NN op-ed supportive of Toby Robinson’ actions

 

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘OHR on trace of SDS’ money’ by Dragan Risojevic – Writing about recent activities of Toby Robinson and charges filed against SFS and several civil suits against officials of this party, author notes that a large percentage of the international community is convinced that companies “Spekta” and “Matres”, owned by SDS and East Sarajevo, were actually a coverage for smuggling in cigarettes, oil and food. He also notes that whenever SDS needed the money, they would get it from Mandic. The author concludes that regardless of political dimension of this action, it is actually worth of attention, because it proves how people has been deceived for years not.

 

War Crimes

Serbian Assembly fails to adopt declaration condemning war crimes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RHB, BHT, Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Serbian Assembly will not adopt declaration to condemn crimes’, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Neither agreement or declaration’ – The Serbian Assembly has failed to harmonize the text of a declaration condemning war crimes on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Assembly Speaker Predrag Markovic thus decided not to place the declaration on the agenda. Assembly group representatives could not move beyond a unanimous condemnation of all war crimes. Individual parties such as the Democratic Party (DS) and the SPO (Serbian Renewal Movement) were firmly entrenched in their position that the declaration should only condemn the crime in Srebrenica. Speaker Markovic deemed this outcome his personal failure. “I cannot permit deputies to outvote each other on a subject such as condemnation of war crimes, as this would encourage criminals who must be brought to justice,” Markovic said. Tomislav Nikolic, chief of the Radical Party assembly group, was unhappy because individual parties had rejected the idea that the text of the declaration should treat equally the crimes against Serbs. “Some assembly groups are not prepared to condemn crimes committed against Serbs, or to make them equal to the crimes committed by Serbs. We found this totally unacceptable. As a political party, we condemn any crime and criminal, we are not shielding or defending anyone, and we demand that the state brings each and every one to justice. However, we cannot forget that we are a part of the Serbian people, who suffered the most and the crimes against whom had triggered these wars,” Nikolic said. Milos Aligrudic, Democratic Party of Serbia assembly group chief, said it was a big loss that no agreement had been reached to condemn all war crimes, including the revolting crime in Srebrenica. The DS put forward a special declaration condemning the crimes on the territory of Srebrenica. Assembly group member Dusan Petrovic told journalists: “The DS believed, and still believes, that on the one hand we must clearly condemn all war crimes, but at the moment, as we are approaching the 10th anniversary of the crime in Srebrenica, the Serbian Assembly should demonstrate an unambiguous moral and political stance that the murder of so many people in only a matter of a few days was a horrific event that must not be repeated.”

Reactions to war crime committed by Scorpions

 

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Every well-intentioned Serb should be ashamed because of Srebrenica’ not signed, EuroBlic pg 3 ‘Any Serb is ashamed’ – President of Serbia and Montenegro Svetozar Marovic stated the crimes in Srebrenica should be condemned immediately and criminals who committed these crimes should be brought to justice.

RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘PDP harshly condemns crime committed by ‘Scorpions’ ‘ by E.S. – PDP delegate in the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament Vinko Radovanovic says that he and his party harshly condemn the crime committed in Srebrenica. PDP also believes that each criminal should be held accountable for his crimes.  

Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Snapshots will not influence BiH lawsuit’ not signed – Serbia and Montenegro representative in the ICTY Radoslav Stojanovic stated that snapshots showing killing of 6 Bosniaks from Srebrenica will not influence a change of the BiH lawsuit for genocide before the ICTY. He added that neither the Prosecution nor defense could benefit from these snapshots.

Hayat, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘It should be faced with responsibility’ not signed – Montenegrin Helsinki Committee demanded on Tuesday from the Montenegrin Parliament to get an insight in participation and responsibility of Montenegro when the war crime committed in Srebrenica is in question and to investigate a role of the Montenegrin Supreme Council of Defence in this uncivilized event.  

Stankovic: RS MOD to hand explanation related to Srebrenica TF to OHR today

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘Response on Srebrenica to OHR today’ by R.S. Milovan Stankovic, RS Minister of Defence, on Tuesday confirmed that the RS MOD  will respect deadline HR Paddy Ashdown gave to and will accordingly hand explanation why MOD failed to perform duties related to Srebrenica Task Force. He also said that explanation would also contain information regarding future plans of RS Ministry of Defence and RS Army General Staff, in order to provide Srebrenica TF with all requested information.

Witness to testify on Srebrenica crimes unfitting for Holland

 

Nedeljni Telegraf pg 2 ‘He knows the secret of massacre of Serbs in Srebrenica’ by O. N. – A high-ranking official of Belgrade Regional Court, who wanted to stay anonymous, claims Sreten Jocic, who currently serves a sentence in a prison in Holland, might soon testify as a witness before the Hague Tribunal. The source says delay in extradition of Jocic is in close connection with information he has on massacre of Serbs in Srebrenica in 1994 and 1995. The official claims it would be suitable for nobody, especially for Holland, if Jocic testified since he was very well informed on all happenings at battlefield, especially on what was going on in Srebrenica, which was under the supervision of Holland battalion of then SFOR. ‘It is only a matter of time when the truth on murders of Serbs near Srebrenica and details on secret plan between Holland officers, foreign intelligence agents and then Bosniak-Muslim leadership would be made public’, the official said.

“Scorpions” be tried in Serbia

 

Nedeljni Telegraf pg 3 ‘The Tribunal is not interested in Scorpions’ by V. C. S. – According to NT, Deputy Chief ICTY Prosecutor Geoffrey Nice, paid a working, but secret, visit to Belgrade last weekend. According to unofficial information, allegedly a transfer of some of “Scorpions” members was agreed upon with Nice. War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office could neither confirm nor deny Nice’s visit to Belgrade, however they denied any negotiations on transfer of “Scorpions” members took place. A source of NT claims the Tribunal is not interested in prosecuting the “Scorpions” in the Hague , because they were not a part of command responsibility – they were only executors of war crimes, therefore they would stand a trial in Serbia .  

OSCE: ‘Inter-state cooperation important in processing war crimes’

Dnevni List pg 8 ‘OSCE: Inter-state cooperation important in processing war crimes’ by NINA – The OSCE Mission in BiH believes that inter-state cooperation in processing of war crimes is extremely important in order to secure fair court process and efficient trials against war criminals.

NATO rejects responsibility for failure to apprehend Karadzic

 

Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘NATO rejects responsibility for failure to Karadzic’ by SRNA, Oslobodjenje pg 6 ‘Another seven fugitives accessible to Serbian authorities’ by A.P., Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘NATO fights the network of assistants’ by SrnaDerek Chappel, NATO Spokesperson, on Tuesday stated that lack of commitment and activities of NHATO does not represent the reason for non-apprehension of war crime suspect, Radovan Karadzic, over the last ten years. He said: “NATO is not a police Agency. Many police agencies exist here that know this country well,have good contacts and good sources. We are here to help them not to search every single village, every single house.”

 

Economic/Social Issues

Economic conference on single BiH economic space takes place in Sarajevo

 

Pink, FTV, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Consumers better protected than ever’ by M. Zorlak, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 16 ‘BiH single economic space’ by B. Kristo, Dnevni Avaz pg 13 “Consumers to be better protected’ – The third Conference on the Single Economic Space in BiHhas commenced in Sarajevo today, two years after the launch of a project aimed at creating the single economic space. Head of EC mission to BiH, Michael Humphreys, underlined that establishment of such space is an immense work, adding that slow progress has been achieved. The participants were also addressed by PDHR Larry Butler

 

Miscellaneous

Police evacuate Sarajevo Holiday Inn over bomb scare

 

 

Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘False warning on a bomb planted on Holiday Inn hotel’, Dnevni Avaz pg 37, Dnevni List cover pg splash ‘Bomb tip’ and pg ‘Bomb hoax in Sarajevo ‘Holiday Inn’’ by E. Mackic, Vecernji List pg 32 ‘CNN announced recording of Sarajevo concert’, mentioned on cover ‘Holiday Inn evacuated’ by Z.C., Slobodna Dalmacija last pg ‘Holiday Inn evacuated because of bomb hoax  ’ by E. Felic, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash, pg 2 ‘Bombs” on the eve of concert’ by M.Cubro – Staff members of the Sarajevo hotel Holiday Inn have received an anonymous call from Sweden warning of an explosive device planted on the premises. The Sarajevo Canton Interior Ministry evacuated guests and staff and conducting a search. The anonymous call was made by a male voice at 1145. Holiday Inn director Senadin Fetahagic says that the call has been traced to Sweden. “The telephone operator received a call saying that an explosive device had been planted and that it should go off at 1200. We hope that, as we have assumed, nothing will be found, but we had to evacuate staff members and around 100 guests who were holding a congress here,” said Fetahagic.  Director Fetahagic says that the caller did not mention the members of the rock band Bijelo Dugme, who are staying at the hotel. After completion of the search, Sarajevo Canton Interior Ministry established that the warning about a bomb being planted there was false, Sarajevo Canton MUP spokesman Magbul Skoro said. According to Skoro, police have taken measures to identify the caller.