Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 15 August
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
| Feast of Assumption celebr. today | Fuel prices went up |
| Research in cave Vjetrenica started | SCG on Karadzic, Mladic |
| RS: Prices of oil products went up | Eide in Pristina |
TV news broadcast on 14 August
| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
| World news | WN: Boeing 737 crashed, 121 dead | World News |
| Trial to Milosevic | Leptospirosis epidemic declared | Incident in Divic |
| Church holiday | Police reform process | Epidemics in Zenica |
| New church in Odzak | Tihic and Jovicic on police reform | Deretic promised increased pensions |
| NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
| WN: Boeing 737 crashed, 121 dead | World news | Plane crash in |
| Leptospirosis epidemic declared | Regional News | Plane crash in |
| Young people joined the farmers | Incident in Divic | Branimir Glavas for NN |
| Who would you vote for? | Batic on Mladic | Lukic’s extradition |
| Oslobodjenje | Problems of BiH miners: Epidemic in Zenica, strike in Breza |
| Dnevni Avaz | All options must be opened (HDZBiH leader Covic) |
| Glas Srpske | A miracle at Ruda Glavica (sanctity at Zavajit village near Foca) |
| Nezavisne Novine | |
| EuroBlic | Pilot suffocated, passengers froze |
| Vecernje Novosti | Features |
| Srpski Nacional | Features |
NOTE: There are no CRO papers today due to a Catholic holiday!
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
| SiCG Justice Ministry has no information on possible Karadzic, Mladic surrender
| RS Radio – The SiCG Justice Minister, Zoran Stojkovic, stated that this Ministry holds no information into possible signals Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic have sent out regarding their voluntary surrenders. In a statement to Podgorica daily “Dan”, Stojkovic said Ministry holds no information regarding possible attempts of those two ICTY indictees to contact any SiCG official regarding their surrender. |
Political Developments/Reforms | |
| TV Pink feature: Negotiations on the police reform in BiH should continue on Wednesday, August 17
| Pink Report by Ljubisa Davidovic – The negotiations on the police reform in BiH should continue on Wednesday, August 17. The Council of Ministers and entity governments representatives will participate in those negotiations. It is expected that they will try to find a solution for unsolved issues, such as the number of the police regions, or the way of financing police forces. TV Pink made a brief reminder of everything that happened during the police reform process so far: the negotiations on |
| Tihic: The discussions on the police reform process in BiH should continue on the presidents of political parties’ level | Pink, Hayat, RTRS, The discussions on the police reform process in BiH should continue at the level of the presidents of political parties, member of BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic said on Sunday in Zvornik. We supported those negotiations between entity governments’ and BiH CoM representatives, although I’m not sure that they can solve this issue – but we’ll give them a chance anyway, Pink presenter quoted Tihic’s words |
| Humphreys on police reform talks
| Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘We will support solutions for creation of efficient police’ by D.Risojevic – On the eve of resumption of police reform talks at Mrakovica, Michael Humphreys, Head of EC delegation to BiH, is of the belief that this time, negotiations might succeed. He stresses that negotiators must reach an agreement grounded on efficiency of police force – otherwise, EU will not give a green light for this agreement. |
| Hadzipasic not to attend Mrakovica session on police reform
| Nezavisne Novine pg 9 ‘Tihic demands talks be run by party leaders, not institutions’ by V.Popovic – Apart from carrying Sulejman Tihic’ statement regarding resumption of police reform talks, daily carries the comment of Ahmet Hadzipasic, F BiH Premier, responded to Pero Bukejlovic’s invitation for talks saying he would not attend it, since talks are predestined to fail, owing to the fact that RS Government “does not accept abolishment of inter0-eneity boundaries and professionalisation of police”. Hadzipasic also said that the purpose of transferring police reform talks onto the level of institutions was to enable RS Government to obstruct talks. P{ero Bukejlovic, RS Premier, Sunday did not want to reveal what the proposal of RS Government on police reform will be. Slavko Jovicic, Vice President of the Coordination Centre of 11 NGO’s from RS, Sunday addressed a message that “RS negotiating team must respect conclusions of the RS NA, that has clearly committed to framework within which police reform can be realized”. (Glas Srpske pg 5 “HQ working again’ – carries Jovicic’ statement) |
| HDZ BiH leader Covic on CoM’s crisis, SBS Director, const. changes, IC
| Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash and pg 5 ‘All options must be opened’ and pg 5 ‘It is half-crazy to hold elections before we change Constitution’ by H. Orahovac – In an interview to DA, HDZ President Dragan Covic said that he still believes that the way out from the BiH Council of Ministers’ crisis is that Chairman of the BiH CoM Adnan Terzic withdraws the resignation of BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic. Covic added that in case that Terzic does not do this all other options should be opened, an according to Covic the most radical option is to create a new parliamentary majority. Talking about the appointment of the BiH State Border Service Director, Covic says that it was agreed earlier that a leading position in SIPA should belong to Croats, the one in OSA to Bosniaks and the one in the Ministry of Defence to Serbs, however, according to Covic the High Representative deranged the agreement by the appointment of the SIPA Director. Covic says he had already talked on this issue with SDA President Sulejman Tihic and that he should talk with Dragan Cavic and Covic believes that there would not be problems that a Croat gets the position of the SBS Director. Covic also believes that it would be half-crazy to hold 2006 elections if the constitutional changes were not agreed before the elections. He added: ‘If we hold the elections without the constitutional changes then we can come to the position that the new authority changes the Constitution which will define completely different organization of the state from the one that we have.’ Asked whether he agrees with Cardinal Vinko Puljic’s criticism of the International Community, Covic says that he does since he experienced personally what some people from the IC are willing to do. |
| HDZ delegation visited Municipality Teslic Komusina
| Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Covic at mass in Komusina’ not signed – HDZ President Dragan Covic paid a working visit to the Municipality Teslic Komusina on Sunday where he held a working meeting with members of the HDZ Board in this Municipality which was also attended by Croat member of the BiH Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic, Deputy HDZ President Niko Lozancic and some other HDZ officials. The HDZ delegation also attended a mass led by Cardinal Vinko Puljic. On this occasion Covic gave to Puljic a shepherd’s crook as a sign of gratefulness and respect. Dnevni Avaz pg 4 also reported on the mass in Komusina. |
| SDU’s Tokic warns of VAT introduction consequences, says it is logical IC is already looking for alternative to ruling political parties
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Poverty will become unbearable’, Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Dissatisfaction over VAT’ – A drastic increase of basic goods prices foreseen by application of Law on VAT will at the beginning of next year represent the biggest strike on social status of hundreds of thousands of BiH citizens so far, according to BiH Social Democratic Union (SDU) press release. “The poverty, which more than a half of BiH population already lives in, will become unbearable if party of this law are not changed,” said SDU President Sejfudin Tokic. In an interview with Dnevni Avaz pg 9, mentioned on cover ‘It is logical that IC is already looking for alternative’, Tokic said that it was not necessary to conflict ethnic representation and professionalism in the process of appointing heads within security structures. He referred to the recent polemic between the representatives of BiH authorities and the international community with regard to the appointment of State Border Service Director. According to Tokic, the entire polemic shows immaturity of the ruling political parties in BiH. Tokic also believes that the talks on police reform have fallen into a deadlock and that currently the OHR and RS political structures are trying to reach a compromise on the issue. Tokic says that the RS will finally have to accept the police reform solutions. Tokic concludes it is logical that the international community is already looking for an alternative to the ruling parties ahead of the next year’s general elections. |
| 11 RS NGOs reactivated HQ for the Protection of RS Constitutional Order
| BHT, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘HQ for Protection of RS activated’ – 11 RS non-governmental organizations reactivated the Headquarters for the Protection of the RS Constitutional Order, said Slavko Jovicic, vice-president of those eleven non-governmental organizations Coordination centre. Jovicic added that, in the next two months, there would be a lot of pressure to change the RS constitutional position. He warned the RS negotiation team that it must not go beyond BiH Constitution limits, because it could provoke new problems in the whole country. |
| Polish Ambassador to BiH on constitutional changes, HR
| Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘BiH is interesting country for diplomacy’ by M. Begic carries an interview with Polish Ambassador to BiH Leszek Hensel who is to leave BiH soon. Talking about the change of the Dayton Peace Accord Hensel says: ‘The DPA is something more than the Constitution itself. The things in the DPA, which do not function, should be changed and change of the constitutional part only would also change security in BiH and life of its citizens.’ Hensel also says that re-organization of BiH is really necessary. Asked to judge the work of the High Representative in BiH, Hensel says that he can only state his personal opinion on this issue and he said: ‘Lord Ashdown worked well last year, and I sincerely believe that he is losing grip on some things at the moment… I am convinced that the general elections next year would change a political image of BIH and that the influence of the HR would be less due to this change.’ |
| Terzic looking for Dokic’ replacement: Gligoric and Milanovic are candidates
| Nezavisne Novine pg 6, announced on cover ‘Gligoric is a candidate for BiH minister of traffic’ by N.Krsman – Daily reports that Tihomir Gligoric, delegate at the BiH Parliament HoR and SP RS senior official, is one of the most serious candidates for the position of the BiH Minister of Traffic and Communications. Adnan Terzic, BiH CoM Chair, commented on this by saying: “It is possible. Hwoever, we will disucss this issue after annual leave.” Gliogoric Sunday stated he also heard of this possibility, adding: “My comment to “Terzic’s “it is possible” will be given after an official offer. I prefer not to prejudice now, since I had no talks on this issue… If offer arrives, I will think about it and inform the public.” Apart from Gligoric, one of candidates for the same position is Petar Milanovic, Vice President of BiH Foreign Trade Chamber, who commented by saying: “Not a chance. I would never accept any sort of political function within this sort of convocation and at such times.” |
War Crimes | |
| Hartmann: Lukic will be extradited to the ICTY | Pink, RTRS – ICTY Spokesperson Florence Hartmann said that the Hague indictee Milan Lukic will be extradited to the ICTY. She added that the ICTY will afterwards make the decision if Lukic will be put on trial before the court in BiH. |
| Batic claims that there are only three possible locations in SiCG where Mladic can be hiding | BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Ratko Mladic is hiding at three locations in |
| GS on HR’s letter to Bukejlovic
| Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Shut up!’ by E.G.S. – Daily carries a version of the alleged letter Paddy Ashdown, HR to BiH, addressed to RS Premier, Pero Bukejlovic, where HR expressed expectation that Bukejlovic will no longer be giving statements that bring the number of the killed Srebrenica people in question. |
Judiciary | |
| Comments on Prce’ sentence reduction
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Officials of F BiH see nothing disputable in pardoning of Prce’ by R.Cengic – Desnica Radivojevic, F BiH Vice President, sees nothing disputable in decision of entity officials to alter BiH Court verdict against Miroslav Prce, adding: “This decision should not be politicized and should not be regarded as case “Miroslav Prce” but instead as one of 50 or 100 motions filed for pardon.” One of local judges at BiH Court claims that Malcolm Simmons, judge who passed the verdict against Prce in September last year, recommended to BiH Court Appeals’ Council on 26 February, addressed by F BiH officials, not to issue pardon at any terms. Simmons noted that bargain settlement Prce reached with Prosecutor’s Office stipulated no right to appeal or pardon. Appeals Commission for Probation Release confirmed it has not received motion for probation release of Miroslav Prce, as recently speculated in media. |
| NN op-ed on Prce case, Croat interests in BiH
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Imperilment’ by Natasa Krsman – Writing about the issue of “imperilment” of Croats in BiH, the author starts the article by referring to the weekend statement of Cardinal Vinko Puljic, then turning onto the issue of sentence reduction by a year to Miroslav Prce. On the latter, she notes that Borjana Kristo, , F BiJ Justice Minister, or Marinko Jurcevic, BiH State Prosecutor, both of Croat nationality could have prevented this sentence reduction, but did not. Further referring to the issue of Dragan Covic, she sarcastically notes that any sort of “imperilment” is exchanged property at the highest level, concluding: “Those who are members of a deal, are imperiled, while everybody else know nothing.” |
Economic Affairs | |
| Update to dispute RS EP-SB Soft
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Judge Puzic disobeyed court decisions on termination of process’, announced on cover ‘Judge Puzic disobeyed decisions of Basic and District Court on termination of process’ by R.Segrt – Daily reports that “RS Elektroprivreda” (RS EP – RS Power Utility) has filed with HJPC a complaint against the work of Judge Dragan Puzic, Judge at Trebinje Basic Court. RS EP is not satisfied with the manner in which the suit “SB Soft” from SiCG ran against RS EP, whose presiding judge was Puzic. (SB Soft is the company from |
Miscellaneous | |
| Leprosirosis epidemic declared in Zenica coal mine
| Pink, Hayat, FTV – The Main FBiH Epidemiologist and the Office for Public Health Director Zlatko Puvacic has declared the leptospirosis epidemic in “Stara Jama” section of the brown coal mine Zenica. Since August 2 one miner, Redzo Sabic has died, and another 16 miners who used to work in this section of Zenica mine were hospitalised. According to Zlatko Puvacic, all the miners from “Stara jama” section will be under medical supervision, because it is possible that another ten or 20 workers could be infected. In the meantime, the condition of those who are already infected is slightly better, although they will need time to fully recover. |
| Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Tihic visited Zvornik, attended Gornji Sepak mosque opening ceremony
| BHT, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Dignified return home’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Tihic: Your return here is victory of good/justice’, FENA – Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic visited Zvornik municipality on Sunday. During the visit he met with Mayor Budimir Acimovic and his associates. Acimovic informed Tihic about the return process and problems returnees in this municipality were facing. He stressed that 10.000 returnees have returned so far and that unemployment, currently at 60 percent, represents the largest problem. Accompanied by Mayor Acimovic the BiH Presidency member visited returnees in Divic. Tihic also attended the opening of the mosque in Gornji Sepak. Speaking at the opening ceremony Tihic said that that the opening of the mosque represents the victory of good over evil, justice over injustice, and that return and reconstruction are the best way to fight for BiH. After the afternoon prayers Tihic and his hosts visited the Zvornik Fort and the newly reconstructed premises of the Kula Grad local community. During his visit to Zvornik on Sunday, which coincided with the anniversary of his release from the prison in Sremska Mitrovica on |
| Disputes between Muslim, Orthodox believers in Zvornik municipality
| BHT, Hayat, FTV, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘To postpone the procession and replace the Church form Divic’, EuroBlic RSpg 5, announced on cover ‘Bosniaks captivated a priest’ by S.Popovic, Nezavisne Novine pg 8 ‘Bosniak women ‘captured’ Orthodox priest’ by Z.Kusmuk, Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘In accordance with the old recipe’ – Incident occurred between Serbs and Bosniaks after Serb Orthodox Church (SOC) announced serving the mass in the church in Divic on Monday. The group of Bosniak women blocked the entrance road to Divic on Saturday for the SOC delegation that came to make preparations for the mass on Monday. The problem arises from the fact that the church was built on the place where Serbs destroyed the mosque during the war and that |