OHR BiH Media Round-up, 16/10/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Croatian summit ends

Summit in Croatia continued

RS police uncover illegal print. firm

SDA on HR’ decision

HR suspends renaming of airport

Zagreb summit positive messages

Dodik on BIH constitution

Police action in Banja Luka

The USS Mitscher arrived in Neum

Printing house discovered in BL

Requests on primary education issue

Extraordinary elections in Bijeljina

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

SDA on HR’s decision

RS police uncover illegal print. firm

Police action Adria

Buha on changes in BiH Constitution

SDA on HR’s decision

Drug trafficking arrest in Prijedor

Elections in Bijeljina, Vakuf, Uskoplje

BH Ombudsman angst. police reform

Law University won’t dismiss Lukic

Summit in Croatia continued

Elections in Vakuf/Uskoplje

RS scientists on BIH Constitution

Oslobodjenje

Ashdown equalized Alija Izetbegovic with Karadzic

Dnevni Avaz

BiH destiny could not be related to Kosovo

Dnevni List

Life drama of former ‘Zrinjski’ player in Azerbaijan : I was afraid for my life

Vecernji List

Features Croatia related headline

Nezavisne Novine

Bird flue: Virus found in Romania fatal

Political issues

SDA on HR’s decision on renaming of Sarajevo airport after Izetebgovic: HR lost SDA support/Tihic: Protest gathering in front of Sa airport possible

RHB, Pink, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Ashdown has lost SDA support’ by S. Turcalo, Oslobodjenje cover pg splash and pgs 4 and 5 ‘Ashdown equalized Alija Izetbegovic with Karadzic’ by S. Sehercehajic, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Ashdown’s decision condemned in SDA welcomed in RS’ by A.D., M.L., D.B., Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Tihic: Ashdown does not have SDA support any longer!’ by f – At its extraordinary session convened with regard to High Representative, Paddy Ashdown’s decision to annul renaming of the International Airport Sarajevo after Alija Izetbegovic SDA strongly protested against such decision. SDA President, Sulejman Tihic, told at a press conference that by passing such decision the HR had lost SDA support, adding: “With this decision he [HR] has equalised Alija Izetbegovic with Radovan Karadzic and other war criminals, and humiliated all BiH patriots and citizens.”  Tihic pointed out the failure of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board to react to the name of the RS, given by war criminal Karadzic, while it sees a problem in changing the airport name after the first president of an independent BiH. According to SDA, this decision is an example of double standards – one standard is applied for the Bosniaks and another one for all the others. Tihic also reminded that the decision on changing the airport name was passed unanimously, in line with all procedures prescribed by the law, adding: “There was full consensus of all Board members, regardless of their party or nationality.”  DA inset ‘Broken promise’ carries Tihic as saying that the last week the HR promised that he would not annul the aforementioned decision and interfere in its passing noting that such decision is not wise, however, the HR broke this promise. Another DA inset ‘Protest gathering’ carries that Tihic also said that there is a possibility that a gathering in front of the Sarajevo airport takes place as a sign of protest against the HR’s decision. Tihic added that the Board in charge of marking the 2^nd anniversary of Izetebgovic’s death will decide on this possibility on Monday.  Osl. inset ‘Ceremony at Liberation Square on October 19’ carries that it has been planned that the ceremony with regard to renaming Square of Liberation into Square of Liberation of Alija Izetbegovic takes place on October 19.

Free Democrats, Green Berets condemn HR’s decision on Sa airport

Pink, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘OHR should direct its concern on RS symbols’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Alija Izetbegovic is synonym of Bosnian resistance’ not signed, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Free Democrats protested’ not signed – Reacting against the HR’s decision on the Sarajevo airport, BiH Free Democrats stated that such HR’s move has been interpreted in the public as an extorted move and as a step made under pressure of a few RS politicians.

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘There is no need to explain how big reputation Iztebegovic had’ not signed, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Shocked by Ashdown’s decision’ not signed carries Green Berets also condemning the HR’s decision. They stated: ‘We do not understand as to why Lord Ashdown has decided to make such move. We do not understand explanations about preservation of the BiH’s international reputation by passing such decision.’

Reactions welcoming HR’s decision by B. Bosic, M. Dodik, N. Trifkovic, US Embassy, V. Jukic, M. Novakovic

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Ashdown’s decision condemned in SDA welcomed in RS’ by A.D., M.L., D.B carries Deputy SDS President Boro Bosic as saying that renaming of the Sarajevo airport by Alija Izetbegovic is a typical provocation and that the HR passed the only possible solution on this issue. Milorad Dodik from SNSD welcomed the HR’s decision and he believes that the decision to rename the airport after Izetbegovic was politically motivated. Nevenka Trifkovic from the PDP Main Board believes that the HR was acting in a realistic and serious manner when he passed such decision. The US Embassy also welcomed the HR’s decision and stressed that the name of the airport in Sarajevo should be a result of the national consensus and consultations at the state level.

Dnevni List pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Decision warns Bosniaks that they live in multi-ethnic country’ by D. Pusic – Velimir Jukic from HDZ stated that he absolutely supports the HR’s decision saying that it is unacceptable for other two peoples to rename the airport after Izetebegovic since all peoples do not share the same opinion about Izetbegovic. Momcilo Novakovic from SDS said that the HR’s decision in some way warns Bosniak leaders that they have to take into consideration the fact that this is a multi-ethnic country and that consultations with other two peoples should be made in order to pass such decision. 

Hayat public opinion poll on HR’s decision on Sa airport

Hayat carries a public opinion poll on the HR Paddy Ashdown’s decision on the Sarajevo airport. The question was: ‘Do you support the High Representative’s decision to suspend renaming of SarajevoAirport after the first BiH President Alija Izetbegovic?

Yes  2256

No   5311

Members of RS Academy of Science and Arts on DPA/Buha: Solution for Kosovo and RS should be same

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Great Serbia plans of Buha and Kuzmanovic’ by Srna – President of the RS Academy of Science and Arts Rajko Kuzmanovic stated at the presentation of the collection of papers ‘RS – 10 years of Dayton Peace Agreement’ (organized by the RS Academy of Science and Arts) in Banja Luka on Saturday that the DPA is an international legal act ‘that should be applied and not changed whenever someone has a wish to do so’’. He added: ‘Everything should be changed in the direction that BiH remains a complex and de-centralized state with 2 or 3 entities and basic elements of the state organization which were established in Dayton’.  Aleksa Buha who is also a member of the RS Academy stated: ‘The International Community would be imposing a new Constitution, however, we have to wait to see what the solution for Kosovo will look like and what the IC decides on Kosovo it should decide on the RS as well…The solution for Kosovo should be the solution for the RS.’ Also reported by RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Solution of Kosovo status and then constitution changes’ not signed and pg 9 ‘Decentralized state with 2 or 3 entities’ not signed, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Dayton must be applied’ by Srna.

Dzaferovic, Halilovic condemn Kuzmanovic and Buha stands on DPA, Kosovo issue

Dnevni Avaz cover pg splash and pg 2 ‘Destiny of BiH and Kosovo cannot be brought in connection’ by S. Turcalo Commenting on the aforementioned stands of Kuzmanovic and Buha, SDA Vice President Sefik Dzaferovic stated that this is about failed ideas of the Great Serbia circles who are trying to bring into question statehood of BiH. He believes that BiH needs constitutional changes and a strong central, state authority with one President and strong Parliament. Safet Halilovic from SBiHstated that an attempt to connect the solution for Kosovo and the RS is just wishful thinking of Karadzic’s supporters, since the BiH Constitutional Court ’s decision on constituency of peoples removed every possibility to organize a mono-ethnic referendum on separation.

Dodik: BiH needs new Constitution in which RS would be defined as Federal unit/Dodik on police reform

RHB, Hayat, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘BiH is not voluntary choice of Serb people’ not signed – Being a guest at RTRS TV show ‘Oci u Oci’ SNSD President Milorad Dodik stated that BiH needs a new Constitution in which the RS would be defined as a Federal unit. He also said that BiH is not a voluntary choice of the Serb people and that fear still rules in BiH. He reiterated that SNSD does not support the police reform, which envisages abolishment of the RS police.

M. Granic: Cantonization is bets solution for BiH

Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Mate Granic launches actions for change of Dayton’, mentioned on cover ‘Granic demands change of Dayton’ by M. Vasilj carries that Croatian politician Mato Granic confirmed for VL that he works as an advisor to HSP Croatia President Anto Djapic in drafting a proposal for constitutional changes in BiH. Granic said that the initiative will go in direction of BiH cantonization and he believes that this is the best solution. He also did not exclude the possibility to establish the Croat Federal unit if 3 peoples reach an agreement on such solution, however, he believes that this is not a realistic solution.

Eastern Sarajevo Faculty of Law, BiH Ombudsman V. Popovic oppose Lukic’s removal

RTRS – The Council of the Faculty of Law in Eastern Sarajevo unanimously supported their Dean, Radomir Lukic. Lukic, as a member of SDS, was dismissed by HR Paddy Ashdown from all public positions in 2004. Zoran Ljuboje, a member of the Council, stated that the MostarUniversity supports their decision as well as the BelgradeUniversity. The Council stressed that according to the law only members of the University have the right to dismiss its member. The Council also sent a message to RS Government to obey the law and not to allow further disturbances of the University autonomy. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Faculty of Law against Lukic’s removal’ by Srna  carries a similar report.

Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Unacceptable demand for removal of Dean Lukic’ not signed carries BiH ombudsman Vitomir Popovic as saying that the demand for the Lukic’s removal is the harshest violation of human rights. He added that the HR Paddy Ashdown and the RS Government ‘s insisting on the Lukic’s removal ‘would be written as a black stain in development of human rights and freedoms in BiH’.

BiH Ombudsman V. Popovic agst police reform agreement

FTV – BiH Ombudsman, Vitomir Popovic, claims that the police reform agreement jeopardises human rights in the RS and that a referendum should have been organised to decide on this issue. According to SRNA, in a statement for a Novi Sad TV ‘Most’, Popovic said that the RS authorities did not pay enough attention to the national interests in terms of the police reform agreement. Popovic said that police disbanding scenario was very similar to the one in which the RS Army was disbanded. He added that without the police the RS should disappear and without the RS there is no survival for Serbs ‘on this side of Drina’.

Hadzipasic: Police reform agreem. is not concrete

Nezavisne Novine pgs 8 and 9 ‘FBiH Parliament would be held accountable if BiH loses 200 million Dollars’, mentioned on cover ‘FBiH Parliament is responsible for conflict with World Bank’ by R. Cengic carries an interview with FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic who mostly talks about the problems in relations between the FBiH Parliament and the FBiH Government. Commenting on the police reform agreement, he says that it is not concrete, that it lacks precise deadline etc. and he said that the FBiH Government concluded that it is pity that they cannot creatively influnece its improving.

High-ranked NATO official: ‘There are no hidden pre-requisites for BiH on way towards Partnership for Peace’

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘There are no hidden pre-requisites for BiH on way towards Partnership for Peace’ by E. Sarac – A high-ranked NATO official who wanted anonymous stated that the arrest of war criminals is the only thing that stands on the BiH’s way towards the EU and NATO. He also said that there are no any hidden pre-requisites that BiH should meet in order to become a PfP member.

‘Croatian Summit 2005’ ended in Zagreb

RHB – The ‘Croatian Summit 2005’ dedicated to the discussion on the European unification process and EC economic and social models ended in Zagreb. The participants of the summit sent a unique message of support towards the project of European unification. Croatian President Stjepan Mesic stressed that support was expressed towards those countries in South Eastern Europe that have European aspirations. The conclusion of Zagreb regional summit is that EU spreading must not be stopped till all the regional countries are not accepted. BIH Presidency Chairman Ivo Miro Jovic stated for HB radio that he met with almost every President at the summit. Jovic stated that in all his conversations he stressed the necessity of equality of all people in BIH because in his opinion only BIH as such can be a valid partner in the EU. Also reported by Pink, FTV, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘European unification incomplete without Western Balkans’ by news agencies, Vecernji List pg 6 ‘Cro-Summit’ by J. Popovic, Z. Bajt, Dnevni List pg 16 ‘Presidents supported project of unification of whole Europe’ not signed.

3^rd Congress of the BiH Primary School Education Trade Union held

BHT 1, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Through division of students BiH is being divided’ by S. Hodzic, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Schools became place of division’ by A. Du. – At the 3^rd Congress of the BiH Primary School Education Trade Union their concern regarding national and ethnic segregation in schools was expressed. The Union has requested the primary school education to be transferred under the state competence and for the Law on elementary education to be applied consistently, which would stop the segregation in schools. Pink, RTRS, FTV.

Elections for Heads of Municipalities held in Gornji Vakuf and Bijeljina

RHB, Pink, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Elections for Heads of Municipalities held’ by E.M., A.M., Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Surprisingly low turnout of voters’ by V. Du., Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Poor turnout of voters in Bijeljina’ by D.B., Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Voters were electing new Mayors’ by ra – Almost all media outlets report that elections for the Heads of Municipalities in Gornji Vakuf and Bijeljina were held on Saturday. No results have been published yet.

Judicial issues

J. McNair: FBiH MoD should launch audit of loans approved by Jelavic

Dnevni Avaz pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘FBiH MoD should launch audit of loans approved by Jelavic’ by T. Lazovic – Prosecutor John McNair stated that the loans that former FBiH Defence Minister Ante Jelavic was approving were proclaimed illegal acts and according to McNair, the FBiH Ministry of Defence should at least, file a lawsuit against those who do not pay back the loans. DA inset ‘Only 30 former HVO members pay back loan on regular basis’ quotes Hercegovacka Banka Provisional Administrator Toby Robinson as saying that out of 104 persons who were granted aforementioned loans only 30 of them pay back the loans on a regular basis.