Latest radio news broadcast at 12.00 on 1 June
RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs) | BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs) | RTRS (12,00 hrs) |
Mesic opens | War crimes suspect arrested | War crimes suspect arrested |
Sessions of FBiH, RS Govts today | Conference on war crimes in BiH | Positions in |
World news | US suspended financial aid to | CoM Chair Terzic on state property |
TV news broadcast on 31 May
RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | TV PINK (18,00 hrs) | BHT 1 (19,00 hrs) |
Broadcasting signal interrupted | | Special police searching for Selver |
| PDHR: referendum is not best idea | Problem of post-war syndrome |
| RS PM Dodik on referendum | |
| | PDHR Butler on referendum in RS |
NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs) | FTV (19,30 hrs) | RTRS (19,30 hrs) |
Police structure confirmed | Trade Union Forum | |
Dodik on police reform | “Mittal Steel” workers on strike | |
Regional news | Protests of teachers in | Dodik offered internat. audit to ITA |
BIH | | Joint Commission had meeting |
Oslobodjenje | [PDHR |
Dnevni Avaz | [US Ambassador McElhaney] BiH is sovereign state and that’s that! |
Dnevni List | Tycoons to plead guilty and request settlement (Persons charged with money laundering, tax evasion etc. through company ‘Uzdah’ negotiate on pleading guilty) |
Vecernji List | Mujaheddins were members of BiH Army (Testimony of Mostar Mufti Smajkic before ICTY against 6 former Herceg Bosna leaders) |
Slobodna Dalmacija | Ilidza in Union of Turkish Municipalities (By forming their own Municipality called Western Ilidza non-Bosniaks react agst Municipal Council decision to join Union of Turkish Municipalities) |
Nezavisne Novine | BiH does not need radicalisation |
Glas Srpske | Consensus without consensus ( |
EuroBlic | Kotaran admitted he had committed murder |
Vecernje novosti | Features Serbian related titles |
LATEST NEWS OF TODAY | |
War crimes suspects arrested in Visegrad
| RTRS, BH Radio 1 – Acting in line with warrant by the |
BiH Civil Affairs Ministry calls on associations to propose candidates for
| RTRS – The BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs and Refugees has forwarded a memo to the entities’ Government, Sarajevo Canton and NGO’s dealing with war sufferings and other organizations and associations to propose candidates for the members of the Commission for investigating crimes in |
BiH Court President Kreso: More work for Court after ICTY ends its mission; Court to focus on individual liability
| BH Radio 1 by Mirsad Bajtarevic – At the Conference on achievements and challenges of processing war crimes in BiH, the BiH Court President Meddzida Kreso stated that this institution must focus on determining individual culpability for it does process neither states nor peoples. She added |
US suspended financial aid to | BH Radio 1 by Amir Suzanj – |
Debate on referendum initiative | |
PDHR
| PINK – The Principle Deputy of High Representative Lawrence |
RS PM Dodik says that initiative for referendum is response to calls to abolishment of the RS; RSNA Speaker Radojicic: RSNA could discuss referendum if procedure met
| RTRS – PDHR Larry Butler met the RS Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik and RS National Assembly Speaker Igor Radojicic. Dodik deems that there are no reactions of the international community regarding talks on abolishment of RS that come from FBiH. “I am not adventurer who believes that [referendum of RS separation from BiH] should be done now since there is no support for such thing and there is no possibility for the recognition. But if there are permanent efforts to devastate constitutional and legal system, efforts to burden RS with something negative, it is obvious that people would loose patience over here”, said Dodik. “RS President and certain number of RSNA MPs can propose referendum. There is also legal procedure by which at least 3000 signature should be submitted in order to discuss something in the RS National Assembly. Everything that is in accordance with legal procedure, with Law, Operative procedure and Constitution will be discussed at the RSNA”, said Radojicic. Oslobdjenje cover splash and pgs 4-5 ‘High Representative would use Bonn Powers in case of referendum’ by O.Vukovic – “Referendum is a standard proclaimed by the UN, but it showed that talk about that, even in international circles, can cause more reactions and storm then continue to insist on the RS abolishment” said Dodik. BHT1 – Dodik stated that referendum would be possible only with prior approval of the EU, explaining that the initiative for referendum is a reaction to calls for abolishment of RS in FBiH. Dodik stressed that referendum would be impossible at this moment. |
RS PM Dodik: RS was not established based on crime and genocide, as it was founded in 1992
| PINK – RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik stated [PINK did not say at which occasion or when] that while he knew there is no support for the referendum on separation of the RS in the international community, such option sill exists as a democratic possibility. “RS is persistently sending a message that it wants to be a partner in BiH. If it is sending the message and participates in the constitutional reform…in which we agreed the package of changes in which everything is not exactly as we wanted, but it is the package that we still stand behind; and if all of that is rejected only in the FBiH then naturally significant number of people here would start to feel as surplus, regardless if politicians said it or not, and they would start thinking about other issues. Concept of partnership in BiH and development that would lead it to be better and more successful part of the BiH on the way to the EU, best suits the RS, but I am truly pointing to one possibility of development, which is possible if Sarajevo doesn’t realize that we haven’t been established on genocide and crime, since the RS was established in 1992 and those event were after,” said Dodik, adding that they all should pay for their crimes before courts. |
US Ambassador McElhaney: There will be no referendum!
| Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘BiH does not need radicalisation’, pg 5 ‘Radicalisation should be avoided’ by Almedin Sisic – In a page interview to daily, Douglas McElhaney, American Ambassador to BiH, says that BiH is a sovereign state and there is absolutely no question regarding its status, adding: “Referendum? No. Not referendum. What we have here at this period are elections. I am of the view it is not useful to radicalise situation at the moment… Stance of my Government is clear. BiH status has been determined, it is a sovereign state.” He reiterates there are many important issues left to be discussed such as constitutional reform, police reform and many other issues related to |
Interview with Olli Rehn: The stories on referendum in BiH, i.e. in RS, or anywhere else are not good and EU does not support these
| Vecernje Novosti cover splash, pg 2 ‘Will is not enough’ by Gordana Bulatovic – carries an interview with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn in which he expressed wish of EU to continue |
Serbian reactions: big parties support referendum in RS, differently from what they told HR
| Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘Leading parties for independent RS’ by B.Boskov– Serbian party |
Oslobodjenje op-ed: It was to expect that Serbian DS is supporting referendum in RS | Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Expected move’ op-ed by Edin Krehic – Commenting that it was expected that [Serbian] Democratic Party [DS] spokesperson supports idea of RS referendum on secession, in spite of the fact that leader of that party, Serbian Prime Minister Vojsilav Kostunica earlier supported BiH based on Dayton Peace Agreement. |
Party for BiH: BiH is not a product of DPA
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘BiH is not a product of Dayton’ by Fena, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘BiH is a continuity, not Dayton-made’ – Party for BiH denied the statement of HR Christian Schwarz-Schilling, who has stated “BiH was created on the ground of the agreement from Dayton”, reminding him of the fact BiH is not and cannot be a product of the Dayton Agreement. The party quoted Article 1 of the Annex 4 of DPA that reads the Republic of BiH will continue its legal existence as in accordance with international laws as a state, with adjustments of its interior organization within internationally recognized borders. |
SBiH: there are double standards in BiH
| Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘SBiH was punished, SNSD is being awarded’ by E.Sarac – SBiH Secretary General Munib Jusufovic raised issue why the SNSD is not being punished for SNSD leader Milorad Dodik’s anti-Dayton advocating for referendum on RS secession, reminding that SBiH was punished in 1998 for slogan ‘BiH without entities’. Jusufovic said that it is obvious that there are double standards in BiH Central Electoral Commission [ |
PDP’s Djurkovic: F BiH again disputes equal rights of RS | Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Federation is disputing RS’ by Srna – PDP’s Jelina Djurkovic warned that the latest reactions from F BiH, with regard to the referendum, is yet another example of disputing of equal rights of RS as a part of BiH, based on obscure thesis that the RS was a result of genocide. |
GS op-ed critical of reactions on referendum option / of Tihic’s statement comparing Serbs and Croats in BiH with Muslims in Sandzak or Hungarians in Vojvodina
| Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘According to Tihic, Serbs are ethnic minority’ by Veljko Kojovic – Regarding referendum story, the author notes that the very reference to it has raised harsh reactions in F BiH and by the international community, criticising the fact that there has been no single reaction regarding frequent statements promoting abolishment of entities. Regarding OHR criticism on this, he advises it to take the latest statement of Sulejman Tihic, Bosniak member to BiH Presidency, as topic of its next press release at the press conference he gave regarding referendum (when he compared the situation with secession of Sandzak or Vojvodina Hungarians), stressing Tihic may be thinking Serbs and Croats are minority in BiH. He urges biased reactions of the IC, including OHR. |
NN op-ed critical of harsh reactions in F BiH re. referendum option / he personally finds those unrealistic and unnecessary
| Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Directly indirect democracy’ by Miroslav Mikes – Writing about issue of referendum, the author says that referendum is a sort of indirect democracy, expressing surprise over the fact that there are two different approaches towards the issue of potential referendum in RS and Kosovo. He raises the issue as to why some circles in F BiH have reacted upon Milorad Dodik’s statement (regarding referendum option) with hatred and brutally, since he has just referred to it as option. According to author, some poll results show 97% of ATV (TV station in |
Oslobodjenje op-ed: RS PM Dodik’s statements will only make IC extends its mandate in BiH
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Scent of separatism’ op-ed by Gojko Beric – Editorial comments that statement of RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, who advocated for referendum on RS secession, “woke up our friend [High Representative] Christian [Schwarz-Schilling] from his pleasant nap.” Author notes that HR reacted quickly, denying Dodik’s demand. Editorial concludes that such Dodik’s pre-elections campaign will only make International Community extends its mandate in BiH. |
DA op-ed: If political parties are speaking now like this, will we go to trenches instead on elections in October? | Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Do we need Electoral Commission?’ op-ed by Sead Numanovic – Commenting statement of BiH Central Electoral Commission [ |
Police reform | |
| RTRS by Branka Kusmuk – Police Reform Directorate Steering Board [ |
Oslobodnje brings details of Opinion on police
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Entities cannot preserve the police’, mentioned on cover by Az.Kalamujic – After it adopted the previously passed Opinion, Police Reform Directorate Steering Board has started discussion on model of the future police structure organization in BiH, which would be established at two levels. |
RS PM Dodik: RS is not obstructing police reform
| RTRS – RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said that RS does not want to be out of the police reform and for that reason keeps the position of the observer at the meetings of |
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Organisation of police ascertained’ by M.Cubro – Nijaz Smajlovic, RS representative at |
Interview with RS MoI Cadjo: We have prepared new model on police, that are in harmony with RS NA conclusions, Agreement on Police Restructuring and 3 EC principles | Novi Reporter pgs 14-17 ‘Equality is not obstruction to efficiency’ by Sasa Bizic – In a lengthy interview to daily, Stanislav Cadjo, RS Interior Minister, speaks of many issues related to police reform, police work. He disagrees with the OHR statement that RS representatives have withdrawn from |
Economic and judicial issues | |
Trade Union Forum would call employees and pensioners not to vote for political options that have no adequate economic and social programs
| FTV By Zlata Behram – The first BiH Trade Union Forum was held in |
RS PM Dodik offers ITA international audit; says that he would give up the charges
| RTRS- RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik offered to Indirect Taxation Administration [ITA] that an international audit conducts check of the resources’ allocations in the last year. Dodik said that in this case he would give up the charges against Joly Dixon, ITA Steering Board Chair and other responsible persons whom Dodik blames for reduce of coefficient on allocation of resources from single account. Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘ |
FBiH Minister of Finances Vrankic: RS blackmails with VAT
| Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Vrankic: RS blackmails with VAT’ by zk – Commenting on failure of the agreement on coefficients for distribution of VAT incomes, FBiH Minister of Finances Dragan Vrankic accused the RS authority that they want to pull down the Indirect Tax Administration and he added: ‘Blockades and blackmails continue and beneficiaries and citizens would suffer consequences of it. There is no reason for such behaviour…Probably, such decisions have political background.’ |
ITA SB Chair announces another blockade of ITA single account
| Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Dixon: A blockade again’ by R.Cengic – Joly Dixon, President of the ITA Steering Board, Wednesday confirmed to NN that if members of the ITA SB failed to agree on principles regarding distribution of public revenues in BiH as of 1 June, the distribution of money would be automatically halted, since there would be no rules in line with those should be divided., adding: “I do not need to make decision on blockade of resources, since it no principles are agreed until 1st June, the distribution will be suspended and we will face with situation we had experienced before 26 April.” (Following meeting of ITA SB session Tuesday in |
BiH CoM Chair Terzic: I will not listen to OHR and I will establish Office for state property
| Dnevni Avaz pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘I will not listen to OHR and I will establish Office for state property’ by H.Orahovac – After assessing state has to take upon itself more significant role in solving issues of state property, BiH Council of Ministers Chair Adnan Terzic told daily: “Everything regarding state of BiH has to be job of BiH Council of Ministers. I noticed that everything that has been done so far in solving issue of state property did not have results. This is why I brought decision on forming Office for property of BiH and I intend to put it on agenda for the next session of BiH CoM.” Commenting that SDHR Peter Bas-Backer demanded him to remove this issue from the BiH CoM agenda, for the establishing the Office is not in accordance with decision on moratorium on managing state property [earlier brought by former HR Paddy Ashdown], Terzic noted: “I am deeply convinced that the decision I intend to put on BiH CoM agenda is in any way in discordance with previous decision of Paddy Ashdown. For the state without the property is not a state. In this moment, nobody knows the list of state property, who is managing it and how it should be done.” Terzic explained that the Office would be primarily oriented on making list of state property: “Any other approach is not good because there is no transition state that proceeded otherwise. Why would BiH be an exemption?” |
PDHR Butler meets RS PM, RSNA Speaker, says no disputes over economic issues important for
| PINK – PDHR Lawrence Butler visited |
Persons charged with money laundering, tax evasion etc. through company ‘Uzdah’ negotiate on pleading guilty | Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 20 ‘Tycoons to plead guilty and request settlement’ by E. Mackic carries that the beginning of the trial before the BiH Court against Ivica Culjak and others charged with tax evasion, money laundering and falsifying of documents through company ‘Uzdah’ has been postponed for June 27. State Prosecutor Ismet Suskic confirmed that the trial has been postponed since the indictees are negotiating on pleading guilty. |
War crimes and security | |
OHR would insist on Palic case as long as it exists in BiH: RS PM Dodik to undertake measures and raise issue of personal liability
| Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Even with the pressure to the truth on Avdo Palic’ by O.V.– Principle Deputy of High Representative Lawrence |
Mostar Mufti Smajkic before ICTY as witness in case agst 6 former Herceg Bosna leaders: Mujaheddins were present in BiH Army in large number
| Vecernji List cover pg splash ‘Mujaheddins were members of BiH Army’ and pg 4 ‘Mujaheddins were present in all BiH Army units’ by Z. Kresic carries that Mostar Mufti Seid Smajkic testified on Wednesday before the ICTY as a prosecution witness in the case against 6 former Herceg Bosna leaders. VL says that this testimony discredited Smajkic since the defence presented his cooperation with UDBA (former Yugoslav Secret Intelligence Service) and Smajkic confirmed that mujaheddins were present in the BiH Army units in a large number just like mercenaries existed in HVO and Serb military units. Talking about his cooperation with UDBA Smajkic said that religious leaders were invited for informative talks but it was never demanded from him to cooperate with UDBA but just to give information that UDBA was interested in. Also reported by Dnevni List pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘Mufti admitted existence of mujaheddins and cooperation with UDBA’ by V. Soldo, Dnevni Avaz pg 12 ‘Defence accuses Smajkic for being UDBA aid’, Oslobodjenje pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Prlic’ attorney accused mufti for cooperation with security service’ by A.Beslija – also reported. |
RS NA conclusions on BiH lawsuit vs. SiCG forwarded to
| Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Conclusions on BiH lawsuit vs. SiCG before RS Constitutional Court’ by S. G., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Without consent on conclusions’ by D. Mo. – A joint commission of RS Council of Peoples and RS NA on Wednesday did not reach consensus on RS NA conclusions on BiH lawsuit vs. SiCG before the International Court of Justice in the Hague and it forwarded it for a discussion to RS Constitutional Court, which will determine whether the RS NA conclusions were endangering vital national interests of Bosniaks. Chairman of Bosniak Caucus at RS CoP Ramiz Salikic said RS NA has no competences with regard to the issue of BiH lawsuit vs. SiCG and added only state level bodies have competences with regard to this matter. |
BiH CoM Chair announces BiH COM to re-appoint OSA top
| Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Re-appointment of Dzuvo, Zaric and Cosic’ by M.C. – Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, has confirmed that at today’s session, the BiH CoM should extend mandates and appoint Almir Dzuvo, Risto Zaric and Ivan Cosic to the positions of OSA Director, Vice Director and Chief Inspector respectively. Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘They supported proposal that Dzuvo, Zaric and Cosic remain at OSA top’ by H.O. – Eight out of nine members of the Joint Commission of the BiH Parliament for supervision of work of Intelligence and Security Agency (OSA) have supported proposal of Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair to extend mandates for above mentioned people. |
Other political issues | |
HDZ 1990: Party was registered in accordance with legal regulations; Central Election Commission was under HDZ pressure/Sehic from
| Dnevni List pg 8 ‘Covic’s influence exerted on Election Commission’ by D. Pusic – With regard to the decision to change its name HDZ 1990 issued a press release which says that HDZ 1990 has been registered with the authorized court and in accordance with legal regulations. The press release also says that HDZ 1990 is aware that the Central Election Commission ( |
SD commentary: ‘HDZ President Covic- Master of deception’
| Slobodna Dalmacija pg 10, mentioned on cover ‘Covic master of deceiving’ by E. Karamatic comments on HDZ BiH President Dragan Covic’s statement that he would not put forward his candidacy at the October elections (see OHR BiH Media Round-up, May 29, 2006) and at the next year’s HDZ Convention and the author says that such statements are just Covic’s political marketing that only Croat voters in BiH buy. The author also reminds that Covic was removed from the position of the Croat member of the BiH Presidency and the author wonders as to why Covic would put forward his candidacy for the position that he might be immediately removed from. |
Ekstra Magazine: German Chancellor and Pope Benedict support entirely clear relations in Balkans
| Ekstra Magazine ‘The time of referendum to come’ by Slobodan Vujicic – Following referendum results in Montenegro, Bijeljina seated bi-monthly reports referring to its diplomatic source that it is clear to US Department of State this would instigate Albanian separatists in Kosovo, which could further cause many other disputable and open regional issues to move, such as western Albania and status of RS inside BiH. The source further notes there are some other “winds” blowing at the EU HQ, reflected through Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, and Pope Benedict, who oppose to further expansion of EU until entirely clear relations are established in western Balkans states. According to source, clear relations also include realistic fact that Serbs, as the biggest people in the regional states, cannot lose all the political battles. According to source, the mentioned doublet was the one that prevented the American democrats in an attempt to cement BiH as a state through constitutional changes, from which Croat would never be able to pull out or achieve any sort of influence. |
Ekstra Magazine: HR to BiH supports continuation of constitutional talks after elections
| Ekstra Magazine Bijeljina seated bi-monthly ‘The time of referendum to come’ by Slobodan Vujicic – Regarding constitutional changes process in BiH, author reports referring to a diplomatic source that the purpose of the recent visit HR to BiH, Christian Schwarz Schilling, paid to Croatia was to reconcile Ivo Sanader, Croatian Premier, and Dragan Covic, HDZ President, in order to ensure a single Croat platform after elections, which would be based on demands for establishment of a third entity. Hence, source notes Schilling did not hesitate to confront American Administration and state there will no nothing from constitutional changes before elections. Source also says that Schilling supports Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, and Pope Benedict, who oppose to further expansion of EU until entirely clear relations are established in western Balkans states. |
DA: RS reps again oppose to establishment of any institution at state level, this time concerning high education
| Oslobodjenje pg 9 ‘Hadzagic: What RS representatives demand does not exist in Europe’ by S.S. – According to daily, BiH Council of Ministers session today will once more discuss the proposed Law on high education, to which RS representatives oppose, stressing that once more RS side has opposed to establishment of any institution at the state level (referring to establishment of state commission for accreditation and licencing). Esma Hadzagic, Assistant to BiH Minister of Civil Affairs, has stated: “What RS representatives are pledging for does not exist in either European law or BiH Constitution. Out legislation does not include inter-entities institutions as legal subject and on this concept only an association of citizens can be formed. In this manner, the Agency would be equated with association of bee-keepers.” She stressed Ministry will not accept division of high education. |
Supervisor Johnson sent a letter to CoM Chair Terzic, asked from CoM to include the District in BiH Draft Law on High Education
| EuroBlic pg RS6 ‘Brcko wants to have a university’ by L. Stefanovic – Supervisor of Brcko District Susan Johnson has sent a letter to CoM Chair Adnan Terzic in which she expressed her regret over the fact the existing draft law on high education ‘in its current form seems not to include the District’. The letter reads that the District, in spite of all its achievements, was omitted from the Work Group for development of the draft law. The Supervisor noted: ‘Having in mind the importance of the law and in light of the forthcoming CoM session, I would like to ask you to use your authority to initiate introducing of changes… in order for Brcko District to be included as legally established unit of local self-governance that, although it is not under the administration of any of the entities, is a part of BiH’. |