| RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs) | BH TV 1(19,00 hrs) | FED TV (19,30 hrs) | RT RS (19,30) |
| Leutar case | Murder in Sarajevo | Murder in Sarajevo | Accusations against Stevic |
| SDA on Morillon | Letter to OHR | Accusations against Stevic | Murder in Sarajevo |
| Hadzipasic in VL | Accusations against Stevic | Law on University Edu | Modrica Oil- Refinery |
| Process of reforms in BiH | Volkswagen in BiH | Returning Processes | Croatia News |
| Oslobodjenje | Robert Beecroft: BiH is the country without vision and leadership; Branko Stevic: I am proud of myself, as both policeman and a person! |
| Dnevni Avaz | Edhem Biber: Audit being slowed down due to fear; Is Council of Ministries threatened with the blockade; Zijad Hasanovic killed |
| Dnevni List | Colak: Draft law on higher education anti-constitutional; Another bloodbath on streets in Sarajevo: Zijad Hasanovic shot dead in BMW |
| Vecernji List | Croats in The Hague do not get a single mark!; Showdown of criminals in Sarajevo: Shot whilst waiting for the “green”; Initiatives: Bosnia and Herzegovina with twelve cantons |
| Slobodna Dalmacija | Features Croatia related headlines |
| Glas Srpske | Life of Serb returnees in Podravanje, village nearby Srebrenica – Starvation in sheds; Dragan Mikerevic: “Srpska will survive”; Time for spiritual uprising; Vozd inspires and oblige; Warnings announce darkness; AIDS is raging in New York |
| Nezavisne Novine | Zihad Hasanovic murdered; Renzo Davidi, EC Delegation to BiH Economic Department Head: “Criminals will be disturbed by Law on procurement”; Majority of BiH citizens want early elections; sports news |
| Blic | Dragan Cavic: ‘A big political strike against RS’; Branko Stevic: ‘I expect to have responsible associates’; Crime near Gradiska: Old man killed at his doorstep |
Defence issues | |
| Children Embassy accuses Stevic, BiH MoD candidate, for murders
| RTRS, FTV, BHTV 1, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Branko Stevic responsible for crimes against children in Bijeljina’ – Secretary General of Children Embassy, Dusko Tomic sent letters of protest regarding the appointment of Branko Stevic for the position of BiH Defence Minister to High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, US Embassy and Speaker of BiH House of Representatives. Letter accuses Stevic for being responsible for murdering 22 Bosniaks, including 7 children from families Maglajlic, Sejmenovic and Sarajlic at the time of performing the duty of Chief of Bijeljina Police. Family Sarajlic, living in USA, confirmed in phone conversation to BHTV 1 that they have addressed this issue with the Children Embassy on this issue in 2001. Tomic explained that in 1992 Stevic talked to the members of families regarding the missing of their loved ones, when he allegedly told them that they were probably exchanged, though he knew that they were killed. Dusko Tomic also said that according to family Sarajlic, Stevic told them that it was best that they don’t ask about them any more. FTV – Procedure of appointment of Branko Stevic as the BiH Minister of Defence should enter its official procedure on Monday, when the Chairman of Council of Ministers Adnan Terzic will conduct interviews with all candidates for the leading positions within the Ministry. |
| Stevic rejects accusations: there were no complaints vs. Bijeljina Police during my terms | Oslobodjenje cover, pg 2 ‘I am proud of myself, as both policeman and a person!’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Stevic: I did not job correctly’, FTV, BHTV 1 – Branko Stevic, candidate for the BiH Defence Minister said that he expected OHR to agree with his appointment. He confirmed that he served two terms as the Chief of Bijeljina Police from September 1992 to February 1994, and again from 1996 to 1998, but added that he performed his duties professionally and has nothing to be ashamed of. “I am proud, I believe that I done my job honestly, I have recommendations and praises from both the citizens and institutions in charge, that is from the Biljeina municipality and I think that I truly worked well, as much as possible in that period. I believe that Police at the time was truly at the level of its assignment we worked according to the Laws, instructions and so on. We had same relation with all citizens, regardless of their political or some other affiliations, so that there were no complaints that Police in Bijeljina treats citizens differently, based on their political affiliations, ethical or any other”, said Branko Stevic commenting on the accusations made against him by Children’s Embassy. RTRS – Branko Stevic stated that Defence Ministry would function well only if all institutions and individuals show necessary level of responsibility. ”When I accepted candidacy I was absolutely aware of enormous range of work that is before the Ministry. I am aware of overall responsibility. However, I think that work would be performed well if everybody shows certain level of responsibility and certain level of persevering”, said Stevic. Nezavisne novine pg 3 ‘There were no complaints upon my work’ – Branko Stevic, candidate for BiH Minister of Defence considers nomination as reward to his previous work. “Position of BiH Minister of Defence is the most important in Europe”, said Stevic. |
Security and criminal affairs | |
| Another assassination in Sarajevo
| BHTV 1, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Zijad Hasanovic killed’, pg 26 ‘Zijad Hasdanovic killed in the black BMW’, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 19 ‘Zihad Hasanovic killed by gun’, Dnevni List front, pg 43 ‘Zijad Hasanovic shot dead in BMW’, Vecernji List front ‘Shot whilst waiting for the ‘green’, pg 44 ‘Killed whilst waited for green at traffic lights’, Nezavisne novine cover, pg 2 ‘Zihad Hasanovic murdered in his car’ – On Sunday morning, in Sarajevo municipality Novi Grad Zihad Hasanovic, a citizen of Serbia and Montenegro, was killed by gun shot at him while he was driving. Police didn’t want to comment the case, or to confirm whether this was another victim of inter-mafia clashes. Cantonal Prosecutor, Mirsad Sehovic only confirmed factual reporting on the murder, and added that due to further investigation he didn’t want to disclose any other details. Spokesperson for Sarajevo Cantonal Interior Ministry, Dragan Miokovic, said that the crime scene reveals that this was |
| DL on security situation | Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Explosions, murders…until when?’ by Nevres Dedic – Amid reports on frequent security incidents in BiH, particularly in Mostar and Sarajevo, the author says that Americans are perhaps used to murders as an every day routine, facilities getting blown up etc, noting that BiH only got that after the unfortunate war. Dedic concludes: “Foreigners will not help us much, because in a way, they favour the situation. If there were peace here, they would have to leave and lose cheap labour and the waste dump they were using. In this way, Mostar is certainly an unsafe city, whether the situation changes, it depends on us, whilst the foreigners say the security situation is not jeopardized”. |
| Trial of Jelavic, Prce and Rupcic | BHTV 1 – The first witness in the case of Herzegovina’s Bank affair should take the witness stand on Monday in case against Ante Jelavic, Miroslav Prce and Miroslav Rupcic. According to BHTV 1, the defence lawyers will submit requests for abolition of detention, arguing that there was no danger that they would escape or compromise any of the witnesses. Investigation procedure is being supervised by the BiH Court’s judge, US citizen Bernard Boland. Judge Boland has worked over 20 years in US judiciary mostly in criminal cases. Judge didn’t want to discuss the case but he said that according to Law he was obligated to visit detention of three suspects, adding that conditions were not so bad. Commenting journalist’s remark that all three complained over conditions in detention, judge Boland said that he has no such information, but that they have right to complain because detentions are not good here, just as they are not good in USA. |
| Prlic demands return of Eroent to HT Mostar | RHB – Stipe Prlic, Director of the HT Mostar, stated to NINA news agency that Cantonal Court in Mostar should make decision on ownership over the third GSM operator in BiH, company Eronet. He added that HT Mostar hoped that the Court would pass verdict returning Eronet to the company, after HT Mostar press charges requesting the return of 51% of shares. Prlic added that the verdict in favour of HT Mostar would be good for both companies and would provide for a better and faster development. |
War crimes | |
| Times: Karadzic’s guards bribed | RHB, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘Award for betraying Karadzic’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Secret operation of bribing Radovan Karadzic’s guards is on going’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Karadzic’s bodyguards offered 2 million US$’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Operation of bribing Radovan Karadzic’s security team’ – According to Tanjug, London based newspapers Sunday Times wrote that operation of bribing Radovan Karadzic’s escort has been on going in BiH. Times wrote that United States and United Kingdom directed million of dollars for ths operation, while unnamed western diplomat claimed to the newspapers that so far several thousands of dollars were already spent. The result of this, says the same source, is recent arrest of Zeljko Jankovic Luna, who is believed to be a former member of Karadzic’s escort. Times writes that only UK and USA forces are trying to find Karadzic, also quoting an unnamed British officer who said that no.1 war crimes indictee will be arrested soon. FTV – In the same article, Times’ source said that he doubts that Karadzic has left BiH, denying the statement of ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte that Karadzic is hiding in Belgrade. |
Education issues | |
| Beecroft: BiH could stay without 62 million dollars
| FTV, BHTV1, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 7 ‘BiH is the country without vision and leadership’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘BiH could loose 62 million dollars of a loan’, Dnevni List pg 3 ‘BiH could stay without 62 million dollars’, Onasa – BiH could lose 62 million dollars of credit if the law on higher education is not adopted by the end of March, stated Head of OSCE Mission to BiH Robert Beecroft in an interview with ONASA news agency. “The World Bank is prepared to allocate 62 million dollars, much of which will go to higher education and to primary and secondary education, but only providing that this law is through the parliament by the end of March,” Ambassador Beecroft said. The BiH Council of Ministers is expected to discuss the draft law on higher education on Monday, after which it is expected to be forwarded to the parliamentary procedure. Beecroft said it would be tragic if considerations of politics and of micro-management cause the law not to be approved by the parliament over the next month and a half. He did not want to say whether there is certain resistance within the BiH Council of Ministers to this law, but added that “we have discussed this with the CoM at the number of levels and we are extremely hopeful that on Monday it will be blessed and moved on to the parliament.” According to Beecroft, the law sets up a rational structure for funding. “Right now there is a mixed system – in the FBiH is different than in the RS, and it basically is not consistent with standard practice in Europe and it is wasteful,” said Beecroft. The law proposes the higher education fund that will be established at the entity level, and the representatives of the higher education institutions will be required to participate in the work of the fund and in the decision-making process. |
| CoM today to discuss the Law on University Education
| BHTV 1 – The Council of Ministers is expected to continue with their discussion on the Law on University Education on Monday, after the last session on the issue was interrupted. Main reason was remark by the BiH Security Minister Barisa Colak who insisted that BiH should have one joined financing found. BiH Minister of Civil Affairs, Safet Halilovic said that solution is simple if political will exists and that this can be solved while implementing the reforms. Dnevni List front pg splash, pg 3 ‘Colak: Draft law on higher education anti-constitutional’ by Miso Relota – President of HDZ and BiH Security Minister, Barisa Colak, explains why he opposed the Draft law on higher education during the last session of the BiH Council of Ministers (NB: the session will resume today). “The law that is being proposed has a lot of anti-constitutional provisions that are in direct collision with the FBIH Constitution. The higher education in BiH is organized at level of entities. When it comes to the FBIH, the competence rests exclusively with the cantons. This law proposes something completely different i.e. the proposals in the law directly oppose the constitutional solutions, because the higher education is to go from the cantonal to the Federation level. As far as the RS is concerned, nothing changes there. Position of the HDZ BiH is that there needs to be a law on higher education at BiH level, which will incorporate everything that the Bologna declaration requires”, says Colak. |
Political issues | |
| Mikerevic: RS cannot be destroyed
| RHB, Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Islamic fighters in FBiH stayed after the war’, Glas Srpske cover page ‘Srpska will survive’, FENA – RS Prime Minister Dragan Mikerevic stated in an interview to Serbian news agency Tanjug that RS is more stabilised and that it would not be possible destroy it regardless to the idea on abolishment of entities in BiH. Mikerevic emphasised that RS “has survived and, I hope, remained thanks to also the support from other side of Drina river… RS is not a ‘brake’ for European integrations, because it completely fulfils DPA, conventions, charts and protocols by the Council of Europe, and it is only that in this way it can ensure credibility before IC that guarantied constitutional structure of BiH, with two entities and three constitutive peoples. Also everybody needs to stay away from strong words, because strong words are dangerous in BiH.”- said Mikerevic, and added that while Serbs hardly accepted Dayton today “they are its biggest protectors and implement it, while some representatives of other two constituent peoples are giving up on it.” Mikerevic also stressed that everyone in towards reforms in interest of citizens of both entities. He also established that “FBiH must solve some problems that appeared during the war when thousands of Islamic fighters came to it, who were in BiH Army and who stayed there after the war.” Mikerevic warned that these ‘fighters’ are connected with Al’Quaida and other terrorist organizations. Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘‘Advantages of RS’ in comparison to FBiH’ – Referring to Mikerevic’s statement on Al’Qaida present in FBiH, author notes that the “story on Islamic terrorists in BIH… is being launched every time some big issues are being solved, especially when the international community starts with actions of arrest of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic” adding that those are the most wanted terrorists in BiH. |
| Session of Circle 99
| BHTV 1, Oslobodjenje cover, pg 3 ‘Poor country with advantage for admission to EU’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘In EU, with more members, hard to compromise’ – On Sunday, at the session of Circle 99 in Sarajevo the guest was the professors Uwe Kitzinger, political council with the European Commission in Brussels, who stressed that countries that want to be admitted to EU have to respect the principle of political unity and cultural differences. “Differently from former Yugoslavia, who tries to build political segregation, we are trying to build political union that accepts all cultural differences. Only in that way BiH can find itself in elite company and equally participated with all other its members states”, stated Kitzinger. He added that while EU provides with advantages for poor countries that want to join it, it also brings a number of obligations that need to be satisfied. |
| 10 mil KM of FBiH budget for Parliamentarians | FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘ Parliamentarians will ‘eat’ 10 million KM’ – The FBiH budget for 2004 envisages a bit over 10 million KM for wages and other needs of the FBiH Parliament. The amount of 4.9 million KM is intended for wages and compensations to the employees of House of Representatives, and about 3 million KM for House of Peoples. |
| Update to SDS status following its presidency resignation | Dnevni List pg 10 ‘SDS could be leaving the authority’ – Member of the SDS Main Board and an MP in the BiH Parliament’s House of Peoples, Bosko Siljegovic, says that the SDS cold be soon leaving the executive authority. “Assembly of SDS could send a message that we no longer want to be in the RS Government where we literally work under pressure and with restrictions”, says Siljegovic. Regarding possible candidates for Vice President of SDS, Siljegovic says: “Candidate for Vice President of SDS will most probably be nominated from one of members of the Main Board who comes from the 6th constituency. They are Milenko Stanic, Milan Tupajic, Milorad Jankovic, Bosko Siljegovic, Miso Glogovac, Momir Tosic and Milos Jovanovic.” Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Kalinic and Cavic candidates for the president of the party?’ – Following resignation of SDS Presidency, DA writes that it would not be surprising if Dragan Kalinic, current RSNA Speaker and SDS Vice President in resignation, nominates itself for the SDS President. |
| Terzic on new CoM composition following establishment of MoD | Dnevni Avaz cover ‘Is CoM threatened with blockade’, pg 2 ‘Terzic: There cannot be outvoting by Serb ministers’ – Following the decision on establishment of the Defence Ministry at the state level, CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic stated that he did not fear Serb Ministries to outvote, since now four ministries will be lead by representatives of Serb people. “I don’t absolutely think about that, because I don’t there could be outvoting by the ministers from Serb people, since Council of Ministers works as a team”, stated Terzic and added that the atmosphere between nine other ministers is such that none of them think of ethnicity issue. |
| Jahic: implementation of Mostar Statute on-going without any obstructions | Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Trust in the city established’ – Mostar mayor Hamdija Jahic confirmed to DA that the process of Mostar Statute implementation is in on-going without any obstructions. Analysing what has been carried out to date, Jahic said that the teams consisting of OHR Unity for Statute Implementation and City Administration were established with a task to regulate different aspects of life in Mostar. “There were teams established for finances, harmonizing the law, for improvement of economy, for administration, etc. What is the priority that teams have to meet is to come up with projection of financing City Administration by 27 February”, said Jahic. Spokesperson for OHR, Mario Brkic expressed the satisfaction over progress achieved in Mostar: “The process of Mostar integrations has been on going with envisaged dynamics. So far, we did not encounter obstructions. OHR support mayor Hamdija Jahic and his deputy Ljubo Beslic on their way to finalizing this process.” |
| Conference on establishment of “functioning” BiH
| Vecernji List front ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina with twelve cantons’, pg 3 ‘Initiative on twelve cantons arrives to BiH’ by Zoran Kresic – Noting that there have been numerous initiatives aimed at restructuring of BiH, from ideas of “the third republic” to ideas on creation of the third entity, the author says the initiative that corresponds with reality the most is the one that advocates the “cantonization” of BiH. In this context, VL announces holding of the conference entitled “Bosnia and Herzegovina on the road towards functioning state – visions, perspectives, concepts” scheduled for today in Sarajevo. During the conference, one of principals of the European Stability Initiative (ESI), Gerald Knaus, will elaborate his vision of BiH organized in 12 cantons. VL notes the conference is the most important unofficial post-war gathering that is to discuss the organizational set-up of BiH, citing that the conference will be opened by the German Ambassador to BiH, Arne Freiherr von Kittlitz and Senior Deputy High Representative, Werner Wnendt. |
| IFIMES poll in BiH [on elections, parties, BiH structure | Nezavisne novine cover, pg 5 ‘Early elections as political reality’ – International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies [IFIMES] from Ljubljana published results of poll with 4.230 citizens of FBiH, RS and District Brcko. 73.8% participants want to keep this structure of BiH, 16.1% oppose to it. 22.1% of participants are satisfied with work of RS authorities and 61.8 is not. In FBiH 38.3% is satisfied with work of authorities and 52.2 is not. 62.6% would like early elections to be held in RS on all levels, 21.2% oppose to it. In FBiH 37.7% of participants want early elections and 41.3% not. 72.2% would like coalition of opposition parties to be formed. In IFIMES report is written that nationalist parties are trying to work on reforms with great assistance of HR, Paddy Ashdown. Unfortunately majority of reforms are initiative of HR where nationalist parties are passively involved. The question is “Can BiH base it’s endure as a state on reforms lead by OHR”. Three nationalist parties supported by PDP and Party for BiH are accepting everything just to stay in power. |
Economic and social issues | |
| DA int with Edhem Biber on privatisation | Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Revision being slowed down due to fear’, pg 5 ‘FBiH Govt accelerates bankruptcies and is to dismiss thousands of workers’ by Enes Plecic – In an interview to DA, President of BiH Syndicate Edhem Biber said that the Syndicate and FBIH Govt for months lead ‘quite’ war over two legal documents, changes to the Law on bankruptcy and the draft Law on Privatisation Revision. “[The FBiH Govt] accelerates bankruptcies in order to get red of losses that authorities produced, revision has been slowed down probably because of the fear and inability to oppose to ‘new elite’, which for the little bit of money gained plenty of property, created by workers… Confrontation is necessary, though one, if these two laws, which are – I repeat – imperative for curing economy and society, fail to provide with the protection of workers while not creating the conditions for new employments”, commented Biber. Asked whether FBiH Parliament tries to reconcile FBiH Government’s and Syndicate’s attitudes, Biber said: “It is obvious that some individuals in the Government still tries to protect its friends and cousins that brought dozens of companies through public offer of shares and through so called Markovic’s privatisation.” |
| FBiH Privatisation Agency’s report on privatisation in FBiH | Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘State earned only 345 million KM’ by A. Hadziarapovic – According to the information forwarded by Director of FBiH Privatisation Agency, Resad Zutic, to the FBiH Parliament, in the entire process of privatisation out of 8 billion 887.7 million KM solved, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina earned only 345.2 million KM. Out of that, 36.9 million KM were paid for the pensioners, while agencies for privatisation spent 21.6 million KM for their work. Report notes that the report contains a number of worrying information, referring to unspent 5 billion KM in certificates, and the very low respond from the foreign investors. Report reads that only 50 contracts were made with foreign buyers, which brought 250 million KM of profit for BiH. “The significant part of quality capital is still not in the position to be sold, such as the Aluminij, Elektroprivreda, Telecom or Tobacco Factory”, reads the FBiH Privatisation Agency’s report to which journalists comments: “For the information like this, it is not a wonder that none of the privatisation goals was achieved.” |
| Causevic: RS Govt must find ITA seat location | Nezavisne novine pg 3 ‘RS Government must find accommodation for ITA’ – Establishment of ITA is 3 months late because RS Government didn’t find building for it, said Kemal Causevic, ITA Director. Causevic stated that 3 months more will be needed for ITA to start functioning after the building is found. He stressed that BiH Council of Ministers and entity governments still have not appointed members of ITA Managing Board. |
| A hundred of families expected to return to Drvar next month | Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘A hundred of families arriving in March’, Onasa – According to Head of Drvar Municipality, Ranko Sobot, about 100 families of Serb nationality will return to Drvar next month, and it is questionable where they would live. In an interview to Onasa news agency, Sobot said that one part of the houses of these families were partly reconstructed, but that they cannot serve even for the most basic dwelling. Sobot added that there were announcements from the NGOs and entities’ Ministries for Refugees that they would assisting in solving returnees’ issues. FTV – In a feature about Drvar, FTV reports that despite 25 million KM invested, the city is still ruined. Out of approximately 8 000 of returnees, about 300 of them are employed, not including the work in public administration. All factories in the City are still destroyed, repaired Emergency has no employees, and that no child was born in Drvar. |
| Tihic on SDA Main Board session and conclusions regarding return | Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Concrete measures for the assistance’ – Following the session of the SDA Main Board in Srebrenica which focused entirely on the discussion of the return process, SDA President Sulejman Tihic states for DA: “A number of important, concrete results were envisaged, and I am sure that the attitude towards this city [Srebrenica] will be different”, and further claims that FBiH Government and cantonal governments would put aside special means for Srebrenica. The conclusions of the Board propose that one percent of net salaries of budget users and employees in public companies will be taken for the return. Council of Ministers were tasked to commence with activities regarding the collection of payments from Hydro Plant Bajina Basta for renting land of Srebrenica municipality. According to FBiH Vice President, Desnica Radivojevic, Hydro Plant Bajina Basta owes at least 10 million KM for using Srebrenica land, as it did not pay for rent since 1992. Dnevni List pg 2 ‘Loans for faster return’ – DL also reports on conclusions. |
RTV subscription | |
| Collecting of RTV subscription in the area of Brcko District | Dnevni List Sun pg 3 ‘RTV subscription not being paid by cancelling phone lines’ – Collecting RTV subscription in the area of Brcko District has, until now, been a specially defined item paid by citizens in a special way. The Brcko District Revenue Agency had assigned several persons that have been collecting RTV subscription in the area of Brcko District, as in accordance with a special Contract between PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) and Brcko District Revenue Agency. This month, RTV subscription amount was included to telephone bills issued by RS Telekom, while bills issued by HT Mostar or Telekom BiH did not include such item. The competent persons representing the telecommunication firms could not have given any specific details on this and only RS Telekom representatives have stated they have been acting as in accordance with the Contract signed between RS Telekom and PBS. The Brcko District Revenue Agency had not reacted upon the new way of collecting RTV subscription, hence the items included into telephone bills are being interpreted as double taxation. On the other hand, citizens living in the part of the Brcko District that had been a part of the Federation of BiH prior to the proclamation of the District are canceling their telephone lines because they are dissatisfied with the quantity of time dedicated to Brcko District in programs of the Fed TV or BHTV1. |