OHR BiH Media Round-up, 16/4/2005

NTV Hayat (19,00 hrs)

FTV (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

BiH Army Day

Croatian donation to returnees

HR leaves BiH

Tihic on war veterans

60.000 DP families in BiH

Reactions on EP Resolution

Feature story on former BiH soldier

ICTY: Jankovic pleads not guilty

HDZ BIH in session

Agreement on disabled persons

ICTY: Miletic pleads not guilty

RS veterans boycott the anthem

Oslobodjenje

EP resolution requests for Dayton review – This is enough for wise ones, the others will realize

Dnevni Avaz

BiH Defence Minister Radovanovic:  De-mining unit to leave for Iraq on June 1

Dnevni List

Changes on the top of HDZ – Mikulic to be new President

Vecernji List

Croatian PM Sanader threatens with Brussels

Nezavisne Novine

Alen Vilic smuggled arms to Holland ; FBiH politicians for, RS politicians against change to Dayton Agreement

Glas Srpske

Nine fields – 105 graves (refers to Jasenovac Second World War concentration camp)

Political Developments/Reforms

RS President blasts EU resolution urging Dayton revision

Pink, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘This is enough for wise ones, the others will realize’, Dnevni List pgs 2-3, mentioned on cover ‘Only Serbs against change of Dayton’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘They offer bad for good’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘FBiH politicians for, RS politicians against change to Dayton Agreement’, SRNA – RS President Dragan Cavic warned on Friday that BiH will not be able to exist without the RS, stressing that this is the umpteenth time he has expressed this unchanged opinion – as have all other Bosnian Serb politicians, in power or in the opposition. He pointed out that the RS did not have a single political authority, political structure or individual who would be prepared to abolish the RS as a constitutional, administrative, territorial, political or any other attribute of sovereignty within BiH. Speaking to reporters in Banja Luka about Thursday’s European Parliament resolution, which said that the Dayton agreement should be revised, Cavic underlined that the BiH constitutional order could only be changed by those who live in BiH, but that all kinds of initiatives could be proposed by anyone and from anywhere. The RS President said that it was indicative that 10 years after the signing of the Dayton agreement many sides were sending “an avalanche of proposals, which are mainly aimed at altering one particular section of the Dayton agreement – Annex 4”. “It has never occurred to any of these proposers to suggest changing the annex pertaining to the role of the High Representative, for instance, or the section on the role of the international peacekeeping force, i.e. Annexes 1A and 1B,” Cavic warned. He said that all these initiatives were politically motivated and constructed, adding that he was under the impression that many people wanted to see this country continue churning out bad news, even though the time for that was long over. Cavic said he wondered what kind of proposals these people should initiate towards Cyprus, where the war had ended 30 years ago but the country never managed to reintegrate, while Europe was setting a precedent by granting EU membership only to one part of Cyprus. “How should all these concerned gentlemen respond to the crisis in Kosovo, i.e. to a secessionist movement which wants to declare the independence of a part of a part of a country, or towards the crisis between the Israelis and the Palestinians?” the RS President asked. Cavic said that due to current obligations he was not able to study the text of the European Parliament’s resolution, but that all such resolutions were doomed to failure because the Dayton accord had not been created by those who drew up the aforementioned resolution. “Why change what is successful? I believe that only unsuccessful things should be changed,” Cavic concluded.

BiH Foreign Minister Ivanic opposes Dayton changes aimed at abolishing Bosnian entities

Pink, BHT, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘This is enough for wise ones, the others will realize’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘SAA and then changes’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘FBiH politicians for, RS politicians against change to Dayton Agreement’, ONASA – BiH Foreign Minister and the leader of the Party of Democratic Progress (PDP) Mladen Ivanic said on Friday that amending of the Dayton agreement can develop in various directions, but not in the one meaning abolishment of the BiH entities. Commenting Thursday’s resolution of the European Parliament which notes the need of revision of the Dayton agreement, he said the parliament can have its stand but that it does not mean that this should be realized and accepted. “Certain changes will happen in the process of joining the EU and this is not a problem at all, but the issue can be discussed only after completing negotiations on stabilization and association,” Ivanic said prior to a session of the head board of PDP in Banja Luka . He vowed that party positions in the event of upcoming talks on police reforms will be considered at today’s session.

Tihic: Entities do not have to be abolished immediately, but they will surely be abolished one day

Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘This is enough for wise ones, the others will realize’ – Commenting on the European Parliament’s Resolution requesting for review of/change to the Dayton Agreement, Bosniak member of the BiH Presidency Sulejman Tihic said on Friday that the similar resolutions and recommendations had been adopted before by Council of Europe, NATO, Venice Commission and a group of European parliamentarians. “This (the latest) Resolution just following all the others and represents a clear message, particularly to the opponents, that the only way to Europe goes through the changes to the Constitution,” said Tihic. He added that the BiH Entities did not need to be abolished immediately but that they would surely be abolished one day. RTRS also carried Tihic’s statement. Dnevni List pgs 2-3 ‘Only Serbs against change of Dayton’ carries a statement by senior SDA official Sefik Dzaferovic also supporting the changes to the Dayton Agreement. Nezavisne Novine pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘FBiH politicians for, RS politicians against change to Dayton Agreement’ carried SDA’s Mirsad Kebo statement on the issue.

RS Vice-president Tomljenovic says Dayton should be revised

BHT, Dnevni List pgs 2-3, mentioned on cover ‘Only Serbs against change of Dayton’, SRNA – RS Vice-President Ivan Tomljenovic believes that the future lies in the “abolishment of the entities and regionalization of BiH” in order to meet EU standards, i.e. in the overall reorganization of BiH as a state in accordance with EU standards and requirements. Commenting on Thursday’s European Parliament resolution envisaging the revision of the Dayton agreement, Tomljenovic said that this agreement, which was signed at the end of a difficult period and which ended the war in these parts, had not produced the expected results. “The organization of BiH as a state envisaged by the Dayton accord shows that it cannot exist as such after 10 years, as reconciliation has failed to take place and BiH is not a state up to EU standards,” Tomljenovic told SRNA on Friday. Tomljenovic stressed that the EU realized that such a solution was not good for BiH and that the Dayton agreement, as every other agreement, was subject to change.

Party for BiH says Dayton should be changed, SNSD considers EP resolution admission of international community’s failure

Dnevni List pgs 2-3, mentioned on cover ‘Only Serbs against change of Dayton’ – Party for BiH leader Safet Halilovic told the daily that the Dayton Agreement’s provision had become an obstacle to further BiH’s development and that they therefore had to be reviewed. SNSD’s Nikola Spiric believes that the latest calls for review of the Dayton Agreement represent an admission of the international community’s failure/wrong solution imposed by the Dayton Agreement 10 years ago. RTRS carried a statement by SNSD’s Krstan Simic according to which anyone had right to talk on review of the Dayton Agreement but that this did not mean it would happen.

Ex-BiH Presidency member Sarovic says Bosnia is “necessary evil” for Serbs

Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘BiH is necessary evil for Serbs’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘All was about a blackmail’, FENA – The former Serb member of the BiH Presidency, Mirko Sarovic (who resigned under pressures by High Representative Paddy Ashdown in connection with the Orao illegal arms export to Iraq affair in 2003), warned that a majority of Serbs in the RS do not consider BiH their homeland. “For Serbs, BiH is a necessary evil. They would like the RS to be annexed to Serbia and Montenegro,” Sarovic said in an interview for Bijeljina-based BNTV. Commenting on BiH High Representative Paddy Ashdown‘s recent decision to replace the Croat member of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, Sarovic stressed this decision was harmful as Covic, according to him, was doing an excellent job. He said that all RS politicians should be reacting to Paddy Ashdown’s decision, as Covic was a legitimate representative of the Croat people. Sarovic reiterated how the RS representatives should not just talk about the crimes committed against Serbs in Sarajevo during the last war, adding that more attention should be paid to documenting these crimes.

Financial Times: HR Ashdown plans to step down from the post at the end of this year

RHB, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Powers blocked development of self-governance’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Powers to dismiss officials should fade away by 2006 general elections’, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Ashdown plans to step down by the end of the year’, Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Less powers to successor’, Nezavsine Novine pg 4 – High Representative Paddy Ashdown, who plans to step down from the post at the end of the year, told the Financial Times: “I don’t think it has outlived its usefulness yet, but there is a very legitimate argument that that time is close upon us. There’s a danger that the UN Office of the High Representative takes up so much oxygen that elements of civil society could be stunted.” He added that his successor should enjoy the same UN-granted powers to dismiss officials, but that those powers should fade away by the time the country held general elections in 2006, to allow the country a real choice at the polls.

HDZ Presidency, Central Board held sessions, Covic’s replacement not discussed

RHB, BHT, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘BiH Presidency member not nominated’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘HDZ proposes at least three federal units’, Vecernji List ‘HDZ Convention scheduled for June 4 in Mostar’, Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘Without discussion on nomination of new BiH Presidency member’, FENA – President of the BiH Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) Barisa Colak said in Mostar on Friday that he did not know whether the post of the Croat BiH Presidency member would be filled before holding the Party’s Convention on June 4 this year, but that the HDZ still insisted on holding a plenary discussion in both Houses of the BiH Parliament on this issue. The HDZ aim is for this post to be filled as soon as possible. “The aim of the HDZ is that all institutions in BiH should be functioning, first of all the BiH Presidency as the highest institution of the constitutional authority in BiH”, said Colak adding that the HDZ does not want to cause or deepen the crisis of power in any way but rather calls upon all its officials to participate with perseverance in institution building in BiH. “We demand that the current situation be thoroughly analysed in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, and relevant conclusions made, for there is nothing more important in BiH than that”, Colak pointed out and added that the HDZ Presidency would determine its future actions after a debate in the Parliamentary Assembly. At its Friday’s meeting the HDZ Presidency discussed the platform for possible constitutional changes in BiH as well as preparations for the Ninth Convention of the Party to be held in Mostar on June 4. The HDZ Main Board also held its session on Friday. Colak stated that the matter of constitutional change in BIH was one of the main topics at this session. Colak stated that HDZ Main Board decided that it is necessary that BIH Constitution is changed and according to HDZ, BIH should be a complex, decentralised state where all people in it will be equal. HDZ BIH also feels that there should be 3 levels of authorities in the state. HDZ BIH Presidency will make a platform on this suggestion and offer it for public debate.

FTV Ivan Pavkovic – HDZ Main Board came up with the new proposal on BiH structure, which foresees complex and regionalised federal country with three or more units. This document is still not completed and HDZ announce large public discussion on this subject.  HDZ position is that BiH can’t be State which consists of two units, but that can be three or more of units. After public discussions, HDZ will offer solution in platform on constitutional changes after party’s assembly in June. “There is a need for democratic, peoples’ constitution, and you saw that the European Parliament also expressed the necessity for changes in BIH,” said HDZ President, Barisa Colak. HDZ will negotiate on this with its ruling partners and this party also expects the support of international community. HDZ reiterated that the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, exceeded his authorities when he removed member of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic. HDZ didn’t discuss on who could be nominated for the position in Presidency, because they still insist on discussion in the State Parliament on this issue.

Dnevni list cover page, pg 5 ‘Mikulic to be new President’ also covered the sessions. According to the daily, the HDZ leaders share opinion that Andjelko Miletic, one of the HDZ founders, should be nominated for the next President of the Party.

BiH officials, Russian deputy foreign minister discuss bilateral relations

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Cooperation in place of imposition’, ONASA – Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Chizhov visited BiH on Friday. During his meeting with BiH Presidency Chairman Borislav Paravac, they discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries. The meeting with BiH Deputy Prime Minister Barisa Colak focused on the realization of agreements reached in September last year, during BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic‘s visit to Moscow. BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic and his guest agreed on the key problems in the Balkans. Commenting on Kosovo, they asserted the necessity of adherence to the regulations of the UN Resolution 1244. Chizhov invited Ivanic to visit Moscow some time this summer. The two officials adopted a plan of consultations between the two countries’ Ministries of Foreign Affairs for the year 2005. During his stay in Sarajevo , Chizhov also met with representatives of the international community in BiH.

US Ambassador to BiH said Ivanic and the other PDP officials still banned from entering USA

BHT Laura Bosnjak – USA Ambassador to BiH, Douglas McElhaney, stated in the interview for BHT, that BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mladen Ivanic and the others PDP officials are still banned from entering into USA. He added that persons who obstruct implementation of Dayton Peace Agreement are unwanted in USA. “I’m not going to talk about anybody particularly, but those rules are still in effect, except the possible need for some exceptions to be made”, said McElhaney.

Former Sarajevo Mayors to officially nominate former Slovenian President Kucan as next HR

Oslobodjenje pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Support for Milan Kucan requested’ – At a meeting in Sarajevo on Friday, the former Sarajevo Mayors decided to officially propose to the Peace Implementation Council to appoint former Slovenian President Milan Kucan as the High Representative Paddy Ashdown’s successor. 

Ashdown invites leaders of political parties to talks on police reform

Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ashdown invites leaders of political parties to talks on police reform’ – High representative Paddy Ashdown has sent invitations to the leaders of ruling and opposition political parties in BiH to participate in talks on police reform, learns the daily from sources close to OHR. The meeting will take place from April 25-27 on the mountain of Vlasic . The invitations were sent to leaders of SDA, PDP, SDS, Party for BiH, HDZ, SDP, SNSD and SPRS. Ashdown initiated the talks for final solution to the police reform to be found together, which would help BiH joining European integrations as soon as possible.

VL interview with EUPM Commissioner Carty: We need two year for police reform

Vecernji List pg 5 ‘We need two years for police reform’ Dejan Jazvic – The upcoming police reform is one of the key processes in bringing BiH closer to EU. EU Police Mission to BiH has been directly involved in the reform and EUPM Commissioner Kevin Carty emphasized in an interview with the daily that the entire reform was for the benefit of citizens. “The main reason we need reform is a fact that the current police structure is inefficient,” said Carty. 

PDP against proposed police regions

Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Ruining of Dayton’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Without comment on conflict with SDS’ – The PDP Main Borad on Friday discussed the police reform in BiH. The Board called on Serb political parties to agree on minimum requirement related to the reform. “We will not accept the regional division of police, which ruins the RS borders foreseen by the Dayton Agreement,” said Gavrilo Antonic, the PDP Executive Director.

Economic/Social Issues

Croatian Premier Sanader threatens BiH with countermeasures over free trade accord

RHB, BHT, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Croatia prepared to take countermeasures’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Croatia to take countermeasures’, Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Croatian PM threatens with Brussels’, Vecernji List cover page, pg 8 ‘Sanader threatens with Brussels’, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 – If BiH fails to honour the free trade agreement and continues to insist on the introduction of customs duties, then Croatia will consider countermeasures, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said after a government session held in Karlovac on Friday. BiH due to its exceptionally large foreign trade deficit with our country has announced the introduction of tariffs for some products, which is contrary to the signed free trade agreement between the two countries. The agreement must be honoured, Sanader said. “I have instructed Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Minister Petar Cobankovic to once again arrange talks with his colleague BiH Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister Dragan Doko and put this on the daily agenda. We will discuss this not only in our bilateral relations, but in Brussels as well because someone who has ambitions to join the EU has to adhere to European standards,” said Sanader. 

FBiH invalids reached an agreement with government, ended protest

RHB, BHT, Hayat, FTV, Oslobodjenje pg 5, mentioned on cover ‘Finally an agreement reached with Premier’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Invalids left Government’s building, resolution to their problems at the end of May’, Dnevni List pg 6, Nezavisne Novine pg 4, FENA – FBiH Prime Minister Ahmet Hadzipasic, Minister of Social Affairs Radovan Vignjevic and representatives of the FBiH Invalids’ Association on Friday reached an agreement on implementation of the Law amending the Law on basics of social protection for the civilian victims of war and families with children. The joint statement says that the FBiH Government respects the requests of the FBiH Invalids’ Association and that the FBiH Parliament would be informed about them in order to work together on resolving the said requests. The FBiH Government, as said in the statement, at this moment cannot confirm that the relevant funds can be ensured in the FBiH budget for 2005 for covering the rights of invalids as of January 1 this year. However, the Government will reexamine all budgetary expenditures and inform the FBiH Parliament and attempt to find a solution to these problems.  After reaching an agreement with the FBiH Government, the representatives of the Invalids’ Association on Friday left the FBiH Government building in which they stayed and protested since Wednesday morning.

Company “INA-MOL” possible new owner of company “Energopetrol”

BHT – Company “INA-MOL” have offered the highest amount of money for purchasing of 67% of state capital in the company “Energopetrol”. “INA-MOL” expressed readiness to invest in development of this company and readiness to pay off all of its debts. All other BiH media also covered the issue.

Miscellaneous

Defence Minister Radovanovic: BiH soldiers to go to Iraq on June 1

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘BiH soldiers to go to Iraq on June 1’, Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 2 ‘De-mining unit to leave for Iraq on June 1’, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 – BiH will send a multiethnic unit to Iraq in June to help process of de-mining/mine clearing in the country, BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic said on Friday. He told Reuters that more that 50 Bosniak, Serb and Croat officers had already completed necessary training for the mission.

EUFOR Commander Leaky comments on Karadzic. Mladic apprehension/EUFOR actions

Pink Aida Doric – EUFOR Commander to BiH, David Leakey said that EUFOR was going to arrest Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, if received information on their whereabouts. Leakey added that the main EUFOR’s task was to preserve stability in BiH, but to help BiH authorities in arresting war crime indictees, as well. Leakey said that main war crime indictees were still free, and that was the reason why BiH was facing an obstacle on its way to EU and NATO. On being asked whether Mladic was in BiH, Leakey said that he was not allowed to give such information. One of EUFOR’s tasks in to fight organized crime and corruption. “This week EUFOR has began an operation, together with local agencies in charge of law implementation, which includes Indirect Taxation Administration, State Border Service, Police and other government agencies which fight organized crime. Beside this, the operation is directed against persons who are involved in smuggling, as well as against those who illegally destroy BiH woods, in order to gain personal profit”, said Leakey. Out of 23 helicopters which EUFOR possess, 10 have shown exercise in Butmir Headquarters. Oslobodjenje, RTRS also covered the issue.