OHR BiH Media Round-up, 16/6/2005

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (12,00 hrs)

BH Radio 1 (12,00 hrs)

RTRS (12,00 hrs)

FBiH Gov. session takes place

Possible meningitis epidemic in BL

Meningitis epidemic inBanja Luka

Del Ponte’s letter to Tihic

Conference on poverty starts

Cavic in Belgrade

Rice: USA supports del Ponte’s work

World news

RS Govt. in session

RADIO HERCEG-BOSNA (18,00 hrs)

TV PINK (18,00 hrs)

BHT 1 (19,00 hrs)

Terzic on BIH in EU

HR and BiH PM on visit to Brussels

RS MoI/Srebrenica Task Force coop.

FBIH HoP session

14 BiH institutions signed agreement

SCG condemns crimes in Srebrenica

HoP commission session postponed

Srebrenica Taskforce’s work, update

Threat to BiH soldiers in Iraq

Jovic met Whiting

Exhumation in Lipnje

Terzic/Ashdown after Brussels

NTV Hayat  (19,00 hrs)

FTV  (19,30 hrs)

RTRS (19,30 hrs)

HR and BiH PM on visit to Brussels

Statistics on life in FBiH

HR on Brussels conference

Ivanic’s request to BiH Presidency

Terzic/Ashdown after Brussels

RS to submit docum. on Srebrenica

Goran Vasic sentenced

Session of BiH HoP Comm. cancelled

SCG CoM on war crime in Srebrenica

Burns on Mladic

FBiH HoP in session

Burns on Mladic’s arrestment

Oslobodjenje

Milosevic: I don’t say that massacre was not committed in Srebrenica

Dnevni Avaz

Pakistan finished with the story on “Silajdzic’s loan

Dnevni List

Companies from Posusje involved in money laundering affair

Vecernji List

To drive car after 2 beers

Slobodna Dalmacija

Thieves send message: Pay or we shall steal your child!’

Glas Srpske

Of a kind soul and hand (about Mihajlo Labalo, benefactor from Herzegovina)

Nezavisne Novine

Still without sanctions

Blic

They lost apartment, compensation is minor

Vecernje Novosti

Scorpions beyond Serbia!

Srpski Nacional

Features Serbia related headlines

LATEST NEWS OF TODAY

Conference on poverty reduction commences in Sarajevo

BH Radio By Vanja Juricic – Two-day international conference on poverty reduction has commenced in Sarajevo today. The BiH Foreign Trade Minister, Dragan Doko, stated that there is no extreme poverty in BiH and that poverty has been reduced to 17,4%. However, he added that in the course of implementing the BiH Mid-term Development Strategy will also encompasses structural changes which would shortly include cuts in jobs thus increasing the poverty. Therefore, he concluded, the authorities at all levels to address this issue. The Chair of the BiH Association of Independent Trade Unions, Edhem Biber, claimed over 20% of population lives in poverty, accusing authorities of creating image which is in their favor. UNDP pointed that out BiH still has not defined ‘extreme poverty’.

OHR statement on Ashdown, Terzic visit to Brussels

BH Radio 1 By Radmila Grubisa – Commenting Paddy Ashdown’s and Adnan Terzic’s meetings with EU officials in Brussels, OHR spokeswoman in Banja Luka, Ljiljana Radetic , stated that BiH received the renewed commitment of the EC to support the country in its efforts to complete the necessary reforms. She added Ashdown has made it clear that there is still a path forward for BiH out of the present political impasse – and if it follows this path the prospect of this country’s European future being lost as a result of the stalled police reform negotiations can be avoided. She concluded added that there was a clear and resolute agreement that BiH can and must catch up with the rest of the Balkans and cross the threshold into the European process by the tenth anniversary of Dayton .

Cavic meets Tadic to discuss cooperation with ICTY

BH Radio 1, RS Radio – RS President Dragan Cavic announced he would meet today with the Serbian President Boris Tadic to discuss the cooperation with the ICTY. Cavcic added that Serbia and RS have identical views on this issue, noting that it is still necessary to enhance the cooperation despite this years’ significant improvement that already took place. Cavic will also speak with Tadic about the memorial gathering in Potocari on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Srebrenica tragedy, which Tadic will attend as well.

Political Developments/Reforms

HR, BiH CoM Chairman express satisfaction with outcome of Brussels talks

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5, mentioned on cover ‘BiH loses six years if it does not start negotiations in November’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘EU did not lose interest in BiH’, Nezavisne Novine cover pg splash ‘Still without sanctions’ and pg 3 ‘BiH without EU assistance unless conditions met by autumn’ by M.Cubro, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘EU did not close its door’ by Dusanka Stanisic, Glas Srpske pg 2 ‘Door still open’ by N.Zelenovic – Paddy Ashdown, High Representative of the international community in BiH, and Adnan Terzic, Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, have expressed satisfaction with the meetings held in Brussels with the officials of the European Union and the European Commission. Instead of bringing back the expected penalties for the RS, they have returned from Brussels optimistic that BiH will meet the requirements for the beginning of the talks on stabilization and accession by November. Ashdown and Terzic held a news conference on the occasion. In Brussels, we discussed ways of achieving success, the High Representative said, adding that he did not want to discuss the measures he would take if, as he pointed out, the RS chose isolation over integration. “In line with my normal policy, I do not intend to discuss any measures I will take if this turns out to be the choice of the RS. However, since normally I do not talk about the measures that I intend to take, I will not do so now either,” emphasized Ashdown. The Chairman of the BiH CoM reiterated that BiH was a single economic territory and that the economic isolation of the RS would reflect on the rest of the country as well. “In anticipation of what could happen, we should start an affirmative process of rewards. Consequently, in the Federation of BiH, we could issue some 10,000 or 20,000 visas for students, professors, representatives of the media, and ensure that those structures in the RS exert additional pressure on the government in order to make it more cooperative and meet its obligations,” said Terzic. Both Ashdown and Terzic, as well as Michael Humphreys, head of the delegation of the European Commission in BiH, who joined them at Sarajevo airport, said that the doors to Europe were still open for BiH but warned that time was running out and that no one would wait for BiH. Fourteen out of 16 feasibility study requirements have been met and the goal is that the remaining two, the police reform and the establishment of the public broadcasting service, are completed by the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Dayton peace agreement that is to be marked this November. Vecernji List pg 2 ‘For the time being nothing about sanctions against RS’ not signed carried just HR’s statement.

Dnevni List pg 5 ‘Europe has not lost interest for BiH’ by M. Zorlak, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Beginning of negotiations with EU possible as early as in November’ by D. Jazvic – VL comments on the press conference by saying that neither Terzic nor the HR explained on what they grounded their optimism since according to the article there are no indications about a change of RS politicians’ stands when the police reform is in question.

Ivanic requests BiH Presidency to assess legality of foreign minister’s dismissal

Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Terzic violates Law on CoM in the most direct way’, Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Ivanic demands official stand on Terzic’s moves’ by A. Beus, Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Mladen Ivanic demands opinion regarding his removal from BiH Presidency’ by D.R.-V.P., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Resignation does not exist’, SRNA – Dismissed BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic has asked the BiH Presidency to take a position, as soon as possible, on the legality of the decision by BiH Council of Ministers chairman Adnan Terzic to accept Ivanic’s resignation from December 2004. Ivanic points out in a letter submitted to the Presidency that the present situation is damaging the reputation of BiH and calls on the Presidency, in line with its authorization, to find a way of resolving the problem. “Terzic’s decisions are unlawful and he is attempting to prevent the foreign minister from carrying out duties, thereby directly violating the Law on the Council of Ministers, and there would be no Council of Ministers deputy chairman from the ranks of the Serb people, which would have serious legal and political repercussions,” Ivanic’s letter says. In the letter to the Presidency, Ivanic says that his resignation, tendered in December 2004 in protest at the events going on at the time, was withdrawn after the meeting of parties which form a majority in the BiH Parliamentary Assembly in Neum in February this year. “The law does not envisage the obligation to withdraw the resignation in writing and with regard to the withdrawn resignation the statements of HDZ BiH Chairman Dragan Covic and SDS Chairman Dragan Cavic confirm this, as does the one resignation regarding my capacity as chairman of the Party of Democratic Progress. He recalled that Terzic personally put forward the same stance at a news conference and his statement was reported by the media on 9 March this year.

Ana Trisic Babic does not want to be acting Foreign Minister

Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Ana Trisic Babic does not want to be acting Foreign Minister’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Ana Trisic Babic rejected the appointment’ – Ana Trisic-Babic, Assistant to BiH Foreign minister for bilateral relations, on Wednesday informed Adnan Terzic, BiH COM Chair, that she cannot accept the position of Acting Foreign Minister of BiH, since civil servant cannot undertake ministers’ duties. She said in a letter: “I cannot accept your decision because if I did, I would have to file resignation to the position of assistant for bilateral relations and hence lose the status of civil servant – meaning I would lose my job.”

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Ana Trisic-Babic rejected appointment’ by M.C. also covered the issue. According to the daily, Adnan Terzic Wednesday denied that Trisic-Babic rejected his appointment, noting: “I have received and seen that letter after I returned from Brussels and it reads she will resolve her status with the BiH Civil Service Agency. Do not make me comment that somebody has rejected his decision, which is not the case.” He refused to say whether he would withdraw his decision on the appointment of civil servant as acting minister, adding: “We will see.”

Comments on Terzic’ removal of Ivanic: PDP Djurkovic/Antonic, SDS’ Novakovic, HDZ’s Raguz, Party for BiH’s Belkic, SDP’s Krizanovic

EuroBlic pg RS2 ‘Crisis is brewing’ by Rajna Radosavljevic and Nedeljka Breberina – BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Mladen Ivanic Wednesday demanded from BiH Presidency to present its stance as soon as possible on legality of the decision of Adnan Terzic to accept his resignation. SDS’s Momcilo Novakovic says they still do not know whom Terzic would nominate to be Ivanic’s successor since he still had not held any consultations with parties. SDA’s Seada Palavric claims she still had not read Terzic’s explanation on Ivanic’s dismissal, but she says she does not find it logical to ‘accept someone’s resignation half a year after it was submitted’. HDZ’s Martin Raguz thinks BiH Parliament is facing a great challenge: “Should Terzic’s proposal on new chief of diplomacy fails to get the majority, it will become obvious that the crisis is much deeper and serious, which would lead to a question on whether this Assembly majority can survive until the next elections.”  Beriz Belkic, Party for BiH delegate, is of the view that Terzic did not act in line with conclusions of the BiH Parliament and failed to hold consultations at the top level. Jozo Krizanovic, SDP of BiH delegate, claims that “it would be good that Parliament conclusion is respected and Terzic offered solution and tested parliament majority/. We do not want to deepen the crisis, because it is a problem demanding urgent resolvement and major authority responsibility…I believe agreement will be reached, as it was the case many times before.”

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Fear from Sarajevo’ by M.C. – Jelina Djurkovic, PDP delegate at the BIH Parliamentary Assembly, Wednesday in Bijeljina stated that Adnan Terzic has removed Mladen Ivanic from the position of BiH Foreign Minister, because Ivanic was supporting the establishment of Commission to be in charge of investigating crimes committed against Serbs in Sarajevo during the war. She also called on Slobodan Kovac, BiH Justice Minister, toraise the issue of legality of Ivanic’s removal. She also suspects that Terzic’ movies related to possible preparations for the change of BiH Constitution.

Comments on OHR legal interpretation of Ivanic’s removal

Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘Terzic supported Adnan’ by D. Radjan – GS refers to CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic’s decision to remove Mladen Ivanic and refers to OHR’s statement re legal interpretation of this decision. Considering the fact Terzic’s cabinet had interpreted the decision, PDP’s Gavrilo Antonic has stated OHR cannot accept the legal interpretation of Terzic’s cabinet because it is not authorized for this. ‘Only the Office for Legislation of CoM has jurisdiction over this. In this way, it seems as if Terzic’s cabinet was interpreting itself’, Antonic said. According to him, OHR Spokesperson had intoned his speech two days ago in such way to reduce damage and illegalities caused by Terzic’s decision to a minimum. Professor Petar Kunic says self-will and self-rule are two words that describe the best Terzic’s moves and he says Terzic was acting as if he was a deputy High Representative. Inset ‘Ask him!’ – asked how was it possible for OHR to accept legal interpretation of position of Mladen Ivanic given by Adnan Terzic’s cabinet, OHR Spokesperson Sanela Tunovic has stated: ‘This is a matter for Adnan Terzic. This is the same address where you can find out the answer to the question whether OHR would wait for an opinion and interpretation of the Office for Legislation of BiH CoM’. 

DL comments on status of Ivanic and Dokic

Dnevni List pg 7 ‘Ivanic and Dokic come at work as usual’ by N. Bise – Mladen Ivanic, whose resignation to the position of the BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs was accepted by Chairman of the BiH CoM Adnan Terzic, appeared at his place of work on Wednesday. DL says that they received the information from the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs that according to the OHR’s stand Ivanic has a technical mandate of the Minister and he would have such status until a new Minister of Foreign Affairs is appointed. DL also says that Minister of Traffic and Communications under resignation Branko Dokic also appeared at his place of work on Wednesday and he even opened a meeting of experts regarding Corridor Vc. A source from the BiH Ministry of Traffic and Communications stated that Dokic also has technical mandate since according to legal interpretation there is no acting Minister and the situation would remain as such until a new Minister is appointed.

PDP: Dokic successor be appointed after settlement of Ivanic’ case

Nezavisne Novine pg 3 ‘Dokic on agenda after Ivanic’ – Gavrilo Antonic, PDP Presidency member, confirmed that PDP Presidency will appoint successor to Branko Dokic at the position of BiH Minister of Traffic and Communication after situation at the BiH CoM, resulting from the removal of Mladen Ivanic, is resolved.

Tihic: SDA will not support early elections; HR should increase pressure/ impose decision on Constitution

Dnevni Avaz pg 5 ‘Terzic gave his open opinion regarding early elections’ by Husein Orahovac – SDA President, Sulejman Tihic, stated in an interview to DA that the Chair of the BiH Council of Ministers, Adnan Terzic, had not discussed with the party his calls on early elections prior to making statements in this regard. “I told him that SDA will not support his opinion according to which early elections should be organized,” said Tihic. As for Terzic’s decision to accept Mladen Ivanic’s resignation, Tihic said: “[That] decisions… came into force, it is valid and it should be implemented. I am talking as the legal experts. Now, is it legal or not, there are different opinions on that. I personally think it is, so I am closer to Terzic’s explanations than Ivanic’s. But at the same time, I have to admit there are enough serious reasons for which my opinion could be brought into question.” Themember of BiH Presidency concludes that BiH Constitution is to be blamed for the situation in the country.  

SDHR Ney met with BiH Foreign Minister Ivanic, Security Minister Colak

RHB, RTRS – Senior Deputy HR Martin Ney met with BIH Security Minister Barisa Colak and BIH Foreign Affairs Minister Mladen Ivanic in Sarajevo on Wednesday.  They discussed EU relations with BIH and the continuation of reform process in BIH. Ney stressed that the only future for BIH is the one within EU and NATO.

SDHR Ney meets with BiH Defence Minister Radovanovic

Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Further cooperation between MoD and OHR necessary’ by NINA – BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic received on Wednesday Senior Deputy High Representative Martin Ney. During this meeting they stressed a need for further cooperation between the BiH Defence Ministry and the OHR in order to continue work on started reforms as a crucial pre-requisite for BiH’s approaching Euro-Atlantic structures.

PDHR Butler on local self-rule reform

Vecernji List pg 6 ‘How to put an end to permanent confusion in municipalities’ by Principal Deputy High Representative Larry Butler– Talking about the local self-rule reform, PDHR Larry Butler says that these reforms will harmonize the level of local authority in BiH with the European Charter on local self-rule of the Council of Europe and in this way the structure and quality of municipal authorities would reach European standards.

VL: Antun Ril to replace Lidija Topic?

Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Antun Ril comes at position of Lidija Topic’, mentioned on cover ‘Antun Ril instead of Lidija Topic’ by M. Relota – According to unofficial information Antun Ril, who is currently employed in the BiH CoM, should replace Lidija Topic at the position of the BiH Deputy Foreign Minister. According to VL, he was proposed for this position at the last session of the HDZ Presidency. Ril is an HDZ member and he used to be a Deputy of former Minister for treasury of joint institutions Spasoje Tusevljak.

SD op-ed on HDZBiH leader Covic

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19 ‘Covic banned all public statements’ by Z. Tuliccarries na editorial in which the author harshly criticizes as he says the dictatorship-like behaviour of newly elected HDZ President Dragan Covic, who according to the author, is truing to ‘discipline’ HDZ members in order to make room for his own people.

NN op-ed on reforms

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘(Un)reasonable decisions’ by Natasa Krsman – Writing about reforms’ processes in BiH, the author, inter alia, notes that “discerning HR removed Covic from the position, where he could make decisions only in the fields BiH Presidency in charge, and left him remain on the position where he make decisions related to all life segments of this country.” She is also critical of the fact BiH still has not got Law on high education.

War Crimes

Goran Vasic sentenced to six years in prison

RHB, Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘USA want to see Mladic in The Hague by July 11’ by NINA– Cantonal Court in Sarajevo sentenced Goran Vasic to 6 years in prison. He was sentenced due to war crimes committed against war prisoners in Sarajevo settlement Nedzarici in 1992. He was cleared of charges related to war crimes against civilians.

Milosevic doesn’t deny massacre in Srebrenica happens

RTRS, Oslobodjenje cover splash, pg 2 ‘Milosevic: I don’t say that massacre was not committed in Srebrenica’ by Beta, Dnevni Avaz pg 4 ‘Milosevic accuses foreign intelligence services of the massacre’ – Daily reports that Slobodan Milosevic stated before the ICTY that he doesn’t deny massacre in Srebrenica was committed, but claimed that perpetrators were linked to foreign intelligence services and that the fall of Srebrenica was “politically orchestrated.” Trial of Milosevic is continued with the testimony of former assistant Serbian Police Minister, Obrad Stevanovic for defence. During additional questioning, Milosevic said Serbian authorities did everything to punish perpetrators of crimes in Srebrenica by arresting Drazen Erdemovic and several other soldiers in 1996.

SCG Council of Ministers, Bratunac Assembly condemned crimes in Srebrenica

BHT, RTRS, Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘SiCG condemned Srebrenica crime’ by N. N., Vecrenje Novosti pg 15 ‘Defence of crime is – crime’ by T.MT.  – SCG Council of Ministers harshly condemned the crimes committed against Bosniak prisoners and civilians in July 1995, asking the families of victims to make a difference between the criminals and the citizens of Serbia and Montenegro. “Those who have murdered in Srebrenica, and those who have organized and ordered this massacre didn’t represent SiCG, but a non-democrat regime of terror and death, which has been opposed by a large number of Serbian and Montenegro citizens”, says the statement of SCG CoM on the occasion of 10^th anniversary of massacre in Srebrenica. CoM called for legal prosecutions of all who have committed, ordered or organized war crime, not just in Srebrenica.

Nezavisne Novine pg 6 ‘SiCG condemned Srebrenica crime’ by N. N. inset ‘Bratunac Assembly delegates condemned war crimes’ by Fena – Bratunac Assembly delegates Wednesday adopted a conclusion by which they have condemned all war crimes committed in the area of Bratunac between 1992 and 1995. They called on all institutions to put efforts in shedding light on crimes.

RS MoI delivers information to Srebrenica Task Force

BHT Zoran Popovic – RS Ministry of Interior (MoI) found out information on names of certain number of members of the police unit “Zdruzene cete”, whose commander was Ljubisa Borovcanin and which is responsible for war crimes in Srebrenica. Some persons from this list are from Eastern Slavonija and Serbia. “We are not in the position to say are these all of the names, but we found out the names of certain number of responsible persons,” said RS Police Director spokesperson, Radovan Pejic. RS police also found out information on structure of two so-called Jahorina units, consisted of RS deserters that were discovered in Serbia and returned to front-lines in BiH. Those names are delivered to the Srebrenica Task Force for the implementation of conclusions from the Final Report of the Srebrenica Commission, which will be in session on Thursday in Banjaluka. BHT source from the RS police confirmed that Minister of Interior, Darko Matijasevic, will depart on Thursday to Serbia because further investigation depends on Serbian authorities assistance. Pejic announced much more difficult and complicated task ahead of the RS police and that is documentation, investigation and persecution of responsible for war crimes.

RS Defence Ministry explains to OHR lateness in submission of Srebrenica cr4ime related documentation

Pink, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Minister Stankovic wants the most objective list‘,Nezavisne Novine pg 2 ‘OHR received response from RS Defence Ministry’ by R.S., Glas Srpske pg 5 ‘To avoid mistakes’ by G.D. – RS Ministry of Defense informed OHR why Taskforce for Srebrenica had not received all necessary information by the end of May. RS Minister of Defence Milovan Stankovic said that it would take some time for this to be accomplished since 25.000 persons, suspected for being involved in Srebrenica genocide, had to be checked. The Ministry has submitted the Taskforce with another report. “The Ministry has submitted certain data, which prove that the Ministry is working and which reduce number of persons who are being suspected for participating in Srebrenica events”, said the Chair of the Taskforce Jovan Spajic. OHR confirmed that they had received a RS Defence Ministry’s explanation. “OHR still analyzing the content of the response,” said OHR Spokesperson Sanela Tunovic .

RS PM Bukejlovic hopes full truth on Srebrenica crime will be established

Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Documentation on Srebrenica in OHR’, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘Documentation by end of September’ by bs, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 18 ‘Bukejlovic: RS would hand over all documentation on Srebrenica’ by A.M., EuroBlic RSpg 2 ‘Government will respect deadlines’ by S.V.– RS Prime Minister, Pero Bukejlovic, expressed his belief that activities in discovering the truth on war crimes in Srebrenica in July 1995 will be fully implemented. He said that there is currently ongoing activity regarding delivery of requested documentation from the RS Ministry of Interior and RS Ministry of Defence in relation to persons involved in war crimes cases. Bukejlovic also said that same principle should be respected when it comes to investigation on all other crimes committed during the war, including the crimes against Serbs in Sarajevo .

Del Ponte emphasizes apprehension of Karadzic, Mladic main pre-condition for BiH’s integration into Europe

RHB, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 7 ‘Karadzic and Mladic in The Hague by the end of this year’ – In a speech delivered at the US Institute for Peace in Washington, the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, said that the arrests of Ratko Mladic, Radovan Karadzic and Ante Gotovina is still a key condition for integration of the Western Balkans countries in the Euro-Atlantic structures. Del Ponte added the “US Administration remains the firm supporter of the Tribunal” calling on the US authorities to increase the pressure on governments to arrest the war crimes suspects at large and to use their troops present in BiH to intensify searches for them. 

US wants Mladic in The Hague by July 11

RHB, Hayat, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘US wants Mladic in The Hague by July 11’, Dnevni Avaz pg 4, Dnevni List pg 2 ‘6 years in prison to Goran Vasic’ by NINA, Vecernji List pg 2 ‘6 years to Goran Vasic’ by eme – The US Under Secretary of State, Nicholas Burns, stated that the USA wants to see General Ratko Mladic handed to ICTY by 11 July. He added that pressure against Serbia has been intensified in order to fulfill this. Burns also said that USA is encouraged with reports arriving from Belgrade , saying that Serbian authorities want to see Mladic tried for crimes in The Hague .

Update to alleged negotiations with Ratko Mladic

Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘There are no negotiations with Mladic’ by Agencies, Vecrenje Novosti cover pg splash ‘Scorpions beyond Serbia!’ by Z.U.  – Serbian Minister of Interior (MoI) Dragan Jocic claims that Serbian Government not negotiating with any war crime indictee, and he added that the Ministry has confirmed that “Scorpions” members were not Serbian MoI’s members.

Vecernje Novosti pg 4 ‘The Government is willing to make arrest, there are no negotiations’ by D. Radeka – Serbian President Boris Tadic’s advisor for ICTY issues Jovan Simic has stated he does not believe there are any ongoing negotiations with Ratko Mladic with regard to his surrender to ICTY. He said even if there are any negotiations, these are being carried out with Mladic’s security guards who have no authorization to carry out such negotiations. ‘In any case, I think if the Government knew where Mladic was, it would arrest it immediately and it would not negotiate with him’, Simic said. Inset ‘They would not hesitate’ – during his visit to London, Deputy Serbian President Miroljub Labus has stated that Ratko Mladic would have been arrested if representatives of Serbian state knew where he was. Inset ‘Mladic’s file’ – Serbian CoM decided to forward files of several indictees, whose names were not revealed, to ICTY including personal file of general Ratko Mladic.

Del Ponte says she will not attend Srebrenica commemoration if Karadzic or Mladic is not transferred to The Hague by July 11

Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 2 ‘I will attend commemoration if Karadzic and Mladic be in The Hague’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3, FENA – The Chief Prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal, Carla Del Ponte, on Wednesday sent a letter to BiH Presidency member Sulejman Tihic in which she thanked him for the invitation to attend the ceremony of marking the 10th anniversary of the genocide against the civilian population of Srebrenica and Zepa. “I am sure that You are aware of my stand in view of attending this important commemoration and paying respects to the victims of genocide in Srebrenica. I have no doubt that the actual commemoration and paying of respects to the victims and their families has a great significance and value. The attention of the international public must constantly be directed to this horrible crime and the inability of the same international community to protect the civilian population of the UN safe haven”, the letter of the Chief ICTY Prosecutor said. “However, as a prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, I have a responsibility to bring those who are most responsible for this crime – Karadzic and Mladic to justice. As long as they are not in the custody of this court, it is impossible for me to attend this sad anniversary. This is my personal protest against the non-apprehension and lack of decisive action on locating and bringing them to justice. Namely, this is also the stand of ICTY President Justice Theodore Meron. I have explained my stand in public appearances and in talks with some of the victim groups. I am convinced, actually I am certain, that my stand was properly accepted by many, if not by all”, said the letter. However, Del Ponte wrote that she would change her decision and attend the commemoration if at least one of the two main suspects – Karadzic or Mladic – is transferred to The Hague before July 11.

Srpski Nacionalon alleged dispute between Del Ponte and Ashdown

Nacional pg 10 ‘Carla is blackmailing Ashdown!’ – Daily reports referring to its source, a close associate of Paddy Ashdown, during her recent visit to Sarajevo, Carla del Ponte and Paddy Ashdown had a lengthy meeting.As daily learns, Carla attacked Ashdown presenting evidence on hisfriendly times with Radovan Karadzic from war times. Ashdown coldly said those stories have nothing to do with the truth, and this has particularly got on Del Ponte’s nerves. Also, she warned Ashdown that key positions at BiH institutions in charge of arresting war crime suspects are assumed by people, who took part in crimes, referring to Dragomir Andan, Risto Zaric, Sredoja Novic. After meeting del Ponte, Ashdown told his associates that the only way Carla del Ponte would leave you alone is to show her teeth, adding: “If she notes you scare just for one moment,. She will come down onto you fiercely.”

NN op-ed on arrests of war crime suspects

Nezavisne Novine op-ed pg 7 ‘Maradona instead of Mladic’ by Pero Simic – Writing about arrests of war crime suspects and reiterating his support to this, the author is, inter alia, critical of Luka Karadzic and his statement reiterated many times his brother Radovan will never surrender because it would lead to abolishment of RS. The author stresses that Luka seems to have ignored the possibility that RS may vanish if his brother does not surrender.

ICTY investigators interested in BiH Army prison camps in central Bosnia

Slobodna Dalmacija pg 19, mentioned on cover ‘The Hague interested in BiH Army camps’ by I. Milesic carries that about 10 ICTY investigators are paying visit to the Zenica and Central Bosnia Cantons. SD says that according to their information, the investigators visited and showed interest in the prison camps that the BiH Army organized during the war.

Security/Legal Proceedings

BiH institutions sign accord to harmonize intelligence, security activities

Pink, BHT, Hayat, FTV, RTRS, Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Joint fight against terrorism, crime’, Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘Contribution to fight against terrorism, search for war criminals’, Nezavisne Novine pg 4 ‘Agreement on Coordination of police agencies signed’ by M.C., FENA – Fourteen BiH institutions met in Sarajevo on Wednesday and signed an agreement on the coordination of intelligence, security and police activities. The objective of the agreement is to improve cooperation between relevant institutions that have within their remit the protection of BiH’s security and territorial integrity and combating all forms of serious crime. The agreement sets up a coordination body which is made up of relevant institutions at the state and entity levels. The body is to hold sessions at least once a month; these sessions will be chaired in three-monthly rotation by the director general of the OSA (BiH Intelligence and Security Agency) and the director of the SIPA (State Investigation and Protection Agency). In the first three months the sessions will be chaired by the OSA director general. The following institutions are parties to the agreement: the BiH Ministry of Defence, the BiH Ministry of Security, the State Investigation and Protection Agency, the BiH State Border Service, the BiH Intelligence and Security Agency, the BiH Indirect Taxation Administration, the FBiH Ministry of Internal Affairs, the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Brcko District Police, the FBiH Financial Police, the FBiH Tax Administration, the RS Tax Administration, and the Brcko District Tax Administration. The BiH Prosecutor’s Office will take part in the work of the coordination body as an advisory body. BiH Minister of Security Barisa Colak said that the agreement would create a strong community of security-intelligence services and police, which would make a contribution to the country’s security and from which every individual would benefit. SIPA Director Sredoje Novic said that the creation of such a body would significantly contribute to the process of searching for war criminals, criminals and other suspects, noting that BiH citizens must be aware that synchronisation of work of state institutions had taken place, particularly after the last war. The coordination body is to hold its first session on 15 July.

DL:  ‘Companies from Posusje involved in money laundering affair’

Dnevni List cover pg splash and pg 8 ‘Companies from Posusje involved in money laundering affair’ by N. Dedic, I. Popovac – The Cantonal Prosecution in Mostar received from the Sarajevo Prosecution the case of an investigation against an unknown person who managed to register a fictitious company in order to launder money of a few private companies from Posusje. DL says that this person registered the fictitious company using the number of an identity card of one person and a photo of a person who died and the article wonders as to how this was possible. According to DL, since the companies involved in illegal activities are located in western Herzegovina , most probably, the case would be sent to the West Herzegovina Canton Prosecution.

Bicakcic testified in Hercegovacka Banka trial

RHB, Dnevni List pg 2, mentioned on cover ‘Bicakcic: Money from Croatia was not in FBiH budget’ by E. Mackic, Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Money for HVO was not part of budget’ by Z. Kresic, Slobodna Dalmacija pg 6, mentioned on cover ‘Bicakcic testified in favour of Jelavic’ by Z. Tulic – Former Federation of BiH Prime Minister Edhem Bicakcic testified on Wednesday at the trial against former HDZ President Ante Jelavic for the Hercegovacka Banka case. Bicakcic stated that the assistance from Croatia, which used to come for the Croat component of the FBiH Ministry of Defence, had never been the budgetary income of the FBiH Government. Bicakcic stressed that coming of the money from Croatia was an open secret and it was used for salaries of HVO solders since budgetary incomes were not enough. Sarajevo dailies also covered the issue.

Families of 4 prisoners form Zenica held peaceful protest

Pink, BHT, Hayat, RTRS, Dnevni List pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Attacked prisoners from Zenica move to Mostar!?’ by N. Bise  – Families of 4 prisoners from Zenica Correctional Facility held a peaceful protest in front of the Federation of BiH Ministry of Justice and they announced hunger strike if their relatives do not get transfer to some other prison in BiH. They stopped the protest after BiH Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac received them(FBiH Minister of Justice Borjana Kristo was absent). DL inset under headline ‘It is being waited for signature of Minister Borjana Kristo’ carries protesters as saying that everything is ready for the transfer to another prison and a wife of prisoner Milorad Rodic stated that only wait that FBiH Minister of Justice Borjana Kristo signs the decision on transfer. Also covered by Vecernji List pg 3 ‘Save their lives!’ by V. Rupcic., Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Transfer from KPZ Zenica or collective hunger strike’ by A.Durmo, EuroBlic RSpg 3 ‘Prepared for hunger strike’ by D.S., Glas Srpske pg 3 ‘Kovac woke hope’ by O.M.-N.Z. 

Update to beating of Serb inmate at Sarajevo prison

Nezavisne Novine pg 5 ‘Denunciations against three inmates filed’ – The Management of the Correctional Facility Sarajevo will file denunciations with Sarajevo County Prosecutor’s Office against inmates named P.Dz., A.Z. and D.P. on grounded suspicion they have beaten up on Milan Miletic, SiCG citizen, who is also detained at this facility.

Miscellaneous

DA: Pakistan writes off $20-million war loan to BiH

Dnevni Avaz cover splash ‘Pakistan finished with the story on “Silajdzic’s loan”’, pg 2 ‘Pakistan wrote off Silajdzic’s loan’ by E. Sarac – Pakistani Ambassador to BiH, Shireen Moiz,on Wednesday officially informed Adnan Hadzikapetanovic, acting secretary of the BiH Foreign Ministry, that Pakistani authorities are writing off the 20 million US dollars loan given to BiH during the war. The loan, given at the end of 1992, was approved by the Pakistani government at the time when Haris Silajdzic, founder of Party for BiH, performed duties of BiH Prime Minister. Used for defence, the budget was a subject to numberless speculations/accusations in media due to allegedly nontransparent ways of spending. Silajdzic stated for DA that the writing off debt was great moral satisfaction for him.

FBiH HoP: Voting on proposal of law on rights of awarded war veterans and members of their families

RHB, Pink, BHT, FTV, Dnevni List pg 4 ‘Croats propose 5 medals’ by I. Glibusic – The Federation of BiH House of Peoples postponed on Wednesday voting on a proposal of the law on rights of awarded war veterans and members of their families. DL explains that during the meeting of Croat and Bosniak associations and presidents of Caucuses, which was also held on Wednesday, it was agreed as to what this law should contain. Minister for Defenders’ Issues in the West Herzegovina Canton Zdravko Beslic stated that voting was postponed since they agreed a text, which is different from the one that the Federation of BiH House of Representatives adopted. Beslic added that they agreed to postpone the discussion on this issue for 10 days when the FBiH Government would declare itself on these amendments. Sarajevo dailies also covered the session.