Print Media Headlines |
Dnevni Avaz: CIPS – Prosecutor and Police in CIPS project!; Presidents’ Summit: Path to Brussels goes through Sarajevo
Jutarnje Novine: Presidents’ Summit: Path to Brussels goes through Sarajevo
Nezavisne Novine: Presidents’ Summit: Path to Brussels goes through Sarajevo
Glas Srpski: SFOR puts roadblocks around Sarajevo
EuroBlic: The final goal of the three countries is Europe; Damjanovic released after nine and a half years; Mijo Anic: To early for a single army
Danas: Together in Europe
Vecernji List: Presidents’ Summit: Dayton BiH to be protected
Dnevni List: Kostunica and Mesic give guarantees for Bosnia
Slobodna Dalmacija: Presidents’ Summit: No changes of borders in Southeast Europe
Jutarnji List: Presidents’ Summit: Changes of borders – never again
Three Presidents’ Summit in Sarajevo |
“The BiH side has asked its neighbours not to support disconnectedness in BiH, i.e. the political options that urge disconnecting certain systems and institutions necessary for the functioning of the state,” BiH Presidency chairman Beriz Belkic told the press after the summit.
The FRY President, Vojislav Kostunica, said he believed that the people and nations must be loyal to the state in which they live. “Representatives of the three constituent nations in BiH and the three nations in our three states should be loyal citizens of their states and in this respect I think one fact is of particular importance – in the forthcoming elections in BiH we shall encourage returnees to turn out. This will be another proof of their loyalty to, and acceptance of BiH as an internationally-recognized state.”
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic reiterated once again that changing of the BiH borders is a matter of the past: “In our declaration we have said in a transparent way that there can be no changing of borders – all those who have been thinking that it is possible to create a Greater Serbia or a Greater Croatia at the expense of BiH should drop that illusion.” (BIH Radio 1 and BHTV Prime Time News)
In his first post-war interview with a Croatian medium – Croatian Radio HRT – Vojislav Kostunica said the three presidents’ summit will open way for better cooperation among the three countries in the future. “I think that today’s meeting is very important. Yugoslavia, BiH and Croatia have tried jointly to tackle a series of issues with regard to the establishment of normal relations, economic cooperation and especially with regard to solving the difficult issue of refugees. Perhaps, something like that might not have been expected around a year or two ago. Today we have this [summit] and we already have some results from today’s summit in the very fact that many such meetings are going to happen in future, and that there is an improvement in communication between our countries and with regard to the situation in which our citizens are, especially those who are in the most difficult situation – refugees…Croatia, BiH and Yugoslavia have to cooperate because of their future. In the past, not only recently, but also in the distant past, there is lots of pain which confronts all of us. Every step forward in our cooperation and normalizing our relations, which in some ways resemble the relations between the European countries after World War II, is a very positive step for me…The moment when the Croatian, Yugoslav and BiH citizens, after everything which happened and regardless of their nationality or religion, start to live better, normal lives and when the borders of these three internationally-recognized states simply open for people, trade, economic cooperation and cultural cooperation, things will change.” (HRT Radio)
The Presidents of the three states also met yesterday with the High Representative in BiH, Paddy Ashdown, who said, after the meeting that this summit will be a turning point for the history of the region. “This is the way to Europe, and to get to Brussels you have to go through Sarajevo. We have discussed the creation of a Balkan institution which would fight the organised crime as well as creating stronger ties of [the countries’] economies.” (Front pages of Jutarnje Novine, Nezavisne Novine and Dnevni Avaz read “Way to Europe goes through Sarajevo” )
Vecernji list reports that foreign ministers of the states were not present at the meeting, which created additional problems, because Croatian President Mesic agreed with his Yugoslav counterpart Kostunica about dissolving the visa-regime, although Croatian Police warned that at this time it is only possible to speed up issuance of visas, but not their abolition. Vecernji List also says that yesterdays summit will be remembered by total collapse of fixed and mobile phone lines.
In a shorter interview with Dnevni Avaz (p. 5), the Party for BiH founder, Haris Silajdzic, commented on Monday’s meeting among the three presidents in Sarajevo and BiH’s relations with Yugoslavia. “In order to normalise the relations between the peoples of two countries, BIH citizens expect answers to some of their questions: What are the real intentions of the FRY towards BiH, will it continue interfering our business or it will regard us as neighbours and partners, are the advocates of the Greater Serbia still on the scene or no?.” Silajdzic conceded that meeting of this sort are important, however it is necessary that BiH’s neighbours say clearly that they have no intention of attacking BiH and changing its borders.
In an editorial in Oslobodjenje, Mirko Sagolj argues that one should not exaggerate the importance of the Presidential Summit in Sarajevo. “Granted, the very fact that the presidents of BIH, Croatia and Yugoslavia met in Sarajevo deserves respect, but this event should not be overestimated. Neither is the time for a historic meeting of this sort, not the actors of yesterday’s summit have power to make historic decisions on behalf of the people they represent,” notes Sagolj and concludes that the best the three (five) presidents could have agreed upon was to uphold the Dayton BiH.
Sarajevo’s Dnevni Avaz (Almasa Bajric) questioned why there had been no “apology” from the Yugoslav side for atrocities from the war. “Each visit by Kostunica to Sarajevo revives discussions on whether he should apologize or at least express sorrow for the sufferings of Bosnian citizens. But, he did not say that yesterday,” the daily said.
In an opening column in this week’s START magazine, Ozren Kebo argues that it is naïve of BiH authorities to expect the FRY President, Vojislav Kostunica, to apologise for the crimes committed in BiH during the war. “Once this apology is made – and it will have to be made one day – it will testify about the deep transformation of the Serbian society and about the maturity of the Serbian people. Today, this sort of metamorphosis and maturity are not in sight. Although the Great Butcher is no longer there, Serbia is still a cancer sore of the European continent…The apology is the supreme moral act, a testimony of high consciousness and the critical self-reflection of the one apologising. Vojislav Kostunica, a close associate of Radovan Karadzic, and a post-war protector of Slobodna Milosevic, does not deserve this honour. The apology makes sense only if it is voluntary. And, it will have to come from the new Serbia. Should someone who was barbecuing in Pale while Sarajevo was dying under mortar file apologise to us?,” asks Kebo, noting in the end that Bosniak themselves, despite the fact that they have committed proportionally least crimes, should express deepest regrets for the crimes against Serbs and Croats in BiH.
Dnevni List (page 2, signed by Jurislav Petrovic) carries an editorial, which says that yesterday’s summit irresistibly reminded on talks, which were taking place before the war. The editorial says that, in a diplomatic manner, the participants of the meeting kept silent on a quiet change of internal BiH borders, that is, about the fact that BiH is being divided in two states. The editorial says that a statement given by Beriz Belkic, a Chairman of the BiH Presidency, who stated that the BiH Presidency does not have a complete control over all Armies in BiH and that Mirko Sarovic, the President of the RS, controls the RS Army is a proof of it. The editorial concludes that the result of yesterday’s meeting are numerous promises that none from outside will try to divide BiH, and, as far as internal division of BiH is concerned, it is a problem of BiH citizens.
Vecernji List (page 10) carries an editorial on yesterday’s summit in Sarajevo written by Visnja Staresina, who says that Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative in BiH, is the actual organizer of the summit. Staresina says that running of BiH, at the time when there are not that many volunteers to do it, is “a peak in the career of the intelligence service agent (referring to the HR), who has never tried to hide his weakness towards media and promotion of himself.” “Presidents who attended the summit ensured that cameras are there to see that they went to Sarajevo to help the High Representative feel important.”
Financial Affairs |
Dnevni Avaz reports on its front page that the Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecutor, Mustafa Bisic, asked the Federation Financial Police to audit business transactions connected with the CIPS (Citizens Identity Protection System) project. According to the daily, Bisic will insist on audit of all past activities of the Council of Ministers in connection with this. “We were also asked to check whether the opened tenders were in line with legal regulations, who was entrusted with the job and under what conditions,” a Financial Police source told Avaz, adding that the one of the subjects of the investigation will be family relations between some of the Ministers in the CoM and companies implementing the project. (article by Sead Numanovic and Edina Sarac)
An anonymous source from the Council of Ministers told Dnevni Avaz (p. 9) that the entire CIPS project will cost over 50 million KM, although it could have been implemented for significantly less money. According to the daily, “not only was Siemens very liberal with its offer, but were also the contracts signed with other companies, which were pleasing the interests of the power holders rather than the citizens for whom the CIPS was designed.” “Once we calculate the value of equipment and costs of work, it turns out that the entire CIPS project will cost over 50 million KM, which is by 17 million higher than the estimated amount. (article by Sead Numanovic and Edina Sarac)
Civic Democratic Party asked yesterday for resignations of all actors involved in the CIPS affair. “If this does not happen, we will ask for the creation of a polling commission to investigate the transparency of activities connected with this project.” (Dnevni Avaz, Oslobodjenje)
Federation Defence Ministry
The New Croat Initiative has asked the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, to address responsibility of the deputy Federation Defence Minister, Ferid Buljubasic, and the deputy Minister of Interior, Tomislav Limov, who, “without the knowledge of responsible entity institutions, secured the illegal trade of 50,000 guns for the US market.” “The arms which were sold to the US through the Intrade company was not from BiH but from Serbia. In this case, BIH served only as a transit place, which should not have happened. This is a classic affair and we are demanding that the High Representative undertakes the same measures as in the AM-SPED affair.” (Oslobodjenje p. 6, Dnevni Avaz p. 8)
AM-SPED
Dnevni List (page 5) carries a full-page interview with Tino Bralo, businessman who trades with coffee, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages and “key-person in AM Sped affair”, in which he says that he never tried to bribe anyone. “Why would I give 21 million KM to someone in order to help me to return 3,2 million. Where is the logic? That is my money, why would I need to bribe to get my money. The problem is that they (government) have spent my money and now are thinking how to justify that.” Bralo stated that he sued Federation BiH at the Federation Supreme Court and he said that, if necessary, he is ready to go to the court in Strasbourg. About confusion of texts published about Haris Silajdzic, Bralo explained: “It is correct that I never saw Silajdzic … However, they have missed the part of the sentence which Damir Fazlic told me. Namely, Fazlic came with the offer to buy Mostar Tobacco Factory. When I asked him how to do it, he said ‘You should give half million KM. I know Haris well, he will sort it out, and we will help you with the problems you have at the border’. These are his words,” Bralo said.
This week’s Ljiljan claims that Bralo was transferring money to the accounts of the RS Prime Minister, Mladen Ivanic’s PDP, and, in exchange, the RS Customs Administration was providing the necessary documentation allowing him to receive back his deposits. “In the past years, Bralo did not need assistance from the governing political parties in the BiH Federation, since the funds (deposits) were being paid back by the customs offices after Brale presented them the papers from the RS,” Mirsad Sinanovic wrote.
High Representative’s activities |
Economy |
A BiH ministry official was taken by surprise when war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic turned up in her office — on a BiH banknote. Describing what he described as a “well organised provocation”, European Integration Minister Rasim Kadic told AFP Tuesday that a small color portrait of Bosnia’s most wanted man had been illegally printed on the banknote. “The picture is small, but Karadzic’s face is recognizable beyond any doubt,” he said, after a ministry staff member made the find on a regular 50 KM banknote in her salary packet. The ministry said the offending banknote was collected last week at Razvojna Banka office in Lukavica, where the ministry has its account. “The bank asked for return of the banknote but we refused. We are to contact police later today,” Kadic said.
Electronic Media Headlines |
BHTV 1
- BIH Presidency members and the presidents of FRY and Croatia sign in Sarajevo a joint statement advocating the development of good neighborly relations between the three countries, Kostunica and Mesic give their guarantees to Dayton BiH
- High Representative says the Presidents’ Summit “a potential turning point in the history of the region”
- British Ambassador, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy welcome the signing if the joint statement by the three presidents
FTV
- BIH Presidency members and the presidents of FRY and Croatia sign in Sarajevo a joint statement advocating the development of good neighborly relations between the three countries, Kostunica and Mesic give their guarantees to Dayton BiH
- High Representative says the Presidents’ Summit “a potential turning point in the history of the region”
- European Commission urges the BIH Parliament to complete the EU Road Map requirements and adopt the Public Broadcasting System Law
RTRS
- BIH Presidency members and the presidents of FRY and Croatia sign in Sarajevo a joint statement advocating the development of good neighborly relations between the three countries, Kostunica and Mesic give their guarantees to Dayton BiH
- BiH Council of Ministers adopts amendments to the Proposed Law on Amendments and Addenda to the Law on Customs Tariffs in BiH
- US Ambassador Clifford Bond and Chairman of the BIH Council of Ministers Dragan Mikerevic welcomed the decision of the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of the UN mission in BiH until the end of 2002